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Friday, December 21, 2012

God's promised gift!

Isaiah 7:14, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel”

Matthew 1:21, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins”


It won’t be long now and we’ll be celebrating yet another Christmas.

What does Christmas mean to you?

What comes to your mind as you prepare for Christmas 2012?

Would it be decorating the Christmas tree..... or......

maybe singing Christmas carols?

Could it be making candy, baking cakes and lots of biscuits?

What about the giving and receiving of presents?

The parties you will have to attend or maybe it’s getting together with loved ones, friends and co-workers?

Is it the time you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ?
Do you.....really?
A time to pause and praise God for the marvelous gift of His love?

Galatians 4:4 says, “When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman.”
Yes, God’s Son really did enter this world at a certain point in human history.

There is no question about it. He did come! He did live! He did die! He did arise from the dead! The exact date is incidental, but the fact that He came to earth means everything, for “the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

Perhaps you don’t celebrate His birth at all during the Christmas season?
Sadly, in all the busyness, the party-going, gift-shopping, and family gatherings, the One whose birthday we are commemorating is practically forgotten and ignored all together.


The glitter of bright decorations,,,,,,,the sound of joyous Christmas carols...... the happy children.......and the cheerful “Merry Christmas” greetings, sometimes give the impression that everyone is thankful that Jesus came to our planet.

However, that isn’t true today, and it never was.

The news of Jesus’ birth evoked a mixed reaction.
An angel brought “good tidings of great joy.”

The shepherds and wise men welcomed the Saviour.

However, Herod was so troubled when he heard about it that he tried to kill the baby Jesus. Moreover, the religious leaders of that day were so very indifferent that they failed to send a delegation to Bethlehem to find out what had happened.

Even today there is still differing reactions! Thousands honour Jesus and rejoice in their salvation, while countless others hate Him and have succeeded in outlawing the singing of Christmas carols in shopping malls and the display of nativity scenes in public places. Why??? I wonder....

While still others are apathetic; they go along with the celebration of the season and even join in singing Christmas carols, but they never ask themselves who Jesus is or why He came. They don’t think of their responsibility to believe on Him and receive Him as their personal Saviour.

Have you received the gift of eternal life that He offers to you? If not, why not do so today?
Mikey.
thank you Mikey blessings to you and all.....
Yaddy




Saturday, December 8, 2012

Merry Christmas to all.....


"Geseënde Kersfees en ‘n Voorspoedige Nuwe Jaar."

"I'd Miilad Said Oua Sana Saida"

"Felices Pasquas Y felices ano Nuevo"

"Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand"

Eguberri on "Vesele Vanoce"

"Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat"

"Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo"

[Mandarin] - "Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan"

[Catonese] - "Saint Dan Fai Lok"

"Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth"

"Sretan Bozic i Nova Godina"

"Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok"

"Glædelig Jul" "Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar"

"Haid joule ja head uut aastat"

"Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad" "Maligayang Pasko"

"Manigong Bagong Taon" "Hyvaa joulua"

"Joyeux Noël" "Froehliche Weihnachten"

"Kala Christouyenna" "Mele Kalikimaka"

"Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova" "Shub Naya Baras"

"Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket" "Gledileg Jol"
"Selamat Hari Natal"

"Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah" "Nollaig Shona Dhuit"

"Buone Feste Natalizie"

" Shinnen omedeto, kurisumasu omedeto. .
Kurisumasu omedeto

Japanese people generally add the expression gozaimasu to indicate soemm humility. "Sung Tan Chuk Ha"

"Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu"

"Linksmu Kaledu" "Merry Keshmish"

"God Jul" "Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia"

"Feliz Natal" "Boas Festas"

"Sarbatori Fericite"

"Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva s Novim Godom"

"Hristos se rodi" "Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce"

"La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou"

"Sretam Bozic. Vesela Nova Godina"

"Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok"

"Vesele Bozicne. Screcno Novo Leto"

"Feliz Navidad" "God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År"

-Merry Chrismas :" Ia orana te Noera"

and Happy new year is "Ia orana i te mata iti api"

"Sawadee Pee Mai" "Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun"

"Z Rizdvom Khrystovym !" - "Merry Christmas"

" Z Novym Rokom !" - "Happy New Year"

"Z Rizdvom Khrystovym i Novym Rokom !" - both greetings together.

"Chuc Mung Giang Sinh" "Nadolig Llawen"

"Cestitamo Bozic"

(Special Thanks to contributors to this page: Triin N and Annalene Groenewald.)

bless you all...Yaddy

Sunday, December 2, 2012

HEAVEN CAME DOWN.....

Matthew 1:21, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins”
__________

John W. Peterson is one of the most prolific gospel composers of the 20th century.

Born November 1, 1921, in Lindsborg, Kansas, he served as an Air Force transport pilot during World War II, flying the notorious "China Hump" route over the Himalayas.

Upon returning from duty he enrolled at the Moody Bible Institute, also serving on its radio staff.
In 1953 Peterson graduated from Chicago's American Conservatory of Music, soon after settling in Pennsylvania and launching his songwriting career.

Peterson published in excess of 1,000 contemporary hymns and spirituals, as well as 35 cantatas and musicals.
His most beloved efforts also include "Heaven Came Down," "Jesus Is Coming Again," and "Surely Goodness and Mercy." While at the peak of his compositional prowess, he spent over a decade as president and editor-in-chief of Grand Rapids, Michigan based sacred music publisher Singspiration before relocating to Scottsdale, AZ, and founding his own Good Life Productions.

The recipient of the National Evangelical Film Foundation's 1967 Sacred Music Award, Peterson published his autobiography, The Miracle Goes On, a decade later.
In 1986, he was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. After battling cancer, Peterson died in Scottsdale, Arizona on September 20, 2006.

I trust you will enjoy this great hymn, and one of my favorites, which speaks about the joy of becoming a child of the King, and entitled:

“Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled My Soul”

Oh what a wonderful, wonderful day - day I will never forget;
After I'd wandered in darkness away, Jesus my Saviour I met.
O what a tender, compassionate friend - He met the need of my heart;
Shadows dispelling, With joy I am telling, He made all the darkness depart.

Chorus:

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Saviour made me whole;
My sins were washed away -
And my night was turned to day -
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!

Born of the Spirit with life from above into God's fam'ly divine,
Justified fully thru Calvary's love, O what a standing is mine!
And the transaction so quickly was made when as a sinner I came,
Took of the offer of grace He did proffer - He saved me, O praise His dear name!

Chorus:

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Saviour made me whole;
My sins were washed away -
And my night was turned to day -
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!

Now I've a hope that will surely endure after the passing of time;
I have a future in heaven for sure, there in those mansions sublime.
And it's because of that wonderful day when at the cross I believed;
Riches eternal and blessings supernal from His precious hand I received.

Chorus:

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Saviour made me whole;
My sins were washed away -
And my night was turned to day -
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!
_________
Beautiful....isn't it?
Thanks for that Mikey
bless you....
Yaddy

Monday, November 26, 2012

We don't celebrate thanksgiving....

But.....that does not mean we are not thankful!

