The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious to you.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. NUMBERS 6 : 25 - 26 The meaning of the word .. " COUNTENANCE " ... Face or Expression . Appearance, especially the features and expression of the face. In the above Scripture from Numbers, God HAS made a declaration to you .. His Child .. He HAS vowed to make His face shine upon you and to bless you with His compassion. God also said that He WILL lift up His countenance upon you, giving you His peace. GOD'S OWN FACE AND COUNTENANCE SHINING UPON YOU .. WHAT A PRICELESS TREASURE !! Your countenance is simply your appearance .. the way you look. Now knowing that you have the honor of carrying God's glow in your appearance, you need to ask yourself the question .. Does my countenance truly reflect the greatness of the God I serve ? .. When people look at you, don't you want them to see that there is something unique about you, something that is different from what they see in everyone else. Because you are not able to read the minds of others or physically see into their hearts, it all comes down to appearance .. The glow on your face that will show others that you have something awesome and wonderful in your life !! So perhaps it is time for you to start paying a little bit more attention, because your appearance and the way you carry yourself as a child of God's is of vital importance. The look you have on your face, the tone of your voice and your general attitude and behavior towards others will either reflect God's glow or it will disgrace it !! Preferably you want to reflect the true greatness of God .. SO HOW EXACTLY DO YOU ACHIEVE THIS ? .. God's Word tells you about Jesus' countenance or appearance and how it was " transfigured " or changed when He was sharing in a spiritual and emotional relationship with God on the mountain .. Matthew 17 : 2 And that right there is the answer to your question .. In order for your appearance to be changed you need to spend time fellow-shipping with and worshiping God .. Just like Jesus did !! You will always look and feel better when you truly worship God !! Worshiping your Awesome God is a guaranteed way to bring a smile to your face .. It is absolutely impossible to have a frown on your face when you are praising, worshiping and giving thanks to your Father. When you spend regular time fellow-shipping with God, your appearance will carry His presence !! You will always look strong, joyful and at peace .. instead of .. looking stressed, frustrated and worn out. TIME .. TIME .. TIME !! YOU NEED TO DEDICATE MORE OF YOUR TIME TO GOD .. Offer Him your prayers, your praise, your worship and your eternal thanksgiving for His countless blessings and in doing this the joy of the Lord will be glowing on your face, and in the attitude with which you conduct you life as His humble servant. GOD LIVES IN EACH OF US AND WE GLOW WHEN HE STIRS US Have you ever had a friend say sorry to you over and over, even after you’ve already forgiven them? It’s insulting. In repeatedly apologizing, they’re saying, “I’m not sure if you’ve really forgiven me; I still feel guilty.” In essence, they’re doubting your word.
Imagine how much more insulting it is to God! Psalm 103:12 says, “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” Just think how far the east is from the west. It’s basically infinity—the two can never meet. So, imagine for a moment, you and your sins bound together. Then God comes and separates the two of you, sending your sin traveling to the west and you to the east. But maybe you haven’t truly let go of your guilt. Look what Jesus did: “Some people brought to Him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘Be encouraged, My child! Your sins are forgiven.’ But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, ‘That’s blasphemy! Does He think He’s God?’ Jesus knew what they were thinking, so He asked them, ‘Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.’ Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!’ And the man jumped up and went home!” (Matthew 9:2-7). Now, say the newly-healed man went home with his mat and laid on it, continuing to live like he was still paralyzed. That’s what you might be doing with your sins! Jesus has said to you, “My child, be encouraged! Your sins are forgiven! Now get up and experience life in freedom!” But you can’t fully believe it, so you lay back down on your mat of paralysis and depression, missing out on what God has for you. I have been like that. But God is making this verse real to me: “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free” (John 8:36). And He wants to make it real for you. Ask Him right now to help you truly know that your sins are forgiven. Ask Him to help you take up your mat and walk in the fulfilling life He has for you. There is so much He has planned for you to do! Today is the day for you to take up your mat and walk. Do you need direction in your life? Ask yourself, “Am I acknowledging God in all my ways?” In other words, is He first place in your life? All throughout the day, we should be acknowledging God, asking for His help, seeking His wisdom, obeying His commands and thanking Him for His goodness.
