STORY OF ELIJAH
The Sunday school teacher was carefully explaining the story of Elijah the Prophet and the false prophets of Baal. She explained how Elijah built the altar, put wood upon it, cut the steer in pieces, and laid it upon the altar. And then, Elijah commanded the people of God to fill four barrels of water and pour it over the altar. He had them do this four times. "Now," said the teacher, "can anyone in the class tell me why the Lord would have Elijah pour water over the steer on the altar?" A little girl in the back of the room started waving her hand, "I know, I know," she said, "to make the gravy!" ~**~**~**~** Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
As long as Jesus is one of many options, he is no option. As long as you can carry your burdens alone, you don't need a burden bearer. As long as your situation brings you no grief, you will receive no comfort. And as long as you can take him or leave him, you might as well leave him, because he won't be taken half-heartedly. But when you mourn, when you get to the point of sorrow for your sins, when you admit that you have no other option but to cast all your cares on him, and when there is truly no other name that you can call, then cast all your cares on him, for he is waiting in the midst of the storm. The Applause of Heaven (Max Lucado) Our experiences are sometimes a mixed bag of good and bad, joy and pain—a reality that Solomon expressed when he wrote, “Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, and the end of mirth may be grief” (Prov. 14:13). The merry heart often does grieve, for that is what this life sometimes demands.
Thankfully, however, this life is not all there is. And in the life that is to come, those who know Christ have a promise: “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4). In that great day, there will be no mixed emotions—only hearts filled with the presence of God! Yet O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our Potter, and we all are the work of Your hand. ISAIAH 64 : 8
YOU BELIEVE AND GOD WILL ACHIEVE !! For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently .. 1 Corinthians 10 : 13 In this Scripture you are given the very sound promise that God will never allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear, but with every temptation He will always provide the way out, your means of escape The end result will be that you are capable and strong to patiently bear up under whatever negative circumstances you face. Are you in a valley ? Worship God !! .. Are you on top of a mountain ? Worship God !! .. Are all your needs met ? Worship God !! .. Are you in want ? Worship God !! When all things become the same to you in the light of His glory, He is free to give you all things !! .. You keep God first in your life, and you will be absolutely amazed at what He will do for you !! No matter what you are facing in your life, know that Jesus is the Mighty Warrior, the Captain of the Host !! .. Jesus Is Your Leader And He Is Leading You Into Victory !! Whatever The Obstacle Is That Lies Before You Today .. Do Not Be Afraid Or Dismayed .. God Is With You !! So I prophesied as I was commanded, and as I prophesied, there was a [thundering] noise and behold, a shaking and trembling and a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone .. Ezekiel 37 : 7 Where, Oh Where is the God Who sent and earthquake into the valley of the dry bones and joined them together ? Yet O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our Potter, and we all are the work of Your hand .. Isaiah 64 : 8 Where, Oh Where is the God of the clay, Who remoulds the broken places and refines the jagged edges ? Where, Oh Where Is God ? .. Well, the truth of the matter is that God Is Never, Never Far Away !! The real issue in fact is not so much The Presence Of God .. The real issue is your perception of His Presence in your life !! What you need to be aware of is that in many situations your deliverance does not cost God one action .. Your deliverance arrives when your heart truly accepts God’s perfect timing and His divine purpose for your life !! What Is The Best And Most Effective Thing You Can Do For Yourself When The Dark Hours Of A Crisis Are Bearing Down On You ? The wisest decision you can make is to search for The Place Of Rest .. Rather Than .. Plunging yourself into the depths of despair as you search for the answer to your dilemma. If you can find God, your needs will become seemingly insignificant in the Light of His presence .. After All .. What Is A Problem If God Is There !! Do you actually comprehend the true power of God’s Presence .. Oh, how many times do you marvel at the acts of God .. But .. In all honesty have you ever just considered the mere presence of God !! Remember .. Jesus Does Not Have To Do Anything But Be There .. And .. It Is Over !! THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT “MESS” THAT IS A FERTILISER FOR YOUR GROWTH The other day, a member of the pastoral relations committee in a certain church read a letter purporting to come from an applicant:
