A beautiful lesson is hidden in the passage of the sisters Mary and Martha during the visit of Jesus to their house:
"Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain
woman name Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called
Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted
with much serving, and she approached Him and said. "Lord, do You not care
that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." And
Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled
about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part,
which will not be taken away from her." Luke 10: 38-42
While Martha is cleaning, cooking, preparing bedrooms etc. etc. etc... Mary sits at Jesus' feet. From a woman's point of view, especially a hostess's point of view, Martha was acting correctly and Mary was certainly of no assistance at all.
Martha obviously knew Jesus well enough to have the confidence to ask Jesus to address Mary to assist her with the housework. And just as obviouly Jesus knew the sisters well and in answer to Martha's straighforward question Jesus actually tells Martha that everthing she was doing was unnecessary!
"Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is
needed..." Luke 10:41
Only one thing is needed... intimacy with Jesus.
"...and Mary has chosen that good part..." Luke 10:42
What was the good part that Mary had chosen! Sitting at Jesus' feet - giving Him her time, her attention, her love. Listening...not necessarily talking; not giving Him anything to eat, or to drink; offering no comfort, not arranging to have His feet washed, or His clothes attended to...
Just giving herself...
and Jesus carries on to say:
"... which will not be taken away from her." Luk 10:42
"Sorry, Martha, but I will not act on your behalf in this matter. Sorry, Martha, I think Mary's choice is the right one..."
Mary's relationship with and love for Jesus will last through eternity. Time spent with Him is an eternal investment. It can never be taken away from her unless she relinquishes it herself and what is invested by Him into her during this time can also never be taken away from her. Because she was willng to spend time and to build her relationshiop with Him, she was giving Him a precious gift and receiving an eternal gift at the same time.
Oftentimes when we are in God's presence, we talk and talk and talk... or rather... ask, and ask, and ask, instead of just spending time listening to him; just opening up to the input of the Holy Spirit into our lives. What we often don't understand is that even if we do not 'feel' that we have received or heard something at that precise moment, God is faithful. If we are prepared to open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit, He who knows everything will impart to us that which is required for our daily circumstances: strength for every day, insight into problems; a word of wisdom at the right time, a spirit of understanding, compassion in another's circumstances... the list is endless.
Thank You, Lord, that we may sit quietly at Your feet listening to you. Thank You that we never need to make intelligent conversation with You because You know us so well. Thank You that You do not firstly need our works, but rather our love and time. Thank You that we may just sit quietly in Your presence 'being me', loving You...
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
LOVING RELATIONSHIPS
Spending time with loved ones is as good a health booster as a tonic prescribed by a medical practitioner. I have just enjoyed the most wonderful weekend I have been privileged to experience for some time.
Firstly, my son graciously bought a ticket for me to fly to Lanseria, Mid-Rand, to meet my new granddaughter. Secondly, that meant, of course, that I would spend the week-end with my son and daughter-in-law in their lovely home.
Thirdly, my niece and her family, and my nephew and a friend also paid us a visit. My son, Jacques, and his cousin Amanda last saw each other at her wedding, 18 years ago!
Needless to say, my granddaughter is most adorable - and beautiful and perfect in every way - as any grandmother will tell you!
We took many photographs and the happiness radiating from within made these photos wonderful memento's of the time we spent together.
Then I was also able to visit friends whom I had last seen 10 years ago. We were very surprised that none of us had seemingly aged very much, except that Pierre is now growing through his hair!
It was very enjoyable sharing our experiences of the last decade, catching up on the whereabouts of common friends and hearing what the Lord is doing in their lives at present. Visiting with them once again confirmed for me the joy of having friends and relatives whose love and friendship add so much value to my life. Human beings thrive on love and languish without it.
All in all, a wonderful weekend. I was sad when I had to bid everyone a fond farewell and board the flight back to Cape Town.
I also have a friend in Stellenbosch with whom I have shared a wonderful friendship for more than 45 years. It does not matter how often or seldom we see each other - when we do, we pick up where last we left off and are blessed in the knowledge that each is there for the other.
Loving relationships are a blessing and a joy - a gift from the Lord to be appreciated, nurtured and treasured.
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you,
that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you
have love for one another." John 13: 34-35
"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who
loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."
John 14:21
Thank You, Lord, for loved ones and loving relationships. Thank You for this new commandment which encompasses all other commandments. Help us to show our love to one another in practical ways.
Firstly, my son graciously bought a ticket for me to fly to Lanseria, Mid-Rand, to meet my new granddaughter. Secondly, that meant, of course, that I would spend the week-end with my son and daughter-in-law in their lovely home.
Thirdly, my niece and her family, and my nephew and a friend also paid us a visit. My son, Jacques, and his cousin Amanda last saw each other at her wedding, 18 years ago!
Needless to say, my granddaughter is most adorable - and beautiful and perfect in every way - as any grandmother will tell you!
We took many photographs and the happiness radiating from within made these photos wonderful memento's of the time we spent together.
Then I was also able to visit friends whom I had last seen 10 years ago. We were very surprised that none of us had seemingly aged very much, except that Pierre is now growing through his hair!
It was very enjoyable sharing our experiences of the last decade, catching up on the whereabouts of common friends and hearing what the Lord is doing in their lives at present. Visiting with them once again confirmed for me the joy of having friends and relatives whose love and friendship add so much value to my life. Human beings thrive on love and languish without it.
All in all, a wonderful weekend. I was sad when I had to bid everyone a fond farewell and board the flight back to Cape Town.
I also have a friend in Stellenbosch with whom I have shared a wonderful friendship for more than 45 years. It does not matter how often or seldom we see each other - when we do, we pick up where last we left off and are blessed in the knowledge that each is there for the other.
Loving relationships are a blessing and a joy - a gift from the Lord to be appreciated, nurtured and treasured.
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you,
that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you
have love for one another." John 13: 34-35
"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who
loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."
John 14:21
Thank You, Lord, for loved ones and loving relationships. Thank You for this new commandment which encompasses all other commandments. Help us to show our love to one another in practical ways.
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
FORGIVEN
""But after I (Jesus) have been raised I will go before you to Galilee." Peter answered
and said to Him, 'Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made
to stumble.' Jesus said to him, "Assuredly I say to you that this night beforer the rooster
crows, you will deny Me three times." Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with you,
I will not deny You." And so said all the disciples." Matt. 26:32 (Between brackets inserted
by me.)
The most amazing thing happens here. Jesus not only tells the disciples that He will die, but that He will be raised again, that Peter will deny Him three times and He goes on to tell them where He will meet them again.
It almost seems to me as if the disciples were in a state of negation, because all they heard were that they would stumble, deny and forsake Him. Did they not hear that He would be raised; that He would meet with them again in Galilee?
We always hear about Peter forsaking the Lord, running away after having denied Him, but we often fail to understand that all the disciples made the same promises as Peter!
"Peter said to Him, 'Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!' And so
said all the disciples."
Yet, look at the following:
"Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled." Matt. 26:56
Knowing all things, knowing as He did that they would all forsake Him; knowing that He would stand alone, knowing that Peter would deny Him, He still makes arrangements beforehand to meet them again. Of course, they did not understand the implication of His words at this time, not believing it possible that they are all going to forsake Him!
They do not yet understand the great love that prompts Him to make this appointment with them. They do not understand that He had forgiven them, including Peter, before they even forsook Him! He never held it against them for one minute! Now that is what forgiveness is all about.
Just think what the world would be like if we could forgive one another before the damaging word or act has been done or uttered one against the other! That would in fact mean that we would never hold grudges, never have any bad feelings, never be angry, never hate one another, never put one another on parole: "I'll forgive you this time, but if you ever do it again ...!" Ever uttered those words?
Do you realise that Jesus did exactly the same for each and every one of us?
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8
Whilst He knew that we would sin - He knew all about each and every sin we would commit. Still He was willing to die for our salvation.
How can we attain this spirit of forgiveness? The only way would be to make a decision of one's will to always forgive everybody beforehand - to love as Jesus loved - to act out the Spirit of Christ. If Christ were in us, and we in Christ, this should in fact not only be possible, but the norm rather than the exception.
Hear the love, the forgiveness:
"Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James,
and Salome bought spices, that they might come and annoint Him. Very early in
the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun
had risen. And they said among themselves: "Who will roll away the stone from
the door of the tomb for us?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone
had been rolled away - for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a
young man clothed in a long white robe siting on the right side and they were
alarmed. But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth,
who was crucified. He is risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
But go, tell His disciples - and Peter - that He is going before you into Galilee;
there you will see Him, as He said to you." "
"As He said to you."
Notice that Peter gets a special mention: Peter who denied Him not once, but three times. "as He said to you". He gets told "I will meet you in Galilee" - included, justified, "just as if nothing had happened" - totally forgiven!
"Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table and He rebuked their
unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen
Him after He had risen." Mark 16:14
Nothing mentioned about denying Him, Peter; nothing at all about forsaking Him and running away Thomas, James - forgiven, never to be thought of again - rebuked only because of their refusal to believe what He had told them before He died!
Thank You, Lord, for your grace and forgiveness; thank You, that You are ever prepared to forgive us and love us and meet with us... as You have said to us:
"...and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age." Matt. 28:20
and said to Him, 'Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made
to stumble.' Jesus said to him, "Assuredly I say to you that this night beforer the rooster
crows, you will deny Me three times." Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with you,
I will not deny You." And so said all the disciples." Matt. 26:32 (Between brackets inserted
by me.)
The most amazing thing happens here. Jesus not only tells the disciples that He will die, but that He will be raised again, that Peter will deny Him three times and He goes on to tell them where He will meet them again.
It almost seems to me as if the disciples were in a state of negation, because all they heard were that they would stumble, deny and forsake Him. Did they not hear that He would be raised; that He would meet with them again in Galilee?
We always hear about Peter forsaking the Lord, running away after having denied Him, but we often fail to understand that all the disciples made the same promises as Peter!
"Peter said to Him, 'Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!' And so
said all the disciples."
Yet, look at the following:
"Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled." Matt. 26:56
Knowing all things, knowing as He did that they would all forsake Him; knowing that He would stand alone, knowing that Peter would deny Him, He still makes arrangements beforehand to meet them again. Of course, they did not understand the implication of His words at this time, not believing it possible that they are all going to forsake Him!
They do not yet understand the great love that prompts Him to make this appointment with them. They do not understand that He had forgiven them, including Peter, before they even forsook Him! He never held it against them for one minute! Now that is what forgiveness is all about.
Just think what the world would be like if we could forgive one another before the damaging word or act has been done or uttered one against the other! That would in fact mean that we would never hold grudges, never have any bad feelings, never be angry, never hate one another, never put one another on parole: "I'll forgive you this time, but if you ever do it again ...!" Ever uttered those words?
Do you realise that Jesus did exactly the same for each and every one of us?
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8
Whilst He knew that we would sin - He knew all about each and every sin we would commit. Still He was willing to die for our salvation.
How can we attain this spirit of forgiveness? The only way would be to make a decision of one's will to always forgive everybody beforehand - to love as Jesus loved - to act out the Spirit of Christ. If Christ were in us, and we in Christ, this should in fact not only be possible, but the norm rather than the exception.
