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:::::ROSTER:::::
Alex Nutter [Nutter]
Derek Pease [Ghost]
Peter Stark [Tiny]
Luke Nutter [Squirrel]
Adam Bower [ATI FAG]
Evan Bower [Gnome]
Thomas Cadenau [Milkman]
Grayson Harris [Guilty]
Gabe Harris [Gargoyle]
Kevin Jackim [Acid]
Chris Megs [Morals]
Gabe Bierman [Joker]
Parker [Frik]
Mitch Lee [Shutup]
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Ben Brooks
Monday, 10 April, 2006
(1) Jeremiah 29:11 (New American Standard Bible):
“ ‘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.’ ”
(2) Romans 12:2 (New American Standard Bible):
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
(3) 1 John 5:3 (New American Standard Bible):
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.”
I want to add a little bit to Grayson’s devotional from Jeremiah 29:11. Some recent experiences in my life have called my attention to the importance of trusting God, and, uh, to make a long story short…well, maybe just skip the story because it’s pretty depressing. Anyway, I want to point out that God’s plans for our welfare are plans that He has for us (1), not necessarily that we have for ourselves.
We (if you all are like me, anyway) have a tendency to form ideas about what is good for us, or certain things we want to do in the future, and then to become way too attached to our plans. We may even develop the attitude that God owes us certain things, or we may come to believe that life can’t possibly be fulfilling without these idols of ours. In either case, it hurts an awful lot when God says no to one of our dreams or goals.
It is crucial to remember that God’s will for each Christian’s life is good and acceptable and perfect (2). His plans may not be your own, and you may never get to do or experience many of your most cherished dreams, but there’s no doubt that you’ll lead an unimaginably rich, beautiful life if you stick with God. His reign over your life will yield you the greatest good possible; He isn’t trying to take anything from you (3), and He won’t prevent you from realizing any of your dreams that would contribute to your greatest possible good. If God rejects a dream or a hope of yours, you can bet that it’s because He has something even better in mind for you.
I’m really struggling to come to terms with this concept as it applies to my own life right now. I ask you all to pray for me as I try to surrender some of my expectations to God, plus a couple of “unspokens” as well.
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