Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Did You Know You’re Someone Special?

Did You Know You’re Someone Special

by Elfrieda Nikkel  

Marjorie grew up with with a sense of worthlessness.  Again and again her father said she would never accomplish anything in life.  He told her she was a loser and that anything she did try was sure to end in failure.  With these words ringing in her ears she grew up looking for someone who would love her and see her as a person of worth.  This led her into relationships that were disappointing to her, ending in pain and devastation with yet another proof that she was worthless and unlovable. Maybe you can identify with Marjorie and your story is much like hers.  Where does our sense of self worth come from?
It is true that the foundation for a person’s self-worth is laid in the home.  Words that we hear in our home can build or tear down our worth as a person.  The Bible speaks of words of life and death in Prov.18:21 where it says,”Death and life are in the power of the tongue,...” As we hear words of affirmation and encouragement they are words of life to us while words of criticism and belittling are words of death.  Other people like teachers, friends, employers and spouses add to the collection of life-giving or death words in a person’s heart.  Over time a person begins to see themselves in the light of these words. Is this the final word or is there hope that one can develop a sense of worth as a person?
If we look in the Scriptures we see that God never meant it to be this way.  He speaks words of life into the heart of every person.  We read in Genesis that when God completed the creation of the world he made man in his likeness or image.  This likeness gave man and later also the woman he made the capacity to think, to make decisions, to know right from wrong, to be creative and to have the ability to communicate and have a personal relationship.  Not only did God put this potential in the heart of man and woman he also gave them an assignment to use these abilities.  They were told to rule over the things he had created and give to each a name.  Herein lies the potential to organize, care,  and to be in charge.
 Although the assignment to be fruitful is linked to increasing in number  it could also indicate creativity in other areas.  Fruitfulness can also speak of the outcome of our labour, of putting our God given creativity to work in a job, a home based business, our homes or in areas where God has given us a creative interest which every person possesses who is created in the image of God.  Fruit speaks of a beautiful outcome of our labors.
One of the most beautiful aspects of the creation of man is God seeing the need for man to be in a relationship, to have a companion.  God places this need and capacity into the heart of each person.  Each has the potential to be a friend, a companion, a helper or a person of influence.
This is what God had in mind when he created you.  He created you in his image so that you could think, make choices, use your creativity, build relationships, faithfully work at the tasks in your hand and be a person of influence in the lives of others.
But that’s not all.  This was only the beginning.  In Psalms 139 he says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” and describes the creation of each person with words like “knit together” and “woven together” and “ordaining our days” all of  which require a plan by a great creator.  God had a plan for each of our lives and put together each person with abilities, personality and potential.
But the greatest evidence of our worth is that he loved us so much that he sent his son to die for us when we were sinners and totally unlovable.  We were worth it to him.  But there’s more to that as well.  When we believe that Jesus died for us and we accept his forgiveness we become his child.  A son and daughter of the King of Kings.  As we live in that relationship with him we begin to reflect his godly character and we produce the fruit of the Spirit named in  Galatians 5:22-23 as: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The beauty of this fruit in our lives makes each of us a person of impact and influence.
 No matter what “words of death” others have spoken about you God’s view of you rises above those words and he speaks “words of life” into your heart today.   He says, “I created you in my image, I gave you abilities to rule, organize, manage your area of life, I gave you a creativity that if followed will bring you joy, I made you to be a companion or friend to someone, to be a person of influence, you are precious to me, I loved you so much that I gave my son to die for you and now I want you to be my representative to share this love with others on earth. ”
God made you a person of worth.  He decided when he planned your life what abilities he would give to you.  We all have varying amounts of ability to organize, lead, create or influence but we have the choice as to what we want to do with that which God has entrusted to us.  God also gives us opportunities where we can use these abilities.  The fruitfulness depends on how we care for, cultivate and use each of these abilities which in turn results in the fruitfulness of influencing the lives of the people God has placed in our world whether they be children, spouses, employees, friends or neighbors.  You are special to God and he wants to use you to speak “words of life” into the lives of those around you.
Have you ever opened up your heart to God and asked Him to enable you to become the person He created you to be?  If you would like to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, you can say this prayer:
Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make the kind of person You want me to be.
If you prayed today and asked Jesus Christ to come into your life and take control, we would love to hear from you. Drop us a quick line using the form below and if you're looking for a response, we'll do that too.
God Bless you.

