Showing posts with label giving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giving. Show all posts

Wednesday 10 November 2010

Contribution - Contributie, bijdrage

Bijdrage of contributie

Bijdrage: contribution. MEcontribucioun fr MF contribution fr L contribution contributio dividing distributing, assigning fr L contributus.
D Beiträge

 Act of contributing or a payement imposed upon a body of persons or on the population or group of people, a sum of monney paid as a form of tax or voluntary contributed.
  In certain churches a tithe or tenth to pay or give for the suport of the church or to cover the costs of the congregation or ecclesia. A form of tax imposed by certain churches to their members for religious purposes and especially for the support of the priesthood or religious establishement.
Other churches say that the administration of the Last Sacraments should be free of charge but dare to ask of the requesters a contribution (with direct price) to cover the expenses of their pastoral work and diaconal work.  According to them, the direct prices may not be a limitation however to ask for those sacraments.  They are for men that live of a low income always negotiable.  This method can give men an easy feeling that they do not beg but also give an idea how much they could contribute so not to have to give too little.  It can give the requesters a certain form of peace of mind. 

In some protestant churches there is also worked with collection coupons that either become furnished at the church members or that for every visitor at the church lie ready by the coffee buffet in the church.  By others, there lies an envelope which the churchgoers can put  their financial contributions. 

The Belgian Christadelhians find that the mostly suitable form for financial contribution is having a collection box or basket behind or on an inconspicuous spot, which gives the opportunity far everybody that wishes, to give a voluntary financial present discreetly.

 

Contributions are not have to be accounted for on the financial site.  One can contribute or furnish also by performing through work in the church community.  The foreseeing of flowers, hall decoration, taking care of the common classrooms, keeping everything clean, foreseen of the delicacies for after the service, etc give all sorts of activities, that also must be performed in the community , and where one mainly must count on voluntary co-workers.

 

Textually people also can contribute.  Literary writings, dissertations over Biblical and scientific subjects to discuss, can enrich the spiritual life of the entire community.  The lectures are not  always have to be provided by one man and how more people can contribute towards the church community, how more realm on spiritual understanding can become realised and how less danger there exists for an indoctrination or a concept from one person.  By bringing texts of more people several thoughts can be discussed and a larger variety of subjects and perspectives can come at bid.

The contribution can according to a promotion its till the welfare of the community.  Also contribute can possibilities create to do new things arise. 

But also through gifts within the church community, the ecclesia or parish can on her turn then again contribute to the commune, the town or living environment.  Churches have shown a long tradition in the middle-class commune.  In the anglo-saxon countries it is (or has been) the custom that churches offer all sorts of peoples activities through the year.  In our regions we do not see that so much, outside by the Catholic church the renting of the parish house where then all sorts of eat festivities and other affairs are offered for the locals to meet.  Also we can see  that it are the churches who remain in the old districts as other organizations already have left. They try that to be at the disposition for the needy and try to offer help where they can.  For that lasting presence, also called ecclesiastic presention, are according to some men professionals 'indispensable'.  For them it is asked to much for the volunteers to have to  work in the districts alone.  And actually it is well so, only one person can not do all that work, but in mutual cooperation of the church members it can be made possible. Together all members can, under a particular leadership, spend attention at the problems in districts and at the role belief can play in municipalities to improvement of those problems.

The approach, understandings and methods of the Christian Community can furnish a contribution at a harmonious society and promote the luck and welfare of so much possible living beings. 

The hospitality of the church community has to stretch further than the table of the Lord by which all baptised are welcome but all the others should also feel welcome to become partners to a wonderful event. 

Were former parishioners quite narrowly concerned on the ecclesiastic life, now it is difficult to find volunteers and people eager to help to construct the parish community.  Many men can find no time to invest themselves with activities in the church community.  For them, the financial contribution appears the easiest manner to support  the church community.

However, when you are really interested in belief, you can not escape to fix your relation to the developments in the church community.  Everybody on this earth must come till selfresearch.  Asking yourself question about faith and in what you want to belief. What will I do with my belief, for what do I need the church community and which contribution can I furnish to that church community?  Because belief and church are not obviously any more, it is difficult to find answers to all those questions. 

