DUCKS

Why do Christians-especially active Christians-sometimes seem to

have more than their share of troubles?

This little story explains.

… John and Sam were friends. One day, John asked, “Sam, how come you’re a Christian and yet you have all these troubles and trials and tribulations? Here I don’t even believe in God, and yet I don’t have as nearly much trouble as you do!”
 

“Well, John, I don’t know. I guess I’ll have to think awhile before I can answer that one,” Sam answered.
 

A few days later the two went duck hunting. John shot into a flock of ducks, and several fell into the shallow water of the pond from where they had just flown. Some of them were dead, but others were just wounded. John knew from experience that sometimes the wounded ducks will get up and fly off again if you don’t grab them quickly. So, as Sam ran to the spot where the ducks had fallen, John called out, “Bag the live ones! Bag the live ones! Don’t worry about the dead ones! You can

collect them later!”
 

When Sam came back with the ducks, he had a smile on his face.

“I think I’ve got the answer to your question!” he said. “You see, I’m a live one! The Devil is afraid I’m going to get away, so he tries to bag me first. You … well, you’re a dead one. He’s already got you, so he’s not a bit worried about what you’re going to do!”
 

And that’s just the way it is with us. The Devil can’t get us back once we’re saved – we’re the Lord’s forever! But he sure tries hard to keep us from being active Christians. But don’t let his attacks slow

you down or hinder you, because if you keep persevering, you’ll win the battle and receive the reward that the Lord has waiting for you!

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

Matthew 13:32

But of that day and hour no one knows,

not even the angels in heaven,

nor the Son, but only the Father.

 The Mayan calendar ends in 2012,

but Mayans never predicted the world would end.

Doomsdays come and go,

but conspiracy theories are forever.

Lady Gracious

If you want to achieve success in life, you must have a picture in your mind of who and what you want to be. This all starts with a dream and then it becomes clearer. Start dreaming today so that you can see a clear picture of your life and then choose to live your life according to it.

 

Every woman wants to improve herself. She wants to progress in different areas and take advantage of the opportunities offered by life. Good intentions are not enough to make you grow. In order for this you need a purpose, plan and actions. Only then will your dream come true...

Two Horses

Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing.

Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing. If nearby and listening, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her.

As you stand and watch these two friends, you’ll see how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she, trusts that she will not lead him astray. When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need. Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see.

Good friends are like this ……….

You don’t always see them, but you know they are always there. Please listen for my bell and I’ll listen for yours.


Author Unknown

Vrugteboomvrou

Ek wil graag 'n vrou wees

Wie se takke swaar hang

Van die vrug van die Gees,

Ek wil liefde, vrede, blydskap

Lankmoedigheid en Vriendelikheid

Goedheid, getrouheid,

Sagmoedigheid en Selfbeheersing

Deel van my lewenswyse maak,

Sal U my asseblief help?

Want self, Here,

Is ek hoegenaamd nie

Daartoe in staat nie.

AMEN

Fillipense 4:13

Ek is tot alles in staat deur Hom wat my krag gee.

What Does Edward Cullen and a Chaste Person Have in Common?

Self-control.

In movie Twilight, the vampire family “Cullens” survives by drinking blood of animals instead of humans. Even though their hunger is not fully satisfied with animal blood, they chose to do so. “It is like a person survives only on tofu” as Edward puts it. Through the years the members of the Cullens have learned to control their lust for blood.

Why the choice? Because they value human life.

I like the scene of Edward and Bella in Bella’s room. Edward tried kissing Bella but realized that he could not handle his thirst for blood with such physical contact. Edwards suddenly backs off for Bella’s sake. There is a great lesson and principle in this scene. Know your weakness and do not go beyond it. And that is what a chaste person has in common with Edward Cullen.

The Cullens chose not to kill humans for their own sake. They chose a harder road of survival, drinking the blood of animals. The chaste person also chooses not to use people to satisfy their lust for physical pleasure. It is also a hard road.

In the heart of the Cullen’s choice to drink animal blood was there respect and value of human life.  It is the same value for a person that drives a chaste person to live a life of self-control.

For the love of Bella, Edward finds different ways to express his affection to her. There is always a sense of cautiousness in his actions, lest Bella’s life might be put in danger. The single chaste person does the same. He finds ways to express his affection in creative ways other than sex or foreplay.

