God's Plans

God’s Plans

“Yes I know what plans I have in mind for you, Yahweh declares, plans for peace, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) – New Jerusalem Bible.

“For surely I know the plan I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not your harm, to give you a future with hope.” (The New Oxford Bible)

“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare not for your woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope.” (Catholic Study Bible)

Key words in Jeremiah 29: 11 – plan, welfare, know, hope, future.

Plan:

• · No plan of yours can be thwarted. (Job 42:2)
• · The Lord has planned and who can annul it? (Isaiah 14: 27)
• · The plans of the Lord stand forever. (Psalm 33: 11)
• · I will accomplish all my purpose. (Isaiah 46: 10)
• · God planned it long ago. (2 Kings 19: 25; Isaiah 22: 11; 25: 1; 37: 26)
• · The Lord planned it. (Isaiah 23: 9)
• · I know the plans I have for you. (Jeremiah 29: 11)
• · The people did whatever your hand predestined to occur (Acts 4: 28)
• · God prepared our good works beforehand (Ephesians 2: 10)
• · A man’s lifespan is predestined (Job 14: 5)

Thesaurus of the Bible

The Almighty shall be your gold

The Almighty shall be your gold

“And treat raw gold like dust and the fine gold from Ophir as pebbles from the brook. Then the Almighty himself shall be your gold and your sparkling silver.” (Job 22: 24 – 25)

“Let one who seeks not stop seeking until one finds.” (Gospel of St. Thomas)

Exciting Moment of truth

"If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry…" (Matthew 6: 30 31)

"While I plan to get an accommodation, God was weaving together another design and preparing a place of ministry for me. I saw it happen several times. There is no "No Vacancies" with God. I have a healthy respect for God's Placement Department as I look back over my life.

It's an exciting moment of truth to find out that God has put you in your house, in your apartment, on your street, in your town with an eternal plan in mind. It totally transforms the nuisance of inadequate urban planning, noise, pollution and even the strangeness of a new town.

It's easy to "care" for a whole town, a whole continent, or the people who live across town. It's not so easy to look on our block or in our own apartment. That is, until we catch hold of the idea that God has placed us where we are with a purpose in mind. And finding that purpose makes life sing!"

(Gladys Hunt, "You Can Start a Bible Study Group")

“Come you to the waters.”

"Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to me and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

Incline your ear to me, and come to me; listen so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David." (Isaiah 55: 1 – 3) NRSV.

"Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied." (Matthew 5: 6) Hunger and thirst for God's kingdom are essential prerequisite for salvation. They are also the vital conditions for receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Everyone is invited to the feast but the qualification is thirst. Where God gives grace, he first gives the thirsting after it. Where he has given a thirsting after grace, he will give it.

All people are invited to "come you to the waters." Come to Jesus Christ in the: Eucharist, Blessed Sacrament, Sacrament of Reconciliation, word of God and prayer. "Come and buy; come and eat" implies full possession. Christ Jesus outperforms our expectations in his provisions. "Come and buy wine and milk." The gifts are priceless. The giver does not need our money.

Isaiah 55: 1-3 foreshadows the incredible and invaluable gifts of the Sacraments which flow out of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

Wait patiently for your turn

"A furnace for silver, a foundry for gold, but Yahweh for the testing of hearts!" (Proverbs 17: 3)

How is Yahweh testing me today?

I recall pre-1195, I was sorely tested by money problems and job. At the inception of the Enterprise in 1096, I was tested by money, shelter and little needs. I learned through all these tests that Yahweh wants me to trust him in everything. One area that is a big testing ground for me today is the need to develop patience in every situation, every time and every place. The message for me every day is "wait patiently for your turn."

School of Wisdom

School of Wisdom

“The fear of Yahweh is a school of wisdom, before there can be glory, there must be humility.” (Proverbs 15: 33)

Fear Yahweh – obey Yahweh.

Obedience to the word of God is what opens our personality fully to wisdom. God humbles us before he raises us up to whatever glory he has destined us.