These last 12 months have been so different for me.
I am not one to visit doctors or hospitals very much and the last time I did, before all this, was in 1972.

So I am so thankful that I came through all this o.k.

I am grateful that God, in His mercy, saw fit to use me as an example.

Example of what? you might ask?

Well, I am sure there were lots of people who were watching me.....

how is she going to take "this"?


I'll bet she'll complain.....

Physio.....for me???? No way.....( yes I did go to physio, had to)

Met some lovely people on the way....(Who knows God may have put those people there at just the time I happened to be there, so God could use me to be there for them?)

You know what I mean?

I know, during my stay in the hospital, I met a lovely lady who, after a day or so, opened up to me about something that happened in her past, which she had never mentioned to anyone else before.....The Lord knew she would be there....then used me...

(With 20/20 vision hindsight which is wondewrful, I can see that now)

Yep......I am so very thankful,.....'

that the Lord saw fit to use me.......
wonderful isn't it?
Bless you...
Yaddy

Thursday, November 22, 2012

OH, Love that wilt not let me go.....

1.O Love, that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee;
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.


2.O Light, that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to Thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine's blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.


3.O Joy, that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be.


4.O Cross, that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee;
I lay in dust life's glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.


John 3 16: FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON.....

Come to Him....now....while there is still time....

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Help I’m a Parent!!!!!

We are currently right in the middle of a series on parenting at our Church and this topic is drawing a lot of attention and sparking many conversations with our congregation. It is a touchy subject. It seems like everywhere you turn there is a book, a CD, a DVD, a TV program, someone’s ideas, opinions or a new practice to help parents to raise their children. Yet amongst all of this advice, of parenting material, the younger generation today are known as some of the most self centred, self focused and out of control people to have ever walked the face of planet earth.

So what’s the problem?

A lot of today’s parenting practices aim to deal with the fruit and not the root.

What do I mean by this? The fruit is the behaviour, it is what you actually see, and the root is what is actually causing the behaviour.

If we cannot deal with the root cause..... we cannot deal with the fruit caused.

Dealing with.... and or trying to manage the fruit....just will not do!

I mean....look at a fruit tree.....to try and manage bad fruit, you have to check what is causing it....no use trying to “fix” the fruit.

It needs a more intense check as to why the fruit is not as good as it should be.....if you let it go altogether, you will eventually have to toss the fruit and chop the tree down.

The bible is incredible in so many ways and it also gives us parent’s insight into parenting our children .

If we look at Proverbs 3:11-12 and Hebrews 12:5-6 we can see that God disciplines us because He loves us, because we belong to Him.

The fact that God would discipline us shows, what He actually sees in us......
and that He wants the best for us.

It is the same for us as parents relating to our children. Sometimes the greatest love is shown through discipline. Proverbs 19:18 says discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives. A good working definition of discipline is, correction driven by love.

Discipline is not something you do to your child but something you do for your child.

One of the root causes of poor behaviour is a lack of discipline. Discipline has slowly but surely been removed from society and also from the family home.

The bible tells us in Proverbs 22:6 (NLV) "Bring up a child by teaching him the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn away from it."


Note the use of the word SHOULD. It says the way he should go not the way he wants to, or thinks.... he should go.

As a parent it is our responsibility to set the way that our children should go and it is discipline that assists this process.

Discipline has been replaced by Negotiation. It will not work....why?

A child is not a small adult....a child just does not have the maturity to speak, think and reason as an adult (1 Cor 13:11).

If we replace discipline with negotiation we will end up with an outcome that is part adult and part child, part the way they should go and part the way they think they should go.
Negotiation is also known as reaching a compromise. If we replace discipline with negotiation we raise children who believe that there is always a compromise to be found. This will have a lasting effect on how they do life, relationships, employment and also the way that they relate to God and His church. They grow up compromising their beliefs.

Discipline has been replaced by Redirection.

Techniques like "redirecting the child" are used in childcare centres where they do not have the authority that a parent has.

These are not techniques to be used in the home by a parent, because you are the parent and you do have the authority.

I have heard a parent say that because their children go to school, they will learn discipline at school so they, the parents don’t have to do it....they could not be more wrong!

Redirecting a child from one poor behaviour to the next in place of discipline does nothing to teach the child that that kind of behaviour is unacceptable.

Galatians 5 verses 22 to 24 talk about the fruits of the Spirit and the last one that is mentioned is self control.
Replacing discipline with redirection does not teach the child self control behaviour and will lead to greater self control issues as they get older. We can clearly see the lack of self control in society these days.

I’ll leave you with a quote from Zig Ziglar.
He said, “A child who has not been disciplined with love by his little world will be disciplined without love by the great big world.”

Scott.
thank you Scott...
blessings

Yaddy

Sunday, November 11, 2012

You Get Out What You Put In


2012 by scott
Galatians 6:7 “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant"



Here is a verse that we see used over and over, especially when it comes around tithes and offering time.

There are many verses in the bible that seem to be pigeon-holed to certain topics.....

at the expense of missing the principle, or the bigger picture, within the text.

Sure, we can use this verse to refer to financial giving,..... but there is far more in this verse than just that!

If we place this verse in-between the 6 verses before it, and the 3 verses after it, we can start to see the context that this was written in.

Paul was writing to the church in Galatia about.... “what they are living for, and how what they live for” will determine the outcomes in their lives.

He was talking to them about 'how they are', and we can say, 'how we are,' responsible for our own conduct.

I am often amazed by the height of expectation people place on God.

The question I want to ask is, is our expectation of God larger then our relationship with God?

If we will always “harvest what we plant” or like some other bible translations say, “you will reap what you sow”, the level and depth of relationship we have with God, what we put in, will determine what we get out.

Many Christians feel let down by God when it is actually “their” relationship with God that is letting them down.

You see. the verses after this say......

“those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit”.

If you plant apple seeds you will get apple trees..... no matter “how much” you want oranges.

Before we can place expectation upon God to do His part, we must first build and strengthen our relationship with Him, and do our part, through living a life that pleases the Spirit. If you live according to the Spirit you will reap the rewards of the Spirit.

Let’s not focus our lives on what we expect from God,..... but on a good and healthy relationship with Him and let the expectations take care of themselves.

Bless you Scott

Yaddy

Friday, November 9, 2012

Are you ready????

When Jesus spoke to His followers about His return, He said, “Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect”
(Luke 12:40).

The story has been told of a father who arrived to pick up his son after a church youth meeting. As he drove into the parking lot, he saw his pre-teen son by the exit door completely oblivious to his father’s arrival.

The father decided to see how long it would take his son to look around and discover that he was there.

Twenty minutes went by before the father finally honked the horn to get his son’s attention.

“Where have you been?” his son asked when he got in the car.

“I’ve been sitting right here for 20 minutes,” his dad replied, much to the surprise of the son.

Do you think we’ll be a little like that preoccupied son, when Jesus returns for us?


Oh, we won’t fail to see Him when He comes back.........

He’ll make His presence abundantly clear to us.

