2025-11-06
Spreuke 4:7 NLV
Mentor Graham was so besig om sy studente se opdragte na te sien, dat hy nie die jong reus wat een dag ná skool in sy Illinois-klaskamer ingesluip het, raakgesien het nie. Hy het na ‘n ruk opgekyk om sy moeë oë te laat rus en toe die jongman raakgesien. Hy het hom dadelik as ‘n nuweling in die gemeenskap herken. Die knaap het reeds ‘n reputasie gehad dat hy nie bang was om sy vuiste te gebruik om sy argumente vir hom te wen nie.
‘n Mens sou kon verstaan as Graham se eerste gedagte sou wees: ‘Wat soek hy hier? Is ek in gevaar?’ Graham het egter die ses voet vier duim seun op en af gekyk en toe aangebied om hom met sy lees en skoolwerk te help. Toe die jongman ‘n uur later die klaskamer verlaat, het hy verskeie boeke onder sy arm gehad wat hy by Mentor Graham geleen het – met die belofte om vir nog boeke terug te kom.
Daar is ‘n goeie kans dat jy nog nooit van Mentor Graham gehoor het nie, reg? Hy was ‘n stil man en bereid om sy bes vir enige student wat oor sy pad kom, te doen. Sy leerling het egter beroemd geword. Sy naam? Abraham Lincoln! Graham het in Lincoln ‘n honger na kennis en ‘n begeerte om te leer raakgesien en die tyd geneem om in hom te belê. As gevolg hiervan het Lincoln gehelp om die geskiedenis te verander.
Die grootste belegging wat jy kan maak, is in mense. Salomo het geskryf: ‘Die verstandigste ding om te doen, is om eers wysheid te bekom. Wy jou daaraan toe om onderskeidingsvermoë te verkry.’ Wanneer jy hierdie wysheid en onderskeidingsvermoë ontvang – deel dit dan met ander!
Sielskos: 1 Kro 16-18; Joh 9:13-23; Ps 105:1-15; Spr 25:23-25
Proverbs 4:7 NKJV
Mentor Graham was so absorbed in evaluating the assignments he had given his students that he failed to notice the youthful giant who slouched into his Illinois schoolroom one day after school. After his eyes had adjusted to the brightness of the late afternoon sunshine, causing the husky young man to be in silhouette before him, he recognized the youth as a newcomer to the community. The lad already had a reputation for “whipping the living daylights” out of all the local toughs.
Graham would have been justified in thinking, “What does he want here? Am I in danger?” Rather, he looked up and down the six foot, four inches of muscle and ignorance before him and offered to help the lad with his reading and studies. When the young man left the schoolroom an hour later, he had several books under his arm – on loan from Mentor Graham with a promise of more in the future.
There is a good chance that you have never heard of Mentor Graham, right? He was a quiet man, simply willing to do his best for any student who came his way. His pupil, however, became more famous. His name? Abraham Lincoln! Graham recognized in Lincoln a hunger for knowledge and a desire to learn, and took the time to invest in him. And as a result, Lincoln helped change history.
The greatest investment you can make is in people. Solomon wrote, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” And when you get it, don’t keep it to yourself – pass it on.
Soul food: 1 Chr 16-18; John 9:13-23; Ps 105:1-15; Prov 25:23-25
2025-11-05
Psalm 120:1 NKJV
The three-digit emergency system has amazing capabilities. In most places in America, you need only dial those numbers to be instantly connected to a dispatcher. On a computer screen, the dispatcher instantly sees the caller’s telephone number, address, and the name under which the number is listed. Also listening in on the call are police, fire, and paramedics. A caller need not say anything once the call is made. Even rasping coughs and hysterical cries have brought a quick response. The dispatcher knows where the call is coming from, and help is sent immediately.
Sometimes our situation is so urgent and desperate that we can’t put it into words, so we send up the SOS prayer, “Lord, I need your help!” And help is on the way. “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24 NKJV).