Therefore it is fine that in the history of men examples can be found of women and men that can help us to find our own way.  Women and men that have a particular meaning because of the way they lived.  They can help us to find the direction in which we can find answers on our life questions.

God needs men.  He needed Jesus of Nazareth.  But especially also: he needs us to give the love hands and feet.  In our actions Gods Light can break through. Besides, this is what Jesus wants from his followers, that they spread or carry out  the gospel further but also that indispensable love.  Each other giving life ... that can we!  That we do by stepping out of our own silly little world and to give each other attention, to take each other serious and listening to each other's  stories and urges.  By letting each other feel: I want to commit to you.  By coming  together on particular places so that every believer is able to carry out his faith and also can be of support and anchor for others.  The social contact that there can be given is in the commune of that belief group then becomes of very big importance. That is a not a neglect-able contribution.

For small small belief communities, especially all those which are not supported by institutional churches, it is more difficult to remain upright and to be able to cover the expenses.  Because they already have lesser means they are tremendously limited in the carrying out of their belief and in making their belief community known to others.  The mutual solidarity between men in the small belief community can certainly remain - how small in number the community also is, if these have been built on true belief.  Then it becomes importatn for them as a small group of enthusiastic men that they can keep the fire burning and that they remain seeking to forms of being together church that can fit their community. 

As local religiously we can only badly hope that by more men shall come more understanding  that the different part activities to service stand of the structure of one community and her mission. That more men may become more actively involved by the structure and the maintenance of the church community and may realize that it is a 'large' number of small branches that necessarily can be fulfilled.  Everybody in the beliefs community must there be self conscious that the church community has to play a positive striking and at the same time recognizable role in the towns community and that activities and projects of the church community can give a larger acquaintance at the belief community through which on her turn the community also again shall be able to grow and so will get a good return.





De bijdrage is het aandeel dat men geeft, welk op wetenschappelijk, theoretisch en op praktisch en financieel vlak kan liggen. Het is de verwachting voor het toekennen of afgeven van een betaling in natura of geldelijke middelen aan een groep van mensen of aan de bevolking, als een vorm van taks of vrijwillige voorziening om bepaalde kosten te kunnen dekken.Zo kunnen in verscheidene kerken de kosten door vrijwillige bijdragen gedekt worden.

In bepaalde kerken wordt er op gerekend dat de leden van de kerkgemeenschap uit eigen overtuiging vrijwillig een tiende (tithe) van hun loon of inkomsten afstaan aan de kerkgemeenschap, zo dat de kosten van de kerkgemeenschap of congregatie kunnen gedekt worden. Bij sommige kerken wordt dit (tithing)  zelfs als iets vanzelfsprekend gezien en kan men eigenlijk niet meer van een vrijwillige bijdrage spreken maar van een heffing op het inkomen. Deze heffing of 'Tiende' wordt dan gebruikt om de priesters, pastors, dominees of predikers en het religieus establishment te ondersteunen.

Andere kerken zeggen dat de bediening van de sacramenten gratis is bij hen maar vragen van de aanvragers een bijdrage (met richtprijs) om de onkosten van hun pastoraal en diaconaal werk te dragen. Volgens hen mogen de richtprijzen echter geen beletsel zijn om een viering aan te vragen. Ze zijn voor mensen die leven van een laag inkomen altijd bespreekbaar. Deze methode kan de mensen een gerust gevoel geven dat zij niet bedelen maar ook een idee geven hoeveel zij zouden kunnen bijdragen om niet te weinig te moeten geven. Het kan de aanvragers aldus een zekere vorm van gemoedsrust geven.

In sommige protestantse kerken wordt er ook gewerkt met collectebonnen die ofwel bezorgd worden aan de kerkleden of die voor iedere bezoeker aan de kerk klaar liggen bij het koffiebuffet in de kerk. Bij anderen ligt er daar een envelop waar de kerkgangers dan hun geldelijke bijdragen in kunnen stoppen.


