Gospel Message with Wordless book of CEF

Vroue in Christus se taak is om die Evangelieboodskap te verdeuidelik aan kinders en kleinkinders! Evangelieboodskap met 5 kleure van woordlose boek van Child Evangelism Fellowship:	Women in Christ have a task to explain the Gospel message to children and grandchildren! The Gospel message with the 5 colours of the Wordless book of Child Evangelism Fellowship
1.  Goue bladsy praat van God en Sy Heiligheid: * God is ons Skepper God en het alles gemaak en besit  alles * Hy is die Koning van die Heelal * God is Heilig en sonder sonde * God woon in die Hemel Jes. 6:3 ”Heilig, heilig, heilig is die Here die Almagtige! Die hele aarde is vol van sy magtige teenwoordigheid.” God ons Skepper. Hy is  ‘n God van liefde en ook ‘n Heilige God.  Hy het geen sonde nie en kan geen sonde in die Hemel toelaat nie.	1.  The golden page speaks about God and His holiness . God created and owns the world . He is the King of Kings . He is pure and holy . He lives in Heaven Isaiah 6:3 “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts…” God wants you to be with Him in Heaven one day God is our Creator, He is a God of love and He is a holy God.  He has no sin and cannot allow sin in Heaven.
2.  Donker bladsy praat oor sonde en die gevolge daarvan:  Rom. 3:23 sê dat ons almal gesondig het en ver van God is.  Ons is almal in sonde gebore.  Wat is sonde?  Alles wat ek dink of doen of sê waarmee ek God hartseer maak, is sonde.  God moet sonde straf, soos wat jy gestraf word as jy verkeerd doen.  Sonde skei ons van God en maak ons ongelukkig.	2.  The dark page speaks about sin and its consequences Rom. 3:23 “For all have sinned…” What is sin – disobeying God and His commandments God must punish sin because He is just and fair Sin separates us from God and makes us sad.
3. Rooi bladsy praat oor Jesus Christus en Sy kruisdood vir ons sonde: Rom. 5:8-9 sê dat Jesus vir ons gesterf het en vir ons vrygespreek van ons sonde.   *  God het sy Seun gestuur om ons Redder te wees. Jesus is gebore in 'n stal in Bethlehem.  Daar het die herders en wyse manne Hom gevind en Hom aanbid.  Hy het grootgeword in Nasaret saam met sy ma Maria en sy aardse pa Josef. *  Toe Hy ongeveer 30 jaar oud was, het Hy   aan die kruis  op Golgotha gesterf om ons te red van ons sonde *  Jesus het God se straf vir al die sonde van die wêreld op Hom geneem	3.  The red page speaks about Jesus Christ, and His death for sin Rom. 5:8,9 – “Christ died for us – we are justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” .  God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to be our Saviour.   Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a stable.  There the shepherds and wise men found him and worshipped Him.  He grew up in Nazareth with his mother, Mary and his earthly father Joseph.  .  Jesus died at the age of 30 on a cross in Jerusalem (Golgotha) to save us from our sins .  Jesus took God’s punishment for all the wrong things we have done
4. Skoon bladsy praat van vergifnis – Vergifnis beteken dat al die verkeerde dinge wat jy dink, doen en sê is nie meer ‘n probleem tussen jou en God nie.  God neem die sonde wat jy voor Hom kom bely weg en maak asof dit nooit gebeur het nie.  In die Bybel staan daar “Ek sal hul sonde wegneem en nooit weer daaraan dink nie.  (Jer. 31:34) Het jy al hierdie Koning ontmoet?   Is jy reg as Koning Jesus weer kom om vir jou te  kom haal?  Hoe kan jy reg wees?  Maak seker jy is sy kind.  Hoe?  Bid tot God en loof Hom omdat Hy goed is.  Bely jou sonde.  Vra dat koning Jesus jou sal vergewe en jou God se kind sal maak. Aanvaar die belofte in Joh. 1:12:  “Aan almal wat Hom aangeneem het, die wat in Hom glo, het Hy die reg gegee om kinders van God te wees.” Hierdie skoon bladsy vertel vir ons dat die oomblik wat jy God se kind word, maak Hy jou hart witter as sneeu en woon die Heilige Gees in jou. Vertel hierdie goeie boodskap aan almal hierdie Kerstyd sodat meer mense in Jesus kan glo en Hom verwag as Hy weer kom op die wolke!	4.  The white page speaks about salvation – especially about justification 2 Cor. 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us – that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” When we trust Jesus Christ as our Saviour, God forgives all our sins He sees us as pure and as clean as Jesus Christ Rom. 10:13 – Do you want to be saved?  Call on the Lord Jesus.  Confess your sins and ask God to help you to live a life according to His will. Accept the promise in John 1:12 that when you believe, you are a child of God Accept Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world this Christmas and tell the good news of our His birth and death to all the people you get in touch with this Christmas.
5. Groen buiteblad van woordlose boekie praat van geestelike groei: As jy God se kind is, wil Hy hê jy moet geestelik groei. 2 Pet. 3:18. Vra God om jou te help om geestelik te groei met die hulp van die Heilige Gees wat in jou woon.   Jy kan groei deur hierdie 5 dinge te doen: Lees jou Bybel – God se Woord Bid tot God jou Koning Getuig van jou Koning Bely dadelik sonde wat jy doen Gaan kerktoe saam met ander gelowiges In jou eie krag kan jy nie geestelik groei of vir God verheerlik nie, maar die Here belowe in Hebr. 13:6 dat Hy ons Helper is.  Vra Hom vir krag elke dag	5.  The green cover speaks about spiritual growth after salvation 1 Pet. 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” .  Grow by reading Bible .  Grow by talking to God regularly .  Grow by telling others about the Lord Jesus .  Grow by confessing sin to God .  Grow by meeting regularly with other Christians and by attending a good church In your own strength you cannot live as a child of God, but trust God and accept the promise in Hebrews 13:6 “The lord is my helper…."

