Today,
For what I am that I ought not to be, Forgive me. For what I am not that I ought to be, Forgive me. Be with my mouth in what it speaks Be with my hands in what they do Be with my mind in what it thinks Be with my heart in what it feels Work in me ...through me ...for me ...in spite of me In the precious name of Jesus, Amen Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty - they merely move it from their faces to their hearts. - Martin Buxbaum
Sometimes we try to move a giant tree when God only expects us to plant a seed. You do what you can, and God will do what you cannot - Diane Hampton Spend your time counting your blessings, not airing your complaints Success is a journey, not a destination TGIF - Today God Is First Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory. So be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Cor. 15:57-58 The heaviest thing I can carry is a grudge The 10 Commandments are not a multiple choice The idol of self is a sorry substitute for God There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers. - St. Teresa of Avila Maak Jouself Vry van Bekommernisse:
Die Lewe het jou met 'n slag geslaan en al wat jy doen is jouself bekommer en bejammer. Het jy vergeet wie EK is en dat EK hier is om jou laste te dra? Alternatiewelik, geniet jy dit om jou te verknies oor al die kleinighede in die lewe wat jou Kant toe kom ? 2. Sit dit op die Lys: Iets moet gedoen word of voor gesorg word. Sit dit op die Lys Nee, nie JOU lys nie. Sit dit op MY lys. Laat EK die een wees om die probleem uit te sorteer. EK kan jou nie help as jy dit nie vir MY gee nie. Al is MY lys lank; EK is per slot van rekening....GOD! EK kan alles doen wat in MY hande gelaat word. Weet net, die waarheid is, EK sorteer van jou probleme uit sonder dat jy dit eers besef, sonder dat jy eers vra. 3. Vertrou MY: Sodra jy jou laste vir MY oorhandig het, hou op daaroor kwel, en hou op om dit weet te probeer terugvat. Vertrou MY. Hê Geloof in MY dat EK na al jou benodighede, jou probleme en beproewinge sal omsien. Probleme en beproewinge met die kinders? Sit dit op MY lys. Probleme met jou finansies? Sit dit op MY Lys. Probleme met jou emosionele welstand? Sit dit op MY lys. Probleme met jou lewensmaat? Sit dit op MY lys. Vir MY onthalwe, sit alles op MY lys want EK wil jou help. Al wat jy moet doen is vra! 4. Los dit Uit: Moet nie een oggend wakker word en sê, "Wel ek voel nou baie sterker en ek kan alles van nouaf weer alleen aanpak" Hoekom dink jy, voel jy nou weer sterk ? Dit is eenvoudig. Jy het al jou laste en bekommernisse vir MY gegee en ek hanteer alles. EK het ook jou krag hernu en jou omdek met MY vrede. Weet jy nie as EK die laste weer vir jou moes teruggee, sal jy weer wees waar jy was. Los dit met MY en vergeet daarvan. Vertrou jy MY nie? 5. Praat met MY: EK wil hê jy moet baie dinge vergeet. Vergeet wat jou kop laat raas... Vergeet die bekommernisse want jy weet EK is in beheer. Nieteenstaande, daar is een ding wat EK hoop jy nooit sal vergeet nie; dit is om met MY te praat asseblief - ELKE DAG! EK is lief vir jou! EK wil jou stem hoor! EK wil hê jy moet MY insluit by alles in jou lewe. EK wil hoor hoe jy van jou vriende en familie goed praat, van jou kinders, van jou lewensmaat. Gebed is 'n manier om met MY te praat. EK wil jou beste vriend wees asseblief! 