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Saturday May 23, 2015.
STAY ON THE WHEEL
‘…He made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good
to the potter…’
Jeremiah 18:4 NKJV
WHILE YOU are on the Potter’s wheel, consider these two
things: 1) The Potter’s plan and pleasure are what
matter. He has the right to make you into anything He
chooses. What matters most is that His plan for your life
be fulfilled and His pleasure in you be realised. Can you
imagine a potter discussing with the clay what it would
prefer to become? No. Only he has the wisdom to make
that decision. So instead of struggling with the will of God,
rejoice that ‘…God is working in you, giving you the desire
and the power to do what pleases Him’ (Philippians 2:13
NLT). 2) The Potter will not stop until the job is done.
God’s job would be simple if we were just inanimate
lumps of clay. But we’re clay animated by self-will and
‘we want what we want, when we want it.’ However,
rather than giving in to us, or giving up on us, the Potter
keeps working and reworking the clay, day after day, until
we gradually begin to take on a shape He can use for His
glory. This sometimes calls for radical action on His part:
‘But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had
hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and
started over again’ (Jeremiah 18:4 NLT). God is so
committed to His objective in your life that He won’t quit—
even though it means allowing you to be crushed and
starting the process over again. So be patient and stay on
the wheel; what God has in mind for you is worth it.
Judge 9:34 - 11:40, Mark 10:35-52

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Sunday May 24, 2015.
THE BENEFITS OF SELF-DISCIPLINE
‘God’s Spirit makes us…self-controlled…’ Galatians
5:22-23 CEV
IS SELF-DISCIPLINE difficult and demanding? Yes.
However, instead of focusing on its demands, think about
its benefits. When you begin to understand the power,
liberty, joy and victory that self-discipline brings, you’ll
want to have it. A disciplined mind makes the difference
between a happy life and a miserable one; between a life
of self-defeating habits and a life of freedom in God.
Discipline is your friend, something to be embraced daily.
It’s a tool given by God to help you reach your goals. One
reason why disciplining your mind is so important is that
the condition of your mind can change so quickly. One day
you can be calm, peaceful, sure of yourself and confident
in God. Yet the next day you can hardly recognise
yourself; you’re anxious, angry, negative, and full of
doubt. Why? Because your thinking affects your emotions.
Here’s something else you need to know: just as the
airwaves around you are filled with signals that can be
picked up by any radio or TV, there are spiritual forces
around you that seek to mould your mind and influence
your thinking. So ask God to help you, and refuse to allow
your mind to think about whatever it pleases. Begin to
control your thoughts and keep your mind on the right
things. Breaking old habits and forming new ones takes
time, so keep practising. Developing self-discipline isn’t
easy, but it’s worth it in the end. When you win the battle
for your mind you’ll be much more decisive, confident and
focused. You’ll also be a more effective and successful
person.
Judge 12-15, Mark 11:1-11, Psalm 97, Proverb 13:9-10

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Monday May 25, 2015.
THE REWARDS OF CONFRONTATION
‘…do not reject the Lord’s discipline…’ Proverbs 3:11 NCV
The Bible says, ‘Do not reject the Lord’s discipline, and
don’t get angry when He corrects you. The Lord corrects
those He loves, just as parents correct the child they
delight in’ (vv. 11-12 NCV). Because God loves you, when
He sees things in your life that could potentially damage
you and other people, He deals with them. Paul writes,
‘Therefore consider the goodness and severity of
God…’ (Romans 11:22 NKJV). God will deal with you
gently, but if you don’t listen He may have to deal with
you severely. That’s because He has too much invested
in you to let you fail. Not only does God confront us, He
expects us to confront one another when we’re in the
wrong. Paul stood up to Peter, his fellow leader, in front of
Jewish and Gentile believers because the issue was
important to their mission’s success (Galatians 2:14).
Healthy confrontation results in six things:
1) Clarification. You get a better understanding of the
person and what happened.
2) Change. Hopefully improvement will come from it—and
the improvement may be in you! 3) An improved
relationship. Handled correctly, confrontation will deepen
your relationship with the other person. 4) Purity. As word
gets out, the organisation will be purified and sobered. 5)
Respect. People will appreciate and respect your
leadership even more. 6) Security. They’ll feel safe
knowing that you’re strong enough to take a stand when it
counts. People want a leader who says, ‘When there’s a
problem I’ll deal with it directly, promptly, and
respectfully. I’ll help correct the situation and get us back
on track.’
Judge 16:1 - 19:15, Mark 11:12-26, Psalm 47, Proverb
13:11-12.

