This week’s reading:
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:11-12
When I left the mine I was working on, I flippantly used to say that the hardest thing I’ve ever done was changing a final drive on a 120 ton rear dumping production machine. This job entailed working physically for 48 hours non-stop which pushed you to the limits of human endurance. Grown, tough men would get physically sick from exhaustion. But it was also the kind of job that gained you the respect of the entire mine once you had done it.
Then I became a Christian!
Over time, I have learned that God often asks us to do the most challenging things in His name in His time.He always wants us to move from where we are. And moving is not easy – it was never meant to be.
One of the things He asks of us is to put ourselves out there!
Are you offering Jesus in your home, to your friends, in your workplace or business in His time?
The hardest, but most rewarding things we will ever do, is God’s will at the times He asks, not the times we think we might.
Blessings
Monday, 27 June 2011
Monday, 20 June 2011
A Word of Warning
This week’s reading:
"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, `I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Revelation 3:14-22
This reading comes as part of John’s revelation to the seven churches.
I believe these letters serve as a ‘thermometer’ for a churches pulse.
For me this reading confirms that at NR, we should not be lukewarm. We need to be fully committed to the work of Christ.
This starts with you and me. How we are away from NR will determine what we bring to NR when we serve.
My prayer is that you keep growing in your faith journey. Keep a teachable spirit and study the Word daily.
Have a blessed week.
"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, `I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Revelation 3:14-22
This reading comes as part of John’s revelation to the seven churches.
I believe these letters serve as a ‘thermometer’ for a churches pulse.
For me this reading confirms that at NR, we should not be lukewarm. We need to be fully committed to the work of Christ.
This starts with you and me. How we are away from NR will determine what we bring to NR when we serve.
My prayer is that you keep growing in your faith journey. Keep a teachable spirit and study the Word daily.
Have a blessed week.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
A Word of Encouragement
This week’s reading:
Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.
You will eat the fruit of your labour; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;
your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.
Thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD.
May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem and may you live to see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel.
Psalm 128:1-6 - a word as encouragement for us.
Have a blessed week.
Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.
You will eat the fruit of your labour; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;
your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.
Thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD.
May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem and may you live to see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel.
Psalm 128:1-6 - a word as encouragement for us.
Have a blessed week.
Monday, 06 June 2011
Correcting in Love
Hi Everyone
This weeks reading is from 2 Corinthians and has two parts:
Since we have these promises, dear friends,let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
(2 Corinthians 7:1)
This, I believe, is a great challenge for us – to practice holiness.
To challenge ourselves and each other to live a life worthy of Christ’s sacrifice.
A life according to God’s laws and decrees.
I believe there are many levels to this challenge:
- To open ourselves to God’s spirit
- To listen with discernment to our brothers and sisters who
correct us in love
- To correct ourselves and one another in love
- To practice what we believe
Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it.
Though I did regret it - I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while- yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance.
For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.
( 2 Corinthians 7:8-11)
Paul was expressing his distress at having to correct the church at Corinth.But at the same time, he was glad because his correction caused them to come in line with God.
We too should rely on this joy to strengthen our resolve when talking about God’s will for ourselves and others.
May you be given all you need this week to live according to God’s will.
Blessings
This weeks reading is from 2 Corinthians and has two parts:
Since we have these promises, dear friends,let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
(2 Corinthians 7:1)
This, I believe, is a great challenge for us – to practice holiness.
To challenge ourselves and each other to live a life worthy of Christ’s sacrifice.
A life according to God’s laws and decrees.
I believe there are many levels to this challenge:
- To open ourselves to God’s spirit
- To listen with discernment to our brothers and sisters who
correct us in love
- To correct ourselves and one another in love
- To practice what we believe
Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it.
Though I did regret it - I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while- yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance.
For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.
( 2 Corinthians 7:8-11)
Paul was expressing his distress at having to correct the church at Corinth.But at the same time, he was glad because his correction caused them to come in line with God.
We too should rely on this joy to strengthen our resolve when talking about God’s will for ourselves and others.
May you be given all you need this week to live according to God’s will.
Blessings
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