Do you ever question God's will for you life?  Do you wonder what His plan for you might be?  Are you doing what He has called you to do?  Are you questioning that He has a plan for you at all?  Do  you feel hopeless when it comes to knowing God's plan for you?  Friend, we can be hopeful in God's will for us.  God has a plan for our lives.

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. - Jeremiah 29:11

Image Credit - Yolanda - CCO Public Domain Image - via Pixabay

The following are my notes taken during my pastor's sermon.

Hopeful in God's Will

First, God is the source of our hope. 

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15:13

Our focal scripture passage is Genesis, chapter 24.  At this time, Abraham is about 104 years old.  Issac is about 40 years old and is unmarried.  YET, God promised a plan.

This is a beautiful story about how God provided a wife for Isaac, but the principles learned throughout the story can be applied to any other situation when you doubt God's plan for our life. 

It was he to whom it was said, "In Isaac your descendants shall be called. - Hebrews 11:18

Regarding Genesis 24, we find in verses 1-4 that Abraham did not want a wife for Isaac who would turn his heart away from God.

Now Abraham was old, advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in every way.  Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he owned, “Please place your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of Heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live, but you will go to my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” - Genesis 24:1-4

In verses 5-9, God instructed them not to leave the land He had given them.  If Isaac chose to leave the land, it would cause the people to believe that God would not keep His promise.

God's will - His plan - is perfect.  We have to trust him.

Yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. - Romans 4:20-21

 In verses 10-11, Abraham's servant traveled 500 miles on a camel train.  A camel train consisted of about 10 camels.  They traveled for approximately 20 days, maybe more.

Then the servant took ten camels from the camels of his master, and set out with a variety of good things of his master’s in his hand; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.  He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water. - Genesis 24:10-11

 Now, here is a very important part.  Upon arrival into the city, Abraham's servant prayed.

He said, “O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water; now may it be that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar so that I may drink,’ and who answers, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels also’— may she be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness to my master.” - Genesis 24:12-14

Letters to God Movie Review

If you have not seen Letters to God, please watch it!  It is one of the best movies I've ever seen for teaching faith, hope, endurance, and strength.  Get your tissues before you begin the film.  You'll laugh, cry, and at times you'll laugh and cry at the same time.

Tyler Doherty is played by Tanner McGuire.  Tyler is battling cancer. He fights the disease with a courage, strength, and hope that is rare for anyone, but especially a kid.  During Tyler's courageous battle, he writes letters to God which are actually his prayers in written form.

Image Credit - Capri23auto - CCO Public Domain Image - via Pixabay

Letters to God

Brady McDaniels (played by Jeffery S. S. Johnson) is the Doherty family mail carrier.  Brady ends up intercepting Tyler's letters. Brady is suffering through trials of his own.  At first, Brady doesn't know what to do with Tyler's letters, but he develops a relationship with Tyler's family.  Tyler's family works well together to remain strong during the difficult time of watching Tyler battle cancer.  However their faith is challenged while they face their own feelings of neglect, selfishness, fatigue, and doubt.

The movie was released in 2010.  Tyler's mother is played by Robyn Lively.  His grandmother is played by Marie Cheatham.  His brother, Ben, is played by Michael Christopher Bolton.

I don't want to reveal too much more because I don't want to spoil the film for you, but I highly recommend this inspirational I will finish with telling you that Tyler influences a lot of people, especially Brady the mail carrier.  During this film, the gospel is shared with viewers.  Faith is challenged.  Decisions are made. Lives are changed.  Faith prevails.

Letters to God is based on a true story.

Watch the official movie trailer here.

Get your copy of Letters to God here.

Click the image to get your copy.

God Bless My School by Hannah C. Hall (Children's Book Review)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

God Bless My School

We love to read books.  We especially love to read books that instill faith into the hearts of children.  God Bless My School is a book that will teach children to pray.  When children read God Bless My School, they will enjoy a variety of little animals who start off on their journey to their first day of school.

Image Credit - Abundant Family Living

Image Credit - Abundant Family Living

The cute little animals in the story realize that God goes with them as they head off to school for the first day.  Little Bear gets a new pair of shoes.  Little Penguin gets a backpack filled with crayons, glue, and paint.  The animal children learn about letters, play with blocks, and sing songs. At lunchtime, they eat foods common to their animal diets.  Raccoon eats leaves.  Pig eats an apple.  Little dog eats doggie treats and little birdie enjoys a bowl filled with seeds. They rest and play.

God Bless My School is a durable board book that will lasts through lots of reading love.  Kids will enjoy the illustrations which are bright and cheerful.  This book opens up opportunities for discussions about prayer.  Parents can use this opportunity to talk to children about asking God to bless their own schools.

If you're interested in adding God Bless My School to your home or school library, you can find it here.