2022-07-06
Psalm 34:11 CEV
Your children will grow up fast, and before you know it, your window of opportunity will close at supersonic speed. What they want from you now is as much time and attention as they can get, and there will come a time when they won’t want it. Here is an eye-opening poem entitled “To My Grown-Up Son” by Alice Chase. You might want to take a deep breath before you read it.
“My hands were busy through the day. I didn’t have much time to play the little games you asked me to. I didn’t have much time for you. I’d wash your clothes, I’d sew and cook, but when you’d bring your picture book and ask me, please, to share your fun, I’d say, ‘A little later, son.’ I’d tuck you in all safe at night, and hear your prayers, turn out the light, then tiptoe safely to the door. I’d wish I’d stayed a minute more. For life is short, and years rush past, a little boy grows up so fast. No longer is he at your side, his precious secrets to confide. The picture books are put away, there are no children’s games to play, no good night kiss, no prayers to hear. That all belongs to yesteryear. My hands once busy, now lie still, the days are long and hard to fill. I wish I might go back and do the little things you asked me to.”
When Joseph brought his sons to visit his father, Jacob, the old man said, “Bring them to me so I may bless them” (Genesis 48:9 NIV). Mom, Dad, get involved before your window of opportunity closes.
Soul food: Jer 25-27; Matt 24:1-14; Ps 102:12-17; Prov 15:3
Psalm 34:12 NLV
Jou kinders sal vinnig grootword en voor jy dit besef, sal die geleenthede om tyd saam met hulle deur te bring, blitsvinnig minder word. Tans wil hulle soveel tyd en aandag moontlik van jou hê, maar daar sal ook ‘n tyd kom wat hulle dit nie meer sal wil hê nie.
Hier is ‘n onrusbarende gedig deur Alice Chase, getiteld ‘To My Grown-Up Son’: ‘My hands were busy through the day. I didn’t have much time to play the little games you asked me to. I didn’t have much time for you. I’d wash your clothes, I’d sew and cook, but when you’d bring your picture book and ask me, please, to share your fun, I’d say, ‘A little later, son.’ I’d tuck you in all safe at night, and hear your prayers, turn out the light, then tiptoe safely to the door. I’d wish I’d stayed a minute more. For life is short, and years rush past, a little boy grows up so fast. No longer is he at your side, his precious secrets to confide. The picture books are put away, there are no children’s games to play, no good night kiss, no prayers to hear. That all belongs to yesteryear. My hands once busy, now lie still, the days are long and hard to fill. I wish I might go back and do the little things you asked me to.’
Toe Josef sy seuns geneem het om sy bejaarde pa, Jakob, te gaan besoek, het Jakob gesê: ‘…Bring hulle na my toe. Ek wil hulle seën’ (Genesis 48:9 NLV). Ma, Pa, raak betrokke voor jy die geleentheid misloop.
Sielskos: Jer 25-27; Matt 24:1-14; Ps 102:12-17; Spr 15:3
2022-07-05
Revelation 2:29 NKJV
It’s not enough to simply listen to a sermon, you must try to hear what God is saying to you. You can hear something totally different from what the person sitting beside you in church hears. Why? Because God is personalising the message to you. The Bible is called “the living Word” (See Hebrews 4:12) because certain Scriptures suddenly come to life and take root within you. Sometimes you will hear what nobody else hears. You may even miss several of the sermon points and still come home with the answer you need. Paul says, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17 KJV). When you can say, “I get it, it’s mine,” the faith that comes by hearing is doing its special work within you.
Before Israel went into battle, the prophets would consult God to be sure He was leading them. That’s because God honors faith only when it’s based on what He promised. So what you should fight for is what God has promised! Remember, you can’t say God failed you if He didn’t promise it to you in the first place. And you shouldn’t get upset when your own misguided desires make you reach for what He gave to somebody else. The old-timers used to sing, “Every promise in the book is mine, every chapter, every verse, every line,” and that’s true inasmuch as God loves us all equally. But there are specific promises He wants to fulfill in your life because your calling is different from others. That’s why you must always seek God for clarity and confirmation.