"I have many qualifications. I've been a preacher with much success, and also had some success as a writer. Some say I'm a good organizer. I've been a leader most places I've been. "I am over 50 years of age. I have never preached in one place more than three years. In some places I have left town after my work has caused riots and disturbances. "I must admit I have been in jail three or four times, but not because of any real wrong doing. "My health is not too good, though I still get a great deal done. "The churches I have preached in have been small, though located in several large cities. "I've not got along too well with religious leaders in towns where I have preached. In fact, some have threatened me and even attacked me physically. "I am not too good at keeping records. I have even been known to forget whom I have baptized. "However, if you can use me, I shall do my best for you." The committee member looked over his fellows and said: "Well, what do you think? Shall we hire him?" The others were aghast. Hire an unhealthy, trouble-making, absent-minded, ex-jailbird? Was the man who read the letter crazy? Who was the applicant anyway? Who would have such a colossal nerve?" "Oh," said the man who had written the letter, "It's just signed, 'Apostle Paul'." Mathew 7: 1-3 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Lees Markus 10: 13 – 16
‘Wie die koninkryk van God nie soos ‘n kindjie ontvang nie, sal daar nooit ingaan nie” (16) ’n Ongelowige man het baie siek in sy bed gelê. Hy het nie in God geglo nie en wóú nie in God glo nie. Om sy ongeloof te versterk en sy vrees vir die ewigheid weg te neem, het hy teen die muur, waar hy dit gedurig kon sien, ’n spreuk opgeplak: “God is nowhere”. Sy dogtertjie het in die kamer gekom. “Lees vir my daardie woor¬de,” sê hy vir haar. Gedienstig begin sy al spellende lees: “G-o-d God, i-s is, n-o-w now, h-e-r-e here. Pappa dit sê: God is nou hier.” Die man luister verbysterd en diep geraak. Lig daal oor hom. Hoop spring in sy hart op en hy bid die ou beproefde sondaarsgebed: “O God, wees my sondaar genadig!” Vir hierdie man het redding gekom uit die eenvoud van sy kindjie se geloof. Anders was dit met die dogtertjie van ’n godvresende regter. Sy, weer, was baie siek en dit was nie seker dat sy sou lewe nie. Die bedroefde pa het by haar bedjie gesit en haar handjie in sy groot hand vasgehou. Sy hart het na sy kind toe uitgegaan. “My kindjie, is jy nie bang om na God toe te gaan nie?” vra hy tederlik. “Nee, Pappa,” antwoord sy dadelik. “Ek is nie bang nie. Ek weet God is lief vir my. En Jesus is ook daar. Hy sal al my stoutigheid goedpraat en alles wat ek goed gedoen het weer vir God vertel.” “…as ons sondig – ons het Jesus Christus…as ons voorspraak by die Vader (1 Joh.2:1). Wat is nou ons gevolgtrekking…God is vir ons…Hy het sy eie Seun nie gespaar nie, maar Hom oorgelewer om ons almal te red…Hy is uit die dood opgewek…Hy sit aan die rgterhand van God, Hy pleit vir ons (Rom.9:31-34).” Waarlik, hoe wyd oop staan die deur van genade en redding na God toe!. “Here, vandag kom ek in by die deur, wat so wyd oop staan vir my.” EVERYDAY IS A DAY OF NEW BLESSINGS FROM GOD. HE RICHLY GIVES US ALL THINGS TO ENJOY (1Tim6:11) TODAY: FILL YOUR MIND WITH THOUGHTS OF YOUR LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER WHO WISHES YOU TO PROSPER AND BE HEALTHY AS YOU ADVANCE AND GROW SPIRITUALLY (3John2)...... NOW, YOU ARE IN CHRIST, HE IS ALL YOU NEED.... LET HIM BE YOUR FOCUS... LOVE HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART..... LET HIS LOVE DOMINATE YOUR ENTIRE EXISTENCE ... YOU ARE HIS BELOVED, HIGHLY FAVOURED and ABUNDANTLY BLESSED CHILD..... Have a WONDERFUL day of PRAISE, THANKSGIVING and WORSHIP of your LOVING FATHER........
Nie net ‘n houtkruis wat stof opgaar nie “Die enigste teken van Christus in ons huis is ‘n houtkruis teen ‘n muur. Vir die res gaan dit net oor ons eie belange,” sê iemand. Toe onthou ek dat ‘n jongmens eenkeer gesê het al wat sy van Jesus in haar kerk ervaar, is ‘n kruis teen een van die mure. “Maar,” het sy bygevoeg, “dit gaar ook maar stof op saam met die ander kerkmeubels.”
Gelukkig is daar ander verhale ook. Jesus beweeg elke dag tussen ons rond. Verlede Sondagaand het ek Hom helder raakgesien toe ‘n jongmeisie al die sakgeld wat sy opgespaar het na kerk in my hande kom druk om vir die armes te gaan uitdeel. Ek wou nog met haar praat, toe verdwyn sy woordeloos tussen die mense. Of in ‘n ou tannie wat slegs ‘n staatspensioen kry en wat R100 van die R200 wat sy by haar kleinkinders gekry het weggegee het aan een van ons bedienings om vir die Here dankie te sê. Ek sien Jesus gereeld langs die lewenspaaie. In die gevangenis en op siekbeddens, asook in oorvol staatshospitale hoor ek sy voetval. Jesus is te sien tussen armes en rykes, oud en jonk, ja, tussen almal op die markpleine van die lewe. Hy bring gedurig vir ons sy geskenke van lewe en hoop! |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
All
Archives
June 2015
|