Monday August 8, 2011

Read John 12:26; Colossians 3:24; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Corinthians 3:23

 

THE DIMENSIONS OF STEWARDSHIP

Stewardship is one of the predominant themes of the Bible, and yet is often overlooked or minimized in discussions about the Christian life. The Scriptures say a great deal about stewardship because it affects virtually every aspect of our earthly existence. To the extent that when we put these biblical principles into practice, we will enjoy the freedom and fulfilment that comes only from being Christ's servants (John 12:26; Col. 3:24).

 

The Meaning of Stewardship

The New Testament word for stewardship is oikonomia, from which we derive the word economy. This word means "management of a household," and it refers to the responsibility that is entrusted to a manager. A steward acts as an administrator of the affairs and possessions of another. He is fully accountable to his master and may act justly as did Joseph who became Potiphar's steward (Gen. 39:4-6), or unjustly as in Christ's parable of the steward, who squandered his master's possessions (Luke 16:1-13).

 

As Christians, we have been entrusted with a stewardship; the things we call our own are not really ours, but God's. We have no possessions, and we do not even own ourselves: "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; see 1 Corinthians 3:23).

 

Think about your Time, Talents and Treasures. What is your current plan of stewardship?

 

 

 

Prayer:-

> Pray for the men’s ministry that they will be able to reach out to the men in the local community and that they will be able to encourage and support each other through the challenges facing them in day to day life.

 

Saturday 6 August

The Worry Box

Read Philippians 4:1-9

 Do not worry about your life.  Matthew 6:25

I heard about a woman who kept a box in her kitchen that she called her “Worry Box.”  Every time something troubled her, she would write it down on a piece of paper and put it in the box.  She resolved not to think about her problems as long as they were in the box.  This enabled the woman to put her troubles completely out of mind.  She knew they could be dealt with later.

Occasionally she would take out a slip of paper and review the concern written on it.  Because she had not been drained by anxiety, she was relaxed and better able to find the solution to her problem.  Many times she discovered that  a specific worry no longer existed.

Writing your worries on paper and putting them in a box maybe helpful, but how much better it is to place them in the hands of God.  Worry robs us of joy, drains us of energy, stunts out spiritual growth, and dishonours God.  Jesus said, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble”.  Matthew 6:34

Let’s believe the Lord’s promises and trust Him to meet our needs.  Placing our problems in His hands is far better than putting them in a worry box.  Richard De Haan

Never a trial that He is not there,

Never a burden that He does not bear;

Never a sorrow that He does not share,

Moment by moment, I’m under His care.  Whittle

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

Prayer:

Pray for the M.O.P.s leaders and helpers who care for the children, as they meet each fortnight.

Praise God for the Mums and children who come to Playpals each other week.

Friday 5 August

True Greatness

Read Psalm 112

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord.  Psalm 112:1

A time magazine article asked why so many women in today’s society choose not to marry.  Melissa Bank spelled out the answer in clear terms.  She wrote, “Let’s face it.  You don’t just want a man in your life.  You only want a great man in your life”.

Of course, the definition of “great” might mean different things to different people.  Yet the Bible teaches that true greatness is a result of being approved and blessed by God.

Look at the description in Psalm 112 of a “blessed” man, the one who enjoys the approval of God: he fears the Lord (vs 1), he finds delight in God’s commands (vs 1), he is righteous (vs 3), he is gracious and compassionate (vs 4), he is generous (vs 5), he has a steadfast trust in God (vs 7), he is secure and fearless (vs 7-8).  What a list of characteristics!  These are the marks of a truly great man.

Obviously, these lofty character qualities aren’t limited to men.  This would be an effective checklist for all of us as we strive to live as God would have us live.

By the Holy Spirit’s enablement, may we all live in a  way that marks us a great in God’s eyes.  When we do, others will notice, and then we can reflect any praise back to Him.  Dave Branon.

True greatness comes not by man’s acclaim,

Nor it is attained by wealth or fame;

The fear of the Lord is where it starts,

When we obey God and give Him our hearts.  Fitzhugh

Godliness is true greatness.

Prayer:

Praise God for the people who are willing to be King’s Kids teachers and helpers each Sonday.

Ask God for His guidance over them as they teach our children week by week.

Thursday 4 August

Is Evolution a Fact?

Read Genesis 2:1-7 and Hebrews 11:1-3

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God. Hebrews 11:3

The theory of evolution is not without its problems.  One scientist says this about life starting on its own: “Amino acids would have to be arranged in an exact sequence to form a protein ... Just live the letters in a sentence.  Mere laws of chemistry and physics cannot do that.  The probability of a protein forming by chance would 1064 (10 with 64 zeros after it) to 1!”

Many people assume the theory of evolution to be true.  But can it be scientifically proven?  Something is considered scientifically true only if it can be repeatedly verified under laboratory conditions.  The claim that life sprang up on its own out of a long impersonal process cannot pass this test of truth.  That is why evolution remains only a theory.