Hear the love, the forgiveness:
"Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James,
and Salome bought spices, that they might come and annoint Him. Very early in
the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun
had risen. And they said among themselves: "Who will roll away the stone from
the door of the tomb for us?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone
had been rolled away - for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a
young man clothed in a long white robe siting on the right side and they were
alarmed. But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth,
who was crucified. He is risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
But go, tell His disciples - and Peter - that He is going before you into Galilee;
there you will see Him, as He said to you." "
"As He said to you."
Notice that Peter gets a special mention: Peter who denied Him not once, but three times. "as He said to you". He gets told "I will meet you in Galilee" - included, justified, "just as if nothing had happened" - totally forgiven!
"Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table and He rebuked their
unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen
Him after He had risen." Mark 16:14
Nothing mentioned about denying Him, Peter; nothing at all about forsaking Him and running away Thomas, James - forgiven, never to be thought of again - rebuked only because of their refusal to believe what He had told them before He died!
Thank You, Lord, for your grace and forgiveness; thank You, that You are ever prepared to forgive us and love us and meet with us... as You have said to us:
"...and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age." Matt. 28:20
Monday, 27 June 2011
CLIMBING YOUR MOUNTAIN
This morning I attended the funeral of my mother's sister. She was 88 years, and five months old. She was a faithful child of God and ready to 'go home'.
The 90-year old (!) minister who shared the Word at the funeral service delivered a powerful message from Deutoronomy 32 and 34.
"Then the Lord spoke to Moses that very same day, saying: 'Go up this mountain
of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho;
view the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession, and
die on the mountain which you ascend, and be gathered to your people...' "
Deut. 32:49-50
A harsh word ... a direct command not to be disobeyed!
Go up the mountain and die.
Moses had angered the Lord at the waters of Meribah and was not allowed entry into Canaan although he would see the land from the summit of Mount Nebo. Although he was denied access into Canaan, he was not denied sharing God's presence. Sometimes at the end of a lifetime we may also see a glimpse of those things that we failed to achieve or attain in our lives because of our stubborn will or wrong choices. With hindsight our mistakes are so easily recognized. We are reminded to live life to the full; to grab each moment and make the best of it.
We are all destined to die.
At some stage, somewhere, sometime, we'll all get this call from God. This is a mountain that you, and I, will also have to climb. It is a personal call from a very personal God.
When you first hear the call and start out, the ground is level and you may be full of energy, rested and vigorous. But as you proceed to climb ever higher, the mountain becomes steeper, and your energy will become less. You may become quite fatigued, without breath and feel yourself weakening. Yet, higher still the mountain rises, until you reach the cliffs near the summit. Now it is indeed heavy going. You probably have to use your hands and fingers to help claw your way up the steep, rocky cliffs. Almost there...
It may take a day, a week; months perhaps, or years to reach the summit. When you reach the peak you are utterly exhausted and weak. Someone is waiting to embrace you and take you to your resting place.
"So Moses the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, according to the
word of the Lord. and He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth
Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day. Deut. 34:5-6
How exciting to reach the summit of a mountain, when you are assured that it is the Lord who will be waiting there for you.
How terrible if it is not Him...
Thank You, Lord God, that You give us yet another opportunity to meditate on our own situation. An opportunity to seek Your Face and make sure that when we reach the summit, You will be there for each one of us individually.
The 90-year old (!) minister who shared the Word at the funeral service delivered a powerful message from Deutoronomy 32 and 34.
"Then the Lord spoke to Moses that very same day, saying: 'Go up this mountain
of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho;
view the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession, and
die on the mountain which you ascend, and be gathered to your people...' "
Deut. 32:49-50
A harsh word ... a direct command not to be disobeyed!
Go up the mountain and die.
Moses had angered the Lord at the waters of Meribah and was not allowed entry into Canaan although he would see the land from the summit of Mount Nebo. Although he was denied access into Canaan, he was not denied sharing God's presence. Sometimes at the end of a lifetime we may also see a glimpse of those things that we failed to achieve or attain in our lives because of our stubborn will or wrong choices. With hindsight our mistakes are so easily recognized. We are reminded to live life to the full; to grab each moment and make the best of it.
We are all destined to die.
At some stage, somewhere, sometime, we'll all get this call from God. This is a mountain that you, and I, will also have to climb. It is a personal call from a very personal God.
When you first hear the call and start out, the ground is level and you may be full of energy, rested and vigorous. But as you proceed to climb ever higher, the mountain becomes steeper, and your energy will become less. You may become quite fatigued, without breath and feel yourself weakening. Yet, higher still the mountain rises, until you reach the cliffs near the summit. Now it is indeed heavy going. You probably have to use your hands and fingers to help claw your way up the steep, rocky cliffs. Almost there...
It may take a day, a week; months perhaps, or years to reach the summit. When you reach the peak you are utterly exhausted and weak. Someone is waiting to embrace you and take you to your resting place.
"So Moses the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, according to the
word of the Lord. and He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth
Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day. Deut. 34:5-6
How exciting to reach the summit of a mountain, when you are assured that it is the Lord who will be waiting there for you.
How terrible if it is not Him...
Thank You, Lord God, that You give us yet another opportunity to meditate on our own situation. An opportunity to seek Your Face and make sure that when we reach the summit, You will be there for each one of us individually.
Sunday, 26 June 2011
ATTENDING THE EASTER FRIDAY SERVICE
It is Good Friday.
I am too early for the service and am now sitting quietly in the pew reading the Word whilst the church fills up. Now and then someone will stop and say a quiet "hello" and we'll wish one another a blessed Easter.
We will be remembering the Lord's suffering and death by partaking of Holy Communion this morning.
I had opened the Word at Mark 3 and was reading at the beginning of the chapter:
"and He (Jesus) entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered
hand." Mark 3:1
(between brackets inserted by me)
Suddenly this small secion of the Word opens up as if I am reading it for the first time.
What strikes me first is that I read that Jesus entered the synagogue - He did a very ordinary thing -
He went to church, just as I am doing this morning.
Secondly, there was this man with a handicap in the synagogue - a withered hand - something that made his life imperfect.
I look around me and realise that all of us inside the church building are imperfect. Each one has his/her own "withered hand" - our own handicap - be it a sickness, a habit, an addiction perhaps, a need, a sin, an unrighteousness, a financial or relationship problem, some battle that causes our daily spiritual walk to be hampered.
Are we here because we want to be healed?
"So they watched Him closely whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they
might accuse Him." Mark 3:3
I look around me again - is there someone with a critical spirit in the church this morning? Perhaps just waiting to find fault with the proceedings, or the hymns we are to sing, or the volume of the music, or the Word that will be shared, or the way someone is dressed, or not dressed, or... or... or.... does any of this sound familiar?
"and He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward". Mark 3:3
Jesus gave an altar call - directed specifically at the person with a genuine need. Jesus always knows who needs what - in fact, H always addresses one's most dire need. According to the Gospel according to the Ebionites, it is added that this man was a stone mason. Can you imagine what a blessing it would be for him to have his hand restored?
Jesus gave an alter call : "Step forward". An altar call as is often given in churches all over the globe. An alter call as perhaps you are perceiving the Lord giving to you right now as you are reading this...
Will you respond?
Jesus then proceeded to do a very strange thing which really catches my attention as I carry on reading. He turned to the other members of the congregation present:
"Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save
life or to kill?" Mark 3:4
Why would He ask this question?
Perhaps because their Jewish laws forbade any work on the Sabbath and rather than see a healing as the blessing from God that it was for this man being restored to a full life, they labeled it work and therefore "sin" in their critical hearts and self-righteous minds?
Do we perhaps frown on time spent ministering to the sick and needy during a service? Are we bound to a rigidly set "one-hour" service within which we think to worship God?)
Our does the reason we attend church in fact have nothing to do with worshipping the Living God?
"But they kept silent." Mark 3:4
Why?
Were they under the authority of the church leaders and traditions rather than the authority of God to the extent that they feared answering?
Or were they just critical of Jesus? Were their hearts as hard as the stone the mason used? Had they no compassion on a man whose very livelihood had been taken from him because of his handicap?
Or was the question they could not answer, the question that Jesus was in fact asking them, knowing their hearts and minds as He did: "Which is better? Me desiring to heal the man on the Sabbath or you desiring to kill Me?"
"For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb. 4:12
What did He find in their hearts - malice and fear! Malice directed at whom? Fear of what? Fear and malice because if He kept performing miracles and changing lives He would indeed prove to be the long awaited Messiah and they would lose their control over the people; lose their positions, their status, their income... a political storm, even a war may ensue...
"And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness
of their hearts..." Mark 3:5
Typical of our Saviour, being angry at their hardness of heart, yet sorrowful on their behalf.
Jesus then again addressed the handicapped man and instructed him to stretch out his hand and the Word says he stretched it out and it was restored as whole as the other was.
A miracle working Jesus. But...that man had to do something too... he had to have faith and stretch out that sick and withered limb towards Jesus... he had to respond to the Word of the Son of God!
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Rom. 10:17
It would seem that of all those present in the synagogue that day we had at least one with a genuine desire to be touched by God... one who was not only hearing the words being spoken to him, but reacting to the words and applying them to his situation.
Do we hear and go away nourished, or hungry? Do we apply the Word of God to our daily lives? Do we have at least that much faith that we believe that if we stretch out our "withered hand" to the Lord God Almighty something will happen?
Then we find the last group of people in the synagogue:
"Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against
Him, how they might destroy Him. " Mark 3:6
Interesting group of people. In the above case scenario, learned, intelligent people with status and connections. Leaders and politicians. Yet, they were going to use all of their collective resources, to harm the work of Christ - the church - because matters were not going the way they anticipated and desired.
It reminds of Saul of Tarsus before his Damascus road experience...
Are we aware that Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Angels of God are present at our services? Have you experienced Their presence during a service lately? Are you aware that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever? Have you opened yourself to the possibility that Jesus is in fact in the service waiting to touch your life?
"Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not
harden your hearts as in the rebellion." " Heb. 3:15
What if He is waiting and we are not even there?
"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not for-
saking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhor-
ting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb. 10:24-25
Do we at least acknowledge the presence of God when we attend church services? Or has attending services perhaps become just a perfunctory duty, lip service to a God that we are no longer sure we believe in or rely on?
What question would Jesus be asking in our services - might He have cause to be angry or grieved in our midst?
"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of
them." Matt. 18:20
Thank You, Lord God, that you are so patient with us. Thank You that by Your Will and grace we still have services to attend, for your Word to be imparted to us, and that Your Spirit and Son are still present in our meetings to meet with whoever shall be responsive to the small, still voice of the Holy Spirit. Thank You that although you were angry and grieved, You still healed and restored the withered hand and You are ever true to Yourself and ready to hear our cries.
I am too early for the service and am now sitting quietly in the pew reading the Word whilst the church fills up. Now and then someone will stop and say a quiet "hello" and we'll wish one another a blessed Easter.
We will be remembering the Lord's suffering and death by partaking of Holy Communion this morning.
I had opened the Word at Mark 3 and was reading at the beginning of the chapter:
"and He (Jesus) entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered
hand." Mark 3:1
(between brackets inserted by me)
Suddenly this small secion of the Word opens up as if I am reading it for the first time.
What strikes me first is that I read that Jesus entered the synagogue - He did a very ordinary thing -
He went to church, just as I am doing this morning.
Secondly, there was this man with a handicap in the synagogue - a withered hand - something that made his life imperfect.
