Esteeming the words of Gods mouth

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips;
I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary .
Job 23:11-12 RSB

Provocator on the market

A new season brings mostly also new things.

As you can find new programs on your television screen, you also can find new Websites on the internet.

"Stepping Toes" does not mind being a little devil in a box.

The Christadelphian community often gets questions in their box about heavily discussed cases or matters, were a lot do not want to burn their fingers. But also non believing persons do dare to question the sayings of believers that there would be existing a God. Therefore the Christadelphians on Xanga would not mind going deeper into that matter, questioning if it could be possible that there is a God who made all the things around us. And when there would exist such a God, what we do have to think about Him and how we have to cope with Him.

The website is also not to be afraid to look at certain sayings, like that this God has three faces or is a man or is a woman. It shall look at those gods God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, and find out what those people say about themselves and about the others. the Website shall not be afraid to reveal what the Books do say of those people who way that they believe in the Real God, if that one does exist.

To provoke, to call forth, evoke feelings is what the site Stepping Toes does want to do. It shall not go out the way to question the feelings we would like to share. It wants to challenge all those ideas said by so many people of so many different believes.

There are so many gods and so many religions, and we cannot escape the remark that many religions caused a lot of trouble and bloodshed. Would that be what the Creator of the heaven and earth wanted? Is this what a loving father would let happen to his children?

All those Christians who have so many different ideas, are their ideas grounded in an acceptable Truth?

"Stepping Toes" wants those who say they believe call to action. They want to excite those who want to know and want to bring peace over the whole earth.
You would think than that you would have to be prudent. It could be. But "Stepping Toes" is not going to be afraid to step on some toes. sometimes it can be necessary to awaken some people by purring them. A good loving purr shall not harm.

the new website came into existence because several Xanga people said things we as Christadelphians wanted to react on it, but could not because we were not a Xanga member. Becoming a member now we can reply to their postings, but took this occasion to bring ourselves also some postings and present the Xanga members with some articles with our views.

Tending or designed to give several thoughts a second opinion and to have some matters questioned the Christadelphians over there shall not quit or stay silent to anything that provokes.
But they themselves shall also dare to question certain sayings of others, though they shall try to do it in a loving way, but ardent to find out the truth.

In case you go have a look over there, do not mind that you can be questioned or ticked on your fingers. Also dare to go in discussion, they would not mind.

For those who are prurient or uneasily or morbidly interested, curious, or craving, this could be a place to be. If you are dallying with lascivious thoughts do not mind causing itching and utter your ideas on the "Stepping Toes" website.

They are even not afraid to question their own thinking, because they are aware of their Faith that it can only grow when you do know more about it and dare to question what you can find in the Bible, what they consider to be the Word of God, the only word we should follow.

Please do find Christadelphians on Xanga with/on Stepping Toes

Wondering

Wondering

There draweth near the day of God,
When messengers are sent abroad,
To gather from the world’s bye-ways,
All who these dark evil days
Holding Yahweh’s word supreme,
Make it their daily active theme
That they may judg’d  be;
And I am wondering always,
What will the manner of that day be,
And its time of coming be?

Will it be  the early morning hours,
Before  the day has gained its powers
(So strong to draw our thoughts away
From  things of God to things of clay)
That in its duties lurk?
Or will the angel’s quiet hand
Stay the imperious demand
Of the swift noonday work;
And a grave voice tell me I must be gone,
And let the dead with the dead work on?
Or when the evening morning sweet,
And rest is pleasant and musing meet,
Or when the darkness covers me,
Will the light shine round me suddenly,
And at midnight come the cry?

Ah! The time is little; the thought for me
Is, what will the manner of that day be?
If the angel should meet me on the way,
Or come to me in the house, and say
“The Master is come and calleth for thee,”
What will the summons be to me,
What will my heart reply?
Shall I hear it as a longed-for-word?
And rise up quickly to meet the Lord?
Or will my spirit quail,
And my heart sink down ,with a dread dismay,

A speechless fear, that the Judgment Day
I had not watched for, can only be
One of  contempt and shame for me?
While tremblingly and pale,
I follow the angel forth to stand
Rejected, at the Lord’s left hand?    

