2021-01-17
Proverbs 23:7 KJV
It was a long hard road that took the Chandler family out of the cotton fields and out of poverty in Mississippi. All nine children have memories of the share croppers’ cabin and having nothing to wear or to eat. But today, all nine are college graduates!
Here’s their inspiring story: Their parents borrowed two dollars to buy a bus ticket for their son Cleveland, who worked his way through school, and became Chairman of the Economics Department at Howard University. Luther went to the University of Omaha, and became the public service employee manager for Kansas City. He helped his brother James get to Omaha, and then to Yale for graduate work. James, in turn, helped Herman, who is now a technical manager in Dallas. Donald works in Minneapolis. The children also helped themselves – picking cotton, pulling corn, digging potatoes. Fortson went to Morehouse College in Atlanta, and became a Baptist minister in Colorado. Princess earned an M.A. from Indiana University, and became a schoolteacher. Gloria is also a schoolteacher. Bessie has an M.A. and is a dietician at a veterans’ hospital. Then in 1984, all the children got together and bought a home for their parents.
The Bible says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” If you convince yourself that you can’t, or allow others to convince you of that, then you won’t. But if you believe that by God’s grace you can, then you will! If the Chandlers can do it, you can do it too. Forget what has happened in the past! Every day God gives you the choice to begin your life over again.
Soul food: Gen 5:22-24; Heb 11:5; 2 Kings 2:1-12; Acts 1:9-11
2021-01-16
Romans 12:6 ESV
The Bible teaches that God gives each of us certain gifts, and the grace to use them. But when we’re not working in our area of giftedness, we can struggle. We need to keep that in mind when we see a great achiever, or become a great achiever ourselves. Paul spoke five languages and wrote a large part of the New Testament, but he constantly struggled with what he refers to as a ‘thorn in the flesh’. When he prayed and asked God to remove it, God said no. ‘My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you’ (2 Corinthians12:9 NCV). So we need grace in the areas of our gifting, and grace for the areas in which we’re not gifted at all.
We might be brilliant in one or more areas, but that doesn’t mean we’ll be brilliant at everything. We need to remember that when we’re dealing with other people. We shouldn’t get frustrated with someone just because they struggle with something, as God will have gifted them with other strengths. It’s even likely that they’re skilled in an area where we’re weak.
We need to work at developing patience and learn to appreciate each person for the unique part they fill in God’s kingdom. We also need to remember that if God won’t remove a barrier or grant us an ability that we want, we should accept His decision, and try to understand what God’s trying to teach us through the challenges. As long as we live, we’ll soar in some areas and struggle in others, but we’ll find that God’s grace is more than enough for any challenge we face.
Exo 36-38; Matt 8:1-9; Ps 81; Prov 2:11-15
Romeine 12:6 NLV
Die Bybel leer ons dat God vir ons elkeen sekere gawes gegee het, sowel as die genade om hierdie gawes te gebruik. Wanneer ons nie binne die area van ons gawes optree nie, sukkel ons. Ons moet dit in gedagte hou wanneer ons iemand sien wat presteer, of self ‘n groot presteerder word.
Paulus het vyf tale gepraat en die helfte van die Nuwe Testament geskryf, maar hy het konstant met dit wat hy as ‘die doring in sy vlees’ beskryf het, geworstel. Toe hy tot God bid en Hom vra om dit te verwyder, het God nee gesê: ‘…My genade is genoeg vir jou, want my krag kom juis in swakheid tot volle verwesenliking’…’ (2 Korintiërs 12:9 NLV).Ons het dus genade nodig in die areas waarin ons begaafd is, sowel as genade vir die areas waarin ons glad nie begaafd is nie.
Daar is ‘n verhaal van ‘n man wat na ‘n bekende spreker gaan luister het en op die stoel langs die spreker se vrou beland het. Gedurende die praatjie, het die man opgelet dat die bekende spreker geborduurde kouse aan het. Met nadere ondersoek het die man gesien dat die letters op die spreker se kouse ‘TGIF’ gelees het. Toe die praatjie verby is, het hy die spreker gekomplimenteer en toe na die spreker se vrou gedraai en gevra: ‘Hoekom sê jou man se kouse, TGIF: Thank Goodness It’s Friday?’ Sy het geantwoord: ‘O, dis nie waarvoor die letters staan nie; dis om hom te help aantrek. Die letters staan vir ‘Toes Go In First’.’
Solank as wat jy lewe sal jy in sekere areas uitblink en in ander areas sukkel. Jy sal egter vind dat God se genade genoeg is vir enige uitdaging waarvoor jy te staan sal kom. Dis die woord vir jou vandag.
Sielskos: Eks 36-38; Matt 8:1-9; Ps 81; Spr 2:11-15
Romans 12:6 NKJV
The Bible teaches that God gives each of us certain gifts, and the grace to use them. And when we are not operating in our area of giftedness, we struggle. We need to keep that in mind when we see a great achiever, or become a great achiever ourselves. Paul spoke five languages and wrote half the New Testament, but he constantly struggled with what he refers to as a “thorn in the flesh.” When he prayed and asked God to remove it, God said no. “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV). So we need grace in the areas of our gifting, and grace for the areas in which we’re not gifted at all.
The story’s told of a man who went to hear a great speaker, and ended up seated beside the speaker’s wife. During the speech, the man noticed that the great speaker had monogrammed socks. Intrigued by this, he looked closer and saw that instead of the usual two or three initials were the letters “TGIF.” When the speech was over he complimented the speaker, then turned to the speaker’s wife and said, “How come your husband’s socks say, “TGIF: Thank Goodness It’s Friday?” She replied, “Oh, that’s not what those letters mean; the monograms are there to help him get dressed. They stand for Toes Go In First.”
As long as you live you will soar in some areas and struggle in others. And you will find that God’s grace is sufficient for any challenge you face. And that’s the word for you today.
Soul food: Exo 36-38; Matt 8:1-9; Ps 81; Prov 2:11-15
2021-01-15
Matthew 6:34 NCV
When we’re worried about things, one of the Bible verses that people might remind us of is Matthew 6:34. At first glance, it doesn’t seem all that encouraging – ‘Don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries’ – it almost sounds like it’s reinforcing our fears of what the future holds. But let’s take a look at the previous verse: ‘Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well’ (Matthew 6:33 NCV).
When we’re pursuing God’s will, following His guidance, and living His way, He promises to provide the things we need. We tend to think about this in terms of material things, such as food, shelter, or money, but God will also provide us with things like wisdom to handle a difficult situation, or strength to face a challenge. God enables us to focus on seeking Him and living the way He wants us to live by taking care of everything else that we’re concerned about. Whether we’re anxious about what’s happening to us now, or what’s going to happen in the future, whether our worries are big or small, we can confidently hand every single one over to God and trust Him to help us through.
Peter puts it like this: ‘Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]’ (1 Peter 5:7 AMP). Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:34 are an encouragement to simply take one day at a time and remember that the loving God who’s taking care of us today will still be taking care of us tomorrow.
Exo 33-35; Matt 7:15-29; Ps 79; Prov 2:9-10
