declares the Lord

When the Israelites were in Babylon, away from home, exiled, misled and in distress, God said to them:

Build houses and live in them;

plant gardens and eat their produce.

Take wives and have sons and daughters;

take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage,

that they may bear sons and daughters;

multiply there, and do not decrease.

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you in to exile,

and pray to the Lord on its behalf,

for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

.....I will visit you,

and I will fulfill to you my promise 

and bring you back to this place.

For I know the plans I have for you, 

declares the Lord,

plans for peace and not for evil,

to give you a future and a hope.

Then you will call upon me 

and come 

and pray to me,

and I will hear you.

You will seek me and find me,

when you seek me with all your heart.

I will be found by you,

declares the Lord,

and I will restore your fortunes 

and gather you from all the nations and all the places 

where I have driven you,

declares the Lord,

and I will bring you back to the place 

from which I sent you into exile.

(Jer 29:5-14)

A good reminder for me today. He has good plans, he gives good direction, he has good purpose, he restores, he redeems. He declares it and it will be done. Amen!!!