2024-01-24
Mark 7:14 NKJV
Jesus said, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand.” He spoke life-changing words, but He understood that preoccupied minds don’t always listen too well. Are you a good listener?
(1) If you’re a leader, do you listen to your followers? The kind of leaders people want to follow do more than conduct business when they interact with you; they take the time to get a feel for who you are as a person. Philip Stanhope, the earl of Chesterfield, believed, “Many a man would rather you heard his story than granted his request.” If you’re accustomed to listening only to the facts and not the person who expresses them, change your focus – really listen.
(2) If you’re in business, do you listen to your customers? A Cherokee saying states, “Listen to the whispers and you won’t have to hear the screams.” Never get so caught up in your own ideas and products that you don’t hear your customers’ concerns, complaints, and suggestions. In his book, Business @ the Speed of Thought, former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates said, “Unhappy customers are always a concern. They’re also your greatest opportunity.” That’s why you should make it a priority to keep in contact with the people you’re serving.
(3) If you’re committed to growth, are you listening to your mentors? You will never become so advanced or experienced that you can afford to be without mentors. If you don’t have some, go out and find them. If you can’t get some, begin by reading the right books, starting with your Bible. If you’re not following in the footsteps of someone wiser, there is a good chance you’re not on the right path.
Soul food: Jam 1-2; Matt 8:18-27; Ps 91; Prov 3:3-4
2024-01-23
Psalm 139:13-14 MSG
In order for your child to thrive and have self-worth, they must understand four things:
(1) How God feels about them. The psalmist says, “His love never quits” (Psalm 136:1 MSG). Knowing this is foundational to your child’s spiritual development and to their relationship with God.
(2) How you feel about them. So, let them know that though you correct them, you will never reject them.
(3) How they feel about themselves. The most painful aspect of growing up is related to the assault on self-esteem that’s almost universal in today’s teen society. Young people typically feel like fools and failures before they have even had a chance to get started in life. So, tell them they are a “work in progress” with incredible potential. “You formed me in my mother’s womb… Body and soul, I am marvelously made!” (Psalm 139:13-14 MSG). Help them to discover their God-given gifts and develop them – electronics, art, music, or even raising rabbits for fun and profit. Anything! It’s not so much what you teach your child; the key is that they are learning something with which to compensate when the whole world seems to be saying, “Who are you, and what is your significance?” The teenager who has no answer to these questions is left unprotected at a very vulnerable time in life. So, developing and honing skills with which to compensate may be one of the most valuable contributions you as a parent can make.
(4) How their peers feel about them. If they approve, that’s good. But if they don’t, and you have gotten the first three things right, your child will still thrive.
Soul food: Dan 11-12; Matt 8:10-17; Ps 89:38-52; Prov 3:1-2
Psalm 139:14 NLV
Vir jou kind om te kan floreer en selfwaarde te kan hê, moet hulle vier dinge verstaan:
1) Hoe God oor hulle voel. Die Psalmdigter sê: ‘…Aan sy liefde is geen einde nie’ (Psalm 136:1 NLV). Hierdie wete is die fondasie van jou kind se geestelike ontwikkeling en hul verhouding met God.
2) Hoe jy oor hulle voel. Laat hulle verstaan dat alhoewel jy hulle korrigeer, jy hulle nooit sal verwerp nie.
3) Hoe hulle oor hulself voel. Die pynlikste aspek van grootword hou verband met die aanslag op hulle selfbeeld wat amper universeel onder vandag se tieners voorkom. Jong mense voel tipies soos dwase en mislukkings voor hulle nog ‘n kans gehad het om met hulle lewe te begin. Jy moet hulle dus laat verstaan dat hulle nog besig is om te ontwikkel en ongelooflike potensiaal het. ‘U self het my diepste wese gemaak, my in die moederskoot gevorm. Ek loof U omdat U my so besonder wonderlik gemaak het…’ (Psalm 139:13-14 NLV). Help hulle om hulle Godgegewe gawes te ontdek en te ontwikkel – elektronika, die kunste, musiek of selfs om hase vir pret en wins groot te maak. Enigiets! Dit gaan nie soseer daaroor wat jy jou kind leer nie; die sleutel daarin is dat hulle iets leer waarmee hulle kan antwoord wanneer dit vir hulle voel of die wêreld vra: ‘Wie is jy en wat beteken jy vir die wêreld?’ Die tiener wat geen antwoord op hierdie vrae het nie, word op ‘n baie kwesbare tyd in die lewe onbeskerm gelaat. Dus is die ontwikkeling en slyp van vaardighede een van die waardevolste bydraes wat jy as ouer kan maak.
