THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD...

He is young, slender, tall
His stance is firm
In fact, nothing about him is sloppy at all.
His head is bare, his raven hair neat
his shoulders squared.
His back is straight
he stands at ease, feet slightly apart.
His sunburnt features appear calm;
yet, his expression is closed; his eyes cast down.

Held chest high, his placard announces to a frenetically
rushing, indifferent world:

               Have a wife, have a child,
               have no work, no money -
               please be kind -
               food, clothes, money, work,
               any help will do -
               may God  bless you...

And there, but for the grace of God, stand you or I.

LILA-MAY, DIE TUINFEETJIE - 2

Vroeg die volgende oggend word Melissa wakker en glip saggies uit die bed. Sy hardloop na die venster en trek die gordyne met haar twee handjies weg van mekaar om te kyk of sy nie die feetjie in die tuin kan sien nie, maar nee... sy sien niks wat beweeg nie, behalwe die voëltjies wat besig is om wip-wip te beweeg om hul kos-huisie, wat in die boom naby die voorhekkie hang, en hul voëlsaadjies op te pik. Hulle snaweltjies beweeg rats op en af soos hulle seker maak dat hulle genoeg kossies in hul kroppies het om ook hul kleintjies wat in die nessies wag te gaan voed. Sy en mamma het gisteragtermiddag laat die bakkie om die voël-huisie weer vol gemaak sodat daar vanoggend genoeg vir al die honger voëltjies sal wees.

Net toe kom mamma by die kamerdeur in: "Môre, môre, Melissa", sê mamma, "het jy lekker geslaap?"

"Ja, dankie mamma" antwoord Melissa toe sy die gordyne los en terugdraai na mamma. "Kan ons vanoggend asseblief na die feetjie gaan soek?" vra sy.

"Nee, ongelukkig nie vanoggend nie, my skat", sê mamma. "Kom ons trek gou jou kleertjies aan en dan kan jy jou ontbyt eet voordat julle skool toe gaan".

Mamma het gou-gou vir haar 'n pragtige rokkie en mooi sandale op haar bed neergesit en toe sy aangetrek is, tol sy plesierig in die rondte dat haar haartjies en haar rokkie so swaai. Sy is baie lief vir rokkies.

Sy hardloop voor mamma uit na die kombuis, waar mamma vir haar ontbytvlokkies in haar bakkie skep en dan gaan sit sy in die eetkamer by haar eie tafeltjie om te eet, terwyl mamma gou seker maak dat haar en sussie, Jeneè, se sakke met skoon uitrustings en ander benodigdhede vir die dag gereed is om saam te neem skool toe.

Terwyl sy badkamer toe stap om haar gesiggie te was en haar tandjies te borsel kom Maggie in die gang afgestap. "More, Melissa, hoe gaan dit?" "Goed dankie, Maggie", antwoord sy voordat Maggie deur stap kombuis toe met haar bakkie en bekertjie om dit saam met die ander ontbytborde in die skottelgoedwasser te pak. Mamma borsel haar haartjies en sit vir haar haarrekkies met pragtige pienk gesiggies in haar bokstertjies.

Pappa is reg om hulle na die kleuter- en bewaarskool te neem en hulle stap by die agterdeur uit waar die honde stertkwispelend vir hulle wag om ook môre te sê.

"Stadig, Caley," waarsku pappa, toe Caley in sy gretigheid amper vir Melissa van haar voete af hardloop.
By die motor groet mamma hulle al drie met soentjies en drukkies en klim sy ook in haar motor om werk toe te ry.

By die skool aangekom, wag  Barry reeds vir Melissa by die hek met 'n groot glimlag op sy gesiggie. Hy is haar beste maatjie van die eerste dag af dat hulle by die skool is. Hulle groet met 'n drukkie, bly om mekaar weer te sien. Dan gaan hulle in om die ander maatjies en juffrou Janine te groet.

Gou-gou speel hulle sorgeloos in die sandput. Dit is 'n gejoel en gewoel en 'n geraas en gelag van 'n ander wêreld soos die maatjies rondhardloop en speel. Af en toe huil enetjie wanneer 'n toontjie gestamp word of tweetjies per ongeluk in mekaar vashardloop en dan is een van die juffrouens gou-gou by met 'n wattetjie en 'n pleister en  'n glimlag en 'n sagte woordjie van troos om die seerplekkie vinnig reg te toor.

