John Gordon was a respected general for the South in the Civil War. After the war, he was running for the United States Senate, but a man who had served under him in the war, angry over some political incident, was determined to see him defeated. Everyone knew this man would fight Gordon's bid to become a senator.
During the convention, he angrily stamped down the aisle with his anti-Gordon vote in hand. As he saw Gordon sitting on the platform, he noticed how his once handsome face was disfigured with the scars of battle -- marks of his willingness to suffer and bleed for a cause he believed in. The old soldier was stricken with remorse. Overcome with emotion, he exclaimed, "It's no use; I can't do it. Here's my vote for John Gordon." Then, turning to the general, he said, "Forgive me, General. I had forgotten the scars." What a difference it makes in our lives when we remember the scars! With so many things to distract us, we don't often take time each day to reflect on what Jesus went through on the cross for us. But, when we are tempted to stray, it is a remembrance of Christ's sacrifice that has the power to draw us back to him. "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5) May I encourage you this morning to take a moment to pause and "remember the scars"
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I ask the Father in his great glory to give you the power to be strong inwardly through his Spirit.
Eph 3:16 Here is a scene repeated in Brazil thousands of times daily… It's early morning. Time for young Marcos to leave for school. As he gathers his books and heads for the door, he pauses by his father's chair. He searches his father's face. Marcos asks. (Blessing, Father?) The father raises his hand. Deus te abenoe, meu filho, he assures. (God bless you, my son.) … Father and child part for the day, a blessing requested, a blessing willingly given… We should do the same. Like the child longing for the father's favor, each of us needs a daily reminder of our heavenly Father's love. 31 Days of Blessing (by: Max Lucado) There was a farmer who collected horses; he only needed one more breed to complete his collection. One day, he found out that his neighbour had the particular horse breed he needed. So, he constantly bothered his neighbour until he sold it to him. A month later, the horse became ill and he called the veterinarian, who said: "Well, your horse has a virus. He must take this medicine for three days.. I'll come back on the 3rd day and if he's not better, we're going to have to put him down."
Nearby, the goat listened closely to their conversation. The next day, they gave him the medicine and left. The goat approached the horse and said: Be strong, my friend. Get up or else they're going to put you to sleep! On the second day, they gave him the medicine and left. The goat came back and said: Come on buddy, get up or else you're going to die! Come on, I'll help you get up. Let's go! One, two, three... On the third day, they came to give him the medicine and the vet said: Unfortunately, we're going to have to put him down tomorrow. Otherwise, the virus might spread and infect the other horses. After they left, the goat approached the horse and said: Listen pal, it's now or never! Get up, come on! Have courage! Come on! Get up! Get up! That's it, slowly! Great! Come on, one, two, three... Good, good. Now faster, come on.... Fantastic! Run, run more! Yes! Yay! Yes! You did it, you're a champion!!! All of a sudden, the owner came back, saw the horse running in the field and began shouting: It's a miracle! My horse is cured. This deserves a party. Let’s slaughter the goat! Points for reflection: This often happens in the workplace. Nobody truly knows which employee actually deserves the merit of success, or who's actually contributing the necessary support to make things happen. LEARNING TO LIVE WITHOUT RECOGNITION IS A SKILL! If anyone ever tells you that your work is unprofessional, remember: amateurs built the Ark and professionals built the Titanic. But those who do right will continue to do right, and those whose hands are not dirty with sin will grow stronger. Job 17:9
What if someone were to film a documentary on your hands? What if a producer were to tell your story based on the life of your hands? What would we see? As with all of us, the film would begin with an infant's fist, then a close-up of a tiny hand wrapped around mommy's finger. Then what? Holding on to a chair as you learned to walk? … Were you to show the documentary to your friends, you'd be proud of certain moments: your hands extending with a gift, placing a ring on another's finger, doctoring a wound, preparing a meal… And then there are other scenes… Hands taking more often than giving, demanding instead of offering… Oh, the power of our hands. Leave them unmanaged and they become weapons: clawing for power, strangling for survival, seducing for pleasure. But manage them and our hands become instruments of grace—not just tools in the hands of God, but God's very hands. Just Like Jesus (Max Lucado) I will say to the LORD, "You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." Psalm 91:2
