2025-05-29
Psalm 126:6 NCV
If you cry easily, it could be that God has given you a ministry of tears. What is that? Author Liz Curtis Higgs explains: “I cry easily and often. Happy tears, sad tears, over-the-top tears, Hallmark commercial tears – you name it… I cry at church… When I hear a wondrous truth spoken or a glorious song lifted in praise, when I see a new believer step forward or an old saint read the Scriptures, I’m so overwhelmed with God’s presence that tears flow down my cheeks… While I’ve made peace with [it] many women are ashamed of their tearfulness.
A dear woman in Missouri thought her tears were a stumbling block to serving God… She explained, ‘I want to help hurting people, but the minute I hear their stories, I start weeping.’…I gave her a big hug [and said,] ‘You have a ministry of tears! The Bible tells us to ‘mourn with those who mourn’ (Romans 12:15 NIV), and to ‘comfort those in… trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God’ (2 Corinthians 1:4 NIV. Your tears don’t hurt, they help!” God can use anything we surrender to him. Laughter and tears. Joys and sorrows. Victories and mistakes. Strengths and weaknesses. We minister to others best when we offer our true selves – ‘as is’ – not waiting until we’ve cleaned up our act or dried up our tears, but right now, leaks and all.” One day “God shall wipe away all tears” (Revelation 21:4 KJV).
But until then, our tears are so precious to Him that, like fine wine and priceless perfume, He preserves them in a bottle (See Psalm 56:8).
Soul food: Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:1-11; Eph 4:7-10
2025-05-28
Filippense 3:14 NLV
Sielkundiges sê dat die grootste invloed op ons toekoms dikwels ons verlede is. Paulus sê egter vir ons om die verlede te vergeet en te fokus op: ‘…dit wat voorlê. Ek jaag wenpaal toe, na die hemelse prys…’ (verse 13-14 NLV).
Een berader skryf: ‘Ek weet jy is moeg, oorweldig en voel of hierdie moeilike tyd vir ewig gaan duur. Dit sal nie. Jy is amper daar. Jy is getoets en weer getoets oor wat jy geleer het. Jou geloof is deur vuur gelouter. Meer probleme het voorgekom as wat jy verwag het. Jy het dit nie beplan nie, maar dit was goed vir jou. ‘n Deel van jou het dit aangevoel selfs toe jou kop vir jou gesê het dat dinge uitmekaar val, dat jy nie ‘n plan daarvoor het nie, dat God jou vergeet het. Elke voorval – die pynlikste, kommerwekkendste, verrassendste – hou verband met mekaar.’ ‘En ons weet dat God alles ten goede laat saamwerk vir hulle wat Hom liefhet, hulle wat geroep is volgens sy doel vir hulle lewe’ (Romeine 8:28 NLV).
Die berader gaan voort: ‘Dinge was bedoel om op hierdie manier te gebeur. Jy het nie geglo dit sou so lank neem nie, maar dit het. Jy het geduld aangeleer. Nou val dinge in plek. Jy is amper aan die einde van hierdie moeilike deel van die reis. Jy het al ‘n berg geklim. Nou is jy naby die bopunt van die berg. Net nog ‘n oomblik en die oorwinning sal joune wees. Ruk jou skouers reg. Haal diep asem. Beweeg in vertroue vorentoe. Die tyd kom om alles waarvoor jy geveg het, te geniet. Jou stryd was nie verniet nie. Daar sal nog berge wees, maar nou weet jy hoe om hulle te klim.’
Sielskos: Op 5-9; Mark 10:23-34; Ps 121; Spr 12:23-24
Philippians 3:14 NIV
Psychologists say the strongest influence on our present is often our past. But Paul tells us to forget the past, and focus on “what lies ahead… press on to… receive the heavenly prize” (v. 13-14 NLT). One counsellor writes: “I know you’re tired… overwhelmed… as though… this hard time will last forever. It won’t. You are almost there. You don’t just think it has been hard; it has been hard. You have been tested and retested on what you have learned. Your faith tried in fire. More problems occurred than you anticipated… You did not plan on this, yet it has been good. Part of you, [your spirit], has sensed this even when your head told you that things were out of whack… that there was no plan, that God had forgotten you. Each incident – the most painful, troubling, most surprising – has a connection.” “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV).
