2018-05-29
Acts 1:3 NKJV
Evidence of Christ’s resurrection has been examined more carefully than evidence of any other fact in history! It has been weighed and considered by some of the greatest scholars, among them Simon Greenleaf, who held first the Royall, and then the Dane professorships of law at Harvard University from 1833 to 1848. He helped bring Harvard Law School to prominence, and is viewed as one of the greatest authorities on legal evidence in the history of the world. When Greenleaf turned his mind to the resurrection and examined it in light of all the laws of evidence, he concluded that it was a reality, that it was a historical event, and that anyone who honestly examined the evidence would be convinced this was the case. And it was for Dr. Frank Morison, a British lawyer/engineer who set out to write a book repudiating the resurrection of Christ. He did, in fact, write his book – but it wasn’t the book he intended to write! As he examined the evidence, this skeptical lawyer found it so overwhelming that he was forced to accept it, and became a believer. The book he wrote, Who Moved the Stone? details evidence of the resurrection, and the opening chapter is entitled “The Book That Refused to Be Written.” A Union general in the Civil War, attorney Lew Wallace, also set out to write a book disproving the deity of Christ and His resurrection – and ended up defending it in his famous book Ben-Hur, described as “the most influential book of the nineteenth century.” Christ arose! Your redeemed loved ones will too, and you can spend eternity with them in God’s presence.
Soul food: Gal 1-3; Mark 12:1-12; Ps 128; Prov 13:17-19
2018-05-28
Galasiërs 6:2 NLV
Dr Raymond Vath het gesê, ‘Ons moet vir ander doen wat hulle nie vir hulleself kan doen nie, maar ons moet nie vir hulle doen wat hulle nie vir hulleself wil doen nie. Die probleem is om die wysheid te vind om die verskil te weet.’ Jy kan te veel help! Deur vir iemand dinge te doen wat hulle vir hulself kan doen, ondermyn jy hulle selfstandigheid en skep jy ‘n ongesonde afhanklikheid. In plaas daarvan om dus in te storm en oor te neem: 1) Wys vir hulle hanteerbare stappe van aksie. Deur hulle te help om beheer van hulle lewens te neem, bewapen jy hulle teen wanhoop en magteloosheid. Jy help ook so om hulle brose selfvertroue op te bou. ‘n Woord van waarskuwing: Wanneer die krisis onomkeerbare verlies soos ‘n skeisaak of die dood behels, is die werk om eenvoudig deur een dag op ‘n slag te kom, genoeg aksie. 2) Gee hulle hoop. In die diepte van die krisis voel dit of daar geen lig aan die einde van die tonnel is nie – ‘n gevoel dat die lyding vir ewig gaan aanhou. Groei en verbetering kan nie sonder hoop plaasvind nie. Hoop verskaf energie en bring verligting gebaseer op die geloof dat dinge sal verbeter, mee. God belowe, ‘…Ek beplan voorspoed vir julle, nie teëspoed nie. Ek wil hê dat julle hoop vir die toekoms moet hê’ (Jeremia 29:11 NLV). 3) Maak seker dat jy opvolg. Krisisse word selde vinnig opgelos. Alhoewel ‘n lewe uiteindelik ‘n mate van normaliteit sal aanneem, kan daar steeds episodes wees waar die persoon terugval in hartseer, hulpeloosheid en eensaamheid. Jou woorde mag troos bring, maar jou deurlopende aandag sal die persoon help om hulle geloof te behou en te vorder op hulle reis na genesing.
