A little girl studied the beautiful picture of Gods creation and remarked that besides being pretty it is even more wonderful considering God did it all left handed. Somebody asked why she thought He did it all left handed? She answered, "Because the Bible says that Jesus sits on His right hand." Michelangelo het op 'n keer 'n beeld gemaak uit marmer terwyl 'n vriend toegekyk het. Later is sy vriend daar weg en toe hy terugkom, sê hy: "Ek sien jy het nie verder aan jou beeld gewerk nie." Die groot kunstenaar het geantwoord: "Ek het die hele tyd daaraan gewerk terwyl jy weg was." Sy vriend het gevra: "Hoe is dit moontlik?" Michelangelo het gesê: "Hier het ek 'n lyn versag en daar die lip reguit gemaak, ek het die spiere gedefinieer, dit gepoleer en dit skerper gemaak." Sy vriend het gesê: "Maar dis klein goedjies!" Michelangelo het geantwoord: "Dis die klein goedjies wat iets perfek maak, en perfektheid is nie 'n klein dingetjie nie!" Salomo het geskryf: "Vang vir ons die jakkalse, die klein jakkalsies wat die wingerde verniel, ons wingerde wat al bot." Een Bybelonderwyser het dit so gestel: "Klein dingetjies wat onbelangrik lyk kan die "fyn druiwebloeisels" - soos 'n verhouding, 'n loopbaan of 'n lewe wat aan God toegewy is - verniel. Baie van ons kan die groot prentjie van ons lewens en ons verhouding met God sien, maar ons skeep die klein besonderhede af wat nodig is om dit alles in fokus te stel. Ons moet aan die klein dingetjies aandag gee as ons suksesvol wil wees. As ons getrou is in die klein dingetjies, sal God ons met groter geleenthede seën. Watter klein jakkalsies moet jy vandag vang? 'n Klein bietjie wrokkigheid teenoor party mense, klein gewoontetjies, klein oneerlikhede? Maak dit reg, en sien hoe jou lewe verander.
Sielskos: Gen 35-36; Joh. 21:15-25; Ps 47; Spr. 31:6-9 "Marriage demands toughness, and toughness proceeds out of commitment. No marriage will ever be stronger than the commitment that serves as its infrastructure." (Dr. Neil Clark Warren)
How true that is. Dr. Warren, in his book, "Learning to Live With the Love of Your Life" explains, "For most people, the demands of marriage are mind-boggling. It requires all the energy you can give it --and then it asks for more. It involves a continual need for negotiation and compromise, for giving and giving more. "Mind you, I'm a big believer in marriage. I've have never seen happier, more deeply satisfied people than men and women who have made their marriages work. But neither have I met many people in highly successful marriages who got there without an enormous expenditure of energy and courage and determination. There were times when they simply had to be 'willful.' "Virtually every successful marriage requires all kinds of willpower. Sometimes issues arise and the patterns don't have the necessary skills to manage them. They essentially have two choices: give up and run away, or develop the required skills. Partners with willpower always adopt the second alternative. They wouldn't think of giving up. They're ready to go to work on the problem, and ready to do whatever they must to keep their marriage healthy for a lifetime. "The foundation of willpower is a set of marital promises. It is this set of promises that serves as the steel structure of every great marriage. Both partners need to know what they originally promised each other, and they need to be currently committed to those promises so that their willpower will always be stronger than any opposing force. "Marriage doesn't just happen! It takes a solid set of decisions, a huge amount of skills, and enormous willpower. I contend that people in healthy marriages built those marriages just as you build a bridge or skyscraper. They made their marriage triumphant because they simply wouldn't settle for less. It doesn't matter to them how much backbreaking work it requires; if it were necessary, they'd do it a thousand times more. Their willpower gives them this kind of toughness. Marriage demands toughness, and toughness proceeds out of commitment. No marriage will ever be stronger than the commitment that serves as its infrastructure. "Roger Sternberg, a Yale professor, cited commitment as crucial to a successful marriage. He says: 'Loving relationships almost always have their ups and downs, and there may be times in such relationships when commitment is almost all that keeps the relationship going. This can be essential for getting through hard times and returning to better ones. In ignoring it, one may be missing exactly that which enables one to get through the hard times as well as the easy ones.' "It's a tough-sounding vow that society [and more importantly, God] asks people entering marriage to take, and it should be. If they're to be successful, they must be prepared for a major contest. They need to be toughened and trained --and why not? We require our citizens to prepare long and hard for careers, We put soldiers, policemen, & firemen through rigorous training programs. We expect athletes and athletic teams to practice for months so they will be equal to the challenge of competition. But we are in the habit of sending persons into marriage with virtually no understanding of the challenges they'll face. The inevitable massacre is tragically predictable!"The bottom line is that marriage is often tougher than marital participants are. That can change. We must