"Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties." 1 Kings 3:7
Think back to the time when you finally got out of the military or college, and you were taking that first job. Or maybe it was when you had your first child, and all the sudden you realized you had to act like an adult. You wake up in the morning, and think, "You know, I'm supposed to be an adult, but I feel like a kid." That's what Solomon felt like when he unexpectedly and suddenly became the King of all Israel. He felt overwhelmed, yet he had all this responsibility. He was called to lead a great nation that began with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph - a nation with extraordinary, godly leaders like Moses and Joshua, and even his own father, David. Solomon reflected on all of this, and said, "I feel like a little child." Now think about that for a minute. Children are utterly dependent on their parents. So Solomon, since his earthly father had died, spoke to his Heavenly Father (since his earthly father had died), all he could say was, "I feel as a little child." He expressed an utter dependence on his Heavenly Father. Now, that is not a bad place for a king to begin. And it's not a bad place for all of us to be, either. Approach your life as a little child, completely dependent on your Father. He will provide; He will never disappoint. With the faith of a child, we can live like mature adults. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV)
I know a man who had been out of work for over three years. He’s in construction management. For 25 years, he had a very good position at a successful company. But a few years ago when the economy went down, they had to let him go. He ended up taking a much lower level position in a small city and had to travel a couple of hours every day to work. It was taking a toll on his health, his marriage and his savings. It looked like things would never change. But about six months ago, his former boss called and said, “Hey, are you ready to go back to work?” That company landed the largest contract in their history. He not only got his job back, but all of his benefits were restored. Plus, they increased his salary significantly. What happened? He came into a shift. Suddenly, things changed in his favor. One phone call. One contract. One good break. He went from barely getting by to having more than enough. Now, get ready because these shifts are in your future! Father, I thank You for doing exceedingly and abundantly beyond what I could ever imagine. I thank You for supernatural shifts of favor in my life this year. I believe and receive every blessing You have for me in Jesus’ name. Amen. — Joel & Victoria Osteen Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24 NRSV)
Deny yourself and take up a cross. The ultimate success formula. Try it. I guarantee you it will work. But before you go out into the world to try it, let me add one thing. Some of you are going to find that material success is not really all that satisfying. There are a lot of lonely people driving Porches and Mercedes, living in homes with marble floors and crystal chandeliers. These folks are finding out too late that upward mobility is not necessarily the formula for a peaceful heart or a loving home. So we need to re-examine for a moment Christ's words. We overlooked some of them. He said, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Jesus is not talking about Rolex watches at all, is he? He's talking about forgetting ourselves for the sake of others. Isn't that what he did? Isn't that what the cross really is all about? He's not talking about becoming real go-getters but real go-givers. He's not talking about stocks and bonds, but soup kitchens and bread lines. He's not talking about winning the rat race, but serving the human race in Jesus' name. Don't miss the boat.
Remember that we are all in the same boat Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big. Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done Build your future on high ground. For safety sake, travel in pairs Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetah. When you're stressed, float a while Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting. Haters don't really hate you. They hate themselves because you're a reflection of what they wish to be.
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, quarreling, and slander be put away from you, along with all hatred. Ephesians 4:31 Life is to short to waste time hating someone, anyone. Never be awful to anyone, that person you were awful to may teach you the most. Always remember... you are a somebody, God didn't take the time to create a nobody. Always smile, you never know whose day you might be making. Never 'forget' to say hello to anyone Never miss the chance to laugh or smile Never get too caught up in yourself that you forget to help others. Never forget that you aren't the only one with problems Never forget that when you feel like you only have one friend, that friend will remind you of all the others. If you forget about all the bad things in life, the good will take over. If fear is staring you in the face, close your eyes so you don't have to look at it. Be yourself, you can't be anyone else...The best you can be is you! Good employees will spend time working diligently to do what they are assigned to do even when the boss is not around. So too we should not waste time speculating about when He is coming back but rather serve Him wholeheartedly everyday as Mark13:33 instructs.
Lord and my Father in the name of Jesus, my prayer and request today are to dwell in your house all the days of my life.
