He is there

When things are going wrong
He is there
When it seems that all is lost
He is there
When You sink into depression
He is there
When you need strength
and don't know where to find it
He is there

When you have to make decisions
He is there
When you need a shoulder to cry on
He is there
When you need Him the most
He is there

He is there to straighten your paths,
to change your perspective,
to pull you out of depression,
to give you the necessary strength,
to help you decide,
to comfort you,

He will be there when you need him,
and all you have to do is call Him.

Courage - Part 5

Courage in the midst of the storm

Proverbs is such a wonderful book because it offers us some of God’s wisdom,

Proverbs 3:7-8 “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” NIV

Proverbs 3:6 “in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” NIV

Proverbs 4:23 “Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts.” MSG

Many different translations use the word “thoughts” instead of heart.

Proverbs 23:7 “for as he [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he;" NKJV

Your heart is so important, do not allow negativity to take root in your heart, don’t allow doubt or fear into your heart either. These things aim to corrupt and destroy you, these things aim to bring you down and destroy you.

Prayer

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” NIV

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 “"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” NIV

Ephesians 3:20 "I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen" CEV

1 John 4:16 “God is love” NIV

1 John 4:19 “We love Him because He first loved us.” NKJV

John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid” TLB

Peace is essential. A band called MIC sings “Live life without regrets, if you smoke the right brand of cigarettes” in their song Mr Frankenstein. Showing us the message that advertisers would like us to believe.

Fish were made to swim in the sea, plants were made to grow in the ground, birds were made to soar in the skies. When you take them out of that you destroy them. A bird can’t swim, and a tree can’t fly. You and I were made by God, to live in Him and have a relationship with Him. If we do not have a relationship with Him we will not be able to live life to the full – if I have not found God then I am like a fish that has been taken out of the water. It is powerless to do pretty much anything, all is lost for the little fish – unless it is put back into the water.

Ephesians 3:16-17 "that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love" NKJV

Psalm 1:1 “They are like trees along a riverbank bearing luscious fruit each season without fail. Their leaves shall never wither, and all they do shall prosper” TLB

Do you want to accept God as your saviour?
Or have you back slid and you wish to recommit your life?
If you wish to know God please pray this prayer with me now:

Dear God I want to know you as my Father
Thank You that Jesus died to set me free from my sin
I confess that I am sinful and I ask that you would come into my heart
Save me from my sin and make my life whole
In Jesus Name, Amen

If you have backslid, then ask God in your own words to forgive you and to welcome you back. Remember that the prodigal son was welcomed back with open arms by His Father. He was not given a list of conditions, but was welcomed back in love.

Courage - Part 4

Courage in the midst of the storm

Philippians 3:13-14 "My friends, I don't feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done." CEV

There was an advert on TV a while ago, it said, “Life is a journey, enjoy the ride”, but I have changed that into a question, “Life is a journey, where are you going?” A comrades marathon runner is a very good illustration of the above mentioned verse. If anyone wanted to run the comrades, it would be impossible for them to show up on the day of the race, having never exercised before and expect to even finish the race. The comrades is a very difficult race, which tests your physical and mental endurance. It takes years worth of training if you even want to finish the race. To be successful an athlete will have to change his eating habits, sleeping habits, in fact his entire lifestyle so that he can be fully prepared when the great day dawns. We need to exercise spiritually. When hard times come up against you, know that God is still with you and that this is busy testing you and preparing you for things to come …

Romans 6:15 "Does this mean that now we can go ahead and sin and not worry about it? (For our salvation does not depend on keeping the law but on receiving God’s grace!) Of course not!" TLB

Romans 5:3-5 “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” NIV

2 Corinthians 4:8–9 “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” NIV

Thank You Lord that You help me run the race of life …

Joshua 1:6-9 “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." NIV 

What do we do in times of hardship? In times of temptation? In times when we don’t really know what is going on around us, we don’t really understand what is happening. You might be feeling like Job, you are looking around and your whole life is falling down around you, and then we are reminded of our priorities and of our source. Tienie who is your source? Where do you draw your strength from? Who are you busy looking to? Are you looking to money, or material possessions, are you looking to people and relationships, are you looking at habit forming substances in the hope of finding peace?

Psalm 121:1 “I look to the mountains; where will my help come from?” GNB

The Israelites used to have places of worship on the high places where they worshipped false gods, this verse literally means, I look at the things that the world goes to, to find help. Sometimes when problems seem to overtake us we wonder where we will go for help. Fortunetellers, lotto draw’s, drugs & alcohol. These are all very popular in the world today, yet the psalm writer does not suggest that we go for those things. Instead he says let us look to God who created the world (and us as well) and let us go to Him for our strength and our comfort.

