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Forum #1 - Why Me?

Submitted by pieterb on 4 March, 2008 - 21:10

THIS IS AN INTERACTIVE FORUM:

  1. Comments are welcome in Afrikaans or English
  2. After evaluation by TIHM team, your comment will be posted for others to read.

 

Question:

“WHY ME?”
“WHY SHOULD THIS HAPPEN TO ME?”

 

Remark:

Sometimes life comes at the cost of great personal stress and hardships, and the Lord leads one in ways one does not always understand!

  • E.g. Israel - 450 years in Egypt; 40 years of dwelling in the desert; 70 years in exile.
  • E.g. Hosea - God told Hosea to go and marry a prostitute with children of prostitution, only to enable him to feel something of God’s grief for his unfaithful people. (Hosea 1:2b)
  • E.g. Job - A wealthy and upright man, who lost his possessions, his children, and his health. Job did not understand why he was suffering.
  • In my/your case: (Think of your own hardships) …………………..

 

The Bible’s Comment on Hardship & Commitment:

 

  • Habakkuk 3:17-19, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in my Saviour. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.…”

 

Fact of the Matter:

 

  • Habakkuk affirmed: Even in times of starvation and loss, he would still rejoice in the Lord.
    Habakkuk’s feelings were not controlled by the events around him but by faith in God’s ability to give him strength.
  • Habakkuk promised: To maintain his attitude regardless of the payback. That’s really what
    commitment is.

 

What Commitment-making IS NOT?

 

  • “I will be committed if…” [This is deal-making /or bargaining.]

 

Application:
Today, how can I handle my unique situation and problems?

 

  • When nothing makes sense, and when trouble seems more than you can bear, remember that God gives strength.
  • Take yourr eyes off your difficulties and look to God.
  • If something really matters, then commitment makes sense!
  • Pray continuously and wait on the Lord, even if you don’t get an answer immediately!
  • Wait patiently until God puts down the next piece of your life’s puzzle!
  • Be different from the rest of the world and adhere to the Bible’s promises:

    • God’s grace is sufficient, for his power is made perfect in weakness. When I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
    • God remains faithful (John 10:28; Hebrews 13:5b; Rom 8:31-39)
  • Understand that the very season in which you receives a promise, is not necessarily the season of fulfilment!
  • You don’t need to be enslaved with negative thoughts any more. You can say something like: “I was long enough on this mountain.
    Now I am going to the promised land – the land where I can live triumphant and, with Jesus’ mercy”

 

Also read:

 

  • 2 Corinthians 1:8b-9, “…about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”
  • Isa 29:16, “You turn things upside down! As if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, He did not make me? Can the pot say of the potter, He knows nothing?”
  • Romans 9:21, “Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?”
  • Hebrews 11:13-16, “…, and they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own… Instead, they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one.”

 

 

My Prayer:

  • Lord when I fall, I shall stand up again; when I sit in darkness, you will be a light to me. (Micah 7:8)
  • Lord forgive my self-centredness, where I always want things to be easy for myself. I acknowledge that I don’t want to suffer, and don’t like it if things go wrong.
  • Please help me to maintain a positive attitude and to trust you to let all things work together for the good.

Amen

 

 

 

Sources:

  1. Dr J Crafford, Wonderpark DR, Message on 17/02/08
  2. Leadership Bible, Zondervan Publishing House
  3. Life Application Bible, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
  4. Day Planner 2008, Joyce Meyer

 

Pieter Brits
Director: There is Hope Ministries

 

 

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‹ How do I know God’s will in my daily life and decisions ?
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Thorns to jubilation

Submitted by klr on 13 April, 2008 - 22:43.

 

Thorns to Jubilation!

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Real joy in the Lord

Submitted by forus4 on 28 June, 2008 - 12:05.

Oppad na 'n afspraak ontmoet ek 'n man van ongeveer 55jaar oud, met 'n plastieksak langs hom in een van Bellville middestad se parkeertereine.
Iets wat uit die man se gesig en houding gestraal het, het my onmiddellik na hom aangetrek.

Hier volg Craig sy aangrypende verhaal:


"Ek is 'n boer van Zimbabwe, waar ek van my plaas weggejaag was. Hulle het alles verbrand. My huis, waar ek en my moeder gewoon het. (My vader is al oorlede en ek het my vrou 20jaar gelede deur 'n egskeiding verloor. Ek woon in die nagskuiling en my ou moeder in die ACVV ouetehuis), al ons oeste en trekkers is verbrand, MAAR HUL KON NIE DIE VREUGDE VAN JESUS IN MY LEWE VERBRAND NIE"

Die man sê dit toe met so 'n vreugde/oorgawe, dat ek hoendervleis gekry het.

Toe ek daar wegstap wonder ek so by myself:
Ons sê maklik ons het Jesus in ons lewens, en 'n klomp besittings en 'n warm huis, MAAR WAAR IS DIE VREUGDE VAN JESUS IN ONS?