understand that commitment alone is only part of the equation for a triumphant marriage. Commitment must lead to skill development. I've never studied a great marriage in which I viewed the partners as anything less than profoundly skillful. "It's crucial to recognize, though, that much of the time these skills were learned and developed AFTER the marriage began. Often the development of the skills came in response to a crisis or a series of crises. Many persons encounter enormous problems in their marriages. In response to those problems, they learn marriage-saving skills. If those skills were learned well, the crisis was not only handled, but the marriage also took on a new level of strength and satisfaction that would not have been available if the crisis had not happened. Marriage-saving skills became vital sources in building a great relationship. "Well in advance of skill development, though, is the matter of willpower. Hundreds of thousands of marriages fall apart before the necessary skills can be developed, because there is inadequate willpower. If a marriage relies forever on willpower, it will eventually become worn out and weak. Nevertheless, a marriage short on willpower is vulnerable when the road gets challenging. "It goes without saying that commitment has become a cheap concept in our culture. Most married people don't have the foggiest notion of what they've committed themselves to. But worst of all, there is little about the 'promises' of marriage that are current for most married people. Like one middle-aged man said to me while in the heat of a major marital crisis: 'Listen, I took those vows a long time ago, and that's all ancient history.' "So what's the solution to this dilemma? First, we have to develop something like 'informed consent' when it comes to marriage. We simply must not let any new marriage begin unless the two people really know what they're promising each other. Second, we need to encourage people who are already married to recommit themselves to each other --but only after they have carefully understood EXACTLY what the marital promises are all about. "My experience tells me that a high proportion of married people are totally unfit to face complex marital challenges. Often, they've become inattentive to their original commitment. They've done almost nothing recently to prepare themselves for the demanding events that are always lurking. They're like tennis players who haven't played for a long time. They aren't ready! How come? Because no one warned them to stay tough! Why not? Because everyone simply assured them they could make it fine on the basis of their love and warm feelings. This assumption is absurd. "I'm convinced that until we start seeing marriage more realistically, the divorce rate is going to stay at epidemic levels. Marriage is incredibly difficult! We'd better start recognizing this. Anyone who is going to succeed in marriage needs to determination. Obviously, great skillfulness is required but the development of the necessary skills often takes time. That's why you need to deeply own the promises you made to your mate. If you aren't ready for the tough battles that will test your strength and endurance, then you're in danger of becoming a divorce statistic." We're told in the Bible in Matthew 5:33, "It was said to the people long ago, 'do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord'." Be willful. Be faithful. Learn the skills you need to know and do YOUR part in keeping your commitment. Exercise determination! Steve and Cindy Wright It is not so much the things I do that causes me regret;
It's the little things I leave undone, the things that I forget. It's the words I fail to utter, the songs I fail to sing, The letters I forget to write, that may great comfort bring. It's the little acts of kindness, the joy I fail to give, The smiles I fail to scatter, as day by day I live. It's the sick I fail to visit, flowers I fail to send; It's the hand I fail to offer unto a fallen friend. Laat ons vandag praat oor: Die vyand hier binne. Jou ou natuur is alewig op soek na maniere om jou te saboteer. Dis die venster waardeur satan inkom. Jy het twee nature, 'n oue en 'n nuwe. Hulle stuur voortdurend op 'n botsing af. 'n Goeie voorbeeld hiervan was Jakob en Esau se geboorte. '...Rebekka het swanger geword. Die kinders het in haar teen mekaar gestamp, en toe sê sy: "Waarom gebeur so iets met my?" Sy het toe die Here gaan raadpleeg, en Hy het vir haar gesê: "Daar is twee nasies in jou, twee volke uit jou sal van mekaar geskei word. Een sal sterker wees as die ander, die oudste sal die jongste dien" (Genesis 25:21-23 NV). Selfs Paulus sê: 'Diep in my wese vind ek vreugde in die wet van God, maar ek vind in my doen en late 'n ander wet, wat stryd voer teen die wet in my gees. Dit maak my 'n gevangene van die wet van die sonde wat in my doen en late aan die werk is' (Romeine 7:22-23 NV). Wat is die antwoord? Verhonger jou ou natuur en voed die nuwe een! Weer skryf Paulus: ''n Soldaat in aktiewe diens wat sy bevelvoerder tevrede stel, bemoei hom nie met die dinge van die gewone lewe nie' (2 Timotheus 2:4). Dit beteken jy moet: 1) Gereeld met hoofkantoor deur gebed kommunikeer. 2) Lees Gods Woord om seker te maak jy voer die Bevelvoerder se bevele uit. 3) Hou jou geestelike moreel hoog. 4) Moenie met die verkeerde mense of dinge deurmekaar raak nie.
