1 Peter 4:8
'Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.' - Showing love and kindness to others is what we were designed for. - Love covers a multitude of sins. - It is said that: 'Faults are thick where love is thin!' - So let us operate in the spirit of love and things will change. PRAYER: Lord, You showed us how to really love and care for others. Help me to be able to do the same and cause me to live my life guided by love. Amen. Sometimes life seems hard to bear
Full of sorrow, trouble, and woe, It's then I have to remember ..that it's in the valleys I grow. If I always stayed on the mountain top ..and never experienced pain, I would never appreciate God’s love And would be living in vain. I have so much to learn And my growth is very slow, Sometimes I need the mountain tops, But it's in the valleys I grow. I do not always understand Why things happen as they do, But I am very sure of one thing. My GOD will see me through Forgive me GOD, for complaining When I'm feeling so very low. Just give me a gentle reminder That it's in the valleys I grow Continue to strengthen me, GOD And use my life each day To share your love with others And help them find their way. Thank you for valleys, GOD For this one thing I know The mountain tops are glorious But it's in the valleys I grow. Have A Beautiful Day Die Bybel sê: "... iemand wat twyfel, is soos 'n brander in die see wat deur die wind aangejaag en heen en weer gedryf word. So 'n mens wat altyd aan die twyfel is en onbestendig is in al sy doen en late, moet nie dink dat hy iets van die Here sal ontvang nie." (Jak 1:6 - 8 NV). Peter Marshall, voormalige kapelaan van die Amerikaanse Senaat, het gebid: "Gee vir ons 'n helder visie sodat ons kan weet waar om te staan, en waarvoor om te staan." 'n Onduidelike droom gaan jou nêrens bring nie. Wat wil jy bereik? Wat wil jy bydra? Wie wil jy word? Met ander woorde, hoe lyk sukses vir jou? As jy dit nie definieer nie, sal jy dit nie kan bereik nie. Die meeste mense kry nie wat hulle wil hê nie omdat hulle nie weet wat hulle wil hê nie. Een outeur skryf: "Die onmisbare eerste stap om die dinge te kry wat jy uit die lewe wil hê is om te besluit wat jy wil hê! In plaas daarvan om te sê, 'Ek wil gewig verloor,' sê, 'Ek sal teen 1 Junie 80 kg weeg.' In plaas daarvan om te sê, 'Ek wil van my skuld ontslae raak,' sê, 'Ek sal teen 31 Desember al my kredietkaarte afbetaal.' Om spesifiek te wees, beteken nie noodwendig jy het vooruit oor elke detail gedink voordat jy vorentoe beweeg nie. Maar jou hoofdoel moet duidelik wees. Die res sal ontvou soos wat jy aangaan en aanpassings maak, indien nodig." Die vraag wat jy moet vra is: "Is ek doelgerig?"
Sielekos: Dan 1:3-21; Dan 3:7-30; Dan 5:10-31; Dan 9:1-19 Wees doelgerig (2) Dit vereis nie veel energie om jou gedagtes te laat dwaal en droom nie. Maar dis baie werk om 'n duidelike doel te ontwikkel om 'n helder, duidelike droom te hê. Een leier sê: "Vir my begin die hele proses met vrae wat ek myself moet afvra. Die droom is altyd gewortel in die dromer, in sy of haar ervaringe, omstandighede, talente en geleenthede. Ek vra: 'Wat voel ek - wat sê my emosies vir my? Wat voel ek aan - wat sê my intuïsie vir my? Wat sien ek - wat gebeur rondom my? Wat hoor ek - wat sê ander mense? Wat dink ek - wat sê my intellek en gesonde verstand?' 'n Helder beeld mag dalk eensklaps na jou toe kom, soos 'n weerligstraal, maar die meeste mense moet aanhou om daaraan te werk. As dit 'n moeilike proses is, is dit geen rede om op te gee nie. Om die waarheid te sê, as dit te maklik is, droom jy dalk nie groot genoeg nie. Hou net aan om daaraan te werk, want 'n duidelike droom is die moeite werd om voor te baklei." As jy 'n duidelike sin kan kry van waar jy is, wat jy weet, en wat jy wil hê, is jy goed op pad om dít waarvoor God jou op die aarde geplaas het, te verstaan en aan te gryp. Moses het die eerste twee derdes van sy lewe probeer uitwerk wat God wou hê hy moes doen, dinge op sy eie manier probeer doen en net misluk. Maar hy het 'n hart vir God en 'n visie van God af gehad, en uiteindelik het hy geslaag. Sielekos: Pred 1-4; Joh 11:28-37; Ps 50; Spr 30:7-10 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105
The Bible is the best seller that many people buy but never read. Yet no book is richer or more timeless than the Bible. Listen to what it says: All Scripture is inspired by God. Amazing! Over forty authors who wrote over a period of 1600 years were all inspired by the same God to give a clear and coherent message. It's also profitable for: * Teaching--about God, man, and life. * Reproof--it tells us when we go wrong and need to get right. * Correction--it helps us get on the right track. Like a good doctor, it points out the problem and tells us the cure. * Training in right living--it's a manual for living in a way that's pleasing to God. Scripture shows us how we can face every challenge with wisdom and strength. The Bible is a good book. I hope you'll read it with the faith that God wants to speak to you through His Word. You just may find the answer to life. LUKE 5:9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken;
