Today Reminder - 31 May 2012 (Awesome)

My prayer for you for today is that you will realise that our God is greater than what our worldly imaginations can ever imagine and that you will see His hand working in your life, in Jesus name.

Hebrews 12:19-21

For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. They staggered back under God's command: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death." Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, "I am terrified and trembling."

Awesome - Moses himself was so frightened at the sight. This morning it is once again my privilege to remind you how great our God is. He is the maker of the universe, all creation came into being by the power of His word. How small are we compared to the creator and how small are we compared to His majesty. When God spoke to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, they begged Him to stop only at the fright of the sound of His voice. They did not even see Him yet, they only heard His voice and they were frightened and terrified. It is this amazing loving Father that seeks your time and your worship and He loves you unconditionally and believes in you with every step that you take. This awesome God who humbled Himself and became a man to rescue us from eternal death, He stands beside you waiting and listening and walking with you all the way. 

Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: "Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also." This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire (Verse 25 – 29).

When God speaks the earth shakes, when God moves in you the world will shake. My dear friend, our God is more than we can estimate, guess, dream, think, imagine or even calculate. He is, was and will always be. 

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship.  Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known.  They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.  Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?  Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer (Psalm 119)

Have an awesome day dear friend of Jesus.

Cheers

Today Reminder - 30 May 2012 (Conquer)

My prayer for you for today is that you will take a new grip on life and conquer the place you are in, in Jesus name.

Hebrews 12:12-13

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

Conquer - So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. There are those mornings when the alarm can go of for a hundred times, you just want to stay in bed. It would’ve been nice if you could just stay in bed and not get up, but that would be the easy way out. Here in South Africa we are in the midst of winter and getting up in the mornings can be quite a challenge. From a warm bed to the cold morning air, now that takes motivation. In our lives we find ourselves so many times in a place where we just don’t want to get up, we just want to give up and let it be. Have you ever had a feeling where you feel something is missing in your life? I believe it is in those periods in our lives when God is preparing us for a new season. It is more important in this time of our life that we take a new grip on things and strengthen our legs, because it might just be a rollercoaster ride.

My dear friend, it is when we stand up out of the darkness that our light will be so much brighter. It is in standing up and taking on the next challenge that those who are weak will be motivated to rise with us and go beyond borders. It is in our boldness that we will become a beacon of light – of motivation. It is you that will bring other closer to Jesus by the way you face each day. I pray that you will take an iron grip on life, that your weary legs and tired hands will be renewed with unlimited strength and that you will reap the rewards with an undying spirit.

Have an awesome day dear friend of Jesus

Cheers

Today Reminder - 29 May 2012 (Endure)

My prayer for you for today is that you will keep your eyes on Jesus as you endure the race of life, in Jesus name.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honour beside God's throne.

Endure - And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Every athlete trains with passion and motivation to become a champion in their events. Their bodies are conditioned and toned to deliver excellence and even their attire is streamlined to make them more agile with less and less resistance. When we run the race of life it is so important that we do the same as an athlete. We must train with passion and motivation in our spirits and read the word and spend time in prayer. We must make sure that we do not carry extra weight, especially sin that can so easily trip us. Every athlete has a role model, someone that they look up to and who inspires them. In our race we should keep our eyes on Jesus, our champion. He must be our focus point, our inspiration. He went through temptation, humiliation, pain and finally death to rise from it and defeat it for us, so that we can follow in His footsteps and finally be like Him, to be a champion like Jesus.

My dear friend lets warm up and put on our running shoes. Let’s look at our champion and follow His example and run with endurance. Don’t be discouraged if you do not succeed at first, but instead stand up again and try again. Just like Jesus carried His cross and when He fell, He stood up again, you should get up again when you fall or fail. Finally when He could no longer carry the cross alone, Simon helped Him. In the same way Jesus was helped, He stands beside you every step of the way ready to lift you up when you fall. Keep your eyes on Him and ask Him to help you. I pray that you will rise above all that holds you back so that you will become a champion of life, a hero to those you meet and to those that work with you, live with you and knows you.

Have an awesome day dear friend of Jesus

Cheers

Today Reminder - 28 May 2012 (Mountains)

My prayer for you for today is that you will move mountains, in Jesus name.

Hebrews 11:33-34

By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.