6. Luister na MY : Onthou MY liewe kind - EK kan nie self fisies met jou praat nie maar luister na jou hart en EK maak meestal gebruik van MY kinders op aarde in die vorm van vriende of familie om die praatwerk namens MY te doen. EK het jou stem en pleidooie gehoor! Nou wil EK hê jy moet vir MY luister deur MY kind op aarde. As jy genooi word om oor jou laste en bekommernisse te praat, weet dit is EK wat jou nooi want EK wil vir jou antwoorde gee. EK hoop jy nooit sal vergeet nie, EK is altyd daar vir jou al dink jy nie altyd so nie. EK weet wat in jou hart aangaan en EK luister na jou gebed! EK is lief vir jou! GEBED is 'n manier om met MY te praat en EK praat met jou deur MY volgelinge op aarde. 7. Vertrou : EK sien baie dinge van hierbo wat jy nie kan sien van waar jy is nie. Vertrou in MY dat EK weet wat ek doen. Vertrou MY; Jy sal nie die aangesig in die lewe deur MY oë wil sien nie. EK sal aanhou vir jou omgee en oor jou waak, al jou benodighede laat geld. Al wat jy moet doen is op MY vertrou. Al het EK 'n baie groter taak as jy, dit wil voorkom asof jy sukkel om jou bietjie te doen. Hoe swaar kan dit nou wees om op MY te vertrou? 8. Wees Mede Deelsaam: Jy was deur jou ouers, wat ek vir jou gestuur het, geleer om te deel toe jy maar slegs 2 jaar oud was. Wanneer het jy vergeet? Daardie reel is nog steeds van toepassing. Deel met die wat minder bevoorreg is as jy. Deel jou vreugde met die wat bemoediging nodig het. Deel jou glimlag en lag met die wat dit lank laas gesien of gehoor het. Deel jou trane met die wat vergeet het hoe om te huil. Deel jou geloof met die wat dit nie meer het nie. 9. Wees geduldig: EK het daarin geslaag om alles heel te maak in slegs een leeftyd. Jy het soveel etlike ervarings gehad. Jy het gegroei vanaf 'n kind na 'n volwasse, jy het kinder's gehad, miskien van werk verander, ambagte geleer, gereis, duisende mense ontmoet en soveel ervaar. Hoe kan jy dan so ongeduldig wees as dit MY net 'n bietjie langer vat as wat jy verwag het, om al jou laste en bekommernisse te hanteer wat op MY lys is. Vertrou my TYD. Net omdat EK die heelal in slegs ses dae geskep het, dink jy EK moet altyd haastig wees. Nee MY tyd is perfek, glo dit en wees geduldig. 10. Wees Vriendelik : Wees vriendelik en behulpsaam aan ander, want EK is net so lief vir hulle as wat EK lief is vir jou. Hulle mag miskien nie mooi aantrek nie. Hulle mag dalk nie soos jy praat nie. Hulle mag dalk nie soos jy leef nie, maar EK is ewe lief vir almal. Asseblief, vir MY onthalwe, probeer met al MY kinders oor die weg kom. EK het ieder en elkeen verskillend geskep want dit sou darem baie vervelig gewees het as almal identies was. Weet net asseblief, EK is lief vir elke verskillende eienskap van al MY kinders, want EK het hulle geskep. 11. Wees Lief vir Jouself : Soveel soos wat EK lief is vir jou, hoe kan jy jouself dan nie liefhê nie ? EK het elkeen geskep vir een rede alleen - om liefde te vind en in ruil ook om liefde te gee. EK is die GOD van LIEFDE. Wees lief vir MY, wees lief vir jou naaste, maar te alle tye, wees lief vir jouself. Dit maak MY baie hartseer as ek jou so kwaad sien as dinge nie volgens jou verwagtinge gaan nie. Jy is baie kosbaar vir MY. Moet dit asseblief NOOIT vergeet nie ... Raak vandag iemand aan met jou LIEFDE .... I want to ask you this today: HOW POPULAR IS JESUS IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT now?