Dan lui die klokkie.   Ting - e - ling - e - ling; ting - e - ling - e - ling... en juffrou roep: "Kom, gou maatjies, kom sit vinnig in 'n ry - dis broodjie tyd!"

Dadelik laat die maatjies alles los en spaander na juffrou toe. Vinnig gaan sit hulle 'n lang ry. Melissa en Barry sit langs mekaar en kyk verwagtend op na juffrou wat met die skinkbord broodjies van die een kant af begin en al met die ry af beweeg om seker te maak dat elke kind 'n lekker kaas en ham toebroodjie kry.

"Dis lekker", sê Barry. Melissa se kop skud instemmend op en af. Haar mondjie is te besig om te eet om nou te praat.

Namiddag moet hulle eers 'n bietjie op hul matrassies gaan rus. Dis gou stil wanneer die maatjies een na die ander aan die slaap raak.

Na die slapie het hulle skaars tyd om hul vrugte te eet en sap te drink, dan hoor hulle die eerste mammas en pappas  aankom om hulle die een na die ander te kom haal. Melissa hardloop met oop arms na mamma toe en wanneer mamma buk, spring sy binne haar arms in om eers gou 'n drukkie te kry, voor mamma vir Jeneè ook gaan haal.

Op pad huistoe sit Melissa terug en mamma sit vir haar die storie van Nemo in die speler sodat sy 'n bietjie na die pragtige, ratse, slim vissie kan kyk en rustig raak. Sy hou Jeneè se handjie vas terwyl hulle ry en sy sien uit daarna om by die huis te kom en met haar speelgoed te speel voor aandete en badtyd  en miskien ... miskien... sien sy vanaand weer die tuinfeetjie as sy baie saggies in die tuin gaan rondkyk...

ARE THESE THE FOUNDATIONS THAT WE LIVE BY AND BUILD ON?

I am at present reading a book that was first published in Great Britain in 1932!

It is a 'spiritual novel' if you will allow me to call it that - the story of a church that had become lukewarm in it's preaching, teaching, and the Christian walk of its members - it reminded me very much of the Church of God all over the western world to-day...

The name of this book is  "A Modern Pentecost", and the author is, or was, Charles E Robinson.

I think it was more than coincidence that I chanced upon this book at our church library immediately after the last devotion that I wrote on this blog...

Anyway, the story goes that the church board decided to invite a pastor to take charge of the specific congregation as they had been without a pastor for a while, and this newly invited pastor, certain Dr. Rollins, set before the church executive a set of seven points that the congregation would have to agree to in order for him to consider accepting the invitation to become the pastor of the congregation.

I quote the seven points hereunder:

"1.   The Bible is to be taken as God's Word and therefore true, and no one will be permitted to dispute anything in it.

2.   The church is in the serious business of soulsaving, and this business every member must work at. No enterprises for money-making will be engaged in.

3.   It is a function of the church to find and minister to the poor of the entire community; and to bring the gospel message to all, by the printed page. It must also look after poor brethren, and strive to love back into active service any erring ones.

4.   This will call for a force of deaconesses and assistant pastors, and, in time, for the erection of a school in which workers can be trained.

5.   All this will make necessary large financial resources, and because of this all of us must live economically and bring into the church treasury such of our income as we can spare, never less than a tenth.

6.   Because allowing members who live worldly or wicked lives to remain in the church would seriously hamper the work of soul-saving, such persons must either repent and live rightly, or have their unworthiness published.

7.   Prayer is to be recognised as the means of releasing the power of God for the running of the church, and daily meetings for prayer will be held." (Quoted from : A modern pentecost, Chas E Robinson, page 72)

I was challenged by the above.  Are you? Do we live according to these principles; this foundation?

The book carries on to tell how members of the church were first taught that in order to pray to God for miracles, they needed first to believe that God could perform the miracles that they prayed for, and in order to believe that God could perform such miracles they had to be able to establish from the Word of God that it was reasonable to expect that God would do such miracles.

They were also taught that any unrepented sin would automatically cloud their ability to believe that God could do what they asked of Him and therefore it was of the utmost importance that they would live lives that were holy and wholly committed to the Lord and that each prayer would start by praising God for who He is, thanking Him for what He had already done, including the sacrifice on the cross, and then to repent of any and all sin that they might have committed since their previous prayer session, BEFORE asking ANYTHING of God. Only once they believed that God had heard and answered their  prayers for forgiveness and were reasonably assured according to the Word of God that they had reason so to believe, could they proceed to ask God for the miraculous!