Die man het Jesus, met geen besittings, maar 'n blydskap wat Hy nie kan keer nie. Dit straal uit hom uit.
Hoekom het ons wat Jesus en besittings het, dan nie dieselfde blydskap nie?

HET ONS REGTIG JESUS? of laat ons ons omstandighede/besittings die lig van Jesus in ons uitdoof?

Jannie

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30 Years in Prison

Submitted by pieterb on 14 April, 2008 - 13:07.

Brother Mac from China

 

First Imprisonment

"In 1951, I was caught and sentenced to five years in a labour camp. They sent me to Heilongjiang province—where it is -40ºC in winter.
It took 10 days to get there by train transporting livestock. There were no seats, ventilation or showers … and many lice. Life was very harsh and more than half of the prisoners sent there died. But the Lord spared my life! I asked the Lord why He spared my life."

"At that time I didn’t understand why there had to be so much suffering, but in retrospect, I know now that the suffering came with blessing. I felt the Lord’s love, and if it weren’t for Him, I would have been very enraged."

 

"Jesus’ arms, legs, and ribs were impaled for us. I feel blessed to have suffered for the Lord."

 

The Need Of The Church Today

Brother Mac believes that now is the time to simply preach the Gospel, regardless of whether people will accept it or not.

Used with permission - 'Open Doors' Newsletter - 2008, April

The vision of Open Doors is to strengthen and equip the Body of Christ living under or facing restriction or persecution because of their faith in Jesus Christ, and to
encourage their involvement in world evangelism by:

  1. Providing Bibles and literature, media, leadership training, socio-economic development and through intercessory prayer;
  2. Preparing the Body of Christ living in threatened or unstable areas to face persecution and suffering; and
  3. Educating and mobilizing the Body of Christ living in the free world to identify with threatened and persecuted Christians and be actively involved in assisting them.

We do so because we believe when one member suffers, all members suffer with it (1 Corinthians 12:26), all doors are open and God enables His Body to go into all the world and preach the Gospel.

http://www.opendoors.org.za

 

 

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Don't give up.....

Submitted by klr on 15 April, 2008 - 08:47.

Don't give up.....


One day I decided to quit...
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality...
I wanted to quit my life.

I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me...
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water.
The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.

But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.
And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed.

But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said. "In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.

But I would not quit. In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed.

I would not quit." He said. "Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...
But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.

I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."

He asked me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots".
"I would not quit on the bamboo.
I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others."
He said. "The bamboo had a different Purpose than the fern.
Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", God said to me.
"You will rise high"
"How high should I rise?"
I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."

I left the forest and brought back this story.

I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.

Never, Never, Never Give up.

For the Christian Prayer is not an option but an opportunity.
Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is, tell the problem how Great the Lord is!

Heavens door open this morning.

God asked me...
"My CHILD, what can I do for you?"
And I said, "Daddy, please protect and bless the one reading this message."
God smiled and answered, "Request granted."

»

Comments on "Why me?"

Submitted by pieterb on 6 April, 2008 - 14:20.

After reading the book of
Ecclesiastes, I want to add my comments on the topic:
“Why me?”

A Significant Story

The moulded bunny lies in the basket, surrounded by green paper “grass”.
With Easter morning eyes wide with anticipation, the little boy carefully lifts the chocolate figure and bites into one of the long ears. But the sweet taste fades quickly, and the child looks again at the candy in his hand.
It’s hollow!

Empty, futile, hollow, nothing … the words ring of disappointment and disillusionment. Yet this is the life-experience of many. Grasping the sweet things – possessions, experience, power and pleasure – they find nothing inside.

Life is empty, meaningless … and a despair!

Ecclesiastes

The author/Teacher (likely Solomon) spoke almost 3,000 years ago of this human dilemma.
In the book of Ecclesiastes he investigates life as a whole. Wisdom, education, knowledge, pleasure, happiness, power, influence, religion – all these and more are considered. He examines the ventures in temporally
success and failures of man. In his words “under the sun”, he repeatedly uses the expression “all is vanity" (emptiness, falsity, and futility). All with temporally value.

In his final analysis he teaches that life is meaningless without proper respect and reverence for God. Lasting value insofar as man relates all of life to God – a genuine devotion in serving God is essential in making life worthwhile.

In Ecclesiastes 2 the Teacher had two perspectives in joys and heartaches: (i) “A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work” [v.24]; and from another vantage point (ii) “work … is meaningless, a chasing after wind” [v.17].

Putting these pieces together, we can observe that satisfaction in work is good, but we must avoid the pitfall of turning it into an idol. (Love or admire to excess)

Hold unto things with a loose grip, since our true source of significance and security is in God, not in the earthly things.