In the morning, we should wake up and say, “Father, thank You for another beautiful day. I commit this day, my plans and my future into Your hands.” When you start the day like this, you are acknowledging God. He promises to crown your day with success. When you are driving on the freeway say, “Father, thank You for keeping me safe.” At the office say, “Lord, help me to be focused and productive today.” At home, “Father, bless my children.” Before you go to bed, “Lord, thank You for a good night’s rest.” When you’re acknowledging Him in all your ways, He promises to direct your paths. He promises to lead and guide you into paths of peace, joy and everlasting life! ~ Joel Osteen "If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else" - Yogi Berra.
Do you have a "purpose-driven marriage?" Read on for some interesting thoughts on the subject, written by Dr Fred Lowery, from his book, "Covenant Marriage": "Here's an important principle every married person and every person thinking about marriage--should know: A good marriage doesn't happen by accident. In fact, to survive amidst all the pressures, pains and pitfalls of life in the twenty-first century, a marriage today must be more proactive and more intentional than ever before. It must be PURPOSE DRIVEN. "What does it mean to have a purpose-driven marriage? It means that you and your spouse have a basic understanding of the kind of marriage you are trying to build and what it will take to make it happen. It means that you are willing to work together toward that common goal. But most couples I talk to in premarital counseling haven't got a clue what the purpose of their marriage is. "When I say to the typical prospective groom, 'What is the purpose and goal of your marriage?' he shifts his feet around and finally says, 'I don't know. I just love her' (which is a hormonally driven expression for, 'I want s-x without guilt'). "When I ask the typical bride-to-be the same question, she rolls her eyes, giggles, and utters a few words in fairy-tale language about finally finding her 'Knight in shining armor.' (That's female speak for, 'I'm being rescued from my home by one who will wow me for the rest of my life.') "In a magazine article titled, 'Marriage: What's the Point?' author Susan Dixon admits that she stood at an altar in a beautiful white gown and said, 'I do' without having the slightest idea of what she was getting herself into. 'It took nearly twenty-five years and a divorce before I began to understand something I should have known before that ceremony ever took place,' she writes. 'In the quarter century that has passed since I naively repeated my wedding vows, I've become more and more aware that relationships die for lack of purpose. If there is no valid, defined, and acknowledged purpose for our relationship, chances are we'll have trouble keeping it alive.' "Do you know what is the purpose of marriage? What is the purpose of YOUR marriage? Do you have a well-defined purpose? Do you know where your relationship is headed? Do you know where you want your marriage is headed? Do you know where you want your marriage to be 5, 10, or 30 years from now? "Do you have common hopes and dreams for the future? This is an important question because, as Neil Clark Warren writes in "The Triumphant Marriage," without a shared dream a marriage relationship 'will eventually die.' According to Warren, dreams inspire hope & thereby 'stimulates the brain and mobilize the action center. Hope stimulates planning. Planning produces behavior designed to move you forward.' The end result is positive progress in a marriage relationship. "If you can answer 'yes' to these three essential questions, Warren asserts, you have a healthy dream and will serve your marriage well: - "Is a dream equally inclusive of both you and your [future] spouse and your life together? - "Is the dream broad enough? - "Are both of you strongly committed to the dream you have for your life together? WHAT ABOUT YOUR VALUES AND BELIEFS? - "Do you and your [future] spouse share the same values? - "Do you have similar religious beliefs? - "What is really important to each of you? "These are critical questions. Even secular counselors acknowledge the importance of shared beliefs & values in building a successful marriage. If you're not sure what you value, ask yourself: - "What do I really want to be? - "What do I really want to do? - "What do I really want to have? "Get your [future] spouse to answer the same questions, & then discuss your responses together. What values and beliefs do your answers reflect? What are you expecting out of marriage? What are the expectations of your mate? Ecstatic bliss? A romantic paradise? Do you both want children, & if so, how many? Do you expect to make enough money to build a dream house? "How realistic are your expectations & what happens when they're not met? What happens when your relationship gets boring? When it gets bumpy or bitter? What price are you willing to pay to have a great marriage that goes the distance? Are you both willing to make the relationship an absolute priority? Are you willing to be there for your spouse even through the bad times? "Is your marriage self-centered or God-centered? Is your 1st thought, 'What will make