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Jeremiah 1:7-9. God’s Got A Plan

by Julia Bruce

19 Jeremiah 1 7-9

We often hear people in ministry say they were “called” to the ministry. We say that we commission missionaries and ordain ministers. Whether called, commissioned, or ordained, these people feel that God has divinely led them to serve Him in a ministry capacity. In the Old Testament, God called prophets to be a chosen person who would tell His people of what God was doing and will do. Jeremiah was just such a prophet and in the the first chapter, we find the account of God calling him. In the first 3 verses, we learn that Jeremiah was a preacher’s kid (the son of Hilkiah the Priest), that his home town was Anathoth in the land of Benjamin and that God called him while Josiah was in his 13th year of being King of Judah. We also learn that he served God as prophet for about 40 years – from 627 b.c. to some time after 586 b.c

In verse five, God says to Jeremiah that God knew him before He formed him in the womb and before he was born God had set him apart and ordained him to be a prophet to the nations. But Jeremiah, like Moses, objected and even used a very similar excuse. He said he could not speak. For Moses, he claimed he had a stutter, but Jeremiah said he was a youth. Bible Study materials indicate that he was most likely only 17 at the time God called him. However, God did not care about His age. He had been  preparing and gifting him for this since before He was born. God tells him to go to everyone He will send him to and say whatever God tells him to say. But then God says, “do not be afraid.” Perhaps Jeremiah was afraid that because of his age, no one would listen to him or that adults would find it disrespectful for him to speak to them. Or perhaps it was the message that he was to deliver. Jeremiah was given the task of delivering an unpopular, convicting message to Judah, one that caused him great mental anguish, as well as making him despised in the eyes of his people.

Often we thing of people in the ministry whom God has called and we envision them as spiritually mature, all put together and we hold them to a higher standard than we hold ourselves too and then when they reveal they are just as human as we are, we become offended. However, Jeremiah shows us that the people God calls are just as human as any other person. He experienced rejection, depression, discouragement, and great loss all while being obedient to what God had called him to do.

As Christians, each one of us has been called, sanctified, and set apart to serve God in a ministry that He has gifted and equipped us to do. This doesn’t mean that everyone of us will be a pastor or deacon or small group leader. For some, he expects us to work in a secular job and share our testimony with co-workers.  Some He may call to be writers and share the knowledge and wisdom He gives them to others so that they too can understand. Some he has given the gift of working with their hands, building and repairing homes or fixing appliances. Perhaps your call is to provide this service to free for senior adults in your church. Maybe He has given you the gift or being good with money and He wants you to volunteer your time teaching low-income, single moms basic budgeting and savings. Whatever call is calling you (or has called you) to do, He will gift and equip you to do it. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:4-10, “Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person. A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial: to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of languages, to another, interpretation of languages.”

Just as God had a job for Jeremiah, He has a job for you. God knew and choose Jeremiah for a specific plan and God knows and chooses you with a specific plan for your life. You might still be trying to figure it out – or maybe you’ve never even considered it. Sometimes, God reveals His plans for us in stages as we are ready. Wherever you are in understanding His plan for you, be obedient to what He has already shown you. Every Christian should be studying God’s Word and praying. Every Christian should be actively serving within their church. Every Christian is called to serve those within your household. And every Christian is called to be a witness to others. If you are still trying to figure out what God wants you to do, start with these things. As you are obedient with them, He will then reveal His specific plans for your life. While you’re waiting for His plans, pray for God to reveal them to you. When he does, be ready and willing to obey knowing that like Jeremiah, if God calls you, he will empower your and He will be with you. He will place His words in your mouth and His gifts in your soul.

 

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#verseoftheday #called #setapart #Godsgotaplan #WCM

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If you would like to be a part of the God-sized dream we call Wellspring Christian Ministries, you can help with your one-time or monthly tax-deductible contribution. Now, with two ways to give, you can help us grow and expand our ministry. To donate to our general ministries, you can now make a contribution through our website. We are also seeking the perfect 200 (or more) acres of land on which we will build and do the various ministries God is leading us in. To make a donation towards Phase 1 of our Land and Building campaign, you can give at buymeacoffe.com. We like to think of ourselves as “Distributors of Living Water” …and for just the cost of a copy of coffee, you can be one too through your contribution that will have an eternal impact as we lead others to Christ, help Christians develop passionate relationships with God, and help couples connect and reignite their marriages. Who knew the cost of a cup of coffee could do so much? Donate today to become a Living Water Distributor

You can also make a contribution to our general ministries as we grow and expand our ministry as God leads through our website. To donate to our ministry expansion, click here.

  • Every gift will be acknowledged on our “Donor Wall” on our website. Just  leave your name the way you wish it to appear in the message box as you make your gift.
  • Every $50 will receive a free signed copy of Julia’s book, “God, Love & Marshmallow Wars”
  • Every $500 or more gift will receive the “God, Love & Marshmallow Wars” Couple Event for their church with Julia’s speaker fees waived (host site is still responsible for travel expense and other costs of the event).

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Wellspring Christian Ministries is a 501(3)(c) non-profit organization.
Thank you for helping us grow!