From this book of Ecclesiastes, and other similar studies, personally I understand that life can be very hard and daunting unless you come to an understanding that, apart from, others:

  • the world owns you nothing
  • you are born to serve
  • to give, is better than to receive
  • be fragrance of the knowledge of Christ to those around us (2 Corinthians 2:14-17)
  • you are a treasure in jars of clay (2 Corinthians 4:7-12) [Please read, it is beautiful]
  • make other rich while you yourself suffer (1 Corinthians 4:11-13)
  • be humble
  • be the less in your own eyes, as Christ modelled to us

Our whole life on earth, 70-80 years, is like a small drop of water in the oceans, compared to the endless eternity waiting on those whose names are written in the book of life. (Revelation 20:11-15)

If you miss out on the promised spiritual heritage that Christ has promised, you miss out on everything that matters till eternity.

So, what shall I do? – Make peace with life:

  • Know God and have a personally relationship with Jesus Christ.
  • Look towards Jesus, rather than on your current situation.
  • “Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

One day He, our bridegroom (Revelation 19:7), will come in judgement Revelation 20:11-15), riding on his white horse (Revelation 19:11), to take us home (Revelation 21).

My prayer:

God grand me grace to be more and more the person you wants me to be. Amen

Sources:

  1. Amplified Bible
  2. Leadership Bible, Zondervan Publishing House
  3. Life Application Bible, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Pieter Brits

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Bid vir Herstelling in ons Huwelik

Submitted by Louise on 7 March, 2008 - 15:03.

Liewe Pieter & Magdaleen,

Baie dankie vir hierdie e-mail. Dis ongelooflik, maar die vorige twee weke was werklik vir my ‘n struweling. Ek het uitgevind my man het ‘n verhouding met iemand wat saam met hom werk, en dit was baie moeilik, maar die Here was goed vir my, en ons werk aan ons verhouding.

Die gebede word waardeer.

Groete

Moeilik & Seer

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Moeilik & Seer, ek Bid Saam met Julle

Submitted by pieterb on 7 March, 2008 - 15:30.

Liewe Moeilik & Seer,

Ek is saam met jou hartseer vandag.
Die lewe het soms baie seer wat ons nie altyd verstaan nie.

In die Bybel lees ons dat 'alles ten goede meewerk vir die wat Hy liefhet'.

Indien jy sekerheid het dat Jesus jou Verlosser en Here is, kan jy nou weet dat daar 'n lewe van oorwinning op jou wag.


Gaan gerus na 'Helpful Links' aan linkerkant van die blad:

A) Kies dan 'Knowing God Personally', indien jy nie seker is dat Jesus wel in jou lewe is nie - bestudeer van die die onderwerpe en MAAK DIE KEUSE VIR JESUS!
Nadat ek 34 jaar gelede die keuse gemaak het, het alles in my lewe verander!

B) Kies 'Physical Needs', om video clips en artikels oor die huwelik te verkry: 'Marriage' en ook 'Family Life'

Moeilik & Seer, dit is my bede dat:

  • Ons hemelse Vader jou en jou man sal toevou in die holte van Sy hand.
  • Julle sal beskerm teen die versoekinge van die wereld, die begeertes van die vlees, en die liste van die duiwel.
  • Dat jy die genade sal ondervind om te kan vergewe - ongeag!!
  • Dat julle julle probleem suksesvol sal kan oplos en dat daardie eerste liefde weer sal opvlam.

Groete,

Pieter Brits

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Need your Prayers!

Submitted by Andre on 7 March, 2008 - 14:36.

Thanks a lot,

My wife has cancer for the last 10 years and since Jan 08 things are not going well, and we need all your prayers.

Andre de Beer

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Andre & Wife, I Intercede with You

Submitted by pieterb on 8 March, 2008 - 13:00.

Andre & wife,

Let me pray a prayer for you and especially your wife. A prayer that I found somewhere on a Christian Web Page, some time ago:

“And the prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well. And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.”
James 5:15-16 (NLT)

Dear Lord,
You know Andre & his wife so much better than I do. You know her sickness and the burden she carries. You also know her heart.

Lord, I ask you to be with Andre & his wife right now, working in their lives.

Let your will be done in Andre & his wife's life. If there is a sin that needs to be confessed and forgiven, Lord, please help them to see their need and confess.

Lord, I pray for Andre & his wife because your Word says I should pray for her healing.

I believe you hear this earnest prayer from my heart and that it is powerful because of your promise. I have faith in you to heal Andre's wife, but I also trust in the plan you have for their lives.

Lord, we don't always understand your ways, and why Andre's wife has to suffer, but I trust you. I ask that you look with mercy and grace toward Andre's wife.

Nourish her spirit and soul in this time of suffering and comfort her with your presence. Let Andre & his wife know you are there with her through this difficulty.

And may you be glorified in their lives and also in mine.

Amen

Andre, let me also add a prayer of Saint Augustine:

'Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ.
Rest your weary ones.
Bless your dying ones.
Soothe your suffering ones.
Pity your afflicted ones.
Shield your joyous ones.
And for all your love's sake.
Amen"
Saint Augustine

 

May God bless you,

Pieter Brits

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