The counsellor continues, “Things were meant to happen this way. You didn’t believe it would take this long, but it did. You have learned patience. Many moments you thought you were forgotten. Now things are coming into place. You are almost at the end of this difficult portion of the journey. You have been climbing a mountain. It has not been easy, but mountain climbing is never easy. Now, you are near the top. A moment longer, and victory shall be yours. Steady your shoulders. Breathe deeply. Move forward in confidence. The time is coming to enjoy all which you have fought for… Your struggle has not been in vain. For every struggle on this journey, there is a climax, a resolution… There will be more mountains, but now you know how to climb them.”
Soul food: Rev 5-9; Mark 10:23-34; Ps 121; Prov 12:23-24
2025-05-27
Proverbs 16:24 NIV
Read this: “I remember when I took your new car on the road and wrecked it. I thought you would be livid and come down hard on me, but you didn’t. I remember when we went to the beach, and you didn’t want to go because you said it was going to rain. We went, and it rained. I was sure you would rub it in and say, ‘I told you so!’ But you didn’t. Then there was the time when I spilled blueberry juice down the front of your new white tuxedo. I knew you would be upset and blame me. But you didn’t. And remember that formal evening? I was mistaken and told you it was casual. You wore blue jeans and felt like a fish out of water. I was sure you would storm out in anger and leave me standing there. But you didn’t. I wanted to tell you how much I loved you and how much I appreciated you for all those things when you returned from Afghanistan. But you didn’t.”
Don’t spend the future regretting unspoken words someone needs to hear. “Gracious words are… sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Few things are more effective than the right word at the right time. By the same token, words of kindness withheld are a heavy burden to live with. That’s why the Bible says, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad” (Proverbs 12:25 ESV). Don’t let shyness or fear of rejection keep you from saying what needs to be said. Tell them while you still can.
Soul food: Rev 1-4; Mark 10:13-22; Ps 117; Prov 12:20-22
Spreuke 16:24 NLV
Lees die volgende: ‘Ek onthou toe ek jou nuwe kar bestuur en dit afgeskryf het. Ek het gedink jy sou woedend wees en my nooit vergewe nie, maar jy het nie. Ek onthou toe ek strand toe wou gaan en jy nie wou nie, want jy het gesê dit gaan reën. Ons het gegaan, en dit het gereën. Ek was seker jy sou dit invryf en sê: ‘Ek het jou mos so gesê!’ Maar jy het nie. Dan was daar die tyd toe ek bloubessiesap op jou nuwe wit tuxedo gemors het. Ek het geweet jy sou ontsteld wees en my blameer. Maar jy het nie. Onthou jy daardie formele aand? Ek het my misgis en vir jou gesê dit is informeel. Jy het blou jeans gedra en soos ‘n vis uit die water gevoel. Ek was seker jy sou in woede uitstorm en my daar agterlaat. Maar jy het nie. Ek wou jou vertel hoe lief ek vir jou is en hoe baie ek jou vir al daardie dinge waardeer wanneer jy van Afghanistan terugkeer. Maar jy het nie.’
Moenie in die toekoms oor onuitgesproke woorde wat iemand moes hoor, spyt wees nie. ‘Mooi woorde is soos heuning; dit is goed vir die gees en bevorderlik vir sy lewe.’ Min dinge is so effektief soos die regte woord op die regte tyd. Aan die ander kant is woorde van vriendelikheid wat weerhou word, ‘n swaar las om mee saam te leef. Dis hoekom die Bybel sê: ‘Bekommernis rem ‘n mens af; bemoedigende woorde maak hom bly’ (Spreuke 12:25 NLV). Moenie toelaat dat skaamheid of ‘n vrees vir verwerping jou daarvan weerhou om te sê wat gesê moet word nie. Sê dit vir hulle terwyl jy nog kan.
Sielskos: Op 1-4; Mark 10:13-22; Ps 117; Spr 12:20-22
