I love the fact that although every aspect of our lives has positive and negative we always have a choice: we can complain about the negative aspect or celebrate the positive.
Where you choose to place your focus decides the kind of day you will experience. I like to ask myself the question: What kind of day shall I choose today? Today I can complain about my health, Or I can celebrate being alive. Today I can moan that it is raining, Or be joyful at all that grows from the rain. Today I can regret all I don't have,Or rejoice in everything I do. Today I can mourn everything I have lost,Or eagerly anticipate what's to come. Today I can complain that I have to work, Or celebrate having a job to go to. I can resent the mess the kids make,Or give thanks that I have a family. Today I can whine about the housework, Or celebrate having a home. Today I can cry over the people who don't care for me, Or be happy loving and being loved by those who do. I choose to have a good day today! It is the contrast between the negative and the positive that enables us to learn and grow That is why: From the poverty of tears we learn the richness of laughter. From the scarcity of love we learn the abundance of loving. From the darkest clouds we learn to bask in the warmth of the brightest days. From the destitution of spirit we learn to polish the diamonds in our souls.” Depend on the Lord trust Him and He will take care of you Ps37:5. Have no fear because of them for I am with you to keep you safe says the Lord Jer1:8 God is committed to caring for our needs after all how can we fulfill His mission unless our needs are met? We are in Gods army He will provide our needs.
Good men are indeed all around us. We pass them on the streets, in the malls and the halls at work. Most we can't see because we don't know what a good man really looks like. He usually isn't flashy enough or rich enough to turn our heads. He might not wear a suit or push a BMW. He might not have a "body like Vin Diesel with a Brad Pitt face". But, as you mature, you realize it's better to find someone who's got your back than someone who turns your head. A good man doesn't agree whole heartedly with everything you say. He doesn't just tell you what you want to hear and do the opposite. He doesn't declare how sensitive, sweet, caring, sincere, yada yada he is (he wont have to because it shows). He has his own opinions and you may clash, but he doesn't have to degrade you to prove he's right. He even admits at times to being wrong, especially if you are willing to do the same. A good man is not going to meet every item on your checklist. He is human with frailties and faults mixed in with all of his wonderful, strong attributes. He needs your love and respect. He needs to feel that you don't live to "catch" him doing something wrong so you can declare, "Aha! I knew you were a dog!!" A good man doesn't necessarily give you a huge birthday or Valentine's gift. He shows his love in the ways that are comfortable to him. Don't judge him by TV standards (...Bold and the Beautiful...). No one lives that fairy tale for real. You'll miss out on your own fairy tale by buying into the myth that our men are no good. It's just not true. Men, we salute you, and thank you for who you are and all you've done. You may be facing a dead end right now — financial, emotional, or relational — but if you will trust God and keep on moving in faith, even when you don’t see a way, he will make a way.
