For I Know The Plans {Giveaway}

"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 a hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

The year is quickly coming to a close. This is a great time to talk to your kids and teens about their future. Yes, even kids, need to talk about their future. Whether it's the immediate future, this upcoming year, or far in the future, they need to know and understand that God has plans for them. Plans that are good. Plans that will prosper them and never harm them.

Every choice they make today, will affect their future. One choice they can make that will have a positive affect on the present and on their future, is to spend time with God each and every day. No matter how tired they are. No matter what their friends are doing. No matter what's on tv or what video game is out. Spending time with God is a wise decision that they will never regret.

Sit down with your kids and discuss these things. Make an action plan on how they can have a quiet time. Help them prepare. Let's help our children and teens start the year off the right way.

Today I want to share two great books with you; The Plans I Have For Your Devotional and The Plans I Have For Your Journal. The Plans I Have For Your Devotional is a 90 day devotional divided into 6 sections: I've got big plans for you, I've given you a purpose, I don't do things small, There's nothing you can't do, Find that one thing, and What I created you to do. It is full of wisdom your child will glean and beautiful illustration that will capture their eyes. This devo is geared towards ages 8-12. The Plans I Have For Your Journal goes with the devo and will prompt creative thinking and exploration of the talents and personalities that make us special. It also helps your child explore how God may use our uniqueness to spread love and joy and make the world a better place.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking with:
Woman to Woman's Word Filled Wednesday

God's Plan, Even For Insomnia

Of all the wonderful, wonderful stories in the Bible, the story of Esther has always been one of my favorites.  I have read it more times than I can count.  Today I as I was reading something stuck out to me that I had never realized before.


Occasionally I have insomnia.  Some nights I will lie awake at night and just watch the hours pass by until the alarm sounds.  And some nights I will sleep but it takes me several hours to fall asleep.  Last year God revealed to me that some of those times it is not insomnia really, but His call for me to pray.  So now, when I lie awake at night, I try praying.  Praying in the spirit, praying for my family, friends, church, you my dear readers, I pray for everything I can think of.  Many nights, that helps me sleep.  But there are nights I pray for hours and still cannot sleep.


King Xerxes had what some might call insomnia on this one particular night.  Today, I realized, it was God.


Hamon, as we all know, hated the Mordecia and plotted to kill him and all of the Jews.  On this night Hamon was especially full of hatred for Mordecia and went to the king wanting permission to hang him right then, having already set up the gallows.  But it just so happened that God kept King Xerxes awake and put the thought of reading his chronicles in his head.  After hearing of the day that Mordecia revealed a plot to kill the king, he asked his reader if they had done anything for Mordecia.


Had King Xerxes not have been awake and heard the chronicles, he very possibly would have granted Hamon's wishes and Mordecia would have been hung.


As I read this, God reminded me that He has a plan and a purpose for everything.  Even sleepless nights.  


What are you facing today?  God has a purpose.  As Him to reveal to you what He wants you to see.  Remember that God always has a plan.


Sweet Blessings~



Linking with:

Titus Tuesday  

On Your Heart Tuesday

Soli Deo Gloria 

TeachMe Tuesday 

That Was Not In My Plans!

Have you ever made plans just to have them changed?  It may have been something small like you plan a night out with friends and something comes up. Or for some, it is life altering.  You go to work one morning and everything is fine. But then suddenly life completely changes.

We can't understand.  We hurt, physically and emotionally.  We don't know how to move on.

This was not a surprise to God.  You didn't see it coming.  God did.  God knew the very moment it would happen.  Why did He let it happen?  God has a plan for each and every one of us.  We may not know His plan and we may not understand His ways.  But we can trust that He has a plan.


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

His plans are to prosper us, never to harm us.  While we can't see what lies ahead.  While we can't understand how life can ever be the same.  We can trust in God.

What are you facing today?  Rest assured that God is in control.  He knows what He is doing.

Sweet Blessings~


 Linking with:
On Your Heart Tuesday
Soli Deo Gloria