God's glory - Exodus 34:6-7

Moses asked God: Ex. 33:18 “Please, show me Your glory.”

God proclaimed to Moses: Ex. 34:6-7: “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation.”

In Ex. 34:6-7 Moses talked to God about the future of Israel and that they do not want to go ahead unless God goes with them. God agreed that He will go with them and then Moses asked the Lord to show him His glory. Ch. 33:18. Moses cut the two tablets for the 10 commandments and climbed up Mount Sinai. God descended in a cloud and stood with him and gave Moses a picture of what God is like: There were 10 names, or attributes, as God showed Himself on Sinai. six show God's mercy, two show His power and two show God's justice:

                                                              
                                                                       GOD's POWER:

1. The Lord. This is the basis. Unless we are prepared to admit the sovereignty of God, we can go no further, we shall see no more.
2. The Lord God. There we put the two names in combination. The word God in its root means kindness. We put the infinitude of His sovereignty in combination with the boundlessness of His affection, and we say, "The Lord, the Lord God." David Star with 6 points when we think of God's names: All-mighty(Omnipotent), All-present(Omnipresent), All-knowing(Omniscient), Love, Holy, Sovereign.

                                                                      GOD's MERCY:

3. We come next to the goings forth of that wonderful mystery of Godhead to man in mercy. The strict meaning of the word "mercy" is, a heart for misery. The first thought here is the Lord God stooping down to the wretched, going forth to the miserable.
4. And why merciful? Because gracious. Grace is the free flowing of undeserved favour. In two things especially God shows His grace: in the pardon of sin and the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. "Long-suffering." We now come to a wonderful part of the character of God—patience. The end of this world is stayed because "the longsuffering of God leadeth men to repentance." This is the most marvellous part of the character of God—His patience; it contrasts so strongly with the impetuosity, the haste, the impulsiveness, of man.
6. "Abundant in goodness and truth." Abundant is enough and something over, cup so full that it overflows. He is abundant in goodness and truth. 
   (7) "Keeping mercy for thousands." There are many people who do not see their mercy, for whom God is now keeping it in reserve. He is holding it till His own appointed time, till His own season comes. The Lord God is keeping mercy for thousands – forgiving iniquity and transgressions and sin. Many times God turned His anger away from Israel. Ps. 78:35-38.
   (8) "Forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin." In Jer. 31:34 God says I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more! This brings us more and more into the work of Christ. All God's attributes met that He might pardon sin. Joh. 3:16 and  Joh. 1:12

                                                           GOD's JUSTICE:


The Lord God will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children. Though God pardons, often He does not remit the consequences of sin. God forgave Moses because he was disobedient when he hit the rock instead of talking to it, but God did not allow Moses to go to the promised land! How good, how faithful, how forgiving, all through these nineteen centuries!
(9) "By no means clear the guilty." The word "guilty" is not in the original; it is simply "by no means clear." He will not clear any one whom He has not pardoned. God's mercy is infinite in its own bounds, but it keeps within these bounds most strictly. (10) "He visits the iniquity of the fathers on the children," etc. This is an ever-standing, visible proof and monument of God's holiness and justice. He visits sin from generation to generation. There are inherited dispensations, inherited calamities, inherited evils.Yet the sins of the fathers have been visited upon their children. Today we are suffering from the compromising, unfaithfulness, pride and wickedness, of those who went before us!

