2019-03-24
Psalm 139:14 NKJV
Sarah Hupp writes: “Did you know you started out as a single cell, and within that cell was enough DNA to hold the equivalent of 1,000 volumes of coded blueprints? Or that [the DNA in that one cell] determined the color of your hair and eyes, the shape of your nose, and the size of your ring finger? Did you know nobody else has your fingerprints…the same sparkling eyes…the same laugh…or looks at things the way you do? You’re an original, and it didn’t happen by accident. God designed your DNA. He made you the way He wanted you to be. He gave you your voice, your smile, your freckles, your curly hair, all those things that make you who you are. And because God made you, you’re special to Him and to others…in fact, the world wouldn’t be complete without you.” No wonder the psalmist said, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” Maybe you’re thinking, “Yeah, but you don’t know the limitations I live with. And when it comes to my self-image, I struggle every day to feel like I measure up.” Pastor Jim Penner says: “I’ve talked with and prayed for many who are dealing with physical issues…disease, diabetes, cancers, struggles with weight, muscular and autoimmune disease. The limitations the human family deals with on a daily basis are endless. Yet Ephesians 2:10 says, ‘You are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.’ God knew exactly what He was doing when He made you. You’re unique in all the world. And that makes you special.”
Soul food: Lev 27:30-33; Num 31:48-54; 1 Cor 16:1-3; 2 Cor 9:1-15
2019-03-23
Psalm 73:26 NIV
As you drive toward your destiny, you’re sure to hit potholes along the way, or take some wrong turns, or forget to check your gas gauge and run out of fuel. The truth is, the only way to avoid failure is not to leave your driveway! In the words of author William Saroyan: “Good people are good because they’ve come to wisdom through failure.” The real issue in life isn’t whether or not you’re going to fail, but whether you’re going to learn from your experience and turn it into the wisdom needed to succeed. In a survey of successful people, not one of them viewed their mistakes as failures. They considered them “learning experiences,” or “tuition paid,” or “opportunities for growth.” That’s the winning attitude! Henry Ward Beecher said: “It’s defeat that turns bone to flint…gristle into muscle…and makes men invincible. Do not then be afraid of defeat. You are never so near victory as when you’re defeated in a good cause.” So the next time you fail at something, stop and ask yourself, “What have I learned? Am I grateful for this experience? How can I turn it into success? Where do I go from here? Who else has failed like this, and how can they help me? How can my experience help others? Did I actually fail, or just fall short of an unrealistically high goal? Where did I succeed as well as fail?” Then go one step further, and ask God for greater insight. If you do, you’ll grow stronger and wiser because of what you’ve been through (See James 1:5).
Soul food: Job 38-39; Luke 19:28-36; Ps 38:13-22; Prov 8:24-26
Psalm 73:26 NLV
Soos jy na jou lotsbestemming op pad is, sal jy verseker slaggate langs die pad tref, of ‘n paar verkeerde afdraaie neem, of vergeet om petrol in te gooi en langs die pad gaan staan. Die enigste manier om mislukking te vermy, is om nooit jou motorhuis te verlaat nie! In die woorde van die skrywer William Saroyan: ‘Goeie mense is goed, omdat hulle wysheid deur mislukking verkry het.’ Die ware kwessie in die lewe is nie of jy gaan misluk nie, maar of jy uit jou ervaring gaan leer en dit in die wysheid gaan omskep wat nodig is om sukses te kan behaal. In ‘n opname onder suksesvolle mense, het nie een van hulle hul foute as mislukkings gesien nie. Hulle het hulle foute as geleenthede om te leer of te groei, gesien. Dis ‘n wenhouding! Henry Ward Beecher het gesê: ‘Dis nederlae wat been in vuursteen en sening in spiere verander, wat mens onoorwinbaar maak. Moenie bang wees vir nederlae nie. Jy is nooit so naby aan ‘n oorwinning as wanneer jy in ‘n goeie saak verslaan word nie.’ Die volgende keer wat jy dus in iets misluk, stop en vra jouself af, ‘Wat het ek geleer? Is ek dankbaar vir hierdie ervaring? Hoe kan ek dit in sukses verander? Waarheen gaan ek van hier af? Wie anders het ook al so misluk, en hoe kan hulle my help? Hoe kan my ervaring ander mense help? Het ek misluk, of kon ek net nie ‘n onrealistiese hoë doelwit bereik nie?’ Gaan dan een stap verder en vra God vir groter insig. As jy dit doen, sal jy sterker en wyser as gevolg van jou ervarings word (sien Jakobus 1:5).