But will we be so busy with the details of life that we aren’t looking for Him and preparing for His arrival?

Or are we watching – eager to see Him come? It’s not easy to keep focused on the return of the Lord.

We have so many things to take care of……. that we push Christ’s return to the back of our minds.

If so, “Let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober”
(1 Thessalonians 5:6).
To be prepared for Christ’s coming, we need to be actively watching and be ready.

We are to be ready for the last moment by being ready at every moment.

Bless you….
Yaddy

Monday, November 5, 2012

GOD is our refuge and our strength.......

Psalm 46:1-3, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.”


Let’s see. What is the crisis of the day? It could be terrorism and its random threat.

Or maybe the economy and the fear that we will run out of money before we run out of time.
Or it’s a personal crisis with no foreseeable solution – a tragedy or a failure too great to bear.
Before we fall under the weight of our accumulated fears or problems, we would do well to look back to a 20th-century woman who bore sadness, pain, and heartache with grace.

I’m referring to Corrie ten Boom who lived through the hellish life of Nazi concentration camps – a place where hope was lost for most people.I read all of her books and I might add, I read them several times....

She survived to tell her story of unfaltering faith and tight-fisted hope in God her Creator. She saw the face of evil up close and very personal. She saw some of the most inhumane acts man can do to man. When she came out of it all, she said this:
(1) If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed.

(2) If you look within, you’ll be depressed; however,

(3) If you look to Jesus Christ, you’ll be at rest.



Recently.....I read another story of a sergeant.....

He worked at an army motor pool.


It was a dirty, smelly, curse-filled place of trucks and tanks.


One day he decided to add some beauty by planting a few flowers.

He ordered a private to dig out the polluted ground near his office door and replace it with dirt from down the road.

Soon a colourful little flower garden lit up the otherwise dingy motor pool.

Those who followed him, kept the little garden blooming for at least eight years.
The sergeant noted that the flowers did not choose to grow in that dusty place of dirty machines of war, cursing soldiers, and oil-stained soil.
They might have preferred a beautiful flower garden in a fancy park. But instead of complaining, they just went right on blooming.

You see......Instead of allowing the circumstances surrounding their garden to stunt their growth, they grew to their fullest and blessed many soldiers.

The moral of the story???? Well, it is that we may not always choose our circumstances, but we can rise above them.
Instead of giving up when plan A for our lives is destroyed, we should rejoice that God has a plan B that can bring us purpose, meaning, and happiness.
You see......the God that controlled history in Old Testament days, is still the same God who controls the affairs of today.
Wonderful isn't it?

Looking to Jesus, my spirit is blest,

The world is in turmoil; in Him I have rest;

The sea of my life around me may roar,

When I look to Jesus, I hear it no more.
Bless you....

Yaddy

Friday, November 2, 2012

We need rain really bad.

We have not had any for at least 8 weeks and everything, like the grass and surrounds, are so dry, it crackles under your feet.

Now, this dryness is not unusual here in our country, but it still is not nice. All the plants I have in my garden are naturally growing here and we don’t water them. We have shrubs called “Bottle brushes” because the flowers look like a bottle brush…


beautiful bottle brush in bloom!

And we have wattle trees, they have the most beautiful scent come spring and bright yellow trusses of flowers shaped like bunches of grapes and little yellow balls instead of grapes.
We do grow some cactii too, they can obviously stand the dryness… one has grown right up to the top of a large gum tree….



And, because we do still have a little bit of green grass around our home, we have had up to 10 kangaroos here every morning and evening, and I love watching them.
Some are mothers, with a tiny baby in her pouch, and it might poke it’s little head out to have a look around…. some are big ones and usually are looking for an argument…want to show off their strength.
Yesterday two little ones were playing “chasings” with each other….they were running around a pine tree I have….loving the run! They must feel comfortable here, to let themselves go like that! We have a large pond( we call them a dam) and it is quite full so they come here for water too.

And of course we hear the cockatoos every day we also have black ones and their call is quite different from the white ones, so I only have to hear them and I know the black ones are about. There are quite a few assorted parrots and rosellas they are so cute….The rosellas nest around here somewhere, and I have come to recognise a call the male makes to his mate, while she is sitting on the eggs, I get the impression that he calls every so often to let her know he is still there, waiting for her. So lovely!

I saw the full moon yesterday morning….it was so beautiful!
It’s the very first time I ever saw a full moon in the early hours of the morning, I was up early and happen to look outside and there it was…. not for very long….but I sure enjoyed it!

Yesterday was a very hot day, for spring, 98f and today it is a cool day…That is what the weather does here, in spring…..hot one day and cool the next….But we sure need that rain.
Blessings….
Yaddy

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Almost......like a road service?

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2......

Have you ever locked the keys in your car while out shopping?
I have and it isn’t a very pleasant experience.

First you search frantically in your bag...hoping to find it, then you have that dreadful look in your car...... (hoping against hope that you won’t see the key)....but you do.....”Oh no!”
Then you call the N.R.M.A....( our road service here) and usually you have to wait half an hour or so, and all this after you’ve done what you came to do, and all you can think of is the ice cream will melt, or some such silly thought.



Paul and his missionary companions repeatedly faced dangerous situations and wicked men in their journey. They knew the value of enlisting others to pray for them on a regular basis, so they specifically asked the Thessalonians to pray for them as they ministered.

As the believers prayed, it would be like having a kind of spiritual N.R.M.A. helping them, but.......
How would you feel if you called the N.R.M.A. road service, and they promised to help you, but then didn’t come through?


(1) How seriously do you take people’s requests for you to pray for them?

(2) When was the last time you told someone you would pray for him or her and then actually did it?

The apostle Paul understood the value of prayer. He requested prayer for himself and no doubt expected the Thessalonians to honour his request.

He also prayed for them, enlisting God’s help and direction in their lives.

Have you ever felt the urge to pray for someone and then just put it on a list and said, “I’ll pray for them later”?
Or has anyone ever called you and said, “I need you to pray for me, I have this need”?

Chapter 3 begins the last major section of 2 Thessalonians and the apostle Paul begins to bring this epistle to a close, but in doing so, we are privileged to see a wonderful model as Paul demonstrates how his team’s confidence lay not in human plans, promotion, programs, or human personalities, but in the Lord Himself.

Their confidence for whatever they might need and face was an unending trust in the provision and faithfulness of the Lord and His powerful Word.
The Lord Jesus said emphatically, “I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” While God uses frail human instruments in accomplishing His work on earth, the ultimate accomplishment of the work depends on the work and faithfulness of the Lord and His Word.
Our modern ‘go-go’ tendency is to be quick to plan and act, rather than pray, wait on the Lord, and then in God’s timing and leading, work in His strength, leading, and provision.
This is not only the position of wisdom but of humility as we put our trust not in ourselves, but in a sovereign God and Savior. Again, the apostle provides us with a model, not just for ministry but for life.

I. Paul’s Prayer Request (3:1-4)

3:1, “Finally pray for us, brothers and sisters, that the Lord’s message may spread quickly and be honoured as in fact it was among you,
3:2 and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil people. For not all have faith”

What an excellent prayer, "that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified."
Paul asked the Thessalonians to pray for him and his fellow missionaries. Notice that Paul did not list specific people whom he wanted to pray for him.

