Numbers 14:31
God looks at what you can be & not at what you are now.
Samuel 16 - story of David being anointed
- in his appearance, David was not a natural choice
- Samuel saw the 1st son & all were sure that he would be the king. But as God told Samuel that he would not be the one.
- This looks beyond what we see as human beings.
- Jesse then eventually told Samuel that David was another son he had. Immediately God told Samuel to anoint him.
Our church today is plagued with politics.
- fro Elders to Pastors to Officers
- politics have torn the church of God apart
- we lack contentment
We forget what God has done for us we protest against Him
- even though we have done so, God still comes through for us
- how can we safe in the arms of Jesus yet have Egypt in our minds?
When you are elected into office at church, be careful of the motives of those who elected you.
When God forgives sins He throws them in the deepest sins, but we SDA's go down to find them & torment God's children with them!
- when God forgives you, nobody can "unforgive" you!
Some of us feel that this journey with God is boring & want to go back to Egypt. It is not God's will to do so!
Will you be there when the trumpet shall sound? Will you be there?
Regards,
Tshepo Mathiba
072 260 2743
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
The Invisible Rich
A while back I was leading a personal-finance seminar at a high school, and I posed this question to the teens: "When you see a man cruise by in his $65,000 BMW 550i, what do you assume about him?" The answer: "He's rich." And a man who drives by in a ten-year-old Chevy? "He's struggling."
Elusive realities. Just the answers I was looking for, and they provided a launching pad for a lively discussion of deceptive appearances and realities. By the end of it, these teens had a clearer sense of how little you can determine about wealth from a person's visible consumption. The BMW, I noted, is probably leased (perhaps for three years, no money down), so we can infer only that the driver earns enough to handle a $1,131 monthly lease payment. We know nothing about his net worth, which may be great ... or may be almost nonexistent.
And the man in the old Impala? Maybe he is struggling financially, but there's another possibility: His income is just as great as that of the dude in the Bimmer, but he's not saddled with a lease payment -- and he's investing the money in mutual funds that are growing at 10% a year.
The message in all this: The biggest barrier to becoming rich is living like you're rich before you are. Why? Because all that discretionary spending -- the chic apartment, frequent travel and restaurant meals, consumer electronics, fancy clothes and cars -- crowds out the saving that will enable you to be rich someday.
I often hear complaints from young adults, twentysomethings to those in their early thirties, that they'll never be able to buy a home because they can't afford the down payment. But when I probe them about their budgets, I find that they earn enough to make a down payment in just three or four years -- if they cut back on their spending, and if their starter-home expectations are reasonable.
Know who grasps this best in American society today? Recent immigrants, whether they're from Latin America, Africa, Asia or Eastern Europe. Many of them come to the U.S. almost penniless. They work long hours at modest wages and send some of those earnings to relatives back home. But, miraculously, they still have money left over each month because they live simply. Often they double up with friends and family in crowded housing.
What do they do with their savings? They buy a home, often in a less desirable neighborhood that other strivers are leaving behind. They fix it up, rent rooms to friends and relatives, and then trade up to a nicer home. They may keep their first and second homes as rental properties, becoming hands-on landlords.
A niece of mine sells new homes in the outer Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. The houses cost $500,000 -- a "middle market" price in this affluent area. Many of her buyers are Latinos. They don't look or act rich, and they often need translation help. Many of them arrived in the U.S. with nothing but ambition. They worked hard, started small businesses and saved 30% of their incomes.
Someday, when they finally feel as financially secure as they will actually be, they might start living it up. They might buy -- not lease -- a BMW, most likely a used model. High school kids will assume them to be rich and cast admiring glances at them and their fancy cars.
Proudly invisible
But just like overspending, the habit of frugality is hard to break. Maybe these folks will just keep the old Chevy. They will remain proud members of the Invisible Rich -- a growing army of super savers whose net worth is more impressive than their income. They'd rather live within their means, sleep well and forgo the covetous attention of their fellow citizens. Not a bad way to live at all.