De ons meest geschikte vorm voor financiële bijdrage is van achter of op een onopvallend plekje en collectebus of mandje waar iedereen die wenst, onopvallend een vrijwillige financiële schenking kan doen.

Bijdragen hoeven echter niet enkel op financieel vlak te liggen. Men kan ook bijdragen leveren door werk in de kerkgemeenschap te verrichten. Het voorzien van bloemen, zaalversiering, proper houden van de gemeenschappelijke lokalen,  voorzien van de versnaperingen voor na de dienst, enz. geven allerlei activiteiten die ook in de gemeenschap moeten verricht worden en waar men hoofdzakelijk moet rekenen op vrijwillige medewerkers.



Tekstueel kunnen ook bijdragen geleverd worden. Letterkundige geschriften, verhandelingen over Bijbelse en wetenschappelijk te bespreken onderwerpen, kunnen het geestelijk leven van de gehele gemeenschap verrijken. De lezingen hoeven niet steeds door één man voorzien te worden en hoe meer mensen bijdragen in de kerkgemeenschap, hoe rijker aan spiritueel inzicht zij kan worden en hoe minder gevaar er bestaat voor een indoctrinatie of een denkbeeld vanuit één persoon. Door teksten van meerdere mensen naar voor te kunnen brengen kunnen ook meerdere gedachten besproken worden en een grotere verscheidenheid aan onderwerpen en gezichtspunten aan bod komen.

De bijdrage kan aldus een bevordering zijn tot het welzijn van de gemeenschap. Ook kunnen bijdragen mogelijkheden creëren  om nieuwe dingen te doen ontstaan.

Maar ook door giften binnen de kerkgemeenschap kan de ecclesia of parochie op haar beurt dan weer bijdragen tot de leefgemeenschap, het dorp of woonomgeving. Kerken hebben een lange traditie in het zich vertonen in de burgerlijke leefgemeenschap. In de Angelsaksische landen is het gewoonte dat kerken allerlei volksactiviteiten doorheen het jaar aanbieden. In onze contreien komt dat niet zo veel voor, buiten bij de katholieke kerk de verhuring van de parochiehuizen waar dan allerlei eetfestijnen en andere zaken worden aangeboden om de mensen in het lokaal te ontmoeten. Ook valt het op dat het de kerken zijn die in de oude wijken blijven als andere organisaties al zijn vertrokken. Zij proberen daar ter beschikking te zijn voor de behoeftigen en hulp te bieden waar het kan. Voor die blijvende aanwezigheid, ook wel kerkelijke presentie genoemd, zijn volgens sommige mensen beroepskrachten 'onontbeerlijk'. Voor hen is het voor vrijwilligers te veel gevraagd om het werk in de wijken alleen te moeten uitvoeren. En eigenlijk is dat wel zo, alleen kan men dat niet aan, maar in onderlinge samenwerking van de kerkleden zou dat wel mogelijk kunnen gemaakt worden. Samen kunnen alle leden onder een bepaalde leiding aandacht besteden aan de problemen in wijken en de rol die de geloofsgemeentes kunnen spelen ter verbetering van die problemen.



De benadering, inzichten en methodes van de Christen Gemeenschap kunnen een bijdrage leveren aan een harmonische samenleving en het geluk en welzijn bevorderen van zo veel mogelijk levende wezens.

De gastvrijheid van de kerkgemeenschap hoort zich zich verder uit te strekken tot aan de tafel van de Heer waarbij alle gedoopten welkom zijn maar de anderen zich ook welkom voelen om samen deelgenoot te zijn van een wonderbare gebeurtenis.