The prayers of the new believers he had never met would be just as effective as the prayers of the most mature, seasoned believers in the church because all believers have equal access to the Father.
Paul knew that he would need prayer for as long as he lived. He would never reach a point in his life when he would be exempt from prayer.

Have you ever felt as if your prayers for a particular person weren’t being answered or that you might be wasting your time?

What makes praying for the same people over and over again so difficult?

Prayer for a believer in Christ is a privilege and one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal. It allows us to have access and talk to the God who spoke into existence the heavens and the earth.

There is no secretary to screen His calls. No need for a decision on whether or not we should bother Him.

No need to leave a message so that He can get back to us later. The psalmist reminds us, “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry” (Psalm 34:15). As believers in Christ we have been given at least one gift.

Although everyone isn’t called to be a pastor, teacher, or evangelist, the privilege of prayer is available to all who have trusted Christ as Saviour.

3:3, “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command

God is forever faithful, and the apostle Paul believed that He would help the Thessalonians to not yield to satan (v. 3). Paul knew that God would establish them and guard them from the evil one. Verse 3 implies that all believers in Christ who is in danger of being successfully attacked by satan will be strengthen and protected. Because of God’s faithfulness to the Thessalonians, Paul was convinced that they were doing, and would continue to do, the things that the missionaries had commanded of them (v. 4). The word “commanded” in verse 4 refers to a military order that a superior officer passes on to those under his direction. God was the source of those commands, while Paul was the conveyor of them. Paul had ultimate confidence in his Superior Officer. So he spent time praying for the Thessalonians, and believed that his prayers would be answered (2:16-17).

Why is it important to tell people you are praying for them and that you are confident that God will work in and through them?

Who is praying for you?
How does the awareness of their prayers on your behalf help you?

. Paul’s Prayer (3:5)
For the love of God (3:5a), “Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God””

Paul closed this section with another prayer that came out of his preceding confidence statement.
He prayed first that the Lord might direct the Thessalonians’ hearts into the love of God (v. 5). The word “direct” means to “clear the way.”
As God answered Paul’s prayer, the Thessalonian believers would be able to understand God’s love for them.
As they focused on the love of God, even while they were being persecuted, they would reciprocate His love by obeying Him.
Christ’s words in John 14:15 echo this principle; The Lord said to His disciples, “if ye love me, keep my commandments.”
The remarkable thing about God’s love for us is His promise that it will never end.
People may tell you that they don’t love you anymore....and the pain of that can be undescribable....But God’s love will never end!

In his darkest hour Jeremiah considered God’s unfailing love and wrote,
“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The LORD is my portion’ says my soul, ‘therefore I hope in Him!’” (Lamentations 3:22-24).
A person may vow to love us forever yet fail to keep that promise, but God’s love remains steadfast and sure. “He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). Now, that’s a love we can trust because God’s love never fails.

When we pray for others, we become partners with God in His work of salvation, healing, comfort, and fairness.
God can accomplish those things without us........but in His plan, He gives us the privilege of being involved with Him through prayer.
When we intercede for a grandson in trouble,

a mother having surgery,

a neighbour who needs Christ,

or a pastor who needs strength,

we are asking God to provide for that person what we cannot provide.

If you begin to open your life to the people you pray with, they will learn from your example and will open their own lives. The result will be meaningful, heartfelt prayers that God would be delighted to answer.


1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. The psalmist wrote, “Be still, and know that I am God” (46:10).
The apostle Paul exhorted the Philippians to “be anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6), and Peter instructed his readers to cast all their cares on God (1 Peter 5:7).

You know what?

If Paul and Peter were here today, they would tell us the same thing.
So, how can someone stop worrying and be “still”? Only through prayer and trust in the loving God (Philippians 4:6-7). Those who cast their cares on Him can set aside the noise and confusion, ambitions and strivings, and enter into the peace of God.

This doesn’t mean that those who are “still” before the Lord will escape life’s dangers and dilemmas, but it does mean they will have the ability to live with tranquility in the midst of them. Though trouble may remain, the confusion, apprehension, and despair begin to fade away. Such people show poise under pressure; they’re unshaken by life’s alarms and they radiate peace wherever they go.

The highest form of prayer comes from the depths of a humble heart.

thank you Mikey,

Bless you....Yaddy

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Psalm 55:22, “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you”

1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you”
__________

So, are you worried about bills, health, debt, marriage issues, and the future? I’ve discovered that 90 percent of the things that filled me with anxiety over what might happen never did.

The dictionary defines worry as: to cause to feel anxious, distressed, or troubled about something, or to bother or annoy, as with petty complaints. Some unknown quotes concerning worry are:

(1) “There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever”

(2) “Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He’s going to be up all night anyway”

(3) “Worry is like a rocking chair; it gives you something to do but doesn’t get you anywhere”

(4) “Worry doesn’t improve the future, it only ruins the present.”



So why worry? To eliminate worry, we must face the coming problems and responsibilities with faith, trusting God for His grace and provision. I read some time ago about a paratrooper in the U. S. Army who had made more than 100 successful parachute jumps without a single serious injury. But the first day back home after being discharged, he stumbled over a rug, fell against a table, and broke four of his ribs! He had worried a great deal about his parachute jumps, but then something happened he had never worried about, “He tripped over a rug.” Jesus said that it’s futile to fret, for worrying can’t change anything (Matthew 6:27). My brethren we need to remember that our heavenly Father knows all about our situation and watches over us. We can be sure that He will take care of our needs no matter what tomorrow brings. Thus, it is better to be wise and trust the Lord.
__________

Closing illustration:

The story has been told of a young girl traveling on a train for the first time. She heard that it would have to cross several rivers along way to her destination.

She was troubled and fearful as she thought of the water. However, each time the train came near to a river, a bridge was always there to provide a safe way across. After passing safely over several rivers and streams, the girl settled back in her seat with a sigh of relief.

Then she turned to her mother and said, “I’m not worried anymore. Somebody has put bridges for us all the way!” So my brethren, when we come to the deep rivers of trial and the streams of sorrow, we too will find that God in His grace “has put bridges for us all the way.” So we need not fall into hopelessness and anxiety. In delightful though often untraceable ways, He will provide for us and carry us through the difficulties to the other side. Even though we may not understand how He will meet our needs, we can be sure that He will provide a way. Those who have given their worries over to God can exclaim with the psalmist, “The LORD is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works … The LORD preserves all who love Him” (Psalm 145:17-20). Instead of worrying about what’s ahead, it would behoove us to:

(1) Trust God .The alternative is to trust people with the future, and that leads to disappointment.


(2) Delight in the Lord. Take delight in God and His will, and He promises to provide for what you need.

(3) Commit your way to God. He will bless your efforts.

(4) Wait patiently for the Lord. He will prevail.

My friend, the more we immerse ourselves in God, His Word, and His promises, the less we will worry over the troubles of this world. Sure, it’s a tough world we live in, but with God we can be victorious!