Sometimes you feel the effects of something, but you don’t understand the cause and you can’t explain it. This is when the indwelling power of God’s Spirit comes to your aid: “The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:26-28 NLT).
Soul food: 1 Chr 12:23-15:29; John 9:1-12; Ps 68; Prov 25:21-22
Psalm 120:1 NLV
Die 911 noodstelsel in Amerika is ‘n wonderlike stelsel. Op die meeste plekke in Amerika hoef jy net daardie nommer te skakel om onmiddellik aan ‘n beampte deurgeskakel te word. Die beampte sien onmiddellik op ‘n rekenaarskerm die persoon wat die oproep maak se telefoonnommer, adres en die naam waaronder die nommer gelys is. Die polisie, brandweer en paramedici luister ook na die oproep. ‘n Inbeller hoef niks te sê sodra die oproep gemaak is nie. Selfs ‘n hoes of histeriese gehuil sal ‘n vinnige reaksie tot gevolg hê. Die beampte weet waar die oproep vandaan kom en hulp word dadelik soontoe gestuur.
Soms is ons situasie so dringend en desperaat dat ons dit nie in woorde kan omskryf nie, daarom stuur ons die 911-gebed op: ‘Here, ek het u hulp nodig!’ Hulp is dadelik op pad. ‘Ek sal hulle antwoord nog voor hulle na My roep. Terwyl hulle vra sal Ek hulle gebede verhoor’ (Jesaja 65:24 NLV).
Soms voel jy die effek van iets, maar jy verstaan nie die oorsaak daarvan en jy kan dit nie verduidelik nie. Dis wanneer die inwonende krag van God se Gees jou te hulp snel: ‘Die Gees van God help ons ook nog boonop in ons onbeholpenheid. Ons weet immers nie mooi wat en hoe ons moet bid nie. Maar die Gees self neem ons gebedsbehoeftes voor God op met versugtinge wat nie in menslike taal verwoord kan word nie. Dié God wat die dieptes van elke hart deurgrond, weet wat die Gees in die oog het – dat Hy in harmonie met God se wil vir die gelowiges intree. En ons weet dat God alles ten goede laat saamwerk vir hulle wat Hom liefhet, hulle wat geroep is volgens sy doel vir hulle lewe’ (Romeine 8:26-28 NLV).
Sielskos: 1 Kro 12:23-15:29; Joh 9:1-12; Ps 68; Spr 25:21-22
2025-11-04
James 2:22 NIV
If you really believed God’s Word concerning your situation, how would you act differently? Saying you believe is just the beginning; activating your faith means preparing for the answer to arrive. Ask yourself, “If I really expected an answer to my prayers, how would I prepare for its arrival?”
In Scripture, Jesus gave His disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man… planted in his field… when it grows, it… becomes a tree'” (Matthew 13:31-32 NIV). The farmer may sincerely believe he can produce a mustard tree, but nothing happens until he chooses the location, prepares the soil, plants the seed, and continually waters it. Once he does all those things, he can actively watch for its appearance. So, where do you start?
(1) Pray for wisdom to make the right decisions (See James 1:5-7).
(2) Plan your work, and work your plan. Aimless, passive waiting for the things to materialize without thoughtful, active involvement will prove disappointing and fruitless. God uses you as His partner. “We are labourers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV).
(3) Break your plan into small, accomplishable action steps.
(4) Don’t wait for the fear to go or the faith to grow. Be prepared to take calculated, productive risks. Feel the fear and do it anyhow!
(5) Start thanking God even before you can see the answer. And if you should miss the bull’s-eye, remember the Revolutionary War militia’s response: “Ready, aim, fire!” Adjust your aim – and fire again. “[Abraham’s] faith and his actions were working together.” And that’s still the Bible formula for success.
Soul food: 1 Chr 10:1-12:22; John 8:42-59; Ps 49; Prov 25:18-20