I ask that you think about this... I challenge myself and you to think and pray about it... I challenge myself and you to live according to these principles and to talk about them and incorporate them into your congregation and to see what God will do in and through our lives!

Will you accept the challenge?

                  "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were
                   cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,
                   I will vomit you out of My mouth. Rev. 3:15-16

Are you cold? Hot? Lukewarm?

Father God, thank you for your precious Son, Jesus Christ, who died for our sins. Father, will you, for Christ's sake, please forgive every unrepented sin to this minute, and help us to live holy and wholly commited lives to Your glory and honour and to the extension of Your Kingdom on earth. We thank You in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

WHAT IS RECORDED IN OUR DIARIES?

Some of us keep diaries - some faithfully, others sporadically.

Some of us tweet on twitter; some chat on facebook; some send sms's on the phone...

We keep in touch... we tell what is happening in our daily lives... what we think, do, hope to achieve, dream...

Jesus said:

                    "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he
                     will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My
                     Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father
                     may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."
                     John 14: 12-14

I read these words again this morning and asked myself:

If I were to read a book recording, lets say, the last 10 years of my life, how many times would I read that I had:

Laid hands on the sick, prayed for them and they were healed?
My shadow had fallen on someone and he/she was healed?
When last have I turned water into wine?
When last have I fed thousands with a few fish and loaves?

When last... when last... when last?

And you?

What has gone wrong in our lives?
Why are we not doing 'greater works'?

Is it because I lack boldness?
Do I lack faith?

Or is it because we do not have the confidence to ask God to do miracles through us because we feel guilty about some sin or unrighteousness in our lives?

Or are the words uttered by Jesus not true?

Yet, they have been proven true and reliable, because the apostles did many miracles in His Name... and so have many other children of God through the ages...

What then is missing from my walk with God? What ingredients or qualities are missing from my life?
What does God need from me in order for Him to perform 'greater works' thru me?

I have decided to examine my life... my deeds... my thoughts... my faith... God's Word...  and to find the answers...

Will you also?

Thank You, Lord, that we know You have not lost Your power. Thank You that You remain the same, yesterday, today and forever. Help me, Lord, to act on Your word and in the mighty name of Jesus.

HEIRS OF THE FATHER IN TERMS OF THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF CHRIST

If there is one thing that we can be sure of it is that each one of us will eventually die. You don't get out of this life alive! And because we know that, and because all human beings gather things around them, like moss gathering on a stone, we all need a Last Will and Testament, spelling out exactly which of our possessions we are leaving to whom, even if we do not have very much in the way of earthly goods.

If we do not leave a Will we cause unnecessary problems for those left behind, unless there is only one left behind, who can then do according to his or her own wishes.

And whilst it may be important to us to leave our descendants or spouses our earthly goods, there are other treasures which are more important to leave them.

Jesus also left a will and testament. Paul tells us the following about the last supper Jesus had with his disciples before He was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane:

                   "After the same manner also He took the cup, after He had eaten, saying, This
                    cup is the new testament in my blood: this do you, as often as you drink it, in 
                    remembrance of Me."  1 Cor. 11:25 

We wish for our children to have a home after we are gone. That is why it is so important for us to try and ensure that our homes are fully paid at the time of our demise, or that we at least have bond insurance cover to pay off the balance outstanding at our death, so that they will own a bond free home.

Jesus also promises us a debt free home. He said:

                    "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have
                     told you. I go to prepare a place for you." John 14:2

So there is an ETERNAL home for each one of us not only left to us by Jesus, but PREPARED for us by Him.

We  leave treasures to our heirs so that they will remember us - why? Because we hope that will ensure that we live on in their minds (if not forever, then at least until they die).

One of the treasures that Jesus gave us is eternal life! Not the thought of eternal life, not life until we die, or our earthly heirs die, but the real thing - life for all eternity!

We want to make provision so that our children will have an education, even if we should no longer be around to see them benefit from it.

Jesus said:

                  "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that
                  he may abide with you for ever; ... But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,
                  whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring
                  all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:16,26

We want our children to be couragous, not fearful, to live peaceful lives... Jesus said:

                  "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give
                  I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14: 27

We want our children to have enough to eat and to wear and to feel valuedas a person. Jesus said:

                  "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or
                  what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life
                  more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the
                  air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly
                  Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by
                  worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about
                  clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor
                  spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed
                  like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is,
                  and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you,  
                 O you of little faith?" Matt. 6: 25-28

Does it not make sense to make sure that we, and our children, are heirs of the Lord Jesus Christ who has provided everything we may ever need? How do we do this?