Forbid it Lord! Oh grant  to me
Grace to follow hard after Thee,
Studying daily Thy written word
With purpose of heart to serve Thee Lord,
And walk with Thee always.
To let my eyelids look straight on
Unto the prize that must be won,
Yea, fought for, agonized for (Ah me!
How the flesh strives for the mastery
How heavy this weight of clay).

Lord help me that flesh to crucify,
Cut off  the hand, pluck out the eye,
And having entered the straight gate
To lay away each heavy weight.
And the sins that besets so easily,
Still looking, looking unto thee
And gathering strength thereby;
To meet  temptation steadfastly,
As thy hast met the same,

Watching and praying, day by day,
That when the angel comes, I may
Meet him with joy (though tremblingly),
Daring to hope that even I
May have the white stone given to me,
May join the acclaim,
And with the twelve twelve thousand be
Clothed with Immortality
Part of “the Yahweh Name”

Christadelphian  1882

 

Possibility to live

Those who look into the Book  of Books and dare to take time to study this Word of God may be sure that God is looking down. He wants to know if there are any who would like to understand His Words, any who really want to seek Him.

In this world we can feel captive, hands tied, in a kind of prison. We can feel left alone, forgotten. But God does not forget you. He is interested in His Creation and is willing to come forward to those who want to find Him. Also for those who are ready to accept His son He is reaching His hand out to this world.

In the Word of God we can find a New Testament, the Book that tells us about the New Covenant and about that one person who gave his life for everybody. By giving his life we receive the possibility to live.

We are here to leave our loads, safe in fellowship, in love, centred around the huge love God shows us through His son. So, let’s try to leave our loads in the left luggage office, so we can enjoy the blessings God gives us, Rob Clements exhorted the Horley Christadelphians last Sunday.

>Time to open clenched fists

Who rescues us? “In all these things we are more than conquerors, through him who loved us, because we know that in all things God works for the good of those that love Him, who has been called for His purpose.” Romans 8:31 – “If God is for us, who can be against us. He who did not spare His own son, but gave him up for us all.”

Power in the life of certain

The human race is a study in diversity. —We are a fascinating collection of different shades, different shapes, different sizes. —We support ourselves in an amazing variety of ways. —We speak to our loved ones in over 6,000 tongues.—Yet, we are far more alike than different.

We share common concerns, needs, desires. We want economic security and satisfying work. We want our marriages to be happy. We want the best for our children. We want them to be close to us. We want them to share our values, to be safe and secure. Also we need friendship and support from others. We thrive on human contact and love. Young or old, we cherish good health. Far too often though, these desires go unfulfilled.

Children come to reject parental values and standards. Marital bliss turns into marital distress. Making a living becomes a stressful ordeal. Despite high-tech medicine, illness and death eventually conquer us all. Most people feel powerless to improve their lot in life. However there is something that can make a difference, something that has given millions of people hope, and has empowered them to change their lives for the better. Something that can make a difference in your life.

The Bible– Its Power In Your Life.

Many acknowledge the Bible as a literary masterpiece, but it is much more than that. It is the most widely circulated book in existence. Over 90% of the population of our planet have access to it. More than any other book, the Bible has the power to change people's lives, As the Bible itself says: "The word of God is alive and exerts power . . ." [Hebrews 4:12] But if this is true, then why do so many problems plague mankind? How could the Bible have the solutions to mankind's difficulties when so many of those who claim to believe in it are unfulfilled and unhappy? The World Council of Churches reports: "There is frightening and growing ignorance of the Bible in all sections of western society." Bible Societies estimate that 85% of western `Christians' have never read the whole Bible. Regrettably, many who do read the Bible simply do not understand it. God's word thus has little impact on the lives of most who claim to believe in it.

Do you understand the Bible? Do you read it?
In Belgium not many persons do take up the Book they consider just difficult to read imaginative literature or old fashioned poetry.