me happy?' Or is it, 'What will make my Lord happy & ultimately strengthen my relationship with my spouse? Do you approach your marriage as a contract or a covenant? The Bible clearly reveals that covenant oneness with your mate --oneness that is spiritual, emotional and physical --is God's ultimate goal and purpose for marriage. Two become one. If you approach marriage as a covenant, you already have this built- in purpose. Your relationship with your spouse (next to our relationship with God) is the most important thing in your life. "If you approach marriage as a contract, however, you're likely to emphasize rules and regulations over relationship. Many self-help books on the market offer practical rules for living with a spouse and promise that if you'll just follow those rules, you'll have a happy marriage. The problem is, when you emphasize following rules over building relationship, you only breed resentment and rebellion in your mate. Rules without relationship equal disaster in a marriage." …………………………. Is your marriage purpose-driven --one that honors God and doesn't pattern itself by the world's standards? As Dr. Lowrey also said: "Clearly we can no longer pattern our marriages after the people around us--if we ever could. Not only does the world not know how to divorce-proof its marriages, it is well on the way to making broken relationships the norm!" If you consider yourselves "Christians" it's important to study the Scriptures, & live your marriage as God created it to be: A sacred, permanent, covenant commitment. Line your marriage up with God's original plan and work His plan. That will involve being willing to die to our own agendas, putting our marriages and our spouse' interests above our own self-interest. Nothing less will do. Cindy and Steve Wright Many challenges we face in life are simply distractions from the enemy to keep us from pursuing our destiny. Maybe someone in the office isn't as friendly to you as you'd like. Maybe you have a neighbor who always parks in front of your house and blocks your mailbox. Those things may be frustrating, but they have little significance when you look at the big picture of eternity. You can't allow the little things to cause strife in your life.
In scripture, just before David fought the giant Goliath, his brother Iliab tried to confront him. But David knew that arguing with Iliab wasn't even worth his time and strength. He knew his real battle was with Goliath, and he didn't want to be distracted. He simply "turned away" from Iliab and kept his focus on what he was called to do. Let's follow the example of David and keep our eyes on what's most important in life. Instead of being led away by frustrations, let's focus on the big picture. Know when to turn away from strife and receive the mark of honor the Lord has for you! “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12 NIV)
When Jesus said, “I am the light of the world,” he was defining himself. He was saying, “I know who I am.” More than 18 times in the Bible, Jesus says, “I am” and then gives a description. He described himself as the door, the bread of life, the way, the truth, the resurrection, and the life. Over and over, he defines himself. Jesus knew who he was and, as a result, he was not under pressure. This is the principle of identity. As long as you are unsure of your identity, you're going to be pressured to fit into other people's molds. They will manipulate you. They will try to make you into what they think you ought to be rather than what God made you to be. One of the major causes of stress comes from trying to be somebody that you're not. When you are fearful that someone's going to find out what you're really like, that you might not be able to keep up the façade, it causes stress. The only way you can counterbalance outside external pressures is to have an internal sense of satisfaction about who you are and who God made you to be. You discover who you are by knowing whose you are. The Bible says that you were created by God. You are deeply loved by him. You are accepted as you are. He has a plan for your life. Until you settle this issue of identity, you will be insecure and you will be pressured by stress. You cannot serve other people until you settle this issue. Jesus constantly did things that surprised everybody else. He put himself below others and served them. None of the other disciples would have ever thought to wash each other’s feet in the Upper Room because of their insecurity. But Jesus always served from a position of strength. He knew who and whose he was, so it didn't matter that he lowered himself to serve them. Service comes from self-esteem. Until you overcome your insecurity and feel good about yourself, you won't feel like helping anyone else. Be secure in who you are and whose you are so that you can effectively serve others. 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 a smile, 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. As you willingly offer Jesus what you have. He will bless and multiply it to meet t he need of others. Mark 6:30-44. What may seem to you like a small contribution of time or talent can become an enormous blessing when you put it in Gods Hands. Be available and willing He wants to use you.
