The Future Again

We are all interested in our FUTURE!

An advertisement I saw today says: STAR TAROT OUR CARDS YOUR FUTURE and two phone numbers are given.

The BIBLE, the Word of the Living God says: Jeremiah 29:11!

For I know the plans I have for you, “declares the Lord, ” plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a FUTURE!”

EXAMPLES


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First Corinthians 11:1 FOLLOW MY EXAMPLE, AS I FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST.

The November 14 issue of the Northern News had the following headline: Focusing on Maori Success. Students were interviewed to identify factors that helped them to succeed. 1. They had a mentor or role model who they respected and trusted. 2. They were inspired by someone quite close. We have role models as Christians, Fathers and Mothers in Christ and the Lord Jesus Christ. Deuteronomy 29:29 comes also to mind in this connection.

Talking about inspiration. There is a poster in the Kaitaia library which says: Inspire me. We feel tired at times – but then we see something and we are inspired to do something. Have you ever had that experience?

An elderly lady received an invitation to go to a school reunion but did not feel to take part. But then a medal arrived with her name on it and the medal inspired her to go.

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END OF STORY

You know what hot-water cylinders are. H J Cooper is advertising the hot-water cylinders like this: HJ Cooper Made to last. END OF STORY

Honda- Best on earth – is advertising in the same way: Nr. 1 choice in Farm ATVs for 30 years. END OF STORY

About Moses it says in the Bible: for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. (RSV) Hebrews 11:27. END OF STORY!

CHRISTMAS BEGINS………WHERE?

You are familiar with the plastic shopping bags. Some years ago I saw written on one bag: CHRISTMAS BEGINS AT NEW WORLD! ( New World=Supermarket) There was a picture as well if I remember correctly.

We used to live in Kaikohe for a long time. Once coming back from Whangaparaoa to Kaikohe straight after Christmas we made a stop in Whangarei at a parksite. I asked some young people in the park what CHRISTMAS meant to them. ( Personal Evangelism) “Being together with family and friends and good food,” was the answer. May be the good food reply indicates that it is true for some people that Christmas begins in the foodshops. But that is not a beginning; it is a dead end.

CHRISTMAS begins with the love of God when the Son of God came down to earth and was born in a manger in Bethlehem. He became poor that we might become rich. The Bible says it like that in Second Corinthians 8:9. He took our SIN and gave us his GLORY! Christmas for us begins when we see us as poor sinners and accept the glorious way of redemption the Lord has prepared for us before the foundation of the world.

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Worries! What to do with them!

From a Travel Brochure:

” Fiji…leave your worries behind and prepare to descend into a world where time counts for little, stress is a world away and your tropical island dreams become reality. Bula, welcome to paradise!”( Paradise again!)

Saw this written on the side of a bus: “Paradise Connexion, Doubtless Bay”

Not too long ago we had some work done by:  ” Paradise Kitchens- Kitchens with distinction”

Is it possible to leave worries behind? Does it work?

The best way to deal with worries is: Philippians 4:4-6

No need to travel!

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Let the lower lights be burning

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Matthew 5:16

Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave!

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman you may rescue, you may save.

Brightly beams our Father’s mercy from his lighthouse evermore, but to us he gives the keeping of the lights along the shore.

Dark the night of sin has settled, loud the angry billows roar; eager eyes are watching, longing, for the lights along the shore.

Trim your feeble lamp my brother! Some poor sailor tempest tossed, trying now to make the harbour, in the darkness may be lost.

Philip P. Bliss

LIFE IS FULL OF QUESTIONS

That says a poster produced by the Citizens Advice Bureau. And that is true. Life is really full of questions. And we are really thankful to get the lowdown at he CAB. Of course it can be a hassle at times. For me it is a hassle all the time. I mean to find answers. But if you want free, confidential and impartial information go to the CAB. They say they have time to listen and are happy to help. One paragraph says,” If you’ve got any questions, big or small, the Citizens Advice Bureau can help you find the answers.”

They are dealing with questions concerning Consumer Affairs, Health and welfare… and so on.

But what about the really big questions in lfe? Where do I come from? Where do I go? What is life all about? What is the real meaning to life? Where can I find peace for my conscience which is accusing me day and night?

Only our creator can answer those questions. We do find the answer to all those questions in the Bible. And once we have connected in the right way with the Lord Jesus Christ all those other questions are easier to deal with because we can make all our questions known to God in prayer. He will listen to us! It says so in his word. Philippians 4:4-6.

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