10 things Jesus wants you to remember every day:
1 I will strengthen you 2 I will provide for you 3 I will answer you 4 I will be with you 5 I will give you rest 6 I will bless you 7 I will not fail you 8 I believe in you 9 I am for you 10 I love you. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." Isa 40:31 It is more than probable that these lines will be read by some who have lost heart. They are fainting beneath the long and arduous strain of life, and ready to give up in despair. It seems as though God had forgotten to be gracious, and in anger had shut up His tender mercies. To all such, Isaiah says: God is not tired: you think He is because you are. Wait upon the Lord, and change your strength. The question is not as to altering your environment, but altering your courage, your power of endurance, your assurance of victory; then, notwithstanding every hindrance and difficulty, you will mount up on wings like eagles, you will run without being weary, you will walk without being faint. The inevitable order. Mounting up--running--walking! We should have supposed that it should have been walking in the beginnings of religious experience; then the walk breaking into the run; and finally the runner leaping on wings into the azure, like the eagle a black speck against the blue! But experience confirms the prophetic order. Isaiah is right! We mount, we run, we walk! Let us claim the promise--"They that wait on the Lord shall change their strength." Too often in the past we have depended on the stimulus of services, sermons, conventions which have made the embers glow again on the heart's altar. We have gone back to our homes, to our daily calling, with a new zeal and impulse that has lasted for weeks or months. Then we have found ourselves flagging again; we have run and got weary; we have walked and become faint. To all such comes the word; if you would once more mount up and run and walk, you must change your strength. Time tells on us! Moods influence us! Circumstances impede us! Satan blows cold blasts on our heart-fires and cools them! Sins pile up their debris between us and God! From all these let us turn once more to Jesus and wait on Him. "My soul, wait thou only upon the Lord, for my expectation is from Him." Look not back, but forward! Not down, but up! Not in, but out! Never to your own heart, but keep looking to Jesus, made near and living by the grace of the Holy Spirit. So shall you change your strength, as you wait upon the Lord. Our Father Who Art In Heaven.
Yes? Don't interrupt me. I'm praying. But -- you called ME! Called you? No, I didn't call you. I'm praying. Our Father who art in Heaven. There -- you did it again! Did what? Called ME. You said, "Our Father who art in Heaven" Well, here I am. What's on your mind? But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like fulfilling a duty. W ell, all right. Go on. Okay, Hallowed be thy name . Hold it right there. What do you mean by that? By what? By "Hallowed be thy name"? It means, it means . . good grief, I don't know what it means. How in the world should I know? It's just a part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean? It means honoured, holy, wonderful. Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before. Thanks. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Do you really mean that? Sure, why not? What are you doing about it? Doing? Why, nothing, I guess. I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control, of everything down here like you have up there. We're kinda in a mess down here you know. Yes, I know; but, have I got control of you? Well, I go to church. That isn't what I asked you. What about your bad temper? You've really got a problem there, you know. And then there's the way you spend your money -- all on yourself. And what about the kind of books you read? Now hold on just a minute! Stop picking on me! I'm just as good as some of the rest of those people at church! Excuse ME. I thought you were praying for my will to be done. If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it. Like you -- for example. Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others. So could I. I haven't thought about it very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I would like to, you know, be really free. Good. Now we're getting somewhere.We'll work together -- You and ME. I'm proud of You. Look, Lord, if you don't mind, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does. Give us this day, our daily bread. You need to cut out the bread. You're overweight as it is. Hey, wait a minute! What is this? Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups. Praying is a dangerous thing. You just might get what you ask for. Remember, you called ME -- and here I am. It's too late to stop now. Keep praying. ( . . pause . . ) Well, go on. I'm scared to. Scared? Of what? I know what you'll say. Try ME. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. What about Ann? See? I knew it! I knew you would bring her up! Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories. She never paid back the money she owes me. I've sworn to get even with her! But -- your prayer -- What about your prayer? I didn't -- mean it. Well, at least you're honest. But, it's quite a load carrying around all that bitterness and resentment isn't it? Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her. Boy, have I got some plans for her. She'll wish she had never been born. No, you won't feel any better. You'll feel worse. Revenge isn't sweet. You know how unhappy you are -- Well, I can change that. You can? How? Forgive Ann. Then, I'll forgive you; And the hate and the sin, will be Ann's problem -- not yours. You will have settled the problem as far as you are concerned. Oh, you know, you're right. You always are. And more than I want revenge, I want to be right with You . . (sigh). All right . all right . . I forgive her. There now! Wonderful! How do you feel? Hmmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all! In fact, I feel pretty great! You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight. I haven't been getting much rest, you know. Yeah, I know. But, you're not through with your prayer are you? Go on. Oh, all right. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Good! Good! I'll do that. Just don't put yourself in a place where you can be tempted. What do you mean by that? You know what I mean. Yeah. I know. Okay. Go ahead. Finish your prayer. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. Do you know what would bring me glory -- What would really make me happy? No, but I'd like to know. I want to please you now. I've really made a mess of things. I want to truly follow you. I can see now how great that would be. So, tell me . . . How do I make you happy? YOU just did. Smooth roads never make good drivers
Smooth seas never make good sailors Clear Skies never makes good Pilots. Problem and hassle free Life never makes a strong person Be Strong enough to accept the challenges of Life Don't ask Life, "Why Me? Instead say "Try Me!" ‘n Ou spoorwegman het op ‘n byeenkoms tot bekering gekom,, en is gevra om te bid. Hy het ‘n oomblik geaarsel, en toe eerbiedig met ‘n bewende maar helder stem gesê:
“O, Here, noudat ek die vlag gestryk het, bid ek U, neem my voete van die ruwe spoorbaan af en plaas hulle veilig bo-op die trein van redding. Laat wysheid my handlamp wees en die Bybel my hooflig. Laat die trein gekoppel wees met die sterk skakel van liefde. En, Hemelse Vader, hou alle wissels gesluit wat na sylyne uitdraai, en veral die wat lei na ‘n doodloopspoor. O, Here, as dit U wil is, laat elke sinjaal langs die lyne die witlig van hoop vertoon sodat ek die lewensreis kan aflê sonder om stil te hou. En, Here, laat die tien gebooie my rooster wees. En wanneer ek die reis volgens roostertyd afgelê het en in die groot donker stasie van die dood ingetrek het, mag die Superintendent van die heelal sê: “Mooi so, goeie en getroue dienaar, kom teken die betaalstaat en ontvang jou loon van ewige geluksaligheid.” A married lady was expecting a birthday gift from her husband.
