2025-09-20
1 Tessalonisense 5:18 NLV
Dis ‘n gekompliseerde proses om asem te haal. Dit vereis fisiologiese presisie en die gemiddelde persoon haal ongeveer drie-en-twintigduisend keer per dag asem. Terwyl ons geneig is om God vir alles wat ons asem wegslaan te dank, moet ons Hom miskien ook vir al ons ander asems bedank.
Pastoor Ed Dobson is in 2000 met motorneuronsiekte gediagnoseer, ‘n degeneratiewe siekte wat geen bekende oorsaak het nie en terminaal is. Dobson deel sy voortdurende stryd om dankbaar te wees terwyl hy met ‘n ongeneeslike toestand leef, en skryf: ‘Daar is baie dinge waarvoor ek nie dankbaar is nie! Ek kan nie meer my hemp toeknoop nie. Ek kan nie meer ‘n baadjie aantrek of my regterhand bo my kop lig nie. Ek kan nie meer skryf of met my regterhand eet nie. Ek eet met my linkerhand en selfs dit word nou ‘n uitdaging. Mettertyd gaan hierdie uitdagings erger word.
Waarvoor in die wêreld moet ek dus dankbaar wees? Daar is so baie. Here, dankie dat U my vanoggend wakker gemaak het en dat ek nog in die bed kan omdraai. Dankie dat ek nog uit die bed kan opstaan en dat ek badkamer toe kan stap. Dankie dat ek nog my tande kan borsel en ontbyt kan eet. Dankie dat ek nog self kan aantrek, dat ek nog my kar kan bestuur en dat ek nog kan loop. Dankie dat ek nog kan praat. Ek het geleer om op die dinge wat ek kan doen, eerder as op die dinge wat ek nie kan doen nie, te fokus. Ek het geleer om vir die klein dingetjies in die lewe en vir die baie dinge wat ek nog kan doen, dankbaar te wees.’
Wat het jy waarvoor jy dankbaar kan wees? ‘Wees in alle omstandighede dankbaar…’
Sielskos: 1 Sam 11-13; Matt 26:69-27:10; Ps 13; Spr 21:22-27
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV
Breathing is a complicated process. It requires physiological precision, and the average person takes about twenty-three thousand breaths a day. And while we’re inclined to thank God for everything that takes our breath away, maybe we should also thank Him for all of our other breaths.
In 2000 Pastor Ed Dobson was diagnosed with ALS, a degenerative disease with no known cause or cure. Sharing his ongoing struggle to be thankful while living with an incurable condition, Dobson writes: “There are many things for which I am not grateful! I can no longer button… my shirt. I can no longer put on a heavy jacket… [or] raise my right hand above my head. I can no longer write… [or] eat with my right hand. I eat with my left hand, and now even that is becoming a challenge. And over time… these challenges will get worse…
So what in the world do I have to be grateful for? So much. Lord, thank you for waking me up this morning… that I can still turn over in bed… that I can still get out of bed… that I can walk to the bathroom… that I can still brush my teeth… that I can still eat breakfast… that I can still dress myself… that I can still drive my car… that I can still walk… Thank you that I can still talk… The list goes on… I have learned… to focus on what I can do, not on what I can’t do. I have learned to be grateful for the small things in life and for the many things I can still do.”
What do you have to be thankful for? “Give thanks in all circumstances.”
Soul food: 1 Sam 11-13; Matt 26:69–27:10; Ps 13; Pro 21:22-27
2025-09-19
James 1:7-8 NKJV
Don’t be double minded and attempt to think in two different ways at the same time. For example, we come to church to get “the wisdom that is from above” (James 3:17 KJV), then leave church and get the wisdom from below and try to combine them. But it doesn’t work.
You cannot mix unleaded fuel and diesel fuel. The moment you do, you have cancelled the unleaded because of the diesel – merely looking like gas doesn’t mean it will help you. As Christians, we attend church on Sunday to get unleaded, and on Monday go into the world and get diesel. Then we wonder why we’re wearily labouring.
