Deel (1)
Identifiseer die bron van jou bekommernisse. Het jy grootgeword in 'n familie waar vrees geheers het - altyd onseker gevoel, nooit voldoen aan die vereistes nie, en nooit woorde van bevestiging en goedkeuring gehoor nie? Luister jy na die doemprofete en is al wat jy hoor als wat verkeerd is, en hoeveel erger dit gaan word? Wat is die oorsprong van jou angs? Jy sal jou nie vrese kan verdryf voor jy hulle in woorde kan uitdruk nie. Deur jou bekommernisse in woorde om te sit, neem jy hul mag weg. In die roman Life of Pi, bevind die hoofkarakter, Pi, homself op see in 'n reddingsboot met 'n Bengaalse tier. Terwyl hy daar is, begin Pi sy vrese, vir die see en die tier, ontleed. Hy gee hierdie raad: "Jy moet hard veg om jou vrees uit te druk. Jy moet hard veg om die lig van woorde daaroor te laat skyn. As jy dit nie doen nie, as jou vrees 'n woordlose duisternis word wat jy vermy, wat jy miskien selfs slaag om te vergeet, kan jy jouself blootstel vir verdere vreesaanvalle omdat jy nog nooit werklik teen die teenstander geveg het wat jou verslaan het nie." Stel elkeen van jou vrese bloot. Vrese oor finansies, verhoudings, jou beroep en veiligheid - noem hulle op in gebed. Dwing hulle om voor God te staan. "Moet oor niks besorg wees nie, maar maak in alles julle begeertes... aan God bekend. En die vrede van God wat alle verstand te bowe gaan, sal oor julle harte en gedagtes die wag hou in Christus Jesus." (Fil. 4:6-7 NV). Sielskos: Deut. 28-29; Matt 13:47-58; Ps 119:1-8; Spr. 17:3 Deel (2) Die Here veroordeel jou nie as jy met rede bekommerd is oor jou verantwoordelikhede nie. Dit wat hy wel veroordeel is die ingesteldheid wat keer dat Hy deel is van die vergelyking, of die feit dat ons as 'n laaste uitweg na Hom toe gaan. Vernietigende angs veroorsaak dat ons God nie in die toekoms sien nie, dat ons ons onsekerhede sonder geloof probeer hanteer, en dat ons van God se beloftes en Sy getrouheid vergeet. Jesus het vir Sy dissipels gesê: "Moet julle nie bekommer oor julle lewe... [of julle genoeg het] nie". Let op na die woorde "of jy genoeg het nie". Dis waaroor ons bekommerd is - tekorte, siekte, afleggings, die ekonomie. Die dissipels was bekommerd toe hulle skielik vir vyfduisend mense moes kosgee. Filippus het 'n opname gemaak: "... twee honderd mense se dagloon is nie eers genoeg om elkeen van hulle 'n stukkie brood te laat kry nie." (Joh. 6:7 NV). Hoe dink jy het Jesus op daardie oomblik gevoel? Die oplossing van hul probleem het langs hulle gestaan, maar hulle het nie na Hom toe gegaan totdat hulle met hul rûe teen die muur was nie. In hulle hande het vyf brode en twee vissies na niks gelyk nie. Maar in Sy hande was dit meer as genoeg om die skare te voed en hulle probleem op te los. Soos wat die brood aanhou vermenigvuldig het, moes hulle definitief gesê het: "Here, hoekom het ek ooit aan U getwyfel?" Laat jou probleme jou na Jesus dryf, en wanneer jy daar kom, bly daar! Sielskos: Deut. 30:1-32:28; Matt 14:1-12; Ps 119:9-16; Spr.17:4-6 1 .. The LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide and shield me], I shall not lack [want, be without, decrease].
2 .. He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures, He leads me besides the still and restful waters. 3 .. He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him – not for my earning it, but] for His names sake. PSALM 23 : 1 – 3 YOU WILL NEVER BE A LOST SHEEP IF YOU PLACE YOURSELF IN THE SHEPHERDS CARE THE SHEPHERD'S NAME IS JESUS AND JESUS CARES - for YOU! God will guard and guide and keep you in His loving care and when travelling in dark valleys Your Shepherd will be there. Jeremiah 31:3
'I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.' - This is what the Lord wants you to know today. - You are dearly loved and you are valuable and precious to Him. - His love for you will never end or be exhausted. - So let's respond to His love and love Him in return. PRAYER: Lord, thank You for Your great love for me. My life is blessed because You love me. I celebrate Your love for me today. Amen. Your word for today. Psalm 103. A psalm of David.
