I've heard it. I've read it. As long as I have been running, it's always been the same message: "drink plenty of water." All along most race courses are water stations, and most runners slow down to drink a cup of cool water. Keeping your water level up is critical when you run. If you get slightly dehydrated, you will not run well. If you get
moderately dehydrated, you will become disoriented. If you get seriously dehydrated, you can die. It's serious business. The first year I ran was 1991, and I was inexperienced (also younger, slimmer, stupider, etc.) I passed water stop after water stop, occasionally drinking a swallow or two. I felt good, and I wasn't going to waste precious seconds drinking water, even though it was a hot, humid day. Big mistake. As I neared the final mile, I "hit the wall." My energy level dropped to zero, I began having to walk some, and I realized I would have to work hard just to finish. I did make it across the line, but only with a tremendous headache and hardly enough energy to walk. It was not much fun. I learned an important lesson that year. Stopping for water doesn't actually slow you down. In fact, you will run a better race if you do drink water. The bottom line is that your body is simply not designed to function without water. In the same way, your spiritual stamina depends on stopping for regular drinks of "spiritual water." The dilemma for busy believers is finding time to invest in reading the Word and meeting with God in prayer. Like the runner intent on reaching the finish line, we tend to put off those regular drinks of water until we are totally parched. In this year's race, I saw a man become dehydrated just a mile from the finish. Strangely, he didn't seem to recognize that anything was wrong. He was swaying from side to side as he walked, mumbling over and over, "I'm fine. I'm fine." He was so disoriented that he didn't even recognize his own sick condition. If you let yourself become spiritually dehydrated, you may not even be able to recognize it. Stop today to drink some cool "living water." For serious runners, it's a must. All you who put your hope in the LORD be strong and brave. Psa 31:24
A legend from India tells about a mouse who was terrified of cats until a magician agreed to transform him into a cat. That resolved his fear … until he met a dog, so the magician changed him into a dog. The mouse-turned-cat-turned-dog was content until he met a tiger—so, once again, the magician changed him into what he feared. But when the tiger came complaining that he had met a hunter, the magician refused to help. "I will make you into a mouse again, for though you have the body of a tiger, you still have the heart of a mouse." Sound familiar? How many people do you know who have built a formidable exterior, only to tremble inside with fear? … We face our fears with force … or … we stockpile wealth. We seek security in things. We cultivate fame and seek status. But do these approaches work? Courage is an outgrowth of who we are. Exterior supports may temporarily sustain, but only inward character creates courage. The Applause of Heaven (Max Lucado) Opgestane en lewende Christus, dit moes al somer gewees het in my geestelike lewe.
U het aan my lentelewe geskenk en ek loof u Naam daarvoor. Ek kom pleit nou om groei tot geestelike volwasse wording. Ek bely met skaamte dat ek dilwels so ongehoorsaam is: Dat ek so geheg is aan wêreldse genot en so min belang stel in geestelike dinge; So traag is om my siel te voed met u Woord; so onverskillig is oor die vreugde wat U wil gee; So onwillig om met toewyding vir U te werk en getuig; So haastig om te ontspan en so traag om te bid So gou om myself te behaag en so traag om ander te dien. Liefdevolle en genadige Meester, Ek ontvang so graag en gee so min. Ek is so vroom in my woorde. En so gebrekkig in dade so onverbiddelik teenoor my naaste en so toegeeflik teenoor myself So gou om te kritiseer en so gekrenk as ander met my fout vind. Geen wonder nie, Heer, dat die somer nie in my geestelike lewe wil deurbreek nie. Genadige heiland. Skenk my nogeens u vergifnis: gee my krag om voortaan op oorwinningsgrond te lewe; om in die wingerdstok te bly sodat ek soete somervrugte kan dra. Gee dat ek die somerpad van geloof en heiligmaking sal bewandel sodat ek meer aan my hemelse voorbeeld gelyk sal word. Ek bid dit op grond van u soenverdienste, In die naam van my verlosser Here Jesus Christus. Amen I woke up one day and I realised that there were many things about my life I was not satisfied with or better still, there were challenges that were threatening my soul.
And I said to myself, "Why should anyone envy me and want to be in my shoes." They don't know how far I've come, they don't know what lies ahead of me, and neither do they know how dissatisfied I get with myself from time to time. People don't know the troubles that you've had or the price you had to pay to get to where you are. All they want to know is that they wish they were like you. Why should you wish you were in anybody's shoes when you hardly know how they fit? When you've worn your shoes for a while, they take the shape of your feet and align to the way you walk. If you were to wear my shoes, you will not be comfortable in them. So I stopped wishing that I am in someone else shoes because it might not fit; rather I thank God for my shoes, because they fit! I have learned to be the best in what I do, and I know no-one can replace me anywhere & in any sphere. I am an original; God is not in the cloning business, He makes originals. Make the best of what you do; besides you have this beautiful life to live ONLY ONCE. Live it to the fullest. An arrow can only be shot by being pulled backward. So when life is dragging you back it means it’s going to launch you into something great.