For many months she had admired a beautiful diamond ring in a showroom, knowing her husband could afford it, she told him that was all she wanted. As her birthday approached, this lady awaited signs that her husband had purchased the diamond ring. Finally, on the morning of her birthday, her husband called her into his study. Her husband told her how proud he was to have such a good wife, and told her how much he loved her. He handed her a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, the wife opened the box and found a lovely leather-bound Bible with the wife's name embossed in gold. Angrily, she raised her voice to her husband and said, 'With all your money you give me a Bible?' And stormed out of the house, leaving her husband. Many years passed and the lady was very successful in business. She managed to settle for a more beautiful house and a wonderful family, but realized her ex-husband was very old, and thought perhaps she should go to visit him. She had not seen him for many years but before she could make arrangements, she received a telegram telling her that her ex-husband had passed away and willed all of his possessions to her. She needed to come back immediately and take care of things. When she arrived at her ex-husband's house, sudden sadness and regret filled her heart. She began to search through her ex-husband's important papers and saw the still new Bible just as she had left it years before. With tears, she opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. Her ex-husband had carefully underlined a verse, Matt 7:11, 'And if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father, who is in heaven, give what is good to those who ask Him?' As she read those words, a tiny package dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a diamond ring, with her name engraved on it -- the same diamond ring which she saw at the showroom. On the tag was the date of her birth, and the words 'LUV U ALWAYS'. How many times do we miss God's blessings, because they are not packaged as we expected? 'The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.' Have a great day! God Bless. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4
In his first inaugural speech in 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt, the newly elected president of the US, addressed a nation that was still reeling from the Great Depression. Hoping to ignite a more optimistic outlook regarding that economic crisis, he declared, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself!” Fear often shows up in our lives when we are at risk of losing something—our wealth, health, reputation, position, safety, family, friends. It reveals our innate desire to protect the things in life that are important to us, rather than fully entrusting them to God’s care and control. When fear takes over, it cripples us emotionally and saps us spiritually. We’re afraid to tell others about Christ, to extend our lives and resources for the benefit of others, or to venture into new territory. A fearful spirit is more vulnerable to the enemy, who tempts us to compromise biblical convictions and to take matters into our own hands. The remedy for fear, of course, is trust in our Creator. Only when we trust the reality of God’s presence, power, protection, and provision for our lives can we share the joy of the psalmist, who said, “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Ps. 34:4). Day by day and with each passing moment, Strength I find to meet my trials here; Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment, I’ve no cause for worry or for fear. —Berg 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 asmile, 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.' Ps.112:4 Vir die opregtes gaan Hy op as ‘n lig in die duisternis: genadig en barmhartig en regverdig.
Is daar dalk 'n area in jou lewe, wat vandag lig benodig? Miskien is jy in 'n nagdonker situasie en jy het nie die vaagste benul, waar voor of agter is nie. Scubaduikers sê vir my, as jy in 'n stikdonker watergat afduik, weet jy glad nie watter kant bo is nie. Die enigste manier om jou posisie vas te stel, is om lug uit te blaas en die borrels dop te hou, hulle sal altyd boontoe trek. Het jy lig nodig? God se Woord leer, 'Vir die opregtes gaan Hy op as 'n lig in die duisternis'. Die Psalmis sê, U woord is 'n lig op my pad en 'n lamp vir my voete. Hoe kry ek Sy lig angeskakel in my donker lewe? Lees die Woord, bestudeer dit en 'eet' dit daagliks. Vra die Heilige Gees om jou pad te verlig en in elke donker hoekie van jou hart, die lig van die waarheid te laat skyn. Ek wil jou bemoedig met, Jes.60:1 "Staan op, word verlig; want jou lig kom, en die heerlikheid van die HERE gaan oor jou op. 2 Want kyk, die duisternis sal die aarde oordek en donkerheid die volke; maar oor jóu sal die HERE opgaan, en sy heerlikheid sal oor jou gesien word". Soos 'n helder verligte aanloopbaan, sal jou pad uitgestippel wees. Gebed. Baie dankie Vader, in U lig sien ek die lig. Verlig my hele lewe, sodat ek weer 'n lig vir andere kan wees, in Jesus naam. Amen Seuntjie sit in wiskunde klas en skryf:
2+10 = Jesus 8+5 = Jesus... Meneer roep seuntjie nader en vra hom hoekom is al sy antwoorde "Jesus"? Hy se toe: "Meneel, ons was Sondag inni kelk en toe se die Oom da vool.... Jesus is die antwoold tot al jou vlae." |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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