The more you doubt, the more you'll have to live without. Complaining is one of the worst traps that many Christians fall into. A complainer thinks, "I can't stand my boss. If she would only treat me better, I'd be happy. I hate this traffic. Why can the government improve traffic flow with all the tax money I pay?" This is a deceptive trap because it leads one to believe that life would be better if something would be different. However, it is far more productive for to believe that God can change the situation than to doubt him. This trap of complaining is the same trap that the Israelites fell into. They were not satisfied with what God had given them and they continually wanted more. Psalm 106:12-15 is a great example of what happens to people who are unthankful and always want more: Then they [Israel] believed his promises and sang his praise. But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel. In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test. So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them. That passage refers the Israelites' persistent request for food, water, and other basic resources. They didn't trust God; they doubted his ability to provide and tested him. So, because of their doubt, God sent a wasting disease upon them. Furthermore, for forty years God withheld the promised land from them. Their doubt caused them to live without. Soms as ons wel bereik waarna ons gestreef het, voel ons nie juis vervul nie. Ons kyk terug en besef die grootste vreugde was nie in die doel wat bereik is nie, maar in die groei wat ons op die pad beleef het. Die wetenskaplike Koichi Tanaka beskryf hierdie verskynsel en hoe dit tydens die genotvolle navolging van die droom plaasvind. Terwyl hy 'n ioon met lasers wou skep, vertel hy: 'Vir weke en maande het ek misluk om 'n ioon maak. Waarom het ek bly eksperimenteer? Want ek het dit geniet. Dit was pret om iets te leer wat ek voorheen nie geken het nie, en daardie pret het my aangespoor.' Daardie deursettingsvermoë het hom die Nobelprys in Chemie laat wen. Jy het die potensiaal om wonderlike ontdekkings te maak, en selfs groter potensiaal as jy iets oor God en jouself ontdek. 'n Leierskapskenner skryf: 'Die navolging van my droom het my uit my gemaksone geneem, my denke verhoog, my selfvertroue gegee en my sin vir doelwitstelling bevestig. My navolging van die droom en my persoonlike groei het so vervleg geraak dat ek myself moes afvra: "Het ek die droom gemaak, of het die droom my gemaak?"' As jou brein 'n nuwe idee aanvaar of 'n nuwe waarheid aanleer, verander dit vir altyd. As dit eers gerek is, is dit nuutgevorm en kry dit nooit weer sy oorspronklike vorm terug nie. Wanneer dit gebeur, ervaar jy ware vervulling. G'n wonder nie kinderboekskryfster Elizabeth Coatsworth het gesê: 'Wanneer ek droom, is ek tydloos.'
Sielskos: Jos 5:1-8:29; Luk 22:24-38; Ps 78:65-72; Spr 20:26-30 I cannot change the way I am, I never really try, God made me different and unique, I never ask him why. If I appear peculiar, There's nothing I can do, You must accept me as I am, As I've accepted you. God made a casting of each life, Then threw the old away, Each child is different from the rest, Unlike as night from day. So God in all his wisdom, Who knows us all by name, He didn't want us to be bored, That's why we're not the same ~Author Unknown~ "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." (2 Corinthians 4:7)
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT YOURSELF? I want to reveal to you a divine secret. Time is not stopping; neither is it waiting for you to make up your mind about moving forward. Yes, I know things are not looking that great in the economy right now - homes are in foreclosure, gas and food prices are on the rise. But can I share with you that when you listen to the voice of God you will find comfort and peace. Your ability to follow instructions in this season is directly related to your level of blessing from God. Because God has put a higher demand on your life, there is a level of excellence that you are required to walk into. All of the distractions that have kept you from achieving your lifelong goals are being removed in this season and the Holy Spirit is putting a demand on your life. You have been asking God, "When is it my turn?" Well, I hear the Holy Spirit saying, "Your time is now!" Those things that once looked like they were out of your reach, I hear the God saying that He is putting them within arm's reach for you to grab. This is your hour to trust the voice of God that is speaking within you. No more tears! No more worry! No more self-flagellation! #1 Wake up
Decide to have a good day. "Today is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice & be glad in it" Psalms 118:24 #2 Dress Up The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart" I Sam 16:7 #3 Shut Up Say nice things & learn to listen. God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul" Proverbs 13:3 "Gossip betrays confidence -avoid men who talk too much" Proverbs 20:19. "Listen to advice, accept instruction and in the end, you will be wise" Proverbs 19:20 #4 Stand Up Stand up for what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10 #5 Look Up Look up to the Lord. "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13 #6 Reach Up Reach up for something higher. O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirst for you, my body longs for you, in a dry. and weary land where there is no water, Psalms 63:1 #7 Lift Up Lift up your Prayers. "Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING" Philippians 4:6 |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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