As a young Christian, I grew up hearing preachers say that God only supplies our needs, not our wants. Yet, in the Bible, God clearly shows us that He wants to meet not just our needs, but also our wants. For example, the famous “shepherd psalm” begins with “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want”. (Psalm 23:1) Another psalm says, “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” (Psalm 34:9–10) One of the names of our God is Jehovah Jireh, which means “the all-providing One”. He provides more than enough. The God of more-than-enough came in the flesh and walked among His people. And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He did not give His disciples small blessings. That is why He said to Peter, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets [plural] for a catch,” (Luke 5:4) and not “let down your net [singular]”. And what a catch it turned out to be—a boat-sinking, net-breaking catch! It was such a big and unexpected blessing that Peter and all who were with him were “astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken”. Beloved, see God’s heart for you today. He wants to prosper you. Don’t settle for anything less, thinking that He only supplies your needs and not your wants. If you need a job, know that He wants you to pray not just for a job, but for a position. When you have a position, you have influence and you are able to impact lives. Maybe what you need is a pay increment. Then, pray not just for that, but also to be in a position to give increments! You may start out poor when you follow God. But you cannot remain in lack when you follow the God of more-than-enough. In fact, like Peter, you too will be astonished that God supplies more than what you need and beyond what you have asked! A Thanksgiving Day editorial in the newspaper told of a school teacher who asked her first graders to draw a picture of something they were thankful for. She thought of how little these children from pour neighborhoods actually had to be thankful for. But she knew that most of them would draw pictures of turkeys on tables with food. The teacher was taken aback with the picture Douglas handed in... a simple childishly drawn hand. But whose hand? The class was captivated by the abstract image. 'I think it must be the hand of God that brings us food,' said one child. 'A farmer,' said another, 'because he grows the turkeys.' Finally when the others were back at work the teacher bent over Douglas' desk and asked whose hand it was. 'It's your hand, Teacher,' he mumbled. She recalled that frequently at recess she had taken Douglas, a scrubby forlorn child, by the hand. She often did that with the children. But it meant so much to Douglas. "Perhaps this is everyone's Thanksgiving, not for the material things given to us, but for the chance, in whatever small way, to give to others," she thought Author Unknown Men, have you ever asked yourself, “‘Have I been the kind of person my
wife has been able to love?’ If you have, you certainly are in the minority. And if you’ve asked your wife, ‘Have I been the kind of person you love to love?’ you are in an even greater minority. Most wives are desperately trying to honor their husbands. But the typical husband doesn’t know what it means to open his heart and let his wife in. When a wife sees that her husband has discovered her need to know what is in his heart, and that he is genuinely concerned about becoming the kind of man that she can truly love, she will be ecstatic.” (Ken Nair from Discovering the Mind of a Woman) After Cindy addressed “What Men Want in Marriage” last week I thought it was only fair that I (Steve) turned the tables and addressed the other side. At the outset I need to say that I don’t consider myself an expert on what wives “need” in marriage, though I’ve read a lot in an effort to learn how to be the kind of husband Cindy needs. By no means is this going to be an exhaustive list. If anything this will only scratch the surface. But one thing I know about men is that we can become easily overwhelmed (flooded) by too much information and we’ll withdraw if we start to feel that way. So, my goal is to give husbands a few of the key areas to begin to work on so that our wives will sense we’re willing to open our hearts to them and genuinely want to meet their deepest needs. So the following is a partial list (that I’ll expand on) derived from what women wrote to Promise Keepers a few years ago as compiled in a book by Holly Phillips called, What Does She Want From Me Anyway? A WOMAN NEEDS a husband willing to assume spiritual leadership of the family. This doesn’t mean a husband who quotes or twists scripture to get his wife to do what he wants. Sadly, we men have abused the scriptures for centuries and as a result have left a wake of badly injured wives as a result. Spiritual leadership is not memorizing the Bible or preaching a sermon. It’s understanding what the scriptures say and using them as a guide for loving (not manipulating) your wife. “Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12) If we spent the next year focusing just on developing those spiritual qualities it would make a radical change in how we love our wives. Spiritual leadership also means being willing to pray with our wives and not just for them. Cindy and I know how awkward it is to start this practice and how uncomfortable it can make you feel. But we also know that this is the one spiritual leadership practice that can have the most positive and dramatic affect on your marriage. Start simple. Maybe just by taking your wife’s hands in yours before you leave the house in the morning and praying, “Lord, thank you for this precious gift you’ve given me in _____. Bless her richly today and