Waren vroeger parochianen heel nauw betrokken op het kerkelijk leven, nu is het moeilijk om vrijwilligers en vrijwilligsters te vinden. Veel mensen kunnen geen tijd vinden om zelf met activiteiten in de kerkgemeenschap te investeren. Voor hen lijkt de financiële bijdrage de makkelijkste manier om de kerkgemeenschap te steunen.
Wanneer je evenwel geïnteresseerd bent in geloof, ontkom je er echter niet aan om je verhouding tot de ontwikkelingen in de kerkgemeenschap te bepalen. Iedereen op deze aarde moet tot zelfonderzoek komen. Jezelf vragen gaan stellen: waar geloof ík in, wat wil ík met mijn geloof, waarvoor heb ík de kerkgemeenschap nodig en welke bijdrage kan ík aan die kerkgemeenschap leveren? Omdat geloof en kerk niet vanzelfsprekend meer zijn, is het ook zo moeilijk om een antwoord op deze vragen te vinden.
Daarom is het fijn dat er in de mensengeschiedenis voorbeelden te vinden zijn van vrouwen en mannen die ons kunnen helpen om onze eigen weg te vinden. Vrouwen en mannen die een bijzondere betekenis hebben vanwege de manier waarop zij geleefd hebben. Zij kunnen ons helpen om de richting te vinden waarin wij antwoorden kunnen vinden op onze levensvragen.
God heeft mensen nodig. Hij had Jezus van Nazareth nodig. Maar vooral ook: hij heeft ons nodig, om de liefde handen en voeten te geven. In ons handelen kan Gods licht doorbreken. dit is trouwens wat Jezus van zijn volgelingen verwacht, dat zij het evangelie verder verspreiden maar ook die onontbeerlijke liefde uitdragen. Elkaar het leven geven... dat kunnen wij! Dat doen we door uit ons eigen wereldje te stappen en elkaar aandacht te geven, elkaar au serieus te nemen en door te luisteren naar elkaars verhalen en noden. Door elkaar te laten voelen: ik ben met jou begaan. Door samen te komen op bepaalde plaatsen kan elke gelovige zijn geloof mee uitdragen maar ook tot steun en toeverlaat voor anderen zijn. Het sociale contact dat er in de leefgemeenschap van die geloofsgroep dan gegeven kan worden is van zeer groot belang. Dat is een niet te verwaarlozen bijdrage.

Voor kleine kleine geloofsgemeenschappen, vooral al zij niet gedragen worden door institutionele kerken, is het veel moeilijker om overeind te kunnen blijven en om de kosten aan te kunnen. Doordat zij reeds op veel minder middelen beroep kunnen doen zijn zij enorm beperkt in de uitdraging van hun geloof en in de kenbaarmaking van hun geloofsgemeenschap.
De onderlinge verbondenheid tussen mensen in de kleine geloofsgemeenschap kan zeker blijven - hoe klein in aantal de gemeenschap ook is, als deze op waar geloof is gebouwd.  Het komt er dan op aan dat de kleine groep van mensen enthousiast kan blijven en dat zij steeds blijven  zoeken naar vormen van samen-kerk-zijn die passen bij hun gemeenschap.

Als plaatselijke gelovigen kunnen wij slecht hopen dat bij meer mensen meer besef komt dat de verschillende deelactiviteiten ten dienste staan van de opbouw van de ene gemeenschap en haar missie. Dat meer mensen meer actief betrokken mogen worden bij de opbouw en het onderhoud van de kerkgemeenschap en mogen beseffen dat er een ‘groot’ aantal kleine taken zijn die noodzakelijk kunnen vervuld worden. Iedereen in de geloofsgemeenshap moet er zich bewust van zijn dat de kerkgemeenschap een positief opvallende en tegelijkertijd herkenbare rol moet vervullen in de dorpsgemeenschap en dat activiteiten en projecten van de kerkgemeenschap een grotere bekendheid kunnen geven aan de geloofsgemeenschap waardoor op haar beurt de gemeenschap ook weer zal kunnen aangroeien en zo een goede return krijgen.

Friday 5 November 2010

Making church

That God our prayers wants is sometimes found strange even by Christian believers. But our Creator has His eye on us and would like to have it tht His creation loves Him as their father. We should show our presence, our gifts and our service as the expression of our gratitude to God. Jesus gave us the task to pray to His Father as well instituted he at the Last Supper, just a few hours before his dead, the Memorial Meal.