Are there people interested to know more about that Word of God?
Are it only Jehovah's Witnesses who have unlocked the Bible's power and put it to work in their lives.  They are known the world over as students of the Bible, but they are not the only ones.
In Belgium you also can find serious Bible researchers, people who do love to read and study the Bible, recognising that it is the invaluable Word of God, which can show us the Way to Live for ever.

We have the firm conviction that the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God.
"The Bible that we have today, is referred to by many as a divine library, a collection of sacred writings, undertaken by about 40 different men over a period of 1,500 years. Some of these writers were shepherds, fishermen, and even a physician. Remarkably though, the Bible is one harmonious book, united by a single theme, God's Kingdom. The book that we have today, called `The Bible' is a reliable library of divine information. "

By conforming to God's Law book, the Bible, not only millions of Jehovah's Witnesses have transformed their lives. Before that organisation the world could already find serious Bible Students with a.o. Thomasites or Christadelphians.

All those who looked into the Word of God to find teachings and inspiration where helped by those words in the 66 books of the Bible, in three arias: Family Life, Economics, and Health.

Bible Students as the Christadelphians are also convinced that the Bible offers any advice that can help you survive today's tough economic conditions and that there are Bible principles that can help prevent needless suffering.

The Bible has the power to change lives. But it does more than just give practical advice. The Bible is the law book of God's Kingdom. It sets forth the principles we must adhere to if we are to live forever under that kingdom's rule.
The Bible can improve our lives. Yet, as the apostle Paul wrote: "All creation keeps on groaning together, and being in pain." Faithful servants of God are not spared the ravages of illness, or the aches and pains of old age. But they are sustained by faith in the future blessings from God's Kingdom. The words of Job 33:25 will then be fulfilled on a grand scale. "Let his flesh become fresher than in youth. Let him return to the days of his youthful vigour."

Are you willing to have your life inspired and boosted up in power of the Creator?

Gods word like a surgeons scalpel

To think about:

The Word of God is like a surgeons scalpel
that in the hands of an expert
can extend the life of people in need of his services.
In the hands of others it can be used to harm rather then heal.

- Tony

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Gods Woord als scalpel 

+++

2016 linkupdate

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An ecclesia in your neighborhood

Sometimes you hear people complaining that they do not have a church nearby.
But then you could wonder why they do not bring the church in their village. God is everywhere and you can reach Him at any place all over the world. He is not limited to a certain building.
So those who would like to have an ecclesia nearby could start to create that place in their home town.

The Brothers in Christ prefer to use the term ecclesia (ekklesia in the Greek) meaning ‘gathering’ and historically refers to any gathering in any context, secular or otherwise. The word implies people not buildings or programs. All of God’s people make up the church. We are the church together. ‘Church’ is people. That is the view the earliest Christians had of themselves.‘Church’ is loaded with so many connotations. We wish we didn’t have to use it! One easily thinks of buildings with pointy roofs, stained glass windows, pews, pulpits, shrines and statues, priests and pastors. People think of it as ‘where you go’ and ‘what you do’. This is a far cry from the view the earliest Christians had of themselves.

The basic unit of the church in the first three centuries was the ‘household’ or ‘oikos’ (Gr). Oikos refers to the ‘household’ rather than just the building. Households in New Testament times included wider family, slaves, servants, clients and in fact one’s ‘sphere of influence’. We as brothers and sisters in Christ should feel bounded together and should not feel that there are any differences between us in rank, colour, age. Everybody in the community should have the same value. Our binding element should be Christ Jesus, who died for us all. As his followers we should be like being his brother or sister and should share the love with others as he showed his love for all those around him.  Jesus went into different houses and showed in them how people could come to his Father. In one upper room he also showed the apostles how they should continue his work and have a meal together with other believers. Around the table he asked them to do in remembrance of him a breaking of the bread and a sharing of the cup of the New Covenant. Jesus did not do that in the temple, but in a hired room in a normal house. We also can either hire a room, use an open or public space or better still, use a living or other room in some ones house. Jesus was reared in a home in a family and as a family man he loved also the atmosphere and fulfilled his ministry often in homes. The house was, as today, the place where the basic unit of society lives – the family. Note the many times we read of Jesus eating with His disciples and with others – in homes.
Disciples were sent out on a door-to-door mission and Jesus also told them to continue their way in case they were not welcome at a certain place. After Pentecost, Christians met in houses. In Romans 16:3-5 and in several other places in the New Testament, reference is made to the church that meets in a home. Work and ministry in homes was part of Paul’s mission journeys.


