2024-05-11
Spreuke 22:6 DB
Het jy al ooit gewens jy kan ouerskap oordoen – ‘n tweede kans kry om jou kinders groot te maak? Met terugskouing en insig dink jy dat jy dit hierdie keer reg sou doen! Ouerskap is beide lonend en veroorsaak ook skuldgevoelens. Dis lonend omdat ons lief vir ons kinders is en hulle ons vreugde gee. Dit veroorsaak egter ook skuldgevoelens omdat ons onsself vir hulle tekortkominge en ongelukke blameer. ‘Waar het ek as ouer verkeerd gegaan?’ Daar is nie iets soos ‘n perfekte ouer nie en daar is geen universele bloudruk nie, want elke kind word uniek gebore.
Sielkundiges vertel ons dat ons kinders as ‘n ‘skoon bladsy’ gebore word, wat vir ons wag om die lewe se instruksies daarop te skryf. Dis egter nie so nie! Hulle is aan ons gegee om uit te pluis, soos ons probeer om hulle geestelik, moreel, sosiaal en intellektueel te vorm. Teen die ouderdom van sewe het hulle ongeveer 75 persent van alles wat hulle ooit sal weet, geleer.
Alhoewel daar nie een formule vir sukses is wat vir almal gaan werk nie, is daar Godgegewe beginsels wat werk, of jy nou ‘n nuwe ouer of ‘n grootouer is. ‘Leer ‘n kind vroeg hoe om te leef en hy sal tot sy oudag toe reg leef.’ Jy moet hulle leer, wat beteken dat jy informasie op ‘n aanhoudende, verstaanbare manier met jou kinders moet deel.
Kleuters leer beter met prentjies. Met ouer kinders moet ons kontemporêre taal gebruik. Jy moet hulle persoonlikhede en vaardighede in ag neem en jou onderrig aanpas om by hulle te pas. Wanneer God se beginsels by die kind se unieke karaktereienskappe pas, is hulle meer geneig om dit aan te neem en te volg.
Sielskos: Deut 22-24; Mark 7:24-37; Ps 44:1-8; Spr 12:7-9
Proverbs 22:6 ERV
Ever wish for a parenting do-over – a second chance to raise your kids? With hindsight and insight, you think you would do it right this time! Parenting is both rewarding and guilt inducing. It’s rewarding because we love our children and they bring us joy. It’s guilt inducing because we blame ourselves for their shortcomings and misfortunes. “Where did I go wrong as a parent?” There is no perfect parent, and there is no universal blueprint because every child is born unique.
Psychologists told us our children were born a “blank slate,” waiting for us to write life instructions on them. Not so! Babies are miniature people, “born in sin and shapen in iniquity” (See Psalm 51:5). They are given to us to figure out as we try to mold them spiritually, morally, socially, and intellectually. By age seven, they have learned about 75 percent of everything they will ever know.
But although there is no one-size-fits-all formula for success, there are God-given principles that work whether you’re a new parent or a grandparent. “Teach children in a way that fits their needs, and even when they are old, they will not leave the right path” (Proverbs 22:6 ERV). Notice some keywords here. “Teach,” which implies imparting information in a consistent, understandable way.
Toddlers learn better with pictures. Older kids need us to use contemporary language. If they don’t “get it,” we probably didn’t teach it well enough! “Children” means old enough to understand. “A way that fits their needs” implies knowing their personality and abilities and tailoring your teaching to fit them. When God’s principles fit the child’s unique characteristics, they’re more likely to adopt and follow them.
Soul food: Deut 22-24; Mark 7:24-37; Ps 44:1-8; Prov 12:7-9
2024-05-10
1 Peter 5:10 NIV
If you want God to restore you and make you “strong, firm and steadfast,” meditate prayerfully on these four Scriptures, and look for ways to put them into practice each day:
(1) “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (v. 6 NIV).
(2) “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (v. 7 NIV).
(3) “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (v. 8 NIV).
(4) “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (v. 9 NIV).
