"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, NIV)
As we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, I think about when they crucified Jesus. On that Friday, it was the darkest, most painful, discouraging day of His life. In fact, it was so bad that He sweat drops of blood. It looked as if His enemies had gotten the best of Him. But God had other plans. They put Him in the grave on Friday, celebrating their victory, but Sunday morning it was a different story. The grave could not hold Him! Death couldn't contain Him! The forces of darkness couldn't stop Him! On the third day, He came out of the grave and said, "I was dead, but now I am alive forevermore!" One principle that the resurrection teaches us is that God will always finish what He started. No matter how dark it looks, no matter how long it's been, no matter how many people are trying to push you down; if you will stay in faith, God will always take you from Friday to Sunday. He will always complete what He started in you! Father God, thank You for completing what You started in my life. I trust that no matter how dark things may seem, You are my shining light of hope. I thank You for working behind the scenes to carry me through to the place of victory in every area of my life in Jesus' name. Amen. Having just celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary, we're going through a reflective time. We LOVE being married this long! And the rewarding part is that we love and appreciate each other more than we ever have - which is truly remarkable. We hope you are, or that you get to that place too. Having lived through and learned A LOT, we appreciate others with the same commitment. Dr. James Robison and his wife Betty were married 41 years when they wrote an article titled, "Committed for Life." In it, they talk about different aspects of "loyalty and faithfulness," which has helped them in their marriage. Here's a portion of what they've learned (that you might benefit from prayerfully reading, to see if there is anything you can glean from it, to use in YOUR marriage.) -- "LOYALTY STARTS WITH COMMITMENT TO GOD. Our commitment to each other begins with a commitment to follow God, both individually and as a couple. Both are lifelong promises. Neither commitment allows us to say, 'Let's try this for a while and see if it works.' Both are tough; both call us to live a disciplined life. But both, in the end, are life giving. -- "LOYALTY DEPENDS ON COMMUNICATION. When there's a breakdown in communication, a breakdown in commitment is sure to follow. Communication isn't simply talking to each other; it's making sure we really learn each other. We try to listen and understand the heart of our mate, not just the words they speak. "Communication is especially important when situations aren't particularly easy or pleasant. But knowing that we're committed to each other helps us confront, confess, and open up more freely. -- "LOYALTY MEANS WE GIVE OUR SPOUSE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. An issue we've worked through has been when one of us says something that the other spouse takes the wrong way. An offhanded or unthinking comment can wreak havoc on our thoughts and relationship. "Dr. Jimmy Draper, our Pastor for many years, said something about his wife, Carol Ann, that put those statements in perspective: 'If I ever think she's said something to offend me, then I know I've misunderstood her, because she'd never do anything purposely to hurt me.' "That's an awesome reality when we stop to think that neither of us would intentionally hurt the other. When one of us says something that hurts, we stop before we react, and think, 'Did my mate say that intentionally to hurt me? ...That helps us confront the issue and not the person. "We'll say, 'I know you wouldn't hurt me, and I know you didn't intend this, but let me tell you how this came across to me. Let me tell you what I heard. Let me tell you how I felt.' -- "LOYALTY WILLINGLY COMPROMISES FOR THE OTHER PERSON'S GOOD. The Bible tells us me must lose our life for Christ's sake in order to find it (Matthew 10:39). That same spirit applies to marriage Although it doesn't make human sense, when we put the other person first, God grows our marriages. "Early in our marriage, we discovered our interests could have caused us to spend less time with each other. We knew it wasn't what we wanted our marriage to be - two people that 'did their own thing.' So we made a conscious effort to do things together. "The same is true of work and church obligations. There was a time when the demands of traveling for my ministry came close to destroying our relationship. Betty was extremely lonely, since I was gone much of the time, and I was burning the candle at both ends. I felt burned out and tormented by lustful thoughts! I knew I needed help, so I talked to some respected ministers. "One of them suggested I talk and pray with a man who had gone through a similar experience. It was a humbling time. But God used those men to help turn around my life and my marriage. "Since then we've learned to say 'no' to many invitations that come our way. We discuss our ministry and work opportunities with each other, and together, prayerfully decide which ones we believe are truly God's will. We try always to honor each other. Once we got in the habit of planning together, it became natural; it no longer feels like a sacrifice