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26 MAY 2015
TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
Building Trust and Intimacy in Communication (1)
‘…say the right thing at the right time!’
Proverbs 15:23
According to ground-breaking neurological research, you
can ‘train’ yourself to speak and listen in a way that
stimulates sympathy and trust in the brain of the person
you’re talking to. Think how valuable that is in
communication! Here are some proven principles to help
you do it: 1) Breathe deeply and stretch before speaking.
When you’re handling a stressful situation, remaining
calm is essential. Stress generates uptightness,
uptightness leads to anger, and anger shuts down your
ability to get your point across. So take a few moments to
breathe deeply, while counting slowly to five. It’s also
been established that things like stretching your neck
muscles and yawning change your brain in ways that
measurably improve your communication skills. We are
‘wonderfully made’ (Psalms 139:14). 2) Think
encouraging thoughts. ‘…As he thinks in his heart, so is
he…’ (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV). Any negative thought you
harbour can interfere with the parts of your brain used in
language processing, listening, and speech, which can
lead to defensiveness and distrust. Neurological studies
found that thinking positive thoughts about the other
person, or yourself, or the topic at hand, can help you to
achieve success in your personal and business
relationships. 3) Seal it with a smile. Your face reveals
your feelings. ‘…Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude
toward him was not what it had been’ (Genesis 31:2 NIV).
Research shows that pleasing memories and thoughts of
people you love create facial expressions that convey
kindness, compassion and interest, stimulating trust and
openness in others.
1 Kings 16-18, Acts 7:1-22

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Building Trust and Intimacy in Communication (2)
Wednesday, 27 May 2015 01:10
'Pleasant words are...healing...' Proverbs 16:24 NAS
For effective communication:
(1) Make use of the ‘eye–gate’. Eye contact stimulates
the brain’s social–network circuits, decreasing the stress
hormone and increasing the sympathy hormone.
Intentionally looking at the other person enables you to
quickly respond to the seven basic facial expressions—
anger, fear, sadness, disgust, surprise, contempt and
happiness. These are keys; use them.
(2) Express appreciation. The first words you speak set
the tone for the entire interaction. A single compliment
can create trust. Loyola University researchers found that
when people in conversation are in basic agreement,
interactions between them are experienced as mutually
satisfying. Alternatively, disagreement immediately
creates defensiveness in the listener. So begin each
conversation with a compliment, and end it with a phrase
that conveys genuine appreciation. Research
demonstrates that remarks made at the end of an
interaction are especially effective because they linger in
the hearer’s mind. ‘Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul (emotions) and healing to the
bones.’ (Proverbs 16:24 NAS)
(3) Keep it brief. Our conscious minds retain only a tiny bit
of information, which is ‘booted out’ of our memory as
new information is uploaded. So it’s better to speak a
sentence or two at a time, then take a breath. ‘…let your
words be few.’ (Ecclesiastes 5:2 NAS) If you think a
lengthy conversation is needed, let your listener know in
advance. This prepares them to focus, and ignore the
intrusiveness of their own inner self–talk.
SoulFood: Gal 1-3, Matt 13:24-35, Ps 101, Prov 13:20-23
This is The Word For Today

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Building Trust and Intimacy in Communication (3)
Thursday, 28 May 2015
'Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that
you will have the right response for everyone.' Colossians
4:6 NLT
Building trust and intimacy in communication requires:
(1) Working to build trust. Trust is not a ‘right’: it’s a
privilege you earn by proving you’re trustworthy. We pay
little attention to politicians who say, ‘You can count on
me,’ unless their track record supports it. Christ’s
standard for trust was ‘…believe because of the work you
have seen Me do.’ (John 14:11 NLT) We know from social
psychology research that speaking gently and slowly can
deepen the listener’s openness and respect for you. The
tone of your voice matters a lot. The University of Houston
did a conclusive study that found if you lower your voice
and speak slowly, your listener will respond with greater
openness and trust. This research has helped oncologists
present bad news to patients in a more supportive way.
When doctors reduced their speaking rate and pitch,
patients perceived them as more caring and sympathetic.
The Bible calls this ‘a soft answer’ (Proverbs 15:1 NKJV),
and it will work for you too.
(2) Training your brain to really listen. Listening is hard
work because we habitually focus on ourselves and our
interests through constant self–talk. Studies show that
the average person cuts in before the speaker finishes.
Even doctors who are trained to listen for important
medical information tend to cut patients off within 23
seconds—long before they have been fully heard.
Train yourself to stay focused on the other person, their
words, facial expressions and body language. Within just
a few weeks you can train yourself to become the kind of
communicator people will trust.
SoulFood: Gal 4-6, Matt 13:36-46, Ps 108, Prov 13:24-25
This is The Word For Today

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Happy Democracy Day Y'all. May this new dispensation
cause a positive change in all aspects of our great
country!
Show Affection to One Another
Saturday, 30 May 2015 01:11
'Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her,
and likewise also the wife to her husband.' 1 Corinthians
7:3 NKJV
The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful and costly
tombs ever built and there’s a legend that surrounds it.
When the favourite wife of Indian ruler Shah Jahan died,
he ordered it to be built as a memorial to her. He placed
her coffin in the middle of a parcel of land, and
construction literally began around it. But several years
into the venture, his grief for his wife gave way to his
passion for the project. One day, while surveying the site,
he reportedly stumbled over an old wooden box and had it
thrown out. It was months before he realised it was his
wife’s coffin. The original purpose for the memorial got
lost in the details of construction!
There’s a lesson here: it’s called ‘misplaced values’. If
you’re a husband and a father, your wife and children
probably appreciate the things you work to provide. But
do you know what they really want? You! Your time. Your
attention. Your affection!
J. Paul Getty was one of the world’s richest men, yet he
failed miserably with his own family. He wrote: ‘I’ve never
been given to envy, save for the envy I feel toward those
people who have the ability to make a marriage work and
endure happily. It’s an art I’ve never been able to
master.’
So, in your quest to build your Taj Mahal, try to remember
the purpose for which you are building it. ‘Let the
husband render to his wife the affection due her, and
likewise also the wife to her husband.’
SoulFood: Lam 3:40-5:22, Matt 14:1-12, Ps 82, Prov
14:5-8
This is The Word For Today.

