Monthly Message

Monthly Message


by Dean Allen



Dean Allen serves as a deacon at SRVBC and is the author of SRVBC's Monthly Message


Previous Messages:

January 2024
February 2024
March 2024
April 2024
May 2024
June 2024
July 2024
August 2024
September 2024
The Plans I Have For You
October 2023
God has great plans for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “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 hope and a future.” Even before we get saved, God is working in our lives to bring us to Himself. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins, opens eyes to His love, grace, and mercy, and leads us to accept His Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Only God can save a soul. The hymn writer said it so well, “O, the love that drew salvation’s plan! O the grace that brought it down to man! O the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary.”

Just imagine all the time, effort, and patience God exerts to save a soul. God’s plans do not stop the moment we are born again but continue into all eternity. Our heavenly Father loves us so much and desires the very best for us. Therefore, He brings trials into our lives. He uses circumstances and people in our lives, and He guides us, cares for us, and helps us along the journey of life!

We are so blessed to know the end of the story: our final abode will be in heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and each other for all eternity. What a great Master Plan! With this in mind, the Lord is working out His plans for us on a daily basis. Our joy and peace is knowing He is in control of tomorrow. He has a plan and will execute it beautifully in our lives.

The poet Audrey Mieir penned,

“Be not troubled with thoughts of the morrow, of duties you surely must do. On the Lord cast your burden of sorrow; It matters to Him about you!

Be not weary when trials are given, but trust Him to carry you through. He will make all a pathway to heaven; It matters to Him about you!

Then be patient until His appearing, ‘tis dawn almost now on your view; For the mists of this dark age are clearing, in love He is planning for you!”

God has a hope for us and a future for us that is so glorious. He takes by the hand and leads through this wilderness right to His Promised Land. Does this not inspire us to walk on, serve on, and fight on until the end of the journey? Let us remember His words, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to proper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Thought for the month: With such a bright hope for tomorrow, let us not fear or falter today.