I look around me and realise that all of us inside the church building are imperfect. Each one has his/her own "withered hand" - our own handicap - be it a sickness, a habit, an addiction perhaps, a need, a sin, an unrighteousness, a financial or relationship problem, some battle that causes our daily spiritual walk to be hampered.
Are we here because we want to be healed?
"So they watched Him closely whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they
might accuse Him." Mark 3:3
I look around me again - is there someone with a critical spirit in the church this morning? Perhaps just waiting to find fault with the proceedings, or the hymns we are to sing, or the volume of the music, or the Word that will be shared, or the way someone is dressed, or not dressed, or... or... or.... does any of this sound familiar?
"and He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward". Mark 3:3
Jesus gave an altar call - directed specifically at the person with a genuine need. Jesus always knows who needs what - in fact, H always addresses one's most dire need. According to the Gospel according to the Ebionites, it is added that this man was a stone mason. Can you imagine what a blessing it would be for him to have his hand restored?
Jesus gave an alter call : "Step forward". An altar call as is often given in churches all over the globe. An alter call as perhaps you are perceiving the Lord giving to you right now as you are reading this...
Will you respond?
Jesus then proceeded to do a very strange thing which really catches my attention as I carry on reading. He turned to the other members of the congregation present:
"Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save
life or to kill?" Mark 3:4
Why would He ask this question?
Perhaps because their Jewish laws forbade any work on the Sabbath and rather than see a healing as the blessing from God that it was for this man being restored to a full life, they labeled it work and therefore "sin" in their critical hearts and self-righteous minds?
Do we perhaps frown on time spent ministering to the sick and needy during a service? Are we bound to a rigidly set "one-hour" service within which we think to worship God?)
Our does the reason we attend church in fact have nothing to do with worshipping the Living God?
"But they kept silent." Mark 3:4
Why?
Were they under the authority of the church leaders and traditions rather than the authority of God to the extent that they feared answering?
Or were they just critical of Jesus? Were their hearts as hard as the stone the mason used? Had they no compassion on a man whose very livelihood had been taken from him because of his handicap?
Or was the question they could not answer, the question that Jesus was in fact asking them, knowing their hearts and minds as He did: "Which is better? Me desiring to heal the man on the Sabbath or you desiring to kill Me?"
"For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb. 4:12
What did He find in their hearts - malice and fear! Malice directed at whom? Fear of what? Fear and malice because if He kept performing miracles and changing lives He would indeed prove to be the long awaited Messiah and they would lose their control over the people; lose their positions, their status, their income... a political storm, even a war may ensue...
"And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness
of their hearts..." Mark 3:5
Typical of our Saviour, being angry at their hardness of heart, yet sorrowful on their behalf.
Jesus then again addressed the handicapped man and instructed him to stretch out his hand and the Word says he stretched it out and it was restored as whole as the other was.
A miracle working Jesus. But...that man had to do something too... he had to have faith and stretch out that sick and withered limb towards Jesus... he had to respond to the Word of the Son of God!
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Rom. 10:17
It would seem that of all those present in the synagogue that day we had at least one with a genuine desire to be touched by God... one who was not only hearing the words being spoken to him, but reacting to the words and applying them to his situation.
Do we hear and go away nourished, or hungry? Do we apply the Word of God to our daily lives? Do we have at least that much faith that we believe that if we stretch out our "withered hand" to the Lord God Almighty something will happen?
Then we find the last group of people in the synagogue:
"Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against
Him, how they might destroy Him. " Mark 3:6
Interesting group of people. In the above case scenario, learned, intelligent people with status and connections. Leaders and politicians. Yet, they were going to use all of their collective resources, to harm the work of Christ - the church - because matters were not going the way they anticipated and desired.
It reminds of Saul of Tarsus before his Damascus road experience...
Are we aware that Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Angels of God are present at our services? Have you experienced Their presence during a service lately? Are you aware that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever? Have you opened yourself to the possibility that Jesus is in fact in the service waiting to touch your life?
"Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not
harden your hearts as in the rebellion." " Heb. 3:15
What if He is waiting and we are not even there?
"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not for-
saking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhor-
ting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb. 10:24-25
Do we at least acknowledge the presence of God when we attend church services? Or has attending services perhaps become just a perfunctory duty, lip service to a God that we are no longer sure we believe in or rely on?
What question would Jesus be asking in our services - might He have cause to be angry or grieved in our midst?
"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of
them." Matt. 18:20
Thank You, Lord God, that you are so patient with us. Thank You that by Your Will and grace we still have services to attend, for your Word to be imparted to us, and that Your Spirit and Son are still present in our meetings to meet with whoever shall be responsive to the small, still voice of the Holy Spirit. Thank You that although you were angry and grieved, You still healed and restored the withered hand and You are ever true to Yourself and ready to hear our cries.
Saturday, 25 June 2011
HIS VOICE
To me one of the most exciting miracles Jesus ever performed whilst on earth was raising Lazarus from the dead.
Imagine - four days dead.
And Jesus knew about his being sick well before his death and could have been there in time if He had wanted to. But He postponed His visit on purpose so that this glorious resurrection could take place and be recorded for our benefit also.
In Bible study at church, we are currently studying the spiritual world, and two weeks ago we were discussing the fact that even though the rich man was in Hades, after having died and being buried, he was still able to hear, see, converse...see Luke 16.
Now Lazarus, the friend of Jesus, is dead... very dead... in fact, his sister Martha says he already smells.
And Jesus arrives, stands in front of the grave, prays to God, His Father, and then calls Lazarus:
"He cried with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth!'" John 11:43
"... with a loud voice... "
And Lazarus heard his beloved friend, Jesus, calling him and came forth! Lazarus was very well acquainted with the voice of Jesus. He had heard it on many occasions when Jesus visited them, talked to him and his sisters. He heard Him when He was addressing the crowds, when He healed people, including his sister, Mary, when He prayed... Yes, Lazarus certainly knew the voice of His friend. He also trusted the person to whom that voice belonged; he knew that He could rely on Him.
And now, being in the realm of the dead, he hears that voice again... calling him to come forth... "Lazarus, come out of your grave; I am here to visit you, I am here to set you free, I am here to give you life!"
And Lazarus, knowing the power and authority behind the name of Jesus, steps out of his grave! I am sure quite a few people stepped backwards in fear when that man walked out of that grave!
There is another place in the Word where we read of the voice of the Lord:
"Behold, I stand at the door and I knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I
will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me." Rev. 3:20
What I love about this Scripture is that the person inside does not open the door because of the knocking, but because he/she "hears My voice and opens" because of recognizing the voice of the person standing on the outside of that door knocking...
Have you opened the door yet? Only you can do so, because you are the occupier... and it is very important that you do so, because there is another Scripture that is even more exciting than the resurrection of Lazarus:
"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep,
lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so God, will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you,
by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord
will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descent from
Heaven with a shout: with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And
the dead in Christ will rise first." 1 Thess. 4:16
There is going to be a time when Lazarus is going to hear the voice of the Lord calling him yet again to come forth from the grave!! And if the Lord tarries until you and I have passed away, we had better be acquainted with His voice, so that when He calls with a shout, we will recognize who is calling and come forth from
the grave! There is an overwhelming excitement knowing that I am included in the Shout of the Lord.
Do you realize that you will one day experience a Lazarus resurrection? Some of us will definitely be more
than four days dead!
Thank You, Jesus, for the power and authority that there is in Your name. Thank You, Lord, that You are personally going to call us from the grave so that we will KNOW that it is You and we will rise... we will rise... to be with You eternally!
Imagine - four days dead.
And Jesus knew about his being sick well before his death and could have been there in time if He had wanted to. But He postponed His visit on purpose so that this glorious resurrection could take place and be recorded for our benefit also.
In Bible study at church, we are currently studying the spiritual world, and two weeks ago we were discussing the fact that even though the rich man was in Hades, after having died and being buried, he was still able to hear, see, converse...see Luke 16.
Now Lazarus, the friend of Jesus, is dead... very dead... in fact, his sister Martha says he already smells.
And Jesus arrives, stands in front of the grave, prays to God, His Father, and then calls Lazarus:
"He cried with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth!'" John 11:43
"... with a loud voice... "
And Lazarus heard his beloved friend, Jesus, calling him and came forth! Lazarus was very well acquainted with the voice of Jesus. He had heard it on many occasions when Jesus visited them, talked to him and his sisters. He heard Him when He was addressing the crowds, when He healed people, including his sister, Mary, when He prayed... Yes, Lazarus certainly knew the voice of His friend. He also trusted the person to whom that voice belonged; he knew that He could rely on Him.
And now, being in the realm of the dead, he hears that voice again... calling him to come forth... "Lazarus, come out of your grave; I am here to visit you, I am here to set you free, I am here to give you life!"
And Lazarus, knowing the power and authority behind the name of Jesus, steps out of his grave! I am sure quite a few people stepped backwards in fear when that man walked out of that grave!
There is another place in the Word where we read of the voice of the Lord:
"Behold, I stand at the door and I knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I
will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me." Rev. 3:20
What I love about this Scripture is that the person inside does not open the door because of the knocking, but because he/she "hears My voice and opens" because of recognizing the voice of the person standing on the outside of that door knocking...
Have you opened the door yet? Only you can do so, because you are the occupier... and it is very important that you do so, because there is another Scripture that is even more exciting than the resurrection of Lazarus:
"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep,
lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so God, will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you,
by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord
will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descent from
Heaven with a shout: with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And
the dead in Christ will rise first." 1 Thess. 4:16
There is going to be a time when Lazarus is going to hear the voice of the Lord calling him yet again to come forth from the grave!! And if the Lord tarries until you and I have passed away, we had better be acquainted with His voice, so that when He calls with a shout, we will recognize who is calling and come forth from
the grave! There is an overwhelming excitement knowing that I am included in the Shout of the Lord.
Do you realize that you will one day experience a Lazarus resurrection? Some of us will definitely be more
than four days dead!
Thank You, Jesus, for the power and authority that there is in Your name. Thank You, Lord, that You are personally going to call us from the grave so that we will KNOW that it is You and we will rise... we will rise... to be with You eternally!
Friday, 24 June 2011
Geskenke
My kleindogter, Melissa, 2 jaar oud, het geskenke ontdek! Presentjies, soos sy sê... pakkies, toegedraai in pragtige, helderkleurige papier, of verpak in mooi geskenksakkies, met lintjies en strikkies. Haar ogies blink sommer wanneer 'n mens 'n geskenkpakkie na haar uithou en die vingertjies word dom in haar ongeduld en haas om daardie papier afgeskeur te kry. Die pragtige prentjies gaan by haar verby wanneer sy koorsagtig probeer om by die inhoud van die pakkie uit te kom... en dan die ekstase en vreugde op daardie gesiggie wanneer sy die nuwe babatjie of beertjie teen haar borsie vasdruk!
Ek is dol oor geskenke... die verrassingselement daaraan verbonde... die nie weet nie... maar veral die vreugde dat dit in iemand se gedagte opgekom het om vir my 'n geskenkie te gee!
Blomme... parfuum... 'n boek... 'n kers... 'n kaartjie met mooi woorde daarin... skryfpapier...'n pen... 'n plant... verf... badskuim... gesigroom, 'n palet of esel... ag, daar is 'n ellelange lys van dinge wat wonderlik is om as geskenke te ontvang en my hart in ekstase te bring omdat iemand iewers omgee.