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Cover_mBOOKING NOW to be a host site for the NEW God, Love & Marshmallow Wars Book Tour & Couples Conference:

This event helps couples understand why the daily activities found in the book will equip them to build a stronger marriage and the book provides them with 365 intentional activities to take what they learn at the event and apply it on a daily basis. Through the event, couples will discover the Biblical “why” behind the categories of activities found in the book and the “how” these activities are important to building a stronger marriage. Focus points of the event includes :

  • How memorizing scripture together and studying God’s Word together as they study, meditate and apply scriptures related to marriage and life issues will help them develop marriages that honor God.
  • Why utilizing fun conversation starters that spark meaningful conversations will keep interest alive as they continually learn new things about each other.
  • Why keeping romance alive is essential to intimacy and connectivity.
  • How making memories and working together builds relationship investment bonds and how these investment bonds can become the knots that keeps them together through the tough times.
  • How they can understand what they are or are not contributing to the marriage as well as how they might be contributing to problems or potential problems within the relationship through the use of targeted, intentional personal reflections
  • Why it is important that couples never stop dating and how group dates with Christian friends can be both an encouragement and accountability to their own relationship.

During the event, couples will be given an activity from each focus point to do together, making this event an interactive, fun, and engaging event with practical, hands-on learning. Unlike other couple events that are over when the event ends, couples who attend the GLMW event will be able to apply what they learn when utilizing the book on a daily basis for a year. Since the book is not dated, couples are able to reuse the activities year after year to continue being intentional in strengthening their relationship with each other and with God as they strive to live out God’s design for marriage every day.

Learn more about hosting this event at your church or conference site by clicking here.

About the book: The GLMW book contains 365 daily challenges for couples to strengthen their relationships to each other and with God. Couples will complete activities such as Scripture memory, conversation starters, relationship builders, learning about Biblical marriage, romance builders, personal reflections, and date ideas. Click here to purchase your copy. (This link will open a new widow and take you to Westbow Press’ bookstore.) It is also available at Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

#GLMWcouplesevent #GLMWbook #intentionalmarriage #Godlymarriage

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T-shirt Fundraiser: We have a new product line of Christian apparel and accessories available in our Teespring Store and our new Spreadshop Store. You’ll find tee shirts, hoodies, tanks, socks, leggings, tote bags, mugs, iphone cases and more.

All proceeds go to the advancement of Wellspring Christian Ministries.
Thank you for helping us grow!

Click here to view the Teespring store. 

Click here to view the Spreadshop Store 

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Looking for a speaker for your next ministry event? Julia is now booking for 2019 and 2020 Christian events for women’s and couples’ ministries for both small and large events.
Book with us now.

Julia is CEO of Wellspring Christian Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people and couples develop a passionate relationship with God. A public speaker, conference trainer, event planner, and blog writer, Julia is a two-time graduate from Grand Canyon University with a bachelor in Psychology and a masters in Professional Counseling. Saved as a child and raised in church and in a Christian home and private Christian School as a Pastor’s kid, Julia has taught Sunday school, led music, played the piano, served as Children’s Director, and engaged her gifts in many other areas of church life. Previously employed with the Florida Baptist Convention, Julia organized events and led conferences for church ministry assistants.

Julia enjoys sharing her journey as a growing Christian with others looking for a deeper connection with God. Through Bible study and her own life experiences, God has given Julia a passion to help couples understand God’s design for marriage while they learn to place God first in their marriage, cultivate meaningful relationships, build intimacy, and address the tougher issues that come in every marriage so that they can experience a marriage that honors and glorifies God. Julia also loves mentoring, teaching, and working with women to help them learn to live as Godly women.

With her history and experience growing up in both small and large churches, Julia enjoys bringing top level quality events to churches of all sizes. Her father largely pastored small churches and therefore she understands that these vital parts of the believing community need to be good stewards of the resources God provides them with. This knowledge inspires her passion for being available with a fresh perspective for those who want to provide their congregations with meaningful spiritual growth opportunities, regardless of size.

Image result for form pngTo request more information or a booking, 
fill out the online form here.

Or call us at 904.524.8073

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Affiliate links for The Case for Christ by Lee Stroble:

350034: The Case for Christ, Updated and Expanded, Mass Market The Case for Christ, Updated and Expanded, Mass Market

By Lee Strobel / Zondervan

If you were a journalist, how would you investigate the top story in human history? Join the award-winning former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune as he cross-examines scholars to uncover incontestable evidence supporting Jesus’ claims. Includes updated archaeological material, an interview with Strobel, and more. A powerful defense of the Christian faith! 464 pages, softcover from Zondervan.

The Case for Christ, Blu-ray/DVD/CD Combo - The Case for Christ, Blu-ray/DVD/CD Combo

By Pure Flix Entertainment, LLC

A hard-driving journalist, Lee Strobel was exactly where he expected to be at work: on top. His award-winning investigative reporting recently earned him a promotion to legal editor at the Chicago Tribune. But things weren’t going nearly as well at home where his wife Leslie’s newfound faith in Christ went against everything Lee believed—or didn’t believe—as an avowed atheist.

Utilizing his journalistic and legal training, Lee begins a quest to debunk the claims of Christianity in order to save his crumbling marriage. Chasing down the biggest story of his career, Lee comes face-to-face with unexpected results that could change everything he knows to be true.

Starring Mike Vogel (The Help, Cloverfield), Erika Christensen (Parenthood, Flightplan), Faye Dunaway (The Thomas Crown Affair, Chinatown), and Robert Forster (The Descendents, Jackie Brown). Rated PG. Approx. 113 minutes.

Includes Blu-ray, DVD and CD

Features:

  • “The Heart of The Case for Christ” Featurette
  • Intro to the Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC
  • 11 Music Videos from “The Case for Christ” Album
  • Interviews with Lee & Leslie Strobel, Cast, and Crew
  • Deleted Scenes
  • English and Spanish subtitles

Bonus CD included:

  • The Case for Christ – Songs Inspired by the Original Motion Picture