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Show Affection to One Another
Saturday, 30 May 2015 01:11
'Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her,
and likewise also the wife to her husband.' 1 Corinthians
7:3 NKJV
The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful and costly
tombs ever built and there’s a legend that surrounds it.
When the favourite wife of Indian ruler Shah Jahan died,
he ordered it to be built as a memorial to her. He placed
her coffin in the middle of a parcel of land, and
construction literally began around it. But several years
into the venture, his grief for his wife gave way to his
passion for the project. One day, while surveying the site,
he reportedly stumbled over an old wooden box and had it
thrown out. It was months before he realised it was his
wife’s coffin. The original purpose for the memorial got
lost in the details of construction!
There’s a lesson here: it’s called ‘misplaced values’. If
you’re a husband and a father, your wife and children
probably appreciate the things you work to provide. But
do you know what they really want? You! Your time. Your
attention. Your affection!
J. Paul Getty was one of the world’s richest men, yet he
failed miserably with his own family. He wrote: ‘I’ve never
been given to envy, save for the envy I feel toward those
people who have the ability to make a marriage work and
endure happily. It’s an art I’ve never been able to
master.’
So, in your quest to build your Taj Mahal, try to remember
the purpose for which you are building it. ‘Let the
husband render to his wife the affection due her, and
likewise also the wife to her husband.’
SoulFood: Lam 3:40-5:22, Matt 14:1-12, Ps 82, Prov
14:5-8
This is The Word For Today.

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What Happens in the Aftermath?
Sunday, 31 May 2015 01:15
'...Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for
anger gives a foothold to the devil.' Ephesians 4:26-27
NLT
James Dobson writes: ‘It’s not the arguments that should
worry married couples; it’s what happens when the
battles are over. Almost all husbands and wives
experience conflict from time to time, which is not
necessarily unhealthy for the relationship. A verbal spat
that stays within reasonable limits can open the windows
and give a couple a chance to vent their frustrations and
release some steam.
The important question, however, is what happens after
an argument is over? In healthy relationships,
confrontation ends in forgiveness, in drawing closer
together, in deeper respect and understanding, and
sometimes in greater physical intimacy. But in unstable
marriages, conflict is never entirely resolved. This is a
very dangerous situation where the consequences of one
battle begin to overlap with a prelude to the next. It’s a
good idea for couples to take a closer look at what
happens in the aftermath of confrontation.
Are there things that you’ve said or done that have
grieved your spouse? Do you need to ask forgiveness for
attacking the self–worth of your spouse instead of
focusing on the issues that divided you? Are there
substantive matters that haven’t yet been resolved? If so,
deal with them quickly before they can fester and erode
the relationship from within.’
The apostle Paul understood this principle clearly. ‘…don’t
sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down
while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the
devil.’ (Ephesians 4:26–27 NLT) He wrote these words
two millennia ago, but they’re still great advice for
married couples today.
SoulFood: Gen 24:1-51, 2 Cor 6:14-7:1
This is The Word For Today

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God's Promise to Prodigals (1)
Monday, 01 June 2015
'...when he was still a great way off, his father...had
compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.'
Luke 15:20 NKJV
Here’s an interesting and largely unknown thing about the
story of the Prodigal Son, as pointed out by Ken Bailey.
Jewish families living in small villages were tightly knit
communities where people knew one another well. So
when something like this happened, word travelled fast.
When the younger son demanded his inheritance it was
like saying to his father, ‘I can’t wait until you die. I want
what’s mine, now!’ Such a thing was unheard of. Then he
went away, forgot the values he’d been taught, and
squandered his inheritance on parties and prostitutes. As
a result he ended up destitute, working in a pig–sty. For a
Jew, you can imagine the stigma.
After breaking his father’s heart and the rules of the
community, he decided to come back home. And that’s
when his father ‘ran’ to meet him. Here’s why. Had he
reached home after failing so badly, the village elders
would have held a ‘ceremony of shame’ known in Hebrew
as kezazah. They’d have taken a clay pitcher and
smashed it on the ground in front of him, meaning his ties
with the community were broken and he was no longer
welcome. That’s why his father ran to meet him. He was
saying, ‘I have to get to my son with grace before they get
to him with the law. I have to give him hope before they
take it away. I have a different ceremony in mind: a
homecoming party to celebrate his restoration.’ What the
father did for his prodigal son that day, God will do for
you today, if you’ll only turn to Him.
SoulFood: Amos 1:1-5:17, Matt 14:13-21, Ps 117, Prov
14:9-12
This is The Word For Today