Now, here is the result God promises when you walk in the truth of these four Scriptures: “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (v. 10 NIV). Note two important phrases here: “The God of all grace.” Whatever you fear and whatever you have to face, God will give you the grace to handle it. “After you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong.” If you are going through a season of stress, God has promised that it will lead to a season of strengthening. So when you pray, “Lord, take me out of this,” He may answer, “No, I will take you through it and make you ‘firm and steadfast.'”
Soul food: Deut 18-21; Mark 7:14-23; Ps 37:32-40; Prov 12:4-6
1 Petrus 5:10 NLV
As jy wil hê dat God jou moet herstel en jou ‘moedig, sterk en standvastig’ moet maak, moet jy deur gebed op hierdie vier Skrifgedeeltes mediteer en uitkyk vir maniere om dit elke dag te beoefen:
1) ‘Word daarom klein onder die kragtige hand van God; op sý tyd sal Hy julle groot maak’ (vers 6 NLV).
2) ‘Gee al julle bekommernisse aan God oor, want Hy gee vir julle om’ (vers 7 NLV).
3) ‘Wees versigtig! Pas op vir die duiwel se aanvalle. Hy is julle groot vyand. Hy loop rond soos ‘n brullende leeu op soek na iemand om te verslind’ (vers 8 NLV).
4) ‘Hóm moet julle teenstaan deur standvastig in julle geloof te bly. Julle weet mos: Dwarsdeur die wêreld verduur lede van God se gesin dieselfde soort lyding’ (vers 9 NLV).
Hier is dan die resultaat van God se beloftes wanneer jy in die waarheid van hierdie vier Skrifgedeeltes stap: ‘In sy onverdiende goedheid het God julle geroep om in Christus deel te hê aan sy ewige heerlikheid. Nadat julle ‘n kort tydjie swaargekry het, sal Hy julle self weer herstel; Hy sal julle moedig, sterk en standvastig maak’ (vers 10 NLV). Let twee belangrike frases op: ‘In sy onverdiende goedheid.’ Wat jy ook al vrees en wat jy ook al voor te staan kom, God sal vir jou die genade gee om dit te hanteer. ‘Nadat julle ‘n kort tydjie swaargekry het, sal Hy julle self weer herstel.’ Wanneer jy deur ‘n stresvolle seisoen gaan, het God beloof dat dit tot ‘n seisoen van versterking sal lei. Wanneer jy dus bid: ‘Here, neem my uit hierdie situasie uit,’ sal Hy dalk antwoord: ‘Nee, Ek sal jou deur dit neem en jou moedig, sterk en standvastig maak.’
Sielskos: Deut 18-21; Mark 7:14-23; Ps 37:32-40; Spr 12:4-6
2024-05-09
Mark 9:23 NKJV
Demosthenes, who was reputed to be the greatest orator in ancient Greece, had a serious speech impediment. Legend has it that he overcame it by reciting verses with pebbles in his mouth and speaking above the roar of the waves at the seashore. As a prisoner in the Wartburg castle, Martin Luther made use of his time by translating the New Testament into German. Beethoven wrote his greatest symphonic masterpieces after losing his hearing. John Bunyan wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress when he was in prison. Daniel Defoe also wrote in prison, creating Robinson Crusoe. Abraham Lincoln is thought by many to be the best of the United States presidents, but he probably would not have become known as a great leader if he had not led the country through the Civil War.
Often, difficult situations seem to be involved in producing great leaders and thinkers. But that is only the case when their attitudes are right. When a problem comes in contact with someone who has the right attitude, the result is often wonderful. Out of great turmoil come great statesmen, businessmen, scientists, educators, pastors, and others. Every challenge is an opportunity, and every opportunity has a challenge. But it’s the attitude with which you approach your problem that largely determines the outcome.
When a man whose son couldn’t hear or speak asked Jesus to heal him, Jesus replied, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (v. 23 NKJV). The man replied, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (v. 24 NKJV). And Jesus did. Plus, He healed the man’s son. If you need help with your attitude, talk to the Lord today.
Soul food: Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:1-11; Eph 4:7-10
