“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Many of us secretly suspect that God only loves “good people” who have already got something going…and are already doing their best to love and obey Him. That is an easy mistake to slip into, but it is a mistake. God loves people who are still wallowing in sin, hurting themselves and others, and insisting that they don’t even need God. God has sent His Son Jesus, to make the ultimate sacrifice when we were totally underserving and unappreciative of His immense love. Look at the verse below and notice that God loved us before ANYONE WAS EVER SAVED BECAUSE THAT WAS SAID BEFORE THE CROSS OF CALVARY. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever will believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Prayer: Heavenly father how great and marvelous is Your love for us. I thank You that you loved me first and gave me the opportunity to love You back through Jesus Christ Your Son…amen Elkeen het nou ‘n plek – party sit voor, die ander agter en daar is selfs twee wat ‘n plekkie op die vloer het. Uiteindelik is almal uit die bus sodat ek die register kan lees om te sien of almal daar is.
“Daar kom Wynand, hy’s alweer laat!” : sê een. Ek sien egter dat daar nog 10 minute voor vertrektyd is. “Nou het julle 5 minute om toilet toe te gaan en almal moet gaan!!” Vir almal is dit ‘n groot grap, maar om ‘n toilet tussen niks en nerêns in die Noord-Kaap te kry, is nie ‘n grap nie. Dan is dit 9-uur en vertrektyd!!! Almal vat hande en die Liewe Vader se beskerming en seën word gevra. Net ‘n minuut word toegelaat om te groet. ‘n Minuut is egter te lank vir die kinders – mammas en pappas staan verstom-verslae om geen traan of hartseer by die kinders te sien nie, maar eerder ‘n “oorhaastigheid” om weg te kom. Dan is ons oppad ….. en van die ouers is saam met ons oppad, tot sover as 30 kilometer vanaf Kimberley!!! Selfs die kinders kan dit nie glo nie. Dit is net na twee in die oggend en nog steeds, het Klaasvakie nie die toergroep oppad, na die Burgerstrandhuis, in Kaapstad besoek nie. Die opgewondheid in die bus is groot – so groot dat een nie eers agterkom hy het sy donkerbrille op nie. Van hierdie graad 7-klas is daar leerlinge wat vir die eerste maal die see gaan sien. Dan sien ek Deonette in die paadjie, tussen die banke, aangeseil kom op haar boudjies. Weens ‘n seldsame siekte op die ouderdom van ongeveer 3 jaar, is beide haar beentjies onder haar knieë geamputeer en aan beide hande is drie vingertjies ook geamputeer. As gevolg van hierdie toestand (liggaamlike gebrek) is sy deur haar ouers verwerp en in ‘n tehuis geplaas. Dan is sy langs my met ‘n kussing in haar mond. Kan ek maar by Mnr. sit? – wil sy weet. Ek is maar te dankbaar – iemand om my wakker te hou. Ek gee vir haar my “weermag jas” om haar warm te hou. Sy voel in die sakke en haal my Gideons Bybel’tjie uit – dit gee my die geleentheid om te getuig hoe ek wedergebore is, en hoe Jesus die bybel’tjie gebruik het. Sy is so aangeraak en ek nou helder wakker. Sy wil weet na wie ek luister op my “walkman”. Ek laat die bandjie terugloop en laat haar luister na Danie Botha se “Honestly Jesus You can strip met to the Core”. Skielik begin sy saggies te huil. “Mnr., Liewe Jesus het my klaar “gestrip”. Sy haal die jas van haar af en hou haar Stompies (geamputeerde beentjies) styf vas met haar verwronge handjies. Ek kyk af na hierdie hartverskeurende werklikheid, begin saggies saam met haar huil en trek haar styf teen my vas met my linkerarm. Hardop begin ek met my Vader redeneer. Wat van haar sottekonsertdans, haar matriekafskeiddans, sy is binnekort ‘n volwasse vrou? Sy sal mos ook graag binnekort vroulik wil aantrek of dalk ‘n “jean” wil aanpas. Nou loop die trane sonder keer. “Here Jesus, hoe kon dit gebeur, hoe kan dit wees, dat hierdie “halwe mensie”, ten spyte van verwerping en al haar gebreke nogtans so lekker uit haar maag lag em met haar maats kan skerts?” Ek hoor dat sy sagter snik en voel hoe sy haar gesiggie teen my hemp afdroog. Dan weer half uitasem: “Ek is klaar gestrip”. ‘n Lang stilte volg. Ek gee vir haar toilet papier om haar neusie te blaas, tel haar op en laat haar op my linkerbeen sit. Ek kyk af en sien die twee rye trane op haar wangetjies. Ek begin bid en vra vir antwoorde, ook dat die Liewe Vader van hierdie twee rye trane reënboë moet maak, haar trane sal opvang en kristalle daarvan maak. Skielik kom die antwoorde duidelik: Joh 13:7 [… dit wat nou met jou gebeur sal jy nie nou verstaan nie, maal wel later.] Sag 2:8 [… jy is My oogappel…] Jes 43:1-5 [… jy is Myne, jy is kostelik in My oë …] Ek begin deel met haar soos die Gees van God my lei met betrekking tot verheerlikte liggame in die Hemel. En skielik kom die trane weer, maar trane van blydskap “Mnr., my Stompies gaan lank wees in die Hemel”. Nou het sy my om die nek en huil ons saam om dankie te sê vir Jesus!! Sy neem die “walkman” plaas dit weer op haar ore en luister verder. Skielik kry haar Stompies lewe, dit wip op en af. Sy sing hardop saam “… die Here maak