You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you. Col 3:10 I wonder if Jesus doesn't muster up a slight smile as he sees his lost sheep come straggling into the fold—the beaten, broken, dirty sheep who stands at the door looking up at the Shepherd asking, "Can I come in? I don't deserve it, but is there room in your kingdom for one more?" The Shepherd looks down at the sheep and says, "Come in, this is your home." Salvation is the process that's done, that's secure, that no one can take away from you. Sanctification is the lifelong process of being changed from one degree of glory to the next, growing in Christ, putting away the old, taking on the new. The Psalmist David would tell us that those who have been redeemed will say so! If we're not saying so, perhaps it's because we've forgotten what it is like to be redeemed. Let the redeemed of the earth say so! Walking with the Savior (Max Lucado) "Die kleinste liggie verdryf die donker." Lees Jesaja 60:1-6
Hoe dikwels word ons oorweldig deur die enormiteit van die probleme wat ons in die gesig staar? Massa hongersnood in Afrika. Straatkinders, 'n groeiende sosiale euwel. Stygende werkloosheid. Lewenskoste bokant ons vermoëns. Misdaad en korrupsie net waar jy kyk. Dan praat ons nie eens van die ware kwessies wat ons elke daag tee kom nie. Sal ek my werk behou? Sal ek my rekeninge kan betaal? Hoe maak ek om my kinders te laat luister? Hoe kan ek my verhoudings verbeter? Dit is al te maklik om voor al die bewyse van wanhoop en donkerte te swig en jouself oor te gee aan negatiwiteit. Want, wat kan ek doen? Ek is maar net een mens en al hierdie probleme is so groot. Dink hieroor - die grootste geleenthede ontstaan in tye van chaos. Almal wag vir iemand om iets te doen. In tye van wanhoop ontstaan die grootste geleentheid om goed te doen, om 'n verskil te maak. As alles goed gaan en volgens plan loop en almal positief en gelukkig voel dan sal jy iets regtig dramaties moet doen om gesien te word. Maar in tye van donkerte, van negatiwiteit en wanhoop maak die kleinste liggie van hoop 'n enorme verskil. Trek 'n vuurhoutjie in helder sonlig en net die wat naby jou staan sal dit raaksien en dit sal weinig verskil maak aan die lig. Maar trek daardie vuurhoutjie in die donkerte van die nag en skielik is dit glad nie meer donker nie. Daardie klein liggie kan van baie ver af gesien word en skyn soos 'n ligbaken, 'n straal van hoop vir die wat in nood verkeer. Streef, van vandag, daarna om 'n lig in die donkerte te wees. Soek die positiewe in alles, en as jy niks positief raaksien nie moet asseblief nie bydra tot die negatiewe nie. Moenie jou bekommer oor grootheid van die probleme nie maar doen eerder net dit wat jy kan doen en doen dit so goed soos wat jy kan. Maak seker dat jy deel is van die oplossing en dat jy nie deel is, of die oorsaak is, van die probleem nie. Besef dat "die kleinste liggie verdryf die donker" kies om daardie liggie te wees. Lewe met passie Geniet jouself so veel as wat jy kan Neem deel waar ook al en wanneer ook al jy kan Leer so veel as moontlik van so veel as jy moontlik kan Kies om te verander en te groei om die beste jy te wees wat jy kan. Verander jou lewe van om net 'n bestaan te maak tot om 'n verskil te maak! S_KSES of MISL_KKING is U keuse! |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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