Friday

Mandela Legacy


We are just coming back from holiday, and it's all over the news - the Mandela legacy.


Few of us are chosen for something as great as the life of this man (or are we?).


I never knew him personally, but I know a lot about him - from what other people say. He may be bigger than Julius Ceaser, Elvis Presley or even Princess Diana.

But I am truly grateful that I know the greatest man who ever lived. And I know him personally.  He has a legacy Mandela could not even dream about.

Jesus is alive, and (once again) the world is preparing to celebrate his coming to earth!

God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.

Thursday

The ultimate human race


I am so tired...I can't even imagine running a race. My end of the year reserves are depleted. When Paul is talking about a race, he encourage us to win the prize, the one that will last forever - that's why we must run straight to the finish line.

But Lord, I'm tired and I try my best, but can't seem to get a breakthrough, and those who don't serve you seems so prosperous! -

Don't be worried on account of the ungodly; don't be jealous of their green grass or their shiny car.

Trust in the LORD and do good; live in the land and be safe.

Seek your happiness in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desire.

Give yourself to the LORD; trust in him, and he will help you;

he will make your righteousness shine like the noonday sun.

Be patient and wait for the LORD to act; don't be worried about those who prosper or those who succeed in their evil plans.


The LORD takes care of those who obey him, and the land will be theirs forever.

They will not suffer when times are bad; they will have enough in time of famine.

The LORD guides us in the way we should go and protects those who please him.

If they fall, they will not stay down, because the LORD will help them up.

I am old now; I have lived a long time, but I have never seen good people abandoned by the LORD or their children begging for food.

At all times they give freely and lend to others, and their children are a blessing.

Turn away from evil and do good, and your descendants will always live in the land;
for the LORD loves what is right and does not abandon his faithful people. He protects them forever.


Wicked people watch good people and try to kill them; but the LORD will not abandon them to their enemy's power or let them be condemned when they are on trial.

Put your hope in the LORD and obey his commands; he will honour you by giving you the land, and you will see the wicked driven out.

 

1Cor 9:24; Ps37

Friday

God's prescription against depression



The old Testament prophet Elijah announce a drought,

he was fed by ravens and later by a widow,

he raised her son from the dead, he challenged 850 prophets

on mount Carmel, he call down fire from heaven...BUT

 

Elijah was human just like us.

"I have had enough, Lord. Take my life."

 

As humans we can Identify with him...life is sometimes overwhelming

The days are busy - we try to cope with everything

And then there are days when we think: I have had enough, Lord!

We battle with tears and feelings of depression.

 

But God has an excellent prescription for this state of mind.

1)Get enough sleep 1Kings 19:5

2)Eat healthy on an ongoing basis. 1 Kings 19:6

3)Spend time in God's presence 1 Kings 19:9-13

4) Act on the vision in your heart 1 Kings 19:15

 

I pray that God will strengthen you in your inner man.

 

 

1Kings 17, 18, 19

Camp or Climb?


 
I was reading in Psalms, "many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all." This made me want to jump with joy and shout!
 
Yes, many are the afflictions of the righteous, but God is the one who can bring freedom and deliverance. The question is do you dwell on these afflictions, do you dwell on the difficulties and mistakes and hurts of the past?

You now, you can count whatever gain you had, loss for the sake of Christ. Because, knowing Him is worth far more. Dwelling on His word, brings renewal of your thoughts.

Your righteousness (the way God sees you)comes through faith in Christ. You can either choose to forget what lies behind you and do your best to reach what is ahead, or you may cling to the miserable things of the past as it is an old childhood friend. Clinging to the past makes us miserable.
 
Living in the power of His resurrection - Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Psalm 34:19 , Php 3:7-18

Why would God want me to give?


Giving to God is a relational experience.

What do I mean by that?

How delightful to give a gift to someone you love. And say you know they want this gift - what do you want as the giver? Surely you want to be there to see the expression on their face, feel their thankfulness through embrace.

We treasure these gifts -and ultimately it is not about the gift but the special memory it triggers.

If gifts are intimately interwoven in relationship for us - how much more for the One who created us, in whose image we are made.

That is why giving to God is an act of worship - a relational experience.

God does not need your money or your stuff. He wants your attention. He wants you to turn and return to Him.

When we give unto God we only return to Him what is already His and willingly acknowledge his complete ownership.

We give because of love - because of His image - our pattern.

Jesus Christ came to show us the Father.

And the heart of the father is to feed the thousands, to heal the sick and to give life to the dead and to give us all things that concern life and godliness.