4) Hoe hulle maats oor hulle voel. As hulle hul goedkeuring gee, is dit goed. As hulle dit egter nie gee nie en jy het die eerste drie dinge reggekry, sal jou kind steeds floreer.
Sielskos: Dan 11-12; Matt 8:10-17; Ps 89:38-52; Spr 3:1-2
2024-01-22
Luke 12:48 NKJV
One author writes: “It took me half my life to discover the great power of choices and chances. Good relationships are God’s gift to you; what you do with them is your response to Him. Too often we drape our passivity, or lack of courage, or disregard for our relationships in the frayed tapestry of fate. We weave excuses and give alibis to our guilty hearts, which failed to alter circumstances. We then dismiss our responsibility like a cheap attempt at religious absolution, living in denial that things could have been better in our relationships had we taken action sooner. The worst part of it is that many foolishly charge God and hold Him liable for relationships they themselves could have changed. God’s grace gives us opportunities, each relationship being a gift to be unwrapped and enjoyed. We must seize each precious moment as an adventure. If we are aware of the potential of each relationship, our hearts will be penetrated by the urgency to make each encounter the very best. You had a chance not to marry her, or to make that call, or to be the first to apologize, or to embrace your heart’s desire. The choices are yours. So, you must say every day, ‘I’ll take my chances, activate my choices, go through my changes, and make my decisions.’ And when the day is done, you will say to yourself, ‘It was my life and my relationships, and I am responsible for both.'”
Jesus said, “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required.” Do you have a relationship problem? Take action!
Soul food: Dan 8-10; Matt 8:1-9; Ps 89:15-37; Prov 2:21-22
Lukas 12:48 NLV
Een skrywer merk op: “Dit het my die helfte van my lewe geneem om die groot krag van keuses en kanse te ontdek. Goeie verhoudings is God se geskenk aan jou; wat jy met dit doen is jou reaksie op Hom. Te dikwels drapeer ons ons passiwiteit, of gebrek aan moed, of verontagsaming van ons verantwoordelikheid in die verslete tapisserie van die noodlot. Ons weef verskonings en gee alibi’s aan ons skuldige harte, wat nie daarin geslaag het om omstandighede te verander nie. Ons leef in ontkenning dat dinge beter in ons verhoudings kon gewees het as ons net vroeër opgetree het. Die ergste daarvan is dat baie mense God dwaaslik aankla en Hom vir verhoudings wat hulle self kon verander het, aanspreeklik hou.
God se genade gee ons geleenthede, elke verhouding is ‘n geskenk wat uitgepak en geniet moet word. Ons moet elke kosbare oomblik as ‘n avontuur aangryp. As ons van die potensiaal van elke verhouding bewus is, sal ons harte deur die dringendheid om van elke ontmoeting die beste te maak, deurdring word. Jy het die geleentheid gehad om nie met haar te trou nie, of om daardie oproep te maak, of om die eerste te wees om verskoning te vra, of om jou hartsbegeerte te omhels. Die keuses is joune.
Jy moet dus elke dag sê: ‘Ek sal my kanse waag, my keuses maak, deur veranderinge gaan en my besluite neem.’ Wanneer die dag dan verby is, sal jy vir jouself sê: ‘Dit was my lewe en my verhoudings en ek is verantwoordelik vir albei.'” Jesus het gesê: ‘…Baie word verwag van hulle wat aan wie baie gegee is…’ Het jy ‘n verhoudingsprobleem? Neem aksie!
Sielskos: Dan 8-10; Matt 8:1-9; Ps 89:15-37; Spr 2:21-22
