“THE BOOK OF BOOKS”

“A must read …”

On the cover page of the magazine I am looking at just now it says that the publication is not only “A must read” for Students, but also “A must read” for Parents and Teachers.

The magazine is New Zealand’s # 1 careers magazine for school leavers and the publication is called NEXT STEP.

Reading that made me think of a book which is not only “A must read” for certain people like Students, Teachers and Parents, but “A must read” for everyone.

That book is the Bible, THE BOOK OF BOOKS.

“Your Plans or Ours,” advertises a local Construction LTD.

In the Bible we are reading also about the plans, plans the Lord Jesus Christ has for us.

There it says in the Book of Jeremiah in chapter 29:11:

“‘For I know the plans I have for you’,

declares the LORD,

a.  ‘plans to prosper you and

b.  not to harm you,

c.  plans to give you hope and

d.  a future.'”

Not our plans, and not the plans of someone else matter; but the Plans of the Lord Jesus Christ for our life matter.

“Handy holiday checklist,” it says on the back cover of my free Unichem Guide to keeping myself and my family healthy this Summer.

I am told to make sure that I have certain things before heading off on my summer holiday.

To be exact 14 things are listed beginning with Sun protection including sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat.

The second thing listed is Lip Balsam with SPF.

ON WAIHEKE ISLAND NOT FAR FROM AUCKLAND.

And I certainly make sure to add one more thing to the list, a book, namely my Bible.

Physical health is important, but spiritual health is of uttermost importance.

The Lord Jesus Christ says in Matthew 10:28: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross to redeem the soul of man.

THE CROSS

“But Ruth replied,

Ruth 1:16,17

Intr.:

‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you.

a.  Where you go I will go, and

b.  where you stay I will stay.

c.  Your people will be my people and

d. your God my God.

e.  Where you die I will die,

End:

and there I will be buried.  May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.'”

One day lilies

“The king of Ammon, however, paid no attention to the message Jephthah sent him.” – Judges 11:28

“Licht vom unerschoepften Lichte”

Quote from the Treasury:

“DAS SOLLEN DIE GROSSEN DER WELT WISSEN, DASS SIE SCHACHFIGUREN GOTTES SIND.” – Wilhelm Busch

“‘How will this be?'”

Questions like that asks the natural man, when it comes to the things of God. The reason for that is that the BIBLE speaks about things that seem to be impossible.

A.  In LUKE 1:34 Mary asked the angel a question:

There we read, “‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?'”

“‘How will this be,’Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?'”

B.  In LUKE 1:18 Zechariah asked the angel a question:

There it says, “Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years?'”

C.  In GENESIS 15:7,8 Abraham asked the Lord a question:

In verse eight it says, “But Abraham said, ‘O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will take possession of it?'”

D.  In JOHN 3:4 Nicodemus asked the Lord a question:

We read there, “‘How can a man be born, when he is old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!'”

“‘HOW WILL THIS BE?'” We do not know. But it happens. The KINGDOM OF GOD is full of miracles.

The question is:

“I’m going to spend this Christmas with my in-laws. I’m already dreading it as I find it stressful – how can I make it more enjoyable for all of us?” (War Cry, Issue 6631)

In the answer I am reading about “clash of family cultures” and “completely different family dynamics.”

“Merry Christmas”

CHRISTMAS AT WHANGAPARAOA

The house of my parents in – law was not far from everything, the church, the beach, and the shopping centre. The place was ideal for our Christmas holiday as a family.

I remember one Christmas swimming alone in the water at Arkles Bay, the beautiful weather, the clear and calm water.

Hours were spent in the coffee shops at the Plaza.

The Whangaparaoa Baptist Church is sort of built on a hill and when looking through the window while singing and standing one was looking on the ocean.

I was always looking forward to Christmas while working in Kaikohe as a missionary with my parents in – law and other members of the family in Whangaparaoa.

We have the same family dynamic, the same family culture.

We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our Saviour.