You are strong...when you take your grief and teach it to smile.
You are brave...when you overcome your fear and help others to do the same. You are happy...when you see a flower and are thankful for the blessing. You are loving...when your own pain does not blind you to the pain of others. You are wise...when you know the limits of your wisdom. You are true...when you admit there are times you fool yourself. You are alive...when tomorrows hope means more to you than yesterday's mistake. You are growing...when you know what you are but not what you will become.. You are free...when you are in control of yourself and do not wish to control others. You are honourable...when you find your honour is to honour others. You are generous...when you can take as sweetly as you can give. You are humble...when you do not know how humble you are. You are thoughtful...when you see me just as I am and treat me just as you are. You are merciful...when you forgive in others the faults you condemn in yourself. You are beautiful...when you don't need a mirror to tell you. You are rich...when you never need more than what you have. You are you...when you are at peace with who you are not. "Ek het jou geskep jou gevorm jou verlos jou op jou naam geroep jy
is Myne" (Jes 43:1) Ek het jou gekoop en die prys is betaal. (Vgl 1 Kor 6:20; 7:23) Ons leef in 'n wêreld waarin elkeen vir homself lewe en hardloop. Niemand het tyd vir ander nie. Ons vertrap mekaar en loop oor mekaar. Jy voel dalk ook asof niemand vir jou omgee nie. Jy soek liefde, begrip en aanvaarding maar jy kry dit nie. Jy verlang dat iemand vir jou sal sê: "Jy is baie spesiaal!", maar niemand sê dit nie. Die lewe is kaal en vaal en het sinloos geword. Dit het al sy vreugde en sprankel verloor. Jy voel stukkend gebreek en afgetakel. Ek het vir jou wonderlike nuus! Jy kanjou kop optel. JY IS BAIE SPESIAAL!! So spesiaal dat ons groot God en hemelse Vader vir jou kom sê: En omdat jy VIR GOD SO SPESIAAL is, gee Hy so baie vir jou om. Hy het jou innig lief en sy liefde sal nooit ophou nie (Ef 2:4; Js 54:10: Joh 13:1). Hy omhels jou en vertroetel jou en versorg jou soos die appel van sy oog (Deut 32:10). Hy beskerm jou so dat niemand jou uit sy hand sal ruk nie (Joh 10:28, 29). Hy beskerm jou teen alle gevaar (Ps. 121). Hy seën jou met die beste onder alle omstandighede (Num 6:24 -26). Bid die gebed van Jabes (1 Kron. 4:10). Hy bly by jou, en Hy woon in jou huis. Hy los jou nooit alleen nie (Joh 14:17, 23). Hy sorg vir jou. Jy hoef oor niks besorg te wees nie (Fil 4:6). Hy weet wat jy nodig het (Mt 6:32), en Hy sal jou nie in die steek laat nie (Heb 13:5). Hy onthou jou. Jou naam is in sy handpalm gegraveer (Jes 49:15, 16). Hy vergewe jou. Hy dink nie meer aan jou sonde nie (Jes 43:25). Hy wis dit uit met sy bloed (1 Joh. 1:7). Hy bid vir jou. Hy is jou Middelaar en Voorspraak, wat by die Vader vir jou intree (Joh 17:9). Jy is so SPESIAAL dat hy sy eie Seun na hierdie wêreld gestuur het, vir jou persoonlik, om al jou sonde, jou pyn en eensaamheid, jou hartseer en verworpenheid te dra. Hy wil die lewe vir jou mooi maak en al die vreugde en sprankel vir jou terugbring. Laat Hy jou lewe oorneem, en ALLES VIR JOU NUUT MAAK. As die Here vir jou so omgee, kan jy nie meer moedverlore en uitgeworpe wees nie. SKEP MOED, STAAN OP EN BEGIN LEWE! DIT IS DIE MOEITE WERD, WANT JY IS BAIE SPESIAAL!!! The mans mind plans his way but the Lord directs his steps and make them sure. Prov16:9 We cannot direct the wind , but we can adjust our sails by making the wise choices. GOd give us the wisdom Prov 15 :33
Psalm 71:21 you shall increase my greatness and comfort me on every side.
