“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12 NIV)
When Jesus said, “I am the light of the world,” he was defining himself. He was saying, “I know who I am.” More than 18 times in the Bible, Jesus says, “I am” and then gives a description. He described himself as the door, the bread of life, the way, the truth, the resurrection, and the life. Over and over, he defines himself. Jesus knew who he was and, as a result, he was not under pressure. This is the principle of identity. As long as you are unsure of your identity, you're going to be pressured to fit into other people's molds. They will manipulate you. They will try to make you into what they think you ought to be rather than what God made you to be. One of the major causes of stress comes from trying to be somebody that you're not. When you are fearful that someone's going to find out what you're really like, that you might not be able to keep up the façade, it causes stress. The only way you can counterbalance outside external pressures is to have an internal sense of satisfaction about who you are and who God made you to be. You discover who you are by knowing whose you are. The Bible says that you were created by God. You are deeply loved by him. You are accepted as you are. He has a plan for your life. Until you settle this issue of identity, you will be insecure and you will be pressured by stress. You cannot serve other people until you settle this issue. Jesus constantly did things that surprised everybody else. He put himself below others and served them. None of the other disciples would have ever thought to wash each other’s feet in the Upper Room because of their insecurity. But Jesus always served from a position of strength. He knew who and whose he was, so it didn't matter that he lowered himself to serve them. Service comes from self-esteem. Until you overcome your insecurity and feel good about yourself, you won't feel like helping anyone else. Be secure in who you are and whose you are so that you can effectively serve others. Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston , Texas . Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change.. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, 'You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it.' Then he thought, 'Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet.'
When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, 'Here,you gave me too much change ..' The driver, with a smile, replied, 'Aren't you the new preacher in town?' 'Yes' he replied. 'Well, I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I'll see you at church on Sunday.' When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, 'Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter.' Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians, and will put us to the test! Always be on guard -- and remember -- You carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself 'Christian. As you willingly offer Jesus what you have. He will bless and multiply it to meet t he need of others. Mark 6:30-44. What may seem to you like a small contribution of time or talent can become an enormous blessing when you put it in Gods Hands. Be available and willing He wants to use you.
You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you. Col 3:10 I wonder if Jesus doesn't muster up a slight smile as he sees his lost sheep come straggling into the fold—the beaten, broken, dirty sheep who stands at the door looking up at the Shepherd asking, "Can I come in? I don't deserve it, but is there room in your kingdom for one more?" The Shepherd looks down at the sheep and says, "Come in, this is your home." Salvation is the process that's done, that's secure, that no one can take away from you. Sanctification is the lifelong process of being changed from one degree of glory to the next, growing in Christ, putting away the old, taking on the new. The Psalmist David would tell us that those who have been redeemed will say so! If we're not saying so, perhaps it's because we've forgotten what it is like to be redeemed. Let the redeemed of the earth say so! Walking with the Savior (Max Lucado) "Die kleinste liggie verdryf die donker." Lees Jesaja 60:1-6
