LADIES BREAKFAST AT REACH CAFE, BLAAUWBERG
Saturday morning 8 ladies from Langebaan travelled through to join with a group of sisters from different fellowships to enjoy a good breakfast and precious time of testimony and ministry.
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Ruth shared with us about Sarah and Hagar.
One has different seasons in one’s life. As a child where we learn about life and learn to respect our parents. As adults as we study and get jobs that use the skills we have learned, maybe being in charge of situations. Having our own husbands and families and what that entails. Bringing up our own children to the best of our ability, then letting them go as they become adults and get jobs and get married and have their own children. Then we get to that point in our lives where we need help and our children take over looking after us.
During our lives we come into contact with people who hate us for whatever reason they have, or we find that there are people who we find very difficult to like.
It made me think of Sarah and Hagar. Hagar was a slave to Sarah, so had no say in how she was treated and was often not seen at al,l as she performed her tasks every day. Today one could look at the guards at the shop doors. Do we see them as we enter the shop or are they just there?
Sarah, knowing that she was beyond child – bearing, makes a decision that was going to change her life for the worse. She gives Hagar to Abraham for wife and Hagar becomes pregnant. She, Sarah, thought she was “helping God.” That never works. She begins to make Hagar’s life unbearable because I think deep down in her spirit, she knew that that had been a mistake. She will have to live with her decision for the rest of her life.
Hagar cannot handle the treatment and runs away. In the desert, God sends an angel who asks her, “What are you doing here!” She tells the angel that she cannot bear the treatment she is receiving from her mistress. The angel tells her to return and submit to herself to her mistress. She would have a son who would be wild, hating everyone and being hated by everyone.
She returns and has her son. He must have been a very difficult boy. Sarah continues to mistreat Hagar for 13 years. She, Sarah, must have been very bitter.
Then God tells Abraham to circumcise all the males which he does and at 99 years of age the three angels visit Abraham to tell him that this time next year Sarah would have a son.
She laughs, (it must have been a very bitter laugh) but soon realises that she is pregnant. Isaac is born and when he is weaned, Ishmael mocks Isaac and Sarah hears him. Sarah is given the task to do something about it and sends Hagar and her son into the wilderness. Hagar has nowhere to go so places the boy in the shade of a tree. His crying is heard by God. An angel comes and says to Hagar. “The Lord has heard the boy crying. What are you doing here?” She tells him that she has nowhere to go. The angel tells her that her son will become a great nation, and opens her eyes. There is a spring of water. She gives God a Name. You are the God that sees me.
Maybe we are in a situation, at work, at home, with family, (inlaws) where we face hatred because of past circumstances that continues to fester. As Christians we know that God expects us to forgive and forget as He has done to us. Maybe we need to ask God to show us how He sees the situation from His point of view so that He can restore relationships. Travelling here in the car. It was spoken of as to how God has been restoring relationships in families.
We just have to give it over to the Lord and humble ourselves, and allow God…………….
Barbara shared about the fruit of the Spirit.
Today, I would like to share with us about something we all have. – Emotions! The Word refers to our emotions as the soul.We live in Muizenberg, so have easy access to the sea. Whenever we drive alongside the ocean is always different. Sometimes the sea is incredibly calm, another time the waves will be quite choppy. The other day we went to a restaurant in Kalk Bay. We sat by a window which was next to the rocks and the waves were crashing down. It was high tide. The sea reminded me of our emotions. Different circumstances affect us daily. Our emotions are either calm, disturbed or turbulent depending on the situation. How do we as women cope with our emotions??
There is much that is said about the woman in the last book of Proverbs. One verse in Proverbs 31 caught my attention. Verse 26 says …….She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
This chapter speaks about an amazing woman. Picture perfect!!!!!I wonder how picture perfect, we are?????? When our emotions are running high, like high waves? Then are we also wise? Are we always kind?
In Galatians 5 vs 22 & 23 It speaks about the 9 aspects of the fruit of the Spirit, which is the nature of Christ.
There is someone who was and is and will always be perfect. His name is Jesus. God says that no one is perfect except God. Jesus is God. Jesus died on the cross, was buried and rose again. He died to free us from ourselves and wash away our sins. When we believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for us personally. The Spirit of Christ unites with our spirit and we are born again. He lives within our hearts. We are a new creation. Born again. We cannot save ourselves no matter how hard we try. Only the blood of Jesus has the power to wash our sins away.
When Jesus lives inside of us, He desires that His fruit - His nature starts to show in our lives.
So, what is this fruit …………. there are 9 aspects
Love Joy Peace Longsuffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance (self-control)
Interesting Gods Word says that against this fruit there is NO LAW!!!!
It does not matter how long we have been born again; emotions are and will always be part of our lives.
Life is full of twist and turns. The unbeliever depends on positive thinking. The power of the mind. We as believers have our hope and rest in our God. We call out to a living God. Hebrews 6 vs 19 We have an anchor to our souls. Steadfast and sure.
I have heard believers saying. I have forgiving someone but I keep thinking about the issue. The Lord has the answer for us in Matthew 5 vs 44 Pray for them!!!! Not that fire and brimstone would fall on them. Every time the situations come into your mind - Just pray. In time you will realise that you are no longer thinking about that situation. What a blessing to be free of that stronghold of the mind
We as women are precious to the Lord. He wants us to be the quiet still waters firstly in our homes, in the Church and wherever we are. A useful vessel filled with the love of the Lord. If we are married, supporting our husbands as we serve the Lord together. If unmarried, we serve the Lord. He will help us and give us grace in every situation.
If we take a cup and fill it with water. That is what Jesus’ love is to each one of us. Full and perfect. He says He has loved us with an everlasting love.
I encourage each one of us to examine our hearts and lives. Are we wise and kind and is the fruit of the Spirit of Christ part of our daily lives? I pray that the Lord blesses you all.