Daar is partye geskenke wat in my geheue bly vassteek jare, selfs dekades nadat ek dit ont-vang het, soos byvoorbeeld die splinternuwe trapfiets op my veertiende verjaarsdag, toe ek so ongelukkig was omdat my pa nie met my verjaarsdag by die huis sou wees nie... of die warm bokhaarrok in die winter van my sestiende jaar... of die yslike groot Paaseier wat ek van my gewese man ontvang het kort na ons ontmoet het... of die ruiker dofpienk roosknoppe, tussen die donker-groen lower en neutbruin systrik met die boodskap : "God het die mooiste enetjie vir Homself gepluk", wat my jongste sus gestuur het toe onse klein Eloise oorlede is.
Ek onthou een Saterdagoggend in 'n Mei maand, toe ek alleen in my dupleks in die bed was met bronchitis... dit was die naweek wat Moedersdag gevier word... ek was so pap dat ek nie die energie gehad het om op te staan en vir my kos voor te berei nie. Skielik het die klokkie by die hekkie getingel. Ek loer by die kamervenster uit om te sien wie dit is. Daar staan 'n afleweringsman met 'n yslike kartondoos - ongeveer 'n meter en lank - en nuuskierig het ek maar opgestaan, japon omgehang en die hekkie gaan oopmaak.
Blomme vir my! Blomme en nogmaals blomme! Genoeg om 'n vaas vol op die tafeltjies alkant van my bed te sit! Pragtige blomme! Angeliere, swaardlelies, krisante, rose, gypsophilia, varings, en lelies, lelies, en lelies, met net so hier en daar enetjie oopgekelk, met die belofte van nog baie wat met die tyd sou oopmaak en my kamer en lewe sou vul met hul lieflike geur: 'n moedersdag geskenk van my seun in die VSA met 'n briefie vol verlange en liefde daarby.
Wat 'n soet geur versprei liefde! Hoe bemind en gekoester het ek gevoel terwyl die geur van die blomme en die betekenis van sy woorde my lewe verryk het...
Dan is daar geskenke wat 'n mens teleurstel...
Ek onthou 'n Kersfees jare gelede, toe my suster se oudste dogter ook so twee, drie jaar oud was. Sy verjaar op 28 Desember. Daar was sulke pragtige rokkies in die winkelvensters en ek kon nie wag om vir haar sommer 'n paar van hulle te koop om daardie klein lyfie in hulle te sien rondhardloop nie.
Sy was ook baie opgewonde oor die pakkie - tot sy dit oopgemaak het! "Jokkies", sê sy toe, "ag nee, ek ken van jokkies!"
Die feit dat sy nie 'n "r" kon uitspreek het nie haar teleurstelling minder duidelik gemaak nie! Ons kry miskien nie altyd wat ons wil he nie, maar hopelik wat ons nodig het!
Dan is daar die geskenke wat ons amper gekry het...
In Rusland, toe ek so tien jaar gelede daar was, was blomme "groot", volop, en relatief goed-koop. Dit was dan ook 'n gewilde geskenk vir elke geleentheid; selfs ook aan en tussen mans-persone.
Gedurende 'n Paasnaweek was ek en 'n Russiese vriendinnetjie, Irina, in St. Petersburg om al die besienswaardighede te besigtig. Onder andere was ons by 'n spesiale begraafplaas waar russiese kunstenaars begrawe is en het ek die grafte van onder meer Rimski Korsakov en Tsjaikovski ook gesien. Watter groot geskenk was die nalatenskap van hulle musiek nie aan die ganse mensdom nie!
In elk geval, ons ry toe in hierdie bus en reg voor in die bus, tussen die bestuurder en die deur, staan 'n Russiese man met 'n baie groot bos van die pragtigste blomme in sy hand. Blomme trek altyd my aandag en hierdie bos blomme was inderdaad die moeite werd om na te kyk.
Ek was die dag in vervoering oor alles wat ek reeds die naweek gesien en beleef het. Die stad St. Petersburg is baie beslis 'n besoekersparadys met sy historiese argitektuur, kanale, brue, katedrale, standbeelde, sneeu, sypaadjie kafees, en die gees en atmosfeer van mense wat deur die eeue daar gekom en gaan het. Die spesifieke dag was daar ook 'n militere parade op die paradeterrein reg voor die paleis, die naam waarvan ek nou tot my skande nie kan onthou nie, alhoewel dit nog prentjiemooi in my geheue gebrand is.
Die sig van die pragtige bos blomme op die bus was dus soos die spreekwoordelike "kersie op die koek."
Daar is nie baie mense in Rusland wat Engels verstaan of praat nie, en ek se toe grappenderwys vir Irina:
"You see that gentleman with the lovely flowers standing in the front of the bus? Those flowers are in fact for me... wait and see... he will give them to me."
Irina lag klokhelder oor die Suid-Afrikaanse vrou se malligheid en ek let op dat die Russiese heer stip na ons kyk.
Toe dit tyd word vir ons om af te klim, stap ons na die uitgang en toe ons by die man met die blomme kom, se hy in perfekte Engels vir my: "I would love to give you these flowers , but unfortunately it is my wife's birthday today!!!
"Ouch!"
Pity!
Die afgelope ongeveer nege maande was 'n seisoen van ongevraagde, onverdiende seen in my lewe. As ek 'n lys moet maak van al die wonderlike geskenke wat ek gedurende hierdie tydperk van veral my kinders ontvang het, sal dit moeilik wees om te glo!
Dit het my reeds baie vroeg in hierdie seisoen van seen laat besluit dat daar nie 'n dag mag verbygaan waarin ek nie ook iets in iemand anders se lewe saai nie.
Wie weet of die R3 wat ek vir die karwag gee, nie juis die bedraggie is wat dit vir hom moontlik maak om daardie aand vis in plaas van brood te eet nie? Wie weet of die glimlag en paar woorde wat ek met iemand deel, nie die "iets" is wat hom/haar weer hoop gee vir die lewe nie? Wie weet of die liter melk wat jy vir die mamma wat langs die pad sit gee, nie die verskil tussen lewe en dood is vir haar babatjie nie? Die bloed wat jy skenk... die hospitaal besoek wat jy doen...die gebed wat jy opstuur... die kombers vir die bergie...alles kosbare geskenke uit jou hande in iemand anders se lewe...
Moenie ophou nie...dis lekker om te gee en te kan gee...anderdag is dit jou bakhand wat ont-vang!
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
DIE SPERMSKENKER
Dudrich, Dick, Diedrik, Jan, Dirkie en Dirk
was die name van 'n groot, sterk, aantreklike skurk
wat onverdienstelik sag gesterf het - in sy slaap -
sonder 'n geleentheid om ten laaste sy sakies met enigeen reg te maak.
was die name van 'n groot, sterk, aantreklike skurk
wat onverdienstelik sag gesterf het - in sy slaap -
sonder 'n geleentheid om ten laaste sy sakies met enigeen reg te maak.
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
BE HEALED, YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN
These controversal words by Jesus caused the Pharisees to go out and plot his death.
We read that people brought a paralyzed man to Jesus. However, there were so many people that they could not get through the door. So they made a hole in the roof and let him down through the roof. Imagine trying that stunt today!
Anyway, when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man:
"Son, your sins are forgiven." Mark 2:5
Strange words indeed to utter to a paralyzed man.
Of course, the Pharisees immediately took exception to this. What right had this man from Nazareth to forgive sins?
Why would Jesus have said these words to the sick man? And He does not only say it once, He repeats His statement of sin in this man's life:
"Which is easier to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you', or to say, 'Arise,
take up your bed and walk'. But that you may know that the Son of Man has power
on earth to forgive sins - He said to the paralytic, "' I say to you, arise, take up your bed,
and go to your house.' Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the
presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, 'We never
saw anything like this'!" Mark 2:9-12
This man was paralyzed by sin. We do not know what sin. It might have been fear, or guilt about something that he had done that had cloistered him to his bed.
Today, it is common knowledge and most, if not all, medical practitioners will confirm that many diseases originate from tension, worry, stress, fear, guilt - in fact from the spirit, soul and mind of man.
I knew a lady in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, some thirty years ago, who was paralyzed for almost seven years. Her husband used to physically assault her. She became paralyzed. They divorced - she walked!! Her sickness was a psychological defence mechanism against his brutality. I know that she walked - because she was my colleague at the office!
Does that mean that all diseases have the same origin? No. Jesus confirms this in another instance:
"Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His
disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that
he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned,
but that the works of God should be revealed in him." " John 9:1-3
He was born blind. It could not have been his own sin, or guilt, or fear, or any such negative thing in his life that had caused his blindness.
Yet, going back to the paralytic, whose sins Jesus had forgiven, we can learn a very valuable lesson from him. If we are troubled by a chronic condition, fatigue, or stress, it would be a simple exercise to go to the Lord first. Ask Him whether there is anything that we should repent of, earnestly ask for His forgiveness in humility and then accept forgiveness for whatever that may be.
Then we can say: "My sins are forgiven, therefore I am healed of this condition."
Try it - you may be astounded at the results.
Thank You, Lord, that healing is in Your hand. Whether You heal us of our sin, fear, guilt, low self-esteem, obesity, or a disease suffered from birth, matters not. All healing comes from You. Help us to discern whether we harbor anything in our lives that may cause our bodies to rebel and to manifest disease as a sign thereof. Help us to not only confess, but to repent and be healed in the Name of Jesus.
We read that people brought a paralyzed man to Jesus. However, there were so many people that they could not get through the door. So they made a hole in the roof and let him down through the roof. Imagine trying that stunt today!
Anyway, when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man:
"Son, your sins are forgiven." Mark 2:5
Strange words indeed to utter to a paralyzed man.
Of course, the Pharisees immediately took exception to this. What right had this man from Nazareth to forgive sins?
Why would Jesus have said these words to the sick man? And He does not only say it once, He repeats His statement of sin in this man's life:
"Which is easier to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you', or to say, 'Arise,
take up your bed and walk'. But that you may know that the Son of Man has power
on earth to forgive sins - He said to the paralytic, "' I say to you, arise, take up your bed,
and go to your house.' Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the
presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, 'We never
saw anything like this'!" Mark 2:9-12
This man was paralyzed by sin. We do not know what sin. It might have been fear, or guilt about something that he had done that had cloistered him to his bed.
Today, it is common knowledge and most, if not all, medical practitioners will confirm that many diseases originate from tension, worry, stress, fear, guilt - in fact from the spirit, soul and mind of man.
I knew a lady in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, some thirty years ago, who was paralyzed for almost seven years. Her husband used to physically assault her. She became paralyzed. They divorced - she walked!! Her sickness was a psychological defence mechanism against his brutality. I know that she walked - because she was my colleague at the office!
Does that mean that all diseases have the same origin? No. Jesus confirms this in another instance:
"Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His
disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that
he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned,
but that the works of God should be revealed in him." " John 9:1-3
He was born blind. It could not have been his own sin, or guilt, or fear, or any such negative thing in his life that had caused his blindness.
Yet, going back to the paralytic, whose sins Jesus had forgiven, we can learn a very valuable lesson from him. If we are troubled by a chronic condition, fatigue, or stress, it would be a simple exercise to go to the Lord first. Ask Him whether there is anything that we should repent of, earnestly ask for His forgiveness in humility and then accept forgiveness for whatever that may be.