Recently I bought a new product on the laundry aisle of the grocery store which has been a helpful commodity in our household. The liquid in this spray bottle removes odors from fabrics when applied. You just spray it on, and the invisible odor droplets are consumed and obliterated. It is quite amazing the way it works! Just soaking up those smells. I don't understand how this happens, but I know it gets the job done! I have tried it...and, sure enough, odor is gone!
God is willing to do the same for you and for me. Each of us was born with our own stench of sin, and only God can remove it. He can just soak up the smell of our wrongdoing and remove it from our lives. He does this through the shed blood of Jesus, who died on the cross for us. Just as I don't understand how Febreeze works, neither do I understand how Jesus sacrifices work, but I know- by faith that it does! How thankful I am that my distance from God can be removed - once and for all soaked up and dissolved into nothingness by the shed blood of Jesus. How thankful I am. Marion Smith Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction. Mark 5:34 NKJV
Maybe all you have [is] a crazy hunch and a high hope. You have nothing to give. But you are hurting. And all you have to offer him is your hurt. Maybe that has kept you from coming to God. Oh, you've taken a step or two in his direction. But then you saw the other people around him. They seemed so clean, so neat, so trim and fit in their faith. And when you saw them, they blocked your view of him. So you stepped back. If that describes you, note carefully, … one person [whom Christ] commended … for having faith. It wasn't a wealthy giver. It wasn't a loyal follower. It wasn't an acclaimed teacher. It was a shame-struck, penniless outcast—[a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years]—who clutched onto her hunch that he could and her hope that he would. Which, by the way, isn't a bad definition of faith. A conviction that he can and a hope that he will. He Still Moves Stones (Max Lucado) Hierdie stukkie goeie nuus is ter nagedagtenis van Abrie de Bruin.
Abrie is gebore 16.07..79 en oorlede 28..02.92, (13jr) hy is deur 'n Motoris doodgery. 'n Dag voor sy tragiese dood het hy die volgende Nota op sy lessenaar gelaat: Hoeveel Coca-Cola's het jy al gedrink en nooit eers gewonder hoekom die Blikkie rooi is? Wel hier is die storie: "Die rooi stel die bloed van Jesus voor.Die swart strepies is die sonde wat jy doen. Die wit is reinheid Wanneer jy jou sonde bely dan word jy rein. Coca-Cola staan vir die volgende: C-Come O-on C-children A-Accept C-Christ O-our L-Lord A-Amen Die woorde Coke staan vir: C-Christus O-ons K-Koning E-Ewig Agter op is daar 340ml , in Klaagliedere 3:40 staan daar dat jy jou tot Die Here moet bekeer. As jy dit doen dan gooi jy jou sondes weg soos die Mannetjie agter op. Dan is jy 'n koningskind. Dit word voorgestel deur Die kroon. En as jy nog twyfel of jou sondes vergewe is dan kyk jy na die SABS-handelsmerk. Dit is jou waarborg. Wanneer die blikkie toe is en jy Skud hom en maak hom oop dan kook hy oor ; so is dit ook as jy tot Bekering kom; dit borrel binne in jou." Hierdie is die laaste woorde van 'n jong kind wat Jesus in alles raak Gesien het. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you...” (Jeremiah 1:5, AMP)
Did you know that God was thinking about you before you were ever born? He knew everything about you before you were in your mother’s womb. He created you on purpose, for a purpose. He carefully planned who you would be, the color of your hair, the color of your eyes and skin. He gave you gifts, talents and abilities to be used for His glory. He took one look at you and said, “Approved.” No matter how you may be feeling right now, no matter who’s approval you didn’t get on this earth, know that Almighty God loves you and approves of you today. There’s nothing you can do now or ever to change that. You may be thinking, “I’ve made so many mistakes, how can God approve of me?” Understand that when God sees you, He separates you from your behavior. He may not approve of your actions all the time, but He desires to help you grow and make better choices. Today, receive His love and acceptance. Allow Him to work in your life. Allow His love to empower and strengthen you because you are approved and equipped to live in victory all the days of your life! Heavenly Father, thank You for approving me and empowering me by Your love. I open my heart and mind to Your truth and invite You to have Your way in my life. Remove anything that would hold me back from all You have in store in Jesus’ name. Amen. — Joel & Victoria Osteen |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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