protect her while I’m away; in Jesus name, Amen.” One woman said of her husband’s prayers for her, “When Ron prays for me, I feel as if I’m covered by a velvety blanket of protection. Even though I still face problems and setbacks, his prayers shelter me from the sharpness of the pain.” [Cindy says she feels the same way when I pray over her.] A WOMAN NEEDS a husband who will listen to his wife. I admit this doesn’t come naturally for me or most men. But that doesn’t mean we’re to be given a “pass” on it. It means we have to be willing to learn how to listen (Webster’s Dictionary says it is “to make a conscious effort to hear; attend closely”) I’ve found that if I am to truly listen (make a conscious effort) to hear Cindy I’ll have to put down what I’m reading, or turn the television off and look her in the eyes. I like the way Ken Nair puts it. “Listening to her means to stop placing little or no value on her words. Concentrate on what she’s saying. Learn to hear what her feelings are saying —not only what her mouth is saying.” This is another skill that takes time to develop but the payoff is tremendous in building intimacy with our wives. After 33 years of marriage I’ve found that when I take the time to connect with Cindy at this level it’s like I’ve just given her the most expensive diamond in the world. That’s how much she longs to be heard and understood. A WOMAN NEEDS a husband who’ll protect his wife and make her feel secure. This means more than protecting her from physical harm. It also means protecting her from emotional harm. I don’t believe there’s anything (short of adultery or physical violence) that’s more destructive in a marriage than a husband who puts his wife down in public. What many men consider a “harmful little joke” about their wife’s cooking, her appearance, the way she keeps house, etc. can in effect be tantamount to verbally raping her. That’s how hurtful our words can be. Proverbs 12:18 sums it up. “Reckless words pierce like a sword.” And the second part of the verse sums up how we can protect our wives: “but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Protecting our wives also means we’re to defend their honor and integrity to our family members. If we have parents or siblings who try to tear our wives down it is our God given responsibility to defend them and make it absolutely clear that you will not tolerate any slander or verbal abuse against your wife. As for security, that comes when our wives know there is no one or no thing that comes before her-not our jobs, our friends, our hobbies, our sports, etc. We also build security in our wives when we as men take responsibility for our thoughts and actions, especially when it comes to sexual temptation. I’m not talking about just pornography, I also mean the way we look at other women or talk about how other women look. If you want to find out how well you’re doing in this area, just ask your wife to read this part of the message and then ask if she feels secure. A WOMAN NEEDS a husband who is a full partner in the marriage. I like expressing this is by using the term, “Oneness” in marriage. This means in areas like disciplining and caring for the children, making financial or other major decisions, sharing responsibilities in keeping the house up. The opposite of oneness is alienation and if we as the husband don’t become full partners with our wives they will have the tendency to feel alienated from us, and that is not good. I realize that I could have addressed dozens of other needs our wives have but I believe I’ve given you enough to begin to make a huge difference in your relationship if you will but ask God to help you to implement the areas where you have identified that you are weak. God promises us husbands in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “for my strength is made perfect in weakness. ”A WORD OF CAUTION TO WIVES: Don’t e-mail or hand this message to your husband and tell him he “has to read this” if he’d be offended by that. Believe me, it will have the opposite effect from what you desire. If he normally doesn’t read the Marriage Message, maybe you could ask him if he’d be willing to give you a gift. When he asks what you mean tell him that the greatest gift he could give you would be to read this article and then answer just one question when he’s done: “Did you learn anything new about me just now?” He may or may not do it. Then leave the printed message in a conspicuous place where he might see and read it later — like in the bathroom. As always, Cindy and I pray that we will make our marriages a priority and learn what each other needs so that God will get all of the glory. We pray this has been helpful! God Bless you! Now we do not live following our sinful selves, but we live following the Spirit. Romans 8:4
Perhaps your childhood memories bring more hurt than inspiration. The voices of your past cursed you, belittled you, ignored you. At the time, you thought such treatment was typical. Now you see it isn't. And now you find yourself trying to explain your past. Do you rise above the past and make a difference? Or do you remain controlled by the past and make excuses? Think about this. Spiritual life comes from the Spirit! Your parents may have given you genes, but God gives you grace. Your parents may be responsible for your body, but God has taken charge of your soul. You may get your looks from your mother, but you get eternity from your Father, your heavenly Father. And God is willing to give you what your family didn't. When God Whispers Your Name (Max Lucado) Recently, I had "one of those days". I was feeling pressure from a
