No matter whether it is in a gourmet restaurant or in the company cafeteria, the preparation of a meal plan is a challenge for any cook who wants to offer his guests a rich variety of delicious fare.  Sometimes a meal plan is not so easy to implement because, for example, a certain ingredient in a dish that the cook has in mind is currently unavailable, or because the price of a certain food has increased. The simplest meal plan ever was presented by Jesus: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me.” Sounds simple enough—but it is quite demanding in practice!

In order to do the will of God, one must first of all inquire after God. There is no better food for human beings—for the new creation within us—than to orient ourselves by God each day anew. At times this can also entail the need to change our own ideas. But it does pay off. This food makes us strong in faith and allows us to maintain a healthy soul.

Food for thought from a divine service by the Chief Apostle

Source: nak.org

“Everything will be all right”—there is likely no other turn of phrase that attempts to calm and comfort in such simple words as this. How often were we comforted by these words as a child – even when we quietly suspected that things were going to be anything but all right. For some time now, this little saying has practically taken on a life of its own. There are “Everything will be all right” calendars, “Everything will be all right” placemats, postcard series, books, and songs – even cafés and hair salons have recently begun operating under this slogan, which is intended to signal to clients: “Here you can let your hair down, relax, and be good to yourself.”

And yet, as banal and tired as it may sound, the statement does have its justification – especially for those who fully and completely rely on God in faith.

Joseph’s life illustrates this for us quite well. Yes indeed: everything will be all right! How many times did life deal him a poor hand! But he simply relied fully on God in complete trust – and everything really did turn out all right! Even the ill turn that his own brothers had planned for him was turned to good by God. Therefore, let us simply hold fast to the hand of God – and everything will be all right!

Food for thought from a divine service by the Chief Apostle

Source: nak.org

Dear brothers and sisters,

Hopefully the year that lies behind you was a good one! It is my hope that you will always find enough reasons to give thanks to our Lord for all of His benefits!

Now the New Year has dawned. It has become a tradition for me to publish an annual motto in consultation with the District Apostles. Our motto for 2020 is: “Christ makes free!” We find the corresponding Bible text in Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5: 1).

Liberty – this is a great and precious gift! As children of God, we not only apply this to our earthly existence. We make liberty in Christ our top priority:

• God is completely free. His love for us is unconditional.

• We can choose liberty. It is completely up to us to reciprocate the love of God.

• Christ makes us free – from sin, from evil, and from all afflictions.

For the year 2020, I recommend that we concentrate on this spiritual dynamic: “Christ makes free!”

There is one thing that is of special importance to me in this context: liberty in Christ is a gift of God. Let us allow the Lord to liberate us by surrendering ourselves completely to the activity of the Holy Spirit. Because we know that the almighty God loves us, we can look into the future with confidence. And we craft our future by remaining faithful to Christ.

Together with all the Apostles, I extend warm greetings to all of you, and wish you a good and blessed new year!

Sincerely,

Jean-Luc Schneider

Source: nak.org