my voete soos die van ‘n Ribbok …” Ek kyk af, en in die Gees sien ek ‘n gesig wat ek nooit sal kan vergeet, of in “detail” kan beskryf of verduidelik nie – daar’s voetjies aan die Stompies!!! Deonette ons sien mekaar by Jesus!!!!! Past. Leon Terblanche “Mag ander Jesus in jou sien as hulle na jou kyk”. The best way to predict the future is to invent it,” skryf Alan Kay. Ons weet nie hoe lyk ons eie toekoms nie. Soos wat die Prediker sê weet nie een van ons wat om die draai op ons wag nie. Maar ons weet wel hoe God se toekoms daar uitsien. Ons hoor byvoorbeeld in Matteus 25:31-46 dat Jesus op die laaste dag van die wêreldgeskiedenis vir elke mens op aarde gaan vra hoe ons Sy vriende behandel het wat blind, naak, arm, vreemdelinge en tronkvoëls was. Hierdie vraag wag definitief in die toekoms op ons elkeen.
Nou ja, as ek self weet wat in die Here se toekoms op my wag, dan moet ek my eie toekoms herbedink en herskep. Dan moet my prioriteite van nou af anders lyk. Spreuke 19:17 leer my hoe. Hierdie teks sê: “Wie hom oor ‘n arme ontferm, maak ‘n belegging by God.” Al kan ek nie alles vir almal wees nie, kan ek van nou af vir een mens op ‘n slag omgee in Jesus se Naam. Elke dag kan ek minstens een persoon se lewe vul met gewone brood en lewende brood. Ek onthou daarom altyd Moeder Teresa se woorde as ek met ander mense, en veral met minderbevoorregtes, paaie kruis: “Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.” Vrede Moving Past Our Myths About Creativity The following moral/ethical dilemma supposedly was included on an actual job application:
You are driving down the road at night during a torrential downpour, when you pass by a bus stop. Three people are waiting for the bus: 1) An elderly lady who looks as if she needs medical attention. 2) A longtime friend who once saved your life. 3) The man/woman of your dreams (assume you’re unmarried) Which one would you offer a ride, knowing that only one additional passenger can fit in your tiny car? Explain your answer. You could pick up the elderly lady, because she looks as if she needs to go to the hospital. However, you don’t know the lady, and this could be the perfect chance to pay back the friend who had saved your life. Then again, you may never be able to find the man/woman of your dreams again… Allegedly, the candidate who eventually was hired gave the following answer: "I would give the car keys to my friend and let him take the lady to the hospital while I stayed behind and waited for the bus with the woman of my dreams." CREATIVE THINKING Breaking out of our entrenched patterns of thought can bring about tremendous gain. Yet, as much as we talk about “thinking outside of the box,” we seldom purposefully engage in creative thinking. Perhaps that’s because we’ve been deceived by common myths about creativity. Myth #1: Creative thinkers produce original ideas. We have a misconception that creativity equals originality. However, most creative advancements come by combining pre-existing ideas rather than by generating new ones. Indeed, inventive concepts don’t make a splash until someone grasps how to apply them and to advertise their benefits. Myth #2 Creative thinking happens spontaneously. Discipline and creativity are two words we wouldn’t normally associate with one another. Yet, they go hand in hand. Early on in my career, I realized that I could collect thoughts more easily than I could create them. Every day since, for more than four decades, I’ve read books and articles and filed away interesting quotes, illustrations, and stories from them. Now, whenever I write a lesson or prepare a manuscript, I have over forty years of organized material to draw upon. Myth #3 Creative thinkers are solo geniuses. One is the loneliest number, and it’s also the least creative. If I stayed within the cramped confines of my own imagination, my leadership often would be dull and uninspiring. Thankfully, I’ve had the good sense to go beyond the limitations of my own mind and to ask others to lend me their creative insights. Several of the ideas I’ve put into action haven’t been my brainchildren. In fact at one point, I had written six consecutive books without coming up with the concepts for any of them! Many times the people who we deem to be the most creative are simply those who are the most well-connected and willing to solicit ideas from their network. Application: I hope you’ll take this article as a challenge to be intentional about cultivating creativity. Here are a few practical questions to spark your creative thinking… 1) Who are the innovators in your industry and what are they doing differently than everyone else? 2) Which co-workers, customers, or partners could you recruit to help you think creatively? Specifically, what problems might they help you solve? 