2019-08-04
Proverbs 23:7 NLT
Until Roger Bannister came on the scene in 1954, some experts said it was physically impossible to break the four-minute mile. The thinking was, if it hasn’t been done, it’s because it can’t be done. But Bannister not only did it, he started a new trend. History continues to prove that records are made to be broken. And with God on your side, your chances for success go through the roof! Paul said, “I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ” (Philippians 4:13 TLB). Have you ever seen trained fleas in a jar? You don’t need a lid to keep them in. That’s because when the trainer first places them in the jar, he puts the lid on it, and the fleas jump up and down frantically hitting their heads against it. Finally after a lot of headaches, they stop jumping and settle in to enjoy their newfound comfort. Now when the lid is removed the fleas are held captive by a mindset that says, “So high and no higher.” What a picture! Jesus said He came to “set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18). Bruised by what? By past mistakes, by harsh criticism, by crippling fears, by wrong teaching, by physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual handicaps. In other words, Jesus came to help you take the lid off your thinking! No matter how bad your past is, the future He has in mind is better – and it is worth pursuing and fighting for.
Soul food: 1 Sam 17:4-51; Eph 6:10-18
2019-08-03
Exodus 33:16 NLT
The world expects Christians to be different from those who don’t profess to know Jesus, and that’s as it should be. Believers should set an example when it comes to serving others and showing love. Jesus said, “People will know…you are my followers if you love each other” (John 13:35 NCV). In the Old Testament when the Israelites broke God’s covenant by worshiping a golden calf, Moses pleaded with God not to give up on them. His argument was this: “How will anyone know that you look favorably on…your people – if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people…apart.” What made Israel unique among the nations was the evidence of God’s presence as He journeyed with them. And God’s presence should set you apart too! When Jesus told His disciples, “I will be with you always” (Matthew 28:20 NCV), He demonstrated His presence through the Holy Spirit who dwelt in and empowered them. So much so, that their enemies said they had “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6 NKJV). But as pastor and author Mark D. Roberts observes: “This doesn’t give us grounds for pride or boasting. God’s presence is an expression of His grace, not our worthiness. In fact, our confidence in God’s presence…gives us a strong conviction of our high calling to serve Him in every capacity of life. It gives us courage to live according to His kingdom…to serve others in His name…if God is with us on our side, what do we have to fear?” So today thank God for His presence in your life, and decide never to take it for granted.
Soul food: Deut 30:1-32:28; Matt 14:1-12; Ps 119:9-16; Prov 17:4-6
Eksodus 33:16 ABA
Die wêreld verwag dat Christene anders sal wees as diegene wat nie bely dat hulle Jesus ken nie. Dis hoe dit moet wees. Gelowiges moet ‘n voorbeeld stel deur ander te dien en liefde aan hulle te bewys. Jesus het gesê: ‘As julle liefde teenoor mekaar beoefen, sal almal daaraan sien dat julle my dissipels is’ (Johannes 13:35 NLV). Toe die Israeliete in die Ou Testament God se verbond verbreek het deur die goue kalf te aanbid, het Moses by God gepleit om hulle nie te verlaat nie. ‘Hoe sal ons weet dat U tevrede is met ons, met my en met u volk, as U nie met ons saamgaan nie? Ek en u volk sal weet ons is anders as al die volke op die aarde as U self saam met ons gaan.’ Wat Israel uniek gemaak het, was die bewyse van God se teenwoordigheid soos Hy saam met hulle gereis het. God se teenwoordigheid moet ook jou uniek maak! Toe Jesus vir sy dissipels gesê het: ‘…Ek is vir altyd by julle…’ (Matteus 28:20 NLV), het Hy sy teenwoordigheid deur die Heilige Gees wat binne in hulle woon en hulle bemagtig, gedemonstreer. Soveel so, dat hulle vyande gesê het dat hulle ‘…die hele wêreld in beroering bring…’ (Handelinge 17:6 NLV). Soos pastoor Mark D. Roberts egter opmerk: ‘Dit gee ons nie rede om trots te wees of te spog nie. God se teenwoordigheid is ‘n uitdrukking van sy genade, nie van ons waardigheid nie. Dit gee ons die moed om volgens sy koninkryk te leef en om ander in sy naam te dien. As God aan ons kant is, wat moet ons dan vrees?’ Dank God dus vandag vir sy teenwoordigheid in jou lewe en besluit om dit nooit as vanselfsprekend te aanvaar nie.