Some of the too many examples attesting to this truth are:

• · Jesus Christ
• · Blessed Virgin Mary
• · Saints Peter and Paul

Discipleship

Discipleship

“If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples; you will come to know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8: 31)

“Discipleship involves constancy as learners and [constancy] gains the promise of knowledge of the truth and freedom. Real discipleship leads to real freedom.

“The truth shall make you free.’ The truth which Christ teaches tends to make men free, (Isaiah 61: 1). It makes us free from our spiritual enemies, free in the service of God, free from all fears, free to the privileges of sons.

Secondly, the knowing, entertaining, and believing of this truth does actually make us free, free from prejudices, mistakes and false notions, free from the dominion of lust and passion; and restores the soul to the government of itself. The mind, by admitting the truth of Christ is vastly enlarged, and has scope and compass given it and never acts with so true a liberty as when it acts under divine command.” (2 Corinthians 3: 17)

(The Pulpit Commentary)

Keeping Watch

Keeping Watch

“Blessed, whoever listens to me, who day after day keeps watch at my gates to guard my portals. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of Yahweh.” (Proverbs 8: 34 – 35)

I am encouraged by the above scripture. Day after day, I keep watch at God’s gates waiting for his word on the Enterprise. I am reassured that at the fullness of time, he will answer me with life and his favors. Thank you Lord.

“Fear of Yahweh means hatred of evil.” (Proverbs 8: 13)

Love of truth means hatred of lies, dishonesty.

Give and there will be gifts for you

Give and there will be gifts for you

“Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap; because the standard you use will be the standard used for you.” (Luke 6: 38)

Give what? Your –

· Time

· Treasure

· Talent

· Prayers

· Thoughts

· Counsels

Give to whom?

· Family

· Fellow Christians

· Neighbors

· Children in need

Why give?

· God has given us everything we have

· He gives us that we may give others

· Giving is divine

· It makes us rich in spirit

· When we give, we receive more

When give?

· Every time we confront human need.

“Give and it shall be given to you. Men shall return it into our bosom; for God often makes use of men as instruments, not only for his avenging, but of his rewarding justice. God will incline the hearts of others to give to us when we need, and to give liberally, ‘good measure pressed down and shaken together.’ Whom God recompenses he recompenses abundantly.

We must expect to be dealt with ourselves as we dealt with others. “With the same measure that ye mete it shall be measured to you again.” Those that deal harshly with others may expect to be paid in their own coin; but they that deal kindly with others have reason to hope that God will raise them up friends who will deal kindly with them.”

Scope of Prayer

"Whatever you ask in my name I will do it, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." (John 14: 13 – 14)

"Whatever: the scope of prayer.

Ask: The condition of prayer.

In my name: The ground of prayer. This involves at least two things:

1. Praying in the authority Christ gives (Cf Matthew 28: 19, Acts 3: 6)
   
2. Praying in union with him, so that one does not pray outside his will.
   

That the Father may be glorified in the Son: The purpose of prayer."

(The Wycliffe Bible Commentary)

Confidence in Prayer 3

Confidence in Prayer 3

“We can approach God with confidence in this: if we make our requests which accord with his will, he listens to us; and if we know that our requests are heard, we know that the things we ask for are ours.” (1 John 5: 14 – 15)

“A privilege belonging to faith in Christ. The Lord Christ emboldens us to come to God in all circumstances. Through him our petitions are accepted of God. The matter of our prayer must be acceptable to the declared will of God. We may have confidence that the prayer of faith shall be heard in heaven.

The advantage accruing to us by our privilege, verse 15. To know that his petitions are heard or accepted is as good as to know that they are answered.”

(Matthew Henry’s Commentary in One Volume)

“When believers are so responsive to the guidance of the Spirit of truth that their prayers accord with God’s will, God hears their prayers and grants their requests.” (Harpers Bible Commentary)

“Earlier, the Apostle referred to confidence in prayer and to how we can be sure of receiving what we pray for: that confidence comes from the fact that “we keep his commandments and do what pleases him” (1 John 3:22). Now he stresses that God always listens to us, if we ask “according to his will”. This condition can be taken in two ways, as St. Bede briefly explains: “In so far as we ask for things he desires, in so far as those of us who approach him are as he desires us to be.” The asker therefore needs to strive to live in accordance with God’s will, and to identify himself in advance with God’s plan. If he does not try to live in keeping with God’s commandments, one cannot expect him to listen to one’s prayers.