                  "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things
                   shall be added to you." Matt. 6: 33

1.   Accept Christ as our personal Saviour;
2.    Live a godly life as an example to our children;
3.   Lead our children to the Lord.

It is never too late to do any of the above. Even if our children are already grown and have flown the nest - even if we are already in your 80's or 90's or have reached 100, still, it is possible for us to achieve the above.

The other night I was listening to a radio programme regarding the human brain. The learned medical men told that grooves have developed in our brains as a result of everything that we have learnt and done and experienced to date. Something like the old grammophone records. So the same tunes are being played all the time... the same actions,  the same habits, the same thought patterns... like eating, riding a bike, driving... automatically, experiencially developed over years, of which the first six years of our lives are, of course, the most important. But they also told that new brain cells are developed all the time... and unless we USE THEM in new directions, for new hobbies, new topics of learning, forming new habits, we will never use them... they will be wasted.

This has been proven... think of a person paralysed in an accident, losing the ability to walk, because of an injury to that part of his/her brain which controlled the action of walking who has had to learn to walk all over again.... or talk again... or write or paint with his/her  toes... or speak through a opening in the throat...

                " And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing
                 of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and
                 perfect will of God." Rom. 12: 2

So, if we have not lived according to God's will to date, let us renew our minds, starting now, storing the knowledge of God's word and will in our minds, using those new stem brain cells, and making new grooves in our minds and those of our children teaching them how to live according to God's will and to become  heirs not only of us, who can only leave them temporary treasures, but heirs to God who has made them heirs with Christ of everything in heaven for all eternity.

Thank You, Lord, for our minds, which You have created so wonderfully to enable us to be renewed at all times. Thank You for leaving us Your Word and Your Spirit to teach and to guide us to become heirs of the Father. Help us not to waste those new brain stem cells which You give us daily.

INTERNAL INCREASE AND GROWTH EVEN IN OLD AGE

Watching my mom, aged 88 years and 5 months, who incidentally has now reached the age where she has become the oldest of all her brothers and sisters (6 each) and her late mom and dad, becoming more frail by the day is a revelation to me.

I watch and see her strenth diminishing on a daily basis. To take a shower has become an effort; to dress and undress a chore which leaves her tired and needing a rest; to make a cup of tea, a nuisance to be avoided. She, who used to be up at 6 and busy scurrying around the house and doing all her work herself and managing her garden all day, every day, now goes to the dining hall, eats, and comes back and rests. She takes a walk around the building, and returns to her room to rest. She is in bed by 5.30 pm and has lost interest in most things, although she now listens to the news three or fours times a day.

Her eating habits have changed; she no longer enjoys her food as she used to; she is more fussy about what she will and will not eat; she eats less. She has cut out certain foods which she used to love before.

I have often said that I would like to ask the Lord one day, why our physical bodies have to age - why we should carry the signs of our age on the outside, when on the inside we still feel the same as when we were young and full of energy and life?

Watching my mom, I have come to realise that there are things that become unnecessary; things that we lay off; desires that wane; actions that fall away - we enter a time of reflection... we think back on our lives, dwell on our memories, our achievements, regret our mistakes...

Sometimes this stage of our lives is  the only stage at which we come to a standstill - are forced, in fact to come to a stop because we are, in fact, no longer physically mobile or agile. And I have come to realise that we are given this time to focus on the eternal. To take our minds off the physical, which we can no longer achieve, to concentrate on the spiritual and the life hereafter - a time to reflect on and perhaps ask forgiveness for things done, errors made, wrong choices, wrong decisions, hurtful things said and done to others during the course of our lives, sometimes in ignorance, sometimes negligently, sometimes in anger, or in passion.

Maybe the people that we have harmed or hurt have themselves, already passed away, and then we have time to ask God to forgive us instead.

We have time to think on and forgive others who have harmed or hurt us. We have time to look around and see who we can encourage, because although we may feel that we are going through hard times, there are always those who suffer more, endure more pain, more loss, more depravity...

We have time and opportunity to pray with those around us, perhaps in the same retirement complex, who are suffering; time to ensure that they know God and have experienced His love and forgiveness; time to help those whom we know to be experiencing the same physical hardships as us, to also experience the same spiritual blessings that we do.

