CONNECTIONS

“Connection lost,” is the message on the computer screen I am looking at.

Of course, it is discouraging, but I am not all that discouraged, because another connection comes to my mind.

I am also remembering a poem in German from long ago. Not that I remember much about the poem, but I remember that one line said translated, “courage lost, everything lost.” (“Mut verloren, alles verloren.”) If you read this and know the poem, please let me know!

The other connection that comes to my mind is my connection with the Lord Jesus Christ, and I say all is lost when we lose our connection with the Lord Jesus Christ; not that that will ever happen, because the Bible says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

HOUHORA: Some of the team stayed here.

Forty five people belonged to the team that was here from Auckland in Kaitaia to tell people about the Lord Jesus Christ. They reached people not only here in Kaitaia, but also in Houhora and Whatuwhiwhi with the Gospel.

As you can well imagine it was not difficult to get in touch with the mainly young people, and I talked to some members of the team.

They were more or less in charge of the church service at Te Ahu here in Kaitaia on the last Sunday of 2017. On the back of their upper garments was written “Church Unlimited” and on the front your could see the message:

“LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE.”

Reading the message “LOVE GOD .LOVE PEOPLE,” reminds me of what the Lord Jesus Christ answered, when he was asked by a Pharisee, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” The answer of the Lord Jesus Christ was, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

You find that in the BIBLE, in the book of Matthew (Matthew 22:36-39).

The greatest commandment is to love God and to love people.

After the church service at Te Ahu I found myself talking to one member of the team and I really felt  that that person really loved people. Do I love people. Do you love people?

SEEN TODAY: In Kaitaia on the main Street.

Seen in Kaitaia today:

“BETTER THAN A THOUSAND HOLLOW WORDS, IS ONE WORD THAT BRINGS PEACE.”

Looking up the word “hollow’ in The Collins Concise Dictionary I find one definition that says, “without substance or validity.”

In my library I have a book called THE GREATEST WORDS EVER SPOKEN  by Steven K. Scott.

On the front cover of the book is written, “Everything Jesus said about you, your life, and everything else,” and “Over 1,900 statements of Jesus organized under more than 200 topics.” (I received the book as a Giveaway by answering a question, and the cost of the book is  about US $25.00.)

In the Gospel of John the Lord Jesus Christ tells us about peace. In John 14:27 he says: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

In the book mentioned above I find this statement of the Lord Jesus Christ under the topics: “The Claims Jesus Made About Himself, The Promises of Christ, The Heart, The World.”

In John 16:33 the Lord Jesus says:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

In the above mentioned book I find this statement of the Lord Jesus Christ under the topics: “The Promises of Christ, The World.”

Hollow words are “without substance or validity,” but not only the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in the BIBLE, but all the words in the BIBLE are valid not only for this age, but for all eternity.

How do I know that?

Because in Matthew 24:35 we read:

“HEAVEN AND EARTH WILL PASS AWAY, BUT MY WORDS WILL NEVER PASS AWAY.”

Signposts

Bad decisions and more bad decisions. The speaker was saying “bad decisions” again and again, referring to bad decisions made in real life. I remember that from a long time ago. And who has not made wrong decisions? And do we not all know people who have made wrong decisions?

Our creator, God, has put up signposts along our life’s journey, and here are the most important ones:

Reading the Word of the Lord, the Bible, Praying, and determining to seek the will of the Lord for our lives.

READING HIS WORD DAILY

I am going to read the Bible NOW. I am reading the Bible from cover to cover and today I am reading Genesis chapter 29: “Jacob Arrives in Paddan Aram.” I am also looking for “Golden Nuggets.”

PRAYING “WITHOUT CEASING”

What is Prayer?

“Prayer is worship addressed to the Father, in the name of Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Dr. H. W. Frost

DETERMINING TO SEEK HIS WILL FOR OUR LIVES

Listen to this promise and meditate on it: “BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS WELL.” (Matthew 6:33)

Taking note of these three signposts will help us to make good and right decisions.

There are many people who have experienced that! Maybe you are one of them!

“MIGHTY TO SAVE.” – Isaiah 63:1

“I’ve read the last page of the Bible. It’s all going to turn out all right.” – Billy Graham

“Empowering …”

“Empowering Tai Tokerau through Education.”

That means empowering the people of this part of New Zealand through education. To “empower” means “to give (someone) the power or authority to do something,” according to the Collins English Dictionary.

In Luke 9:1 we read that the Lord Jesus Christ gave his disciples power and authority. Power and authority to do what? “He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases.” He also sent the disciples “out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”

And in Acts chapter 1:8 it says:

“‘BUT YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES ON YOU; AND YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES IN

JERUSALEM, AND

IN ALL JUDEA AND SAMARIA, AND

TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.'”

I am all for empowering not only the people of this part of New Zealand through education, but for empowering all the people of this world through education. (I am actually reading as much as I can!) I also know that our lives are better through education. I believe also in “Educating outside the classroom.” (Seen on a camper today!)

BUT I BELIEVE ALSO THAT OUR GREATEST NEED TODAY IS TO BE EMPOWERED BY THE POWER OF GOD. Why?

Because in Matthew 22:29 it says:

“JESUS REPLIED, ‘YOU ARE IN ERROR BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW THE SCRIPTURES OR THE POWER OF GOD.'”