3) What daily habit, if started today, could add to your creativity a year from now Your old life was crucified with Christ. The person you used to be was nailed to the cross with Him at Golgotha. Now you are inseparably joined to Him. Of this you can be absolutely sure. You know it is true, not because of how you feel, but because God Himself said so in His Word. Never forget the truth of salvation. Your old self, full of unbelief and rebellion, has been put to death. You have shared in the crucifixion of Christ. When He died, you died. That old life no longer has control over you. You are no longer a slave to the person you once were. Sin is no longer your master and your body is no longer an instrument of sin. You are chained to Christ. “Now we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him” (Rom 6:8). Because you died with Christ through faith you can now also live with Him forever. Through Him you are joined with God. The new person you are doesn’t have to try to be united with Christ; you already are. And outside of your life in Christ you are nothing. “The death He died, He died to sin once and for all, but the life He lives, He lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom 6:10-11). I bow in awe at the amazing truth that I died on the cross with You. Let me live my new life to Your glory alone. In Jesus’ Name. Amen! Look in the deep recesses of your heart. Is there worry, jealousy,
insecurity, bitterness, anger? Why? Why have you allowed them to sneak in Why have you not run to Me? I am your High Tower. You can hide in Me and I will tell you who you are. You have spent too much time listening to everyone else tell you who you are and tell you what you should think about life and about others. I know you want more of Me – so live that. Seek Me like your life depended on it. Live for eternity every moment. Seek what I want from you. Seek what I want you to do with your time. Is it valuable? Is it meeting a need or a want? Is it helping you or someone else grow? Is it encouraging? Is it beneficial? Let it all go – you can trust Me. I will give you all you need. If you would just ask – not just once but over and over. Ask me for what you need. I am waiting to open the storehouses of heaven. Increase your faith and know that I can give you everything you need Life is hard! But not so hard that I can’t give you what you need to walk this with success. I want My joy to flow in you in the middle of the junk. Open your eyes in the storm. You close them and you push through - then you are angry and stressed. Open your eyes. See, I am right here. Now take My hand and let’s walk this together. Better yet, we can dance right through it. The LORD hates what evil people do, but he loves those who do what is right. Pro 15:9 Perhaps the wound is old. A parent abused you. A teacher slighted you. A mate betrayed you… And you are angry. Or perhaps the wound is fresh. The friend who owes you money just drove by in a new car. The boss who hired you with promises of promotions has forgotten how to pronounce your name… And you are hurt. Part of you is broken, and the other part is bitter. Part of you wants to cry, and part of you wants to fight… There is a fire burning in your heart. It's the fire of anger… And you are left with a decision. "Do I put the fire out or heat it up? Do I get over it or get even? Do I release it or resent it? Do I let my hurts heal, or do I let hurt turn into hate?" … Unfaithfulness is wrong. Revenge is bad. But the worst part of all is that, without forgiveness, bitterness is all that is left. The Applause of Heaven (by: Max Lucado) What I Confess I Possess
I confess Jesus as my Lord. Rom. 10:9-10. I possess salvation. I confess, “by His stripes I am healed” Is. 53:5; I possess healing. I confess “the son has made me free” Jn. 8:36; I possess absolute freedom. I confess “the love of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost” Rom. 5:5; I possess the bility to love everyone. I confess, “the righteous are bold as a lion” Pr.28:1; I possess lion-hearted boldness in spiritual warfare. I confess, “He will never leave me nor forsake me” Heb. 13:5-6; I possess the presence of God each step I take. I confess, “I am the redeemed of the Lord” Ps. 107:2; I possess redemption benefits every day. I confess “the anointing of the Holy One abideth in me” 1 Jn. 2: 27; I possess yoke destroying results by this anointing (Is. 10:27). I confess, “in the name of Jesus I can cast out devils” Mk. 16:17; I possess dynamic deliverances as a devil master. I confess, “I lay my hands on the sick and they shall recover” Mk. 16:18; I possess positive healings for the oppressed. I confess, “I am a branch of the Living Vine” Jn. 15:5; I possess Vine-life wherever I go. I confess, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ” 2 Cor. 5: 21; I possess the ability to stand freely in God’s holy presence, and in Satan’s presence as a victor! I confess, “I am a temple of the living God” 2 Cor. 6:16; I possess God dwelling in me, and walking in me! I confess, “my God shall supply all my need” Phil. 4: 19; I possess the supply of every need. Confession Precedes Possession I confess, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” Rom. 10:13, I possess know-so