God was very specific with John the Baptist’s purpose in life, it was to prepare the people for Christ’s arrival. And John was commended for his service when Jesus said, “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist. . . “ (Matthew 11:11). But, John the Baptist wasn’t the only one who had a specific life purpose, so do you! God created you for a unique purpose to fulfill in His Kingdom. Before you were born God planned the good works that you would do (Ephesians 2:10). He has given you a unique personality, a unique background, a unique set of talents and gifts, and a unique life experience. Only you can fulfill God’s purpose for your life. So, what is your God ordained purpose in life? Why did He create you? What is it that only you can do for His Kingdom? Half the fun in life is listening for God’s voice and His directives for your life! James 2:13 If you have been merciful, then God's mercy toward you will win out over His judgment against you.
- God is full of mercy towards us. - He expects us to extend mercy to others. - If we sow mercy we will reap mercy. - In the end, mercy triumphs over judgment. PRAYER: Lord, I extend mercy to those who have hurt and offended me. I receive Your mercy in return knowing that Your mercy is all I need. Amen. A woman baked bread for members of her family and an extra one for a hungry passerby. She kept the extra bread on the Window-sill, for whosoever would take it away.
Everyday, a hunch-back came and took away the bread. Instead of expressing gratitude, he muttered the following words as he went his way: "The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!" This went on, day after day. Everyday, the hunch-back came, picked up the bread and uttered the words: "The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!" The woman felt irritated. "Not a word of gratitude," she said to herself... "Everyday this hunch-back utters this jingle! What does he mean? "One day, out of despiration, she decided to do away with him.”I shall get rid of this hunch-back," she said. And what did she do? She added poison to the bread she prepared for him! As she was about to keep it on the window sill, her hands trembled. "What is this I am doing?" she said. Immediately she threw the bread into the fire, prepared another one and kept it on the window- sill. As usual, the hunch-back came, picked up the bread and muttered the words: "The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!" The hunch-back proceeded on his way, blissfully unaware of the war raging in the mind of the woman. Everyday, as the woman placed the bread on the window-sill, she offered a prayer for her son who had gone to a distant place to seek his fortune. For many months, she had no news of him... She prayed for his safe return. That evening, there was a knock on the door. As she opened it, she was surprised to find her son standing in the doorway... He had grown thin and lean. His garments were tattered and torn. He was hungry, starved and weak. As he saw his mother, he said, "Mom, it's a miracle I'm here. While I was but a mile away, I was so hungry that I collapsed. I would have died, but just then an old hunch-back passed by. I begged of him for a small part of his food, and he was kind enough to give me whole bread. "As he gave it to me, he said, "This is what I eat everyday: today, I shall give it to you, for your need is greater than mine!" "As the mother heard those words, her face turned pale and red. She leaned against the door for support. She remembered the poisoned bread that she had made that morning. Had she not burnt it in the fire, it would have been eaten by her own son, and he would have lost his life! It was then that she realized the significance of the words: "The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you! “Do good; Don't ever stop doing good, even if it’s not appreciated at that time. Have a wonderful day. Remember, "God is what we need, to do the will of God!" "You shall remember all the way the Lord thy God has led thee." Deuteronomy 8:2
Our lives come, from time to time, to crossroads of defining importance; those critical intersections along the way, which face us with choices for new directions in our thinking, and in our living. At such moments we need briefly pause, for we have not passed this way before. Ere we move onward we must first reflect back upon where we have been; remembering all the way that the Lord our God has led us. For in His leading are the lessons that will hold true all the days of our lives. As we think upon what He has taught us, shown us, done for us and with us — our lives become enriched by memory, and mindful of a love that never fails. With this, we then step across the boundary into another season, filled with faith and courage. And we are also renewed in spirit and adventure, discovering afresh that the way in is also the way on. As He has led us, so He will still lead us. As He has loved us, so He will still love us. And as He has been faithful, so faithful shall He ever be. Such is the happy lot of those whose lives are enriched by the memory of God's handiwork throughout their days. Why not pause right now and recall to mind the many undeniable moments throughout your life when the Lord blessed you, loved you, healed you, helped you, saved you, used you — and the list goes on, and on, and on... How can anyone live a life that is worthy of God? If God is perfect, does He expect perfection from us? No. Our sins don’t surprise God. After all He sent His Son to die for our sins. If anything, the one sure thing that God could expect from us is failure! So if He doesn’t expect perfection, what does God desire from us? He desires. . . § Repentance rather than rejection § Love rather than lip-service § Our worship rather than works § Obedience rather than offering § Living a public faith rather than a private faith § Time with us rather than testimonies from us § Our pursuit of holiness rather than giving us a perfect life § Us to know Him rather than to know about Him § A relationship with Him rather than a religion. While driving in Pennsylvania , a family caught up to an Amish carriage. The owner of the carriage obviously had a sense of humor, because attached to the back of the carriage was a hand printed sign... "Energy efficient vehicle: Runs on oats and grass. Caution: Do not step in exhaust."