Destiny's Child: He Chose Me First


Destiny's Child: He Chose Me First 

by Betty Lau 

Betty LauGrowing up in East Malaysia, on Borneo island, I often wondered about the future. What could I expect from my life? What lay ahead for me?
I pondered the pattern that I could predictably follow. I would grow up. I would go to church. I would go to school. Eventually, I would go through high school, get my diploma and graduate. I might go on to university or other higher education. Then I might get married and have a family. And then I would die.
Life seemed pretty short that way. There might be different landmarks along the way, but looking at what could be considered a "normal life" I had to ask: "Is that all there is?"
I was very disappointed. I knew there had to be some higher purpose–some reason that Betty Lau existed in this world. I partied a lot, but in a good way–I just wanted to have fun and enjoy what my life appeared to be. I had no real sense of commitment.
But even my home began to seem too small for me. As much as I knew that there had to be more to my life than what I was living, I knew there had to be more to my world than just Malaysia. I was looking for answers. I was seeking direction.
One night, a friend of mine invited me to a concert. I love music, so I said, "Sure. Why not?" As the music played, I noticed a man standing in the crowd. He had his hand above his head and he was holding a book. "I know the plan for your life," he declared confidently.
This certainly got my attention, but I was a little miffed. How did he know the plan for my life–for anybody's life?
"I know God's plan for your life!"
God's plan? For my life? I had to have that book!
I approached him after the concert and asked: "The book that you had in your hand–can I buy it?"
"What book?" he responded.
"The book that you had–that you said had the plan for my life!"
"Oh," he replied. "You mean the Bible."
The Bible? I stared at him. But I already had the Bible. I had grown up in a Christian home–a nice church and all the nice Christian activities. Yet in the face of my many Muslim friends and Buddhist relatives, I had come to believe that all religions led to God. I knew that there was someone out there far bigger than myself, but beyond that I had no meaning in my life.
I thought that this man was offering the blueprint I had been looking for, but it was a book I already knew. Or did I?
"I already have the Bible," I said.
"Have you ever read it?" he asked me. That was a challenge I could not ignore. I had gone to Sunday School and read the Bible "here and there", but did I really BELIEVE it?
"Do you know what you will happen to you when you die?" he asked.
"No," I replied. "No one can know." I was fairly sceptical. I grew up in a religious home, but all my friends were religious too. I didn't believe in absolutes.
"The Bible says that you can. Do you think that God would lie to you?"
"No," I said. "But you might."
Patiently, he showed me the verses in the Bible that explained that Jesus Christ had died to give me ETERNAL life. I could know with certainty what would happen to me not only in this life, but after my death. Jesus–the one and only way to God–had already paid for my sins.
Jesus died for me. The life that I looked ahead to with such apathy was so important to Him that He gave His life for me. He chose me.
I gave my life to Christ that night. I knew that I had found the destiny that I had been seeking. I know now that I'm more than just an insignificant speck among so many. Christ gives my life purpose and meaning–my relationship with Him provides the significance that I once believed could not exist.
Take a look at your life.  How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times.  There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget.  In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new.  What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?
Living with hope If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here's a suggested prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised. 
Is this the life for you?
If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you'll experience life to the fullest.

Wednesday, 5 June 2013

Free


“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” John 8:36 (NLT)
MERCIES:
His mercies allow you to live free from the guilt of the past.
GRACE:
His grace allows you to live free from the cares of the day.
HOPE:
His hope allows you to live free from the fears of tomorrow.
HIS CROSS:
His cross allows you to live free from the power of sin;
HIS JUSTIFICATION:
His justification allows you to live free from the judgment of sin;
HIS BLOOD:
His blood allows you to live free from the stain of sin.

Tomorrow is a New Day


I lift up my eyes to the hills from where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord the maker of the heavens and the earth.” Psalms 121:1-2
Sometimes we do not feel like we want to feel.
Sometimes we do not achieve what we want to achieve.
Sometimes things that happen do not make sense.
Sometimes life leads us in directions that are beyond our control.
It is at these times, most of all that we need someone who will quietly understand us and be there to support us
The Lord is saying.
I want you to know that I am here for you in every way, in every situation
in every perplexity, every turmoil and confusion that you go through, I go through with you, you are not alone, and remember that though things may be difficult now – tomorrow is a new day.

In Hot Pursuit


The enemy is all around me
Pursuing me on every side,
But in Your Word I will abide.
For I am really in hot pursuit
After You Oh Lord and as fighting
Ensues I run in hot pursuit to
the shelter of Your Wings
Of protection!
All night upon my bed communing
With You and just before the dawn
Rising to seek for You….but many
Times You elude me!
Searching for You and in hot pursuit
Still not able to find You.
With awe and adoration filled with
Delight, I will continue in hot pursuit
Until I am translated in Your Holy
Presence!
For it is Your Face I seek in hot pursuit
Of You Oh Lord!

Be Joyful


Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Thoughts on today’s verse
Where does your heart live? That’s what these verses are all about. Is there a constant awareness in your life that God is present? Is he the unseen but always present companion in all your ups and downs? Or is God here when it is convenient and gone when things are busy? Joy comes from knowing we are never alone. Prayer is the ongoing conversation we have, Spirit to Spirit, with God. Giving thanks is the great reminder that we have been blessed no matter what the circumstances may suggest.
Prayer:
Precious and Righteous Father, thank you for being there. Give me a deeper appreciation and a always more profound awareness of your presence today. May my life reflect the joy you have given me by saving me by grace. And may my heart always find its home in you. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

Worship the Lord Your God


I heard the car door slam in the driveway, and I raced to the front door.  I was just in time to see my granddaughter’s fabulous blue eyes under cupped hands, above an ear-to-ear grin, peering through a window pane of the French doors.  I was opening the door from the inside as she was pushing it open from the outside.  I reached down to her, and she leaped up toward me as I picked her up.  She locked her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck.  We hugged each other fervently.  I kept saying, “I am so glad you came to see me,” while she smothered me with kisses.  She did not want to let me go.  She kept saying, “I want to stay here with you always.”  So we sat down on the stairs, with her still entwined around me, and we continued our life-and-death embrace for minutes on end.
That is worship.
Do you feel the passionate heart connection that marks worship?  Each day your Abba Father in Heaven awaits that type of connection with you.  Worship means to throw kisses toward.  Jesus told us that people who “throw kisses to God” are the kind of worshipers God seeks.  The Greek word “worship” in John 4:23-24 is proskuneo, to throw a kiss toward someone in token of respect or homage, to adore, to show respect, or to kneel or fall prostrate before in reverence.  The ancient manner of greeting between persons of vastly different ranks was that the one who was inferior fell to his knees and touched his forehead to the ground, throwing kisses toward his superior.
My prayer for you is that as you awake every morning, your heart would be full of worship for our almighty and loving God.  May you press your face up to your Abba with anticipation of connecting with Him in a real and powerful way, locking onto Him, not wanting to let Him go.