Mountains - Their weakness was turned to strength.  Our theme in church this month is “Heroes” and listening to the life of David again yesterday was so awesome. It reminded me of the type of person God wants us to be. You see a whole army stood listening to Goliath mocking them and making fun of them and none of them wanted to face him. But here comes a boy and what he saw was completely different from what the whole Israelite army saw. He saw a man challenging God’s army, he saw a man but he knew how great his God is. He saw a problem and he knew God is greater than any problem. David stepped into the battle field against impossible odds in the eyes of man, but his trust and faith was in God. God defeated the great warrior Goliath through the hands of a boy. 

My dear friend God needs more heroes like David. Men and woman that does not look at the size of the problem, but instead they know how great God is and that He is greater than any problem we can ever face. God will take your weakness and turn it into strength, he will move your mountains and he will lift you out of your darkest place. Put your trust and all your problems in God’s hands and humbly trust Him with all your heart knowing that He is greater than anything this world can ever put in your way. You will shut the mouths of lions, you will quench the flames of a fire and you will be strong in battle putting the enemy to flight. The Sovereign LORD is my strength!  He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. (Habakkuk 13:19)

Have an awesome day dear friend of Jesus

Cheers

Our deepest fear

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
― Marianne Williamson, Return to Love

Today Reminder - 25 May 2012 (Confidence)

My prayer for you for today is that your faith will be renewed and that you will fear nothing, in Jesus name.

Hebrews 11:1-3

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.
By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

Confidence - Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen. There was once a Carpenter who could build the most beautiful furniture. He travelled from town to town sharing His love with people until one day He was arrested for something He did not do. He was brutally punished and finally ordered to be executed by the authorities of that time. Yet three days later this Carpenter returned from the dead and appeared to His friends. He came back to show them His greatest work. You see today this Carpenter sits at the right hand of God as He continues to build the most beautiful furniture. You and I are the result of His great work and every day we are under constant construction becoming more and more like Him. You see we are not the final design, but rather a perfect design in the making. It is by faith that we continue each day to reach our goal, to reach our Carpenter.  It is in this faith that we believe the now is only temporary and that there awaits a greater future for us with Jesus. It is by this faith that we know everything we are and everything around us was designed and made by God. It is by this faith that we stand up each day and continue our struggles knowing it will all end soon. It is by this faith that we change and people around us change. It is by this faith that I write to you every day and it is by this faith that the world will change. 

My dear friend, we live by faith and not by sight. Our faith is in this amazing living God who send His only son, a star breather, to become a Carpenter and die our sin bearer, to show us His great love and to carry us through our struggles as free people so that we can enter His Kingdom and live eternity with Him. So do not lose faith but instead I pray that your faith will be stronger and that you will not be moved from it, but that you will firmly hold on to it and let it resound through your life. 

Have an awesome day dear friend of the Carpenter.

Cheers

Today Reminder - 24 May 2012 (Hold tightly)

My prayer for you for today is that you will be motivated and encouraged by the Lord so that you can continue and not give up, in Jesus name.

Hebrews 10:23-24

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.

Hold tightly - Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. It has become more important now than ever before that we stand together and motivate each other. You cannot win this battle on your own, you need motivation and courage and most of all you need people to encourage you. So let’s not miss the opportunity to motivate and encourage the people around us and let us show acts of love do good works.  You see it is when we feel alone that we sometimes withdraw from people and it is in our withdrawal that we become vulnerable. In our vulnerability we can easily fall and slip into darkness, but when we are rescued by people motivating us to carry on we will not fall but we will remain standing. 

My dear friend, Jesus came to this world and endured the worst kind of humiliation and suffering to free us from the grip of sin and set us on a course to redemption. We are free to enter into God’s presence and seek His guidance and wisdom. Let us take this gift and encourage other, motivating them to stay on course and to not give up. Let us seek with God’s guidance the fallen ones so that we can bring them back to salvation and recovery. But above all my dear friend, my prayers are with you today as I ask God to give you strength and wisdom and help you through the season in your life that lies ahead. 

Be encouraged and be strong for you are not alone.

Have an awesome day

Cheers

Today Reminder - 23 May 2012 (Hope)

My prayer for you for today is that you will know God’s promise brings hope and this hope is an anchor for your soul, in Jesus name.

Hebrews 6:18-20

So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Hope - Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. Every day of your life Jesus stands before the Father brining you before Him, and pleading your case. He is the hope that we need and the anchor that holds us. He leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary where we are free to talk to God and seek His presence in our lives. How amazing is this gift that we received that allows us to enter into God’s sanctuary and freely talk with Him. How fortunate are we to be able to bring all our problems and worries to Him and He will guide us and help us giving us hope in what lies ahead. 