People want the front of the bus, the back of the church, and the center of attention. James Watt het twintig jaar geneem om die stoomenjin te vervolmaak. William Harvey het vir agt jaar gewerk om te bepaal hoe bloed deur die menslike liggaam sirkuleer, toe 'n verdere vyf-en-twintig jaar geneem om die mediese wêreld te oortuig. Die meeste van ons onderskat die tyd wat nodig is om iets blywends te bereik. Jy moet gewillig wees om te betaal. Om kortpaaie te kies is 'n teken van ongeduld en swak selfdissipline. Die geheim agter elke deurbraak is om te volhard. Albert Gray sê: 'Die gemene deler van elke sukses lê daarin om die gewoonte aan te leer om dinge te doen wat misluktes nie van hou om te doen nie.' As jy telkens toegee aan jou buie, moet jy jou manier van dinge doen verander. Om dit te doen, moet jy vir jouself standaarde stel wat toerekenbaarheid vereis. Die gevolge daarvan om nie vol te hou nie, sal jou op jou tone hou soos niks anders nie. Kry jou nuwe standaarde in plek en werk daarvolgens; nie volgens jou buie nie. Dit sal jou op die regte koers dwing. Selfdissipline is 'n kwaliteit wat alleenlik deur oefening verkry word. Suksesvolle mense het geleer om te doen wat nie van nature kom nie. Hulle was bereid om ongemak, afleidings en twyfel te verduur, en ten spyte daarvan te volhard. R. H. Macy, stigter van die Macy's afdelingswinkels, het in vyf verskillende beroepe misluk - walvisjagter, kleinhandelaar, gouddelwer, aandelemakelaar, eiendomsmakelaar - voordat hy uiteindelik sukses behaal het. Toe hy gevra is wat hom deur al die mislukkings heen onderskraag het, was sy antwoord: 'Doel en volharding.' Dit is wat doeners onderskei van dromers! Dis waarom Paulus geskryf het: 'Want as ons nie verslap nie, sal ons op die bestemde tyd ook die oes insamel..' Sielskos: Deut 5-7; Mark 10:1-12; Ps 75; Spr. 11:23 An Eye Witness Account from New York City, on a cold day in December: A little boy about 10 years old was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the boy and said, "My little fellow, why are you looking so earnestly in that window?"
"I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes," was the boy's reply. The lady took him by the hand and went into the store and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with a towel. By this time the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, "No doubt, my little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?" As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking up in her face, with tears his eyes, answered the question with these words: "Are you God's Wife?" "The strength of your marriage depends on the choices you make to improve it." (Doug Fields) To help you to CHOOSE each other, rather than other matters that can cause you to eventually drift apart, we have listed the "romantic things you could easily do, but probably
aren't doing!" These are ideas that Doug Fields listed in his book, "Creative Romance" (which sadly, is no longer being published). But we're sharing them with you in this way. Enjoy! Doug writes: "A few of these ideas may be too outrageous for your style. That's okay. developed this list with the hope that each couple would add to or subtract from, to meet individual needs. You may find some ideas to be more thoughtful than romantic. They become romantic when they're accomplished with the right attitude and caring emotions. Even if you don't see the romantic gesture you've been dreaming about, even if the timing isn't perfect, express your appreciation warmly. There are few things that make us feel worse than being rejected after we've made an effort to please. "Also, give some thought to how your spouse might react to these ideas before trying them. Your spouse's state of mind and personality will help you determine whether the attempt is appropriate for your marriage. Whatever you do, be sensitive! Now for the ideas! They are: 1. Sketch your dream house floor plan and talk about each room. 2. Take a bath or shower together. 3. Write a love story of how you met. Get it printed and bound. 4. List your spouse's best qualities in alphabetical order (& share it with him or her). 5. Tour a museum or an art gallery together. 6. Park in a secluded area and kiss each other in your car. 7. Make your own movie scene --stop and kiss on a bridge as the sun is setting 8. Place emphasis on the little changes she makes concerning her appearance. 9. Give your spouse a bath and wash her/his hair. 10. Float on a raft together. 