1. God’s Punctuation Understanding His Love and Care

2. The Conclusion 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. Jeremiah 29:11

3. GOD’S PLAN FOR ISRAEL For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

4. Israel’s Despair Defeated by Enemies Loss of Inheritance Servitude Destruction of Homeland No Earthly Advocate

5. Waiting on “something” Bethesda – “In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.” John 5:2-3

6. What’s the Expectation? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

7. More Losses than Victories 1831 - Lost his job 1832 - Defeated in run for Illinois State Legislature 1833 - Failed in business 1834* - Elected to Illinois State Legislature 1835 - Sweetheart died 1836 - Had nervous breakdown 1838 - Defeated in run for Illinois House Speaker 1843 -Defeated in run for nomination for party 1846* - Elected to Congress 1848 - Lost re-nomination 1849 - Rejected for land officer position 1854 - Defeated in run for U.S. Senate 1856 - Defeated in run for nomination for Vice President 1858 - Again defeated in run for U.S. Senate 1860 * - Elected President

8. The Finality of the “PERIOD” A period, also known as a full stop…the end of a sentence. It shows that an idea has finished.

9. CONTINUATION OF IDEA THE COMMA – Greek (κόμμα) – “something cut off” Used to separate parts of a sentence such as clauses and lists of three or more things.

10. IS HE REALLY FINISHED ? DON’T PUT A PERIOD WHERE GOD PUTS A COMMA