"For I know the plans I have for you..."

In Jeremiah 29 God makes an amazing declaration:

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
(Jeremiah 29:11)

Now that's what I call a declaration. These words are a powerful reminder to us that God has both created us and got plans for us. Isn't that amazing?

In a world of celebs and famous faces we can often feel as though our achievements and struggles don't really matter.

Who wants to read about our journey to work? Or our battles with the washing machine? Is there anyone out there who really understands?

Jeremiah reminds us that God is always there for us.

In the good times - and in the difficult times - God is there.

And God wants the very best for us.



 

We want to be... 

On Sunday we made a huge decision. If you were there you couldn't have missed it. We all gathered and declared that  as a church we want to be a community where Jesus is encountered and lives are transformed.

Why does this matter?

It matters because all of us have said this is sort of church we would like to belong to.  When we  declare that 'we want to be...' we also acknowledge that we're not there yet. On Sunday we started a  journey together. A journey that has the potential to radically alter our lives as we increasingly set as our goal living fully for the amazing Kingdom of God.

Sunday was also great because when we declared that we want to be a church where Jesus is encountered and lives are transformed all of us were present. Young and old sitting side by side. Long time Christians sitting next to those still exploring what it means to really know Jesus. It was great to have a very visible and powerful reminder that God is at work already.

Paul reminds us that "We are Christ's ambassadors, as though God was making his appeal through us."

Isn't that just amazing!!

As we get to encounter Jesus we will discover that our lives being transformed brings all sorts of changes with it. And as we become more and more like Jesus our prayer is that each of us will desire to share this good news faith with others we live, work and share life with.



 

Summer of Sport 

There's a lot of sporting news around at the moment.

For football fans we've got the World Cup.

For tennis fans we've got Wimbledon.

And for parents of younger children we've got School Sports Days.

Those taking part enjoy good fitness and better health. And for those of us watching there's a sense of sharing an experience that others will be talking about the following morning.

What's the key to sporting success?

Is it the sense of purpose that comes from knowing your goal and sticking to that plan?

Writing to a new church in  a place called Corinth, a servant of God called Paul was trying to think of the best way to encourage people to follow Jesus. Paul could have chosen great theological statements to make his point. Paul could also have quoted from the Scriptures to make his case.

Instead Paul chose to refer to sport.

"Run in such a way as to get the prize" Paul wrote.

Adding: "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that wiill not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." (1 Corinthians 10: 24-25)

Today, what are you training for?

And are you working hard for something that will last forever?