This hope that God gives will give us more confidence in everything that we do, because we know God will always keep His promise. He will never let us stand alone and He will never ignore our cries. Therefore just like a ship’s anchor keeps it in place against the multitude of waves that crashes into it, we must hold on to the anchor that is Jesus as the waves of this life crashes into us. 

My dear friend, the hope that lies in Jesus is far greater than the hope that the world has to offer. In Jesus we will face many difficult and tough situations but we will never be alone nor will we be tempted above our abilities. Hold on to Him and do not give up and keep yourself firmly anchored on Him and I pray that His hope and strength will encourage you every minute of your life.

Have an awesome day dear friend of Jesus.

Cheers

Today Reminder - 22 May 2012 (Better things)

My prayer for you for today is that you will trust God and be patient, because He has better things planned for you, in Jesus name.

Hebrews 6:9-12

Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don't believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him and how you have shown your love to Him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance.

Better things - We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. God will never forget you or leave you on your own. Every step we give He is with us no matter what we face. God has only good things planned for us and if today is getting you down and you feel the pressures of life pulling you further into the dark, He will set you free and He will pull you out of the dark and back into the light. God has only good things planned for you so do not let this world and all its pain influence you but instead stand strong and be bold. Love those around you as God loves you, and rise up above your problems to glorify God and show Him through your heart.

Stand firm on your faith and endure everything this world can throw at you, because in our faith and endurance lies our inheritance. So do not focus on the now, but keep your eyes on God and eternity with Him. Therefore we have no reason to fear nor do we need to be concerned with the plans of the enemy, because in our salvation lies an inheritance far greater than anything we can ever imagine. 

My dear friend, I pray that you will be patient as God brings into place all the good things He has planned for you and that you will grow in your faith and strength in God as each day unfolds and reveals God’s plan.

I can’t help but to think of this today:

The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honour to His name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honour me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23)

Have an awesome day dear friend of Jesus

Cheers

Today Reminder - 21 May 2012 (Exposed)

My prayer for you for today is that you will find strength and guidance in God’s word, in Jesus name.

Hebrews 4:12-13

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable.

Exposed - Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes. The word of God in this phrase I assume has created many speculations and we can continue to debate it between ourselves, but what the Holy Spirit places in my heart this morning is just this. The word of God is God exposing our innermost thoughts and desires, cutting between soul and spirit, setting us free from that which holds us back. Now what does your inner most thoughts and desires look like? Are you still influenced by this world and what other might think of you? Nothing in all creation is hidden from God, making it quite clear that God knows everything and whatever it is that you are ashamed of or that is keeping you from committing your life to Him, God already knows about it. They say that the truth will set you free. In this case you are already exposed and you are going to be accountable for the life you lived before the almighty God. To hear this might concern you and it might place fear in your heart and it can even make you want to give up, because of the life you live or lived, thinking there is no forgiveness for you. This is where the truth will set you free:

So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son. (John 1)

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

My dear friend, Jesus already defeated all your sins, all you need to do is to come to the throne of God and ask and you will be set free. Do not be ashamed anymore, but stand up and let the truth shine through your life.

Have an awesome day dear friend of Jesus

Cheers

Today Reminder - 18 May 2012 (Firmly)

My prayer for you for today is that you will stand firm on your faith and that you will remain faithful to the end, in Jesus name.

Hebrews 3:12-14

Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

Firmly - trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed. What a week! I think in this week I have been challenged on every level possible. I have once again been reminded that you should not place your trust in people but you should place it in God and God alone. I have been burdened with a difficult choice and I am still not sure what to do, but what is so interesting is how the enemy will attack me with more force right at the moment when I am the weakest. I have been through many tough choices and in so many ways have I hurt and have been hurt by people, and I think the enemy thought that if he can recreate a prior event in my life, I will fall like before. What he did not expect is that my faith will just get stronger and my trust will be in God waiting patiently for His answer. Even though the day that lies ahead of me still holds many uncertainties and many tough decisions I am sure that God is with me as He has been all my life. I will not be discouraged by the enemy trying to bring me down, but instead I will have more courage and I will be more focussed as I am humbled by God’s love.

My dear friend, do not turn away from God when your hearts are attacked by evil trying to destroy your faith. Be faithful in God to the end and you will share in all that belongs to Jesus. But most of all you will have freedom, peace and love that will keep you focused on God and it will strengthen your faith. And remember to forgive people and to ask for forgiveness, it will only bring you closer to God.