Tienie remember that if you put your need to put your hope in God. David said these words:

Psalm 42:5 "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance." NKJV

Continued in Part 5

Courage - Part 3

Courage in the midst of the storm

John 10:10 “A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” CEV

It is wonderful to note that we have abundant life in Jesus, thank you Jesus that You came so that we could have life in all its fullness. The Devil comes to steal, he won’t even bother you if there was nothing to steal from you, you have a future, a family and a hope in Jesus – do not allow Him to steal from you.

“Most Christians think small, believe small and act small. It is impossible to think small and walk tall… the average person fights his Christian warfare from a defensive position. A conqueror enters the Christian warfare on the offensive.” Do not believe the lies of the devil, you are a child of God and the only way that you can be defeated is if you choose to lie down and act that way!

Tienie I want you to imagine a table with a royal blue tablecloth on it, on top of the cloth there stands a red wine glass, but the glass is empty. Now God takes a bottle of wine and starts pouring in into that glass, filling it slowly. The glass is now on quarter, half, three quarters full – now it is full, now it starts overflowing running over the tablecloth.

God I desire to be a vessel for You, I desire for You to fill me with that which so many people need, Lord place in my heart the words which You want me to share with others. That which You know they need, Lord that which You know will change their hearts. Help me Lord to touch the world, may I not share my heart, but Yours Lord.

2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” NIV

Lord it is not for my glory, but for Yours! It is not that people will stand up and say, “Oh Tienie did this” or “Tienie said that”, but rather Lord may You have the glory. I am but a vessel before You, and as I lay my life before You, I thank You fill me. Not for my own good, or my glory – but for Your glory – may You be praised for what is done through my life. May lives be touched, hearts changed, through my ministry and through my life. Thank You for the circles of influence that You have blessed me with, thank You Lord for the acquaintances that You have blessed me with, thank You Lord for that which You are doing in my life.

Corinthians 1:26-29 "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him." NIV

In ministry, one often gets tired, this is also true of everyday life as well. It is important that when you are tired, that you will focus on God, Tienie. Don’t make decisions when you are tired, remember that your judgment and your thinking process is different now. It is easier to be negative when you are tired. When we are tired we need to go to the well and be filled again, Lord let Your living waters flow over my soul, thank You Lord that I can live on Your strength and not on my own.

Philippians 4:19 "You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus." MSG

Deuteronomy 31:8 " The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." NIV


Thank You Father God that You take me in Your arms right now, and Lord that You strengthen me.

Continued in Part 4

Courage - Part 2

Courage in the midst of the storm

Ephesians 1:4 “Long ago, even before he made the world, God chose us to be his very own through what Christ would do for us; he decided then to make us holy in his eyes, without a single fault—we who stand before him covered with his love.” TLB

Isn't that amazing Tienie to know that God wanted you so much that He was prepared to offer up His own Son as a sacrifice for you, that’s just so amazing.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” NIV

It is so amazing, that God has made us and Ephesians 2:10 says and uses the word “masterpiece” in some translations, that we are God’s masterpiece, not simply an accident or a mistake or even a plan B. You are not a plan B Tienie, you are God’s creation and I want you to know that as you read these words.

God is our Abba Father, which means daddy because God reveals Himself in family terms so that we can identify with Him.

Romans 8:15 "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." NIV

Matthew 10:30 "And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered." NIV

Psalm 139:13 "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." NIV

Psalm 23 "GOD, my shepherd! I don't need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of GOD for the rest of my life." MSG

This passage is meant for right here on earth, not for us to only experience the day we enter into Heaven. God wants us to have peace here on earth as well.

Prayer: Thank You Lord that we can call out to You even during the difficult times of our lives and know that You hear us and know that you are with us. Thank You Lord for Your great and overwhelming comfort in our lives. Thank You Father God that we do not have to give up and we do not have to give in, but Father God that we can trust in You.

Surely there has to be reason in everything, if God has planned us so long ago, surely He must have meant us for something and yet – we battle to see that sometimes. But we need to live for God’s glory for He has made us for Himself.

Continued in Part 3

Courage - Part 1

Courage in the midst of the storm

Welcome, negativity is a great enemy of your well being. Stress, discontentment & other ill feelings cause us to become and have negative thoughts. Whatever you allow to take root in your heart will ultimately have a great effect on your life in ten years time. This world we live in is trying to make you depressed to the point where you can no longer smile or enjoy life. Life is a gift from God, yet many people feel that they are living cursed lives.

I do not really believe that speaking positively and having positive thoughts are enough to change one’s heart or to protect it in the future, BUT I do believe that when we confess scripture over our lives we are busy filling our hearts with God’s Word. When you think positive you are, when you think you are defeated, you are – because the battle that is raging is in your mind.

Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” NIV

Proverbs 22:7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” NKJV

Romans 12:1-2 “So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." MSG

We need to meditate on the Word of God, God told Joshua (Joshua 1) to do so and made the promise that Joshua would be successful in everything that he did. What a promise that is! God’s Word will change your life!

Wherever I use my name, Tienie, I would like you to feel free to use your own name as you confess the Word of God over your life.

The Word of God is living and Powerful and sharper than any two edged sword (Heb 4:12), it also cannot return void, but will accomplish that which God set out for it to accomplish (Isaiah 55:11).

Tienie, it is very important for you to stay positive, for in this life many things will try to come up against you. Many things will come up and say “life is not worth it”, “life is not worth living” many things will come to defer you and to deter you from the path that God has prepared for you. But do not give in to them. For you can have a positive attitude, do not be governed by them do not be ruled by them for you are God’s creation. You do not need to stand back, you do not need to give in – you do not need to run away because God has created you for a purpose and He knows that purpose for you, for your life. Tienie God wants you to know that you are very special to Him you were not an accident, for long ago He planned you. Long ago, even before you were a twinkle in your father’s eye – God had already decided on you.

Continued in Part 2

Plan B

Introduction

• Why do plans have "names" or letters ascribed to them?
• What is the first plan? - Plan A of course. 
• And why is there a Plan B? - it is a backup plan, because plan A did not work out.
• Those of you reading this who are over 30 may remember the A-Team "I love it when a plan comes together."

Is plan B better or worse than plan A? Plan B is normally a backup plan and may not be a better plan than plan A. We can say that sometimes it is a plan that is second best.

A plan is only as good as the wisdom of the person making it. A silly person will make a silly plan.

God's plan A for your life:

What was God's original plan, Plan A? God created man and walked with him in the garden (Genesis 3:8), but man sinned and died spiritually.
God has a plan for your life - Jeremiah 29:11
God's thoughts (plans) are higher than our thoughts (plans) - Isaiah 55:8.
God choose you specially for something - Ephesians 1:4-5
All our days are written in His book - Psalm 139:16b
You are God's masterpiece, meaning that He took time and careful preparation in creating you - Ephesians 2:10
God destined where you would live - Acts 17:26
For Jesus to sit on the throne of my heart – Romans 10:12b
For us to live and move and have our being in Him - Acts 17:28
For us to make disciples – Matthew 28:19

God is the Potter, we are the clay. God can make a plan B for you, but plan A was better.
Isaiah 64:8 / Jeremiah 18:4 / 2 Corinthians 4:7

God's Plan B
because we messed up plan A
God's plans are long term
God is a specialist – He has good plans for your life
God can't be taken by surprise

Our Plan B
because we do not want to trust God
our plans are short term
We are amateurs
We cannot plan for the unexpected

Biblical examples of people who choose their own Plan B

• Abraham & Hagar = Ishmael - Genesis 16:2
• Exodus 19 - God wants the Israelites to worship Him by the mountain, they build a golden calf and worship it instead Exodus 32:1-4.
• Jonah flees to Tarshish, instead of going to Nineveh, and lands up inside a fish – Jonah 1:3
• When we take our eyes off God and go for Plan B there is pain and failure. Always scheming, always planning, always trying to get your own way does not work.
• God gave us a manual (Bible) and the Holy Spirit to lead us (John 16:33). God's plan is for us to be guided by His Spirit, not by our physical senses or by greed.

What should we do?

Proverbs 3:5-6 We need to trust God – remember Him in the plans that you make.

God wants to be the first One that you turn to during a time of need, not your last resort! OK, I have nothing else to try now, I might as well pray ...

Proverbs 14:12 / Proverbs 16:26 This is one of the few verses that are repeated in the Bible. If something is said twice, it means that it is very important!

James 4:13-16 Give your plans to God.

Jeremiah 33:3 Call to God, ask Him what HIS plans are for your life.

There are so many decisions that we need to honour God in. Where we will live, what profession we will choose. Whom to get married to, etc.

So when you need to a plan / make a decision – trust in God from the beginning. Bring your desire before God and ask Him to reveal His will to you. God has made plans for your life – do not step out on your own without Him – you will get hurt. Listening to people or to your own plans is futile.

God is busy directing you, He wants to lead you through His Spirit. Open your heart to God and allow Him to work in you. If there are things in your life that are hindering the working of His Spirit in your life – then bring them before Him in prayer and ask Him to help you with them.

We were made to walk with God continually, and if we live far from Him then we won't experience God's Plan A for our lives.

Attitude

Sometimes we forget that our attitude plays a very important role in our lives. The following is for you if you have allowed the world to get you down:

I choose not to have a defeatist attitude.

