“I always ask people what is on their list, and many people reply that they’ve never thought about it. But what could be more important than identifying what you want to do in life?”
With “list” here a bucket list is meant and I am reading all that in the magazine called GOOD READING December 2011 / January 2012 on the pages 24 and 25. ( I found the magazine in our library.)
“I was searching for myself through travel,” I am reading there also.
Let me say first of all that I have a “list”, but I must also say that I have never searched for myself.
I have searched for the meaning to life.
There is a wonderful promise in Jeremiah 29:13,14, where the Lord says: “‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, …”
I was seeking with all my heart and found the Lord. Actually the Lord found me! That was long ago and from then on my goal in life was to do what the Lord wanted me to do. Straight away I had the desire and I still have the desire to tell others about what the Lord has done for me. I did that in Germany, as a missionary in Thailand (WEC*), as a missionary in Kaikohe (UMM*) and now in Kaitaia (Retired).
But back to the magazine called GOOD READING mentioned already.
There it says also, “People now email me, not only congratulating me for things that I’ve done, but also to share their own list of goals.”
My GOAL is to please the Lord Jesus Christ and my GOAL is the salvation of my soul.
Please read Second Corinthians 5:9 and First Peter 1:9 .
In First Peter 1:9 we read:
” …, FOR YOU ARE RECEIVING THE GOAL OF YOUR FAITH, THE SALVATION OF YOUR SOUL.”
*WEC is short for a Missionary Society and UMM the same.
In an invitation to “The Puku Project EFK Challenge Tackling Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity” I am reading that Obesity is already bad in New Zealand and that the forecast does not look good. I am reading the same about Type 2 Diabetes.
I am learning also that if we exceed the amount of glucose we need every day for energy, the excess is stored as fat.
Not only obesity will be likely the end result, but also Type 2 diabetes, if this goes on for a long time.
We must learn life-changing concepts.
In the invitation it says also, “Fortunately, for most people the solution is simple. Turn all this around by learning to maintain normal blood-sugar levels and committing to a few simple food and lifestyle changes.”
“‘Free Indeed,'” I saw written in big letters on the campervan from a distance.
The two words reminded me of something!
The van was parked on the main street here in Kaitaia today. (Commerce Street)
Walking nearer to the campervan I noticed that “‘Freedom Indeed'” was written on the front of the vehicle and on the back. I noticed also a sticker on the back of the van and on the front. On the stickers was written: “GOOD NEWS VANNERS”. On the stickers was also the picture of a dove.
It was also my privilege to have a conversation with the owner of the vehicle, a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The two words “‘Free Indeed'” reminded me of course of the verse in the Bible, where it says:
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
In an article written by Murray Robertson I am reading what growing Churches have in common. (NZ Baptist, February 2013, page 3)
I am learning from the article that “clear Biblical preaching,” “a commitment to consistent Biblical Preaching” and “good expository preaching” is the foundation of growing Churches.
I am also learning that the result, (outcome) is what I call Personal Evangelism. (PE) Murray Robertson says, “The thing that struck me most of all about the group was their obvious sense of joy in speaking to others about the gospel.” I spoke about my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ this morning. I talked to a complete stranger. We talked while walking together on the road.
In between comes that the members of growing churches are focused, their themes are Empowerment and Discipleship. Murray Robertson says about Discipleship: “This was seen not simply as the accumulation of knowledge about the faith but a capacity to let lifestyles be shaped by the values of the gospel.” The members of growing churches are also from many different nationalities.
A long time ago, in fact a very long time ago, a man said, “If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both.”
That was actually said so long ago that nobody really knows how long ago it was said, but because it is so important, it is a subject of much discussion.
The man is actually saying that he is looking for someone who can achieve a settlement between himself and God. With other words he is looking for a mediator. He is looking for an advocate. He is looking for an interceder.
And there is a mediator.
The mediator is the man Christ Jesus. He is the ransom for allmen (First Timothy 2:5).
The Lord Jesus Christ is our defender. He speaks to the Father, if we do sin. He is the Righteous One (First John 2:1).
And there is an intercessor.
The following verses tell us about the Intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ with the Father for mankind.
In Isaiah 53:12 the Lord Jesus Christ intercedes for the transgressors. That is us!
In Luke 22:32 the Lord Intercedes for Simon, who is a weak believer.
The Lord Jesus Christ had enemies. In Luke 23:34 He is interceding for his enemies. Here we can really learn a lot!
In John 14:16 He is asking the Father to send the Counselor, the comforter.
In John 17:9 the Lord Jesus Christ is interceding for the believers, for the body of Christ. You find them in the different denominations!
Please read Romans 8:34 and you will be encouraged.
What an encouragement it is also to read Hebrews 7:25. Please memorize Hebrews 7:25.
The avocate, the mediator, is the Lord Jesus Christ and the man who said, “If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both,” was Job.
You read about the problem of Job’s affliction and the use of suffering in the divine plan in the book called JOB in the Bible.
“I always ask people what is on their list, and many people reply that they’ve never thought about it. But what could be more important than identifying what you want to do in life?”