Have an awesome day dear friend of Jesus.

Cheers

Today Reminder - 17 May 2012 (The answer)

The answer is Jesus. Do you feel tired today? Are you struggling with difficult issues? Are you alone? Do you stand before a difficult decision? Are you hurt? Life certainly is not a breeze. Life is a difficult process of standing up and falling down. Each day and each moment we are faced with so many possibilities and in so many ways it can go wrong. I have found myself so many times carrying the burden of wrong decisions and being reminded of them constantly when things don’t seem to go my way. I think what hurts the most is not only the bad choices we make but the people that is supposed to stand with us and then does not. It is in our weak moments that the storms of life crashes over us with continuous waves of sorrow. It is in these moments when we feel so alone that we must stand up and call His name, reach out and seek His presence and finally humbling ourselves on our knees and pray. There is no problem too big or too difficult for Him, and even of it does not go away, He will carry us through it, because there is purpose in God’s way and a reason for everything He does. When Jesus asked God to take this cup away if there is another way to save us, He did not, because this was the only way. Maybe our suffering is to save someone else or even ourselves. 

When you call His name and ask Him for help, you are not calling 911, you are calling God and what He does is His will and it might not make sense now, but it will eventually. The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God, and He sustains everything by the mighty power of His command. When He had cleansed us from our sins, He sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. (Hebrews 1:3) Jesus sustains everything by the power of His command, what an awesome God.  Therefore you can know that He is with you sustaining you in every way and even carrying you when you are too weak to walk.

Therefore, it was necessary for Him to be made in every respect like us, His brothers and sisters, so that He could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then He could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since He Himself has gone through suffering and testing, He is able to help us when we are being tested. (Hebrews 2:17-18)

So now I conclude, the answer is Jesus and I carry you in my prayer today as I ask the Lord to be with you and carry you through your difficult times, to help you when you are tested and to guide you when you feel lost, to give you wisdom when you have difficult choices and to strengthen you when you are weak, in Jesus name.

Have an awesome day dear friend of Jesus.

Cheers

Today Reminder - 16 May 2012 (A father's letter)

My dear friend, we are always confronted by the idea of evil and why bad things happen. We should not be angry at God and ask why He allows evil to enter our lives, but instead we should be amazed at the price He paid to rescue us from it all when we have rebelled so against Him. We read this letter last night and it truly blessed us, so I decided to share it with you today. May God bless you with this amazing letter and may your love for Him grow stronger with every minute of every day. 

MY DEAR BRISTOL

Before you were born I prayed for you. In my heart I knew that you would be a little angel. And so you were.

When you were born on my birthday, April 7 ^th, it was evident that you were a special gift from the Lord. But how profound a gift you turned out to be! More than the bundle of gurgles and rosy cheeks – more than the first-born of my flesh, a joy unspeakable. You showed me God's love more than anything else in all creation.

Bristol, you taught me how to love.

I certainly loved you when you were cuddly and cute, when you rolled over and sat up and jabbered your first words. I loved you when the searing pain of the realization that took hold that something was wrong – that maybe you were not developing as quickly as your peers. Then when we understood it was more serious than that. I loved you when we went from hospital to clinic to doctor looking for a medical diagnosis that would bring some hope. And, of course, we always prayed for you, and prayed and prayed.

I loved you when one of the tests resulted in too much spinal fluid being drawn from your body and you screamed. I loved you when you moaned and cried. When your Mum and I and your sisters would drive for hours late at night to help you fall asleep. I loved you with tears in my eyes, when confused, you would bite your fingers or your lip by accident and when your eyes cross and then went blind.

I most certainly loved you when you could no longer speak, but how profoundly I missed your voice! I loved you when your scoliosis started wrenching your body like a pretzel, when we put a tube in your stomach so you could eat, because you were choking on your food, which we fed you one spoonful at a time for up to two hours per meal. I managed to love you when your contorted limbs would not allow ease of changing your messy diapers – so many diapers – ten years of diapers. Bristol, I even loved you when you could not say the one thing in life that I longed to hear back – “Daddy, I love you.” Bristol, I loved you when I was close to God and when He seemed far away, when I was full of faith and also when I was angry at Him.