Then we can say: "My sins are forgiven, therefore I am healed of this condition."
Try it - you may be astounded at the results.
Thank You, Lord, that healing is in Your hand. Whether You heal us of our sin, fear, guilt, low self-esteem, obesity, or a disease suffered from birth, matters not. All healing comes from You. Help us to discern whether we harbor anything in our lives that may cause our bodies to rebel and to manifest disease as a sign thereof. Help us to not only confess, but to repent and be healed in the Name of Jesus.
Monday, 20 June 2011
Saturday, 18 June 2011
DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?
I knew a man, a humble man of God. A Zulu man, who preached the Word of God without ceasing, at every opportune or inopportune moment in time.
"Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort,
with all longsuffering and teaching. 2 Tim. 4:22
Baba Zulu had very broad shoulders, a smallish head with grizzly hair, and a few freckles on his cheeks. To me this was indicative of his nature. He never suffered from a 'swollen head' and his broad shoulders carried the burden for the souls of many people. He was in his late fifties, early sixties when I first met him - Baba Phineas Zulu.
He preached at several congregations but his main congregation was at Ezikhaweni, near Richards Bay, in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
The tertiary institution where I was employed had started a Bible College as a project of its Community Outreach Department under the auspices of Timothy Training Institute based in Johannesburg. I was the co-ordinator for the Bible College, and Baba, which translated from Zulu means father, was our lecturer. Incidently, the word 'Zulu' means 'people of heaven'.
His wife was the Principal at one of the schools at Ezikhaweni, and shortly after schools re-opened at the beginning of a semester, when registration of students had been almost completed, she was shot and killed by criminals for the contents of her handbag. They were under the impression that she carred the registration fees in her bag.
We were shocked, to say the least.
When I commiserated with him, Baba Zulu was very peaceful and gently reprimanded me, saying that I should be glad on her behalf that her work on earth had been completed and that she was now with the Lord. He said he wished that his work were finished but that it seemed that the Lord wanted him to carry on for a while.
He married one of the students from the Bible School classes about a year after his wife's demise and a short while later, while attending a minister's conference in Johannesburg, he died of a stroke.
We were not only shocked, but deeply mourned the loss of a beloved brother, a true soul winner and trusted friend.
I loved him dearly as a brother in the Lord. I could not help shedding tears at the thought that we would no longer be sharing cups of coffee and quiet talks of the Lord before the start of lectures in the evenings.
I attended the funeral service. It was in fact not a funeral service, but a celebration of a life lived to the honor and glory of God. There were more than a thousand people at the service. Ministers and missionaries from all over the country were in attendance and the praise and worship was indeed something to experience.
In accordance with Zulu tranditions, many people had the opportunity to say a few words, and all testified to the mighty work of the Holy Spirit in and through his ministry.
His son testified how they, his children could not understand why their father found it necessary to remarry within such a short period of time but that, had he not done so, they would have been left total orphans. By remarrying, their father had provided a parent to love and care for them after his demise.
In excess of 150 people received the Lord as their Saviour at this celebration service, a further testimony to God's power and saving grace in and through his life and even his death.
In my spirit, I could envisage his pleasure and kindly crinkle-eyed smile at their receiving Christ as their Saviour and becoming children of the Living God. This was indeed not only his work and ministry, but his life and passion.
"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does
corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we
shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the
trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality,
then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
"Oh Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" "1 Cor. 15:50-55
Thank you Lord, that we do not have to fear death, because You, Jesus, have overcome death and became the resurrection and the Life. Thank You that we may look forward to eternal life in Your presence.
"Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort,
with all longsuffering and teaching. 2 Tim. 4:22
Baba Zulu had very broad shoulders, a smallish head with grizzly hair, and a few freckles on his cheeks. To me this was indicative of his nature. He never suffered from a 'swollen head' and his broad shoulders carried the burden for the souls of many people. He was in his late fifties, early sixties when I first met him - Baba Phineas Zulu.
He preached at several congregations but his main congregation was at Ezikhaweni, near Richards Bay, in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
The tertiary institution where I was employed had started a Bible College as a project of its Community Outreach Department under the auspices of Timothy Training Institute based in Johannesburg. I was the co-ordinator for the Bible College, and Baba, which translated from Zulu means father, was our lecturer. Incidently, the word 'Zulu' means 'people of heaven'.
His wife was the Principal at one of the schools at Ezikhaweni, and shortly after schools re-opened at the beginning of a semester, when registration of students had been almost completed, she was shot and killed by criminals for the contents of her handbag. They were under the impression that she carred the registration fees in her bag.
We were shocked, to say the least.
When I commiserated with him, Baba Zulu was very peaceful and gently reprimanded me, saying that I should be glad on her behalf that her work on earth had been completed and that she was now with the Lord. He said he wished that his work were finished but that it seemed that the Lord wanted him to carry on for a while.
He married one of the students from the Bible School classes about a year after his wife's demise and a short while later, while attending a minister's conference in Johannesburg, he died of a stroke.
We were not only shocked, but deeply mourned the loss of a beloved brother, a true soul winner and trusted friend.
I loved him dearly as a brother in the Lord. I could not help shedding tears at the thought that we would no longer be sharing cups of coffee and quiet talks of the Lord before the start of lectures in the evenings.
I attended the funeral service. It was in fact not a funeral service, but a celebration of a life lived to the honor and glory of God. There were more than a thousand people at the service. Ministers and missionaries from all over the country were in attendance and the praise and worship was indeed something to experience.
In accordance with Zulu tranditions, many people had the opportunity to say a few words, and all testified to the mighty work of the Holy Spirit in and through his ministry.
His son testified how they, his children could not understand why their father found it necessary to remarry within such a short period of time but that, had he not done so, they would have been left total orphans. By remarrying, their father had provided a parent to love and care for them after his demise.
In excess of 150 people received the Lord as their Saviour at this celebration service, a further testimony to God's power and saving grace in and through his life and even his death.
In my spirit, I could envisage his pleasure and kindly crinkle-eyed smile at their receiving Christ as their Saviour and becoming children of the Living God. This was indeed not only his work and ministry, but his life and passion.
"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does
corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we
shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the
trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality,
then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
"Oh Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" "1 Cor. 15:50-55
Thank you Lord, that we do not have to fear death, because You, Jesus, have overcome death and became the resurrection and the Life. Thank You that we may look forward to eternal life in Your presence.
Thursday, 16 June 2011
DYING TO SELF...
...is a very dificult thing to do.
When you die to self, you die alone... you have to be alone... you are in fact committing suicide of your own will.
It is painful... it is sorrowful... it is mournful... the degree of your pain and sorrow will, of course, depend on what it is that you perceive God is requiring you to sacrifice or deny yourself.
Jesus experienced it at Gethzemane. He had chosen to give up his right to live, even though His will rebelled against it... His life was not taken from Him, He gave it up:
"Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and
I have power to take it up again. This commandment I received rom My Father." John
10:17-18
And even though He knew all that, He still cried out before He died:
"Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me, nevertheless,
not what I will, but what You will." Mark 14:36,
and
"Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour?'
But for this purpose I came to this hour." John 12:27
and although suffering the severest form of rejection, He persevered:
"My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" Mark 15:34
You will know and understand that you are alone. That is part of the price to be paid when you die to self. But you will be comforted by the knowledge that you are not the first to endure this experience; that Jesus had set the perfect example, the diference being that He was without sin and had taken on Himself all our sins, sorows, weaknesses, diseases, unrighteousness and iniquities. You will also be comforted by the assurance that if this is God's will for your life, then He is able to see you through the experience. Then when you take up your life again, you do so as Jesus did - victorious by the power of the Holy Spirit.
"For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds
through Christ." 2 Cor. 1:5
It is necessary to understand that it may take some time between the act of crucifying yourself and dying to self. This drawn out, painful process may be a valuable lesson to those watching you die. They will be watching you - closely - some prayerfully with compassion, others to hand you a sponge with vinegar for your thirst. Still others may even be mocking, or flinging hurtful and painful words at you, spitting at you, gleefully spreading the news of your demise, and enjoying your pain and discomfort while you are suffering. Hang in there... there will be a time of resurrection in His power. God is busy with His plan for your life.
"... that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship
of His sufferings, being conformed to His death if, by any means, I may attain
to the resurrection from the dead." Phil. 3:10
Thank you, Lord, for giving us the strength to lay down our own wills, submit toYour will, die to self, even though we may kick and struggle and mourn and weep and rebel against doing so; though it be against every desire and longing within us. Thank you for resurrection power in and through the Holy Spirit.
When you die to self, you die alone... you have to be alone... you are in fact committing suicide of your own will.
It is painful... it is sorrowful... it is mournful... the degree of your pain and sorrow will, of course, depend on what it is that you perceive God is requiring you to sacrifice or deny yourself.
Jesus experienced it at Gethzemane. He had chosen to give up his right to live, even though His will rebelled against it... His life was not taken from Him, He gave it up:
"Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and
I have power to take it up again. This commandment I received rom My Father." John
10:17-18
And even though He knew all that, He still cried out before He died:
"Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me, nevertheless,
not what I will, but what You will." Mark 14:36,
and
"Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour?'
But for this purpose I came to this hour." John 12:27
and although suffering the severest form of rejection, He persevered:
"My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" Mark 15:34
You will know and understand that you are alone. That is part of the price to be paid when you die to self. But you will be comforted by the knowledge that you are not the first to endure this experience; that Jesus had set the perfect example, the diference being that He was without sin and had taken on Himself all our sins, sorows, weaknesses, diseases, unrighteousness and iniquities. You will also be comforted by the assurance that if this is God's will for your life, then He is able to see you through the experience. Then when you take up your life again, you do so as Jesus did - victorious by the power of the Holy Spirit.
"For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds
through Christ." 2 Cor. 1:5
It is necessary to understand that it may take some time between the act of crucifying yourself and dying to self. This drawn out, painful process may be a valuable lesson to those watching you die. They will be watching you - closely - some prayerfully with compassion, others to hand you a sponge with vinegar for your thirst. Still others may even be mocking, or flinging hurtful and painful words at you, spitting at you, gleefully spreading the news of your demise, and enjoying your pain and discomfort while you are suffering. Hang in there... there will be a time of resurrection in His power. God is busy with His plan for your life.
"... that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship
of His sufferings, being conformed to His death if, by any means, I may attain
to the resurrection from the dead." Phil. 3:10
Thank you, Lord, for giving us the strength to lay down our own wills, submit toYour will, die to self, even though we may kick and struggle and mourn and weep and rebel against doing so; though it be against every desire and longing within us. Thank you for resurrection power in and through the Holy Spirit.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
A HUNGER FOR THE LORD
Two Russian friends and I visited a Russian Orthodox Monastery situated some distance outside Moscow. The one friend had been very, very ill with an extremely high temperature after an operation and the Lord had mercifully answered our prayers and restored her health.
Now that she was well again, she brought us to this monastery as a token of her gratitude to God.
The monastery consisted of five very old cathedrals situated in a circular setting within enclosed walls. They were very old, very beautiful places of worship, adorned with the most exquisite artwork inside and out.
On arrival, we found out that these cathedrals were closed to the general public and were only to be opened to very important Russian visitors or groups of tourists from overseas, and we were obviously disappointed at the prospect of not being allowed inside. However, my one friend noticed a priest walking in the distance and ran to speak to him, explaining that I was from South Africa, and he very kindly agreed not only to open all the cathedrals for us but to also give us a guided tour.