Read more: http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2006/10/kak.html?si=1#ixzz1DrPVBAQ3
Become a Fan of Kiplinger's on Facebook
Elusive realities. Just the answers I was looking for, and they provided a launching pad for a lively discussion of deceptive appearances and realities. By the end of it, these teens had a clearer sense of how little you can determine about wealth from a person's visible consumption. The BMW, I noted, is probably leased (perhaps for three years, no money down), so we can infer only that the driver earns enough to handle a $1,131 monthly lease payment. We know nothing about his net worth, which may be great ... or may be almost nonexistent.
And the man in the old Impala? Maybe he is struggling financially, but there's another possibility: His income is just as great as that of the dude in the Bimmer, but he's not saddled with a lease payment -- and he's investing the money in mutual funds that are growing at 10% a year.
The message in all this: The biggest barrier to becoming rich is living like you're rich before you are. Why? Because all that discretionary spending -- the chic apartment, frequent travel and restaurant meals, consumer electronics, fancy clothes and cars -- crowds out the saving that will enable you to be rich someday.
I often hear complaints from young adults, twentysomethings to those in their early thirties, that they'll never be able to buy a home because they can't afford the down payment. But when I probe them about their budgets, I find that they earn enough to make a down payment in just three or four years -- if they cut back on their spending, and if their starter-home expectations are reasonable.
Know who grasps this best in American society today? Recent immigrants, whether they're from Latin America, Africa, Asia or Eastern Europe. Many of them come to the U.S. almost penniless. They work long hours at modest wages and send some of those earnings to relatives back home. But, miraculously, they still have money left over each month because they live simply. Often they double up with friends and family in crowded housing.
What do they do with their savings? They buy a home, often in a less desirable neighborhood that other strivers are leaving behind. They fix it up, rent rooms to friends and relatives, and then trade up to a nicer home. They may keep their first and second homes as rental properties, becoming hands-on landlords.
A niece of mine sells new homes in the outer Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. The houses cost $500,000 -- a "middle market" price in this affluent area. Many of her buyers are Latinos. They don't look or act rich, and they often need translation help. Many of them arrived in the U.S. with nothing but ambition. They worked hard, started small businesses and saved 30% of their incomes.
Someday, when they finally feel as financially secure as they will actually be, they might start living it up. They might buy -- not lease -- a BMW, most likely a used model. High school kids will assume them to be rich and cast admiring glances at them and their fancy cars.
Proudly invisible
But just like overspending, the habit of frugality is hard to break. Maybe these folks will just keep the old Chevy. They will remain proud members of the Invisible Rich -- a growing army of super savers whose net worth is more impressive than their income. They'd rather live within their means, sleep well and forgo the covetous attention of their fellow citizens. Not a bad way to live at all.
Read more: http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2006/10/kak.html?si=1#ixzz1DrPVBAQ3
Become a Fan of Kiplinger's on Facebook
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Families & Health
Psalms 100:1
When the body is sick, accepting the gospel will be hard.
When sick:
- determine cause
- find cure
- change
Job 29:16 - if you don't know something, find out.
Don't treat symptoms, treat the cause.
If we obey God & listen to Him, we will live well.
Psalms 105:37 - god promises to heal us when we obey.
Assist nature by changing our lifestyles.
Our lifestyles even trigger deceases that are hereditary.
Luke 16:10 - be faithful in little.
Our cells get their supply from the blood, which get their supply from what we put into our mouths. So mind what is on your plate.
NEW START - B
N-utrition, safest being a plant based diet.
E-xercise, at least 30 mins a day
W-ater, minimum of 3L per day
S-unshine, early morning & late afternoon for vitamin D
T-emparence, don't do anything too much. Balance.
A-ir, fresh air
R-est, sleep a minimum of 8hrs
T-rust in God
B-enovelance, serve others
Regards,
Tshepo Mathiba
072 260 2743
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom
When the body is sick, accepting the gospel will be hard.
When sick:
- determine cause
- find cure
- change
Job 29:16 - if you don't know something, find out.
Don't treat symptoms, treat the cause.
If we obey God & listen to Him, we will live well.
Psalms 105:37 - god promises to heal us when we obey.
Assist nature by changing our lifestyles.
Our lifestyles even trigger deceases that are hereditary.
Luke 16:10 - be faithful in little.
Our cells get their supply from the blood, which get their supply from what we put into our mouths. So mind what is on your plate.
NEW START - B
N-utrition, safest being a plant based diet.