In short we have time to prepare ourselves for the eternal:

The Scripture that comes to mind is:

                   "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power
                    may be of God and not of us. We are had-pressed on every side, yet not
                    crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken;
                    struck down, but not destroyed- always carrying about in the body the dying
                    of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
                    For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life
                    of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." 2 Cor. 4: 7 - 11

Thank You, Lord, that Your love never fails, and that You remain with us always - even in old age. Thank You that we never have to doubt Your presence in our lives. Thank You, that there is a purpose even in this season of our lives and that we can live it to Your honour and glory. Thank You for the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Help us to not focus on our disabilities but on that which we can still do to assist others in similar circumstances.

Lila-may, die tuinfeetjie

Dis skemer aand - dit begin nou  donker word, want die son het reeds ondergegaan.

Melissa sit op die trappie by die voordeur en kyk hoe baljaar die drie honde op die grasperk. Tyler en Zoë is worshondjies; Tyler, die reuntjie of seuntjie hond, is swart en Zoë, die tefie of meisie hond is bruin. Caley is 'n groot, pikswart Deense hond en hy is baie mooi en kan baie vinnig hardloop. Melissa en mamma en pappa is baie lief vir hulle honde en die honde pas hulle almal baie mooi op. As daar iemand by die hekkie is, laat die honde dadelik vir hulle weet deur hard te blaf en na die hek te hardloop.

Melissa roep vir Zoë en sy kom gehoorsaam na haar aangehardloop op haar kort bakbeentjies. Wanneer sy by Melissa kom, steek Melissa haar hand uit om aan Zoë te vat en Zoë lek liefderik aan Melissa se vingertjies voordat sy langs haar op die trappie gaan lê. Zoë sug tevrede wanneer Melissa haar vingers deur die kort, reguit hare op haar ruggie trek. Sy maak eintlik haar ogies bot toe om diè lekkerte te geniet.


'n Rukkie sit die tweetjies so stil en dan sit Zoë meteens regop met gespitste oortjies. Sy het iets gehoor...
Melissa ook... sy is seker sy het iemand saggies hoor lag. Sy kyk vinnig rond, of sy vir mamma iewers sien, maar daar is niemand!

Sy luister weer aandagtig - daar, sy het dit weer gehoor! So 'n klokhelder, rinkelende laggie... amper soos  die geluid wat die windklokkies maak wanneer die wind deur hulle waai.

Zoë vlieg vinnig regop, trap van die trappie af en begin in die rigting van die geluid draf, koppie effens skeef gedraai. Sy beweeg in die rigting van die blombedding naby die swembad, en staan dan stil en luister.

Nou is alles weer stil... behalwe vir die gesnork en geproes van Caley & Tyler wat nog op die grasperk speel.

Melissa staan ook op en loop agter Zoë aan. Zoë het intussen tot by die bedding geloop en druk haar spitsneusie onder die lang, groen blare van 'n agapant plant in en snuif-snuif asof sy op die spoor is van iets wat in die donker onder die blare op die grond beweeg.

Dan is daar 'n skielike  wr.r.r.r.r.... beweging van fyn vlerkies en woerts vlieg iets tussen Zoë en Melissa deur! Melissa gaan sit plat op haar boudjies op die paadjie langs die bedding. Haar grys-groen ogies is amper so groot soos pierings van verbasing. Zoë gee sulke fyn kef-blaffies en spring al in die rondte van opgewondenheid.

Melissa vryf haar ogies met haar vuisies. "Het sy dit regtig gesien of het sy nie", wonder sy.

Mamma kom by die voordeur uit.

"Bad tyd, Melissa", roep sy, "waar is jy?"

Melissa spring op: "Mamma, mamma, ek het nou net 'n feetjie in die tuin gesien" babbel sy opgewonde, terwyl sy na haar mamma toe hardloop.

"Regtig pop? Waar?" vra mamma.

"Hier tussen die blare van die plante mamma", sê sy. "Nou kom ons kyk gou of ons haar weer kan vind", sê mamma met 'n glimlag.

Hand aan hand loop hulle op hulle tone terug na die plante. Melissa sit haar vingertjie voor haar mond en beduie saggies vir mamma: "Sjt". Sy skud haar blonde koppie heen en weer dat haar bokstertjie so swaai om mamma te laat verstaan dat sy nie hard moet praat en die feetjie wegjaag nie. Hulle lig versigtig die blare een vir een op en loer oral tussen hulle rond, maar hulle sien net 'n paar klein, swart miertjies wat nog haastig heen-en-weer skarrel om genoeg kossies in hul huisie in te dra en een bruin kewertjie wat sy vlerkies wegvou en hom regwoel om die nag rustig in 'n knus hoekie tussen die plantwortels te kan deurbring.

