Hard Hats, Soft Hearts

By Lori Boruff

“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  NIV

Oh no, not THIS scripture again!

In the midst of financial crisis, health issues, broken relationships and dead dreams—this verse pops up again?

Plans to prosper me? I'm not seeing it.

Plans to NOT harm me—right when I'm feeling the worst persecution and emotional pain in my life.

Plans to give me hope and a future? I need help now!

Today, you may be living in the midst of fear and uncertainty. God KNOWS the plan designed for you. He's not guessing or wishing the best for you. He is certain of a way to bless you.

The Lord also knows you will have trouble this side of heaven. He gives specific instructions to help you thrive as His perfect plan—and perfect timing—unfold. God desires His people to be active, not passive during the tough times.

Prophet Jeremiah delivered this ancient text message from God to His people, once free in Jerusalem, now captive in Babylon. The people God loved lived in emotional, financial, and spiritual chaos—much like today.

Hard hats, soft hearts...

Jeremiah's God-inspired, timeless message told the exiles to build three things during their season of distress (verses 4-10). 

1.       Build homes and gardens—keep on living, working and watching with hope in your heart.

2.      Build relationships—seek a heart of gratitude. Cherish family and friends.

3.      Build your prayer life—pray for those in authority. Even if they are against you, ask God to give them prosperity and peace so that you receive those blessings also.

Unclench your fist. Relax your shoulders. Breathe. Build.

You do your part. God will do His. He is a promise keeper.

What’s Your Dream?

By Shelly Atkins

When we were little kids, we dreamed about the amazing things we would do when we grew up. Somewhere along the line, we gave up on these dreams. Maybe someone told us we didn’t really have the athletic talent an Olympic gold medal swimmer, or some one said hardly anyone makes it as a singer on Broadway. Or maybe it’s just not practical to jump on an airplane and travel the world. I mean, how would you make any money?

 And that’s what it boiled down to for me. I couldn’t possibly be a writer, how would I make any money. So I tried other practical things like teaching and journalisim. But those aren’t my passions. Not my dreams. Not what I wanted to be when I grew up. I’d lost my vision, my dream for my future. I was letting life take me on a journey without a map. I didn’t like the direction I was going, but felt powerless to do anything about it. I had lost my vision. 

Without vision, we wander around in the dark both literally (if we lose the ability to see with our eyes) and figuratively (if we loose the ability to discern with our hearts.) The dictionary defines vision as “the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be.” (from www.dictionary.com). Isn’t that faith?

A few months ago, someone on a social network I’m a part of asked the question, “If you could change your situation, the way you fill your days, what would you do?” The answer for me was simple: I’d quit my job and work as a freelance writer full time. 

But the first rule of freelacing is: DON’T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB.

I haven’t ever really been one to follow all the rules. The more I thought and prayed about quitting, the more I wanted to do it. But I was scared. What if all those fears I kept telling my self were true? All those fears that kept me in a job for years: What if I wasn’t good enough? What if I didn’t make any money? What if I quit and I hate freelancing? 

Last week I put in notice at my job at a local newspaper. I have a little over a month left. I feel free now to work on what I want to do, interview and research the things that interest me and fill my writing days with my own stories and ideas.

Quitting has taken a great leap of faith. But isn’t that vision? I have a vision now, I’m working on turning that vision into goals and setting steps to achieve those goals. I have a map and am dictating my own journey.

What’s your vision? Are you writing it down and working towards it? What do you need to get there?