Isaiah 25:4
'You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm and a shade from the heat.' - The Lord wants to come and give strength and power to His people. - He understands the issues and challenges we face in life. - And He offers us a refuge and a place of safety. - No matter what the storm may be, run to your refuge. PRAYER: Lord, I want to take a moment to remind myself that You are my refuge. I choose to place my trust and confidence in You right now. Amen.
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When God led the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, He told them to prepare for a quick departure by making bread without yeast. He gave instructions to remember their departure through the celebration of Passover - also called the Feast of Unleavened Bread. During this celebration there was a seven day period when yeast was not even allowed in the home: "For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And whoever eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel" (Exodus 12:19).
When God established the various offerings through Moses, yeast became associated with an unworthy sacrifice; "Every grain offering you bring to the Lord must be made without yeast" (Leviticus 2:11). About 1500 years later, Jesus used the symbolism of yeast to give His disciples an important warning. Luke 12:1 "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." With this choice of words, Jesus warned that hypocrisy has the ability to contaminate our lives, and therefore the offering we present to God. The Pharisees had an outward appearance of godliness, but their hearts had compromised true worship and become contaminated; "On the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness" (Matthew 23:28). When we examine our own heart, does it match how we appear on the outside? Or have we too become full of hypocrisy? The symbolism of yeast gives another clear warning; "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough" (Galatians 5:9). Every day we are tempted to make compromises with the world; compromises which cause us to behave contrary to our professed beliefs. This is hypocrisy and must be avoided at all cost! Each incident seems so small - like only "a little yeast" - but soon the compromises work through all areas of our life. The only worthy endeavor during our allotted time on earth is to present ourselves, with complete abandonment, as a living sacrifice to God; "this is your spiritual (or reasonable) act of worship" (Romans 12:1). Our Heavenly Father is worthy of our very best...a pure and holy offering. Let's celebrate our release from the slavery of sin by cleaning our home and removing all spiritual compromise. Let's give our whole heart to God in loving worship and guard against ANYTHING which pulls us away. Let's fight the hypocrisy in our lives and diligently guard against the yeast. Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve Troxel Die omstandighede in ons land is soortgelyk aan dié van antieke Israel. Ten spyte van God se seën, het die mense hul rûe op Hom gekeer. Toe Hiskia, 'n man van integriteit, die troon bestyg het, het hy sy hart daarop gesit om God se regmatige posisie van leierskap in die land te herstel. Hy het vier dinge gedoen:
Sielekos: Deut 18:9-18; Dan 2; Jes 47:5–15; Hand 16:16-34 "...The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." (Luke 18:27)
My relationship with my mother has, at times, been a source of confusion and frustration to me. Perhaps the problem was that we were simply two very different people. Regardless of the why, based on past experience, it seemed that this is simply the way things were, and were most likely going to remain. However, God had something else in mind. He used another circumstance in my life to show me a better way to break through the differences and conflicts, and to find our common bond. Love. How simple a common denominator this was; right in front of me all along, and yet, even in its simplicity, I did not see. Setting pride and past differences aside, I picked up pen to paper and wrote a letter from the heart, one which my mother was happy to receive. She responded back, and several more back and forth letters from the heart followed. Then, the next step; a phone call. It had been years since we spoke, and I was not sure how either of us was going to react, but I dialed nonetheless. Mother was clearly overjoyed to hear from me. We had so much to say we spoke long distance for almost 4 hours! This happened again, and again, and again. The next step was a simple gesture of thoughtfulness. Knowing how much I enjoy getting packages in the mail, I decided to send mom a care package. Along with a box of cake mix for her past birthday I missed, and a few other odds and ends I thought might make her smile. I also sent her a beautiful white Bible with gold print on the cover. Mother loved it and wrote to tell me how much she appreciated me thinking of her. During this time, I could sense a subtle difference with each gift of love. Mom and I didn't need to agree or disagree on everything anymore because we both seemed to finally understand that love is much bigger than petty divisions. Our relationship is slowly blossoming, and it is truly a wonder to see. A few years ago, if you told me such a thing would occur, I would have laughed and said, "Impossible!" I should have remembered that nothing is impossible with God, and since God is Love, likewise, nothing is impossible with love! Today, if a situation you are encountering could benefit from the healing power of God's love, won't you call on Him to assist you? Our problem is our strength! Our problem is when we say: I am…I can. In what do we put our trust? In our talents, our abilities, our know-how, our achievements, our knowledge, whom we know?