There is a song that says: the God of the mountain top is the same down in the valley. But is that true in our lives? Do I serve God with the same zeal when things are good and when things are not so good? A young man came to Jesus one day and asked Him, “What should I do to gain everlasting life? Jesus explained and the man was satisfied up to a point. But when Jesus went on to say: “Go, sell everything you have and give it to the poor, then come and follow me.” The young man took offense and saddened turn around and walked away. You see the secret to Christianity is the fact that Jesus must be seen in my life in everything, everywhere and at anytime. We open our meetings in prayer, but when we must solve problems, we are cautious to be “practical and realistic” and not to drag the Bible in everything. When things go wrong we quickly put the Bible in a different category not to be mixed with “real life”. When we are in church on Sunday and the offering plate goes around we are glad to give a contribution. But when Jesus asks us to tithe for His work, so that the poor and the needy can be helped, then He is not so popular anymore. “Blessed is the man that does not take offense on account of me.” (Matthew 11:6) Prayer: Heavenly Father help me to see You as You are wherever and whenever; Father I pray this morning for the families of those who have suffered injuries that You might be their comfort by Your Holy Spirit and I pray for the injured parties that You will lighten their pain and suffering and recovery will be swift in Jesus’ Name…amen "...TO THE PRAISE OF THE GLORY OF HIS GRACE, BY WHICH MADE US ACCEPTED (HIGHLY FAVOURED) IN THE BELOVED (JESUS) "(Eph1:6). ....BECAUSE YOU HAVE RECEIVED JESUS WHO IS GOD'S BELOVED, AND YOU ARE FOUND IN HIM, YOU ARE ALSO GOD'S BELOVED SON or DAUGHTER, DEEPLY LOVED and HIGHLY FAVOURED BY HIM......THEREFORE: EXPECT GOOD THINGS TO HAPPEN TO YOU TODAY.....EXPECT ALL YOUR NEEDS TO BE MET BY THE ONE WHO HIGHLY FAVOURS YOU...... EXPECT DIVINE PROTECTION FOR HIS FAVOUR SURROUNDS YOU LIKE A SHIELD...... EXPECT GOOD BECAUSE YOU ARE PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT..... Have a SUCCESSFUL DAY HIGHLY FAVOURED ONE.......
Some people… God thank you for this day, thank you for all the wonderful people in my life. I thank you for the many gifts you give to us. Thank you for supplying me with everything I need. I'm most grateful for your inspiring words that fill my soul. Ever notice how some people can find a single cloud on a sunny day? They notice and point out every flaw they can find in others. They work at being critical like they're going to win an award. They focus on the negative in every situation. Some people… God I appreciate you giving me the words that praise you. Thank you for helping me find words that lift others up. Thank you for the words that fill my heart with Joy. Thank you for the amazing Love that flows from you and helps me with the difficult people in my life. You see, I've found a way. I discovered that when others try and drag me down. When those people with a case of the Negative Nellies try and get me to worry with them, try to get me be critical, try to get me to gossip. I simply start… Giving God Thanks. God thank you for my kids, my family, my wonderful Mom, a Dad that taught me so much and a sister that loves me. A brother with talents that amaze me. Thank you God for my Children that remind me about your miracles. Thank you for my nieces and nephews that remind me why I love you so much. Over time, I've found giving God thanks help my mind from going to the gutter with those people that want me to join their pity party. Giving thanks to God keeps me from being pulled down. When they come around and I feel my mind going down that path, I simply put my focus back on God. I'd like to tell you it was easy. That one day I just started. One day my mind never went there. It was a miracle! However, you already know that's not the case. Never that easy to change. It took practice. Days and days of practice. For so many years I had the habit of wanting to be with those people and practice the bad habit of thinking only about negative things and worry. It took practice. I had to fall back in my old ways. Yet, I perservered. I worked at it. Eventually, I was able to train my brain… after many days of giving thanks all day, I made it a new habit. Then, I noticed… My attitude grew much more positive. My Faith became larger every time I gave thanks. Gradually I'd become more gracious. Humility began to fill my heart. All day long, I had to focus and find things to be thankful for. Searching for these gifts and great things occupied my mind. I began to make lists. The thankful lists. And these lists grew… just like my positive attitude… and more importantly, my faith. I grew. I was slowly becoming the person God wanted me to be. God I thank you for the abundant blessings that flow from you. God, I thank you for my many friends reading these words. I thank you for blessing their lives, for the gift of Love and allowing their Faith to grow. Today, when those Negative Nellies stop by to gossip. When they try to drag you down. Start giving thanks. Don't let them take your mind where they dwell. Instead… rise up. Point out all the wonderful things in your life. Tell them about your Faith. Give them three things to be thankful for. Show them the Happiness in your heart. The Joy in your life. May Giving Thanks to God become your way to deal with life, the negative and critical people who challenge you. 1 JOHN 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us…