The first cathedral contained the casket and embalmed body of a saintly person who lived hundreds of years ago. We were told that overseas tourists come to pray to and worship at his shrine from time to time - personally I find it sad that people prefer to worship the remains of a human being or an idol instead of the living God.
Entering the third cathedral, we were enthralled by the voices of the monks' choir singing songs of worship in a cappella... what an unexpected joy and blessing... we could not see them, as they were upstairs on the gallery and we, downstairs, listened in awe to their beautiful voices worshipping God in harmonious accord. The atmosphere in the cathedral was awe-inspiring. the cathedral was suffused with sunlight slanting through the numerous and beautifully painted led paned windows. The monks' praises rang out spiraling towards heaven to the glory and in honour of Almighty God. It was as if at any given moment one might be transported to the throne room in heaven to be in the very presence of the Lord.
It was only when we left the cathedral that we became aware that our cheeks were wet with tears...
In the last cathedral, there were many paintings depicting Christ, the disciples and Mary, along the walls. Near the beautifully carved doors there was a life-size icon of Christ on the cross. We slowly and quietly wandered through the cathedral, appreciating the beautiful works of art and the hallowed atmosphere whilst listening to the peaceful voice of the priest.
I noticed a young man hesitating at the door, then slipping through. He reached the icon of Christ on the cross, knelt and on his knees, he lovingly and worshipfully took the feet of the statue between his two hands, and gently kissed the feet of the Christ.
My heart ached for him. His hunger for Christ was evidenced by his actions. After a time of prayer he rose and walked towards a painting of Mary with the Jesus Child on her lap. Her heart was depicted in red, painted with a light glowing from within. Once again the young man came up close to the painting, stooped slightly, and placed his ear against the heart of Mary. He stood there quietly listening and praying for some time.
"Oh Lord, his hunger for You is so great," I prayed, "please reveal Yourself to him in Your resurrection power."
Another time, another place...
I am volunteering in the Christian Book Shop at our church in Pinetown, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, on a Saturday morning.
A teenage boy walks in and quietly, without a word, stands in front of the bookshelves displaying the Bibles. He stands just looking at them. Not touching, or paging, or reading...just stands, looking at the Bibles...
Eventually I walk up to him and ask him whether he would like to own a Bible of his own. "Yes, very much", he says, "But unfortunately I do not have any money."
I handed him a Bible as a gift and watched in silence as he took it, and reverently pressed it to his heart, his eyes brimming with tears...his hunger and love for the Lord also, oh so evident...
Do we understand how privileged we are to love, worship and serve Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth?
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled." Matt. 5:6
Thank you, Father God, for this promise. Thank you that You will reveal Yourself to those who seek You with all their hearts. Thank You for the privilege of loving and worshipping You; may we ever hunger for more of You.
Now that she was well again, she brought us to this monastery as a token of her gratitude to God.
The monastery consisted of five very old cathedrals situated in a circular setting within enclosed walls. They were very old, very beautiful places of worship, adorned with the most exquisite artwork inside and out.
On arrival, we found out that these cathedrals were closed to the general public and were only to be opened to very important Russian visitors or groups of tourists from overseas, and we were obviously disappointed at the prospect of not being allowed inside. However, my one friend noticed a priest walking in the distance and ran to speak to him, explaining that I was from South Africa, and he very kindly agreed not only to open all the cathedrals for us but to also give us a guided tour.
The first cathedral contained the casket and embalmed body of a saintly person who lived hundreds of years ago. We were told that overseas tourists come to pray to and worship at his shrine from time to time - personally I find it sad that people prefer to worship the remains of a human being or an idol instead of the living God.
Entering the third cathedral, we were enthralled by the voices of the monks' choir singing songs of worship in a cappella... what an unexpected joy and blessing... we could not see them, as they were upstairs on the gallery and we, downstairs, listened in awe to their beautiful voices worshipping God in harmonious accord. The atmosphere in the cathedral was awe-inspiring. the cathedral was suffused with sunlight slanting through the numerous and beautifully painted led paned windows. The monks' praises rang out spiraling towards heaven to the glory and in honour of Almighty God. It was as if at any given moment one might be transported to the throne room in heaven to be in the very presence of the Lord.
It was only when we left the cathedral that we became aware that our cheeks were wet with tears...
In the last cathedral, there were many paintings depicting Christ, the disciples and Mary, along the walls. Near the beautifully carved doors there was a life-size icon of Christ on the cross. We slowly and quietly wandered through the cathedral, appreciating the beautiful works of art and the hallowed atmosphere whilst listening to the peaceful voice of the priest.
I noticed a young man hesitating at the door, then slipping through. He reached the icon of Christ on the cross, knelt and on his knees, he lovingly and worshipfully took the feet of the statue between his two hands, and gently kissed the feet of the Christ.
My heart ached for him. His hunger for Christ was evidenced by his actions. After a time of prayer he rose and walked towards a painting of Mary with the Jesus Child on her lap. Her heart was depicted in red, painted with a light glowing from within. Once again the young man came up close to the painting, stooped slightly, and placed his ear against the heart of Mary. He stood there quietly listening and praying for some time.
"Oh Lord, his hunger for You is so great," I prayed, "please reveal Yourself to him in Your resurrection power."
Another time, another place...
I am volunteering in the Christian Book Shop at our church in Pinetown, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, on a Saturday morning.
A teenage boy walks in and quietly, without a word, stands in front of the bookshelves displaying the Bibles. He stands just looking at them. Not touching, or paging, or reading...just stands, looking at the Bibles...
Eventually I walk up to him and ask him whether he would like to own a Bible of his own. "Yes, very much", he says, "But unfortunately I do not have any money."
I handed him a Bible as a gift and watched in silence as he took it, and reverently pressed it to his heart, his eyes brimming with tears...his hunger and love for the Lord also, oh so evident...
Do we understand how privileged we are to love, worship and serve Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth?
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled." Matt. 5:6
Thank you, Father God, for this promise. Thank you that You will reveal Yourself to those who seek You with all their hearts. Thank You for the privilege of loving and worshipping You; may we ever hunger for more of You.
Monday, 13 June 2011
ONBEREIKBAAR...
Onbereikbaar die geluk wat soos 'n fyn, volronde,
ligdeursigtig seepbel
na my sweef...
moeiteloos in vlug.
Aanloklik mooi weerkaats spektrale kleure teen 'n tafereel
van saffierblou lug, altoos nader - glim, beweeg; glim, beweeg -
uitnodigend tot binne kringreik van my wagtend hande.
Bruisend die emosie wat wil dat ek hierdie volmaaktheid
aanraak... deel... ons eie maak...
Ek reik na jou...
Hoe naïef van my - daar's niks!
Jy't reeds gedraai jou rug.
Stilstom, hart en uitgestrekte hande leër as leeg,
kyk ek hoe jy seepbelle blaas terwyl jy weg beweeg.
ligdeursigtig seepbel
na my sweef...
moeiteloos in vlug.
Aanloklik mooi weerkaats spektrale kleure teen 'n tafereel
van saffierblou lug, altoos nader - glim, beweeg; glim, beweeg -
uitnodigend tot binne kringreik van my wagtend hande.
Bruisend die emosie wat wil dat ek hierdie volmaaktheid
aanraak... deel... ons eie maak...
Ek reik na jou...
Hoe naïef van my - daar's niks!
Jy't reeds gedraai jou rug.
Stilstom, hart en uitgestrekte hande leër as leeg,
kyk ek hoe jy seepbelle blaas terwyl jy weg beweeg.
Sunday, 12 June 2011
THE WORD
Reading "Flame of Fire" by Jane Oliver, I was shocked to be reminded that in England, during the early 16th Century, it was not only prohibited, but also a serious offense for anyone to possess an unlicensed copy of the Bible in English. William Tyndale who was responsible for the translation of the Bible to English during the 17th Century, was not only arrested and incarcerated in jail, but died at the stake for his life's work. It was, however following his death that King Henry VIII authorized the use of the English Bible in all parishes within his whole kingdom.
The common people, who could not read or write Latin, until that time, therefore did not have the use of the vernacular Bible in England.
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without
Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of
men. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it...
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory
as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:1-5,14.
The average Christian household today owns at least one Bible, and in most cases, at least one Bible
per adult. Serious Bible students have many different translations to choose from when studying.
I seldom consider the fact that possessing the Word of God is not a right, but a privilege which we, in the Western World, take for granted. Here we have the freedom to read and study the Bible whenever and wherever and yet we do not realise that there are still countries, especially Islamic or Communist countries, where possessing the Word of God comes with a very real risk to one's life. The significance and value and joy of being able to share the Word with one another has been lost in this post-modern era. Technology today advances so rapidly that it becomes very difficult to keep abreast with developments and we are rushing around from pillar to post in such haste that we either do not have the time, or when we do, are too exhausted to invest time in eternal things.
Children no longer grow up playing with dolls and marbles, but keep busy watching television and DVD's or playing electronic games. I-Pods are the in thing. A great number of children do not receive any religious instruction or teaching at all. Mix-it is the thing to do - what will it be tomorrow?
How will our children learn the basic, moral and spiritual values of the Creator, when violence, hate, passion, jealousy, and greed are the values most displyed in the media? With, in most cases, both parents in full-time employment, or there being only one parent per household, whose responsibility is it to instill proper values in our children? Are we setting the necessary example for them to follow or whom do they imitate as role models?
Do we still take time to worship God and share His Word as families? Do we even ensure that our children attend Sunday school or visit a church?
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Tim 3:16
Father, thank You for your precious Word. Thank You, Lord, for the privilege of having it at hand to lead us and to teach and train our children in godly ways. Thank you that it equips us to be complete in righteousness and equipped for every good work. Help us to appreciate it, and to be godly role models for our children.
The common people, who could not read or write Latin, until that time, therefore did not have the use of the vernacular Bible in England.
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without
Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of
men. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it...
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory
as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:1-5,14.
The average Christian household today owns at least one Bible, and in most cases, at least one Bible
per adult. Serious Bible students have many different translations to choose from when studying.
I seldom consider the fact that possessing the Word of God is not a right, but a privilege which we, in the Western World, take for granted. Here we have the freedom to read and study the Bible whenever and wherever and yet we do not realise that there are still countries, especially Islamic or Communist countries, where possessing the Word of God comes with a very real risk to one's life. The significance and value and joy of being able to share the Word with one another has been lost in this post-modern era. Technology today advances so rapidly that it becomes very difficult to keep abreast with developments and we are rushing around from pillar to post in such haste that we either do not have the time, or when we do, are too exhausted to invest time in eternal things.
Children no longer grow up playing with dolls and marbles, but keep busy watching television and DVD's or playing electronic games. I-Pods are the in thing. A great number of children do not receive any religious instruction or teaching at all. Mix-it is the thing to do - what will it be tomorrow?
How will our children learn the basic, moral and spiritual values of the Creator, when violence, hate, passion, jealousy, and greed are the values most displyed in the media? With, in most cases, both parents in full-time employment, or there being only one parent per household, whose responsibility is it to instill proper values in our children? Are we setting the necessary example for them to follow or whom do they imitate as role models?
Do we still take time to worship God and share His Word as families? Do we even ensure that our children attend Sunday school or visit a church?