As such we do have received the task to come together, regularly meeting to remember the dead of Jesus.It is
our presence our physical presence, our attendance, that we have to give to God. As part of the limb of Christ we should become thriving blood and give the community warmth and health to live and grow.
Remember the old story about the blind man who also had great difficulty hearing? He couldn't see and couldn't hear, but he never missed church. He was there every Sunday. Someone asked him, "Why? You can't see what's happening and you can't hear much of what is being said, but you are always here at church. You are always here. Why? Why do you come?"
He answered, "Because I want the world to know whose side I'm on."


It does not have to be every Sunday or even on Sunday, but we should have to be able to find a day in the so many hours which lay for us. Every one of us who finds himself a believer should be courageous enough to come out in this world as a follower of Christ and show it by his attitude.The world should tell by the way you live, by your love for the church, by your devotion to the church, by your church attendance record, whose side you are on. In the spirit of gratitude to God for his inexpressible gift of Jesus Christ, we can give our prayers and our presence.

When we as believers would unite and come together we shall be able to create church. We can become church.



We can pray, too, that God will be with you and will use you as His instrument of love and peace and grace. But then you have to be prepared to be willing to give yourself as an instrument in the hands of God.

Then it becomes important that we ask God to create His instrument here on earth for us. We can pray that we can form with others a church where we may be faithful in continuing the preaching, teaching, healing, caring ministry of Christ. Please pray for your church. The church needs your prayers.

In the articles Opbouw van een ecclesia en verbonden kosten & The Ecclesia in the churchsystem we go in to present the possibilities and difficulties we have to face forming an ecclesia.

We show that
the point is that we are all needed. But, you know, there is another thing to be said that is even more important: We all need to give. Giving is good for our souls. It's the spiritual expression of our gratitude and commitment to God and it is so important to our spiritual health. Virtue is its own reward and so is giving. The real reward is in the giving. And this giving can be in different ways. Everybody has something in which he can excell. that what we can do well we can use for the community. We can give our service to all the believers who want to become united.

When we join hands in grateful service to God we are making the church together. When in gratitude to God for His inexpressible gift of Jesus Christ, we give our prayers, our presence, our gifts and our service. We are making the church together. Let's do just that - for our own sakes, for the good of others, and for the greater glory of God.

+

Read more > 
The Ecclesia in the churchsystem

For the Dutch version go to  / Nederlandse versie: Maken van een kerk

Dat wij allemaal samen kunnen werken in het verwezenlijken van een ware kerkgemeenschap kan u vinden in  Opbouw van een ecclesia en verbonden kosten & uitgebreider in de Engelse versie The Ecclesia in the churchsystem

Friday 14 May 2010

Joy: Foundation for a Positive Life

JOY:  Foundation for a Positive Life

   Wouldn’t you like to experience deep and enduring joy?  Wouldn’t you like to be joy-full?  Be assured ~ you can!

   The world has a woeful shortage of joy and a surplus of fear, worry, discouragement and depression.  Even the “pursuit of happiness” and obsessive pleasure-seeking do not bring deep and lasting joy.

   Let’s first understand the difference between joy and happiness.  Happiness is an emotion, and God never intended for people to be in that emotional state all the time.  There is “a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:4).

   Biblical joy ~ true joy ~ comes from filling the spiritual void with good relationships, primarily an intimate relationship with the One who is pure joy.  Jesus put it this way:  “I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit” (John 15:5).  That fruit includes much joy!

   The Bible speaks much more often of joy than of being happy.  “Hap” means chance and is the root of several words ~ happen, haphazard (dependent on mere chance), hapless, happenstance (a chance circumstance) and happy.

   Happiness is a glad feeling that depends on something good happening.  God wants us to experience happy times (as long as God approves of what is happening).  But His greater desire is that you have unconditional JOY.  Jesus said His joy would “remain in you” and “your joy no one will take from you” (John 15:11; 16:22).

   Think of joy as a strong foundation that supports a variety of healthy emotions, including happiness. The long-range evidence of joy is general gratitude, contentment, optimism, a sense of freedom and other positive attitudes.