When Moses heard this, he worshipped God and said:  "If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though, we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance."

 In the light of God's Holiness and justice we realize that we are sinners.

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:1-10 We were dead because of our trespasses and sins, enslaved by our 3 enemies, the world, Satan and ourselves, and condemned because of God's wrath, BUT after the Lord Jesus came to die for us, God made us alive with Christ, He raised us up with Him and made us sit with Him in heavenly places.

PROPHETS, PRIESTS AND KINGS:

How do we apply these truths in our own lives? When we confess Christ's name, and are born again believers, we have a three-fold ministry. We are prophets, priests and kings.

1. We act as prophets knowing and declaring God's Word – Acts 2:36-40. As a prophetess in your home and surroundings, you need to know the Word of God. You have to tell your children about the truths of the Word, the promises, the warnings, the doctrines. Your self-image must be strong because God is your GOD! Ask the Lord to help you with your quiet time. Pray for your believer husbands and children and friends to be prophets who know and declare God's Word.

2. Second we present ourselves to our Creator as living sacrifices in devoting ourselves to God's service and seeking transformation by His Word – we are a kingdom of priests who sacrifice ourselves in thanksgiving to Him – Rom. 12:1-2. Give yourself and your loved ones to the Lord.

3. Thirdly we strive against sin and the Devil. Taking up the armor of God against His and our enemies.

We fulfill the kingly role of protecting and enlarging the kingdom – Eph. 6:10-20.

Women in Christ are T E A C H E R S

Deut. 6:5-7:  "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.  And these words which I command you today, shall be in your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up."

To be a TEACHER to your children, you need to know the Word of God yourself, before you start to teach the Word of God.

According to the Child Evangelism Fellowship Resource Edition of the Bible you need 8 characteristics to be a good teacher:

T - Teachable - You need teaching from the Bible by studying the Word or by listening to sermons about the Word, so that you can teach other people.  You need to be teachable!
E - Enthusiastic - You need to be enthusiastic about the Word of God.  Enthusiastic means to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that you can understand the Word of God and teach the Word of God correctly and with enthusiasm!
A - Approachable - people must not be afraid to approach you,! They must but have confidence to come to you with problems and questions.
C - Consecrated - You must give yourself fully to the Lord as a living sacrifice - Rom. 12:1
H - Honest - You must be honest before God and know your strengths and weaknesses and be honest about it.  Confess your weaknesses to the Lord and other people.
E - Enduring -  Persevere when things are difficult
R - Ready - Be prepared for your tasks as parent and teacher and sit at the feet of your Heavenly Father to get your wisdom from Him by Reading the Word and meditate on it day and night (Ps. 1)
S - Sensitive - Be sensitive to the needs of people around you and be sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life and the lives of other.

Scripture Memorising very important for a woman in Christ

Why we have to Memorize Scripture:

The moment you receive the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, you have a hunger for the Word of God. Reading the Word is not enough, Ps. 1 says you have to find your joy in the Word of God and meditate on the truths of the Word. To be able to think about the Word, you have to keep it in your heart and mind by memorizing Scripture.

1. We are called to memorise Scripture.

Colossians 3:16 tells us to “let the word of Christ dwell in us richly.”  Deuteronomy 6:4-9 tells us to bind God’s law on our foreheads, teach it to our children, talk about it wherever we go, and make it an integral part of our lives. We must know Scripture first before we can teach it or apply it as God desires.

2. Jesus Christ memorized Scripture.

He is our role model and used many verses in the Old Testament to explain the truths of the Word to His audiences.

3. Memorizing Scripture renews our mind and transforms our life.

Romans 12:2 says,Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

4. Memorizing Scripture helps against temptation.

In Jesus’ time of temptation in the wilderness, he countered Satan’s deceitful words with words of truth found in Scripture. Even though Jesus is himself the Word of God, he used the written Word of God for battling temptation.

The Psalmist understood the Word’s power in battling temptation: “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).