When prayers meet those requirements, “we know that we have obtained the requests made of him,” as our Lord himself assured us; “if you ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14: 14).” (Navarre Bible Commentary)

Confidence in Prayer 2

“We can approach God with confidence in this: if we make our requests which accord with his will, he listens to us; and if we know that our requests are heard, we know that the things we ask for are ours.” (1 John 5: 14 – 15)

“John sees prayer as having a wide scope for he speaks of asking for anything, but he immediately qualifies this “according to his will.” Prayer is not a device for inducing God to change his mind and do whatever we want. It must be offered in accordance with his will if it is to be effective. When it is offered in this way God hears us. Elsewhere we learn that prayer must be in faith (Mark 11: 24), in the name of Jesus (John 14: 14), offered by those who abide in Christ (John 15: 7), who have forgiven those who offend them (Mark 11:25); it must be accompanied by obedience (1 John3: 22), and it must not be for the gratification of one’s passions (James 4: 3). All this is involved in praying according to the will of God. From the thought that God hears us we move to the consequences, namely that he grants our requests.” (New Bible Commentary)

Confidence in Prayer

Confidence in Prayer

"We can approach God with confidence in this: if we make our requests which accord with his will, he listens to us; and if we know that our requests are heard, we know that the things we ask for are ours." (1 John 5: 14 – 15)

This seems utterly reasonable to me. If somebody asks me for something which agrees with my plan for the person, I give it. So it is important that our prayers accord with God's will for us. How do we know God's will?

"The believer who is in fellowship with God will not ask anything that is contrary to God's will. (The Holy Spirit will ensure that this does not happen."

"Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it." (John 14: 13 – 14, Matthew 7: 7, 18: 9), so Jesus promised his disciples. To pray in his name, to pray as he prayed, is to offer perfect prayer, for it is prayer that is always in accordance to his will. Such prayer is always answered, though the answer may be different from our expectations. The assurance that God hears and answers our prayer is for the Christian the final confidence in victory that he is guided by God; and no power of sin or of the devil can ultimately claim him." (The Interpreters One Volume Commentary of the Bible.)

You save me on day of my distress

"I thank you, Lord, with all my heart;

Before the gods to you I sing.

I bow low toward your holy temple;

I praise your name for your fidelity and love.

For you have exalted over all your name and your promise.

When I cried out, you answered;

You strengthened my spirit."

(Psalm 138: 1 – 3)

Yahweh heard my cry of distress in 1995. Therefore, I give him great thanks. I recall your faithful love and constancy and I praise you for it, my God.

On that day when I was surrounded by trouble on every side, I called on you and you gave new strength to my heart. You gave me your Holy Spirit to live within me.

When I think of your so many promises, I feel glad.

Although you are great and sublime, you condescended to take care of me.

When I think of how you saved me from my many troubles and give me life, I rejoice.

I know you will do great things for me because your faithful love endures forever. Amen

Spiritual Laws

Spiritual Laws

“Blessed the upright, for he will feed on the fruit of his deeds.” (Isaiah 3: 10)

The word of God promises in several places that he will bless the labors of the person who believes and obeys him. God’s promises are spiritual laws governing everyone and everything. I ought to see my promised land scriptures as spiritual laws.

What is the nature of a spiritual law?

• · Spiritual law depends on certain conditions for fulfillment.
• · They are precise and immutable.

The only conditions necessary for God’s spiritual laws to operate in our lives are faith and prayer. St. Augustine says that these are the two things that conquer God.

“I have strength for everything through him who empowers me.” (Philippians 4: 13). This is a spiritual law that governs me.