   Joy looks out and up, not inward ~ A common mistake is to think that getting something will make you happy.  We tell ourselves, “If only…”  But joy and happiness come much more from giving and serving than from getting.

   The Apostle Paul reminded his listeners that Jesus Christ had taught this very thing:  “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving” (Acts 20:35, TEV).

   To grow in joy, we must resist not only self-pity but also being self-centered and self-absorbed. For joy to flourish, we must focus on loving others and especially on loving God.

   Joy is largely composed of gratitude ~ gratitude for the wonderful things God has done for us and His “exceedingly great and precious promises” for our future (2 Peter 1:4).  Gratitude produces joy (1 Thes. 5:16-18).  And our gratitude should be for other people’s blessings as well as for our own (Romans 12:15).

   Try to follow this biblical formula:  Add to your life gratitude, humility, forgiveness, faith, hope, patience and love.  Take away resentment, anger, fear, worry, materialism, greed, jealousy, complaining and pride.  The result? JOY!

   Joy is spiritual, supernatural and essential ~ God is joyful ~ far more than any human being ever was!  It is tragic that many people think of God as somber and stern rather than cheerful and smiling.  He is enjoying His creation and especially the delightful anticipation of many new “sons of God” (Rom. 8:14, 19).

   True followers of Jesus Christ will be joyful also.  Psalm 68:3 says, “Let the righteous be glad;…let them rejoice exceedingly.”  God desires that we serve Him “with joy and gladness of heart” (Deuteronomy 28:47).

   Paul spoke of the “joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:6). It is through His Spirit that God shares and communicates His joy.  And when Paul lists the “fruit of the Spirit,” joy is second, preceded only by love (Galatians 5:22-23).  If we are filled with godly love, won’t that produce joy?  Of course it will!

   Joy is a major topic in the Bible.  In the KJV, “joy” appears 158 times and “rejoice” 198 times (not counting other variations such as joyful, joyfully, joyous, jubilant, happy and glad).  Rejoice is the verb form of joy, meaning to feel or have joy!  Clearly there is great emphasis in the Bible on expressing joy.  That explains why the Bible also emphasizes prayers and songs that praise and celebrate God (James 5:13; Psalm 150; Colossians 3:16, 17).

   Joy is not optional.  The Bible repeatedly commands us to rejoice!   The most emphatic exhortation is in Philippians 4:4, where Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I will say, Rejoice!”

   Joy because of trials?  God’s joy continues to flow through His people even during their suffering because of their rock-solid hope of future everlasting joy in His Presence.  They know that all suffering is limited to this short life, and the time will soon come when “there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying” (Revelation 21:4).  They “rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2).

   We also have good reason to rejoice because of our trials when we understand how God is using those trials to help us build godly character.  “And we know that God works all things (even severe trials) for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). More specifically, Paul wrote that “we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope” (Romans 5:3, 4 NIV).  James wrote, “Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” in remaining faithful to God (James 1:2 NIV).

   And because Christ suffered for each of us, we should have a special joy when we are persecuted for our faith.  Jesus said, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:11, 12).

   The number one key to Joy: God’s Spirit ~ Supreme joy is God’s nature and character!  We see proof everywhere in God’s creation, i.e., birds singing, animals frolicking, flowers blooming, brooks babbling and the sun shining!

   Our unique joy begins when Christ comes to live in us (Gal. 2:20). We then have an intimate relationship with the Lord God, through His Son ~ the One Psalm 43:4 calls “God, my exceeding joy!”  God’s Spirit is a tree of life, producing life-giving fruit which includes great joy!

   Jesus prayed for His followers “that they may have My joy fulfilled in them” (John 17:13). He taught, “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full!” (John 16:24).