And the reason I loved you, my Bristol, in spite of these difficulties, is that God put His love in my heart. This is the wondrous nature of God's love, that He loves us even when we are blind, deaf or twisted in body or in spirit. God loves us even when we can't tell Him that we love Him back.

My Dear Bristol, now you are free! I looked forward to that day, according to God's promises, when we will be joined together with you with the Lord, completely whole and full of joy. I'm so happy that you have your crown first. We will follow you someday – in His time.

Before you were born, I prayed for you. In my heart I knew that you would be a little angel. And so you were.

Love Daddy
 

(From the Book : Enjoyment & Truth )

Today Reminder - 15 May 2012 (Good deeds)

My prayer for you for today is that you will be reminded today of God’s mercy in your life and that you will journey knowing that you are saved because of His great mercy, in Jesus name

Titus 3:3-7

Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But—"When God our Saviour revealed His kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Because of His grace He declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life."

Good deeds - He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. I love this scripture! Paul writes that we were once all foolish and disobedient. In our lives we travel or as I like to say, journey through different stages. The enemy knows our weaknesses so well and lays waiting for us at every corner to steer us of our course. We so often slip into this trap and we are misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. So many times we are ashamed and instead of accepting God’s mercy trough Jesus Christ we try and fix it by doing good deeds. This in its own right is one of the enemy’s great deceptions making us think we can win God’s favour by the things we do. It is actually so simple: When God our Saviour revealed His kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

My dear friend, do not let the enemy steal your salvation with guilt and accusations. God saved you and will save you out of His great mercy. You must accept Jesus into your life as your saviour and follow His ways living your life for His glory and by His word. It is only in our love for Jesus and our true acceptance of Him as our saviour that we will be free from the grip that the enemy can have on us. Seek His light and guidance through your everyday living and remember He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Because of His grace He declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

Have an awesome day dear friend of Jesus.

Cheers

Today Reminder - 14 May 2012 (Slave)

My prayer for you for today is that you will live a godly life devoted to God, in Jesus name. 

Titus 1:1-2

This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.

Slave - a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. When I read this opening to Titus this morning I couldn’t help to have the “Wow” thought (Once again). At first when you read Paul stating that he is a slave of God you think that this is a little inappropriate, but the Holy Spirit passed the image through my mind of a slave. A slave is loyal to his master doing his every request with no complaint and never questioning the authority of his master. A slave is fully and completely devoted to his master and his work. And then Paul adds on “and an apostle of Jesus Christ.” 

My dear friend there is something in this that we should take very serious in our reminder today. If you are a slave to God you will never do anything to anger Him or embarrass Him. You will seek to do His will and obey His commands. You will work for Him with a joyful heart and never complain and always with contentment. And above that you are an apostle of Jesus Christ who must proclaim the truth to all that God chose and teach them this truth that will show them how to live a godly life. This truth will give people confidence that they have eternal life which God promised to all that believe. 

So today I remind you to be a slave, a slave of God and to live for Jesus. Have an amazing day dear slave of God.

Cheers

Today Reminder - 11 May 2012 (Deliver)

My prayer for you for today is that the Lord will deliver you from every evil attack, in Jesus name.

2 Timothy 4:17-18

But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And He rescued me from certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into His heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.

Deliver - Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into His heavenly Kingdom. I do not know what it is that you are facing at the moment. You might be in real dark times or you might be really happy where you are currently. You could be in financial difficulty or you could be free from your financial burden. You could be sad or unhappy or you could be smiling and laughing. What I do know is this: The struggle never ends. It is and will remain a continuous battle each day. Some days will be easy and some days will be much harder than other. It is so easy for circumstances to change and it can easily bring us down when we allow it to do so. 

My dear friend, the Lord stands beside you. He is with you right now wherever you are. He will give you strength and He will rescue you. He will set you free and deliver you from every evil attack and bring you safely into His heavenly Kingdom. Please don’t give up, take your burden and bring it to Him and let God strengthen you and guide through your difficult times.

O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD.
You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! (Psalm 139)

Have an awesome day dear friend of Jesus.

Cheers

NEED WASHING?

A little girl had been shopping with her Mum in Woolies.

She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.

It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the Woolies.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.

I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world.  Memories of running, splashing, so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, 'Mum let's run through the rain,' she said.

'What?' Mum asked.

'Let's run through the rain!' She repeated.

'No, darling, we'll wait until it slows down a bit,' Mum replied.

This young child waited a minute and repeated: 'Mum, let's run through the rain.'

'We'll get soaked if we do,' Mum said.

