Small Or Big?

Men, when they have decided to take something on, they just "go big" or nothing at all. It's just who we are. When we plan a project, start a business, or something that is worth it, we want to go big from the word go. We think about something and decide to do it, we decide to "really" do it. This happens in God's work too. We want to go big from the beginning. But what if it catches us out? Maybe it tends to lean towards disaster than success?

God calls us to love and serve others. We then go all out and do it big. Galatians 6:10 tells us this; "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone..." ... Yes, we are called to love and serve those around us - our neighbours, our church members, people in our cities and towns. In Matthew 10:40-42 [The Message translation], it says the following - “This is a large work I’ve called you into, but don’t be overwhelmed by it. It’s best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice”

God tells us to rather start small and not just go big right away. But why do we disagree with that in our hearts? As men we don't like small. Big is good. Maybe it is that we want some glory for ourselves and rather go big. I say we start small and give all the glory to God first. Its all about Him isn't it? We must trust His words and trust that God the Holy Spirit can do amazing things within even our smallest, most ordinary acts of love and service. And that’s plenty big for any of us.  Therefore, find someone around you that you can "serve and love" as God does for us. Start small... Be blessed!

An Update

I must just mention here that in two weeks I'm on holiday and this blog will stop with new postings until 2018, January, after I return from a good break. I haven't posted much lately as my business has kept me busy with long hours at the grinding wheel. It's the "silly season" period again. There will be some posts still coming before I'm "off the air" until the new year. Watch this space!

Don't Lie!

Men love to twist things to suit their ways. And at best we even lie to ourselves so that everything looks cool, or maybe it let's us feel better. This is wrong! Lies land up deceiving us and this leads to an eternal death; a spiritual death and far from God. Here are some lies we tell ourselves and believe.

1] I'm always ok - why do we believe this? When trials hit home or our marriages are in a turmoil, or our finances don't look so good, we still believe the lie saying that we are ok. You are heading for disaster. We believe because when we start delving into these areas more closely we don't want to see what is not ok. We may discover that we need some repairing internally.

Jeremiah 17:9 states the following, and this is so true... "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" This is the NIV translation. Our own hearts can deceive us too. When our human nature takes charge [the flesh], we are heading for trouble. Only God understands everything. We are limited in comparison to God. Next ...

2] We try and hide things so that no one discovers our flaws, our problems. Pride takes charge here. In the Bible it says clearly that everything that is hidden will be revealed sooner or later. Nothing remains hidden. So why believe this lie? You start believing that no one will find out. Wrong! It will come out in the future. God knows.

3] I'm made this way - What a lot of bull dust. I was one who believed this lie years back before God spoke to me and corrected my heart. We are not "just made like that" at all. God created us long before we were in our mothers' wombs. He knew us from the beginning, even before birth. He already knew our failures, our good points and where we would be in the future. Don't believe this lie! Eternal damnation is not worth it.

Pray and ask God to make you the man, the warrior He wants you to be, that your faith will remain intact and your spirit will be open to the Holy Spirit's prompting. God is listening and He wants to help us; you and me. Start today! Be blessed.

Prayer Request

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Let's pray for Zimbabwe due to the coupe which has taken place there, tumbling this country into chaos right now. Pray that God's hand is over all the decisions that are being made, that those who have taken over the country by force will keep the peace and that the citizens will seek God for the answers that will bring stability and peace and wealth back into Zimbabwe.

God is over all the governments world wide and He is in control. I pray for our brothers and sisters in that country to bring forth the Gospel of Jesus in this time, that many will turn to Him and seek Him above all else. Amen...

Life-Changing Ideas About Bible Study

As men we tend to skip days of Bible reading and studying, but we won't skip our rugby, soccer or formula one on TV when it takes place. This is a priority for us men. We don't skip our work or meetings with clients or in-house at our companies. Then why skip Bible studies when that is the best ever method of staying on top of everything else because God is in control? Let's look at one or two ideas that can change your life about Bible studies.

1] Change the subject of your study - very little is spoken about this, if any at all. We tend to see the Bible as the means to an end. It's not! The Bible brings us closer to God and through it we get to know the true God we serve. It needs to be read, meditated upon, studied in some detail that we actually find ourselves in some of the "stories" written or parables spoken of, or what the Apostles taught us. Never let it be boring. Enjoy it and have fun with it. Your life gets changed.

2] Look at it like looking at a movie - the Bible has great battle scenes in it, plenty of drama, and even verses/teachings that make it feel like a reality show. Don't just read it like an ordinary book. Let it come alive in you. Get yourself sucked in to what it is saying to you. It is, once again, a life changing experience.

3] Pray about the steps that follow, or that lead you in a certain direction. Prayer is the "hotline" to our loving Father God. When we pray God reveals to us many mysteries in the Bible, and these become new revelations for you. Prayer allows the Holy Spirit to implant the Word of God in your mind, through your heart, and into your soul. Don't ignore prayer. When the verses/Scriptures start to lead you, pray about it, then allow God's Spirit to guide you forward. Again, this changes lives.

Be blessed and enjoy the ride. Study/read/meditate upon it, but enjoy the Bible! Amen...