11. Take a stroll together around the block. 12. Take your wife away from the kitchen while she's cooking and "saute" her with kisses. 13. Bring home foods she loves to eat but won't buy for herself. (Don't do this if she's dieting!) 14. Give each other a back rub. 15. Rent a classic love story and watch it while cuddling under blankets. 16. Give your spouse a body massage. 17. Walk through model homes and dream about your next house. Steal a kiss in a closet. 18. Stroll around a nearby lake. 19. Sit in front of the fireplace and talk. 20. Read to one another in bed. 21. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride. 22. Turn the lights down during dinner. 23. Make a surprise call (plus your scheduled calls) to your spouse while you're out of town. 24. Play romantic music in your bedroom. 25. Go swimming in the middle of the night. 26. Shave your wife's legs. 27. Shave your husband's face. 28. Write a poem for your spouse. 29. Run through the sprinklers on a hot day. 30. Look into your spouse's eyes while she/he tells you about her/his day. 31. Make up flattering nicknames for each other. 32. Go the extra mile to please your mate. 33. When you're the one who's correct during a discussion, give your spouse a kiss. Focus on your love rather than on who's right. 34. Tell your spouse, "I'm glad I married you!" 35. Fulfill one of your spouse's fantasies. 36. Hug your husband from behind and give him a kiss on the back of the neck. 37. Stop in the middle of your day and talk to your spouse for 15 minutes. 38. Create your own special holiday. 39. Place your hand on your spouse's leg when you're riding in the car. 40. Send your wife a compliment through on of her friends or colleagues. 41. Ask for an isolated booth in a restaurant. 42. Become your spouse's cheerleader when she's (he's) had a terrible day. 43. Tell your wife (or husband), "I love you because..." (Finish the sentence.) 44. Show your wife affection when she's talking to one of her friends. 45. Sleep in a sleeping bag together. 46. Do something your spouse loves to do, even though it doesn't interest you, 47. Go horseback riding on the same horse. 48. Photocopy a newspaper cartoon and write your own romantic caption. 49. Write out romantic notes leaving them where your spouse will find them. 50. Cut out romantic photos from magazines and write your own messages on them. 51. While driving, pull over for scenic sights and get out of the car to enjoy God's creation. 52. Write your spouse affirming love letters. 53. Mail your spouse love letters instead of leaving them in the house. 54. Feed any type of animal as long as it's not a house pet -- the idea is to get outside together. 55. Build a snowman together. 56. Watch the sun come up or go down. 57. Go fishing together with only one pole. 58. Sit on the same side of a restaurant booth. 59. Spontaneously spend the entire day together away from the house. 60. Picnic by the pond. 61. Give your mate a foot massage. 62. Put on perfume or after-shave before going out. 63. Go skinny dipping. 64. Develop a code word for sex that you can use when you're in a crowd. 65. Buy your husband or wife a new outfit. 66. Sing a song to your spouse. 67. Let go of helium balloons and watch them race each other out of sight. 68. Buy her a stuffed animal. 69. Write "I love you" in the dust around the house instead of complaining about it. 70. Set up a manicure, hairstyling, or mud bath appointment for your spouse. 71. Put together a puzzle on a rainy night. 72. Read a romance novel together. 73. Rent a boat. 74. Take a train ride. 75. Ride bikes in the rain. Our days on earth are like a shadow. 1 Ch 29:15 NIV He who "lives forever" has placed himself at the head of a band of pilgrims who mutter, "How long, O Lord? How long?" (Psa 89:46 NIV). "How long must I endure this sickness?" "How long must I endure this spouse?" "How long must I endure this paycheck?" Do you really want God to answer? He could, you know. He could answer in terms of the here and now with time increments we know. "Two more years on the illness." "The rest of your life in the marriage." "Ten more years for the bills." But he seldom does that. He usually opts to measure the here and now against the there and then. And when you compare this life to that life, this life ain't long. In the Eye of the Storm (Max Lucado) |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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