You do You:

You do you

Have you heard the phrase—“you do you”?

At its best, it affirms that people ought to be themselves and not just fit the current stereotypes. There is, however, a downside: what if “doing you” is toxic to yourself or to others?

The Bible has a response to “you do you.” First, it says we are all created unique and special—doing you is how you were created. But the Bible also reminds us that we have a propensity to sin, to fall short of God’s standards.

Jesus gives us a way to know God, get ourselves right, and be our unique selves. “You do you”—but do this with one eye on your unique gifts and the other on the standards God calls us to live by.

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From Digital Anvil with thanks to Karl Faase for this daily- reading.

Don’t compare yourself with others

“Each one should test their own actions ... without comparing themselves to someone else.” Galatians 6:4 NIV

 

Paul wrote: “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else”. 

 

Jesus was insistent on this. After the resurrection, He appeared to some of His followers. He gave Peter, an Apostle, a specific assignment that included great sacrifice. Peter responded by pointing at John and asking, “‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to live until I come back, that is not your business. You follow me’” ( from the book of John 21:21-22 NCV).

In other words, stay focused on your own assignment. A little boy named Adam wanted to be like his friend Bobby. Adam loved the way Bobby walked and talked. Bobby, however, wanted to be like Charlie. Something about Charlie’s stride and accent intrigued him. Charlie, on the other hand, was impressed with Danny. Charlie wanted to look and sound like him. Danny, of all things, had a hero as well: Adam. He wanted to be just like Adam. So, Adam was imitating Bobby, who was imitating Charlie, who was imitating Danny, who was imitating Adam. It turns out that all Adam needed to do was to be himself! You can learn from others, but you can only find joy and fulfillment in being who God created you to be. So stay in your own lane. Run your own race. Nothing good happens when you compare and compete.

 Furthermore, God will not evaluate and reward you according to the talents of others, but according to how faithful you were with the gifts He gave you. You are not responsible for the nature of your gifts, but for how you use them.

From Digital Anvil with many thanks to Vision.org.au for this daily- reading.

To Know is to Believe ?

 

 

Belief is essential to life. 

Most of what we “know” about the world is really what we “believe” on the basis of someone else’s word. We trust the testimony of historians because we cannot personally verify world history. We trust the accuracy of maps because we cannot visit every corner of the globe. 

In almost every area of life, we rely on belief.

 

This is important to recognise. Because what we believe shapes how we live. Our beliefs aren’t neutral. They steer our decisions, hopes, fears, and habits. They form the framework by which we interpret the world and relate to those around us. Whether we realize it or not, we all run on a web of beliefs.

 

We should deeply consider, then, WHAT we believe, and WHY. Especially as Christians.

 Right belief, we learn, is central to our faith, identity, confidence and entire Christian existence.

So what do we believe, exactly?

 

To help distill this, we turn  to one of the most powerful statements of belief in Church history: the Apostles’ Creed. Rooted in baptismal confessions of the second century, and reaching its near-final form by the fourth, the Apostles’ Creed gathers the essential doctrines of Scripture into twelve articles that have been articulated, defended, prayed, and memorised for nearly 2,000 years. Together, they offer a concise narrative of God’s redemptive story.

Every stanza begins with two small but significant words: “I believe.”

 These words can change our life.

 

Biblically speaking, belief is more than just intellectual agreement. When we say “credo” (I believe) with the Apostles' Creed, we are pledging allegiance, locating ourselves in God’s story and confessing not only what we think but what we love, trust, and are prepared to live and die for.

In a world where truth and fiction are often blurred, the Creed gives us solid ground. It’s the DNA of our faith: informative and performative, educational and sacramental, a summary of our doctrine and an invitation into God’s story all at once.

So, to begin this life- journey, pause and ask: What do you believe?

 

(From Digital Anvil with gratitude to the folk at the wondrous Glorify App.)

New for Old Replacement:

Insurance option - New for Old Replacement

There is a particular option you can choose in your insurance policies: it’s called new for old. If your tired, old, and broken insured possession is irreparably damaged, you can replace it with a brand-new version of the same item.

What a great insurance policy that is—new for old!

God’s Word tells us that this same option is available in your heavenly policy agreement. God promises to replace our old and broken life with a new version. We get new for old through God’s grace.

In fact, we are told: “The old has gone, the new has come.” This is the chance for a fresh beginning—a new start.

Thank God today for your new for old heavenly spiritual policy.

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I thank Karl Faase for this startling daily- reading.

( from Digital Anvil)

Hussam Abu Safiya: Who ?

 Who is Hussam Abu Safiya?

 

 

For far too long, media coverage described Hussam Abu Safiya as a hospital director, a humanitarian, an innocent civilian.

But that framing left out a critical fact: Abu Safiya is a Hamas colonel.

Despite exposes by Eitan Fischberger a year ago, major outlets continued portraying him as a neutral medical figure. Only after NGO Monitor surfaced new images showing him in a Hamas military uniform did parts of the media begin to adjust their language.

This is not a semantic issue.

When individuals with senior roles in terrorist organizations are presented as neutral medical professionals, the public is misled about how armed groups embed themselves within civilian institutions.

The Hippocratic Oath is built on one core principle: do no harm.

Holding a command role in a terrorist organization is incompatible with that oath.

( in the  interest of fairness!)

 

To Help You:

God loves and cares for you. God always watches. God is listening even now. Speak to God. Give time for God to remind you of things and bring people to your mind.

Lord, thank You:

For the beautiful things of the world

For all of whom I love and who love me.

Help me to show my gratitude in deeds and as well as words.

Lord, I’m sorry:

Thought or acted selfishly

Failed to forgive or ask forgiveness

Forgotten to thank you or taken your love for granted.

I thank you for your promise to forgive all those who turn to You.

Lord, I am troubled….

I am anxious and scared at times

For others

Help me to trust your love.

For you carry our sorrows.

Teach me to act and speak in the way you want.

Give me wisdom

Calm my fears

For all things are in your capable hands.

Lord, I pray for:

My marriage, my family and friends.

My neighbours at home and elsewhere

The ones I like and the ones I dislike

For those involved in disaster or war.

Bless them Lord in all their troubles.

And show me how I may help them.

As I finish:

Guide me, with your light and your help.

May You sweeten my days and strengthen my love.

Help me always to believe in you, your promises and to care for your world.

 

(Unknown Author: from Digital Anvil) 

Silent?

👆Amir commented:

  "Nearly 20,000 Iranians were slaughtered within a matter of days and yet:

Greta Thunberg? Silent.

Francesca Albanese? Silent.

Mehdi Hasan? Silent.

Cenk Uygur? Silent.

Ana Kasparian? Silent.

The media? Silent.

The UN? Silent.

No Jews - No News!"

From concerned friend ( of Israel)

(By Digital Anvil)

 

(Pray, Write and Email your local MP)