This week’s reading:
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved and that by God.
Philippians 1:20-28
Paul is writing to the church in Philippi. He is encouraging them to remain faithful. He uses himself as an example of how, even when under pressure, (he was in jail for his faith), Christians must stand firm in the Word.
In today's challenging world, many things compete for our attention, we, as Christians, need to find places of determination within us.
My prayer is that you will stand firm in times of trial.
Monday, 08 August 2011
Monday, 01 August 2011
Hi Everyone
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21
This is just one of those readings to meditate over.
My prayer is that you will know God’s love.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21
This is just one of those readings to meditate over.
My prayer is that you will know God’s love.
Monday, 25 July 2011
Remember
This week’s reading:
Here is a trustworthy saying:
if we died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him.
If we disown him, he will also disown us;
if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
2 Timothy 2:11-13
This morning, I’m reminded how easy it is for us to forget the principles of our faith.
God invites us to die to our sin, stand firm in the midst of trial, never give up on Him and take comfort in His faithfulness.
My prayer is that you are reminded as you read this passage of God’s goodness in your life.
Here is a trustworthy saying:
if we died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him.
If we disown him, he will also disown us;
if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
2 Timothy 2:11-13
This morning, I’m reminded how easy it is for us to forget the principles of our faith.
God invites us to die to our sin, stand firm in the midst of trial, never give up on Him and take comfort in His faithfulness.
My prayer is that you are reminded as you read this passage of God’s goodness in your life.
Monday, 18 July 2011
Healing
This weeks’ reading :
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.
One will say, `I belong to the LORD'; another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
still another will write on his hand, `The LORD's,' and will take the name Israel.
"This is what the LORD says-- Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.
` Isaiah 44:3-6
For those who were in church at 9h00 on Sunday, the service, I believe, marked a new direction that God is taking us.
New in the sense of Gods’ signs and wonders, healing, maturity and encouragement.
This is, of course, not to say that He wasn’t working in the life of the church before, rather, He is manifesting in a new ways for us.
Scripture is clear about the reasons for such manifestation, to:
Mature, Encourage, Heal, Uplift and Challenge us to take God into our areas of influence i.e. work, home and other.
All we need to do, is be open to His work in our lives.
May you grow in the way God wants to grow you.
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.
One will say, `I belong to the LORD'; another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
still another will write on his hand, `The LORD's,' and will take the name Israel.
"This is what the LORD says-- Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.
` Isaiah 44:3-6
For those who were in church at 9h00 on Sunday, the service, I believe, marked a new direction that God is taking us.
New in the sense of Gods’ signs and wonders, healing, maturity and encouragement.
This is, of course, not to say that He wasn’t working in the life of the church before, rather, He is manifesting in a new ways for us.
Scripture is clear about the reasons for such manifestation, to:
Mature, Encourage, Heal, Uplift and Challenge us to take God into our areas of influence i.e. work, home and other.
All we need to do, is be open to His work in our lives.
May you grow in the way God wants to grow you.
Monday, 11 July 2011
Growing in Love
Here’s this week’s reading:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love,
I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
I think we sometimes too easily confuse ‘love’ as spoken in the Bible with love as seen on TV and in romance novels.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with romantic love but there is a difference in the context that Paul uses it in our reading.
Love here is from the Greek word – agapaō.
This word means, love, not arising from feelings but from the desire to care for people and the opportunity to do good.
So, I believe, the challenge is for us to develop the desire to care for others and pray for the opportunity to good things for them.
In our homes, work places and areas of influence, we have the chance to exercise agapaō.
My prayer is that this love will grow true in our lives.
Have a great week.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love,
I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
I think we sometimes too easily confuse ‘love’ as spoken in the Bible with love as seen on TV and in romance novels.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with romantic love but there is a difference in the context that Paul uses it in our reading.
Love here is from the Greek word – agapaō.
This word means, love, not arising from feelings but from the desire to care for people and the opportunity to do good.
So, I believe, the challenge is for us to develop the desire to care for others and pray for the opportunity to good things for them.
In our homes, work places and areas of influence, we have the chance to exercise agapaō.
My prayer is that this love will grow true in our lives.
Have a great week.
Monday, 27 June 2011
Tough but True
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
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, 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.
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