salvation for I have called upon the name of the Lord. I confess, “The Lord shall preserve me from all evil” Ps.121:7, I possess preservation from all forms of evil. I confess, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” Mt.5: 8, I possess the assurance I shall see God for the blood of Jesus has made me pure in heart. I confess, “The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. Ps. 29:11, I possess daily strength and an abundance of peace. I confess, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits” Ps. 68:19, I possess a life daily loaded with the benefits of the Lord. I confess, “I am the light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” Jn. 8:12, I possess light upon life’s pathway for I am following Jesus. I confess, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” 2Cor. 9:8, I possess all grace, abounding grace – saving grace, healing grace, Baptizing grace, all-sufficient grace. I confess, “For with God nothing shall be impossible” Lk. 1:37, I possess impossibilities becoming realities, for I am linked up with God by divine birth. I confess, “I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh” Acts 2:17, I possess the Spirit outpoured upon my life continually. I confess, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us” Ps.103:12, I possess the assurance that my sins are removed far from me, hallelujah! I Possess What I Confess “With the mouth confession is made unto salvation” Rom.10: 10. I possess continual guidance for I confess, “The Lord shall guide thee continually” Isaiah 58:11. I possess eternal life, for I confess, “My sheep hear my voice and I give them eternal life” Jn. 10:27. I possess the peace of God, for I confess “The peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus our Lord” Phil. 4:7. I possess freedom from fear, for I confess, “I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, fear not” Isa. 41:13. I possess bountiful blessings financially, for I confess, “He which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully” 2 Cor. 9:6. I possess supernatural help in every situation, for I confess, “My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth” Ps.121:2. I possess good, for I confess, “Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee” Job 22:21. I possess peace with my enemies, for I confess, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with Him” Pr. 16:7. I possess the ability to be a positive blessing, for I confess, “So will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing” Zec. 8:13. I possess wholesome, sound sleep at night, for I confess, “He giveth His beloved sleep” Ps.127: 2. I possess the assurance my labour in the Lord is fruitful, for I confess, “For as much as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” 1 Cor.15: 58. I possess as a faith man, abounding blessings, for I confess, “A faithful man shall abound with blessings” Pr.28:20. I possess strength for my day for I confess, “As thy days, so shall thy strength be” Deut. 33:25. I possess special honour from my Father for I confess, “If any man serve me, him will my Father honour” Jn. 12:26. What I Am Not I am not sick, for “my Lord healeth me of all my diseases” Ps. 103:3. I am not bound, for “the Son has made me free” Jn. 8:36. I am not defeated, for “I’m more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me” Rom. 8:37. I am not weak, for “the Lord will give strength unto His people” Ps.29: 11. I am not without power, for “ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” Acts 1:8. I am not without peace, “being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” Rom. 5:1. I am not lacking any good thing, for “no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly” Ps. 84:11. I am not overtaken by any evil work, for “the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work” 2Tim.4: 18. I am not afraid of any plague, for “there shall be no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling” Ps. 91:10. I am not running from the devil, for I am “resisting the devil, and he is fleeing from me” Js. 4:7. I am not without daily quickening, for “He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His spirit that dwelleth in you” Rom. 8:11. I am not shackled by sin, demons or fear; “thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee” Dan. 6:16. I am not in a losing battle, “the Lord shall fight for me, and I shall hold my peace” Ex. 14:14. I am not without joy; “His joy shall be in me, and my joy shall be full” Jn. 15:11. I shall not fail to see God; “blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God” Matt. 5:8. I am not oppressed by cares, difficulties and troubles; I am “casting all my cares upon Him, for He careth for me” 1 Pt. 5:7 There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of
nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the back fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us. |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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