The communication of our faith is made effectual by acknowledging every good thing that is in us in Christ Jesus Philemon 6 not by acknowledging everything that is wrong with us.
The Devil wants us to acknowledge every bad thing we see in ourselves. He is known as the accuser of the brethren See Rev 12:10 and he continually tries to redirect our focus from who we are in Christ back to our shortcomings. He bombards us with opportunities to think negative thoughts about ourselves so we will return to the pattern of deception that our worth is based on our performance and because of our faults we are worthless. "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body" (2 Cor. 4:8-10).
It's hard to find anyone in Christian history who became a great leader without earning an advanced degree at the University of Adversity. John Bunyan (1628-1688), the author of The Pilgrim's Progress, grew up in poverty and taught himself to read. As a young man, he struggled with feelings of not being forgiven by God and was tortured by visions of eternal punishment. His devout wife helped him to overcome his fear, but then, while she was still in her twenties, she died of a sudden illness. In his grief, Bunyan devoted himself to preaching. The English government, however, repeatedly imprisoned him for preaching without a license. On one occasion, Bunyan was sentenced to three months in prison, but when he told the officials he intended to go on preaching, his sentence was extended to 12 years. John Bunyan experienced God's presence in a special way while he was in prison. In fact, it was in his cell that he penned his enduring classic, The Pilgrim's Progress. It's a book that could only have been written by a soul that was refined by the fires of adversity. A. W. Tozer once wrote, "It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply." God has a mission for your life and mine. But before we can carry out that mission, we will often go through the boot camp of adversity. If this is where you find yourself today, ask God to give you His grace to walk through this time with you. He promised He would never leave or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5) Os Hillman www.marketplaceleaders.org Johannes 11:40 NV
In die storie waar Jesus vir Lasarus uit die dood opwek, is daar drie belangrike beginsels: 1) Marta en Maria het 'n goeie verhouding met Jesus gehad voordat die krisis homself afgespeel het. As Jesus in die dorp was, het Hy in hulle huis gebly en by hulle geëet. Hulle het gegee eerder as om te vat. Jy kan nie weier om vir God 'n oomblik van jou tyd, 'n greintjie van jou energie, of 'n sent van jou geld te gee nie en dan, as dit sleg gaan, dadelik te vra: "Here, hoekom het U dit laat gebeur?" Jesus het gesê: "As julle in My bly en My woorde in julle, vra dan net wat julle wil hê, en julle sal dit kry." (Johannes 15:7 NV). 2) Om 'n verhouding met Jesus te hê, beteken nie dat jy nooit teëspoed gaan kry nie. Dit beteken wel dat jy met vertroue na Hom toe kan gaan wanneer die teëspoed jou tref. "Geliefdes, as ons gewete ons nie veroordeel nie, het ons vrymoedigheid om na God te gaan; en wat ons vra, kry ons van Hom omdat ons Sy gebooie gehoorsaam en doen wat Hy goedvind." (1 Johannes 3:21-22 NV). 3) As jy Jesus by 'n situasie betrek, sal Hy dit verander. Lasarus was reeds dood en begrawe teen die tyd wat Jesus daar aangekom het. Menslik gesproke was dit 'n hopelose situasie. God vra egter in sulke oomblikke vir jou: "Is iets vir My onmoontlik?" (Jeremia 32:27 NV). As jou antwoord 'nee' is, is jou probleem 'n geleentheid vir God om Sy liefde en omgee vir jou te demonstreer. Sielskos: 2 Kon 7-9; Matt 23:1-28; Ps 27; Spr. 7:10-20 Laser Scissors Cutting a straight line has never been easier. Just aim the pin-point laser and follow the line. The scissor blades are stainless steel and cut very clean with a micro edge. What day is today? You don't know? Then you need a Day Clock. It's uniquely designed to keep track of weekly events like your golf day, card night, movie night, and so much more. It's ideal for vacations and cruises when it's easy to lose track of the day. 1 Corinthians 16:13
'Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men (and women) of courage; be strong.' - As we face the challenges and the issues of life: - We should be vigilant, alert and on guard. - Standing firm and not being swayed from one thing to another. - And we should be men and women of courage and strength. PRAYER: Lord, I want today, to be a day of courage and strength. May this be one of my finest days and may I stand firm in the faith and in the strength that You give to me. Amen. I was regretting the past and fearing the future.
Suddenly my Lord was speaking. "My name is I Am" He paused. I waited. He continued. "When you live in the past with its mistakes and regrets, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not I WAS. "When you live in the future with its problems and fears, it is hard. My name is not I WILL BE. "When you live in this moment it is not hard. I am here. My name is I AM." “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
Among the many precious gems to be found in the treasure chest of the Psalms, our verse for today, especially the first line must rank on everyone’s list of favourites. “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46 has been a source of strength and inspiration for believers through the ages. Martin Luther, among others, composed his great hymn, “A mighty fortress is our God” based on Psalm 46. Although the earth may be a cosmic catastrophe and the nations all at war, the Lord Almighty whose power is absolute is with us. He is our refuge and strength and ever ready to intervene on our behalf. The psalmist has boundless trust in God’s power. The earth may be tottering but there is one unshakable Rock, God. God is all the security we need. Self confidence in our own abilities to provide for ourselves can be an admirable virtue but not if in planning our security, we leave God out of the equation. Be still can often be misunderstood as a request to focus on what is being said. It has a much deeper implication than that. It is a divine command. "Stop what you are doing and confess that I am God." Unfortunately it often takes a major blow, a sudden tragedy or serious operation to shock us into reality. We should not wait for a crisis to spur us to action. There is no better time than now. Prayer: Eternal Father, you are my God and Saviour, my shield and my strength. I put my trust in you. Make me worthy of your love through Jesus Christ, your Son, my Lord, who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen Today,
For what I am that I ought not to be, Forgive me. For what I am not that I ought to be, Forgive me. Be with my mouth in what it speaks Be with my hands in what they do Be with my mind in what it thinks Be with my heart in what it feels Work in me ...through me ...for me ...in spite of me In the precious name of Jesus, Amen |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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