For I know the plans I have for you

Jeremiah 29:11 'For I know the plans that I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

In April of 2006, just a short time after stepping into the light of a life with Jesus...I found myself getting the wind knocked out of me by the hurts that we encounter through life...a part of my past had caught me off guard. My flesh screamed to "confront" the person that was the source of my hurt. However...my God...such a gentleman...the lover of my soul wooed me to go on about my day in faith...to not behave as the "old" Lona would. I obeyed. Hurting, I drove to my destination to meet a colleague. As he and I walked across the parking lot a man called out to me...a funny little man as I recall. He said that he had a scripture for me...Jeremiah 29:11. You see...that person that I so desperately wanted to confront was my past...a very big part of my past. In faith and out of a deep longing to please my Father I put my flesh under and did as He asked. He rewarded me by personally sending one of His own to encourage me. My colleague had his bible in the car...as I read I cried tears of joy...knowing that I had a future and a hope.

That future is now and I am a few years older in the knowledge of the things of God (not that I have arrived, but you know what I mean) and how He works. My heart is so full of the love of God...the restoration I experienced this past weekend as I spent time with my sister and nephews...after years of missing out on so much when I was such a prisoner of darkness. His mercy and grace as I continue to experience time with the friends that He sent to me. Women that love Him with all of their hearts. Restoration of childhood friends that were such a part of my youth before I bought into the lies of this world. Drea, thank you for listening to Him and Molly thank you for setting up this blog for me to reach the multitudes...so that I can share how good He is. I have my family back after years of doing life on my own...we serve a God of second, third, fourth....chances. I am basking in a state of contentment!

Jeremiah 29:12 says "Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

13 says 'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
14 says 'I will be found by you,' declares the Lord' and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nation and from all the places where I have driven you,' declares the Lord, 'and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.'

Lord, I pray that You would open our hearts and minds to the fullness of your promises...to take You at your word. You have given us a future and a hope...you have restored and given and for that I thank you...In Jesus name I pray, Amen