“DEIN LEBEN IST EIN GESCHENK,” lese ich auf der Karte zu meinem Geburtstag. Dein Leben ist Gottes Geschenk.  Mein Geburtstag war am 16. Februar.

Die facebook Geburtstagskarte  sagt mir natuerlich, von wem die Karte ist und wo der Sender in Deutschland wohnt.

Ich weiss nicht viel ueber meinen Freund in Deutschland; aber ich weiss, dass er ein Bruder im Herrn ist, und das ist genug.

Warum schreibe ich dies eigentlich?

Wenn ich lese, “DEIN LEBEN IST EIN GESCHENK,” bin ich sehr sehr sehr ermutigt. Es ist das, was ich zur Zeit brauche.  Gelobt sei der HERR!

Ja, mein Leben ist das Geschenk vom Herrn. Es ist ja eigentlich das groesste Geschenk!

Moege ich nie vergessen: “DEIN LEBEN IST EIN GESCHENK.”

AUCKLAND: Rangitoto Island

At the beach

“We don’t need new laws or rules when such already exist but are not being applied.”

That is a short paragraph from a letter to the editor. (The Northern Advocate, Friday, February 17, 2017)

And I don’t think we need the context for a paragraph like that.

Reading that sentence reminds me again about what is on my mind already for a long time.

I have heard quite a bit and I have read quite a bit, but the big question is: “Have I applied, have I practiced all the things I have heard and read so far?”

I am asking myself also: “Has what I have heard and read changed my life?”

Is it not also logical to ask: “Why are you hearing and  reading more, you have not even applied and practiced all the things you have heard and read so far?”

LISTEN TO WHAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST SAYS:

“‘Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”’ (Matthew 7:24)

BUT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST SAYS ALSO:

“‘But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.'” (Matthew 7:26)

The Cross

“But if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from  before you,

Numbers 33:55,56

Intr.:

then those you let remain of them

1. shall be as pricks in your eyes, and
2. as thorns in your sides, and
3. they shall vex you in the land in which you dwell.

End;

And as I thought to do to them, so will I do to you.”

“In jedem grossen Wirken Gottes gibt es drei Stufen. Erst ist es unmoeglich, dann schwierig, und dann ist es getan.” – Hudson Taylor

One prayer I heard  in the church services I remember very well. I think I remember, because I heard the prayer several times.

Reading an article in the magazine called “NORTH & SOUTH,” July 2016, I realize how relevant the prayer is just for the present time.

On the front cover of the magazine it says, “ME! ME! ME!” And then the question is asked, “Are we raising a generation of self-obsessed brats?” The article in the magazine is called, “The Narcissism Epidemic – Living in an age of self – obsession.”

The Cross

I also found this quote by Derek Handley in the article:

“Never before in humanity have we had so many young people waste so much time – literally years – trying to share things that are irrelevant, to people they don’t know, trying to impress people they might never meet.”

That it is not about us, but about the Lord Jesus Christ was expressed in the prayer mentioned at the beginning. In Hebrews 12:2 it says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, …”

In Luke 14:11 the Lord Jesus Christ says:

“‘FOR EVERYONE WHO EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED, AND HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED.'”

“Do not carry yesterday or tomorrow with you; live for today and the twelve hours you are in.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Paraguayan harpist Eduard Klassen performed yesterday evening at Kaitaia’s HOPE CHRISTIAN CENTRE.

“THE HARPIST”

I did not only attend the performance, but also bought the book “The Harpist” by E. Klassen with Lois Neely.

A very interesting book. Get hold of the book and read it. I am reading it now.

“Good people are like candles, they burn themselves up to give others light,” says a sign in front of a shop here in Kaitaia.

“Good People …”

I am a reader of the Bible and what is written in Matthew 5:14 comes to my mind. There the Lord Jesus Christ says to his disciples, “‘YOU ARE THE  LIGHT OF THE WORLD.'”

a.  As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ we speak for Christ and are not quiet.

In Matthew 10:32 the Lord says: ‘”Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.'”

b.  Disciples of the Lord Jesus are not going along with the crowd.

Not long ago I found this quote by Billy Graham: “COURAGE IS CONTAGIOUS. WHEN A BRAVE MAN TAKES A STAND, THE SPINES OF OTHERS ARE OFTEN STIFFENED.”

c. They are not denying the light.

In Matthew 10:33 Christ says, “‘But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.'”

d. They are not letting Sin dim their light.

And this is a Bible verse I have memorized: “IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST AND WILL FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND PURIFY US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.” You find the verse in 1 John 1:9.

This is a verse every disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ should know from memory.

e.  Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ explaining their light to others.

HEART

People must confess any sin they have, they must ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into their HEART and life as Savior and Lord, they must thank the Lord Jesus Christ and tell someone that they have become a Christian, they must get a Bible, start reading it and begin praying, and they must find an active church and tell others about their new faith.

f.  Disciples of the Lord ignoring not the needs of others.

Acts 9:36 says, “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, who was always doing good and helping the poor.”

What an example!

I am a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Am I a good person? Am I burning myself up like a candle to give light to others?