Sielskos: Rig 19:16-21:25; Mark 11:27-33; Ps 45; Spr 13:13-16
Galatians 6:2 NLT
Dr. Raymond Vath said, “We must do for others what they cannot do for themselves, but we must not do for them what they will not do for themselves. The problem is finding the wisdom to know the difference.” You can be too helpful! By doing for somebody what they can do for themselves, you undermine their self-reliance and create an unhealthy dependence. So instead of rushing in and taking over: (1) Show them manageable action steps. By helping them take charge of their life you’re arming them against despair and powerlessness. And by validating their efforts you’re helping them to rebuild their fragile confidence. A word of caution, however: When the crisis involves irreversible loss like divorce or death, the work of simply getting through one day at a time is action enough. (2) Give them hope. In the depth of crisis there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel – a sense that the suffering will go on endlessly. Growth and improvement can’t happen without hope. Hope provides energy, and brings relief based on the conviction that things will improve. God promises, “I will bless you with a future filled with hope – a future of success, not…suffering” (Jeremiah 29:11 CEV). (3) Be sure to follow up. Crises are seldom resolved quickly. Although life may eventually take on some semblance of normalcy, there may be episodes of relapse into sadness, helplessness, or loneliness. Your words may bring comfort, but your ongoing attentiveness will help the hurting person maintain faith and progress in their journey to healing.
Soul food: Judg 19:16-21:25; Mark 11:27-33; Ps 45; Prov 13:13-16
2018-05-27
2 Korintiërs 1:4 DB
Een manier om ‘n vriend in krisis te help is om hulle te help om belangrike hulpbronne te identifiseer – geestelik, persoonlik en interpersoonlik. 1) Geestelike hulpbronne. ‘God is ons toevlug en ons krag; in nood is Hy gereed om te help’ (Psalm 46:1 NLV). God se Woord verlig die donkerte en verwarring. Sy Gees is die bron van alle troos – Hy gee ‘…vrede… wonderliker as wat ‘n mens ooit kan dink…’ (Filippense 4:7 NLV). Sy teenwoordigheid spreek die eensaamheid aan en sy krag help ‘n seer hart om gevoelens van hulpeloosheid te oorkom. Mense wat in krisis verkeer is dikwels gedisoriënteerd, wat veroorsaak dat hulle vergeet wat God hulle reeds gegee het. 2) Persoonlike hulpbronne. Herinner hulle aan hulle unieke sterkpunte en vaardighede. Help hulle om oorwinnings wat hulle in die verlede suksesvol in moeilike tye genavigeer het, te onthou. Moedig ‘n positiewe houding aan wat na die toekoms kyk eerder as om deur die huidige pyn verlam te word. Die belangrikste is egter om hulle geloof met gebed en waarhede uit God se Woord te versterk. Laaste maar nie die minste nie, herinner hulle aan jou ondersteuning. 3) Interpersoonlike hulpbronne. Familielede, vriende, kollegas en bure sal heel waarskynlik ondersteundend wees, en gemeenskapshulpbronne is ook vir mediese, finansiële en materiële hulp beskikbaar. Die plaaslike kerk is nog ‘n bron van hulp. Mense wat in krisis verkeer, is dikwels skaam om vir hulp te vra; hulle voel dat hulle hulle probleme self behoort te hanteer. Help hulle verstaan dat jy geseën word deur te gee en dat hulle eendag ook die geleentheid sal hê om iemand te ‘…help en troos wanneer hulle swaarkry…’
Sielskos: Gal 5:23; Jes 40:9-11; Jes 42:1-4; Ps 18:31-35
2 Corinthians 1:4 MGS
One way to help a friend in crisis is to help them identify important resources – spiritual, personal, and interpersonal. (1) Spiritual resources. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). God’s Word illuminates the darkness and confusion. His Spirit is the source of all comfort – He gives “peace…which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7 RSV). His presence addresses the loneliness, and His power enables the hurting heart to overcome feelings of helplessness. People in crisis are often disoriented, which causes them to forget what God has already given them. (2) Personal resources. Remind them of their unique strengths and skills. Help them recall past triumphs when they successfully navigated through tough times. Encourage a positive attitude that looks to the future rather than being paralyzed by present pain. Most importantly, strengthen their faith with prayer and truths from God’s Word. And last but not least, remind them of your support. (3) Interpersonal resources. Family members, friends, business associates, and neighbors are likely to be supportive, and community resources are also available for medical, financial, and material assistance. The local church is another network source. People in crisis are often too embarrassed to ask for help; they feel like they should be able to handle their own problems. Help them understand that you are blessed by giving, and that one day they too will have an opportunity to help “someone else who is going through hard times.”
Soul food: Gal 5:23; Isa 40:9-11; Isa 42:1-4; Ps 18:31-35