For all His children, God desires
A life of calm, not flurry;
His will for every day is this:
That we should trust, not worry – Anon.
__________

When we put our cares in God’s hands, He puts His peace in our hearts.

Bless you....'
'Yaddy

Sunday, October 28, 2012

I SERVE A RISEN SAVIOUR!!!

1.I serve a risen Saviour
He's in the world today.
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy;
I hear His voice of cheer;
And just the time I need Him He's always near.

Chorus:
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

2.In all the world around me
I see His loving care,
And though my heart grows weary,
I never will despair;
I know that He is leading,
Through all the stormy blast;
The day of His appearing
Will come at last.
Chorus:
3.Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,
Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs
To Jesus Christ the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him,
The Help of all who find,

None other is so loving, So good and kind.
Chorus:
He lives....He lives
Christ Jesus lives today...
He walks with me and talks with me... along life's narrow way.
He lives, He lives salvation to impart.....
you ask me how I know He lives? He lives....within my heart!

Bless you.....
Yaddy

Friday, October 26, 2012

Effective Communication.....

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NLT)

Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.
20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law.
Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law.

21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ.
But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.

22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.
23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.


Here we have one of the great evangelism passages from the bible.

The Apostle Paul is sharing with us how he works to see people saved.

From an evangelism point of view we can take great comfort from the second part of verse 22, in particular the word “some”.
We think to be successful in our evangelism efforts, we must see everyone we share the gospel with.... saved.

This is not the case and Paul knew this.

Not everyone will say yes...... it will be “some”.

Our responsibility is not "their response"; it is that we share the gospel.

But I believe that there is another principle that we can learn from this passage of scripture, and that is a principle surrounding effective communication.

So many things fall down.... fail.... or don’t fully succeed, due to a lack of, or poor ineffective communication.

When God wanted to stop the building of a tower which became known as the tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-8) He affected their ability to communicate.

As soon as they were unable to communicate with each other their building came to a halt.

Whether you are building a business, a church, a team, a marriage or sharing the gospel.... the success of that endeavour will be closely tied to your ability to communicate effectively and clearly.

We need to understand that communication is not the answer, effective communication is.
For example, we have a number of nationalities represented in our church some for whom English is their second language.
If I speak English and one of these people speaks their language, which isn’t English, we are both communicating, but it is not effective. When people read the above text, they sometimes misread it..... that Paul was compromising to get people saved....
but this was not the case.
He states “But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ”.
Paul was actually working on effective communication.

Effective communication is not just speaking or even speaking a lot, it is the ability to firstly understand another person’s point of view.....
so that you can then communicate the best way forward.

This is what Paul was doing. He came alongside a person, so he could see what they saw. In doing so he gained understanding into what they saw, which in turn meant he could effectively communicate the truth of the gospel.

He didn’t change or even stray from his message, he just delivered it in such a way that it would be most effective.

What can we learn from this? Effectively communication begins not with speaking but with understanding.
Once you understand what your audience sees...... your communication strategy can be built from there.
It may take a little longer to get to the point where you share your message, but it will give your message greater opportunity for success.

Understand more and communicate effectively.

Scott,.... Elevate Church, www.elevatechurch.com.au

Bless you and thank you Scott...
Yaddy

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Do we all have problems?

We had a church camp this last weekend.....it went well. It was only a couple of hours drive from here, but the thought that we were "away" sure did wonders. Which brings me to another thought.....because we were "not at home" there was a totally different feeling and also a totally different outlook on life, even if only for the weekend. Things left behind for the weekend, were not thought about......they were still there, but.....you know what I mean? So....why is it that we feel we "need to get away from it all for a while?" We don't really escape the unpleasantness! Could it be that "people" want to escape for a while, because they do not know God? Some years ago, I heard some one say..."Come to Jesus and all your problems will be over..." Could that be why people feel they want to escape? Because when I heard the above....I winced.....and when I left that meeting I thought to myself..."Is that what we are showing to people? A picture of salvation that promises us that "never again" will we struggle with problems? If the above is the truth, then I am missing out, because I am struggling a lot with problems...even by going away for a weekend, the problems will still be there, when we arrive home again. The young person mentioned above might have been very sincere in what he said, but he was very sincerely wrong! Problems will always be with us, but above all we must never forget....butso too will God! Blessings...... Yaddy

Thursday, October 4, 2012

You may have noticed.....

This tree grows out the back and we grew it from a seed.....it's beautiful!

typical bowl of fruit which my mum had and the fruit is artificial, hers was too, just a reminder of my child hood.
 
I have not been here so much....Since I had my arm operated on, and I now am the proud owner of an 8inch "nail" inside my humurous bone in my left arm, I have not been able to be as active as I would like. Just last week, I decided the floor needed mopping, it doesn't get done as often as I would like, so I decided here goes.....my arm was so painful all weekend, I am now in doubt as to whether it was worth all the trouble or not. I did manage to take some photos as I love spring and outside is just beautiful. I sit on our deck and really appreciate the wonders of God's nature. The jasmin 's perfume is out of this world, and it is growing like mad all around the back door....together with some Freesias...these two scents are so "spring" I love them. There are also some old fashioned Gladdies ( Gladiolas) coming up!
Blessings...
Yaddy

Monday, August 27, 2012

How did I get here?

How Did I Get Here

Proverbs 4:26 (NIV) Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm
Punctuation plays a big part in how we read and in how we express ourselves.
 "How did I get here" ..... can be seen two ways;
 how did I get here?... often asked with disappointment or....

 how did I get here! ..... often said with excitement.

 Either way, whether said in disappointment or in excitement, the said person has little to no idea how they found themselves where they are.

 There is a big difference between being where you are.....,
 and being where you want to be.

Time is so short and I don’t have the time to spend (and I am sure that you don’t either) aimlessly moving through life arriving at uncertain destinations whether pleasantly surprised or not.

 I am of the belief that life is far more predictable then we give it credit for. Just as geographical principles work to take us from one known destination to another there are principles that you can use to move you through life with confidence to predictable outcomes.

Our verse from Proverbs tells me two things.
 Firstly, where it says “make level paths for your feet this tells me that I have a choice, that I get to make the paths that I walk on.
And secondly, where it says “and take only ways that are firmthis tells me that there are not only firm, stable and established paths but also loose, unstable and unestablished paths.

 Pathways are no respecter of man. Let me give you an example, if I choose not to exercise, consume large amounts of junk food and soft drinks, I choose for myself a pathway.

The pathway that I have chosen over time will bring me to a destination called overweight and unfit. Regardless of my race, creed, colour, sex, education, IQ, net worth, goals, political view etc this pathway leads to one destination.

And if you were to do the same as me you too would end up at the same destination. I could have the best intentions in the world of wanting to be fit and healthy but my pathway determines my destination...... Direction will override intention every time.
"How did I get here?".... is actually a question that you have the answer to. You don’t have to ask others, you don’t have to ask God.
You are the only person that can actually answer that question with any level of accuracy.

