You've been on my mind and heart. I see you struggling and planning, worrying and sweating, crying and running, at a furious pace. You're trying to move that mountain by yourself again, huh? God asks that we cast all our cares on Him because He cares. Think about what your worrying says to God when you refuse to give things over to Him. When you worry about money, you're telling Him that He is unable to provide for His children... although He has riches beyond belief in Heaven, He is too stingy to share them with you. When you worry that no one understands you, you're telling Him that although He has been with you since before you were formed in the womb and has carved you into the palm of His hand, He doesn't know you. When you worry that you will not have enough food, you're telling Him that although He rained down bread from Heaven in the desert to feed His children, you are the one He's forgotten. When you worry that your enemies will have victory over you, you're telling God that although He has given you spiritual battle gear to defend yourself, that despite His track record of being a giant slayer, Red Sea divider, lion mouth closer and a furnace cooler, He can't handle your coworker (BOSS), your neighbor or a former friend. When you worry that your children have decided to follow the world instead of your example, you're telling God that he doesn't keep His promises... that despite the fact that you have raised them up in the way they should go, they'll stray because basically he lied. When you worry because the doctors told you that children are impossible, that a cure is impossible, that healing is impossible, you're telling Him that this world controls your fate. You're saying that prayer time with Him is merely something to pass the time. You're saying that although He can raise the dead, make a virgin conceive, open the womb of a woman well past eighty, heal a twelve year issue of blood, make the blind see and the lame walk, He can't help you. When you worry that you won't be able to do enough to earn forgiveness, you're telling Him "that's OK Lord, no need for your Son to die, I can earn my own forgiveness! " Let's just act like Jesus never died, and tell Him never mind, that He doesn't need to go to the cross. When you worry that no one will love you, that you'll be lonely for the rest of your life, you're telling Him that His love is insufficient, that He couldn't possibly love you enough to ward away loneliness. You're saying that although He has promised life more abundantly, He was lying that despite the fact that He started off saying that it is not good that we be alone, He's changed His mind. When you worry and refuse to give the problem over to Him, you're telling Him that although He could create the world, He can't handle what's going on in your world, so you will. You are saying that He won't work things out, that obstacles cannot be overcome, that mountains can't be climbed, that healing cannot occur, that what is lost will not be found, that joy does not come in the morning, that He is not the God of a second chance, that the promised land has been swallowed up by the desert, that you have discovered the height, depth and width of His love and found to fall short of your needs. Think about all that you're saying to the one who loves you the most and who has all power, really think about it. Then open your hands and release what you've been holding onto. Bow down on your knees and ask Him to forgive you for doubting Him. Walk away with a peaceful heart and note the footsteps that go before you to make the crooked places straight, a way in the wilderness, and water springing forth in the desert. Stand in a stream with waters around your ankles, the waters that pass by you at that moment, you will never see again, so it is with the misery that has challenged your life... let it go, let it pass! away." By Bishop TD Jakes "If you talk with God, then there is no breath lost;
if you walk with God, there is no strength lost; if you wait on God, there is no time lost." May God's Love be with you, May His Praise be on your lips May His Grace and Truth abide in you always May God's way be your ways May we never forget His Son who died for us May we forever be mindful to others of His Mercy and Grace. AMEN If you want to shine bright, Stay close to the light. "The LORD bless you and Keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26 ‘n Seuntjie vra vir ‘n vriend van my: “Watse soort werk doen oom?” “Ek is ‘n leraar,” antwoord hy. Dadelik reageer die outjie: “Dan is oom mos een van Jesus se beste vriende.” Toe onthou ek ‘n verhaaltjie uit my hoërskooldae waar ons een middag minderbevoorregte kinders by ons kerk bederf het met eetgoed en koeldrank. Een van die kindertjies het na ‘n rukkie na oom Con, wat ons kom help het, gestap en gevra: “Is oom dalk Jesus?” Ons het geweet dis nie ‘n ligsinnige vraag nie. Oom Con was ‘n man van die Here; soveel so dat selfs ‘n klein kindjie wat verstandelik gestremd was dit kon aanvoel.