5. Memorizing Scripture keeps your life pure.

How can a young man keep his way pure?  By guarding it according to your word. (Psalm 119:9)

6. Memorizing Scripture makes us prosper and successful.

This promise is shown in Joshua 1:8:

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Psalm 1 describes a man who delights in the law of the Lord by meditating  on it. This leads to prospering and being compared to a tree planted by streams of water that bears fruit.

7. Memorizing Scripture allows us to more readily encourage believers.

Memorizing Scripture gives believers a great opportunity to share it with other believers and encourage them to live in obedience, fight temptation, renew their minds, and conform more to the person of Christ.

Paul exhorts the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 4:18 to be ready to encourage other believers with the truth. 2 Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is useful for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness.  Knowing Scripture is a vital part of ministering to others.

8. Memorizing Scripture allows us to share with unbelievers better.

We are urged in 1 Peter 3:15 to always be ready to give a defense for our hope in Christ. We should memorize Scripture so we can walk unbelievers through the salvation message and help them understand their sin and need for a Savior  Speaking God’s Words instead of our own will give our message more authority and will harness the power that is in the Word of God (Isaiah 55:11; Hebrews 4:12; Jeremiah 23:29).

9. Memorizing Scripture gives us better understanding of God and his will.

When we know God’s Word and obey it, we are able to experience God at a deeper level and experience the freedom that comes only through obedience (John 8:31-32; 14:21). The deeper we know God, the deeper we know his will for us. Romans 12:2 says that when we renew our minds and are transformed, we will be able to “discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

10. Memorizing Scripture makes us wise.

The Bible is a book of tremendous wisdom that can have an impact on every area of our life. By memorizing the Scripture we are able to have that wisdom with us at all times. Luke 2:52 says that even Jesus grew in wisdom during his earthly life. Why should we not do the same?

Here are 50 important Bible verses to memorize. Print the page and make yourself some cards of them and put them in an envelope or your purse. Go through them every day and try to memorize as many as you can. Encourage your Bible study group or children to memorize them and when they can say them all to you, give them a chocolate or small gift!!

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.	Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom	Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.	John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.	Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.	Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.	John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.”	Ephesians 2:8,9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.	2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.	Isaiah 40:30-31 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.	Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.	Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart ,and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.	Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”	Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.	2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.	Lamentations 3:22-23 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.	2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.	Psalm 37:4,5 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust in him and he will do this.	Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.	Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.	Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.	Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.	1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.	James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.	Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
1 John 4:7,8 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.	Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.	Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.	Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.	Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.	Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.	Philippians 4:6,7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.	2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.	Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.	Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.	1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.	James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.	1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out, so that you can stand up under it.
Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.	Matthew 25:40 The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”	Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.	Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.	Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Bible Reading

Bible Reading:Ten ways to read your Bible:

1. 365 important Bible chapters in a year
2. Through the Bible in a year, Old Testament and New Testament daily readings.  Get yourself a One year study Bible.  I am using the John Mac Arthur Study Bible.
3. Through the Bible in a year - cover to cover on a consecutive schedule.  Using a 6day plan for flexibility.
4. New Testament in a year
5. Two or three chapters of the Old Testament per day.
6. One chapter of the Gospels and Acts and one chapter of the epistles per day.
7. Five Psalms and one chapter of Proverbs per day.
8. 31 Key Psalms per month
9. 31 chapters of Proverbs per month - one chapter per day
10. Psalm 119 in 22 day cycles - 8 verses per day.

               Wait on the Lord to open His Word to you and put your hope and trust in Him.

TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS WHEN YOU READ YOUR BIBLE:

• Opening prayer:  ask God to prepare your thoughts and fill you with the Holy Spirit so that His Word can speak to you.
• Read the portion carefully and thoughtfully
• Think about the truths about God and what they mean personally.  Write them down in your journal and express that truth to God.
• Love and adore God in your heart on the basis of that truth.
• Submit yourself to God.
• As you focus on the Word of God, ask yourself: 

1. Is there a command to obey? 
2. Is there a promise to claim?
3. Is there a sin to avoid?
4. Is there a lesson to learn?

Christmas Celebrations in June/July!

Why is it appropriate to celebrate Christmas in June/July? What happened 6 months before Jesus was born? John the Baptist was born. What was John the Baptist's work? He prepared the way for Jesus. He said about the Lord Jesus: John 3:30 “He must become greater and I must become less.”