For there’s so much in Your house, total Devine protection, provision, healing and everything that’s good. Draw me closer to You Lord Jesus in every step of the way. I know the works of Your hands and believe that If You hadn’t been my help, my soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence. When my foot slipped, Thy loving kindness, Oh Lord, helped me up. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul (Ps 94:17-19). I acknowledge that I will be so lost without You. I will seek Your face, depart from evil and do good. I will Seek thy peace and pursue it. For Your eyes are on the righteous, and Your ears are open to their cry (Ps 34:14-15). I want to delight myself in You, for You will give me the desires of my heart. I will strive to commit my ways to You, and totally trust and depend on You (Ps 37:4-5). As it is written that in all my ways I have to acknowledge You (Prov 3:6), because it is You who makes my paths straight. And I pray Lord that You be my confidence, so as to keep my foot from being caught (Prov 3:26). It is written in Ps 37:23-28 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not Be utterly cast down; for the lord upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now I’m old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendents begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; and his descendents are blessed. Depart from evil and do good, and dwell forevermore. For the Lord loves justice and does not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, But the descendents of the wicked shall be cut off.” One thing that I ask of the Lord, that I shall seek; that I may dwell in Your house all the days of my life (Ps 27:4) and abide under Your shadow (Ps 91:1). "'n Vrolike mens is 'n gesonde mens, 'n neerslagtige mens raak uitgeput." (Spreuke 17:22)
Die bevinding word gemaak dat lag jou bloedsomloop stimuleer en daarom ook jou bloeddruk stabiliseer, en dit stimuleer ook ander lewensbelangrike organe. Daar is ook bewys dat lag pyn kan verlig. Het jy al gevoel hoe gou kan jy moeg word wanneer jy neerslagtig is? Ek het self al beleef dat die geringste spanning of hartseer my moeg laat voel, maar wanneer jy lag voel jy sommer wakker en lus vir die lewe. Lag is nie net goed vir jou liggaamlike gesondheid nie, maar ook vir jou gees. Dit gee jou lewenslus en bevorder daardeur jou menseverhoudinge. Spontane mense met 'n goeie sin vir humor is gewoonlik baie gewild. Die Here verwag van my en jou om vriendelik te wees - dit is een van die eienskappe van die vrug van die Gees in Galasiërs 5:22. Miskien is jy nie van nature spontaan en vriendelik nie, dan wil ek jou vandag verseker dat dit iets is wat jy kan aanleer. Probeer dit vandag, glimlag vir almal wat jy raakloop en steek jou skaamheid bietjie in jou sak. Jy sal beslis agterkom dat lag medisyne is wat die wêreld 'n beter plek maak! Bid en vra die Here om jou te help om nie skaam te wees nie en met almal om jou vriendelik te wees en saam te lag. Maak vandag die keuse en sê vir jouself: "Ek (jou naam) gaan van nou af 'n vriendeliker mens wees!" The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for god to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" He cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" Asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied. It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because god is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember that next time your little hut is burning to the ground .it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of god. For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, god has a positive answer for it.
In recent years, much of the debate over today's family crisis has focused on men - or more specifically, the lack of positive male role models. It is true too many fathers are absent and are not taking responsibility for their children. There are, however, many fathers who are bravely trying to live up to their high calling. As a husband and father of four, here are ten principles that I have learned over the last 20 years of fathering.