Soul food: Jer 22-24; Matt 23:23-39; Ps 102:1-11; Prov 14:35-15:2
Openbaring 2:29 NLV
Dis nie genoeg om net na ‘n preek te luister nie, jy moet ook probeer agterkom wat God besig is om vir jou te sê. Jy kan iets heeltemal anders as die persoon wat langs jou in die kerk sit, hoor. Hoekom? Omdat God die boodskap aan jou verpersoonlik. Die Bybel word die ‘die lewende Woord’ (sien Hebreërs 4:12), genoem, omdat sekere Skrifgedeeltes skielik tot lewe kom en wortel binne-in jou skiet. Soms sal jy iets hoor wat niemand anders hoor nie. Jy mag dalk selfs verskeie punte in die preek mis en steeds met die antwoord wat jy nodig het, huis toe gaan. Paulus sê: ‘Die geloof volg uit die aanhoor van die boodskap. En die aanhoor van die boodskap volg uit die prediking van die Goeie Nuus wat handel oor Christus’ (Romeine 10:17 NLV).
Voor Israel oorlog toe gegaan het, sou die profete God raadpleeg om seker te maak dat Hy hulle sou lei. Dit is omdat God geloof slegs beantwoord wanneer dit op dit wat Hy beloof het, gebaseer is. Jy moet dus vir dit wat God beloof het, veg! Onthou, jy kan nie sê dat God jou gefaal het as Hy dit nie in die eerste plek vir jou beloof het nie.
Jy moet ook nie ontsteld raak wanneer jou eie misleidende begeertes jou vir iets wat Hy aan iemand anders gegee het, laat uitreik nie. Die ou mense het gesing: ‘Every promise in the book is mine, every chapter, every verse, every line,’ en dit is waar dat God ons almal ewe veel lief het.
Daar is egter spesifieke beloftes wat Hy in jou lewe wil vervul, omdat jou roeping van ander mense s’n verskil. Dis hoekom jy altyd eers God vir duidelikheid en bevestiging moet raadpleeg.
Sielskos: Jer 22-24; Matt 23:23-39; Ps 102:1-11; Spr 14:35-15:2
2022-07-04
Matteus 17:20 ABA
Paulus skryf: ‘Wat is geloof dan? Dit is ‘n vaste versekering dat die dinge waarna ons uitsien, inderdaad sal gebeur…’ Jesus het gesê: ‘…As julle ‘n bietjie geloof het, so klein soos ‘n mosterd-saadjie, dan sal julle vir hierdie berg kan sê: ‘Gaan weg, gaan na ‘n ander plek,’ en die berg sal gaan…’ (Matteus 17:20 ABA).
Ons almal het berge in ons lewens en God is gewillig om hulle te beweeg. Wat is egter dan die probleem? Twyfel! Ander mense se opinies! Die onvermoë om God se Woord te verstaan! Selfs al het Jesus sy dissipels die mag gegee om siekes gesond te maak, het hulle hulpeloos voor ‘n seuntjie gestaan wat van ‘n bose gees besete was. “Agterna het die dissipels vir Jesus gevra: ‘Waarom kon ons nie die duiwel uitdryf nie?'” (Matteus 17:19 NLV).
Let op wat Jesus vir hulle gesê het: 1) Wees gewillig om klein te begin. ‘n Klein mosterdsaadjie kan in iets baie groters verander. Begin dus waar jy is en glo God vir eenvoudige, alledaagse dinge, en wanneer Hy jou geloof beantwoord, bedank Hom en bou daarop voort.
2) Let op wat jy sê. ‘As julle ‘n bietjie geloof het… dan sal julle vir hierdie berg kan sê: ‘Gaan weg, gaan na ‘n ander plek,’ en die berg sal gaan…’ Jou woorde stel die lewensgewende krag van God se Woord vry. Bring dus dit wat uit jou mond kom in lyn met dit wat in die Skrif geskryf staan.
3) Wees gewillig om te doen wat dit verg. Sommige berge het ‘n bietjie ekstra gebede nodig, of soos in die geval van die seun wat deur die bose gees besete was, die krag wat verkry word wanneer mens vas. Die punt is: Wanneer jy doen wat God se Woord sê, sal jy sien hoe die berge in jou lewe beweeg.
Sielskos: Jer 18-21; Matt 23:13-22; Ps 98; Spr 14:34