 You just need to be honest with yourself.
We are where we are in life because over time we have placed one foot in front of the other and moved in a direction currently journeying towards or having arrived at a destination.
 Proverbs 27:12 says a prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered”. Prudent is interchangeable with wise. So a wise person sees what’s coming and makes choices accordingly.
 Being wise and actually putting serious thought into where we are going is important. If we know where we currently are we can choose the pathway to where we want to be and mark out the some of the pitfalls and obstacles that we can see along the way.

The direction that you are currently travelling, relationally, financially, spiritually, professionally....
 and the list goes on and on...... will determine where you end up in each of these respective areas.

If you want a better marriage choose a firm, stable and established pathway that directs you toward that destination.
 If you want to get out of debt choose a firm, stable and established pathway that directs you toward that destination. Direction will always, every single time override intention. Get on the right path.
Scott.
Thank you Scott....
Bless you.... Yaddy

Monday, August 13, 2012

The freedom to accept and believe!

You know, there are people who are bound up.
You may ask...."What do I mean?"

Well, I lot of people have told me that they think and believe that I use my faith as a crutch...

 I might add that I am not ashamed to admit that I do just that!

But some people are afraid to surrender themselves to Jesus.

I don't really know..........
"what" it is they think they have to do, but they will try all kinds of "other" religions, just

as long as it is not Christianity.

And they truly believe that all these other religions are there for them to try and get salvation

 for their soul!

You can even read 2 or more chapters from the Bible each and every day....

you can go to every meeting that you think you should.......

give as much as you think you should......but.......

that still will not give you peace of mind....nor will it bring you the salvation you so yearn for.

I have seen that some people in India will do penance....like crawl so many steps....or....
tie a log to their back......or....

I am sure you get the picture.....

but none of it works......

You see if it did....it would mean Jesus died in vain.....as you did it all yourself.

A friend felt this way, so much so, that in desperation one night, he was ready to take his own life....

But.....just then,,,,he had a very strong thought, that came to him and persuaded him to.....


" JUST ACCEPT WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR ME ON THE CROSS"

It was as if a light had gone up....and a weight had lifted from his shoulders....

He had surrendered!...... He was set free!

In his surrendering he received his freedom!
Bless you....
Yaddy

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

The Honest Apostles

(Just thought I'd let you all know that I have had my broken arm operated on....I have had a pin put in and it is still very painfull. I have been assured that the pain will eventually go away, I pray that it does, yet in all this I thank God the Father that He was with me through all this as on my own I would not have managed to cope with it all!)

THE HONEST APOSTLES
In 2 Corinthians 4 v 2 we read, "We have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty....
not walking in craftiness.... not handling the Word of God deceitfully......
but by manifestation of the truth.....commending ourselves to every man's conscience
in the sight of God....."

One of the most useless and foolish arguments of unbelievers is to accuse the New testament
writers of trying to foist off tales of a "super natural Christ" on to gullible people. I mean....really!

And the scriptures written by these men contain strong condemnation of all dishonesty and deceit...
so it would be impossible that they, all  at the same time, unbeknowns to each other, would do such a thing, such a big conspiracy!
Paul's claim in the above text would be the worst kind of hypocracy....if this was the case......
And the Apostle Peter said..."Wherefore, laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocracies, and envies, and evil speaking.......as new born babes, desiring the sincere milk of the word..." 1 Peter v 1-2.
And John warned...."All liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone....Rev21 v 8...
But......the clincher was that they were all prepared to suffer and suffer horribly, for their honesty and sincerety.
Paul said...."Even unto this present hour, we both hunger and thirst and are naked, and are buffeted and have no certain dwelling place.....and we labour with our own hands (meaning no one supported them).....being reviled.....we bless.....
    
             being persecuted....we suffer it.....

             being defamed.......we entreat....

we are made as the filth of the world....and are the offscouring of all things unto this day....." yet....
1 Cor 4 v 11-13
All the Apostles and writers of the New Testament (Except John, but he also suffered severe persecution throughout his long life)  eventually died as martyrs for their faith.....and it is incredible to think that they would have suffered all that.......for what??
A message they knew to be  lie???
I don't think so!
We can have complete confidence that the New Testament records are honest reports of sincere and Godly men....                                                                                     Thank you Henry Morris Ph.D
Bless you,
Yaddy

Saturday, June 16, 2012

FROM THE DUST!

From the dust of the earth, God created man....

His breath made man a living soul.

Then God so loved this world....He gave His only Son.

And that is why I love Him so!

My hands were made.....so I could help my neighbour.

My eyes were made, to read God's word.

My feet were made just to walk in His footsteps....

my body is the temple of the Lord.

I was made in His likeness...created in His image, for I was born to serve the Lord!

And, I must never deny Him...just let me walk beside Him...

for I was born to serve the Lord.

From the dust of the earth, God created man.....

His breath made man a living soul.

Then God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son.....

and that is why I love Him so!

                               ~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~


A friensd's son had recently gotten saved, and when I saw him, I asked him exactly "when" it happened?
"Well, it was about 2000 years ago," he said, "But I didn't know till a couple of days ago..."
( precocious little kid) But wish we all had such a grasp of Revelations 13 v 8

Bless you...
Yaddy

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Do you...."Love yourself?"

Are we....you...am I....willing to look at my flaws?
Sometimes we...I.... use preoccupations with......God...( a good thing in itself) or...
the grand children.....( nothing wrong with that either).....or...
to avoid looking at myself and "my" flaws.

Would that be a kind of an escape?
As I thought about this some more......I sort of became very disappointed with myself....why?

Because that is what it was...... a kind of escape!

No one.....not one single person....wants to admit the flaws they have....but there are lots!
We sin.....but that does not make me any LESS in God's eyes....
He knows all that....and still loves me!
How many times have I heard some one say...."God loves you....warts and all"

I always thought that was such a silly thing to have some one say to you......but it is true!

And in truth......God wants me to become more and more like HIM......He accepts me...
 as I am....right now....even though I am not as He wants me to be!

When I learned to understand this, and learned to see myself....as God sees me....I
could also look at my "flaws"and deficiencies, without being daunted by them.

I dislike them.....but, with His help....I will seek to overcome them...
His word says....."We are overcomers..."
As long as I am as gentle on myself as God is with me!

I am learning to "grow" under a loving discipline....HIS and my own!

Dear Lord,
Help me to be as gentle on myself, as You are with me and show me how to treat myself with
the same love and respect with which You treat me...in Jesus' precious name...Amen

Bless you
Yaddy


Saturday, April 21, 2012

Do you ever tell a lie?

Even what is known as a "white lie?"
I mean...really.....a lie is a lie....is a lie.....no matter what the colour....right?
The thing is.....when ever we refuse to face anything that is "truth" something dies inside us!
Why...do you supose that is?

I imagine it could be...because we are made in His image....A God who does not lie.....so....when
He designed us....He made us in such a way, that when ever we actually speak....or live....a lie....
we are deprived inside!
Do you think that could be so?

We are designed...right from the beginning...when God created Adam and Eve, for truth....

and we can't function right...unless we live by that truth!