                                                                                         Don Hooser                             

Wednesday 20 January 2010

Be a ready giver

2 Corinthians 9:7 (26 kb)Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.



Thoughts
Phil Ware    God is working in us to conform our character and will to be like his own. God is a giver. God finds delight in generously blessing us. Now he asks us to do the same. Giving is not some arbitrary task given us to support our churches and ministries; no, giving is part of our character transformation to become more like God. It may be one of the truest ways we have placed our allegiance, dependence, and priorities in the gracious work of God.
Prayer
    Father, forgive me for the times I have been miserly with the abundance you have shared with me. Make me a conduit of blessings. I know that all I have is yours. Please help me use it as you would. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Wees een klaarstaande gever

Monday 30 November 2009

Let us act on what we have


"Let us act on what we have, since we have not what we wish."
- John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

"Do the best with what you have, where you are."
- Bob Lloyd

Give what you have to someone
it may be better than you dare to think.
- Longfellow

When you have nothing left but God,
then for the first time you become aware that God is enough.
- Maude Royden

"
Jehovah looked down from heaven upon the children of men,
to see if there were any that did understand,
that did seek after God."
Psalm 14:2

Your attention goes over all the inhabited earth;
I am so grateful that You also want to focus on me
and that you also want to accompany me.
Direct Your focus on my heart and my mind.
Give me enough insight to act wise,
and let me succeed with what I have
in
order to enter Your Kingdom.
Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Laat ons handelen op wat we hebben
+++
2013 update:
Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday 27 February 2009

How do you keep people from stealing your joy?

"Q: How do you keep people from stealing your joy?
A: Give it to them"
- Joshua deKoning


"May the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope."
Romans 15:13


I know that the Kingdom of The God not eating and drinking is
but righteousness and peace and joy united in holy Pneuma.

Dear God give that I can have a positive attitude
and that I shall be full of joy
and thankful for all the blessings I can enjoy
and let me share them with others
in Christ his name,
amen.


Saturday 27 December 2008

What part of the Body am I?


1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.


Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Welk deel van het lichaam ben jij
Previous> Parts of the body of Christ




Thoughts
Phil Ware    Some questions we each need to ask ourselves: What part of the Body am I? What's my function, my purpose? How are I blessing others in the Body of Christ? Who is someone in the Body who does a great deal of service to others who needs my encouragement and praise, and perhaps my assistance? Who is someone who feels neglected and lonely who needs my love to be shown to him or her?

Prayer
    Father, thank you for making me a part of something so precious, so awesome, as the bodily presence of the Lord. Please help each person in our church family to find his or her gifts of service and to use those gifts in ways that touch others with your grace and that bring you glory. In Jesus' name. Amen.


+++ 

Friday 12 December 2008

Companionship

In the Christadelphian Waymark of December 2008 you can find an article on Companionship.

some quotes:

We all need companionship. One of the curses particularly of western society is loneliness. ...

Loneliness can lead to feeling isolated, lead to depression and even lead to suicide. Some people are able to establish new friendships, but for others forming friendships is more difficult. For most people finding close friends that they can trust and confide in, is not easy.
Brethren and sisters in Christ are no different, often family can be far away and we all need companionship. But for us knowledge of the gospel message of hope, brings, or should bring, a totally different perspective. You see no matter what our circumstances, we are never alone!

...
loneliness will not assail us to the point of despair.
...
Our primary relationship is with God, He is our Father and if we live according to the light of His word, then we have fellowship with Him. Fellowship with others who share the same precious faith comes as a product of fellowship with God.
... it is not good for one to seek isolation from those who share the same precious faith. But there are many who live in isolation through circumstance beyond their control, or who go into isolation because circumstances dictate that they must. Those in that position need the support and encouragement of all the other members of the body.
But if we do live alone then we still have that sure knowledge that God is ever mindful of His children. We can all read books about the Truth, read magazines, read exhortations, listen to tapes and in many do things that help to make us feel part of the one body. A husband and wife can support each other, but if companionship of other brethren and sisters is present, then this is a great blessing from God.

If we do have the companionship of brethren and sisters, let us then be grateful for it and make the most of our time with each other. Let the focus be upon building each other up and encouraging each other while we can. Let us never take this benefit for granted or neglect meeting together. Let us be givers and not takers, workers and not hinderers, supporters not complainers. Let us be grateful to God for companionship, yet content if need be to be dwell alone. Though we truly are never alone, for He is always with us.

 - Andy Peel

> full article: Companionship