Properous will you be

Prosperous will you be

“How blessed are all who fear Yahweh, who walk in his ways! Your own labors will yield you a living, happy and prosperous will you be.” (Psalm 128: 1 – 2)

When I reflected on the above scripture ten years ago, I was unemployed and unsalaried but considered myself employed in the vineyard of the Lord. I appropriated the blessings. I confided this in my journal below:

“I fear the Lord and I believe that I am walking in his ways. And God is saying to me now: my labors will yield me a living.

What are my labors today?

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ and I consider my labors to be:

· Prayer of praise, petition and intercession.

· Study of the word of God.

· Study of tools, e.g. writing and the Internet.

· SAM volunteer work.

· Lector

· Apostolate of friendship.

God is saying to me right here and right now that these labors will yield me a living. He is also promising that I will be happy and prosperous. I am certainly very happy today but what does prosperity mean to me? It means the gift of simplicity and contentment. It means that my real needs will be provided for adequately. How has God been providing for me since the inception of the Enterprise?

Peace, happiness and confidence

Food

Medication

Shelter

Clothing

Mass

Word of God

Prayer time

Books

Computer and Internet

Sam

I am eating bread without money. (Isaiah 55: 1 – 3)

For Nothing is Impossible for God

“For nothing will be impossible for God.” (Luke 1: 37)

This is the assurance that the Angel Gabriel gave to Mary when he told her that she would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit to be the Mother of God.

No word of God will be impossible to him. I appropriated this message from the scriptures one Sunday morning: “I am going to provide a place for my people Israel; I shall plant them there, and there they will live and never be disturbed again; nor will they be oppressed by the wicked anymore, as they were in former times …. I shall grant you rest from all your enemies.” (2 Samuel 7: 10) It was a consolation of the truth for me to see in the message to Mary that “Nothing will be impossible for God.”

God himself will provide a place for me.

God will plant me there and make me secure.

I learned also this morning that full belief manifests itself in obedience and patience. How do I show obedience to this word of God? “I am the servant of the Lord: may his will for me be done.” Amen.

Definition of Revelation

Definition of Revelation

“Now to him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages, but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Romans 16: 25 – 27)

The Gospel was made known to the Gentiles “that they may believe and obey.”

Some read the Bible and believe that it is the word of God (prophetic writings). But they do not obey. So they do not see the wisdom of God or his power. The Gospel can only be alive and powerful when we believe and obey it.

Mary says: “I am the servant of the Lord: may his will for me be done.” She believes. She obeys. Help me O Blessed Mother to believe and to obey.

Shalom

Shalom!

“I am going to provide a place for my people Israel; I shall plant them there, and there they will live and never be disturbed again; nor will they be oppressed by the wicked anymore, as they were in former times ….. I shall grant you rest from all your enemies.” (2 Samuel 7: 10)

I discover in this Promised Land scripture the following promises that I can appropriate:

God himself will provide a place for me.

He himself will plant me there and there I will live.

Nobody will disturb me.

The wicked will not oppress me: (for example – money, job, tools, family, health, food)

God will grant me rest from all my enemies.

As I write this, I recall one of the greatest gifts of the Mass: Peace. Peace is offered as a gift of Christ to us in the Mass at least 5 times. Lord Jesus, I truly believe that you anoint me with peace every time I meet you in the Eucharist. I know now why you give me this peace. Yes, you give it to me to enjoy and to become your instrument of peace to the world. Lord, I will never know how to do this until you teach me. Please Jesus, make me an instrument of peace.

The Scroll of the Book

The Scroll of the Book

“My task, I have said, Yahweh is to keep your word.” (Psalm 119: 57)

“In the scroll of the book it is written of me, my delight is to do your will.” (Psalm 40: 7)

It will not be possible for me to do God’s will unless God is generous to me in this direction. (Psalm 119: 17)

Unless he teaches me, gives me understanding and guides me (Psalm 119: 33 – 35; Colossians 1: 9)

Unless he averts my eyes from “pointless images”, that is, luxury, pornography, alien gods.

Unless he gives me life, that is the Holy Spirit (Psalm 119: 88)

Unless God supports me (Psalm 119: 116)