Today Reminder – 31 December 2013 (Day 21 – A Real Christmas)

A reminder for today

Instead, glorify his mighty works, singing songs of praise. (Job 36:24)

And here it is, the very last day of 2013. What an amazing year and how many wonderful blessings did we enjoy in the time that is behind us. There is so much that we can be thankful for and so much that we can take from the journey that now lies behind us. I have learned so much and gained so much in this year and I am so grateful for all that the Lord has done in my life. 

As the last moments of 2013 reaches us and a bright new horizon opens in 2014 I just want to give all the glory to God and sing songs of praise to Him.  "Look, God is all-powerful. Who is a teacher like him?” (Verse 22) God has shown me so much and lifted my knowledge so high during this year. He has truly been a wonderful teacher in my life journey. "God is leading you away from danger, Job, to a place free from distress. He is setting your table with the best food.” (Verse 16) I feel that the year ahead will bring even greater wonders and more amazing miracles. God is teaching us and He is leading us towards a place free from distress. He is setting the table and we will be astounded by the wonder of His grace and mercy in our lives. "If they listen and obey God, they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant.” (Verse 11) This year will mark a new level of obedience in the Lord and I believe we will be blessed with prosperity and all our days will be pleasant.

It is in this that we need to remember who God is and that His ways is beyond our ways. As we thank Him for the year behind us we must also thank Him for the year that lies ahead. God is going to amaze us in this year and I am so looking forward to it. Come my friend and let us spend today glorifying His mighty works and singing songs of praise to Him. To God be all the glory forever and ever.

Have and awesome day dear friend of Jesus

Cheers

Today Reminder – 30 December 2013 (Day 20 – A Real Christmas)

A reminder for today

He doesn't care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all. (Job 34:19)

God has blessed my blog with over 700 posts and what a privilege to share His Word with you. 2013 is coming to an end and 2014 is staring us in the eyes, a new year with new opportunities and new chances. I guess it is normal to reflect back on a year gone by and to look ahead, a little nervous, at the New Year. I believe that there are great things awaiting us this year and even greater results in our journey with God. 

One thing we need to remember as we end our “Real Christmas” theme is that God does not distinguish between us according to our accomplishments. God made each one of us and therefore He loves each one equally. God looks at your heart, the very core of who you are. This is where the real you are and where your loyalties lie. 

God wants to change our mind-set in this New Year. He wants to take us from mediocre Christians to fearless warriors that will change this world. In our service yesterday the pastor said something that made me think for a while. God is able to do all things by Himself, yet He chooses to do it with us. He chooses to include us in His work and to use us to do His miracles. What an awesome thought! God is not a distant God, He is right here with us every step of the way. 

You are in God’s plan and part of His plan. He wants to use you to make a difference. It is not about what you bring or who you are. Every little bit helps and if you can only give a little, then give it with no hesitancy. As long as your heart belongs to God and your eyes are fixed on Him, He will do great things through you. Do not look at others for what they have, but look at yourself for what you can do with what you are willing to give. God will take it, change your heart, bless it and multiply it. Remember God spoke and the universe was formed, what do you think will happen when He speaks through you?

Have and awesome day dear friend of Jesus

Cheers

Today Reminder – 27 December 2013 (Day 19 – A Real Christmas)

A reminder for today

"Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows? Have I been stingy with my food and refused to share it with orphans? No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows. Whenever I saw the homeless without clothes and the needy with nothing to wear, did they not praise me for providing wool clothing to keep them warm?” (Job 31:16-20)

Christmas is all about giving and as I read Job’s way of life towards other it makes me wonder. Do I help the poor? Am I stingy with my food and do not share? Do I care for widows? Do I help the homeless?

It has almost become an epidemic in our country. Our way of life has caused a number of issues regarding poverty. It is difficult to distinguish when to give and when not to. Who is really in need and who is a con artist?

It is currently like this: At almost every robot you will find a person with a banner stating their need and asking for money. When you park your car there is a car watcher that wants so look after your car and obviously all the other ones also asking for money. Then there are those who are selling stuff at every robot and if you do not buy something they ask for “small change”. Then we have people who take their little children to the side of the roads also asking for money and using the children to do it when our government gives a pension for woman where the father is absent. 