writing deadline. I had company arriving in a couple days and the toilet was clogged. I went to the bank, and the trainee teller processing my deposit had to start over three times. I swung by the supermarket to pick up a few things and the lines were serpentine. By the time I got home, I was frazzled and sweaty and in a hurry to get something on the table for dinner. Deciding on Campbell 's Cream of Mushroom Soup, I grabbed a can opener, cranked open the can, then remembered I had forgotten to buy milk at the store. Nix the soup idea. Setting the can aside, I went to plan B, which was leftover baked beans. I grabbed a Tupperware from the fridge,popped the seal, took a look and groaned. My husband isn't a picky eater, but even HE won't eat baked beans that look like caterpillars. Really frustrated, now, I decided on a menu that promised to be as foolproof as it is nutrition-free: hot dogs and potato chips. Retrieving a brand new bag of chips from the cupboard, I grabbed the cellophane and gave a hearty pull. The bad didn't open. I tried again. Nothing happened. I took a breath, doubled my muscle, and gave the bag a hearty wrestle. With a loud pop, the cellophane suddenly gave way, ripping wide from top to bottom. Chips flew sky high. I was left holding the bag, and it was empty. It was the final straw. I let out a blood curdling scream. "I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!" My husband heard my unorthodox cry for help. Within minutes he was standing at the doorway to the kitchen, where he surveyed the damage: an opened can of soup, melting groceries, moldy baked beans, and one quivering wife standing ankle deep in potato chips. My husband did the most helpful thing he could think of at the moment. He took a flying leap, landing flat-footed in the pile of chips. And then he began to stomp and dance and twirl,grinding those chips into my linoleum in the process! I stared. I fumed. Pretty soon I was working to stifle a smile. Eventually I had to laugh. And finally I decided to join him. I, too, took a leap onto the chips. And then I danced. Now I'll be the first to admit that my husband's response wasn't the one I was looking for. But the truth is, it was exactly what I needed. I didn't need a cleanup crew as much as I needed an attitude adjustment, and the laughter from that rather funky moment provided just that. So now I have a question for you, and it's simply this: Has God ever stomped on your chips? I know that, in my life, there have been plenty of times when I've gotten myself into frustrating situations and I've cried out for help, all the while hoping God would show up with a celestial broom and clean up the mess I've made of things. What often happens instead is that God dances on my chips, answering my prayer in a completely different manner than I had expected, but in the manner that is best for me after all. Sometimes I can see right away that God's response was the best one after all. Sometimes I have to wait weeks or months before I begin to understand how and why God answered a particular prayer the way He did. There are even some situations that, years later, I'm still trying to understand. I figure God will fill me in sooner or later, either this side of Heaven or beyond. Do I trust Him? Even when he's answering my prayers in a way that is completely different from my expectations? Even when he's dancing and stomping instead of sweeping and mopping? Can I embrace what He's offering? Can I let His joy adjust my attitude? Am I going to stand on the sidelines and sulk, or am I willing to learn the steps of the dance He's dancing' with my needs in mind? I'll be honest with you: Sometimes I sulk. Sometimes I dance. I'm working on doing more of the latter than the former. I guess the older I get the more I realize that He really does know what He's doing. He loves me and I can trust Him. Even when the chips are down! "It's impossible." said pride.
"It's risky." said experience. "It's pointless." said reason. "Give it a try." whispered the heart. The question was once asked of a highly successful businessman, "How have you done so much in your lifetime?" He replied, "I grow great by dreams. I have turned my mind loose to imagine what I wanted to do. Then I have gone to bed and thought about my dreams. In the night I dreamt about my dreams. And when I awoke in the morning, I saw the way to make my dreams real. While other people were saying, 'You can't do that, it is impossible,' I was well on my way to achieving what I wanted." As Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the U.S., said: "We grow great by dreams. All big men are dreamers." They see things in the soft haze of a spring day, or in the red fire on a long winter's evening. Some of us let these dreams die, but others nourish and protect them; nourish them through bad days until they bring them to the sunshine and light which comes always to those who sincerely hope that their dreams will come true. So please, don not let anyone steal your dreams, or try to tell you they are too impossible. "Sing your songs, and dream your dreams, hope your hope and pray your prayer." |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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