FOR GOD alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation PSALM 62 : 1
TALK TO GOD AND PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO HIS ANSWER Pause for a while and silently wait, and give God a chance to communicate. In Jesus Name,AMEN! “Then Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!’ ”(1 Kings 18:41, NLT)
In First Kings 18, the Samaritans had been in a great famine. For three and a half years, there had been no rain. The prophet Elijah showed up and said to King Ahab, “I hear the sound of the abundance of rain.” When he said that, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, yet he chose to believe what he heard in his spirit in spite of what he saw in the natural. With his eyes, he saw drought, famine and barrenness; but inside, he heard the sound of the abundance of rain. Friend, this is what faith is all about. You’ve got to believe what you hear in your heart even when you see just the opposite. God is saying, “There’s about to be an abundance of favor in your life. The drought is coming to an end. You’re going to see healing, restoration, new opportunities, new growth.” Soon after, that rainstorm came. And just like Elijah, you have to believe that your rainstorm of blessing is right around the corner. No matter what anyone says, no matter what happens, keep believing and keep declaring because soon you will hear the sound of rain! Father, thank You for the blessing and victory You have in store for my future. Thank You for allowing me to see and hear in my heart the good things You have planned. I choose to keep my eyes on You and declare Your blessing over my life in Jesus’ name. Amen. Joel and Victoria Osteen “See, I have tattooed your name upon my palm...” Isaiah 49:16 There are seasons in life when we feel like we’re forgotten. These are times when you feel like your life is just a routine, there’s no progress, no new doors are opening. Maybe you’ve been praying and hoping for that situation to change, but nothing is happening. It feels like God is on holiday. Maybe you’re in a abusive relationship, you don’t feel valuable anymore and you feel like God is punishing you somehow! Everybody around you is getting blessed, but you’re not getting anywhere. Your friends are getting married and you’re still single. Your colleague is promoted and you’re demoted. Your classmate is passing with flying colors and you’re still struggling with that same subject. Your neighbor has bought a new car and you’re still struggling to fix yours. Your friends are blessed with their 3rd child and you still can’t conceive. You have a smile on the outside but on the inside you’re empty and sad. It seems like nobody cares. God has sent me to let you know that He’s thinking about you. Infact He has “tattooed your name upon His palm” that’s how much He loves you. He sees every tears you shed in the midnight hour. He knows all about your disappointments. He remembers how people mistreated you. If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. He’s busy preparing your comeback. People may forget you but God will never forget about you. People may hurt or betray you! People may dumb you at the time you need them the most, but hey, God is a friend that sticks to you closer than your own family. God has not forgotten about the years when you raised those kids alone. He has not forgotten about the time when you were wrongly accused. Just take time and watch children’s behavior. They never worry about what they’re going to eat or wear tomorrow. They always trust their parents so much that don’t expect to be disappointed. If we could have that same kind of child-like faith, and know that when things are not going well; our Father will come through for us. When God remembers you, it doesn’t matter how long it’s been that way, He’ll turning it around. Maybe your house or car, it’s about to be repossessed, you’re about to lose your spouse or your job. I want you to know that God remembers the plans He has about your life. He remembers the purpose why He brought you down here. He hasn’t forgotten about your destiny. Please don’t throw in the towel yet, don’t give up, don’t kill yourself. That sickness will not kill you. You won’t drown in those debts. Remember that there’s a God who knew you before you were born. He sees your tears. He knows how you’ve been mistreated. He knows about the mistakes you’ve done and the good thing is that; He hasn’t written you off. When God remembers you; it’s an assurance that helps it’s on the way. Just hang in there! God has “tattooed your name upon His palm.” Enjoy a fresh new beginning today, have a very Blessed week and continue to be a Prisoner of Hope! An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.
He would miss the pay cheque, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favour. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career. When the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter, he said, “my gift to you”. The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realise we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over we’d do it much differently. But we cannot go back You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. “Life is a do-it-yourself project, “someone has said : Your attitudes and the choices you make today, build the “house” you live in tomorrow. Build wisely! Work as if you don’t need the money. Learn as if you will live forever. Love as if you’ve never been hurt. Dance as if nobody is watching. A woman baked bread for members of her family and an extra one for a hungry passerby. She kept the extra bread on the Window-sill, for whosoever would take it away. Everyday, a hunch-back came and took away the bread. Instead of expressing gratitude, he muttered the following words as he went his way: "The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!" This went on, day after day. Everyday, the hunch-back came, picked up the bread and uttered the words: "The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!" The woman felt irritated. "Not a word of gratitude," she said to herself... "Everyday this hunch-back utters this jingle! What does he mean? "One day, out of desperation, she decided to do away with him. "I shall get rid of this hunch-back," she said. And what did she do? She added poison to the bread she prepared for him! As she was about to keep it on the window sill, her hands trembled. "What is this I am doing?" she said. Immediately she threw the bread into the fire, prepared another one and kept it on the window- sill. As usual, the hunch-back came, picked up the bread and muttered the words: "The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!" The hunch-back proceeded on his way, blissfully unaware of the war raging in the mind of the woman. Everyday, as the woman placed the bread on the window-sill, she offered a prayer for her son who had gone to a distant place to seek his fortune. For many months, she had no news of him... She prayed for his safe return. That evening, there was a knock on the door. As she opened it, she was surprised to find her son standing in the doorway... He had grown thin and lean. His garments were tattered and torn. He was hungry, starved and weak. As he saw his mother, he said, "Mom, it's a miracle I'm here. While I was but a mile away, I was so hungry that I collapsed. I would have died, but just then an old hunch-back passed by. I begged of him for a small part of his food, and he was kind enough to give me whole bread. "As he gave it to me, he said, "This is what I eat everyday: today, I shall give it to you, for your need is greater than mine!" "As the mother heard those words, her face turned pale and red. She leaned against the door for support. She remembered the poisoned bread that she had made that morning. Had she not burnt it in the fire, it would have been eaten by her own son, and he would have lost his life! It was then that she realized the significance of the words: "The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!