Start with two or three friends - have a meal together, and share your vision.  Plan to encourage one another, share you lives, pray together to seek God's way forward to be and to do what He wants for you as a gathering and for the community around you.  It's as simple as that!

In our small community it is important to be open to new comers. But we always do have to be aware that we all come from many different experiences in our Christian journey. the ecclesia does not have to have many people, it is more important that those who are present are people who want to share the Good News and want to serve God. However small it is important that they are willing to encourage one another, share life, pray together, read the Bible together, and enjoy God and one another.

You could ask if there has to be a strict order of the gathering. Except that there should be a welcoming moment, an opening, a centre part  with lots of time to be taken for the Word of God with Bible reading and exhortation, the Breaking of the Bread and then a closure, there should be no strict format you have to follow or for everyone to agree on minor matters of doctrine for this to happen. It just can be inspiring to have every time a different service. Also we should avoid any regular uttering of preformed repeating texts. You do not have to be afraid to create prayers or moments of meditation on the spur of the moment, or to be afraid that the texts would not be brought fluently enough when it is not a set text. Members of the community should be sympathetic to anybody who dares to open his or her mouth. Understanding has to go out to all those who bring something into the service. Spoken or sang anything is welcome. A worship service has to be one of action and everybody in the ecclesia should be part of that action. All, young or old can contribute.

The experience of the Risen Lord was an ever-present vibrant reality within the individual and amongst the followers of Christ as they encouraged, blessed, taught and enabled one another, and as they joyously spread the Good News of the Gospel from household to household. Today is should not be different. We all should spread the word and that beautiful message of the Good News the New Covenant and the coming of the Kingdom of God.
By coming together in one place or other we can give each other a moment of blessed time.  for us it can create an opportunity to built one another from the teaching we received from the time we could have free to read in the Bible. We should be aware that not everybody has the same chances to spend the same amount on reading the Word of God. Also not everybody has the same gifts to read and understand easily. So we all should help each other to see the light. We should give each other the possibility to bring forward some questions on all sorts of matters. All the questions brought forward can then be answered in the light of Gods Word. By bringing forwards different interpretations every body can see  and hear how others think and understand certain phrases in the Bible. Everybody can also share the experience of the ways of God in each person. Very grassroots and alive. Teaching and admonishing one another all can look at and share prophecy, tongues and other gifts.

We should not be afraid that every worshipping service is different. What happens arises from the experience of God that each member has. Growth happens as the encouraging and enabling one to another takes us further on the journey as individuals and as a group. In the ecclesia we should enable and encourage the gifts of one another for the building of the Body. And this is easier to do in a smaller community, so it may not bother us that we are such a few.

God's Word is like the rain

God's Word is like the rain. Not soon humanity has enough of it .
If the earth is saturated with it, even a desert will bloom and go green.
God's Word has vigour. That gives an enormous peace.
God takes care of the result of His word.
Although it remains our responsibility to interpret this Word as clearly as possible .

The Word Logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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The manager and Word of God

By reading the Bible thorough we can take it up in us. We can let the Word of God work in us, penetrate in us, and even let it change us.  In our everyday surroundings it can accumulate in us and let us take other actions then most of the world would take. As the Mind of God can inspire and lead us.  So God can even to come to live in us through the Holy Spirit and change us from inside out.  The Spirit in us produces fruit.  That is: tolerated love, joy, peace, kindness and goodness, belief, gentleness and self-control.  These beautiful qualities can we, as we let that belief work in us, also let to work in on others. When we are managers or bosses we do not have to be the dictators or the person in charge who does not take into account the human social relations and conditions. Our attitude, the way we treat the people under our management, has to show others that we are followers of the Master Teacher Jesus Christ, and that we are all children of God, or God's creation.