1 Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. 2 Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. 7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: 8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. 15 The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; 16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. 17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-- 18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. 19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. 20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. 21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. 22 Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, my soul. I believe the number one rule in forgiving sins is to do as Jesus commanded in John 20:22 and receive Holy Spirit, who provides the strength and ability to forgive, none of us can do
it on our own. The forgiving of sins seems to be the first power conferred upon people when they are born again. If that is so, then the forgiving of sins should be our first duty as believers, but although we have the power to forgive, its not always easy Whenever someone hurts me, I ask Holy Spirit to breathe on me strength to forgive that person, because inside of me my emotions are screaming, you really hurt me and its not fair. Remember whatever you forgive in others, it will always be forgiven in you. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) God put us on Earth to do a certain work that only we can do. Ephesians says that God made us to do good works and that he planned in advance what we would spend our lives doing. However, he didn’t plan for us to do that work alone. We need people to work with us. You know the feeling you get when you do too much work on your own. You get exhausted and burned out. Why? Because you’re trying to do your work alone, while God never meant for it to be that way. God tells us in Ecclesiastes 4:9 that “two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together” (NCV). When you work as a team, you get so much more done. Plus, having good teammates alongside you is a whole lot more fun and less tiring! Picture this: Each of us is like a snowflake. On our own, we can’t make a big difference. However, when one fragile snowflake sticks with a lot of other snowflakes, they can stop traffic. Like snowflakes, we can make a big difference if we work together, each one of us doing only our small part. Did you know that when we work together here on Earth, we’re actually practicing for eternity? In Heaven, we will all have to work, but each of us will have just a small piece of work, so we’ll never get overloaded or tired. Though no one will carry a heavy burden as each one of us does our small part, all the work will still get done. As you walk through life, remember that you’re not supposed to do everything on your own. You need other people to walk alongside you, but you also need other people to work alongside you. As you share the burden of your work with fellow Christians, you’ll find that you actually accomplish more for the glory of God. Die BYBEL praat van die vrug van die GEES. In die enkelvoud. Nie van vrugte nie, maar van n vrug. Dit is die produk, die eindresultaat, die doel wat die GEES in ons wil bereik. n Mens kan se: Die vrug van die GEES is CHRISTUS. En HY is LIEFDE. Om in GOD se liefde te bly beteken dat jy baie naby aan HOM sal leef, dat jy moeite sal doen om HOM elke dag beter te leer ken, dat jy sy WOORD sal bestudeer, sy opdragte sal uitvoer, in sy voetspore sal trap en elke al hoe meer
soos HY sal word. Ek kan nie opreg liefhe tensy ek iets van GOD se liefde vir my verstaan nie, want HY is liefde. "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners
were listening to them" (Acts 16:25-26). It didn't take long for non-believers to realize he was different in the secular workplaces where he had worked. He didn't participate in the jokes, the dirty language or criticism of management. He didn't judge them for their behavior because they were merely acting the way they should act as those who does not have Christ in their life. He viewed them as prisoners awaiting salvation and that he might be the instrument to lead them to the Savior. He would often be known as the "religious guy." It wasn't because he was particularly vocal or tried to separate himself; it happened naturally. The Christ in him naturally made him stand out. Jesus called us to be the "salt and light" of any life situation. The secular workplace economy is contrary to the Kingdom of God economy so we should naturally stand out in any situation. When Paul and Silas were in prison their lifestyle and worship and prayer in the midst of the horrible conditions of a dirty prison stood out in stark contrast to their circumstances. They didn't pray and sing to impress their cellmates, they simply did what was natural to them. Still, "the other prisoners were watching and listening." No matter where you are, others are watching you to determine if your faith is real or if you're an imposter. The world is looking to discredit your faith. You are a witness always whether you choose to be or not. "The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'" (Acts 16:29-30). When you begin to reflect the love and power of Christ in your life you won't have to have an evangelism program to win others into the Kingdom. It will be a fruit of your life. The "fish" will actually jump into the boat! Beware how you conduct your life today because the prisoners are watching and listening. Ephesians 3:19 know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all