Dis een ding om vir almal te vertel ons Christene, maar dis iets heeltemal anders as mense dit uit hulle eie raaksien. Iemand wat ek ken sê juis: “Moenie vir mense sê jy is ‘n Christen nie, laat hulle dit vir jou sê, en laat hulle dit oor jou sê in jou afwesigheid!” In Handelinge lees ek dat die eerste Christene van vroeg af bekend gestaan het as mense van die Weg; “People of the Way.” Hulle was op die pad en ook oppad agter Jesus aan in die alledaagse lewe. Nee, hulle was nie bekend as kerkmense wat gedurig van een kerklike aktiwiteit na ‘n ander rondgery het nie. Of as godsdienstiges wat almal afgeskryf het wat nie presies soos hulle geleef het nie. Hulle liefde vir Christus het gewys in hulle loop! Hulle geloof was sigbaar, voelbaar en navolgbaar! So wil ek ook leef. Ek wil graag een van Jesus se beste vriende wees! Groete Stephan Joubert "God will never leave you or forsake you"
The last words that Jesus shared with his disciples before he ascended into heaven are recorded in Matthew 28:20, “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” In Hebrews 13:5, God promises "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you!" Other translations say, “I will never leave you; I will never forsake you.” I want to break this verse apart for you and look at three main words in this verse from the original Greek. 1) First, what does God mean when he says “Never”? He means forever never. In the original language "never" is really a compounding of five negatives. Five negatives. In the Greek, each negative is multiplied by the other negatives. In other words, the original Greek reads like this - "I will never, no, not ever, no never leave you or forsake you!" It's a forever never which has no exceptions! "I will never, no, not ever, no never leave you or forsake you!" Wow! What a promise!!! But that’s just part of this verse... 2) The second major word is “leave”. What does the word “leave” mean? In the original Greek, it means "to leave behind, to abandon, to give up on, to send back." So then, so far our verse reads like this: "I will never, no not ever, no never leave you behind, abandon you, give up on you, or send you back!" 3) The third major word is the word, “Forsake” What does “forsake”mean? It means, "to leave one in a helpless state, to disregard ." It also means "not relaxing my watchfulness over you." So, to fully understand this verse and the three major words in this verse, here is the way it would read when fully expanded from the original Greek.. "I will never, no not ever, no never give up on you, abandon you, leave you behind, leave you helpless, nor will I ever relax in my faithfulness in keeping watch over you! What a verse. What a promise. What a powerful reminder of God’s promise to us. Bob Benson once wrote: “When life caves in, you don’t need reasons - you need comfort. You don’t need some answers - you need someone. And Jesus does not come to us with an explanation - He comes to us with His presence.” 1 Peter 2:24
'He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.' - God desires that you and I would live in freedom. - He did not want us to live under the weight of sin. - He made a plan so that we could be free. - So don't give sin a foothold, but let's do what is right. PRAYER: Lord, thank You for what You did for me. I choose to walk in a way that pleases and honours You. Amen. Psalm 143:8
'Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You.' - God's unfailing love for you is available to you today. - Keep on trusting Him. - He will lead you and guide you. - Take this moment and give yourself to Him again. PRAYER: Lord, right now, at the start of this new day, I give myself to You afresh. May my life be an instrument that You will use for Your honour and glory. Amen. Psalm 108:4
'For great is Your love, higher than the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.' - Expect more of HIS love for you. - Anticipate more of HIS faithfulness in your life. - Believe, believe and believe for more of HIS goodness. - HIS abounding love is reaching out to you right now - receive it! PRAYER: Lord, I believe, I expect and I anticipate more of Your love, more of Your faithfulness and more of Your goodness. You are MY great, covenant keeping God. Amen. YOU PUT THE DEVIL OUT BUT YOU LET HIM LEAVE HIS BAGS!!!
You got out of a bad relationship because it was bad, but you are still resentful, and angry. (you let the devil leave his bags) You got out of financial debt, but you still can't control the desire to spend on frivolous things. (you let the devil leave his bags) You got out of a bad habit or addiction, but you still long to try it just one more time. (you let the devil leave his bags) You said, I forgive you, but you can't seem to forget and have peace with that person. (you let the devil leave his bags) You told your mate that it was over, but you still continue to call. (you let the devil leave his bags) You stop smoking because your body is a Temple of God, but you still have a craving for smoking. (you let the devil leave his bags) You got out of that horribly oppressive job, but you're still trying to sabotage the company after you've left. (you let the devil leave his bags) You cut off the affair with that married man/woman, but you still lust after him/her. (you let the devil leave his bags) You broke off your relationship with that hurtful, abusive person, but you are suspicious and distrusting of every new person you meet. (you let the devil leave his bags) You decided to let go of the past hurts from growing up in an unstable family environment, yet you believe you are unworthy of love from others and you refuse to get attached to anyone. (you let the devil leave his bags) WHEN YOU PUT THE DEVIL OUT MAKE SURE HE TAKES HIS BAGS!!! "Ever since I was a child I have had this instinctive urge for expansion and growth. To me, the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one's potential." ~ Bruce Lee
"Potential has a shelf life." ~ Margaret Atwood "Ineffective people live day after day with unused potential. They experience synergy only in small, peripheral ways in their lives. But creative experiences can be produced regularly, consistently, almost daily in people's lives. It requires enormous personal security and openness and a spirit of adventure." ~ Stephen Covey "Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning." ~ Ben Franklin |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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