Hoe dikwels word ons oorweldig deur die enormiteit van die probleme wat ons in die gesig staar? Massa hongersnood in Afrika. Straatkinders, 'n groeiende sosiale euwel. Stygende werkloosheid. Lewenskoste bokant ons vermoëns. Misdaad en korrupsie net waar jy kyk. Dan praat ons nie eens van die ware kwessies wat ons elke daag tee kom nie. Sal ek my werk behou? Sal ek my rekeninge kan betaal? Hoe maak ek om my kinders te laat luister? Hoe kan ek my verhoudings verbeter? Dit is al te maklik om voor al die bewyse van wanhoop en donkerte te swig en jouself oor te gee aan negatiwiteit. Want, wat kan ek doen? Ek is maar net een mens en al hierdie probleme is so groot. Dink hieroor - die grootste geleenthede ontstaan in tye van chaos. Almal wag vir iemand om iets te doen. In tye van wanhoop ontstaan die grootste geleentheid om goed te doen, om 'n verskil te maak. As alles goed gaan en volgens plan loop en almal positief en gelukkig voel dan sal jy iets regtig dramaties moet doen om gesien te word. Maar in tye van donkerte, van negatiwiteit en wanhoop maak die kleinste liggie van hoop 'n enorme verskil. Trek 'n vuurhoutjie in helder sonlig en net die wat naby jou staan sal dit raaksien en dit sal weinig verskil maak aan die lig. Maar trek daardie vuurhoutjie in die donkerte van die nag en skielik is dit glad nie meer donker nie. Daardie klein liggie kan van baie ver af gesien word en skyn soos 'n ligbaken, 'n straal van hoop vir die wat in nood verkeer. Streef, van vandag, daarna om 'n lig in die donkerte te wees. Soek die positiewe in alles, en as jy niks positief raaksien nie moet asseblief nie bydra tot die negatiewe nie. Moenie jou bekommer oor grootheid van die probleme nie maar doen eerder net dit wat jy kan doen en doen dit so goed soos wat jy kan. Maak seker dat jy deel is van die oplossing en dat jy nie deel is, of die oorsaak is, van die probleem nie. Besef dat "die kleinste liggie verdryf die donker" kies om daardie liggie te wees. Lewe met passie Geniet jouself so veel as wat jy kan Neem deel waar ook al en wanneer ook al jy kan Leer so veel as moontlik van so veel as jy moontlik kan Kies om te verander en te groei om die beste jy te wees wat jy kan. Verander jou lewe van om net 'n bestaan te maak tot om 'n verskil te maak! S_KSES of MISL_KKING is U keuse! Don’t let go of hope. Hope gives you the strength to keep going when you feel like giving up.
Don’t ever quit believing in yourself. As long as you believe you can, you will have reason for trying. Don’t let anyone hold your Happiness in their hands; Hold it in yours, so it will always be within your reach. Don’t measure success or failure by material wealth, but by how you Feel; Our feelings determine the richness of our Lives. Don’t let bad moments overcome you; Be patient, and they will pass. Don’t hesitate to reach out for Help; We all need it from time to time. Don’t run away from love but towards Love. Because it is your deepest Joy. Don’t wait for what you want to come to you. Go after it with all that you are, knowing that Life will meet you Halfway. Don’t feel like you’ve lost when plans and dreams fall short of your hopes. Anytime you learn something new about Yourself or about Life, you have progressed. Don’t do anything that takes away from your Self-Respect. Feeling good about yourself is essential to feeling good about Life. Don’t ever forget how to laugh or be too proud to Cry. or too stubborn to Smile With all the above live life to its fullest… If we seek God only when we are desterate then He will keep us in desperate circumstances because He desperately desires to fellowship with us. Eccles8:12 says that if we want to stay in a constant victory we must seek Him at all times and desire to experience His continual presence.