'No, we won't, Mum. That's not what you said this morning,'the young girl said as she tugged at her Mum's arm.

'This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?'

'Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything! '

The entire crowd were completely silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one left. Mum paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.

Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

'Darling, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just need washing,' Mum said.

Then off they ran.

We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles.

They got soaked.

They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did.  I ran.  I got wet.  I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health.

But no one can ever take away your precious memories...

So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday.

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.
I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Take the time to live!!!

Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you'll need each other –

And don't forget to run in the rain!

Today Reminder - 10 May 2012 (Equipped)

My prayer for you for today is that you will spend time in God’s word so that you can be equipped for every day, in Jesus name.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.

Equipped - God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work. It is amazing that the Bible has withstood so many ages of destruction and still remains a true and trusting historical document. It does not contradict itself nor does it give incorrect references. It’s is the most correct account of history that you can get. It is clear that even though man wrote it, it was inspired by God. I love how Paul states it corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. And most of all God uses His word to equip us to do good work. Awesome! 

My dear friend it is so important that we study the word of God and make it our own. Do not read it verse by verse but instead read it as a whole. You can never take a single verse and see its true meaning, you must always see it in the whole context that it is written. Make time to read your Bible and so equip your spirit for every battle that lies ahead. We live in a time where people will try and change your mind by interpreting the Bible to suit their evil purpose. So it is so important that we study it and let the Holy Spirit guide us in this so that we will not be let astray by those who seek only their own desires. I want to leave you with an old thought from Paul:

Ephesians 6:13-17

Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Have an awesome day dear friend of Jesus.

Cheers

Today Reminder - 09 May 2012 (Bad guys)

My prayer for you for today is that God will always be your first love, in Jesus name.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather 

than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

Bad guys - They will consider nothing sacred. Paul’s letter to Timothy has once again been quite an amazing read. When I read this section in chapter three, I could not help but think that we are in the last days. The kind of people Paul describes here is all around us and has been for a while. It is sad to know that the devil has misled so many and that our job as Christians is so much greater. I guess the end of time can be quite a discussion but luckily Jesus said we will not know the day or the time of His return but we must always be ready. So what I would like to take out of this scripture as a reminder for you for today is just this:

We will face difficult times and even more difficult situations, but we should not be discouraged instead we should grow in our faith as we call on God for power, guidance and wisdom. We should love other with true and unconditional love. We should not love money nor should we allow it to control us. We must be humble and modest and obedient to God. We must love, respect and honour our parents. We must be forgiving and we must have self-control in everything every day. We must hate what is wrong and stand for what is good. We must treasure our friends and carry them in our prayers. We must love God with all our heart, mind and soul and we should seek His power that will make us godly and holy so that He will be glorified with every step we take.

My dear friend, more than ever you are in my prayers today. I pray that you will be a tower of strength and a beacon of light. I pray that amidst all the storms that you will have peace in God and that you will know Jesus is in you, around you and above you, holding you in His arms, keeping you safe and that He loves you so much.

Have an awesome day dear friend of Jesus.

Cheers

God's Grace

Hope you are all as blessed as I was by this story.

There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter  Sunday  morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak....

"I was walking through town yesterday  when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright.
I stopped the lad and asked, "What do you have there, son?"
"Just some old birds," came the reply.
"What are you going to do with them?" I asked.
"Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered. "I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time."
"But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do then?"
"Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I'll take 'em to them."
The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those birds, son?"
"Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister.
They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!"
"How much?" the pastor asked again.
The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, "$10?"

The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free. Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story:

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. "Yes, sir, I just caught a world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!"
"What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked.
Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!"
"And what will you do when you are done with them" Jesus asked?
"Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly.
"How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked.
"Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!"
"How much? He asked again.
Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your blood, tears and your life."
Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price.
The pastor picked up the cage and walked from the pulpit.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
I thank God every day for my blessed life. I'm not rich, don't live in a mansion and don't have the nicest of material things, but, I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, food on my table, a family that loves me and lifelong friends to get me through. I'd say I have a lot to be thankful for.

Have you counted your blessings today ?

God is the only true Source of wisdom. Without Him no true wisdom is possible.

Today Reminder - 08 May 2012 (Good worker)

My prayer for you for today is that you will be a good worker for God in your work, in Jesus name.

2 Timothy 2:15-16

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive His approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behaviour.