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Tim 3:16
Father, thank You for your precious Word. Thank You, Lord, for the privilege of having it at hand to lead us and to teach and train our children in godly ways. Thank you that it equips us to be complete in righteousness and equipped for every good work. Help us to appreciate it, and to be godly role models for our children.
Saturday, 11 June 2011
OOMBLIKKE VAN GELUK
Guitig, nuuskierig sonstraal steel skelm deur gordyn se spleet,
oopgewarrel deur die lui, lou wind;
gooi speels 'n laserstraal helderlig oor die stil-tevrede gesig
van die kind, op haar maag, op die vloer;
kaalvoet, bene ritmies swaaiend in die lug
waar sy met helder kleure lewe en gestalte kryt
in spasies tussen swart omlynings nou smal,
dan rond, soms nou, dan weer wyd.
Neusvleuels speur die veilig, bekende geure na van krytwas,
kos wat prut, blomgeure wat by die oop deur inglip.
_____________________________________________________________
Pa roep! Ek spring op.
Hy wag buite op die trapfiets en swaai my hoog.
Sit sy arms beskermend weerskante van my en ons ry
deur die veld.
Ek lê terug teen sy bors waar ek sy hart voel klop;
ruik die gras en kruidbos; voel die son op my kop.
Daar's niks wat my kwel.
Somersmiddae - oomblikke van geluk - in die lewe van 'n kind.
oopgewarrel deur die lui, lou wind;
gooi speels 'n laserstraal helderlig oor die stil-tevrede gesig
van die kind, op haar maag, op die vloer;
kaalvoet, bene ritmies swaaiend in die lug
waar sy met helder kleure lewe en gestalte kryt
in spasies tussen swart omlynings nou smal,
dan rond, soms nou, dan weer wyd.
Neusvleuels speur die veilig, bekende geure na van krytwas,
kos wat prut, blomgeure wat by die oop deur inglip.
_____________________________________________________________
Pa roep! Ek spring op.
Hy wag buite op die trapfiets en swaai my hoog.
Sit sy arms beskermend weerskante van my en ons ry
deur die veld.
Ek lê terug teen sy bors waar ek sy hart voel klop;
ruik die gras en kruidbos; voel die son op my kop.
Daar's niks wat my kwel.
Somersmiddae - oomblikke van geluk - in die lewe van 'n kind.
Friday, 10 June 2011
LOST OPPORTUNITIES
During the years of my rebellion and my turning away from God, and immediately after severing an emotionally abusive relationship that had lasted for about three years, I relocated to Johannesburg, South Africa, from Harare, Zimbabwe (Salisbury, Rhodesia as it was then known).
I stayed with married friends, whom I had known from my Cape Town days, for the first week until I could find employment and alternative accommodation, then moved to what was then known as a "private hotel", within walking distance of my place of employment.
In the dining hall one evening, I was approached by an Englishman, or "Pommie" as South Africans sometimes affectionately (and sometimes not so affectionately) call the British, who came asking on behalf of a friend at his table, whether I would accompany his friend to the movies. I told him to tell the coward to ask me himself, which he promptly did.... After an enjoyable evening chatting and having umpteen cups of coffee, I accepted the invitation to the movies, and a new friendship was born.
This friendship blossomed and we eventually became engaged to be married. The wedding date was set for nine months from the date of the engagement.
Jim was a loving, gentle, shy man, with soulful big brown eyes and an engaging smile. He was not an Adonis, wealthy or influential. He did not have a star spangled career - just an ordinary guy - but I do not recall him ever being guilty of a a mean, ugly or hurtful word or action. His love was genuine, kind and true.
I loved him. Yet there was something about him that worried me. He was brought up in a home without fear or knowledge of God. No Bible, no prayers, no church, no religion, nothing...
He had no faith in a living God, salvation or eternal life.
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by
the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without
excuse." Rom. 1:20
I was in rebellion and turned away from God. I kept pushing thoughts about this state of affairs to the side because for the first time in years I was happy...I was not going to let anything get in the way of this happiness...
Our wedding plans were progressing according to plan... dress designed, etc. etc. The only outstanding items were the church and the marriage official. Jim had no qualms about getting married at the Registry Office but I wanted a church wedding...Why did I need God's blessing and witness if I was not acknowledging God as being in control of my life at that time?
Still... it was important to me... so Jim decided that as his grandparents were members of the Church of England, that would be where we would seek assistance. The minister wanted me to become a member of his church, which I refused, so that put paid to that idea....
As the wedding date came closer and closer, this issue loomed larger on the horizon and one evening Jim and I got talking about ministers, churches, religion, Christianity, God... in that order.
We talked for hours. Although I was in rebellion and not serving God, I had a very strict Christian upbringing - in fact, I was raised a Pastor's daughter - and I knew only too well that God was real and that I would not be able to run from Him for the rest of my life.
Suddenly realising that it therefore was imperative that Jim would be aware of and accept this and hopefully accept the Lord as well at some stage, this became the most serious conversation of our relationship.
Sadly, I could not convince him. What he eventually said was this: "If I die before you, and there is life after death, I will let you know somehow, and if you die before me, vica versa."
After he left that evening, I found myself on my knees praying for the first time in years: "God, if he is not willing to beliewe in Your existence, then this marriage may not endure...but I love him too much to hurt him. I leave the future in Your hands."
We arranged that a Magistrate friend would marry us at the venue for the reception.
Clients, very well known manufacturers of men's clothing, presented Jim with a suit of his choice for the wedding. We simply had to go to the factory and fetch it! Wow!
We set off to the factory on Saturday, 6th February, the wedding date being Saturday, 6th March, happily chatting and singing on the way from the Witkoppen area to Fordsburg where the factory was situated.
Along the way, a seven ton sand truck skipped a stop street... we were travelling in a VW Beetle... our vehicle landed under the trailer of the truck...Jim was pinned behind the steering wheel...the door on my side buckled and burst open...when the side of the trailer hit my head I was thrown out of the vehicle and onto the road surface...
All of the beige lace dress that I wore that day was soaked and caked with my own blood, except for one tiny spot right at the zipper beginning at the back neckline...
There would be no wedding...because there was no longer a groom... We no longer needed the wedding dress or suit....There were wreaths instead of bouquets, a gravestone instead of a wedding cake. The Church of England minister presided at the funeral, at which I was not present because I was still in hospital...
"Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." Ps. 95:7
Today, with hindsight, I undertand that even though I was not committed to doing God's will, He in His mercy, love and kindness, gave me a period of quiet love, and joy, and an opportunity to come to the understanding that I would not forever be able to run from Him. Jim was afforded, what would turn out to be his last opportunity to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as His own personal Saviour. Unfortunately, neither Jim nor I grasped or responded to God's purposes for us being a couple at the time.
Thank You, Lord, for giving everyone at least one opportunity to see and understand Your Lordship over all the Universe. Help us to not harden our hearts as in rebellion against You and Your Word but to joyfully accept You and have eternal life.
I stayed with married friends, whom I had known from my Cape Town days, for the first week until I could find employment and alternative accommodation, then moved to what was then known as a "private hotel", within walking distance of my place of employment.
In the dining hall one evening, I was approached by an Englishman, or "Pommie" as South Africans sometimes affectionately (and sometimes not so affectionately) call the British, who came asking on behalf of a friend at his table, whether I would accompany his friend to the movies. I told him to tell the coward to ask me himself, which he promptly did.... After an enjoyable evening chatting and having umpteen cups of coffee, I accepted the invitation to the movies, and a new friendship was born.
This friendship blossomed and we eventually became engaged to be married. The wedding date was set for nine months from the date of the engagement.
Jim was a loving, gentle, shy man, with soulful big brown eyes and an engaging smile. He was not an Adonis, wealthy or influential. He did not have a star spangled career - just an ordinary guy - but I do not recall him ever being guilty of a a mean, ugly or hurtful word or action. His love was genuine, kind and true.
I loved him. Yet there was something about him that worried me. He was brought up in a home without fear or knowledge of God. No Bible, no prayers, no church, no religion, nothing...
He had no faith in a living God, salvation or eternal life.
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by
the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without
excuse." Rom. 1:20
I was in rebellion and turned away from God. I kept pushing thoughts about this state of affairs to the side because for the first time in years I was happy...I was not going to let anything get in the way of this happiness...
Our wedding plans were progressing according to plan... dress designed, etc. etc. The only outstanding items were the church and the marriage official. Jim had no qualms about getting married at the Registry Office but I wanted a church wedding...Why did I need God's blessing and witness if I was not acknowledging God as being in control of my life at that time?
Still... it was important to me... so Jim decided that as his grandparents were members of the Church of England, that would be where we would seek assistance. The minister wanted me to become a member of his church, which I refused, so that put paid to that idea....
As the wedding date came closer and closer, this issue loomed larger on the horizon and one evening Jim and I got talking about ministers, churches, religion, Christianity, God... in that order.
We talked for hours. Although I was in rebellion and not serving God, I had a very strict Christian upbringing - in fact, I was raised a Pastor's daughter - and I knew only too well that God was real and that I would not be able to run from Him for the rest of my life.
Suddenly realising that it therefore was imperative that Jim would be aware of and accept this and hopefully accept the Lord as well at some stage, this became the most serious conversation of our relationship.
Sadly, I could not convince him. What he eventually said was this: "If I die before you, and there is life after death, I will let you know somehow, and if you die before me, vica versa."
After he left that evening, I found myself on my knees praying for the first time in years: "God, if he is not willing to beliewe in Your existence, then this marriage may not endure...but I love him too much to hurt him. I leave the future in Your hands."
We arranged that a Magistrate friend would marry us at the venue for the reception.
Clients, very well known manufacturers of men's clothing, presented Jim with a suit of his choice for the wedding. We simply had to go to the factory and fetch it! Wow!
We set off to the factory on Saturday, 6th February, the wedding date being Saturday, 6th March, happily chatting and singing on the way from the Witkoppen area to Fordsburg where the factory was situated.
Along the way, a seven ton sand truck skipped a stop street... we were travelling in a VW Beetle... our vehicle landed under the trailer of the truck...Jim was pinned behind the steering wheel...the door on my side buckled and burst open...when the side of the trailer hit my head I was thrown out of the vehicle and onto the road surface...
All of the beige lace dress that I wore that day was soaked and caked with my own blood, except for one tiny spot right at the zipper beginning at the back neckline...
There would be no wedding...because there was no longer a groom... We no longer needed the wedding dress or suit....There were wreaths instead of bouquets, a gravestone instead of a wedding cake. The Church of England minister presided at the funeral, at which I was not present because I was still in hospital...
"Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." Ps. 95:7
Today, with hindsight, I undertand that even though I was not committed to doing God's will, He in His mercy, love and kindness, gave me a period of quiet love, and joy, and an opportunity to come to the understanding that I would not forever be able to run from Him. Jim was afforded, what would turn out to be his last opportunity to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as His own personal Saviour. Unfortunately, neither Jim nor I grasped or responded to God's purposes for us being a couple at the time.
Thank You, Lord, for giving everyone at least one opportunity to see and understand Your Lordship over all the Universe. Help us to not harden our hearts as in rebellion against You and Your Word but to joyfully accept You and have eternal life.