In Naargelang gelovige of niet gelovige baas I talk about the findings of managers of different beliefs and how they treat their workers.

In het Nederlands kan u een artikel vinden over het Verschil tussen protestantse managers en katholieke en niet-christelijke leidinggevenden
> Naargelang gelovige of niet gelovige baas

God’s word…is a comfort to the one who yields to God’s will

‘God’s word…is a comfort to the one who yields to God’s will. It will be felt as a
threat and a warning to the one who stubbornly resists it.’ (John Watts,
Isaiah 34–66, Waco: Word, 1987, pp. 247)

Dutch translation / Nederlandse vertaling > Het woord van God…is een troost voor diegene die zich houdt aan God's wil

Fearing the right person

"We fear man so much because we fear God so little."
- Unknown

I more fear what is within me than what comes from without.
- Martin Luther

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith;
and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
- George Müller

"In Jehovah’s promise I can jubilate,
In God I will praise his word,
In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid.
What can mere man do to me?
I will not fear what flesh can do to me
Psalm 56:4

“In God (I will praise His word), In Jehovah I will give praise to His word,
In God have I put my trust and hope,
I will not be afraid; What can man do unto me?”
Psalm 56:10-11

I say with faith, You Lord are my helper and my ally.
I have to fear nothing. What can a human do to me?
Give that my faith in You can radiate and give appetite to others to reach You also.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Vrees hebben voor de juiste persoon
+++
2013 update:

03.365 (02.08.2009) Faith (Photo credit: hannahclark)

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• Lead By Following The Word!...
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Honor your own words as if they were an important contract

Honour your own words as if they were an important contract. Once you've said it, you have to keep it.

"He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but one who talks too much comes to ruin.
He who despises a word will suffer for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded." (Proverbs 13:3,13 Complete Jewish Bible version)


“The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool will fall.” (Proverbs 10:8, King James)

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hears counsel is wise.” (Proverbs 12:15)

“A reproof enters more into a wise man than a hundred stripes [of the whip] into a fool.” (Proverbs 17:10)

“A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked.” (Psalms 37:16)

“A righteous [one] hates lying: but a wicked [one] is loathsome, and comes to shame.” (Proverbs 13:5)

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

“My son, if you will receive my words, and hide my commandments with you so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding; he lays up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to those who walk uprightly. He keeps the paths of judgment, and preserves the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yes, every good path.” (Proverbs 2:1-9)

In the daily reality, words are like pennies - going from hand to hand, mouth to mouth. Sometimes we have a break in our "brain to mouth" connection. Soul, heart and brain should be in harmony, and words not more than a good tool which is used wisely.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Eer uw eigen woorden alsof zij een belangrijk contract zijn

The business of this life

SOMETHING TO CHEW ON

As Jesus watched the people of his day criss-crossing the pathways of Palestine, and possibly thinking also of all those coming in the future, he said: “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with ... the cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares” (Luke 21:34).

 The business of this life is not adding business to business and land to land, or diploma to diploma, or dollar note to dollar note. The business of this life is a personal preparation for the coming of the Lord and the ensuing fellowship with him throughout eternity. The hope of eternity with Christ ought to be as real to every businessman as his balance sheet. It should be as real to every worker as his pay packet, but unfortunately, it is not so. The crumbling, material things that are seen are given more attention than the indestructible things that as yet are not seen.

 Above the din of the market, the buzz of social gossip, the stamping and mirth of the pleasure spots, booms the unmistakable voice of Jesus Christ with a steadying question: “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” How foolish to grasp out after possessions far and wide and in doing so pass up the most priceless treasure closest at hand - one’s own soul. Some may think this question applies only to would-be world dictators, tycoons, and top-flight entertainers. But no; it sounds into everyone’s world. The busy housewife can lose her own soul among the shopping, the baking, the washing, the social round, if she lets life slip by without seeking after God. Of what value then is all her busyness? The daughter of fashion can lose hers among the style books, the fabric counters, the dress shops, if she does not stop to pin her faith securely on the hope of a garment of righteousness obtainable only from Jesus Christ. 