Sielskos: Deut 30:1-32:28; Matt 14:1-12; Ps 119:9-16; Spr 17:4-6
2019-08-02
2 Timoteus 2:2 NLV
Hier is ‘n bietjie wysheid wat jou sal help om die resultate wat jy in die lewe wil hê, te kry: Word ‘n goeie kommunikeerder. Of jy nou in die kerk, die werkplek of die huis is, jy moet tyd neem om duidelik met mense te kommunikeer om sodoende sukses te behaal. Beter kommunikasie is een van die dinge wat omtrent elke werknemer wens hulle met hulle base kan hê. Dis egter nie die geval van Sally Frame Kasaks, wat die besturende direkteur van die Ann Taylor klerewinkels geword het nie. Sy het ‘n nuwe klem op kwaliteit produkte en meer en beter kommunikasie met werknemers op alle vlakke teweeg gebring. Binne ‘n jaar, het hulle verkope met meer as 30 persent gestyg. Paul Kahn het ‘n soortgelyke agenda gehad toe hy die voorsitter en besturende direkteur van Safeguard Services geword het. Hy het die interne strategie van die maatskappy verander om drie dinge te beklemtoon: 1) Oop deure. Leierskap het meer toeganklik vir werknemers geword. 2) Sigbaarheid. Richard Interdonato, die bedryfshoof van die maatskappy, het omtrent 40 persent van sy tyd spandeer om net met werknemers te gesels. 3) Gedeelde informasie deur middel van ‘n daaglikse nuusbrief en gereelde forums met werknemers. Dit het gewerk. Binne ‘n jaar het hulle wins met 13.1 persent gestyg. Wanneer jy aan die bopunt van die leer is, moet jy altyd die kwessies wat belangrik vir die mense onder jou is, onthou. Hoekom? Omdat jou visie, hoe groot dit ook al mag wees, nie sonder die samewerking en die toewyding van die mense onder jou, vervul sal word nie. Paulus, wat ‘n besonderse goeie kommunikeerder was, het geskryf: ‘…Leer hierdie groot waarhede aan betroubare mense wat bekwaam is om dit aan ander deur te gee.’
Sielskos: Deut 28-29; Matt 13:47-58; Ps 119:1-8; Spr 17:3
2 Timothy 2:2 NLT
Here’s a bit of time-tested wisdom that will help get you the results you want in life: Become a good communicator. Whether you lead in the church, the workplace, or the home, you must take the time to communicate clearly with people in order to succeed. One of the things virtually every employee wishes he or she had with superiors is better communication. Unfortunately, when those employees become managers, they forget to communicate with those they manage. This isn’t the case of Sally Frame Kasaks, who became CEO of the Ann Taylor clothing store franchise. She placed a new emphasis on quality products and on “more and better communication with employees at all levels.” Within a year, sales rose over 30 percent. Paul Kahn had a similar agenda when he became chairman and CEO of Safeguard Services. He had his head of operations, Richard Interdonato, change the internal company strategy to emphasize three things: (1) Open doors. Leadership became more accessible to employees. (2) Visibility. Interdonato spent about 40 percent of his time “just talking with people.” (3) Sharing information through a daily newsletter and frequent open forums with employees. It worked. Within a year, earnings increased by 13.1 percent. When you’re on top, always remember the issues that are important to those below you. Why? Because no matter how great your vision may be, without the cooperation and commitment of those below you, your vision will never be fulfilled. Paul, who was a great communicator, wrote, “Teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.”
Soul food: Deut 28-29; Matt 13:47-58; Ps 119:1-8; Prov 17:3
