A Helping Hand
if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm. And a time always comes when you discover that you have two hands: One for helping yourself, the other one is for helping others. A Helping Hand Submitted by Jordan I was on the phone with my dad while I was standing in line at a McDonald's, getting my sister some lunch. On the phone I was asking my dad to borrow ten dollars because I had plans to take the train later that day, as I didn't get my paycheck for a few days. I was broke. While I was explaining my situation to him an old woman turned around and stuck her arm out to me, with ten dollars in her hand. I told my dad I would call him back and when I hung up the phone I told her I was sorry but I could not accept her money. She proceed to give me the money, so strongly that I reluctantly accepted. I told her thank you many times and she smiled and said she has so many grandchildren and is used to it. I then told her about my new job and wished her happy holidays. I thought it was an amazing gesture of her and made me feel incredibly happy that there are still good souls out in the world today. I hope she and her family are very blessed. Everybody is gifted ,but some people never opens their package. See 1 Peter 4:10 “ as each of you has received a gift ( a particular spiritual talent a gracious divine endowment). Employ it for one another as [befits ] good trustees of God’s many sided Grace [faithful stewards of extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor]. Reach out to your neighbor.
Peace does not come from success, professional position or promotion, social status educational achievement, money or an engaging personality. No we find peace as we live according to the kingdom of God which is defined as righteousness, peace and the Joy of the Holy Spirit. See Romans 4:17. Being right with God, knowing we are right with God and doing right things out of knowing who we are in Christ is a process but it leads to peace and peace leads to Joy.
In Romans 12 Paul talks of the different gifts of grace that has been given to the individual members of the body of Christ. He says that if you are a teacher you should give yourself to teaching etc. In other words we should not be involved in things God has not gifted us for or called us to do. Stay on track and remain focused and stable, always pressing toward your goal in the power of the Holy Spirit. See Philippians 3:14
Heavenly father , help me to keep my eyes looking straight ahead and not back on former days and old ways of doing things. I know you want to do something new in my life today. Help me to concentrate on where I am to go now and not where I have been. Thank You for releasing me from the past so that by your grace I cane move out of it and into the future you have for me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
Don't you think Moses, after a discouraging day, may have pulled open his tent flap to see the pillar of fire high in the sky and said, "Everything's fine. LOOK WHO'S HERE."
And what about Daniel, charter member of the Lion's Club. He laid his head on the mane of a lion and said, "I'm not afraid. LOOK WHO'S HERE." King Nebuchadnezzar had those three fellas thrown in the fire but when he looked down he saw four. Shadrach and Company were just fine. "LOOK WHO'S HERE." And what about Elijah? Water was scarce and still he ordered twelve barrels to be poured upon the altar. God or Baal? Choose you this day whom ye will serve! Ol' Elijah just chuckled to himself and said, "LOOK WHO'S HERE." David, the shepherd boy who would become King, looked at Goliath, loaded his slingshot, and said, "Your time's up. LOOK WHO'S HERE." Remember when Walter Cronkite signed off every evening with, "And that's the way it is." A preacher friend of mine would say "No, Walter, that's not the way it is, that's just the way it looks. LOOK WHO'S HERE." Lazarus had been dead four days when Jesus said "roll the stone away." But Lazarus walked out of that tomb because Almighty God turned death on its heels and said "LOOK WHO'S HERE." One of these days, "it may be at morn when the day is awakened, it may be at midday, it may be at twilight, it may be per chance in the blackness of midnight" - in one mighty shout around the world we will look up and cry "Hallelujah! He's back! LOOK WHO'S HERE!" Vance Havner This article was exerted from a sermon "Look Who's Here" by legendary preacher Vance Havner Heavenly father, I thank You for your grace that covers my weaknesses. Thank You that your power shines through my powerlessness. In times of suffering or trial, I pray for an added sense of Your presence so I can grow stronger in you and not weaker. Help me to know that your grace covers my inadequacies. In Jesus Name I pray Amen Read 2 Corinthians 12:9
Jeremiah 17:9 teaches us that our hearts are deceitful above all things. Self-deception is one of the easiest traps of the enemy that we can fall into. If my will wants a thing my mind will give me a variety of reasons I should have it and my emotions will certainly produce ample feelings that agree with my wills wants. We need to have Gods wisdom in our hearts so that we will be able to see when we are being deceived. See Psalm 51:6
Heavenly father, help me use the gifts You have given me to create a peaceful, restful, safe place for my family to live. I ask You to send Your Holy Spirit to dwell in our home so that all who enter in can sense Your peace and comfort. Help me to never do anything that would disturb the sanctuary like qualities that is established there In Jesus Name I pray Amen. Read 1 Corinthians 7:7
In the previous section John gave his perspective of the Holy Spirit who had been given to us as Guide. Like a guide dog “makes” a blind person “see” and helps him find his own way in the darkness, the Holy Spirit helps us find our way and to stay on the path.