I can do all things through Jesus who empowers me.
God loves me and has good plans for me.  Philippians 4:13, Jeremiah 29:11

Life is about more than a job, more than money, more than things. Matthew 6:25
I choose to walk in faith, not in fear and worry. Hebrews 10:38
I am not worthless. 1 Peter 2:9

The choice to be happy and enjoy life is mine – I can also choose to be miserable and depressed if I want to be. 

Today I need to choose to believe what God says about me and my future. I don’t know how He is going to get me there, but I believe that today I am one day closer to where God wants me and that today will present me with precious opportunities. Genesis 15:6-10

Please help me Lord not to miss what You want to do in me and through me today. Proverbs 24:33

Today I choose not to waste my time with nonsense, I choose not to be discouraged by my circumstances and I choose not to mope around and feel sorry for myself. Ephesians 5:16

I am the head and not the tail, God has made me an overcomer and I believe that I am. Deuteronomy 28:13; Revelation 12:11

God has not forgotten you

Psalm 40:17 “I am weak and poor, O Lor

d, but you have not forgotten me. You are my savior and my God--- hurry to my aid!” GNB

Jeremiah 29:11 "I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for." GNB

Ephesians 2:10 "God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That's why he sent Christ to make us what we are." CEV

Habbakuk 3:17-19 "Even though the fig trees have no fruit and no grapes grow on the vines, even though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no grain, even though the sheep all die and the cattle stalls are empty, 18  I will still be joyful and glad, because the LORD God is my savior. 19  The Sovereign LORD gives me strength. He makes me sure-footed as a deer and keeps me safe on the mountains." GNB

Proverbs 13:12 "When hope is crushed, the heart is crushed, but a wish come true fills you with joy." GNB

Don't loose hope!

Psalm 42:5 "Why am I so sad? Why am I so troubled? I will put my hope in God, and once again I will praise him, my savior and my God." GNB

Psalm 18:29 "You give me strength to attack my enemies and power to overcome their defenses." GNB

"Lord, I don't know how you are going to solve my problems, but I know you have something in mind and I thank you for it"  Unknown

Psalm 46:1 "God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble." GNB

Something to think about:

"As the diamond cannot be polished without friction, so the Christian cannot be perfected without trial" Unknown

"The things Satan throws in our path can become our stepping stones to victory" Unknown

"If you find a path without obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere" Unknown

What was God thinking when He created us?

Have you ever watched someone write a song or a poem? The words that are carefully chosen, the style that is used and the joy that the writer experiences when he has completed it - the silent satisfaction. Then he sits back and admires what he has created.

Then the writer starts to softly sing the song in his head … it plays over and over in his mind as he chooses the melody, the rhythm as well as the instruments that will bring the song to life.

The end-result is the song that is playing over the radio and being admired by others.

Ephesians 2:10

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." NKJV

We are God's creation, the Greek word used here for workmanship (poiema) means the following: "The word signifies that which is manufactured, a product, a design produced by an artisan. Poiema emphasizes God as the master Designer, the universe as his creation (Rom 1:20), and the redeemed believer as His new creation (Eph 2:10). Before conversion our lives had no rhyme or reason. Conversion brought us balance, symmetry, and order. We are God's poem, His work of art. " (quoted from the Strongs Hebrew \ Greek Dictionary)

After God carefully planned all your features, your hair, the colour of your eyes, as well as your unique personality - He lovingly formed you and completed His design. You are beautiful to God.

Even though you might not feel like it, you are a labour of love.

God spent time thinking out every detail of your life - what your purpose would be, what you would do, how He would empower you to accomplish the impossible.

Just think about this for a moment, you are God's work of art! You are not a slap dash half-baked idea but a work of art. God himself took time to design you.

Zephaniah 3:17 

"The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." NKJV

God even sings songs about you! He rejoices over you. This means that God sees you as important, He sent His Son to save you and you have been recreated in Christ and given a new nature.

You may be wondering, "If God loves me so much, why can't I feel His love?" you need to open yourself up to God and invite Him to come and love you. He wants to love you, He wants to show you that He cares for you.

But sometimes we don't realize that it is God's love when something happens to us. You get a break and then you say, "Wow but I was lucky!". When it was God who blessed you. We need to thank Him when He is good to us. Ask Him to help you to experience His love. Start looking for His blessings and you will find them! (Matthew 7:7).

We need to realize that we have a loving Father who wants to take care of us. We can trust Him not to let us down.

Joshua 1:5b

"I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you." NKJV

Accept God as your Father, He has always loved you and He always will. Stop trying to do it all alone and learn to bask in the warmth of His love.