In Europe it is very interesting that in June after the longest day the days become shorter and darker until December and then the days become longer and brighter. John's message was that he was not the Christ, but was sent ahead of Him. His light has to become less and less as the days from June to December and then when Christ was born, The light of Jesus must be in our lives like the days from December onwards who become longer and brighter!!

Let us look at my June/July Christmas table setting. I decorate my table with 5 colours so that I can explain the Gospel message to you.

1. Gold – round golden plate: God is our Creator– Gen. 1:1; He is a Holy God who hates sin; Rev. 4:8 and Isaiah 6:3; God is a God of love– John 3:16. God is in Heaven.
2. Black: black heart or black place mat: Rom. 3:23 says all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. Our sin separates us from God. Sin is everything that we do, say or think that is not glorifying God.
3. Red: Red cross or red tablecloth or red flower: Jesus came to earth as our Saviour. He was sent by God to pay for our sins on the cross. 1 Cor. 15:3-4.
4. White: white heart or white tablecloth: John 1:12 says that everyone who acknowledges that he/she is a sinner; who believes in the Lord Jesus and calls on the Lord for salvation, will be saved.
5. Green: green tree or leaves: The moment you become a child of God, it is important to grow spiritually. To grow you need to read your Bible, pray, witness to others about your faith, confess your sins and have fellowship with other believers. 2 Pet. 3:18.

Two gifts:

1. The gift that we received from God because of His grace is John.3:16 – His Son. Jesus took away God's wrath, He paid the full price and we receive everlasting life!
2. The second gift is what we can give our Holy God when we are in Christ. We can give ourselves. This is the only gift we can give God. Ask Him to help you everyday to live in such a way that you will make Him proud! That you will have a relationship with Him and put Him first in your life.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Heidelberg Catechism: Question:  How many things necessary for you to know to live and die happily?

Answer: Three.  1. How great my sins are.  2. How I may be delivered from them. 

3.  How I shall express my gratitude to God for such deliverance.

The ABC to become a Christian:

A - acknowledge that you are a sinner - Rom 3:23

B - believe that the Lord Jesus died for your sin - Joh. 3:16

C - Call on the name of the Lord and accept Jesus as your Saviour.  Joh. 1:12

Spiritual growth:
As a believer, it is good to remember the 5 ingredients that help you to grow spiritually:

1.  Read your Bible

2.  Pray

3.  Witness about Christ Jesus

4.  Confess your sins

5.  Have fellowship with other believers

Quiet Time:

Communion with God is absolutely necessary for a child of God, because this is your most important relationship-building activity:
* You can talk to God as His child and He talks to you through His Word
* His will becomes your wishes and your prayers become more and more what His Will for your life is.
* The Holy Spirit helps you to understand God's Word and Will and He is interceding when you pray.
* Jesus made it possible for you as believer to enter the Throne Room and have Communion with God.
* Jesus is your High Priest who gave His life for you on the cross at Calvary.
* He is sitting at the right hand of God where He is interceding and by His grace making it possible that you as the King's child may talk to your Heavenly ABBA FATHER!
* This relationship where you commune with God daily and praise and worship Him, confess your sins to Him, thank Him, intercede for the Kingdom to come and holding on to His promises, will help you to live with peace in your heart.  Phil. 4:6-7

Quiet time starts with God - Rev. 3:20  "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me."

Women's Quiet Time:

Half a day (few hours)of quiet time:

Keep a journal and write down your prayers and God's answers.

Opening prayer: where you pray for wisdom and guidance. Ask that the Holy Spirit will open your heart and life when you talk to God and He talks to you through the Word. (10min.)

Praise: Read a Psalm of Praise: Psalm 8 or Psalm 103 and worship God because He is All mighty, All knowing, Sovereign, Creator, Saviour....... (20 min.)

Confession: In the light of God's Holiness, we realise our shortcomings. Confess to the Lord with the words of Apostle's Creed or Ps. 51 your sins. Ask the Lord to forgive you and to help you forgive others and yourself! (15 min.)

Bible Reading: Read Hebrews 11 and look at the page about the Faith Heroes and how to apply the characteristics to your life. Ask the Lord to help you to do that. (30 min.)

Supplication: Pray for your family, friends, our area, our country, our world. Pray Ephesians 3:14-21 for everyone who believe. (20 min.)

Contemplation: Rest and listen to a CD with Christian songs or go for a walk and meditate on the Lord's grace and mercy. (20 min.)

Application: Write down how you have to lay down the old man (woman) and clothe yourself with the new man (new woman) (20 min.)