2018-12-16
Luke 9:61 NIV
When you squander or lose your money, there’s a chance you can get it back. But not when you squander or lose your time. One of the saddest stories in Scripture is found in these words: “Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family.'” But nowhere is it recorded that he followed Jesus. And procrastination and perfectionism go hand in hand. We say, “If I can’t do it right, I won’t do it at all!” No, before you get it right you’ll probably get it wrong. In every story of success there are chapters of struggle, but they are chapters of learning and growth. A study was done at Yale University. Graduating seniors were told of the dangers of tetanus and given the opportunity to get a free inoculation at the health center. While a majority of the students were convinced they needed the shot, guess how many followed through and got the vaccine? Three percent! Another group was given the same lecture, but also given a copy of the campus map with the location of the health center circled on it. They were then asked to look at their weekly schedules and figure out when they could find time to get the shot. Guess what? Nine times as many students got inoculated. Good intentions aren’t enough. You need to make the call, or make the move. You need to set the deadline, or set the appointment. “Today” is the tomorrow you were talking about yesterday. So stop procrastinating and do it.
Soul food: Heb 11:1-6; Matt 21:18-22; Matt 8:5-13; Mark 6:1-6
2018-12-15
Filippense 4:4 NLV
Cheryl het aanhoudend gekla dat sy nie genoeg geld maak nie, nie die goed wat sy wou gehad het kon bekostig nie en daarom nooit iets van haar lewe sou maak nie. Haar berader het gesê, ‘Jy mors jou energie deur te kla, gebruik dit eerder om vooruit te beweeg.’ Cheryl het gestry, ‘Jy verstaan nie. Die werk is die probleem, nie ek nie.’ Die berader het geantwoord, ‘Jou klein salaris mag dalk ‘n probleem wees en jou baas mag dalk te veel van jou vereis, maar wanneer jy jouself aanhoudend ontstel doen jy meer skade as wat jou baas of jou werk aan jou doen.’ Cheryl het gevra, ‘Wat kan ek doen?’ Die berader het gesê, ‘Jy kan nie jou baas of jou werk beheer nie, maar jy kan die manier wat jy daaroor voel, beheer. Verander jou houding.’ Cheryl het haar raad gevolg. Sy het ophou kerm oor haar lewe en mense het dit opgemerk. Sy het ‘n bevordering gekry en binne ‘n paar maande is sy na ‘n posisie met ‘n groter salaris en ‘n baas wat meer ondersteunend was, geskuif. Goeie dinge gebeur met mense wat ‘n goeie houding het. Jou houding is iets wat jy ongeag van jou omstandighede kan kies. Paulus het geskryf, “Wees altyd bly omdat julle Christene is. Ek sê dit weer: ‘Wees bly!'” Waar was Paulus? In die tronk! Aan wie het Paulus geskryf? Aan mense buite die tronk! Hoekom het hy homself herhaal? Omdat ons so vinnig vergeet en weer in negatiwiteit verval. Ware vreugde is ‘n innerlike gevoel wat nie aan mense of uiterlike situasies onderworpe is nie. Jesus het gesê, ‘Dit het Ek vir julle gesê sodat julle blydskap mag ervaar en julle blydskap volkome kan wees’ (Johannes 15:11 NLV).
Sielskos: Est 5-10; Joh 21:1-25; Ps 18:1-29; Spr 26:24-27
Philippians 4:4 NKJV
Cheryl continually complained that she didn’t make enough money, couldn’t afford the things she wanted, and therefore wasn’t going to amount to anything. Her counselor said, “You’re wasting your energy complaining, instead of using it to get ahead.” Cheryl countered, “You don’t understand. The job is the problem, not me.” The counselor said, “Your low-paying job may be a problem and your boss may demand too much, but when you’re continually upset you’re causing yourself more harm than either your boss or your job.” Cheryl asked, “What can I do?” The counselor said, “You can’t control your boss or the job, but you can control how you feel about them. Change your attitude.” Cheryl took her advice. When she stopped whining about her life, people noticed. She got a promotion, and with her new job status she was more marketable. Within several months she was transferred to a position with higher pay and a more supportive boss. Good things happen for people with a good attitude. And your attitude is something you can choose regardless of circumstances. Paul wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Where was Paul? In prison! Who was Paul writing to? People outside the prison! Why did he repeat himself and say, “Again I will say, rejoice?” Because we forget and lapse back into negativity so quickly. True joy is an inside job that’s not subject to people or outside situations. Jesus said, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:11).