Sielskos: Job 38-39; Luk 19:28-36; Ps 38:13-22; Spr 8:24-26
2019-03-22
Josua 1:5 NLV
Toe Josua op die drumpel van die Beloofde Land gestaan het, het hy besef dat hy eers sewe nasies en veertig konings moes verslaan voor hy die land in besit kon neem. God het toe vir hom gesê: ‘Niemand sal teen jou bestand wees solank jy leef nie… Ek sal jou nooit in die steek laat nie. Ek sal jou nooit los nie.’ Wanneer jy in God se wil, met al die kragte en hulpbronne van die hemel wat agter jou staan, optree, sal jy wen. Dit beteken nie dat jy nie sal moet veg nie, maar jy sal wen! Die rolprent Ben Hur het meer Oscars as enige ander rolprent in die geskiedenis gewen. Charlton Heston, wat die held in die fliek gespeel het, moes ‘n strydwa vir sy rol bestuur. Hy was veronderstel om die strydwa-ren aan die einde van die fliek te wen, maar daar was een probleem: Hy het gesukkel om te leer om die strydwa te hanteer. Hy het na die regisseur, William Wyler, gestap en gesê: ‘Meneer Wyler, ek kan skaars op die strydwa bly. Ek kan nie hierdie resies wen nie.’ Wyler het na Heston gekyk en gesê: ‘Seun, jou werk is om op die strydwa te bly; my werk is om jou te laat wen.’ Elke keer wat jy die kantoor binnestap, of ‘n belangrike vergadering of ‘n werksonderhoud moet bywoon, vertrou op God. Wanneer jy daardie gevreesde doktersafspraak moet maak, of ‘n vriend moet konfronteer wat jou sleg behandel het, vertrou op God. Bly op die strydwa. Moenie ophou om op God te vertrou nie. Jou werk is om gehoorsaam te wees; sy werk is om seker te maak dat jy wen. Wanneer jy jou deel doen, kan jy seker wees dat Hy sy deel sal doen.
Sielskos: Job 35-37; Luk 19:20-27; Ps 38:1-12; Spr 8:22-23
Joshua 1:5 NIV
Standing on the threshold of the Promised Land, Joshua realized there were seven nations and forty kings to be conquered before he could possess it. So God told him, “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life…I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” When you’re in God’s will the forces and resources of heaven are behind you, and that means you’ll ultimately win. It doesn’t mean you won’t have to fight, but it means you’ll win! The movie Ben Hur won more Academy Awards than any other movie in history. Charlton Heston, who played the hero in this movie, had to drive a chariot for his role. He was supposed to win the climactic chariot race, but there was a problem: He was having trouble learning to drive the chariot. He walked over to his director, William Wyler, and said, “Mr. Wyler, I can barely stay on the chariot. I can’t win this race.” Wyler looked at Heston and said, “Son, your job is to stay on the chariot; my job is to make sure you win.” Every time you head to the office, or walk into a pressure-packed meeting, or job interview, trust God. When you make that dreaded doctor’s appointment, or confront a friend who has done you wrong, trust God. Stay on the chariot. Don’t quit on God and don’t stop trusting in Him. Your job is to obey; His job is to make sure you win. And when you do your part, you can be sure that He will do His.
Soul food: Job 35-37; Luke 19:20-27; Ps 38:1-12; Prov 8:22-23