It is at times quite challenging because by giving each day it could become quite a financial burden and what is more disturbing is that the kindness of people is exploited by so called beggars. Some of those that are begging at the robots are doing it when they have no need at all. They would arrive early in their good clothes and then change into rags and beg at the robots. It has caused confusion amongst people and I must say it also causes anger in some cases, because not only are the normal tax payer heavily burdened by taxes, he must also pay toll fees and now e-toll. And funny enough now during the Christmas season people are abusing the kindness of other. I stopped at a filling station the other day and after the attendant filled my car with diesel he asked me for a “Christmas box”. I was caught off guard and was basically speechless, because at that time I had given money to the guard in the parking lot and at every robot there was a person in need and now even the petrol attendant asked for money.

So what happens is that people’s hearts are cold and they are reluctant to give and to top it our government wastes millions while people are struggling to survive. 

What do we do? When do we give and when do we not give?  It is difficult especially with the continuous increase in prices. I believe that God will give you wisdom in this matter. I always think it is safer to give your money to the church, because they know who is really needy and where to use your tithes. In many cases the beggar at the robot is there purely out of laziness and by laziness I mean that I know of many guys who have offered these beggars a job and they refused, because it is easier to beg than to work. 

So to conclude: It is only right to give for we reactive so much, but follow God’s voice when you give and listen to His direction. God loves us all equally and to help someone in need is the very heart of God and He will be glorified by it. Jesus was very clear on this matter: "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." (Luke 6:37-38)

Note that there are three things we must keep in mind: 1) Do not judge 2) Forgive and 3) Give and you shall receive. So I conclude that giving is receiving and by giving we display the very essence of our faith and we confirm our trust in God. Finally this trust will grow your relationship with God and you will receive much more than what you gave. So do not judge when you give and be quick to forgive, for in this lies a great treasure and a life of freedom.

Have and awesome day dear friend of Jesus

Cheers

Today Reminder – 26 December 2013 (Day 18 – A Real Christmas)

A reminder for today

And this is what he says to all humanity: 'The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.' (Job 28:28)

What an awesome day we had yesterday. To have our families over and to share Christmas with them was such an amazing blessing. I realized that we spend too much time focussed on life and all the issues that surrounds it that we miss time with our families. This is something I would like to change. I want to spend more time with my family. 

This verse just stood out today and I know that in our celebrations we changed our focus from the material world to the real reason for Christmas. In this lies wisdom. Job writes that the fear of the Lord is true wisdom and I believe that this is the essence of what we should know and life by each day.

For the unbeliever, the fear of God is the fear of the judgment of God and eternal death, which is eternal separation from God (Luke 12:5; Hebrews 10:31). For the believer, the fear of God is something much different. The believer's fear is reverence of God. Hebrews 12:28-29 is a good description of this: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ’God is a consuming fire.’” This reverence and awe is exactly what the fear of God means for Christians. This is the motivating factor for us to surrender to the Creator of the Universe.

Proverbs 1:7 declares, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” Until we understand who God is and develop a reverential fear of Him, we cannot have true wisdom. True wisdom comes only from understanding who God is and that He is holy, just, and righteous. Deuteronomy 10:12, 20-21 records, “And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.” The fear of God is the basis for our walking in His ways, serving Him, and, yes, loving Him.

Some redefine the fear of God for believers to “respecting” Him. While respect is definitely included in the concept of fearing God, there is more to it than that. A biblical fear of God, for the believer, includes understanding how much God hates sin and fearing His judgment on sin—even in the life of a believer. Hebrews 12:5-11 describes God’s discipline of the believer. While it is done in love (Hebrews 12:6), it is still a fearful thing. As children, the fear of discipline from our parents no doubt prevented some evil actions. The same should be true in our relationship with God. We should fear His discipline, and therefore seek to live our lives in such a way that pleases Him.

Believers are not to be scared of God. We have no reason to be scared of Him. We have His promise that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). We have His promise that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Fearing God means having such a reverence for Him that it has a great impact on the way we live our lives. The fear of God is respecting Him, obeying Him, submitting to His discipline, and worshipping Him in awe.

Have and awesome day dear friend of Jesus

Cheers

(Reference - S. Michael Houdmann)