So if you are ever tempted to doubt the Genesis account of the creation story, consider the alternative.  The odds against even a simple protein creating itself are astronomical.  How much more reasonable to believe God and His Word. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that that things which are seen were not made of things which are invisible Hebrews 11:3.

Isn’t it more reasonable to believe that God has designed and created the universe?  (Genesis 1:1)  Dennis Fisher.

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.  Alexander

All creation points to the almighty Creator.

Prayer:

Ask and pray to God that all funds still needed to compete the Teen Challenge Women’s facility will be provided.

Wednesday 3 August

We Don’t Need You

Read Jeremiah 2:5-13

What injustice have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from me, have followed idols, and have become idolaters?  Jeremiah 2:5

There’s a story about a group of scientists who decided that humans could do without God.  So one of them looked up to God and said, “We’ve decided that we no longer need You. We have enough wisdom to clone people and do many miraculous things.”

God listened patiently and then said, “Very well, let’s have a man-making contest.  We’ll do it just like I did back in the old days with Adam.”  The scientists agreed, and one of them bent down and picked up a handful of dirt.  God looked at him and said, “no! You have to make your own dirt!”

In Jeremiah’s day, the Israelites were living as if they no longer needed the Lord.  They had entrusted themselves to other gods, even though their gods could not respond to their needs.  Jeremiah confronted them about their rebellion, for they had forsaken the true God and shown disrespect for Him.  (Jeremiah 2:13,19)

Are we guilty of living as if we don’t need God?  We may know Him as our Saviour but be worshipping the idol of our won wisdom and self-sufficiency.  Could the Lord be saying to us, “They have gone far from me”?  (2:5)

Living far from God dishonours and displease Him, and it will never meet our deepest needs.  But we can return to Him today (3:7).  Anne Cetas

Unless we worship only God

Our lives cannot be truly free;

For we were made for Him alone,

All else is but idolatry.  D. De Haan

The idol of self is a sorry substitute for God.

Prayer:

Give thanks to God for the ladies who attend Itching 4 Stitchin’ every 3rd Friday night of the month.

Praise God that 12 quilts are now completed to hand over to the Teen Challenge Women’s facility

Pray for the ladies as they now commence to make quilts for the children at Fresh Hope.

Tuesday 2 August

I’m Sorry

Read Luke 15:11-24

Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.  Luke 15:21

A meaningful apology can be the first step toward forgiveness.  Colleen O’Connor writes:  “The successful apology dissolves anger and humiliation.  It shows respect, builds trust, and helps prevent further misunderstanding.  A sincere apology makes it much easier to forgive.”

Author Barbara Engel says that a true apology depends on the three Rs: regret, responsibility, and remedy.

In Jesus’ story of the prodigal son, the headstrong young man who returned home after squandering his inheritance approached his father with humility and remorse: “Father, I have sinned against heaven ....”  he expressed regret for the pain he had caused, took responsibility for what he dad done, and was prepared to work as a hired servant (vs9).

As followers of Jesus, we are instructed to forgive others when they repent and are sorry (Luke 17:3-4).  In the same spirit of humility and love, we must help those who need to forgive us by offering a genuine apology.

A sincere apology doesn’t compel others to forgive, but it’s the right thing to do.  We must take the first step on the pathway to ward the freedom of forgiveness.  David McCasland.

Have you hurt a friend or brother?

Go at once and make things right;

From your heart say, “I am sorry.”

How these words bring God delight!  D. De Haan

A heartfelt apology can’t change the past, but it can brighten the future.

Prayer:

Praise God for the Young Adults ministry.

Pray for Neil & Jess as they lead and care for the above ministry.

Monday 1 August

The Listener

Read  Psalm 18:1-6

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice.  Psalm 18:6

I read about a machine repairman who had an unusual knack for correctly diagnosing where the trouble was in faulty factory equipment.  And he could fix it quickly.

His co-workers noticed that he normally left the lunchroom 10 minutes early.  One day someone followed him to see what he what he did before the others started working again.  The repairman didn’t touch a wrench or screwdriver.  Instead, while everyone else was gone and there was no sound of conversation, he stood in the middle of the large room, closed his eyes, and listened to the machinery.  His ear caught every subtle sound, every click, every change in pitch or vibration.  He could identify the first signs of a problem before it became apparent to others.  It’s as if he knew each machine personally.

God knows us personally and intimately.  He monitors our thoughts and feeling all the time.  As King David declared, we can be sure that when we cry out to Him, He hears us.  He hears the shouts and groans of our hearts.  He knows when we are “broken” or “out of tune”.  And when we call on Him, He knows exactly what we need.

Facing a problem today?  Cry out to the Lord.  You can be sure that He will hear you.  Dave Egner

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!  Scriven

God’s help is only a prayer away.

Prayer:

Praise God for our Children’s Co-ordinator.

Praise God for the very successful Extreme Week held in the June School Holidays

Continue to pray for the children who attended.