Those who wait upon the Lord, will renew their strength,
they will soar on wings like the eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 ...for twelve years she had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. Mark 5:25 "While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said, "Why bother the teacher any more?" Mark 5:35 Parents waiting for children out past curfew know it. Couples having trouble conceiving a child know it. A family separated by overseas military service knows it. A person needing an organ transplant knows it. A candidate for law or medical school knows it. A pregnant mom 10 days past due knows it. A person struggling to be hired for a job knows it. In fact, at one time or another, most of us come to know this brooding beast. It's the long wait -- that drawn out time of fretful anticipation and extended longing. "Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength..." Often, this is easier said than done. Before we get to "mount up on wings like eagles," we often have to obediently grind away through the brutal passage of agonizing time. Before we can "run and not grow weary," we have to trudge on as anticipation dims and hope's flickering flame fights against the winds of despair. Many times, we just have to keep walking and trust that some hidden grace will help us "not faint." That's what makes this story of Jairus' daughter so compelling to me. Like you, I don't like to wait. In my mind, if there is any privilege for those with power and position, one should not have to wait! "They" surely don't have to wait like I do. "They" get to move to the head of line. "They" get to throw around their weight and get what they want when they want it. In this case, however, "they" (or more accurately, "he") didn't. (see Mark 5:21-43) Instead, Jairus' humbling approach to Jesus, an approach that could cost him everything in sacred society, was interrupted by a desperate woman who had faced "the long wait" herself as she had hopelessly gone to every healer available to her, and no doubt prayed incessantly for her own cure. This woman, who could not go into the synagogue because of her uncleanness, derailed the hope parade of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue. I find two things amazing about both of them. First, neither complains about his or her wait. Not the woman, who has spent her fortune on false medical hopes, nor Jairus, who has spent his respect capital to associate himself with a suspicious teacher. Both wait for their Lord to act. Impatiently waiting? Probably! But, they waited and received their grace. Second, they both received the personal attention of the Lord -- the man of power who could expect that attention and the woman on the fringes who, in her day, could not expect it. Jesus refused to let the woman have an anonymous miracle! He personally and specifically blessed her. Jairus' daughter would not be healed for the crowd, but only in the closed intimacy of Jesus' chosen few and Jairus' family. Both waited faithfully. Both received the personal attention of the Master! Each received his or her heart's greatest desire. This is not a story about long ago and far away. It is a reminder that Jesus is there for those who wait. It is a renewal of the ancient hope that God will act for those who don't give up during the long wait. You see, the issue isn't the wait. Instead, it is all about refusing to give up hope when the journey seems so long (12 years for the woman) and the problems so insurmountable (a dead 12-year old daughter for Jairus). Maybe you face the long wait right now. Maybe your heartbreak or shame or disappointment or loss seems insurmountable. If so, I want to encourage you to come back to this story of the powerless woman and the powerful man and remember the place their broken hearts met, the place their broken dreams were mended, and the place their long wait ended. Know that place is really a person, and his name is Jesus. Here, oral waar ek gaan laat ek vingerafdrukke na. Op die hande wat ek aanraak, op borde, mure en
boeke. Daar is nie wegkomkans nie, waar ek vat plaas ek 'n teken van my identiteit. Help my Here, om vandag waar ek ookal gaan hartafdrukke na te laat. Hartafdrukke van regverdigheid en deernis, van begrip en liefde, van barmhartigheid en belangstelling. Hartafdrukke van hartlike vriendelikheid en van opregte betrokkenheid. Mag my hart 'n ander hart aanraak en 'n afdruk van U liefde laat. En as iemand sou sê: Jou aanraking het my vandag versterk laat hulle agterbly met die wete dat dit U liefde was wat hul in my ervaar het. The world looks for something real something tangible. People look for love and God is Love see 1 John 4:8. Because we know God we can offer the answer to the searching hearts around us and the needs of people we encounter in life- the God of love talked about in 1 John 4:8 is that answer.