Sielskos: Joh 2:1-11; Job 36:22-37:13 Do you know for certain God is working on your behalf, or do you merely hope He is helping you? Are you walking in the confident conviction the Lord will do as He's promised, or are you worrying about the difficulties you face?
Each day, you and I have a choice to make: Will we live by faith or succumb to doubt? How we answer this question will shape how we view our circumstances and what we are able to accomplish in our lives. Walking in the confident conviction the Lord will do as He's promised will help us triumph over the many challenges we face . As we see throughout God's Word, responding in faith is essential to our Christian walks (Rom. 1:17). This is especially true when we face times of adversity or feel helpless. Perhaps our medical, relational, or financial situations seem insurmountable. Our hopes and dreams may appear to be dashed forever. It might even feel as if God is refusing to answer our prayers. We must remember the Father uses each of these to test and grow our trust in Him, and it's crucial we respond with a steadfast faith that doesn't waver (James 1:2-6) . I recall a particularly difficult season when I attended the University of Richmond. Everything seemed to be going wrong. I received a 50 on one exam and a 75 on another. I did not have the funds needed to continue my education, and I was desperate to know if it was the Lord's will for me to remain in school. I remember going to my room, weeping, and praying to God: "I've got to be absolutely sure it is Your will for me to be here. Father, please clarify this question in my mind and show me exactly what to do ." I am sure you can relate to the pressure I was under as a young man. Human logic was telling me, "You're away from your family, failing your exams, and you have no money. Wouldn't the Lord make this easier if He really wanted you to continue? This is not worth the struggle. Go home." But all the things my grandfather taught me kept coming to mind, including the principle that God would move heaven and earth to show me His Will. I also knew the Father did not require me to understand His will. I simply needed to obey it - even if it seemed unreasonable at the time. Thankfully, the Lord gave me the courage to continue in college. However, the experience taught me that wavering faith can be dangerous. If I had not sought the Father's will and had given up, the course of my life would have been altered completely. The same is true for you. Regardless of what you are facing, the Father will use it as an opportunity to deepen your faith in Him; and walking in faith can mean all the difference to your future. So how do you make sure that you walk in faith? 1. Whenever you are tempted to fret about your circumstances, ask yourself the following questions: Where are these doubts coming from? Has God ever failed me in the past? Doesn't the Lord promise to meet my needs? Don't I have the help of the Holy Spirit? Isn't the Father with me at all times? Is anything too hard for God? Is my focus on the Lord as it should be? Could my unbelief in this situation cost me a lifetime of regret? 2. It is crucial that you spend time in the Word of God. One of the primary ways the Father speaks to you is through His Word. Therefore, study the Bible each day, consider how He is instructing you, then apply His principles to your life. The Lord will move heaven and earth to show you His will, so trust Him to reveal what you should do . 3. Reflect on the times God faithfully answered your prayers . Remembering how the Father has helped you in the past will keep you from stumbling when troubles arise. Whenever you see the Lord at work in your life, record it in the margin of your Bible. This will become your personal record of His faithfulness to you and will help to encourage you in your walk with Him . 4. Choose to obey God and leave all the consequences to Him. There may be times in your life, as there have been in mine, when trusting the Lord is in conflict with your human reason and when you fail to see Him working in your circumstances. But don't give up. Remember "we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor . 5 :7). Claim God's promises in faith, and do exactly as He says. You will always be glad you did . No matter what your situation is today, I hope you will trust that the Father is working on your behalf. It is my prayer that you will take the time to strengthen your faith each day, spend time in the Word of God, reflect on the Father's answers to your prayers, and faithfully obey Him regardless of the consequences. This will make all the difference in your life. You may not know what the Lord has planned for you, but you can be assured that it is above and beyond all you can ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20) Often, our faith is tried the most when we must wait on God for the desires of our hearts. I pray it will help you persevere in faith, regardless of what trials may come. May God bless you richly as you seek to trust Him more. Proverbs 31 Ministries Meet Don. Don is a basketball "nut." He's the kind of sports buff who can talk nonstop about his favorite basketball teams with anybody who'll listen. One evening, Don's wife took a seat next to him on the couch. She placed her arms around his neck and asked him point-blank: "Do you love me more than basketball?"