Thursday, 9 June 2011
UNFULFILLED DREAMS
John, the Baptist's mother Elizabeth, had a dream. She may have dreamt the same dream for many, many years - maybe twenty years or even more, for in those days women married at a very young age. Her unfulfilled dream was to have a child of her own.
The years passed. I am sure that, being from a priestly family, a direct descendant of Aaron, and being married to a priest, Zacharias, she would have mentioned this dream to God in her prayers many times; perhaps on a daily basis. We do not know exactly how old she was. the Bible merely states that:
"But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well
advanced in years." Luke 1:7
However, as Zacharias was still ministering as a priest, we may assume that he was not yet fully fifty years old.
I wonder how, in those days, they knew that it was Elizabeth that was barren? I wondered if the thought of trying to conceive a child by someone other than Zacharias ever entered her mind? We know she never resorted to such devious tactics, because the Word says:
"And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances
of the Lord blameless." Luke 1:6
How much would this unfulfilled dream have affected Elizabeth's life? Worst case scenario: she might have felt that life was not worth living; the thought of suicide might even have formulated in some obscure corner of her mind.
She might have been resentful towards God at times for not answering her prayers, and for being barren and childless. She might have harbored some resentment against her husband. We will learn from Scripture that he, too, desired a child and made supplication to God in this regard.
She might have been filled with jealousy at times when friends and relatives were around with their children romping and playing in her presence.
She might have felt shame at not being able to give Zacharias a child. She most probably felt let down, disappointed, inferior to her friends and female relatives who had produced offspring; lonely, unfulfilled, with no child on which to lavish her maternal love and care.
She certainly might have been sad at times, weepy, depressed.
Yet, if we reread verse 6 this did not cause her to sin.
She might have questioned God as to why her prayers were not answered. She might have wondered if perhaps her faith was not strong enough.
Yet, we find, as we read further that, in fact, it was Zacharias, the priest, whose faith was lacking:
"But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take
place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their own
time." Luke 1:20
In those days, one of the duties of a priest, a duty which was drawn by lot, was to stand to the right side of the altar of incense in the temple, burning incense and interceding before God on behalf of the people. As the priest's appearance before the altar of incense was not determined by a schedule of duty, but by lot, it may perchance be that he performs this duty but once during all the years of his priestly ministry.
The Lord was greatly feared and appearing before Him on behalf of a people you knew to be stiff-necked was therefore a great responsibility and done at some risk to your life. God, being provoked, might smite the priest to reveal His anger towards the people.
We read in verse 10 that the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Watching and waiting to see whether he will survive the presence of Almighty God.
This then was no ordinary occasion for Zacharias. It was a moment of great responsibility and he was probably experiencing a certain amount of nervous anticipation. It was a defining moment in his life during which he would have been very much aware of his vulnerability before the Lord.
Yet we find that God chooses this moment to reveal his love and awareness of the unfulfilled dream shared by Zacharias and Elizabeth. He sends not just any angel, but the archangel Gabriel, with the long awaited answer to prayer:
"And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of
God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings." " Luke 1:19
"...Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will
bear you a son, and you shall call his name John..." Luke 1:13
Zacharias finds the words spoken by the angel too good to be true! He doubts and becomes mute. Not only was he to be mute, but he did not know how long this condition would last, as the angel never revealed when Elizabeth would become pregnant. Yet, from Scriptures, it would seem that it happened almost as soon as he got home.
"So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own
house. Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived..." Luke 1:23-24.
A gift only God could bestow. A dream only God could fulfill.
Do you have a barren area in your life? Do you have a dream that is long overdue? I have three of them. I have nurtured two of them for the last twenty years...I do not know whether God will ever grant me even one of them, but I choose to believe that God will - in His own time...
"But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard...
And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth." " Luke 1:
13-14
Today I choose to believe that I will experience joy and gladness, and that many will rejoice with me as my dreams are fulfilled.
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace
and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jer. 29:11
Thank You, Lord, that we do not need to despair if we have unfulfilled dreams - we choose to hold onto them in faith and believe Your Word instead.
The years passed. I am sure that, being from a priestly family, a direct descendant of Aaron, and being married to a priest, Zacharias, she would have mentioned this dream to God in her prayers many times; perhaps on a daily basis. We do not know exactly how old she was. the Bible merely states that:
"But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well
advanced in years." Luke 1:7
However, as Zacharias was still ministering as a priest, we may assume that he was not yet fully fifty years old.
I wonder how, in those days, they knew that it was Elizabeth that was barren? I wondered if the thought of trying to conceive a child by someone other than Zacharias ever entered her mind? We know she never resorted to such devious tactics, because the Word says:
"And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances
of the Lord blameless." Luke 1:6
How much would this unfulfilled dream have affected Elizabeth's life? Worst case scenario: she might have felt that life was not worth living; the thought of suicide might even have formulated in some obscure corner of her mind.
She might have been resentful towards God at times for not answering her prayers, and for being barren and childless. She might have harbored some resentment against her husband. We will learn from Scripture that he, too, desired a child and made supplication to God in this regard.
She might have been filled with jealousy at times when friends and relatives were around with their children romping and playing in her presence.
She might have felt shame at not being able to give Zacharias a child. She most probably felt let down, disappointed, inferior to her friends and female relatives who had produced offspring; lonely, unfulfilled, with no child on which to lavish her maternal love and care.
She certainly might have been sad at times, weepy, depressed.
Yet, if we reread verse 6 this did not cause her to sin.
She might have questioned God as to why her prayers were not answered. She might have wondered if perhaps her faith was not strong enough.
Yet, we find, as we read further that, in fact, it was Zacharias, the priest, whose faith was lacking:
"But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take
place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their own
time." Luke 1:20
In those days, one of the duties of a priest, a duty which was drawn by lot, was to stand to the right side of the altar of incense in the temple, burning incense and interceding before God on behalf of the people. As the priest's appearance before the altar of incense was not determined by a schedule of duty, but by lot, it may perchance be that he performs this duty but once during all the years of his priestly ministry.
The Lord was greatly feared and appearing before Him on behalf of a people you knew to be stiff-necked was therefore a great responsibility and done at some risk to your life. God, being provoked, might smite the priest to reveal His anger towards the people.
We read in verse 10 that the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Watching and waiting to see whether he will survive the presence of Almighty God.
This then was no ordinary occasion for Zacharias. It was a moment of great responsibility and he was probably experiencing a certain amount of nervous anticipation. It was a defining moment in his life during which he would have been very much aware of his vulnerability before the Lord.
Yet we find that God chooses this moment to reveal his love and awareness of the unfulfilled dream shared by Zacharias and Elizabeth. He sends not just any angel, but the archangel Gabriel, with the long awaited answer to prayer:
"And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of
God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings." " Luke 1:19
"...Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will
bear you a son, and you shall call his name John..." Luke 1:13
Zacharias finds the words spoken by the angel too good to be true! He doubts and becomes mute. Not only was he to be mute, but he did not know how long this condition would last, as the angel never revealed when Elizabeth would become pregnant. Yet, from Scriptures, it would seem that it happened almost as soon as he got home.
"So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own
house. Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived..." Luke 1:23-24.
A gift only God could bestow. A dream only God could fulfill.
Do you have a barren area in your life? Do you have a dream that is long overdue? I have three of them. I have nurtured two of them for the last twenty years...I do not know whether God will ever grant me even one of them, but I choose to believe that God will - in His own time...
"But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard...
And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth." " Luke 1:
13-14
Today I choose to believe that I will experience joy and gladness, and that many will rejoice with me as my dreams are fulfilled.
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace
and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jer. 29:11
Thank You, Lord, that we do not need to despair if we have unfulfilled dreams - we choose to hold onto them in faith and believe Your Word instead.
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
TYD TOT EWIGHEID
Oënskynlik langsaam...tydsaam,
tik-tak die klepel die sekondes af...
stadig, rustig, jy kan hom nie
aanhaas - nie stadiger dwing...
en die minute vloei in ure
en op die uur, elke uur,
vertel die klokkespel die verhaal
van nog 'n tydvak in die lewe
ongeag, ongemerk
vir ewig verby...omgegly...
en dae...word weke...word maande..
so vlieg dekades
onnadenkend, onverskillig om
en dit is àl tyd wat ek en jy kry
om vir die ewigheid voor te berei.
tik-tak die klepel die sekondes af...
stadig, rustig, jy kan hom nie
aanhaas - nie stadiger dwing...
en die minute vloei in ure
en op die uur, elke uur,
vertel die klokkespel die verhaal
van nog 'n tydvak in die lewe
ongeag, ongemerk
vir ewig verby...omgegly...
en dae...word weke...word maande..
so vlieg dekades
onnadenkend, onverskillig om
en dit is àl tyd wat ek en jy kry
om vir die ewigheid voor te berei.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
BOYS WILL BE BOYS
When my son was a toddler, his father and I took great pride in photographing him whenever and wherever we went. We would visit the Botanical Gardens, the Bird Park or go the the South Coast of Natal. Winklespruit was a favorite spot of ours and Jacques loved a ride on the little blue train.
Or we would visit Mini Town, the Aquarium, or just stroll along the beach eating ice cream and getting our clothes all wet and dirty. These were all places in and around Durban, our hometown at the time.
His father, in most instances, took the photos as he was by far the better photographer.
After a while we became aware that our handsome youngster would no sooner spot the camera or he would squat, happily smiling in anticipation of being photographed yet again, and no amount of coaxing could persuade him to change his pose.
A couple of years ago, I was privileged during a Father's Day service to minister to the fathers in our congregation in Pinetown, Natal.
Trusting the Lord to inspire with the right words, I felt led to read John 5:19-23:
"Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly I say to you, the Son can
do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the
Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all things
that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may
marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives
life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to
the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not
honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him." "
I read it once...then reread it...again...WOW! Suddenly a light came on...this was it! This was the answer to all those photographs of a little boy squatting whilst being photographed!
Jacques' dad, being tall, squatted whilst photographing him! Bingo! Jacques only did what he saw his father do...as all boys do...
Thank you, Lord, that you left us such a detailed account of the thoughts, heart, mind, love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, deeds and miracle working power of the Father. Thank you that you became God incarnate so that we would have an example to imitate to reflect the glorious characteristics of our heavenly Father.
Or we would visit Mini Town, the Aquarium, or just stroll along the beach eating ice cream and getting our clothes all wet and dirty. These were all places in and around Durban, our hometown at the time.
His father, in most instances, took the photos as he was by far the better photographer.
After a while we became aware that our handsome youngster would no sooner spot the camera or he would squat, happily smiling in anticipation of being photographed yet again, and no amount of coaxing could persuade him to change his pose.
A couple of years ago, I was privileged during a Father's Day service to minister to the fathers in our congregation in Pinetown, Natal.
Trusting the Lord to inspire with the right words, I felt led to read John 5:19-23:
"Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly I say to you, the Son can
do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the
Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all things
that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may
marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives
life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to
the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not
honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him." "
I read it once...then reread it...again...WOW! Suddenly a light came on...this was it! This was the answer to all those photographs of a little boy squatting whilst being photographed!
Jacques' dad, being tall, squatted whilst photographing him! Bingo! Jacques only did what he saw his father do...as all boys do...
Thank you, Lord, that you left us such a detailed account of the thoughts, heart, mind, love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, deeds and miracle working power of the Father. Thank you that you became God incarnate so that we would have an example to imitate to reflect the glorious characteristics of our heavenly Father.
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