Today Reminder (All things) – 18 December 2017

A reminder for today

And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.] (Colossians 1:17)

It is Monday morning and the voices in my head are quiet. Hee hee, I always joke at work about the voices in my head. You see where I work you can’t be normal otherwise you will not fit in. I have been on leave for little over a week and yesterday our Pastor spoke about stress and how South Africa is the second highest country where people stresses a lot. He said that when the voices in your head or the white noise gets so loud you do not hear what other say it is time to rest. Therefore, my statement that the voices in my head are quiet, because I am resting. I decided that I will take a week extra this year, because I just had enough.

The Lord is doing amazing things in my life. I still have that little “me” that comes in the way of what God has planned, but I believe in time I will be less and less, and He will be more and more. I love this verse. When things are tough, and life is just not fair, I always remember that in Him all things hold together. 

He is the glue that holds me together, but not just that, He keeps me sane and focussed. He sets my life in motion and He direct my steps. He leads me through the dark valleys and He gives me rest. He holds me in His hands and He shields me from the storms around me. He is the breath I take and the life that flows through my body. He is my strength and He is my God and king. He was and is and is forever. All things and all that is me is held together by Him.

Lord, we thank you that we know you hold all things together and that we should not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow is in your hands. In Jesus name. 

Have an awesome day, dear friend of Jesus. 

Cheers

Today Reminder (The season) – 15 December 2017

A reminder for today

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. (Mark 10:31)

We have decided to take the little we have left and buy our maid a fridge. She lives in a rural area and they have very little. Her salary does not provide much and above all that she is the only remaining family member to foster five children. I always say it is much nicer to give than to receive. We try as much as we can to help her and give her clothes for herself and for the kids. When I paid for the fridge this morning I was reminded of the rich young man.

You see, this young man impressed Jesus so much with his way of life and how he kept the ten commandments. His question to Jesus was how to inherit eternal life. Jesus simply said that he must sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor. This made him very sad, because he did not see the full picture of what he is giving versus what he will receive. Many of us are in the same boat. We cannot see Jesus, because our vision is blocked by the many possessions we have. 

We get comfortable living extravagant lives and we miss the true meaning of being a follower of Jesus. If the rich young man would have done what Jesus told him to do, he would have had so much more than what this world has to offer. The same applies in my case where I took the last of my money and I gave it to someone who are in desperate need. 

Christmas is all about giving, but giving the gospel not material needs. I gave out of the love Jesus has for us and I know that in turn He will bless us so that we will have enough. Jesus is my all and in Him I am stronger than ever before. Run devil, run, because I am just getting started. 

Lord, I pray that you will bless us all in this wonderful season so that in our blessing we will bring glory to you. In Jesus name.

Have an awesome day, dear friend of Jesus. 

Cheers

Today Reminder (One man) – 14 December 2017

A reminder for today

 Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to willingly give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a good man [one who is noble and selfless and worthy] someone might even dare to die. But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:7-8)

I often think about this: How willing will you give your life for someone you do not like or someone that wronged you in the past? It is an extraordinary thing for one to willingly give his life for anyone for that matter. I think about the soldiers going into extreme circumstances to willingly give their lives for other. Or a fire fighter running into a burning building to save lives or a police officer facing death at every corner. There are many that we know who does it, but will we do it for a bad person like a terrorist or a murderer or a sinner. 

Sin came into this world through one man (Adam) and death through sin. Many died by one man’s trespass but so much more benefited from God’s grace in the gift of one man (Jesus Christ). Adam brought destruction, but Jesus brought salvation.

So, the choice remains and is simple. Whose footsteps do we follow? Do we follow destruction in the footsteps of Adam or do we follow salvation in the footsteps of Jesus? There are many that are stuck in the footsteps of Adam due to unforgiveness or just denying the fact that God exists. 

Jesus came into the world destroying sin and in that destroying death. You see in Jesus our bodies may die, but we will live on in heaven. I can feel my bodies in not what it used to be. Injuries takes longer to heal, or they just stay. My body aches and pains each week from our workouts and it did not used to be like that when I was younger. It should be clear that death is inevitable, but death has no meaning anymore, because Jesus saved us from it.

I will follow only one and that is Jesus Christ. Only one man loved me so much that He died and paid my debt for me. Only one man defeated death and broke sin’s hold. There is only one God and Jesus Christ is His son. 

Lord, what wonderful message your gospel is. Guide us through this day so that we will share it freely. In Jesus name.     

Have an awesome day, dear friend of Jesus. 

Cheers