1) Passionately love your wife. With few positive images of husbands around, girls don't know what to look for in a man, and young men don't know how to treat a woman. Your daughters are going to date fellows who show the same level of commitment and respect you model. And your sons are going to treat their girlfriends and wives the same way they see you treat your wife. Let your children see you sharing love and affection with their mother. When you and your wife have a conflict, show your children how two people can make up. The most important area of your life you prepare your children for is marriage and family, and their best preparation is to live with a dad who loves their mom. 2) Be a man of integrity - or your words will fall on deaf ears. Who you are behind closed doors is the real you. If you sing in the choir on Sundays and then yell at your wife all week, whatever you say about kindness and caring won't count in your children's eyes. Do you keep your promises? When you commit to do something with your kids, do you break your back to carry it through? Recently, my oldest son, Bryan, introduced me to a group by listing my credentials, then he said, "You know, those things are nice, but they don't mean anything to me. What means the most to me is that my dad is in private what you see in public." That inspired me to be even more consistent. 3) Your children's importance to you can be measured by the time you spend with them. Calendars don't lie. No matter what we say, children know we spend time on the things and with the people that are most important to us. Remember this when you are deciding whether or not to attend an activity that is important to them. Plan to spend time with your children. Every Thursday before school, my two younger children and I get up early, go out to breakfast and have Bible study. They know that's in Dad's schedule, and we have a lot of fun. Whatever your work schedule is, it is dad's responsibility to foster times of just being with his children. Find out what interests each child (it will be different for each one) My sons like sports, so we go to ball games. My daughters like to go to the mall, so that is where I take them. 4) You, more than anyone else, can give your children lifelong self-worth. How your children perceive their worth in dad's eyes powerfully influences their lives. My mother has been a phenomenal influence in my life. But when my dad would say, "Son, that was a good job," that meant so much to me! A man makes a lasting mark on his kids' lives when he gives them appropriate praise.It inspires them and gives them an incentive to reach higher. But the reverse is also true. Never call your children names or use demeaning words - from dad those arrows inflict deep wounds. Separate any negative behavior from their personhood. 5) Communicate as a family A united family makes children feel secure. Share at least one meal every day as a family, when you sit down and talk about the issues of the day. Spend one night a week together as a family (not watching TV). It doesn't have to be expensive; you could play games together, go for walks, or go to a park. During family times, the toughest things for us dads is to learn how to listen. We love to give advice, but only by listening will we learn what their hearts need. 6) Understand your mission. Your mission as a father is to present to the world a gift from your home who will live on after you. The pressure of taking care of one crisis after another, and trying to make ends meet, easily distracts us from devoting time to this mission. It's unfair to our wives that so often we come home too tired from our jobs, our friends, and our social activities to have joy or energy left for our children. If one of them got disciplined that day by their mother, a dad should be able to pull him aside and say, "I understand Mom had to discipline you today. What was the issue involved? How are you going to do it differently next time?" 7) Be vulnerable and admit your weaknesses. The other evening I really came down hard on Heather, my oldest daughter. I didn't have all the information, but since we had talked about this issue several times, I knew I was 100 percent right. After I got the rest of the story, I realized I was completely wrong. I had to say, "Sweetheart, your hardheaded father was wrong again. There is no excuse for how I reacted. Please forgive me?" Pride makes us fear people thinking we are weak, instead of in charge. But our children don't only need to see our successes. They need to see that when we hurt others, we seek healing; that when we make bad decisions, we deal with them responsibly. 8) Discipline means character development, not venting anger. Don't discipline your child out of anger. Give yourself time to cool off. Children need to see that discipline and love are not opposites. Before Karen and I had children, an older couple shared some wisdom: "Whenever you spank your children, try praying with them first. After you pray together, tell them why you are spanking them. After the spanking, pray with them again." Discipline is not punishment - it might involve pain, but its purpose is correction and development. I want my kids to know that when I take privileges away from them, or when they have to be spanked, it's not to torment them. It's so that later in life my kids don't have habit patterns that hurt them. 9) Don't overprotect - let children learn the law of reaping what they sow. I bought Bryan an in-style sports team hat. I told him not to wear it to school because kids there were getting their hats stolen. He ignored my warning and, sure enough, his hat got stolen. We were pretty sure who took it, and my first thought was to go down and get that hat. But then I realized, "No, don't do it this time." Bryan needed to learn a lesson. When our children make bad decisions, sometimes the best thing a dad can do is to stand back and let them feel the heat. Learning that "you reap what you sow" is a very important part of becoming an adult. I don't want Bryan to do right because I said so; I want him to reason for himself why something is a bad choice. Unless our children suffer the consequences of their affections, they'll never be able to make informed, reasoned decisions on their own. 10) Don't be afraid to show your tender side. Tender words and affection matter. Studies show that when children don't experience that affection, they will search for it in self-destructive ways. A day shouldn't go by that a dad does not tell his children, "I love you." Each day may be the last time we have that opportunity. It takes a lot of energy to shape the lives God has entrusted to us as fathers.We need to make the most of our time with our children, so that we never look back and wish, "If only I had spent more time, or given more praise, or told them how much I loved them." I want to give my best to being a father. Even if my children decide to adopt values contrary to what Karen and I have taught them, I never, ever want them to say it's because they felt like they got the leftovers in my life. |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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