It will become more understandable as you head down the path he sets before you, but understanding is not a requirement for you to start down the path. Proverbs 4:18 says, “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day”. One day you will stand in the full light of eternity and view the big picture. You’ll see God’s purpose behind the path he specifically chose for you. In the meantime, do what Proverbs 3 says: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Be patient. God knows what he’s doing. God knows what is best for you. He can see the end result. You can’t. All those problems, heartaches, difficulties and delays — all the things that make you ask “why” — will one day be clear in the light of God’s love. But for now, we’re learning to trust God. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV) "GOD het aan haar gesê dat Hy aan elkeen van ons 'n “mandjie” gee, nie ‘n tas of rugsak of trollie nie, 'n “mandjie”. Daarin kan ons elke dag al ons sorge en probleme, hartseer vrees, onsekerheid, pyn net mooi alles wat vir ons swaar en moeilik is pak. Hoe meer ons inpak hoe groter word ons “mandjie”.......en natuurlik ook swaarder. Saam met hierdie “mandjie” gee GOD ook aan ons 'n uitnodiging om elke dag by sy voete te kom sit en daardie “mandjie” uit te pak. Hy verwag nie van ons om daardie “mandjie” wat groot en swaar geword het, oral met ons saam te dra nie, Hy sê, kom dra jou “mandjie” net tot by My voete en kom pak alles daar by My uit. En soos ons uitpak krimp ons “mandjie” weer tot hy lig en klein is en maklik is vir ons om opte tel en verder te dra. Ons mag ook soveel keer as wat ons wil op 'n dag met ons “mandjie” by Sy voete gaan sit. Daar is geen beperking op nie, net so is daar geen beperking op GOD se genade en vergifnis nie. Is dit nie wonderlik nie? Vat jou "mandjie” en dra dit, dit gaan van jou afhang of jy dit vir jou-self gaan moeilik maak en ’n swaar “mandjie” rond dra en of jy daagliks jou “mandjie" by GOD se voete gaan sit en leeg maak daar op te staan en alles wat jy daar uitgepak het, by Sy voete te los jou “mandjie” te vat en verder te loop.........maar kom ons onthou ook dat wanneer dit met ons goed gaan ons dit ook in ons “mandjie” sal pak sodat wanneer ons “mandjie” groot en swaar word van goedheid en guns ons dit ook voor GOD sal bring om vir Hom daarvoor dankie te sê.
GOD is so lief vir ons en Hy wil ons nie sien swaar kry nie. Al wat Hy vra is, kom na My toe......mag GOD elkeen wat hier lees Seën en toevou in Sy wonderlike liefde.. One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.
The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off! MORAL : Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up. Remember the five simple rules to be happy: 1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive. 2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen. 3. Live simply and appreciate what you have. 4. Give more. 5. Expect less from people but more from God. “Despise not the day of small beginnings.” (Zec 4:10)
God always does extraordinary things with ordinary stuff. The Bible tells us that He made everything out of nothing. He is the CAN DO God. With Him nothing is impossible. One day a young boy showed up at a crowded event to hear a traveling preached talk about wonderful things. He never dreamed for an instant that he would become the central character in an epic moment of history. The preacher was Jesus. The young boy was the lad with a small sack lunch containing two fish and five loaves of bread. It was just a lunch bag on a normal day, but on this day it became the stuff of miracles. It is amazing what can happen when you place something in the hands of Jesus. What do you think could happen if you placed your life in His hands? You may be just an ordinary person — but Jesus can do something amazing with what you have. If you just let Him have it. Most people never reach their full potential in life simply because they overlook the potential of the ordinary. If you simply start where you ARE, instead of waiting to start until you get to where you hope to go — you will become all you ever dreamed of being! Little by little. Step by step. Day by day. Like Mary did on that first night when God told her of extraordinary things, say yes to God and let the miracle begin to slowly grow inside you. Never overlook the potential of the ordinary. If we are not faithful, he will still be faithful, because he cannot be false to himself. 2 Ti 2:13
God's blessings are dispensed according to the riches of his grace, not according to the depth of our faith… Why is that important to know? So you won't get cynical. Look around you. Aren't there more mouths than bread? Aren't there more wounds than physicians? Aren't there more who need the truth than those who tell it? So what do we do? Throw up our hands and walk away? Tell the world we can't help them? No, we don't give up. We look up. We trust. We believe. And our optimism is not hollow. Christ has proven worthy. He has shown that he never fails. That's what makes God, God. A Gentle Thunder (Max Lucado) Part 1