Good worker - Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. I have written to you before about work and it is interesting how Paul wrote about work more than once. What caught my attention out of this section in 2 Timothy 2 is how Paul mentions more than once that we should avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behaviour. In verse 23 he writes “Again I say, don't get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.”

This made me think a little about my own work. It is funny how the slightest change in person’s mood can affect a whole office. I have seen it from time to time where people have a bad day and they find it hard to keep their circumstances and feelings under control and obviously we like to take out our bad days on those closest to us. The harsh words leave a scar, but what the devil actually want are the discussions among ourselves that follows. We must be careful when we get involved in these discussions that we do not do more harm than good. I guess it is good to talk amongst ourselves about problems we face at work but it can be harmful in our relationship with God, because in the end we are actually working for God. So I believe we should always try to avoid discussions that can lead to gossip and always ask God to help us if we are pulled into these discussions that we stand strong on what is right and good and not be influenced by evil. Therefore Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive His approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth, for God cannot be visible in my life if I do not live to glorify Him. In the end our lives must be lived in a manner where we can mirror Jesus to the world, but I do believe that we must stand up for what is right and appose what is wrong. 

(Verse 24-26)

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil's trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.

My dear friend let’s try and show Jesus to the world so that He can set the captives free.

Have an awesome day working for God.

Cheers

Today Reminder - 07 May 2012 (Soldier)

My prayer for you for today is that you will be a good soldier for Christ, in Jesus name.

2 Timothy 2:3-4

Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don't get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.

Soldier - Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Once again Paul is in prison and yet he writes encouraging letters to Timothy. When we follow Jesus Christ it is unavoidable that we will go through tough times, but most important is the way we face these difficult times and where we put our trust, but let’s look at a soldier. A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces, so when you are a soldier of God you are a member of the land component of God’s national armed forces. You see soldiers go into battle sometimes even when the odds are against them. Soldiers are disciplined and focussed, and they follow orders as it is given by the commanding officer. Soldiers do not question their orders, because of a trust relationship between themselves and their leaders. Soldiers are always equipped for battle carrying the correct equipment to do their job. Soldiers will give their lives for their countries as they see it as an honour to serve. Now let’s look at a soldier of God. A soldier of God is in a constant battle, facing the enemy on a daily basis. In most of our battles we feel outnumbered, yet we are in God’s army and we can never be outnumbered. A soldier of God must also be disciplined and focussed and must study his orders (Holy Bible) on a daily basis. A soldier of God must follow orders from his commanding officer the Holy Spirit and do what God asks of him. A soldier of God must always have his weapon, the Bible, at hand and he must know it well. A soldier of God must be willing to give up his life for Jesus Christ.

(Verse 11-13)

If we die with Him, we will also live with Him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him.
If we deny Him, He will deny us. If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is. 

My dear friend, be a true soldier of God and do not fear our enemy. We are part of the winning side, the army of God, and we cannot lose the fight. So stand strong in your faith and carry the Word of God with you wherever you go so that you are always equipped and ready for battle.

Have an awesome day soldier of God.

Cheers

Today Reminder - 04 May 2012 (Spirit)

My prayer for you for today is that you will once again be filled with God’s spirit and that you will fear no more as God’s spirit fills you will power and love, in Jesus name.

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Spirit – Not of fear but of power, love, and self-discipline. I guess fear is something we constantly live with and I know that life and daily challenges can increase our fears. As we face each day and each new obstacle in our life we are constantly moving in and out of fear. How we fear and how much we fear I guess depends on the type of situation we find ourselves in. I have always believed that fear comes into your life and you control the power it has over you with your mind. If you believe that you are helpless in a certain problem then fear will overpower you and God’s spirit will not be able to help you, because you let fear control you. Paul wrote to Timothy with exactly this in mind. Paul knew that God is far above all fear and that nothing can bring you down if your faith and trust is in Him. We might not know the outcome of each situation, but if we trust God, He will carry us through it. 

My dear friend the spirit that dwells in us is not a timid and fearful one but an all-powerful one. The Holy Spirit is part of God and that means that you have God in you so why do we still let fear dictate the outcomes of our struggles. You have a spirit of power, love and self-discipline so fear not but be bold and stand strong as this day unfolds. Nothing on this earth is greater than He who created it all. So I will fear none, because my God is greater than anything the enemy can throw in my direction. I will stand in the midst of the storm and shout out praises knowing that within me dwells the Spirit of God. I will not let fear constrain me, but I will let the Holy Spirit free my mind as I place my trust in God. Jesus has already defeated all for me so why should I worry about the small things of this world when God is with me every step of the way.