That is why, I think, when a rational human being, knows....that something is a lie, he can't
convince him or herself, it is the truth.

I am sure we have seen a lie detector in action?
Some one is trying to hide the truth, but not very convincingly!

Some one might be able to fool another person, but it is not so easy to fool a machine.

It seems to have something to do with the nervous system, and the lie detector senses this and the needle goes funny and tells every one..."Hey...he's telling a lie!"

Interesting...isn't it...that this little test machine shows the fact that we are made for truth and righteousness?
It is very important then, that we, as followers of Jesus Christ, learn to live according to His plan,
and face everything that is truth....even if it sometimes is unpleasant!
But after all....If we do follow after Him, and His resources, then He, through the Holy Spirit will work in us to make us the kind of people He wants us to be!
Blessings...
Yaddy

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Thorns and thistles....

"Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;  Gen 3 v 18:

I am not a gardener...never have been....my mun and dad both loved it, so did my older sister....I will admire any one's garden, but don't like nor want to do the work.
Give me some wool and a pair of knitting needles or a crochet hook and I will fill in my day easy...

Well, more than 6 months ago, now, I broke my arm......it has not healed, the bone has not come together, and I will need an operation. And it is still broken and it hurts!

The little bit of garden we do have....I looked after. We have concrete paths around the house, to save work, and would you believe there are weeds all in the cracks.
Man...are they hard to get out....with one hand!


I try to do 10 minutes a day, and just before my accident, I had it all cleared, but, you should see it now!

I could cry! My arm hurts.....
 This morning I looked at all the weeds and looked at the sky and asked God..."Why?
Why did we need weeds?...Couldn't it have been something else?"

I have to wait almost 3 months before I can have the operation....meanwhile....pain killers are the go!

I am now apologizing to God....He knows best!
In his word it always says...."And it came to pass..."

This tantrum I am having will also pass....
Thank You Lord for being so patient with me!
Bless you,
Yaddy

Friday, March 23, 2012

Obedience is saying "Yes Lord"

Luke 9:61, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house”
John 14:21, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me”

No matter where Jesus went in the region around the Sea of Galilee during His public ministry, He caused quite a stir.

 But most importantly, the people who had observed Him firsthand...... were moved and motivated to action.

If you read carefully through the New Testament you would find that Jesus often told and spoke in parables to illustrate how people received and responded to His teaching.

In Mark 1:18 we see obedience from the fishermen who followed Jesus.

In Mark 1:27 we see the amazement of people who marveled of His power over demons.

Then in Mark 1:31 we see service from Peter’s mother-in-law who served the Lord.

In Mark 1:45 we see those who saw Jesus in action proclaiming to others what He had done. In Matthew 13:1-9,

His disciples asked, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

 In reply Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah, “For the hearts of this people have gown dull. Their ears are hard to hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them” (Matthew 13:15; Isaiah 6:10).

Most parents are very familiar with the words from their children, “I’ll do it in a minute, but first …” As God’s children;
He often receives a similar response from us.

This important truth in the life of Janice is illustrated as follows:

 "I’ll never forget my inner battle one morning, as I was on my knees scrubbing the kitchen floor.

It began with a strong impression from the Lord that I should visit a young mother named Carol.

 So, I decided to do it later that day. “But first I must finish this floor,” I said to myself.

Then the inner prompting began to feel more urgent. “As soon as I finish the floor, I’ll go straight over to Carol’s,” I promised the Lord.

 But deep inside, I knew He meant now, before the floor was finished!

 A real battle of the will took place.
 I admitted that countless opportunities had been lost because of things I wanted to do first.

 Finally I said, “Okay, Lord, I’ll go now!”

When Carol opened her door, she said tearfully, “How did you know I needed you right now”

 I didn’t, but God did, and my surrender to Him played a part in Carol’s eventual surrender to Christ as her Saviour."

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus taught that some things can wait, which includes half-scrubbed floors and a host of other things; however, a ripe harvest can’t wait!

Are we being obedient to His call for your life?
God chooses to use us, because we are the ones most suited to minister to the people in our arena of influence.

 It is not by chance you/we have the relatives, friends, job, and church family that you/we do.

God led us wherever we are, for a reason.

Pray today that the Lord will begin showing you the destiny He has for you. Ask Him to help you be obedient to His will for your life. Are you willing to serve Him whatever the cost? It is this unswerving obedience and faithful service to the Lord that God richly blesses.
Thank you Mikey.

Bless you,
Yaddy

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Is it an illusion?

I am asking a question......"What is a real person?"

I think a real person is some one who faces up to everything that happens in life and resists
every temptation to escape!

Professional people who work in mental health will say that, one way in which our  mental and
emotional wellbeing can be measured is by "how" we face up to real life and reality.

I suppose I could go one further and say that reality is truth....
good truth and bad truth....ugly truth and pleasant truth....

From one Bible translation it says..."If we refuse to admit we are sinners....then we live in a world of
illusion and truth becomes a stranger to us" or "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us." (1John 1v 8)

So.....if we refuse to face the truth....... any truth......Biblical truth......something inside us dies!

Of course we could always bury our head in the sand and ignore it all!
But where does that than leave us?

So....what am I?  A realist? or a retreatist.....some one who runs away from life.
One thing is for sure....realists get to places.
Dear Jesus,
Help me to face everything that comes my way and not to "dodge" the issues no matter how threatening they are...Thank You Jesus, Amen
Bless you
Yaddy

Thursday, March 8, 2012

NO Way through!

Sometimes it can be so hard, to face reality, but we cannot escape it!
I know lots and lots of people do "try" to do so, as often as they can, but it is a useless exercise!

Every time we begin a new path that we believe will take us "away"from anything unpleasant,
there is a sign that says  "DEAD END"

But.....what is Reality?

According to my dictionary it is 'what is real'- and- 'the way things are'

So, we can no more escape from reality than we can jump out of our skin, so to speak!
And those who do try to escape, well we know it as 'escapism'

Advertising is a kind of escapism you know....The Island in the sun......that holiday you have always wanted to take.... so....take it NOW!!!....kinda thing?

Now, don't get me wrong....taking a holiday is fine, but, if the reason is to 'escape' from something instead of taking a well earned rest and break....well..... enough said....right?

If we turn to God, we can face reality with confidence and grace.....no matter how 'unpleasant'
that reality might be. We should never fear reality, and if we are whole in God, we won't.
Bless you
Yaddy

Sunday, February 19, 2012

The story of Moses..


Do you all KNOW the story of Moses?


It goes all the way back to the first book in Exodus when the Pharaoh made the people of Israel slaves, because he thought they would raise up an army and fight the Egyptians and maybe over run them from their country, even though this was the last thought in the Israeli’s minds.


So, seeing the Israeli women had so many babies and a lot of boy babies, the Pharaoh decided they must all be killed. Moses mum had two other children already, a daughter Miriam and a son, who had not been killed, as not all the boys were killed because the midwives told the Pharaoh, the Jewish women gave birth so quick, they hardly needed the midwifes to come and help them.
 (Ex: 1 v 19: The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.")