There is plenty in a man’s world too, to make him lose his own soul if he will not take time to search Christ out, even though such searching be done at night as was the case with Nicodemus when he had his heart to heart talk with Christ. Then what shall it profit?

  This question contains many words used frequently today. “Profit,” “gain,” “loss” - these words escape from the lips of businessmen every second. The far-reaching deal, the sure contract, the safe investment, the “what’s-in-this-for-me” attitude, are like the taxes - for ever with us. “Steady, steady,” sounds the voice of Jesus. “See, that eternity with me is the most far-reaching deal, the surest contract, the safest investment. There is everything in it for you that could possibly be desired. I cannot reveal it to you in perfect detail now, but I must ask you to trust me. I have failed no one yet.” In times of anxiety his voice speaks again: “Steady now, I am with you.”

When we long to retaliate for wrongs done to us, again that calming voice penetrates our hurt and our angry frustration? “Vengeance is mine. Don’t you take the law into your own hands, for I will repay” (see Rom. 12:19). Anger is a great bungler, and it has well been said that we get at odds when we try to get even.

  “Steady, steady,” says the Word of God in times of financial adversity. “The silver is mine and the gold is mine. I can supply your need. I don’t let the righteous beg for bread. David will tell you that.”

  In every age God has used His faithful ministers to halt the headlong rush of His people. Haggai, the great minister of rebuke, called in loud tones to the people of his day: “Consider your ways, consider your ways. See how unprofitable all your selfish striving is. Your wages are going into bags with holes in them. Your grab-all-policy is a lose-all-policy, if only you would wake up and realize it. You are working yourself to death for nothing. There is no lasting gain for you while you let the work of God languish, and there is no satisfaction for you while you give Him no satisfaction by your conduct.”

  Paul, the fearless apostle to the Gentiles, commanded the church members at Corinth to, “Examine yourselves whether you are in the faith; prove your own selves.” Quite likely there were a number of those who heard this who felt hurt at the thought that their minister doubted them. Some would be indignant, but Paul knew what they needed, and though he did not want to upset them, he wanted to stir them to see that their nominal profession of Christianity would not save them. Their faith must be nurtured, and guarded.

  May God bless all the faithful ministers who sound just such a steady warning to the people under their care. And may God give us all the grace to listen to them and to accept their counsel in the spirit in which it is given.

  We must daily seek the Lord with the request that He will prepare us to be sounding boards for the “steady” warning.” Often friends look to us for advice when they feel that they are too close to a situation to sum it up properly. Other times they fail to see that they need some guidance, and this is when we need Divine tact to point it out to them. We are told that we should not give advice unless asked, but that doesn’t always hold good. “A friend in need is a friend indeed,” and “faithful are the wounds of a friend.”   A young girl once said how grateful she was for the timely counsel of an older friend. She had enjoyed a long acquaintance with a young man, but now he was beginning to show trends of conduct that did not fit into acceptable Christian living. The conflict in her mind was sharp. How could she marry him, and yet how could she break it all up? She hesitated, hoping things would change. Came one morning and her friend with it. They talked things over. Finally the friend said: “Remember, while you are single we can do everything to help you, but if you marry him, we can do nothing.” Then she went away. The warning penetrated her confused thinking and settled a decision in her mind. Her friend’s wise departure at that point emphasized the on-your-own-if-you-marry-him part of her message. >From that morning on the young girl determined she would marry a Christian, a true-blue one, or no one at all.

  May God help us all to be faithful and tactful friends. We need to ask the Lord to help us to speak to the point, and not to “let our train of thought be wrecked by a flood of emotion,” when we have to counsel those near and dear to us. Brief, meaningful sentences, full of logic and understanding, penetrate and motivate, whereas an emotional, verbose talk bordering on a long drawn-out speech only produces negative responses.

  In home life, in social life, in business life, and most of all in decisions for eternity, let us heed the Word of God, and the words of our ministers, parents, teachers, and friends.

