Only for those who love Him!
But, as it is written, what no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him —
1 Corinthians 2:9
What amazing words! How amazing is our Lord to have this on His mind! This is for me! And it is for you who loves Him! How should we not adore and love Him and walk in obedience to Him, remembering John 14:21 “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” This word is to me overwhelming this morning! This is so great. We should never forget it.
Erlo Stegen, founder, and director of the Kwasizabantu Mission, said at the beginning of the year (2018):
“If you hold onto the Lord you will see great things you have never experienced.
If you hold on to the Lord, that which you have experienced in the past, will be insignificant to what is to come.”
Let us hold onto the Lord!
Practicing His Presence
Practicing His Presence
If you never read the little booklet “Practice the Presence of God”, written about a man called “Brother Lawrence”, you should look for it and read it. It is a wonderful thing to walk in the presence of the Lord day by day, and moment by moment.
One thing I have learned through the revival at Kwasizabantu Mission where we are co-workers for many years is to pray always. I didn’t understand Ephesians 6:18 and didn’t think it is possible at first. But as I cleansed my life (see 2 Tim 2:21), the Holy Spirit took a much more pertinent role in my life and I understood what it means to pray always. A beloved sister one day said to me that we should speak much more to the Lord Jesus than to anybody else. By continually conversing with Him establishes us in God’s presence. Truly, He should be first on our mind when we wake up and last on our mind when we go to sleep. He hovers and watches over us always.
We should offer our work to Him before we begin and thank Him afterward, thanking Him for His help and success. I have learned to thank Him for everything, even a glass of water; or to ask His guidance when I reach out to answer the telephone, or greet someone. Whatever, I acknowledge Him and give Him His rightful place in every situation.
“Brother Lawrence” had a deep walk with the Lord and wrote the following prayer: “My God, since You are with me and since, by Your will, I must occupy myself with external things, please grant me the grace to remain with You, in Your presence.”
Another prayer he wrote down: “Lord of all pots and pans and things, since I’ve no time to be a great saint by doing lovely things, make me a saint by getting meals, and washing up the plates. Warm all the kitchen with Thy Love, and light it with Thy peace; forgive me all my worrying, and make my grumbling cease. Thou who didst love to give men food, in room, or by the sea, accept the service that I do, I do it unto Thee. Amen.”
He never thought his life was worth much, but many years later his testimony still goes out non-stop. He only walked with the Lord as a servant.
What is the work that’s right in front of you, for God wants to work with you. Realise He is with you. Pray as you do whatever you have to do.
My husband and I have the privilege to often be with the man of God, Erlo Stegen, the man whom God used to bring a mighty Revival amongs the Zulu’s in South Africa. He sometimes invites us to drive with him around on the mission looking at the projects and farming section. When we get into the car, he will ask the Lord to be with us. When we stop at wherever we went, he will thank the Lord for being with us. When we have something to eat or drink, he will thank the Lord and ask Him to bless it. No long formal prayers. Just like a friend with a friend. Like a son with his father. Simple.
May God give that we seek out His presence above anything else. Everything else is very temporary, while He is for eternity. He is worthy and we should live before His face with great reverence.
Will that not bring us to a totally higher standard of life!
I want to always proceed to higher ground. Nearer to my Lord.
May it be your desire too.
How useless it is to worry!
Many years ago, even before the time of cellular phones, one of my younger sisters had to travel alone for many hours on a dangerous road to get to her destination.
When it became dark and we didn’t hear anything from her, I really worried
myself to pieces. My father eventually had to firmly rebuke me with the words,
“Andra, where is your faith!”
The only thing my worry brought forth was the painful experience of a stern
rebuke from my Dad. It didn’t help me a bit, and my sister anyway arrived safely at
her destination.
Worry is in essence “I want to be in control” issue. It is an emotional problem that develops when we meet up with problems. We want to control an issue that is actually out of our control. We cannot control the economy, so we worry about it. We cannot control the future, so we worry about it. But worry never solves anything!
Worry is sin, because we transgress one of the commands Jesus gave, when He said do not worry. Matthew 6:25 says, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?”
Why is it that some people handle their problems much more positive than others? It is because they put their trust in God.
Jesus is so kind and tender, He didn’t just say we must not worry, He gives the reasons why we should not worry:
- Matthew 6:26: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Nothing else in nature worries, except human beings. We’re the only things God has created that don’t trust him. Shame on us! - Jesus asked a question in Matthew 6:27, “Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
It does not help to worry! It cannot change a thing. To worry about a problem, doesn’t bring you one bit closer to the solution. Somebody said, “It’s like sitting in a rocking chair – there is a lot of activity, you use energy going to and thro, but you get nowhere. The only result your worry yields, is a miserable you! Furthermore, a miserable you bring you in danger to sin even more – becoming irritable. One sin leads to another and it disturbs, even kills your relationship with God. - Matthew 6:30 says, “If God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you, O men of little faith?” (TLB)
If you trust in God, you don’t need to worry. He has promised to take care of all your needs: “God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19).
Does that include bills? Yes.
Does that include relational conflicts? Yes.
Does that include your dreams and goals and ambitions? Yes.
Does that include health issues you don’t know what to do with? Yes.
God will meet all your needs in Christ. Therefore …
To worry about something you can change, is stupid.
To worry about something you cannot change, is useless.
Either way, it’s unreasonable to worry, because the Creator of heaven and earth, Who holds everything in the hollow of His hand, said: “Do not worry about anything!”
A Cook with a Vision and a Mission
I just have to post this link about an amazing story of a cook helping the outcasts!
It’s a must-watch.
Enjoy!
Holiness
Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots
I am reading a booklet, “Holiness. Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots”, written by the man of God, JC Ryle. His words echo in my heart:
“I have had a deep conviction for many years that practical holiness and entire self-consecration to God are not sufficiently attended to by modern Christians in this country. Politics, or controversy, or party-spirit, or worldliness, have eaten out the heart of lively piety in too many of us. The subject of personal godliness has fallen sadly into the background.”
How absolutely true! May we pursue sanctification and may nothing withhold us from entire self-consecration to God. Hebrews 12:14 contains such serious words – no one will see the Lord without holiness! But it seems as if so few believe it.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
No condemnation?
The Word of God says: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 ESV
But before we only take and enjoy the raisins but not the bun, let us make sure what this verse implies.
It starts with “therefore” … then there must be something in the previous chapters that we should take note of. For example, let us have a look at Chapter 7: 4-6
A Christian
Could I be called a Christian
if everybody knew
my secret thoughts and feelings,
and everything I do?
Oh, could they see the likeness
of Christ in me each day?
Oh, could they hear him speaking
in every word I say
Could I be called a Christian
If everybody could know
That I am found in places
where Jesus would not go?
Oh, could they hear His echo
in every song I sing
In eating, drinking, dressing
could they see Christ in me?
Could I be called a Christian
if judged by what I read,
by all my recreations
and every word and deed?
Could I be counted Christlike
as I now work and pray
to others every day?
The Evangel
Streamlets 