Moses’ mum decided she would try and save her son, so she made a basket and set him adrift on the river Nile. She told her daughter Miriam, to keep an eye on the basket, and see what would happen.



Miriam did as she was told and saw that the royal princess, Pharaoh’s daughter, saw the basket, got one of her servants to fish it out of the river, and just then…..Miriam showed herself and offered to the princess that she knew a woman who could look after the baby till he was old enough to be weaned….And that is what happened. Miriam fetched her mother…
Who was only too happy to feed and rear her own son, even though the princess did not KNOW this was her son.

So Miriam and her mother took little Moses home again. And….she got paid for doing it!
We read in Hebrew ch  11 verses 23-25

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,…etc…

(and continue reading in the book of Hebrews)


Now….here is what I am getting at……the Bible does not say how old Moses was when his mother took him back to the princess in the Pagan palace of the pharaoh.
 When he was weaned….( not very old….right?)

But, as we just read in the book of Hebrews……
BY FAITH…..Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter…….


How much….do you think……must his parents have taught him all about “the word” as they knew it?

What does this say to our world today?

I have heard so many parents say….”Oh, I will leave it up to the teachers, to teach my child all he/she needs to know!”

That is completely wrong….it is not up to the teachers to teach your child everything! They are only there to educate them, so they can learn to read and write and learn how to handle the reading and writing.

According to the Bible….it is up to the parents to teach the children all they can about all they want their child to learn…

Remember…when you have a new born baby….you start off with virtually an empty mind that you want to fill with whatever YOU want to fill it with….
As a parent it is your responsibility, what goes into that new little Mind…
This is what the Bible says!

And….. according to what we read in the Bible….Moses’ parents did a bonzer job…..

“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,…”
 Bless you
Yaddy




Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Layman's 10 commandments.




(Someone has written these beautiful words. Must read and try to understand the deep meaning of it. They are like the ten commandments to follow in life all the time.)

1]
Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout.

2]
A Car's WINDSHIELD is so large & the Rear view Mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, Look Ahead and Move on.

3]
Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.

4]
All things in life are temporary. If going well, enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong, don't worry, they can't last long either.

5]
Old Friends are Gold! New Friends are Diamond! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a Base of Gold!

6]
Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!

7]
When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.

8]
A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!"

9]
When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.

10]
WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES, it takes away today's PEACE.

Bless you....
Yaddy




Friday, February 3, 2012

NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD......

As a bitter cold breeze blasts away on a mother of three as she trudges through snow ...her strength is only the sheer resolve to do whatever it takes to "be there" for her girls. The symptoms started slow but the coughing grew deeper and the fever higher...she knew she had to get them to "hope". But it seems thousands will be infected ... it's hopeless" "How did it happen, Doctor?" “?Some virus…who knows”

Mummy, my feet are so cold" the little girl cried, "I know honey”? Trying to be strong but scared to death, the mother cries "Oh God please Help"

 Another town but an even more desperate situation eternity at stake...

"Pastor; attendance is down; giving is down, what are we going to do?" The Board member continues, "Families are hurting, we've have two families that are about to lose their homes, another three families on the verge of divorce, changes need to be made, but where do we start?"Across town, a desperate father....
His eyes glazed over, gun in one hand a stiff drink in the other....holding a picture up of his kids, tears streaming down his cheeks, "Every other weekend; are your stinking kidding me?" Hopelessness invading his thoughts, "it will never be the same" raising the gun to his forehead he cries out "OH GOD, PLEASE FORGIVE ME"

Divorce, drugs, layoffs, crime, selfish lives all going astray ...spreading like wildfire with no end in sight.

But.....kneeling at the altar, a faithful servant of God begins to cry, "Father, Your word promises that if we ask, seek and knock; that You will open the door, Lord, before you call me home, I'm here asking for this one thing that You have laid upon my heart...Will You pour out your Spirit upon this area and all these people that I know and Love. Will you arise and cause all your enemies to scatter? Father, Your Word says No one comes to You unless You draw them and Father that is what I'm asking ....will you please begin to draw all men unto Yourself right here in this town, right here in this Church?"

"Doctor, Doctor” a nurse shouted, “Something amazing is happening!" "What?” The Doctor replied.
“?There's a man… who has come into our Emergency Room" "What is wrong with Him?” "Nothing, he said he's is here to help" "HELP…Help how?" "He wants to donate blood, and get this...He said he had heard of the virus that was spreading and that he believed his blood was immune. We tested his Blood and he was right, there is something about his Blood that is overcoming the virus. Just one drop is all it takes, it will help thousands"

Putting the Gun down back at his side and lifting back up the picture...God began to answer this desperate Father's plea.....a knock at the door sobered him alert.. "Herb, it's me Jim...I know you’re in there? Can I come in?" As the door opened, "Herb, God has laid you on my heart and I just had to come over and share...I've got some great news... My wife and I have been talking with your wife and she has agreed to counselling...she has agreed to postpone the divorce"Sitting in his study at Home, a Pastor puts down his pad of notes...getting on his knees, he starts to pray, "Dear God, what is it that you want to say?" The floodgates of tears poured down his cheek as He heard these Words "What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus" The Pastor recognizing that something was happening, heard that still small voice........
"What can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus."

A spark from yesteryear began to arise, he'd seen this before. Jesus was asking to take His rightful place..."If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto myself"

Many today are facing desperate situations of all kinds. If you’re one who is facing such a time I have great news for you. Jesus Christ has promised no matter what your situation is, no matter how bad it looks or how lost you are, whosoever believes upon Him shall not perish but have everlasting life!! That is how powerful His blood is!
Thanks Tim Cameron  Bless you...
Yaddy

Friday, January 13, 2012

Gideon!

In the book of Judges chapter 6, we read the wonderful story of Gideon....

I mean here we find Gideon, hiding in a wine press, threshing wheat, by hand yet....he was hiding!!

Then the angel of the Lord says to him: " Oh valiant warrior, the Lord is with you....!"
Gideon is in hiding and the angel calls him a valiant warrior!

And Gideon asks him, if the Lord is with us, why have all these things happened to us?

Isn't that the question uppermost on our minds, and the questions we hear from our friends........?

If......why?

Then....as we follow the conversation Gideon has with the angel....sounds quite familiar.....doesn't it?


"Oh but....." O.K. Gideon did not exactly say, " Oh but...." He said, "How.....?"

Much of a muchness....isn't it?

How many times has the Lord layd it on our hearts do "Go and do......"
And we answer much as Gideon did...."Oh but..." or ..."How?"

We must learn to trust the Lord much more than we do, if our reply is like the above....(speaking to myself here)

I can well remember a few years ago, the Lord laid it on my heart to go and visit a friend who was suffering from cancer, and she did not have long to go......I actually went as far as knocking on their front door, and, because some one whom I did not expect to open the door, did.....I left......

She has gone to be with the Lord now, without my visit......I will never forget that I did not go and see her!

Even then, when Gideon did do as the Lord asked him, God told him his army was too big and in the end Gideon ended up with an army count of just 300 men!

He trusted God......we need to do the same!
blessings...
Yaddy