But we know that we don’t always get it right, because very quickly the noise of the world rushes in, drowning out the voice of the Holy Spirit. Then we stand at the cross-road not knowing which way to turn – and the more uncertain we become about the decision we have to take, the more the noise confuses us. John understands this and therefore he gives us a piece of invaluable, but simple advice: 28 And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Very simple. It’s quite similar to the time many years ago when I worked as a waiter in the Spur. When a new waiter who still had to learn started work, we called it shadowing, because for the first couple of days the new person had to follow you around like a shadow. He just had to watch what you were doing. The new waiter did not speak to the clients, not even to the cooks. He could only ask you questions. In this way, slowly, he started to learn what it meant to be a waiter and started doing the things that waiters do. This is what John means: We have to walk in Jesus’ shadow every day, because in Jesus’ shadow we’ll learn how to act, how to live God’s will in our lives every day. This is a very nice story and it sounds just right, but what does it mean for me in the reality of my life? It simply means that every time before I make a decision I must consider what Jesus would have done. I still remember how irritated one would get with the new, young waiters following you around so enthusiastically. Yes, it was nice to have someone who could carry your clients’ dirty plates to the kitchen for you, but the many questions drove you mad. But then, after a few days you would see the new waiter making it on his own, you would see his self-confidence growing, the big smile when a satisfied client leaves him a big tip. We must walk in Jesus’ shadow just as enthusiastically. Every time when I have to make a choice I must ask questions. Before I open my mouth to snap at someone, I must first ask Jesus what is the right way to do something. When I decide to give a nasty sign to someone driving like a lunatic, here in Jesus’ shadow I must ask Him a question. When I sit with the TV remote in my hand to select a channel, I must ask first. When someone offers me a load of cash, I must first ask a question. Jesus will never, ever get tired of my questions. He will answer every time. Yes, He will! Jesus knows what He is talking about, because He was here, with His dusty feet. He knows about people deceiving other people. He knows about people being tempted every day. He knows about having too little money and not having enough to cover everything. He knows about giving the right answers. 29 Once you're convinced that he is right and righteous, you'll recognize that all who practice righteousness are God's true children. The inventor knows his invention best. When Alexander Graham Bell designed the telephone in 1877 nobody on earth understood it better than he did. He knew precisely what the telephone could do and not do. He knew where it needed to be developed further. He knew the inside and outside like the back of his hand, because he designed it and he put it together. This is the way that God knows our inside and outside the best. He knows precisely what we can do and where we need adjustment. And on God’s right hand, in His shadow, sits Jesus who also knows everything about us, because here in God’s shadow His relationship with God is perfect. Therefore, we have to try and live in Jesus’ shadow. He has the answers; we just have to ask Him and He will guide us in the right direction. When we continue to ask Jesus and start doing the right thing ourselves as time goes by, eventually we’ll do what God wants us to do. Then we will stand the test of time. Then we will get the biggest prize at the end of the race: Then we'll be ready for him when he appears, ready to receive him with open arms. Yes, then the world will see we’re true children of God. No, even more, then the people around us will also experience that a child of God can make a difference. May others then also go and walk in Jesus’ shadow and learn, because they have seen and felt what we do. Reflection In whose shadow do you walk? How can you walk even more in Jesus’ shadow? Who is there around you that needs a real child of God? Scripture: 1 John 2:24-29 Enjoy the weekend shadowing! Gerjo Ben |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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