Another beautiful flower

“For to me, to live is Christ.” – Philippians 1:21

“Keep up with reading, kids told,” is an article in the paper. (Saturday, January 3, 2015 Weekend Herald)

“Reading is not just something that’s fun. It really will affect your whole career and your life – your income level, your socio-economic level, the sort of job you’ve got – whether it is interesting or really dull,”  says Professor Tom Nicholson.

______________________________

O LAND,

LAND,

LAND,

hear the word of the LORD!

– Jeremiah 22:29

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He says, READING affects our life in three ways:

1. It affects the sort of job we have, a dull job or an interesting job (career).

2. It affects our income level.

3. It affects our socio-economic level.

I would like to tell everyone to keep up with reading good books, especially the “GOOD BOOK,” the Bible. “GOOD BOOK” is a name for the Bible.

“GOTT IST TREU (GOD IS FAITHFUL),” is the title of a book written by Stephan Holthaus.

(I have two copies in German and I am quite happy to give them away. Please ask for a copy!)

“GOTT IST TREU”

It is the story of the Bible College in Germany I went to many years ago.

At the moment I am learning that it is important to be good stewards of our life stories. In fact the Bible teaches that God not only commanded the Israelites to teach their children His law, but also their family history.

The Lord worked in their behalf and it was the responsibility of the parents and grandparents to tell their children their stories. Please read the beginning of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament chapter four.

You have a unique story to tell, just as I have a unique story to tell.

DO OTHERS KNOW …

… what you believe?

… why you believe what you believe?

… the story of how you came to faith?

… how God has worked in your life to strengthen your faith?

… how God has helped you through doubts and disappointments? (Think about those questions and give an answer!)

Just as “God is Faithful” is the story of the Bible College I went to many years ago, I can say that “God is Faithful” is the story of my life.

Bible school BRAKE in Germany

Picture / Bibelschule Brake

Matthew 3:16

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.” – Matthew 3:16

AT THE BEACH

Pre-planning and preparing for the unexpected is very important.

“She’ll be right.” Is that your attitude?

“‘She’ll be right,’ won’t really cut it,” I am reading in an insurance brochure.

“They have an attitude of ‘she’ll be right’ when often that is not the case at all,” says Maritime New Zealand deputy director about people who ignore water safety rules like wearing a life jacket, letting people know where you are going, when you will be back and taking a communication device with you.

In Australia and New Zealand we say “she’ll be right,” the rest of the world says “that’s all right” or “not to worry.”

If pre-planning and preparing is very important for the unexpected, how much more important is it to be prepared for the expected.

(All of us are going to die, whether we expect it or not.)

“‘Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel,'” the Bible says in Amos 4:12

Are you prepared to meet God?

What is the most widespread disability in New Zealand?

That is the question I was asked today.

Do you know the answer? I did not and when I was told that the answer is hearing loss, I began to think …

(The question comes from the puzzle pages of a magazine.)

I think the hearing of everyone of us is impaired when it comes to hearing the voice of the Lord. What do you think?

The author of the Bible is God, the Holy Spirit.

The Lord is speaking to us through his Word, the Bible.

Have you heard of  George Mueller and  F. B. Meyer?

I found George Mueller’s and F.B. Meyer’s formula for finding guidance in the book ONE HUNDRED BIBLE LESSONS by Alban Douglas.

George Mueller:

1. Surrender your own will. Have no definite choice on the matter. Be absolutely neutral.

2. Seek the Spirit’s will through God’s Word.

3. Note providential  circumstances.

4. Pray for guidance.

5. Wait on God.

 F. B. Meyer:

“When the Word of God, the impulse of the Holy Spirit in my heart, and the outward circumstances are in harmony, then I am convinced that I am acting in accordance with the will of God.”

We have learnt that hearing loss is the most widespread impairment in New Zealand. But we want to learn also that hearing the voice of the Lord is not only the most widespread impairment in New Zealand but word wide. Tell me what you think, please!