or compromise. "We're still pursuing life. We're still pursuing God. We haven't settled or retired from our marriage. The Apostle Paul says Christians are running a race to win (1 Corinthians 9:24). That's also true of marriage. While it's not always easy when we keep running on course, determined to cross the finish line - marriage gets sweeter." ...................... We realize that every couple travels a different road in their marriage. A lot of what works for us, for the Robison's, and for others, may not work in your relationship. But one principle is true for us all. Our commitment to reveal and reflect the love of Christ within our marriage is an important mission God gives us, when we say, "I do" to the promises set before us. As the Robison's conclude, and we agree, the following is a mission we all should keep before us: "As we go through life together, we realize more and more that we need each other in order to do what God has called both of us to do. It's an awesome responsibility and a great challenge to be there completely for each other, but it's a tremendous opportunity. "For us, everything started with our commitment to God, then our commitment to each other. Out of that, we've been able to impact the world with the love of Jesus Christ. And isn't that what it's all about?" To that we say, "AMEN!" We hope you will join us in being joyfully, prayerfully, and unswervingly "committed for life" in your marriages, for the glory of God. Mag ek begin met ‘n stukkie goeie nuus wat verlede week verskyn het in die klein kolom wat ek van Dinsdae tot Vrydae in die dagblad Beeld skryf: “In ‘n bekende kinderverhaal sê die koningin vir Alice in Wonderland: “It takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must at least run twice as fast as that!” Ons almal hardloop so al wat ons kan net om op een plek te bly stilstaan. Ek lees onlangs in ‘n tydskrif vir fietsryers dat die gemiddelde fietsryer meer as 60% ekstra krag moet insit om 20% vinniger te ry. Harde werk vir min resultate! Maar dis hoe die lewe is... so ook ons geloofsroete. As geloof maklik was, het almal geglo. As vasbyt op die Here se pad die in-ding was, dan het almal vasgebyt. Tog is die vreugde eindeloos groot vir daardie klein groepie wat wel volhard op God se pad.”
Hoe ouer ek word, hoe meer word dit vir my duidelik dat ‘n lewe op Jesus se pad twee basiese kenmerke het — vreugde en moeilikheid. Beide hoort tot die ABC en die XYZ van geloof. Dit is nie ‘n gelykpad nie, maar dis ‘n pad waar God se Gees permanent saamloop. Nooit is ons aan onsself oorgelaat nie. Al waai die wind van voor af, en al is die pad styl en gevaarlik, daar is altyd ‘n Gids op die pad. Nie net enige Gids nie, nee, die Here van vreugde Self is saam met ons. Daarom dat ons lig kan reis — met ligte harte en vreugde op ons gesig. "Lord, who may abide in your dwelling place? Who receives an invitation to spend time with you? Whoever walks without blame, whatever is right, speaking truth from the heart; Who does not slander a neighbor, does no harm to another, never defames a friend; Who disdains the wicked, but honors those who fear the LORD; Who keeps an oath, no matter what the cost, who lends no money at interest, accepts no bribe against the innocent. Whoever acts like this, shall never be shaken." (Psalm 15)
In 2002, U.S. companies Arthur Andersen, Enron, and Salomon Brothers were all brought down by the rogue actions of a few who failed the integrity test. Their corporate integrity code failed to equip front-line employees to make the right decisions without supervision. Lack of integrity is nothing new. The Bible is full of examples. One of these involves Gehazi, the assistant to the most famous prophet of his day, Elisha. It's hard to imagine that anyone working with such an anointed man who saw firsthand the power of God would fail the integrity test. But he did. When Elisha healed Naaman (a general in the army) from leprosy, he didn't expect to be compensated and he didn't ask for money. When Naaman insisted that Elisha take some form of payment, the prophet answered, "As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing" (2 Kings 5:16). Gehazi, however, did not agree with his employer. He saw this as a great opportunity for gain and took matters into his own hands. "Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, 'My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him'" (2 Kings 5:20). As a result of his sin, God judged Gehazi. Elisha fired him and God struck him with leprosy, and his life was never the same. He was removed from serving one of God's most extraordinary prophets. Each of us has the potential of being a Gehazi if we do not have a foundation built into our lives that makes us willing to receive only what God gives us through the fruit of our obedience. Ask God to keep your motives pure in all you do. TGIF (Today God Is First) Loop agter Hom aan In daardie klassieke film, The Wizard of Oz, word die hoofkarakter Dorothy, en haar hond Toto, deur ‘n tornado weggewaai. As sy later iewers grondvat, sê sy: “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” Ek wonder hoeveel van ons voel ook asof ‘n tornado ons weggewaai het van bekende terrein af. Alles is deesdae anders. Niks is meer vas, veilig of voorspelbaar nie. Dit voel of die lewe buite beheer geraak het. Bo is onder en onder is onderstebo. Om nie eers te praat van agter wat skielik agterstevoor is nie.