You may know that God cares for you and loves you, and that He demonstrated His love for you by dying on the cross for you, but do you believe it? It is one thing to know about the love that God has for you, but another thing to actually believe it in your heart. It is one thing to know that the sun shines on us during the day. But it is another thing to believe that the sun is still shining even though we don’t feel its warmth and all we see are dark clouds. Sometimes we are slow in believing God’s love for us when we are going through a tough time. But God wants you to know and believe that He loves you in the midst of the deal falling through, when that job is slow in coming, when the boss is fault-finding or when your child still refuses to come home. In the midst of the pain, He wants you to know and believe that He is wholly on your side defending and taking care of you. And if God, the most powerful being in the universe, is for you, can anyone or anything come against you successfully? Perhaps you feel like you have messed up big time. God wants you to know and believe that though others may be angry with you, He will never be angry with you. Neither will He condemn you. The sum total of His anger against your sins fell upon Jesus at the cross. So He wants you to know and believe that He will never punish you because Jesus was punished in your place. When you feel unworthy because you have just blown it for the umpteenth time, know and believe that your heavenly Father still offers you the gift of no condemnation. So come boldly to His throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace. (Hebrews 4:16) My friend, know and believe that since He loved you and died for you while you were still a sinner (Romans 5:8) at your worst and ugliest, how much more is His love for you now that you are His beloved child and the righteousness of God in Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:21) "For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either." 1 Timothy 6:7
You will never see a moving truck following the hearse at a funeral of someone – anyone. Think about the priorities and the interests in your life. How much time is spent acquiring and hoarding things you simply can't take with you? The Bible states that we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take any stuff out of it either. It's good to focus on the things that last--like God and building eternal treasure. Do not try to punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with his anger. Romans 12:19
Have you ever noticed in the western movies how the bounty hunter travels alone? It's not hard to see why. Who wants to hang out with a guy who settles scores for a living? Who wants to risk getting on his bad side? More than once I've heard a person spew his anger. He thought I was listening, when really I was thinking, I hope I never get on his list. Cantankerous sorts, these bounty hunters. Best leave them alone. Hang out with the angry and you might catch a stray bullet. Debt-settling is a lonely occupation. It's also an unhealthy occupation… If you're out to settle the score, you'll never rest. How can you? For one thing, your enemy may never pay up. As much as you think you deserve an apology, your debtor may not agree. The racist may never repent. The chauvinist may never change. As justified as you are in your quest for vengeance, you may never get a penny's worth of justice. And if you do, will it be enough? The Great House of God (Max Lucado) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all you ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
Dr. Baker James Cauthen resigned from the faculty of Southwestern Seminary and the pastorate of Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Ft. Worth to take his family to China in 1939, in the midst of war. His explanation was simple: the safest place in all the world to be is the center of the will of God. Before he left for China, Dr. Cauthen said to his friend Bill Howse: "Bill, many people are making a lot out of what we are trying to do, but for us it's simply the will of God. It's such a good feeling that I can say that if our ship is bombed in Hong Kong harbor and we never set foot on Chinese soil, I will have a sense of completeness because I will have been doing the will of God for me." Remember. The Will of God will never take you... Where the grace of God cannot keep you, Where the arms of God cannot support you, Where the hands of God cannot mold you. Where the power of God cannot endow you. The will of God will never take you... Where the spirit of God cannot work through you, Where the riches of God cannot supply you, Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you, Where the army of God cannot protect you, The will of God will never take you... Where the love of God cannot enfold you, Where the mercy of God cannot sustain you, Where the Word of God cannot feed you, Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you. The will of God will never take you... Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears, Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears, Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you, Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you. |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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