Soul food: Est 5-10; John 21:1-25; Ps 18:1-29; Prov 26:24-27
2018-12-14
Proverbs 17:17 NIV
Recovery counselors use the phrase “terminally unique” because people with addictions think their problem is unique: “Others would reject me if they knew my problem. I’ve struggled with it so long that I don’t believe I’ll ever conquer it.” So they isolate, and live in despair and depression. One author writes: “So often we are inclined to keep our lives hidden. Shame and guilt prevent us from letting others know what we are living with. We think, ‘If my family and friends knew the dark cravings of my heart and my strange mental wanderings, they would push me away and exclude me from their company.’ But the opposite is true. When we dare to lift up our cup and let our friends know what is in it, they will be encouraged to lift up their cups and share with us their anxiously hidden secrets. The greatest healing often takes place when we no longer feel isolated by our shame and guilt, and discover that others often feel what we feel, think what we think, and have the fears, apprehensions, and preoccupations we have.” Don’t let pride keep you from conquering your problem. When you can muster the strength to be honest with yourself and others, you’ll find healing. Read these two Scriptures: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” “God…comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV). The word for you today is: Reach for help.
Soul food: Est 1-4; John 20:19-31; Ps 105:8-22; Ecc 7:1-4
Spreuke 17:17 NLV
Beraders gebruik die frase ‘terminaal uniek’ omdat mense met verslawings dink dat hulle probleem uniek is: ‘Ander mense sal my verwerp as hulle van my probleem weet. Ek sukkel al so lank daarmee dat ek nie glo dat ek dit ooit sal oorwin nie.’ Dus isoleer hulle hulself en lewe in wanhoop en depressie. Een skrywer merk op: ‘So dikwels is ons geneig om ons lewens weg te steek. Skande en skuldgevoelens weerhou ons daarvan om ander mense te laat weet waarmee ons sukkel. Ons dink, ‘As my familie en vriende van die donker begeertes van my hart en my vreemde gedagtes geweet het, sal hulle my wegdruk en uit hulle geselskap weglaat.’ Die teenoorgestelde is egter waar. Wanneer ons durf om ons beker op te lig en ons vriende toe te laat om te sien wat daarin is, sal hulle aangemoedig word om hulle bekers op te lig en al hulle angstige geheime met ons te deel. Die grootste genesing vind dikwels plaas wanneer ons nie meer deur ons skande en skuldgevoelens geïsoleer voel nie en ontdek dat ander mense dikwels voel wat ons voel, dink wat ons dink en dieselfde vrese, sorge en behepthede het wat ons het.’ Moenie laat trots jou daarvan weerhou om jou probleem te oorwin nie. Wanneer jy die moed bymekaar kan skraap om eerlik met jouself en ander te wees, sal jy genesing vind. Lees hierdie twee Skrifgedeeltes: ‘Op ‘n vriend se lojaliteit kan jy altyd reken. Jou broer is gebore om jou te help…’ ‘In al ons swaarkry bemoedig Hy ons… sodat ons ook in staat sal wees om mense in al hulle swaarkry by te staan met dieselfde bemoediging waarmee God ons versterk het’ (2 Korintiërs 1:4 NLV). Die woord vir jou vandag is: Reik uit na hulp.
Sielskos: Est 1-4; Joh 20:19-31; Ps 105:8-22; Pred 7:1-4