Wel, hier’s ‘n nuusflits: vandag se wêreld is deurmekaar. Dit is plek-plek buite beheer. Die oplossing is nie om dit te ontken, of kunsmatig onder beheer te probeer bring nie. Kies eerder om midde in die storms wat rondom jou, en soms ook binne-in jou woed, agter Jesus aan te stap. Hy floreer in storms. Veilige hawens is nie sy skuilplek nie. Hy is Lig in die donker. Hy bied hoop te midde van wanhoop. As jy naby aan Jesus loop, is jy op koers, selfs al is dit donker en gevaarlik rondom jou. Vrede Matthew 22:37Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind.
- Loving God is the greatest priority. - This is the first and the greatest commandment. - We must love God with all we are, heart, soul and mind. - We can love God because He first loved us! PRAYER: Lord, I declare that I love You! Thank You for loving me first and making it possible for me to love You! Amen. "No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking." ~ Voltaire
"Too often we...enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." ~ John F. Kennedy "If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking." ~ George S. Patton "Mental fight means thinking against the current, not with it." ~ Viriginia Woolf God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. — John 3:16
He looked around the hill and foresaw a scene. Three figures hung on three crosses. Arms spread. Heads fallen forward. They moaned with the wind. Men clad in soldier's garb sat on the ground near the trio… Women clad in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill, … faces tear-streaked. All heaven stood to fight. All nature rose to rescue. All eternity poised to protect. But the Creator gave no command. "It must be done …" he said, and withdrew. The angel spoke again. "It would be less painful …" The Creator interrupted softly. "But it wouldn't be love." In the Eye of the Storm (Max Lucado) MATTHEW 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
You are probably a responsible person who is concerned about providing well for your family—making sure that there is food on the table, money for the children’s needs, comfort and education, and so on. What does God have to say to us about these legitimate concerns? According to Matthew 6:31, He tells us, “Do not worry.” Now, He is not saying that we don’t need all these things because in the same portion of scripture He says, “For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Matthew 6:32) So God cares about us having these things. He wants us to have all these things. In fact, He wants all these things added to us. And He tells us that the way these things are added to us is by us seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Therefore, our number one priority every day is to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. It is not to seek to add these things to ourselves. But what is righteousness? Righteousness is not right behavior. It is right standing with the Father. It is the clearance of all your guilt, which makes you able to stand before God. It is not something you get through right behavior. It is a gift from God. Paul calls it “the gift of righteousness”. (Romans 5:17) And to “seek” this gift is to be conscious of the fact that you have it, to confess that you are righteous in Christ. So this righteousness we are told to seek is not right behavior, but right standing before God, which comes to us as a gift when we receive salvation. At the cross, Jesus didn’t just remove our sins, He also gave us His righteousness so that today, we can come boldly before the throne of God and receive freely everything that He died to give us! Today, if you want to provide your family with the good things in life, be assured that your heavenly Father knows that you need these things. Just seek His righteousness, not your own righteousness, and “all these things shall be added to you”! |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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