Puzzled, Don considered her question for a long minute before answering. He finally said, "College or NBA?"* While most of us men would never make a blunder of that magnitude, we often miss the opportunity to affirm our wives. Marriage is not a spectator sport. Nor is it a place for verbal jabs or cynical put-downs. Those male digs might work in the locker room with the boys, but they're out of bounds with our wives. What do Don's wife, your wife, and my wife need? Affirmation. Lots of it. Soft, tender, thoughtful, unexpected, meaningful, heartfelt affirmation delivered with no sexual demands attached. That's difficult for a man, I know. A man usually sets goals and generally acts only when he is after something. When it comes to romance, he's tempted to give affirmation only because he hopes to "get sex" in return. As we look at showering our wives with affirmation in this chapter you and I will score big when we make our goal unconditional affirmation—no strings attached. My aim is to make my wife feel loved, valued, cherished, and affirmed as the love of my life. We all would do well to watch Solomon in action. Solomon, by contrast, referred to his wife as "my beloved" forty times in the Song of Solomon. That choice phrase is packed with affirmation. It's a romantic expression, a call to rich friendship. Each time Solomon said, "My beloved," his words clothed her with dignity and value. What woman wouldn't flourish under such a constant stream of loving affirmation? Here are thirty nonsexual ways to cherish your bride through words and acts of affirmation. And by the way, these are nonsexual so that you speak her romantic love language. It's important to remember that you are not doing these things to get something in return. Perhaps she will reciprocate in your language back to you, but that's not your goal. Are you ready?
If you've hesitated affirming your bride, or if you've been slow to praise her qualities, trust me on this: just do it. Affirming your wife through even just three or four of these ideas will do wonders for your romance. Is that too difficult to believe? You'll never know unless you try, right? *See "Loving Her More Than the NBA," Reader's Digest, October 1997, for more on this. Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson Inc., Nashville, TN., from the book entitled Rekindling the Romance, copyright date 2004 by Dennis and Barbara Rainey. All rights reserved. Father Murphy walked into a pub and said to the first man he met, "Do
you want to go to heaven?" The man replied, "I do Father." The priest said, "Then stand over there against the wall." Then the priest asked a second man, "Do you want to go to heaven?" "Certainly, Father," was the man's reply. The priest said, "Then stand over there against the wall." Then Father Murphy walked up to O'Toole and said, "Do you want to go to heaven?" O'Toole said, "No, I don't Father." The priest said, "I don't believe this. You mean to tell me that when you die you don't want to go to heaven?" O'Toole said, "Oh, when I die, yes. I thought you were getting a group together to go right now." “...He tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him...But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him...” (Acts 9:26–27, NIV)
The Apostle Paul would have never had the impact he did without a man named Barnabas. Barnabas was one of the disciples. He was in Jesus’ inner circle. But Paul, at the time, hated believers and was having them thrown in jail. God touched his life, and he wanted to go to Jerusalem and join the other disciples, but they were afraid of him because of His reputation. Barnabas stood up for Paul and used his influence to open a door with the other disciples. Paul went on to write over half of the New Testament. We don’t hear a lot about Barnabas. Paul greatly overshadowed him. But if you were to ask Paul he would say, “I won because Barnabas helped me win. I succeeded because Barnabas took a risk and opened a door that I could not open on my own. Barnabas believed in me when nobody else did.” Friend, there is no greater legacy than to help someone else win. Today, look for ways to use your influence. Help others rise up higher. Sow good seeds because they will come back to you. When you help others win, God will make sure you are surrounded by people who will help you win in return. Heavenly Father, thank You for Your truth which sets me free today. It is my delight to do Your will and help others succeed. Show me ways to be a blessing and help others. Let everything I do bring glory to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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