"Do good; Don't ever stop doing good, even if it's not appreciated at that time. If you like this, share it with others and I bet you, so many lives would be affected. Have a wonderful afternoon Remember, "Give, and it will be given to you... for the measure you give will be the measure you get back." A pastor asked a church-goer, "What are the two greatest problems in the world today?" The man answered, "I don't know; and, I don't care!" The pastor responded, "Then you have both problems!!" Ignorance and apathy produce a people who are uninformed and unconcerned. Sadly, there are many such people in today's society. And the Church seems to be trending on the same course. Our altar calls have netted many decisions, but produced few disciples. The Lord calls us to be His disciples. He deals with ignorance by telling us the truth, and He deals with apathy by telling the truth over and over and over again. Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Discipleship is not only the doorway into Truth, but also into the Freedom that Truth provides, and the Personal Responsibility, which Freedom requires. Truth, Freedom, and personal Responsibility ALWAYS go together. Responsible living is the fruit of Freedom; Freedom is the offspring of Truth. Jesus Christ has redeemed us and given us His Holy Spirit and knowledge of the Truth; so that from the inside out we would be a free and responsible people who are self-governed under God. In a day when many are eagerly looking to the Government to do something — the Lord is looking to US. We are the ones who can make the difference. We know the Truth, and therefore are a people of understanding. We have been set free, and therefore are a people of zeal. This is God's answer to ignorance and apathy. As followers of Jesus we must each take personal the words of our Lord, and conduct ourselves with wisdom and honor toward those around us. This will answer the ignorance and apathy of the world, and bring great glory to our Lord. A king who did not believe in the goodness of God, had a slave who, in all
circumstances, said: My king, do not be discouraged, because everything God does is perfect, no mistakes! One day they went hunting and along the way a wild animal attacked the king. His slave managed to kill the animal, but could not prevent his majesty losing a finger. Furious and without showing his gratitude for being saved, the nobleman said "Is God good? If He was good, I would not have been attacked and lost my finger." The slave replied only "My king, despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is good, and he knows the "why" of all these things.What God does is perfect. He is never wrong!" Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his slave. Later, he left for another hunt and was captured by savages who made human sacrifices. On the altar, ready to sacrifice the noble, a savage had found that the victim had not one of his fingers, and therefore was released. According to them: it was not so complete to be offered to the gods. Upon his return to the palace, he authorized the release of his slave that he received very affectionately. ' God was really good for me! I was almost killed by the wild men, but for lack of a single finger, I was let go! But I have a question: If God is so good, why did he allow me to put you in jail? ' - My King, if I had gone with you on this hunt, I would have been sacrificed for you, because I have no missing finger. Therefore, remember: everything God does is perfect. HE is never wrong . Often we complain about life and things that happen to us apparently negative, forgetting that nothing is random and that everything has a purpose. Every morning, offer your day to God. Ask God to inspire your thoughts, guide your actions, and ease your feelings. And do not be afraid. God is never wrong! You know why this message is for you? I do not know, but God knows, because he never makes mistakes....... The path of God and his word is perfect, without impurities. IT is the way of all those who trust in him, as he says in 2 Samuel 22: 31 Surely the message arrived at the right moment. May God put in your heart the desire to send it to someone. Do not be ashamed to send it to the right person God knows, He knows why. God is never wrong! Malachi 2:16 says keep a watch upon your spirit [that it may be controlled by God's Spirit] We cannot expect anything to go well for us if we do not allow Gods Spirit to control us. But if we will listern to God and be diligent to obey our lives and marriages can be wonderful.
Think about Jesus' example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying. Heb 12:3
Heaven was not foreign to Jesus. He is the only person to live on earth after he had lived in heaven. As believers, you and I will live in heaven after time on earth, but Jesus did just the opposite. He knew heaven before he came to earth. He knew what awaited him upon his return. And knowing what awaited him in heaven enabled him to bear the shame on earth. He "accepted the shame as if it were nothing because of the joy that God put before him" (Heb 12:2 ). In his final moments, Jesus focused on the joy God put before him. He focused on the prize of heaven. By focusing on the prize, he was able not only to finish the race but to finish it strong. Just Like Jesus (by: Max Lucado) Goddelike kanse kom partymaal net een keer oor jou lewenspad. Daarom dat die vriende van die lam man in Markus 2 op ‘n dag behoorlik radikaal geraak het. Hulle het besluit om Petrus se woonhuis in Kapernaum se dak af te breek om hulle verlamde vriend tot voor Jesus se voete te laat afsak. Praat van ekstreem! Hulle kon egter nie anders nie. Môre kon Jesus dalk weg wees. Dan was die kans van ‘n leeftyd daarmee heen om hulle siek vriend aan sy voete neer te sit.
Jesus kon op sy beurt ook nie anders as om kennis te neem van hulle dapperheid nie. Toe daardie dak bokant sy kop begin verkrummel en stof en boumateriaal op almal begin val, was hulle en die verlamde man meteens binne sy persoonlike ruimte en in sy gesigsveld. Dit is radikale geloof. Dit is wat gebeur wanneer mense net een dag op ‘n slag tot hulle beskikking het om die wêreld te verander, of om ander te help. Dan moet dakke afgebreek word. Dan tel fatsoenlikheid en sulke dinge niks. Al wat dan saakmaak, is dat lewens deur Christus aangeraak word. Verstaan jy uit ondervinding waarvan ek praat, of is dit maar net Bybelkennis? Groete |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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