2020-02-16
Psalm 29:11 NKJV
Why is evening drive time called “rush hour,” when nothing moves? The real rush hour occurs when we arrive home. Early evening is a time when everyone is hungry and tempers are short. Two working parents usually come home irritable and tired, but their children are unsympathetic and need immediate attention. It’s a setup for conflict. There are some things you can do to help defuse this rush hour time bomb. First, call your children before you leave work in the afternoon. This can give you a head start in dealing with any troubles that might be brewing at home. Second, make a conscious effort during the commute home to disengage from the responsibilities of the job and the cares of the day. Third, concerning the dinner meal, it’s wise to do as much as possible in the morning or the night before. Slow-cooker type dinners that have simmered all day, or those that can go straight from the refrigerator to the oven, will relieve pressure at a time when stress is the greatest. The quicker everyone can eat and raise their blood sugar, the better. Then spend some time with the kids before homework and bath time begins. You might take the dog out on a neighbourhood walk or play ball in the backyard. Finally, get the kids in bed and reserve a few moments of tranquility for yourselves. There’s no easy way to get through rush hour five nights a week, but with a little planning, it can be less stressful. And here’s a rush hour promise: “The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.”
Soul food: Isa 40:9-11; Isa 42:1-4; Ps 18:31-35
Isaiah 26:3 NIV
When life gets overwhelming, it can be difficult to feel at peace. But we can hand over all our troubles to God, in exchange for His peace. The Bible says: ‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you’ (1 Peter 5:7 NIV). It can be challenging to hand things over to God without taking them back again. We like to feel in control, and handing over our worries means we’re not in control of them anymore. We have to trust God and let Him help us handle the situations rather than trying to do everything ourselves. It’s also important to stop looking at the problems we have, and start looking at the One who can solve them. In Isaiah we’re told: ‘You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.’ We need to keep our minds fixed on our unchanging God, not our changeable circumstances. In the Bible we read about Jesus calming the storm. The disciples were focused on the situation that they were in, rather than trusting the fact that Jesus was on board and could do the seemingly impossible. The Bible says: ‘When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm’ (Mark 4:29 NLT). And He can bring peace and calm to the storms in our lives too. No matter how strong the wind is, or how high the waves are, He can bring peace. We need to pray about all our situations, surrender our need to be in control of everything, and let Him work. Then ‘the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:7 NIV).
Isa 40:9-11; Isa 42:1-4; Ps 18:31-35
2020-02-15
Filippense 2:14 NLV
In ‘n ou Peanuts strokiesprent, kondig Lucy aan: ‘Goeiste, maar ek voel mislik vandag.’ Haar jonger boetie Linus, altyd die vredemaker, antwoord: ‘Miskien kan ek help. Kom sit hier voor die televisie dan kry ek vir jou iets om te eet. Soms moet ons net ‘n bietjie gepamperlang word om beter te voel.’ ‘n Paar minute later bring Linus vir Lucy ‘n toebroodjie, ‘n paar koekies en ‘n glas melk. ‘Is daar enigiets wat ek vir jou kan kry? Iets waaraan ek nie gedink het nie?’ vra hy. ‘Ja,’ snou Lucy hom toe, ‘daar is een ding waaraan jy nie gedink het nie. Ek wil nie beter voel nie!’ Die waarheid is dat sommige mense nie beter wil voel nie – hulle wil net aandag hê en hulle kry dit deur te kla. Ken jy so iemand? Die Bybel sê herhaaldelik vir ons om weg te bly van ‘n klaagspul af. Jy moet eerlik met jouself wees en jouself afvra: ‘Hoe baie van wat ek sê fokus net daarop om oor die situasie te kla, in plaas daarvan om dit te probeer verbeter? Het ek my lewe om mense wat dieselfde voel gebou, mense wat heel waarskynlik ontsteld sal wees as ek besluit om te groei en ‘n beter houding aan te neem?’ Jesus het gesê dat die waarheid ons sal vrymaak (sien Johannes 8:32). Sodra jy gewillig is om die waarheid oor jou houding in die gesig te staar en iets daaraan te doen, sal jou lewe begin verbeter. Nog ‘n gedagte – Paulus sê: ‘Wees altyd vol blydskap… Wees in alle omstandighede dankbaar, want dit is wat God van julle as Christene verwag’ (1 Tessalonisense 5:16-18 NLV). Dit is God se wil – doen dit dus!
Sielskos: Rom 7:1-9:16; Matt 14:13-21; Ps 145:14-21; Spr 4:23-24
Philippians 2:14 NLT
Ever find yourself complaining when things aren’t going the way you want them to? Or been in a tough situation and told God that this shouldn’t be happening to you? It’s easy to find ourselves in a negative frame of mind when we’re struggling with something. But the Bible repeatedly tells us to stay away from complaining. In Philippians, we’re told to ‘do everything without complaining’. To stop complaining, we need to be honest with ourselves. Once we’re willing to face the truth about our attitude and do something about it, our lives will start to improve. We need to see the root of the problem. Sometimes our complaining comes from an elevated view of ourselves, other times we complain because it’s easier to moan about our lives with our friends rather than be positive. And sometimes it’s because we’d prefer to hold on to the past rather than believe for a better future. When the Israelites left Egypt and entered the desert, on their way to the Promised Land, they began complaining to Moses. They moaned about what they would eat and drink. They even said that they would have been better off staying in slavery in Egypt (take a look at Exodus 14:12). Once we become negative about one or two things, we can find ourselves complaining about everything. And when God takes us out of our comfort zones, we can even start to think we were better off in the past because it was comfortable. Paul says, ‘Rejoice always…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you’ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV). God wants us to be thankful, rather than spending our lives complaining about things. So let’s make sure we’re rejoicing not complaining.
Rom 7:1-9:16; Matt 14:13-21; Ps 145:14-21; Prov 4:23-24
Philippians 2:14 NLT
In an old Peanuts comic strip, Lucy announces, “Boy, do I feel crabby today.” Her little brother Linus, always the peacemaker, responds, “Maybe I can help. Why don’t you just take my place in front of the TV and I’ll fix you a nice snack? Sometimes we all need a little pampering to make us feel better.” A few minutes later, Linus brings Lucy a sandwich, some chocolate chip cookies, and milk. “Is there anything else I can get you? Anything I haven’t thought of?” he asks. “Yes,” snaps Lucy, “There’s one thing you haven’t thought of. I don’t want to feel better!” The truth is that some people don’t want to feel better – they just want attention, and complaining is how they get it. Do you know anyone like that? The Bible repeatedly tells us to stay away from complaining. It takes gut-level honesty to ask yourself: “How much of what I say focuses on complaining about the situation instead of trying to improve it? Have I built my life around people who feel the same, people who’d probably be upset if I decided to grow and adopt a better attitude? Am I living in the past, nursing old wounds, refusing to forgive others and myself?” Time alone doesn’t heal – insight does! Jesus said knowing the truth sets us free (See John 8:32). Once you’re willing to face the truth about your attitude and do something about it, your life will start to improve. And one more thought: Paul says, “Rejoice always…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV). This is God’s will – so do it!
Soul food: Rom 7:1-9:16; Matt 14:13-21; Ps 145:14-21; Prov 4:23-24