It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. I was surprised, and asked him, "And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?" He smiled as he patted my hand and said, "She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is." I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, "That is the kind of love I want in my life." True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Rev 3:11 NIV
Some of you have never won a prize in your life. Oh, maybe you were quartermaster in your Boy Scout troop or in charge of sodas at the homeroom Christmas party, but that's about it. You've never won much. You've watched the Mark McGwires of this world carry home the trophies and walk away with the ribbons. All you have are "almosts" and "what ifs." If that hits home, then you'll cherish this promise: "And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away" (1 Peter 5:4 NIV). Your day is coming. What the world has overlooked, your Father has remembered, and sooner than you can imagine, you will be blessed by him. When Christ Comes (Max Lucado) Eendag het Jesus vir Petrus, Jakobus en Johannes na die kruin van 'n berg geneem. Ons lees: "... Skielik was daar twee manne wat met Hom praat. Dit was Moses en Elia... Petrus en die ander het intussen vas aan die slaap geraak, en toe hulle wakker word, sien hulle die hemelse glans van Jesus en ook die twee manne wat by Hom staan. Toe die manne aanstaltes maak om van Hom af weg te gaan, sê Petrus vir Jesus: 'Here, dit is goed dat ons hier is. Laat ons drie hutte bou: een vir U, een vir Moses en een vir Elia.'" (Lukas 9:30-33 NV). Petrus het verkeerd gedink. Drie altare sou beteken dat Moses en Elia gelykstaande aan Jesus is. Niemand is gelykstaande aan Jesus nie! Hy is geheel, uitsluitlik, volledig en heeltemal God. Toe God uit die hemele gespreek het daardie dag het Hy nie gesê "luister na hulle" nie. Nee, Hy het gesê: "Dit is My Seun wat Ek uitverkies het. Luister na Hom." (Lukas 9:35 NV). Jesus het presies geweet wie Hy was. Sy aanklaers het geskree: "'Dan is jy die Seun van God?', en Jesus het geantwoord: 'Dit is soos julle sê: Ek is!'" (Lukas 22:70 NV). Hy het self gesê: "Wie My sien, sien die Vader." (Johannes 14:9 NV). Hy het Sy teenstanders verstom deurdat Hy Sy dood en Sy opstanding voorspel het. Dit behoort duidelik te wees dat Jesus nie net nog 'n historiese figuur was nie. Wie dink jy is Christus? Is Hy die Here in jou lewe? Hy wil wees.
Sielskos: Num. 19-21; Matt 12:22-37; Ps 111; Spr. 3:29-30 Everything God created is good. Nothing should be rejected if it is received with prayers of thanks. 1 Timothy 4:4
Sometimes we are like the dog in the children's story who found a bone. He was so proud of it. He picked it up and started home. On his way home he crossed a bridge over a river. As he crossed the bridge he stopped, as usual, to bark at the other dog that he always saw down in the water. This time as he looked down, he not only saw the same dog, but that dog had a bone in his mouth, too. What made him mad was that the dog in the water had a bone that appeared to be bigger than the one he had in his mouth. Therefore, he opened his mouth to bark at the other dog and lost his bone. It is okay to better ourselves if we are not satisfied with where we are at in life. In fact, we should always be growing in our journey with Christ. But, we shouldn't be measuring ourselves against others. God made you special and you cannot be compared to anyone else. INTRODUCTION:
• How we live our lives is vitally important. • There are principles that guide each one of us. • These could be positive or negative guidelines by which we live our lives. • If we will live by God’s principles, we can expect to see His favour and blessing on our lives. • If we live by what ‘seems good unto us’ it can often take us down a path we would later regret. • Have you ever considered what are the guidelines or principles by which you live your life? • Are there some that should be changed or substituted with God’s principles? • If we can discover these principles and develop them into spiritual disciplines, we will be able to make sense of life. • The earlier we discover and apply these, the better, but it is never too late to begin! • They are like spiritual disciplines that we can apply to our daily lives. • Here are some of those guidelines and principles to help you get started. 1. FORGIVENESS • We can live a life during which we can receive forgiveness from God. 1 John 1:9 ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.’ • Jesus paid for our sins in full – we can know what it means to be forgiven. Colossians 2:14 ‘He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.’ • God has removed our sin from us. Psalm 103:12 ‘As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.’ • Have you ever thought why the Bible says that God has removed our sin from us as far as the East is from the West? Why did He not say as far as the North is from the South? This is one of the greatest pictures of God’s love. The North and South pole are definite points. You can actually go to those spots. By there is no East or West pole. When you get there you can still go further to the East. So in a very real sense, when God says He has removed our transgressions as far as the East is from the West it means that He has totally and forever removed it. • Forgiveness is not just something we receive; it is also something we can give! Mark 11:25 ‘And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.’ • How often we long for mercy for ourselves and our mistakes but we demand justice when others make mistakes or do us harm. • Our lives should be guided by the principle of receiving forgiveness and extending forgiveness. • Perhaps there is an area in your life or past that you need to bring to the feet of God and ask Him to forgive you. Do it now! • Perhaps there is someone that you have not released and you still carry an IOU. It’s time to take a moment and extend forgiveness to them. Do it now! 2. LIVING ONE DAY AT A TIME • Many people live in a day and time that has not yet arrived. • They live worried about tomorrow or the future and in the process they miss the moment they have in front of them. • We should consciously enjoy the day we have. • We should live today as if it was our last day. • Matthew 6:34 ‘Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’ • Matthew 6:25 ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?’ • Luke 10:41 ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things!’ • Don’t live worried and upset about many things. • Live for the moment. • Live in the present and not in the past or in the future. • Be present in the present. • Living in the past leads to regret and living in the future leads to fear. • Living in the moment is the key to finding fulfillment. 3. RECEIVING NEW MERCY • God is a faithful God. • He is your faithful God. • His word tells us that His mercies are new every morning. • Lamentations 3:23 ‘Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. • We need to live with the knowledge that each day we can start afresh and receive His new mercies. • Don’t drag your past mistakes, failures and disappointments from yesterday into your today. • Often when I awake in the morning, I will just take a moment and receive God’s new mercy for me for the new day. • When we live by His new mercy each day we don’t have to bogged down by what we may have done, but we can step up to take advantage of the new day and its new opportunities without hesitation and hindrance. • In the same way, we cannot do it on our own. • We need God and we need His mercy and His grace each day to help us. • We need to live life by His strength. • So take a moment and receive new mercy from Him now and each day of your life! 4. LIVING A PRINCIPLE-CENTRED LIFE • Different people are motivated by different things. • But we must be careful not to be motivated by things that are not God’s principles. • Some people are motivated by materialism. Their actions, choices and decisions reflect their materialism. • Other people are motivated by acceptance or the desire to be liked. As such they will make choices and decisions based on whether they will get the desired outcome of acceptance. • Still other people are motivated by selfishness and it in turn effects how they live their lives and the choices they make. • But if you live by these things, they will eventually destroy you. • But when we live our lives by God’s principles, it leads to life and blessing. • Our lives should be lived in a principle-centered way. • We should make the quality decision that God’s way and principles are the best things for our lives and we are going to apply them and live by them in our daily lives. • We must be determined that we will stand by these principles and not be swayed by prevailing social norms and pressures. • 2 Timothy 3:1-5 There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. • John 3:19-21 Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. • Here are one or two principles that you can consider: • Don’t try to understand everything. Don’t try to figure everything out. Don’t try to reduce God to a formula, just stick to the principles. Isaiah 55:9 ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.’ • Give and it shall be given unto you. Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. • Remember the principles of honesty, integrity and consistency. 5. LIVE IN THE LIGHT • John 3:19-21 Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. • Look at this phrase: But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light! • As we live by the truth and principles of God we ‘come into the light’! • That’s where I want to live. • How about you? • Let’s live by God’s word and His principles. • As you do this you can live in His light and enjoy His blessing and favour on your life. • When we choose not to do this we step out of the realm of light and into darkness and wickedness! • Proverbs 2:12-13 ‘Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways.’ • Wicked men leave the straight paths. • Righteous men and women stick to the straight paths. • Hebrews 10:23 ‘Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.’ Psalm 119:156 Your acts of compassion are many in number, O LORD. Give me a new life guided by your regulations. Live One Day At A Time (Author Unknown) There are two days in every week about which we should not worry; Two days which should be kept free of fear and apprehension; One of these days is YESTERDAY, With its mistakes and cares, Its faults and blunders, Its aches and pains. YESTERDAY has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back YESTERDAY. We cannot undo a single act we performed. We cannot erase a single word we said. YESTERDAY is gone. The other day we should not worry about is TOMORROW; With its possible adversities, its burdens, its larger promise. TOMORROW is also beyond our immediate control. TOMORROW, the sun will rise, Either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds; But it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in TOMORROW For it is as yet unborn. This leaves only one day - TODAY. Any man can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternity's - YESTERDAY and TOMORROW - That we break down. It is not the experience of TODAY that drives men mad. It is remorse or bitterness for something which happened YESTERDAY And the dread of what TOMORROW may bring. Let us, therefore, live but ONE day at a time. By: Andrew W Roebert These notes may be shared with others. |
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