Lord the world wants to shame us but we thank You for restoring our honour for protecting and comforting us, we praise You we honour you as our provider the source of life and happiness. We give you all the glory in Jesus name Amen “When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did.” (2Ti 2:3, The Message)
Jesus told us plain enough that in this world we would have trouble. In the same breath He said, “But be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” There is something otherworldly about a person’s ability to face significant trouble head on without flinching. To say the least it is inspiring; but more than that it is reassuring. For it bears witness to a world that is greater than this one — and THAT World is our Home. Jesus has gone before us and even now is preparing That Place for us. The writer of Hebrews says, “Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed — that exhilarating finish in and with God — he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honour, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” (Heb 12:2-3). James, the Lord’s brother, wrote, “Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.” (Jas 1:12). You can make it, no matter what comes against you. And the reward for doing so is Life here and now — and an ever greater Life there and then. And that is why we are able to take it on the chin. Part1
When you find yourself in trouble, do you sometimes think, 'I must have done something wrong, perhaps I've missed God's will and He's punishing me'? No. Trouble is multi-sourced, and frequently unrelated to our wrongdoing or God's punishment. The disciples weren't in the storm by disobeying, but by obeying Jesus; not by rejecting God's will, but by embracing it. The Bible says, '...Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go...', and they obeyed. At times you'll find yourself in troubled waters because you did what was right rather than what was popular, easy or selfish. When that happens, here are some helpful lessons from the disciples' experience: 1) Obedience doesn't guarantee there will be no storms. The disciples had just seen Jesus feed five thousand people with five bread rolls and two fish, and end up with more food than He started with. Shouldn't their faith have been strengthened? Yet they forgot it completely when fear came knocking. Jesus had told them He'd meet them on the other shore, yet they forgot His miracle-working power and His promise and gave in to anxiety. Understand this: When God doesn't solve your problem, He will show up in the middle of it and cause you to come out with your faith fortified. 2) Fear doesn't mean you're a failure. It's just a reminder that you're human, and, like the disciples, you've forgotten Who has the power and Who's in charge. And these are lessons that transform your trial into triumph. Part 2 1) Trouble doesn't mean that God has abandoned you. The disciples learned that Jesus may be out of sight, but He's never out of touch. To '...walk by faith, not by sight' (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV) means sometimes you'll walk in darkness without visible cues. Someone put it this way: 'When you can't trace His hand, you can trust His heart.' When the disciples were being tossed like a cork on the waves, Jesus was up on a mountain praying for them! He was aware of the problem and He was working on the solution. He was their mediator and their 'need meet-er', just as He has one hand on your need and the other on your answer. '...He always lives to intercede for [you]' (Hebrews 7:25 NIV). Can you imagine Jesus praying to the Father for His fear-filled disciples? And can you imagine the Father refusing to answer His prayers? Never! '...The Spirit himself intercedes for us...' (Romans 8:26 NIV). With both Jesus and the Holy Spirit talking to the Father on your behalf, your victory is guaranteed. 2) Between the command to 'Go' and your safe arrival on the other side, there's often a crisis. Jesus commanded them to cross to the other shore, but before the trip was completed their world experienced upheaval. What's buffeting your life today - loss, guilt, loneliness, financial reversal, illness, addiction, rejection? When our faith is low and our fear high, we cry, 'If only I had (or hadn't)...If only I could...' Learn to trust God. It's not over until He says so. And He hasn't! Soul food: Is 22-25; John 10:22-42; Ps 83:9-18; Pr. 26:13-16 Soul food: Is 17-21; John 10:11-21; Ps 83:1-8; Pr. 26:7-12 “Be still, and know that I am God...” (Psalm 46:10, NIV)
In our culture, most people are used to having constant activity: computers, cell phones, television, email, video games. There’s nothing wrong with any of that, but the Bible tells us that we need to stop and be still so we can focus on knowing God. I’ve found this to be true especially during the difficult times. When you are facing a challenge, it’s easy to want to run to a friend or talk about it with a co-worker. But at some point, you have to stop and say, “God, I rest in You. I know You have me in the palm of Your hand.” Remember, our battles are spiritual battles. The people in your life aren’t the source of your problems, the forces of darkness are. When you choose to be still and know that the Greater One lives on the inside of you, you are putting yourself in a position of strength. So today, take time to be still before Him. Let His peace cover you. Let Him refresh you by His Spirit. Remember, the battles you face belong to the Lord. Be still before Him so you can see His hand of victory in every area of your life! Father in heaven, I humbly come before You. I choose to be still before You. Speak to my heart so I can know You more. Fill me with Your peace as I put my trust in You in Jesus’ name. Amen. — Joel & Victoria Osteen There was a little old lady, who every morning. stepped onto her front porch, raised her arms to the sky, and shouted: 'PRAISE THE LORD!'
One day an atheist moved into the house next door. He became irritated at the little old lady. Every morning he'd step onto his front porch after her and yell: 'THERE IS NO LORD!' Time passed with the two of them carrying on this way every day. One morning, in the middle of winter, the little old lady stepped onto her front porch and shouted: 'PRAISE THE LORD! Please Lord, I have no food and I am starving, provide for me, oh Lord! The next morning she stepped out onto her porch and there were two huge bags of groceries sitting there. 'PRAISE THE LORD!' she cried out. 'HE HAS PROVIDED GROCERIES FOR ME!' The atheist neighbor jumped out of the hedges and shouted: 'THERE IS NO LORD; I BOUGHT THOSE GROCERIES!!' The little old lady threw her arms into the air and shouted: 'PRAISE THE LORD! HE HAS PROVIDED ME WITH GROCERIES AND MADE THE DEVIL PAY FOR THEM!' |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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