- John Aldersley

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Activiteiten in dit leven nagaan
For related articles in Dutch: raad, wraak, berispen, eeuwigheid, leven, bedoeling, frustratie, woede, voorganger, vriend

If we view the whole world through a lens that is bright

"If we view the whole world through a lens that is bright,
Then the world appears rosy and cheery;
Or if viewing the world through a lens that is dark,
The whole world will seem weary and dreary.

But the world hasn’t changed, for it’s only the lens
That’s distorting whatever we see.
So abandon the lens and seek truth, pure and free,
For God lives in both truth and reality!"
- Peggy Ferrell, Poems and Prayers

"Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says
is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself,
goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,
and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it –
he will be blessed in what he does."
James 1:23-25

Lord, give that I shall view the world more properly
and study Your Word.
And that I shall let me direct in this world by your blessed Word,
in Jesus name, Amen.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > De hele wereld door middel van een lens bekijken
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2013 update:

Words (Photo credit: sirwiseowl)

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A small trouble is like a pebble

"A small trouble is like a pebble.
Hold it too close to your eye and it fills the whole world and puts everything out of focus.
Hold it at a proper distance and it can be examined and properly classified.
Throw it at your feet and it can be seen in its true setting, just one more tiny bump on the pathway of life."
- Celia Luce

"Nobody will make a lock without a key.
Similarly God will not give problems without solutions.

If a problem can be solved, then there is no need to worry about it.
If a problem can not be solved, what is the point in worrying about it?"
- Author unknown

"Faith is not a guarantee against trouble, but to defeat."
- Corrie ten Boom

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

By Your mercy, God we are entrusted with the service of proclamation why we never lose heart. No, we give not up hope. Although we also have the outward man perish, our inner life renews itself day by day, and here we can count on because we believe in Your Word and the Gospels being assured that we will be able to harvest on time.
Jehovah, You are the one who gives strength to the weary again, and the indigent an abundance of power. We, who rely on you, renew our strength and mount up with wings as eagles; we will be able to walk and not become tired, run and not become depleted. For this we plan with the new man on his way to true understanding, innovating after the image of its creator.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Een kleine moeite is als een kiezelsteen

English: Betsie, Nollie, Casper, Willem, Cornelia, Corrie ten Boom in 1900. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Wishing to do the will of God

Daily Heavenly Manna
I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6
HE who gives his will, his heart, to the Lord, gives all; he who gives not his will, who comes not in obedience of heart unto the Lord, can offer no sacrifice to the Lord that could be acceptable. "Behold to obey is better than sacrifice," is a lesson which should be deeply engraved upon the hearts of all the sanctified in Christ Jesus. To have the spirit of obedience is necessary too, and whoever has the spirit of obedience will not only obey the divine will, but will seek to know the divine will more and more that he may obey it. It is of this class that the Scriptures declare, "His word was found and I did eat it;" and again, in the words of our Lord, "I delight to do Thy will, O My God: Thy law is written in My heart." Z.'03-220 R3225:5

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Being fit to take care of a garden

"Unless we know the difference between flowers and weeds, we are not fit to take care of a garden.
It is not enough to have truth planted in our minds.
We must learn and labour to keep the ground clear of thorns and briars, follies and perversities,
which have a wicked propensity to choke the word of life."
- Clyde Francis Lytle

"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:
When people hear the message about the kingdom and do not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their hearts. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to people who hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to people who hear the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to people who hear the word and understand it. They produce a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
Matthew 13:18-23

God, I am grateful that the sower has sown the word
and that I could receive it
let me cherish it and let the earth on which is sown be well maintained and properly edited.
Let me also bear good fruits,
that I ask You  in Jesus name, amen.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Het verschil weten tussen bloemen en onkruid
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English: An icon depicting the Sower. In Sts. Konstantine and Helen Orthodox Church, Cluj, Romania. Español: Ícono representando la parábola del sembrador, en la Iglesia Ortodoxa de Helen, en Cluj (Rumania) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2013 update:
 

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