Fear none dear friend of Jesus and have an awesome day.

Cheers

Today Reminder - 03 May 2012 (Wealth)

My prayer for you for today is that you will not seek the wealth of this world but instead seek the wealth of the living God in your life so that you will be content, in Jesus name.

1Timothy 6:6-10

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Wealth - Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. Once upon a time in land far away from here lived an old king. He had seen many battles and the scars of a hard life were deeply cut into an old body. Yet the spirit that lived inside him was still strong as he ruled his land with compassion. He had only one son, young and full of ambition. He strived on success and hated defeat, he lived for himself and sought only the throne of his father. The materialistic desires of his son had caused many quarrels between the old king and his son and as time passed their different world views caused separation between them. This was of great value to an old enemy of the king. Not far from his kingdom lived a tyrant who only wanted more wealth and deeply desired the beautiful kingdom of the old king. In a secret meeting the tyrant convinced the son of the old king that they should take the throne from the old king and that he the tyrant will help the son to be king and rule the land. They had met for some time planning the defeat of the old king and in their plot they have contracted some the lands worst criminals. The time came and they moved swiftly, they knew the old king would be asleep and they knew that the guards whom have not seen battle for so long would not be on their guard and that they would be easy to overpower. As they entered the palace and moved swiftly up to the old king’s room they were amazed that there were no guards and that they all seem to be busy somewhere else. As they entered the king’s room where he was sleeping the son moved up to his bed. The tyrant stood on the other side and for a brief moment they both watched as the old king slept. Slowly the tyrant pulled his sword out ready to kill an easy target. The room was silent and in the distance you could hear the call of an owl, almost crying out for the king. As the tyrant readied himself for the blow the old king spoke: “Did you really think after all this time it would be this easy?” His words were like knives cutting through the hearts of his enemies and within seconds the room was filled with palace guards. The old king had seen his son’s dark heart and had sent his spies to follow him as they uncovered the plot they infiltrated the criminal underground and was enlisted by the king’s son. As the son and the tyrant stood alone against an army of battle hardened warriors the old king said: “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. As you will soon learn”

My dear friend, remember this: Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

Have an awesome day dear friend of Jesus.

Cheers

Today Reminder - 02 May 2012 (Excercise)

My prayer for you for today is that you will continue to exercise your spirit in prayer and continue to strive for godliness in every day, in Jesus name.

1Timothy 4:7-10

Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. "Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come." This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Saviour of all people and particularly of all believers.

Exercise - Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come. I have this picture of a samurai in my head this morning. The samurai has always been fascinating to me. Their commitment to perfection and their humble and respectful way of life is quite inspiring. You see as a warrior for God you must become something like a samurai. Every day you should train to find perfection in your faith, inner peace and complete trust in God. You should meditate on God’s word and bind it to your daily life so that you will be invulnerable to attacks and superior against all evil. 

My dear friend don’t waste time arguing over godless ideas but spend time in training yourself physically but mostly train for godliness. Seek continuous perfection in your faith and strive to please God even as we continue to struggle each day - for our hope is in the living God, who is the Saviour of all people and particularly of all believers.

Have a great day training oh samurai warrior of God.

Cheers

Today Reminder - 01 May 2012 (Saved)

My prayer for you for today is to pray, pray for all people and to those in authority, in Jesus name.

1Timothy 2:1-4

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Saviour, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.

Saved – God wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. Prayer is one the most important things we must do and Paul writes in many of his letter that we must pray for other. This letter to Timothy he urges us to intercede on behalf of other and ask God to help them. He then specifically makes a note that we should pray for those in authority, our leaders, regardless of what we think of them. I believe this to be more true nowadays, that we must pray for our leaders so that we can live peaceful and quite lives marked by godliness and dignity. It is weird times that we live in and with even weirder weather. The world seems to have turned its back on God and the constant hunger for wealth has corrupted so many and sadly so many in authority. People do not care anymore and they create a little world for themselves so that they do not see the need outside of their save little sphere. People need God now more than ever, and more so does our leaders. 

My dear friend lets stand united as we bring other and especially our leaders to God in prayer so that our children will have a future. Ask God to help them so that they will see beyond their greed and mistakes and that they will seek guidance to make the right decisions. I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 

This is good and pleases God our Saviour.

Have an awesome day dear friend of Jesus.

Cheers