"For I know the plans I have for you-this is the Lord's declaration-plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart" Jeremiah 29:11-13.

We all go through difficult times in our lives. Sometimes it's a natural or man-made disaster and sometimes it is tough times brought on by the struggle of life. The prophet Jeremiah proclaims that God's plans are for our good. A song from some time back says that the flowers don't worry when it begins to rain because they know that if the rains don't come, they won't grow. When we go through hard times, we learn to rely on the Father. The scripture says, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." He uses difficult times to help us empathize with those we minister to in a disaster. Seek Him "with all your heart."

Haiti rebuild meeting

Florida Baptist Convention, Baptist Global Response, and the North American Mission Board are meeting this week for an important meeting on the rebuilding process in Haiti. Southern Baptists hope to build between 3,000 and 6,000 block homes. These transitional homes are the next step for Haitian families and will be built by Haitians. Volunteers from the U.S. will provide training in basic construction skills such as foundations, block laying, and trusses. Please pray for this meeting and for the people of Haiti.

Photo: Southern Baptists are helping build more permanent block homes in Haiti.

Thanksgiving for SBDR volunteers

We want to give thanks for all our volunteers. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is about the calling of God on individuals who volunteer their time to make a difference in the lives of people affected by disaster. This year, an estimated 6,000 volunteers did just that, and our thanks go out to all of you. You are the ministers that God uses to "share the hope of Christ."