WORDS WRITTEN BY AN OBSERVANT WOMAN

Good men are indeed all around us. We pass them on the streets, in the malls and the halls at work. Most we can't see because we don't know what a good man really looks like. He usually isn't flashy enough or rich enough to turn our heads.

 He might not wear a suit or push a BMW. He might not have a "body like Vin Diesel with a Brad Pitt face". But, as you mature, you realize it's better to find someone who's got your back than someone who turns your head.

A good man doesn't agree whole heartedly with everything you say. He doesn't just tell you what you want to hear and do the opposite. He doesn't declare how sensitive, sweet, caring, yada yada he is (he wont have to because it shows). He has his own opinion and you may clash, but he doesn't have to degrade you to prove he's right. He even admits at times to being wrong, especially if you are willing to do the same.

A good man is not going to meet every item on your checklist. He is human with frailties and faults mixed in with all of his wonderful, strong attributes. He needs your love and respect. He needs to feel that you don't live to "catch" him doing something wrong so you can declare, "Aha! I knew you were a dog!!"

A good man doesn't necessarily give you a huge birthday or Valentine's gift. He shows his love in the ways that are comfortable to him. Don’t judge him by TV standards (...Bold and the Beautiful...). No one lives that fairy tale for real. You'll miss your own fairy tale by buying into the myth that our men are no good. It's just not true.

Men, we salute you, and thank you for who you are and all you've done.

 (Thanks Frieda)

Did you know that your usual pattern of thinking can be your big adversary?

 

I am refusing to let the cares of the economy and the trauma of the people we meet daily become my pattern of thinking. We deliberately practice to make the following scripture our motto:

 

“…whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]”. Phil 4:8

(The amplified Bible. 1987 La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation)

 

Finally, we pray, daily, for the people who cross our way, because only God can give everyone exactly what they need. We don’t need to add anything extra to God’s provision.

I'm looking forward to hearing (or reading) from you.

Barbara 

Hi

We moved our offices to 425A Ronald Street, Garsfontein, Pretoria.

New telephone no 012 993 4219

The new office will be operational from the beginning of June 2009.

Kind regards

Barbara

He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End!
He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!
He is the Architect of the universe and
The Manager of all times.
He always was, He always is, and He always will be...
Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone!
He was bruised and brought healing!
He was pierced and eased pain!
He was persecuted and brought freedom!
He was dead and brought life!
He is risen and brings power!
He reigns and brings Peace!
The world can't understand him,
The armies can't defeat Him,
The schools can't explain Him, 
The leaders can't ignore Him.
Herod couldn't kill Him,
The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him, and
The people couldn't hold Him!

Nero couldn't crush Him,
Hitler couldn't silence Him,
The New Age can't replace Him, and
Donahue can't explain Him away!
He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.
He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.
He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.
His ways are right,
His word is eternal,
His will is unchanging, and
His mind is on me.
He is my Redeemer,
He is my Savior,
He is my guide, and
He is my peace!
He is my Joy,
He is my comfort,
He is my Lord, and
He rules my life!
I serve Him because His bond is love,
His burden is light, and
His goal for me is abundant life.
I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise,
The power of the powerful,
The ancient of days, the ruler of rulers,
The leader of leaders, the overseer of the overcomers, and 
The sovereign Lord of all that was and is and is to come.
And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size.
His goal is a relationship with ME!

He will never leave me,
Never forsake me,
Never mislead me,
Never forget me,
Never overlook me, and
Ever cancel my appointment in His appointment book!
When I fall, He lifts me up!
When I fail, He forgives!
When I am weak, He is strong!
When I am lost, He is the way!
When I am afraid, He is my courage!
When I stumble, He steadies me!
When I am hurt, He heals me!
When I am broken, He mends me!
When I am blind, He leads me!
When I am hungry, He feeds me!
When I face trials, He is with me!
When I face persecution, He shields me!
When I face problems, He comforts me!
When I face loss, He provides for me!
When I face Death, He carries me Home!
He is everything for everybody, everywhere,
Every time, and every way.
He is God, He is faithful.
I am His, and He is mine!
My Father in heaven can whip the father of this world.

So, if you're wondering why I feel so secure, understand this...
He said it and that settles it.
God is in control, I am on His side, and
That means all is well with my soul.
Everyday is a blessing for GOD Is!

(Contribution by Dr Frieda Smalberger - Director Of Inter Trauma Nexus)

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood.
                            The next morning while they are eating breakfast,

the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the washing outside.
"That laundry is not very clean", she said.
"She doesn't know how to wash correctly.
Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry,

the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a
nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:

"Look, she has learned how to wash correctly.
I wonder who taught her this."

The husband said, "I got up early this morning and
cleaned our windows."

And so it is with life. What we see when watching others
depends on the purity of the window through which we look.

(Dankie Natashia)

Take care of yourself. …don't wait for someone to take care of you.

Remember to pray,

because God promised to give you wisdom.

(James 1:5)

You drive yourself to your destination.
 
There will be mistakes along the way…

but they will also be lessons…

and you will never make the right choices all the time, without making the wrong ones sometimes.

So remember to love, laugh and live completely with no regrets…

because true friends will always be there no matter what…

and in the end you alone determine your own happiness.
 
Have an awesome day!!!!!

Dit is nie verkeerd om hulp te benodig en

daarvoor te vra nie.  Maar dit is verkeerd

om hulp te benodig en te trots te wees om

daarvoor te vra.  Leer om te delegeer.  Laat soveel

moontlik mense jou help.  As jy dit doen,

sal jy langer uithou en die lewe meer geniet.

 

Eksodus 18:18

 

Jy en al hierdie mense by jou

sal toetaal uitgeput raak.  Die

werk is te veel vir jou.  Jy kan

dit nie alleen behartig nie.

 

Geniet die dag…

(Lettie Baiedankie vir jou raad.)

Life is short;
forgive quickly;
laugh constantly;
speak to God more;
enjoy your child's small talk;
hug your spouse more;
say "I love you" as often as possible
and never stop smiling.

Life is not always the party we expected to be
but as long as we are here, we should smile and be grateful.

Different people have different perception. One man's meat could be another man's poison. A couple bought a donkey from the market. On the way home, a boy commented, "Very stupid. Why neither of them ride on the donkey? "Upon hearing that, the husband let the wife ride on the donkey. He walked besides them. Later, an old man saw it and commented, "The husband is the head of family. How can the wife ride on the donkey while the husband is on foot?" Hearing this, the wife quickly got down and let the husband ride on the donkey.

Further on the way home, they met an old Lady. She commented, "How can the man ride on the donkey but let the wife walk. He is no gentleman."
The husband thus quickly asked the wife to join him on the donkey. Then, they met a young man. He commented, "Poor donkey, how can you hold up the weight of two persons. They are cruel to you." Hearing that, the husband and wife immediately climbed down from the donkey and carried it on their shoulders.

It seems to be the only choice left. Later, on a narrow bridge, the donkey was frightened and struggled. They lost their balance and fell into the river. You can never have everyone praise you, nor will everyone condemn you. Never in the past, not at present, and never will be in the future.

Thus, do not be too bothered by others words if our conscience is clear..



(Part of a letter from Frieda. Thanks!)

A Churchgoer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. 'I've gone for 30 years now,' he wrote, 'and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.'

This started a real controversy in the 'Letters to the Editor' column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:
'I've been married for 37 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals, But I do know this... They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!' When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!

(Contribution from Natashia & Jan Nienaber.)