2025-10-24
Psalm 141:3 NLT
If you’re inclined to gossip, read this carefully: “I maim without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives. I am cunning and malicious, and I gather strength with age. The more I’m quoted, the more I’m believed. I flourish at every level of society. My victims are helpless; they can’t protect themselves against me because I have no name and no face. To track me down is impossible. The harder you try, the more elusive I become. I’m nobody’s friend. Once I tarnish a reputation, it’s never the same. I topple governments, wreck marriages, and make innocent people cry. Who am I? My name is gossip!”
Solomon said, “Rumours are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart” (Proverbs 18:8 NLT). When it comes to the sin of gossip, note carefully what Jesus said: “Every idle word… men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37 KJV).
One day we will stand before God to be evaluated and rewarded. Revelation 20:12 says, “And the books were opened.” The word “books” indicates there will be several. So might there be a “book of words”? If you believe there could be, you won’t break someone’s heart by spreading their secrets, betraying their confidence, ruining their good name, and undermining their self-esteem with ridicule and innuendo. You simply won’t do it! David prayed, “Control… what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.” And that’s a prayer each of us needs to pray on a regular basis.
Soul food: Ezra 9-10; John 7:1-13; Ps 104:1-18; Prov 24:26-27
2025-10-23
Psalm 23:4 NKJV
A pastor writes: “The great preacher Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse, whose first wife died, was driving his kids from the funeral. One of the kids said, ‘Daddy… where did Mommy go? I don’t understand what it means that she died.’… Just then, a truck passed by and cast a shadow over the car. He… said, ‘Kids, would you have rather been hit by the truck or hit by the shadow?’… Then he said, ‘Kids, when you die without Christ, you are hit by the truck. When you die with Christ, you are only hit by the shadow.'”
Paul writes: “We want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT).
Soul food: Ezra 6-8; John 6:52-71; Ps 114; Prov 24:23-25
Psalm 23:4 AFR53
‘n Pastoor skryf: “Die groot prediker, dr Donald Grey Barnhouse, wie se eerste vrou gesterf het, was saam met sy kinders op pad huis toe na haar begrafnis. Een van die kinders het gesê: ‘Pappa, waar is mamma heen? Ek verstaan nie wat dit beteken dat sy dood is nie.’ Net toe kom ‘n vragmotor verby en gooi ‘n skaduwee oor hulle motor. Dr Barnhouse het geantwoord: ‘Kinders, sou julle liewer deur die trok getref word of deur die trok se skaduwee getref word? Wanneer julle sonder Christus sterf, word julle deur die trok getref. Wanneer mens egter saam met Christus sterf, word jy net deur die skaduwee getref.'”
Paulus skryf: ‘…ons wil nie hê dat julle in onkunde sal verkeer oor die dooies nie. Dan sal julle nie soos die ander mense treur sonder ‘n toekomsvooruitsig nie. Want as ons glo dat Jesus gesterf én opgestaan het, moet ons ook glo dat God dié mense wat gesterf het terwyl hulle in Jesus glo, saam met Jesus sal terugbring. Wat ons nou vir julle gaan sê, is ‘n uitspraak van die Here: Ons wat bly lewe tot wanneer die Here terugkeer, het glad nie ‘n voorsprong bo dié wat dan al gesterf het nie. Wat eerste gaan gebeur, is dat die Here self uit die hemel sal neerdaal en dat die dooies wat aan Christus behoort, sal opstaan. Dit sal gebeur wanneer die hoofengel ‘n bevel gee wat soos ‘n trompet van God klink. Daarna sal ons wat bly lewe het, saam met hulle op wolke die lug in weggevoer word om die Here te ontmoet en vir altyd by Hom te wees…’ (1 Tessalonisense 4:13-18 NLV).
Sielskos: Esra 6-8; Joh 6:52-71; Ps 114; Spr 24:23-25
2025-10-22
Genesis 2:24 NIV
In Eight Ways In-laws Can Break Up a Marriage it offers examples that should make every in-law stop and think.
“(1) When your child decides to marry, show hostility toward the person they chose. After all, it means less love for you, so you have a right to resent them.
(2) Expect them to spend weekends and holidays with you, and act hurt if they don’t.
(3) If they have problems with their mate, encourage them to come home. And when they do, listen to their complaints, and point out other shortcomings they may have missed. Remember, one drop of water after another can wear away a rock.
(4) If they’re having financial problems, rescue them. Beg, borrow, or steal, but let them know that as long as you’re around, they’ll never go without.
(5) If they have a drinking or drug problem, tell them their mate drove them to it. After all, everybody needs someone to blame.
(6) If they have an opportunity for career advancement that takes them to another city, tell them ‘family’ is more important than money and God will punish them for not honouring the commandment ‘honour thy father and thy mother.’
(7) If there are grandchildren involved, spoil them. And if the parents object, tell them to stay out of it; after all, what are grandkids for?
(8) If your child has an argument with their mate, fan the flames. Family loyalty is a beautiful thing; with a little work, you can turn a minor argument into a major hassle and break up a marriage.”
Soul food: Ezra 3-5; John 6:35-51; Ps 127; Prov 24:19-22
Genesis 2:24 NLV
Eight Ways In-laws Can Break Up a Marriage bied voorbeelde wat elke skoonfamilie moet laat stilstaan en dink:
‘1) Wanneer jou kind besluit om te trou, wees vyandig teenoor die persoon wat hulle gekies het. Dit beteken immers dat jou kind minder lief is vir jou en dus het jy die reg om ‘n wrok te koester.
2) Verwag dat hulle naweke en vakansies saam met jou moet deurbring en laat weet hulle dat jou gevoelens seergemaak is indien hulle dit nie doen nie.
3) Wanneer hulle probleme met hul maat ondervind, moedig hulle aan om terug huis toe te kom. Wanneer hulle dit doen, luister na hulle klagtes en wys enige ander tekortkominge wat hulle dalk vergeet het, ook uit. Onthou, druppel na druppel kan die rots laat wegslyt.
4) As hulle finansiële probleme het, red hulle daaruit. Bedel, leen of steel om hulle te help, maar laat weet hulle dat jy nooit sal toelaat dat hulle met minder moet klaarkom nie.
5) As hulle ‘n drank- of dwelmprobleem het, sê vir hulle dat hul maat hulle daartoe gedryf het. Almal het immers iemand nodig om te blameer.
6) As hulle die geleentheid kry om vir ‘n bevordering by die werk na ‘n ander dorp te trek, herinner hulle daaraan dat ‘familie’ belangriker as geld is en dat God hulle sal straf omdat hulle nie hulle ouers eer nie.
7) As daar kleinkinders betrokke is, bederf hulle. Wanneer die ouers beswaar maak, sê vir hulle om hulle neuse uit jou sake te hou, dis waarvoor kleinkinders daar is.
8) Wanneer jou kind ‘n argument met hul maat het, blaas die vlamme aan. Lojaliteit teenoor ‘n mens se gesin is ‘n wonderlike ding; met ‘n bietjie werk kan jy ‘n klein argument in ‘n grote verander en so ‘n huwelik opbreek.’
Sielskos: Esra 3-5; Joh 6:35-51; Ps 127; Spr 24:19-22