the fullness of God. If you were to thank God for something today, what would it be? For me, it would be thanking God for giving me Jesus. For when I see Jesus on the cross, I see the love of God overcoming everything for me. It causes me to say, “Thank you, Jesus! I love you, Jesus! I worship you, Jesus! Bless you, Jesus! Hallelujah!” And as we worship and celebrate the love of Jesus in our lives, we will find ourselves changed, and we will see the mighty power of God displayed for us and through us. This was the case in the life of David. His personal times of worship, of being absorbed in God’s love for him, changed him from a mere shepherd boy to a lion killer, bear killer, giant killer and finally, a king over Israel. Now, no one on earth, no matter how strong he is, let alone a youth, can come against a lion and prize open its mouth to snatch back his sheep which the lion had carried away, unless God’s anointing is on him. And this was indeed what happened to David the shepherd boy who went after the lion, caught it by its beard, struck and killed it, and thus delivered the lamb from its jaws. (1 Samuel 17:34–37) My friend, no man can truly enjoy living in this world without God’s strength in his life, God’s favor in his work and relationships, God’s protection for him and his family, God’s increase in his finances, and God’s health and healing for his body. Likewise, no woman can survive emotionally, socially or physically without God’s tender touch, loving presence, sweet assurance and words of life in times of need. Beloved, as you feed on Jesus’ love for you, you will be filled with the fullness of God. Like David, God’s anointing will begin to operate powerfully in your life. And when you encounter spiritual lions, even the devil himself—when he comes like a roaring lion against you, your loved ones or your possessions—you will grab hold of his mouth and tear him apart! The grace (blessing and favor) of the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) be with all the saints (God’s holy people, those set apart for God, to be, as it were, exclusively His). Amen (so let it be) !
REVELATION 22 : 21 BE INSPIRED !! When you drive on the R62 to Worcester and take the turn to Montagu, the road winds through a huge opening in the rocks, well-known as The Ravine .. The Ravine resembles an angel carved out of the rocks, protecting the town. As you drive a little further down the winding road, the town of Montagu appears like a beautiful painting before you .. Very much like something out of a photo album of the Swiss Alps, just without the snow. Here and there are biggish buildings that look like old farm houses from days gone by, as well as colonial houses with their small, white blocked windows. Then, as you are almost through the town, on your right hand side, you come across a little farm stall. The farm stall sells oranges, which of course is not unusual .. What is unusual however is the fact that there is nobody at the stall to receive payment for the oranges that are sold !! The farm stall is un-manned .. And .. The only indication of what to do is written on a black board .. R10 per bag. Just Throw The Money Into The Tin Please .. Next to the bags of oranges, stands a blue tin where the money must be thrown into. Looking at all of this, it gives one such pleasure that you are left very tempted to throw two R10 notes into the blue tin .. One R10 note for the bag of oranges and the other R10 note simply to thank the owner for his childlike faith and trust in his neighbour .. Because .. Of course anyone could stop and load all the bags of oranges AND the blue tin of cash and disappear !! You know Jesus was a .. Just Throw The Money Into The Tin .. kind of person !! . Jesus exposed Himself. . He removed all safety nets and boundaries from around Himself. . He associated Himself with all kinds of people, thieves, tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers, even the demon possessed. . He allowed people to touch and experience Him. . He also allowed people to take from Him .. “At the end of His life even the clothes on His body” .. Matthew 27 : 35 Whatever people threw into the Tin was entirely for their own purpose .. However .. Jesus Simply Continued To Give, Irrelevant Of What He Received !! In his book about leadership, E Schuitema writes .. "You have no power over what is coming towards you; you have only power over what is leaving you... Your weakness is based on what you want to keep and your strength is based on what you are willing to give or loose." Are you a .. Just Throw The Money Into The Tin Kind Of Person ? .. Or .. Are you a .. Throw FIRST The Money Into The Tin BEFORE I Give You Anything Kind Of Person ? Jesus Was The First !! Jesus was a .. Just Throw The Money Into The Tin Kind Of Person .. It May Very Well Have Cost Him His life .. But .. Through This Attitude Of Jesus, He Changed The Entire History Of The World !! What a different world we could live in if each of us, as His children, developed a Jesus Attitude Towards Life !! Be Blessed !! .. Be Inspired !! |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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