Our human strength always gets in the way of God’s work. The Bible says: “When I am weak, I am strong…” (2 Corinthians 12:10). God’s power is perfected in weakness because God chooses the weak to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27-30) Jesus gave up everything and took on the nature of a servant; He weakened Himself to the limit. He lay helpless in a crib at His birth, wrapped in cloths. In Psalm 22 we read that it is said of Him: “I am a worm and not a man.” Jesus’ weakest moment was on the cross. No one wants to be weak, powerless and helpless in this world where weakness is exploited and trampled on. The standards set by the world is to be strong, to be powerful, to have enough money to buy what I want when I want it, to be in a position of control, to be stronger and mightier. The yardstick of the world is “success”. The world regards love, forgiveness, keeping quiet as weakness. And yet the Bible says that the weak shall inherit the earth. Our Gospel is one of humbleness, brokenness and forgiveness. Now think about this: what difference or contribution does our ‘human strength’ make to God’s omnipotence? Does God really need our strength? When we want to do things ourselves, it is like swimming back to shore against the current. It only tires us out. If you wish to be saved, you must stop fighting and allow God’s stream to take you…that is your chance of surviving. Simple concept: God is…I am not Prayer Heavenly father I bow before You and give you all the praise that is due in Jesus name…amen Every event of your day is designed to draw you toward God and your destiny. To the degree we believe and accept God’s vision for our lives, we’ll get through life. When people junk us, we’ll stand up. God can use this for good. When family members sell us out, we’ll climb to our feet. God will recycle this pain. We may stumble, but we do not fall. Why?
Ephesians 1:11 tells us that God works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will. Everything means everything. No exceptions. Everything in your life is leading to a climactic moment in which Colossians 1:20 says, “Jesus will reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood shed on the cross.” You will get through this. God will give you a hope and a future! God will use this for good. We know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love. 1 John 4:16
Water must be wet. A fire must be hot. You can't take the wet out of water and still have water. You can't take the heat out of fire and still have fire. In the same way, you can't take the love out of [God]… and still have him exist. For he was … and is … Love. Probe deep within him. Explore every corner. Search every angle. Love is all you find. Go to the beginning of every decision he has made and you'll find it. Go to the end of every story he has told and you'll see it. Love. No bitterness. No evil. No cruelty. Just love. Flawless love. Passionate love. Vast and pure love. He is love. In the Eye of the Storm (Max Lucado) EPHESIANS 2:7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Have you ever blown things out of proportion and gotten angry with God when you were going through a trying time? This happened to Jesus’ disciples when a storm hit them hard. In their fear of drowning, they cried out to Jesus, who was getting some much-needed sleep in the boat, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark4:38) For accusing Him of not caring, you would think that they received a rebuke from Jesus. But it was the wind which received His rebuke, and a great calm followed. (Mark 4:39) Because of His tenderness toward His own, Jesus did not waste time taking offence. Instead, He wasted no time taking care of the problem that had caused His disciples so much anxiety and fear. This also happened to two sisters, Martha and Mary, who did not hesitate to let Jesus know how they felt when He finally showed up days after their brother Lazarus had died. Both sisters made the same remark to Him: “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21, 32) Both sisters had seen Jesus’ miracles of mercy and love. Now, in their grief, they focused on how He could have prevented their brother’s death, but did not. They did not know His heart—how tender it was toward them and how His help would never fail them, but would even extend to raising their dead brother. (John 11:41–44) Beloved, your heavenly Father sees you trying to stay afloat when you are in the midst of a storm. He sees you trying to provide for yourself and your family, and thinking, “If I don’t take care of these things, no one else will!” And He wants you to know how tender His heart is toward you, how He is not offended by all the bad things you have ever said of or to Him. He wants you to know how much He wants to and will help and bless you. So let go and experience afresh the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward you! Jy het baie genade nodig in 'n huwelik. Selfs in die beste verhoudings gebeur daar goed wat misverstande en seerkry veroorsaak. Die sielkundige, Michael Sytsma, het een keer toe hy oor sy huwelik gepraat het, gesê: "Voordat ek getroud is, het God gesê: ‘Mike, daar is 'n paar aspekte aan jou wat nog werk kort. Om jou te help om meer soos Christus te word, gaan ek Karen vir jou gee.' Hy het dus vir Karen in my lewe ingebring om al my tekortkominge te identifiseer. My eerste reaksie toe sy my foute uitwys? ‘Hoe durf jy daardie goed uitwys?' Ek het die geleentheid om óf my gevoelens te ontken, óf om dit te erken en volwasse te word. Karen kan óf woede en haat in haar omdra, óf sy kan genade en vergifnis gee." Hier is die eerste manier waarop jy genade aan jou lewensmaat kan betoon: Probeer om goed uit 'n ander hoek te beskou. Fokus op die positiewe. As jy dink jou lewensmaat is hardkoppig, is dit moeilik om liefdevol te voel teenoor haar. As jy haar egter deur genade as iemand met deursettingsvermoë en volharding sien, raak dit baie makliker om haar lief te hê. As sy ongeorganiseerd is, kan jy deur genade kies om dit te sien as 'n teken dat sy spontaan of kreatief is, of selfs te veel hooi op haar vurk het. "... vul julle gedagtes met alles wat waar, eerbaar, skoon, suiwer, lieflik en lofwaardig is." (Fil 4:8 NLV). Mense probeer gewoonlik wees soos die beeld wat jy van hulle het!
Sielekos: Jes 26-29; Joh 7:1–13; Ps 114; Spr 28:1–4 Genade by die huis (Deel 2) Hier is nog drie maniere waarop jy jou lewensmaat met genade kan behandel:
Sielekos: Jes 30-33; Joh 7:14–24; Ps 104; Spr 28:5–8 |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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