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. Haar oë was groot en kinderlik-onskuldig met 'n sweempie van die ondraaglike pyn wat sy verduur toe sy vra "Mamma, kan ek alt sing in Liewe Jesus se hemelkoor? Juffrou Annalie sê ek is 'n alt, want ek kom nie die hoë note by nie"
Ek het vinnig weggedraai om kwansuis nuwe water in die vaas van pienk rose te tap en my trane het in die wit hospitaalwasbak gedrup toe ek sê: "Ek is seker Liewe Jesus het nog vir jou 'n plekkie tussen die alte, liefie." Toe ek 'n rukkie later met droë oë omdraai, was sy vas aan die slaap, haar skraal handjie beskermend om haar bruin teddiebeer. Sy was ses jaar oud, my enigste dogtertjie wat deurtrek is van die kanker. Die dokter het gesê dat ons ons in die loop van die volgende week gereed moes hou vir die ergste. Haar laaste wens was dat ons haar dierbaarste speelgoedjies in haar skooltassie moes pak en dat sy vir oulaas 'n dag by haar kleutermaatjies wou gaan speel. Juffrou Annalie het reeds op 'n mooi manier aan die kleutertjies vertel dat hulle nog een keer met Jaminda kon speel en dat sy daarna weggaan om by Liewe Jesus in die hemel te gaan speel. Jaminda self het ook geweet dat Liewe Jesus vir haar wag en ek het met 'n knop in my keel na my man gekyk as sy opgewonde raak oor die vooruitsig. My meisiekind se laaste skooldag het op 'n skamele sesjarige ouderdom aangebreek. Sy het vroegoggend vir my beduie watter blomme in die tuin ek vir juffrou Annalie moes pluk. "Van daardie geles, ma. Juffrou Annalie sê altyd ek is 'n regte sonstraaltjie in haar lewe." Die klein, bruin skooltassie was gelaai van die speelgoed. Ek gun jou die lekkerste speeldag van jou lewe my kind, het ek bewoë gedink toe ek haar uit die motor in die rolstoel tel. Die kleuterklassie het die ene oë, maar verskrik, agter juffrou Annalie bly staan toe ons klas toe beweeg. Jaminda se beste maatjie, Knoxie, het huiwerig vorentoe getree. "Kan ek Jaminda stoot, tannie?" en ek het, dankbaar vir die gebaar, oorgegee aan my klein helpertjie. Dit het die ys gebreek. Binne oomblikke was die hele klas om die rolstoel geskaar. Dirkman het verneem of die rolstoel se wiele slime in het, terwyl Emma en Fransien wou weet of die inspuitings seer was. Ek en juffrou Annalie het verwese eenkant trane afgevee en toe dapper begin deelneem aan die kleuters se skynbaar gewone gesprek. Na 'n uur se gesels kon ek sien dat die opwinding besig was om sy tol te eis. Jaminda se oë was baie blink in haar bleek gesiggie. Toe vra sy of sy iets kan sê voor ons huis toe gaan. Juffrou Annalie het al die kleuters voor haar op die mat laat sit. Wat daarna gebeur het, het my van alle woorde gestroop. Ek het al in my enigheid begin wonder waarom die bruin tassie saamgekom het. Jaminda het die tassie oopgeknip en elkeen van haar vyftien kleutermaatjies by name vorentoe geroep. Op vyftien van haar geliefkoosde speelgoed het sy name met papiertjies en kleeflint vasgeplak. "Emma, jy moet my porselein-teestelletjie kry - dink aan my as jy en jou poppe tee drink. Dirkman, hier is my fietspomp - jou fiets se wiele is mos altyd pap. Fransien, hier is my hartjie hangertjie waarvan jy so baie hou. As jy hom oopknip, is daar 'n fototjie van my in." So het die pynlike uitdelery aangehou. En toe kom Knoxie, haar spesiale maatjie, aan die beurt. Ek het my nek gerek, maar die bruin tassie het vir my leeg gelyk. Het Jaminda van Knoxie vergeet? Maar nee, Jaminda het haar mees geliefde speelding van haar skoot af opgetel, een laaste kyk in die bruin teddiekraalogies gegee en hom toe met 'n besliste trekkie om haar mond vir Knoxie aangegee. "Pas Teddie mooi op, want ek is baie lief vir hom. Vat ook my bruin tassie - ek het klaar jou naam in die deksel geskryf. Juffrou, ek moet nou huis toe gaan. Kan ons vir oulaas Stille Nag sing?" bewerig het sy opgestaan en tussen die alte gaan staan en nog nooit het Stille Nag so na-aan die van 'n engelekoor geklink nie. In die motor op pad huis toe het sy teruggesit, vir my gekyk, geglimlag en 'n laaste tevrede sug gegee. Ek het met trane in my oë besef: Jaminda het so pas aangemeld as alt by die hemelkoor... .... En as jy nie 'n kind van jou eie het nie - gryp sommer iemand anders s'n in die verbygaan en gee hom/haar 'n stywe drukkie - hoe sal jy ooit weet - miskien is dit ook vir oulaas. "The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning." Ivy Baker |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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