Let’s illustrate it this way: We have AM and FM frequencies on our radios: both different, both separate. When riding in a car, you choose which one to listen to; you can’t listen to both at the same time, even though you have both options.
The Bible says: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:5-8 NKJV).
God responds to a faith that is single minded and focused on His Word. So, the word for you today is – don’t be double minded!
Soul food: 1 Sam 8-10; Matt 26:47-68; Ps 54; Pro 21:18-21
Jakobus 1:8 KAB
Moenie dubbelsinnig wees en op twee verskillende maniere gelyktydig probeer dink nie. Ons gaan byvoorbeeld kerk toe om ‘…die wysheid wat van Bo kom…’ (Jakobus 3:17 NLV), te ontvang, maar die oomblik wat ons by die kerk uitstap, ontvang ons wêreldse wysheid en probeer om die twee te kombineer. Dit werk egter nie.
Jy kan nie petrol en diesel meng nie. Net omdat al twee vir voertuie bedoel is, beteken dit nie dat dit sal werk nie. As Christene, woon ons Sondae kerk by om petrol vir die week te kry en Maandag gaan ons in die wêreld uit en kry diesel. Dan wonder ons hoekom ons so hard moet werk terwyl ons so moeg is.
Kom ons illustreer dit as volg: Daar is AM- en FM-frekwensies op ons radio’s wat van mekaar verskil en apart van mekaar is. Wanneer jy in ‘n motor ry, kies jy na watter een om te luister; jy kan nie na albei op dieselfde tyd luister nie, al is beide beskikbaar.
Die Bybel sê: ‘Vra vir God as jy nie kan agterkom wat Hy wil hê jy moet doen nie. Hy sal jou eenvoudig daardie wysheid gee, en jou nie verwyt dat jy dit gevra het nie. Maar, as ‘n mens bid, moet jy die vertroue hê dat God sal antwoord, want iemand wat twyfel, is soos ‘n brander in die see wat deur die wind aangejaag en heen en weer gedryf word. So iemand kan mos nie dink dat hy iets van die Here sal ontvang nie. Hy is iemand wat nie tot ‘n besluit kan kom nie; op so iemand kan jy nie peil trek nie’ (Jakobus 1:5-8 NLV).
God reageer op ‘n geloof wat eensgesind en op sy Woord gefokus is. Die woord vir jou vandag is dus – moenie dubbelsinnig wees nie!
Sielskos: 1 Sam 8-10; Matt 26:47-68; Ps 54; Spr 21:18-21
2025-09-18
James 5:16 NKJV
We all make mistakes, misjudge issues, and mess up at some point. We’re all human. The truth is that mistakes are one of the major ways in which we learn and get wiser. But because of our fear of being criticized or losing face, we often attempt to hide our mistakes.
The only real calamity about mistakes is if you don’t learn something from them. Failing to admit a mistake blocks the path to growth. Listen to the words of the Lord when He admonished the Israelites to learn from their mistakes: “‘Jeremiah, say to the people, “This is what the Lord says: ‘When people fall down, don’t they get up again? When they discover they’re on the wrong road, don’t they turn back?'” (Jeremiah 8:4 NLT). It’s a relief to you and an inspiration to others when you can acknowledge your mistakes without being defined or derailed by them.
Circumstances and other people may have swayed our decisions, but in the end, we are each responsible for what we do. When we make a mistake, the action we take is – our choice. The best approach for dealing with your mistake is to accept complete responsibility, learn from it, decide how not to repeat it, and go on. Interestingly, other people will connect with you more and even respect you more when you are able to acknowledge your weaknesses. And it sets them free to do the same thing. Humility is one of the attributes that people esteem in others; pride is hated – even by other proud folks.
Soul food: 1 Sam 4-7; Matt 26:30-46; Ps 52; Pro 21:17