Sheep and cattle have to be handled differently. Sheep require tending. They need clear boundaries for their own protection, not to mention the shepherd's potential loss if they are devoured by a wolf or fall off a cliff. Cattle do just fine when they're given good grazing land and left alone. What's the point? To fulfil your dream, you must 'know' the people you work with. Whether they're partners or patrons, bosses or colleagues, clients or constituents, customers or critics, people need to be identified and managed according to their talents and their temperament. So what kind of people belong on your team? John Maxwell writes: 'Some people have a dream but no team - their dream is impossible. Some people have a dream but a bad team - their dream is a nightmare. Some people have a dream and are building a team - their dream has potential. Some people have a dream and a great team - their dream is inevitable.' Moses needed Joshua; Naomi needed Ruth. The idea of the self-made person is a myth. Whether they acknowledge it or not, all successful people had help along the way. Only when you can admit that you need help will you begin looking for it. And that's a crucial step in achieving success. The next steps are knowing people's strengths, communicating your vision to them in such a way that they buy into it, bringing out the best in them and rewarding them. Chris Hodges says, 'A dream is a compelling vision you see in your heart, that's too big to accomplish without the help of others.' Soul food: Is 45-48; John 12:12-19; Ps 102:1-11; Pr. 27:7-9 Part 2 After being reconciled with his long-estranged brother Esau, Jacob agreed to accompany him home for a celebration. Esau, who was a fast-tracker, said, '...Let us go...' (12 NKJV). But Jacob said, '...You go on ahead!.' He explained to his brother, '...The children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me...if the men should drive them hard...the flock will die...I will lead on slowly at a pace...the livestock...and the children, are able to endure...' (13-14 NKJV). Jacob had great insight. He understood that if you push too hard and take on too much you can lose not only your business, but your family. There's an important lesson here. In your quest to achieve, stay in balance! There must be a time for work and a time for rest; a time for your career and a time for your relationships. The words, 'To love and to cherish', mean you are married to your spouse, not your job! When it comes to your home life, your character and your spiritual walk, evolution is not the natural order. What you leave unattended deteriorates. Dr. John Maxwell shared the following prayer with his friends at a recent birthday party: 'Lord, as I grow older I think I want to be known as...thoughtful rather than gifted, loving versus quick or bright, gentle versus powerful, a listener more than a great communicator, available rather than a hard worker, sacrificial instead of successful, reliable not famous, content more than driven, self-controlled rather than exciting, generous instead of rich, compassionate more than competent.' And that's a prayer you should pray too! Soul food: Is 49-52; John 12:20-36; Ps 102:12-17; Pr. 27:10-12 Part 3 Abraham and Lot started out together in business. Then a problem arose: '...Their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. And there was strife between the herdsmen...' (vv.6-7 NKJV). So Abraham said, 'Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right...' (v.9 NKJV). There's an important lesson here: Just because somebody belonged in your early life, doesn't mean they're supposed to make the whole journey with you. When memories of the early days of working with somebody are wonderful, it's difficult to face the truth that those days are gone and will never return. Does that mean you are right and they are wrong? No, it just means you each have different destinies. If you don't understand that, people who were once the wind beneath your wings can become a weight that drags you down. Sometimes you outgrow a person's gifting and capacity, and no matter how much you try to help or improve them they won't get any better. When that happens your prospects are diminished and your momentum suffers. Some of the people you want in your life shouldn't be in it because they don't share your passion; they have a different calling. If you learn this sooner rather than later, you'll save yourself untold heartache. The story's told of a man who left this message on his answering machine: 'I'm not available right now. I'm making some changes in my life. Please leave a message after the beep. If I don't return your call, you are one of the changes.' Soul food: Is 53-57; John 12:37-50; Ps 102:18-28; Pr. 27:13-16 In Old Testament times stopping up wells with stones was one of the weapons used by the to defeat one’s enemy see 1 kings 3:19. We are born free with the ability to flow but over time Satan comes along and start throwing stones into our inner being. Stones of abuse, hurt , rejection, depression, resentment, abandonment, hopelessness etc. By the time we become adults our wells is so blocked up that we cannot flow properly. The Power of the Holy Spirit (received by those who accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior ) however removes these stones.
Father God we pray that the living water flow from us continuously as John 7:37-39 promises us, use us in Your kingdom to make a difference we pray in the Mighty Name of Jesus Amen |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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