E-xercise, at least 30 mins a day
W-ater, minimum of 3L per day
S-unshine, early morning & late afternoon for vitamin D
T-emparence, don't do anything too much. Balance.
A-ir, fresh air
R-est, sleep a minimum of 8hrs
T-rust in God
B-enovelance, serve others
Regards,
Tshepo Mathiba
072 260 2743
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom
Sermon for Today
2 Chronicles 28:9
If you have a wiling heart & mind to serve God, He will be found by you.
David had taught Solomon, but eventually Solomon had to seek God himself!
David was telling Solomon:
- Partial obedience is not obedience.
David uses the "if..then" logic.
Parents must devote their lives to prayer and their children will be safeguarded.
Children must know that their parents will not be there forever.
David's fall was deep, but his repentance was just as deep.
If you are going something good or something for the Lord remember these words: "Be strong, and do it!"
Remember: "if you forget the Lord, you will surely be destroyed!"
Even when you marry, marry within the faith.
Married couples, keep to your partner - drink from your own cistern. Don't defile the marriage bed.
Guard your heart, for from it comes a lot of stuff.
If you disappoint your wife, will your children ever trust men again? It is in my hands.
When you have a home, will God and His angels be able to proudly stand in front of it?
The Christian home is to be the beacon of light within the community.
No matter how much responsibility you have, don't be too busy for your family and to protect your children.
We need to pray for each other. Get your house in order, Jesus is coming soon!
Regards,
Tshepo Mathiba
072 260 2743
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom
If you have a wiling heart & mind to serve God, He will be found by you.
David had taught Solomon, but eventually Solomon had to seek God himself!
David was telling Solomon:
- Partial obedience is not obedience.
David uses the "if..then" logic.
Parents must devote their lives to prayer and their children will be safeguarded.
Children must know that their parents will not be there forever.
David's fall was deep, but his repentance was just as deep.
If you are going something good or something for the Lord remember these words: "Be strong, and do it!"
Remember: "if you forget the Lord, you will surely be destroyed!"
Even when you marry, marry within the faith.
Married couples, keep to your partner - drink from your own cistern. Don't defile the marriage bed.
Guard your heart, for from it comes a lot of stuff.
If you disappoint your wife, will your children ever trust men again? It is in my hands.
When you have a home, will God and His angels be able to proudly stand in front of it?
The Christian home is to be the beacon of light within the community.
No matter how much responsibility you have, don't be too busy for your family and to protect your children.
We need to pray for each other. Get your house in order, Jesus is coming soon!
Regards,
Tshepo Mathiba
072 260 2743
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Clothing
Someone who dresses really well just came to me and told me that he likes my taste in clothing style. I was like wow! Who? Me? He said, "Yes you." Well I'm really surprised seeing that I had to basically change a large portion of my wardrobe as I "grew horizontally" a bit. So, this could mean one thing: "I still got it!"
I work for a firm that requires me to be in business attire everyday so I try to look the part and fit the profile. Good to know that I'm doing it well...
Hospital Graveyard
Is it normal for hospitals to have graveyards right next to them? Or even worse, within the same yard?
Well, I saw one on Cape Town near where I stay. The Grooteschuur Hospital (hope I got the spelling right) has a graveyard within the parameters of its encampment! Now that is enough to get any observant individual worried or at least concerned.
Its like the statement being said is that you are in safe hands, we will take care of you; we have doctors and nurses who know how to do their jobs; you will be safe here, don't worry. BUT JUST IN CASE SOMETHING GOES WRONG, we got a graveyard right here. You know what, maybe nobody even needs to know, we'll take care of the mishap quickly!
Ok, I aint afraid of dying but I aint goin to that hospital for anything!
Regards,
Tshepo Mathiba
072 260 2743
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
My Ruler
I may not have a 30cm ruler but I have a ruler. It may be a 15cm ruler or even one broken off, & now only 18cm, but anyway, it's my ruler.
I tend to compare it to others, & try to make it do all shapes & sizes. I'm afraid I might break it, I'm afraid I might appreciate it less. But I love my ruler as it does its job to its best ability, even it's only making 15cm instead of 30cm lines. It actually even feels better than the others.
My ruler...
Regards,
Tshepo Mathiba
072 260 2743
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom
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