Why the hard-work on self-control? Because Edward and the chaste person know what true love means. They are willing to make sacrifices for the good of their beloved.

Just be yourself

Most people these days have devoted their time, energy and money in showing off. Their lives revolve on being someone who they are not. They become so absorbed trying to live the lifestyle to which they do not belong. They love to be seen even though there is nothing to see (in them).


They love to be shocking to get attention. They are like colorful balloons. They look pretty on the outside but all air in the inside.


These people seem to have everything except themselves. In their pretending they have forgotten who they really are. They have come to be ashamed of their past life, friends and mostly their past selves. They will desperately protect their status quo even if their actual status is a big K.O.


But these pretenders cannot escape themselves in the end. Their shallow ways of life will soon evaporate. And then, they will only be left with themselves, their real selves. They will have to look at the man in the mirror whom they hate and deny.


On the contrary, a person of substance is a person who does not pretend. He knows who he is, no more no less. He is joyful of his strengths and aware of his weakness. He tries to improve himself, but he does it based on reality. He does not change his “acting”, but he changes his being. The more he changes himself for the better, the more people respect him. He does not need to pretend to be someone who is not because he knows it is useless.


A person of substance does not try to win the approval of others. But others try to win his approval. He does not have the desire to shock and awe others. He knows that silent waters run deep.


Stop pretending.


Be yourself.


Be your better self.

Die hart van ‘n vrou.

Wie verstaan die hart van ‘n vrou? Is daar nie tye wat ‘n mens sit en wonder hoe sou dit gewees het as dit anders was nie. Hoekom laat mens toe dat ander jou vertrap? Hoeveel seer moet een mens nog ervaar voor jy dalk net dalk weer gelukkig kan wees?
So baie vrae maar geen antwoorde nie, so baie nagte se trane duidelik op die gesig, gedurig moet jy hoor jou glimlag bereik nie jou oë nie, nou wie se glimlag bereik ooit hulle oë? Hoeveel keer moet ek nog hoor die ware jy skemer deur jou stukkende masker? Tyd vir ‘n nuwe masker?
Hoekom leef mens so afgesonder? Waarom bang, vir wie moet ek bang wees? Waarom die vrees dat ander op jou gesig kan lees dat jy ‘n groter seer dra as wat jy kan hanteer? Skouers hang, gesig raak kleiner, oë raak groter, soms loop ek soos ‘n masjien wat presies weet waarheen, omdat die masjien geprogrameer is, dit is hoekom.
Hoe ontsnap mens uit hierdie kokon wat jy vir jouself gemaak het? Ek voel veilig in my kokon, maar ek besef mens moet uit hierdie kokon kom en baie gou ook, anders gaan ek versmoor.
My hart sal niemand ooit kan verstaan nie, want ek verstaan my eie hart nie.

PENCIL & ERASER

PENCIL: I’m sorry
ERASER: For what? You didn’t do anything wrong.
PENCIL: I’m sorry because you get hurt because of me. Whenever I made a mistake, you’re always there to erase it. But as you make my mistakes vanish, you lose a part of yourself. You get smaller and smaller each time.
ERASER: That’s true. But I don’t really mind. You see, I was made to do this. I was made to help you whenever you do something wrong. Even though one day, I know I’ll be gone and you’ll replace me with a new one, I’m actually happy with my job. So please, stop worrying. I hate seeing you sad.

I found this conversation between the pencil and the eraser very inspirational. Parents are like the eraser whereas their children are the pencil. They’re always there for their children, cleaning up their mistakes. Sometimes along the way, they get hurt, and become smaller / older, and eventually pass on. Though their children will eventually find someone new (spouse), but parents are still happy with what they do for their children, and will always hate seeing their precious ones worrying, or sad.
All my life, I’ve been the pencil. And it pains me to see the eraser that is my parents getting smaller and smaller each day. For I know that one day, all that I’m left with would be eraser shavings and memories of what I used to have.

This is to all the parents out there.



It can only get better

You must constantly ask yourself these questions:

Who am I around?

What are they doing to me?

What have they got me reading?

What have they got me saying?

Where do they have me going?

What do they have me thinking?

And most important,what do they have me becoming?

Then ask yourself the big question: Is that okay?

Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.

(John Rohn)