2024-05-11
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
Markus 9:23 NLV
Demosthenes, wat as die beste redenaar in antieke Griekeland bekend was, het ‘n ernstige spraakgebrek gehad. Volgens legende het hy dit oorkom deur verse met klippies in sy mond op te sê en bo die gedreun van die branders by die see te praat. Tydens sy gevangenskap in die Wartburg kasteel, het Martin Luther sy tyd gebruik om die Nuwe Testament in Duits te vertaal. Beethoven het sy grootste simfoniese meesterstukke geskryf nadat hy sy gehoor verloor het. John Bunyan het The Pilgrim’s Progress geskryf toe hy in die tronk was, so ook het Daniel Defoe Robinson Crusoe in die tronk geskryf. Abraham Lincoln word deur baie as die beste Amerikaanse president geag, maar hy sou waarskynlik nie as ‘n groot leier bekend geword het as hy nie die land deur die Amerikaanse burgeroorlog gelei het nie.
Dikwels produseer moeilike situasies groot leiers en denkers. Dit is egter net die geval wanneer hulle houding reg is. Wanneer ‘n probleem in kontak met iemand wat die regte houding het kom, is die resultaat dikwels wonderlik. Uit groot onrus kom groot staatsmanne, sakemanne, wetenskaplikes, opvoeders, pastore en ander na vore. Elke uitdaging is ‘n geleentheid en elke geleentheid het ‘n uitdaging. Dis egter die houding waarmee jy jou probleem benader wat hoofsaaklik die uitkoms bepaal.
Toe ‘n man wie se seun nie kon hoor of praat nie vir Jesus gevra het om hom gesond te maak, het Jesus gesê: ‘…As ‘n mens glo, is álles moontlik!’ (vers 23 NLV). Die man het geantwoord: ‘Ek glo!.. Help my tog om nie meer te twyfel nie!’ (vers 24 NLV). Jesus het hom gehelp en ook sy seun genees. As jy hulp met jou houding nodig het, praat vandag met die Here.
Sielskos: Luk 24:50-53; Hand 1:1-11; Ef 4:7-10