Die grond ruik lekker want Esegiël het laatmiddag die grond tussen die plante omgeskoffel en daarna het die besproeiing stelsel al die plante natgespuit en druppeltjies water klou nog soos pêreltjies aan party van die plante se blare.

"Ai, dis nou jammer", sê mamma, "kom, ek dink jy en sussie moet nou eers gaan bad. Ons sal môre weer kyk of ons dalk die feetjie kan sien".

Gou-gou is Melissa en haar babasussie, Jeneè, in die bad omring met hul helderkleurige speelgoed vissies, emmertjies en skulpies en dit is 'n prettige gelag en gespat van water soos die tweetjies hulleself in die water geniet. Jeneè sit in 'n spesiale sitplekkie sodat sy nie kan omval in die water nie en mamma en pappa hou 'n ogie oor die tweetjies.

Maar Melissa se gedagtes dwaal kort-kort af en dan dink sy weer aan die feetjie... sy kom nie eers agter toe mamma haar gesig, oortjies en nek was nie...

Nou babbel sy weer opgewonde oor die pragtige feetjie met fyn, blink vlerkies wat selfs in die halfdonker geskitter het met al die blink reënboogkleure! Sy wens dis al môre dat sy weer na haar kan gaan soek.

Dan borsel sy eers gou haar tandjies. Pappa droog hulle mooi af, trek hulle nagkleertjies aan en Mamma sit vir Jeneè  in haar bababedjie met 'n bottel lekker, louwarm melk. Wanneer die melk op is, is sy vas aan die slaap en in droomland.

Pappa gaan sit by Melissa op haar bedjie in haar kamer en lees vir haar die storie van Babalela... o sy hou so baie van hierdie storie, dat sy dit amper al woord vir woord uit haar kop uit ken!

Dan, wanneer hulle klaar gelees het, en Klaasvakie klaar sy sandjies in haar ogies gestrooi het, bid sy en pappa eers en dan deel sy en pappa en mamma drukkies en soentjies en word sy snoesig toegemaak. Haar laaste gedagte is aan die feetjie wat sy môre wil gaan soek... Haar ogies is reeds toe en voor sy haar kom kry is sy in feetjieland en baljaar sy saam met die feetjies tussen die blomme en plante rond. Sy glimlag in haar slaap...

IMITATE ME... ?

I was very privileged to have my beloved son and his lovely family visiting me over the
Festive Season. Their eldest daughter, Melissa, will be three years old next month.

One morning, I was bent over, vigorously brushing my hair forward and quite enjoying the exercise when she suddenly asked me, "Ouma, what are you doing?"

"Just making sure my hair gets a thorough brushing", I replied. "Oh", was the non-committal response I got and the next minute she darted off towards the bedroom where her mom and dad slept.

A while later my son came into the lounge. "Melissa is standing in the bedroom, bent over, and brushing her hair with long strokes", he said, "just like her mom does".

He was unaware of our earlier little conversation, but the point I want to make is that even at that age, and much before that also, little ones imitate us... and most of the time we are totally unaware of what they are taking in, whilst watching us. And then, when they copy us, we are amazed to see "how clever they are... " Everything they see and hear are stored in their minds. I heard someone say just the other day that up to the age of six years old, every new thing they see, every colour, smell, action, word, animal, shape, even on television, everything that is new to them, automatically is filed in the brain for future reference.

Is it not amazing, if not frightening, to think that we, everyone in the household, family, circle of friends and acquintances, teachers, fellow pre-schoolers, ministers, etc. etc. are co-responsible for how that child develops - what gets stored in that mind... I have often heard a parent say: "Now where would he/she get that from? Where has she/he heard that word?"

Who and what do we expose our children to? Do we ever even think about that? And if we notice some action, or hear a word that we would not like our children to copy, do we, even during those early years, think to tell them not to copy that or do we reason, or hope, that they are too young to notice or to be influenced? Do we know what they watch on television?

Who do we, as adults, imitate?

Paul says:

                   "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." 1 Cor. 11:1

Jesus extends the following invitation:

                    "... Come, follow me... "  Matt. 4:18-20

Thank You, Lord, that You have given us Your Son as an example to imitate and to follow. Help us to not lead others astray by our example, actions and words, but to imitate You so that others may be imitators of You by imitating us.

I AM NOTHING ... BUT CAN DO ALL THINGS... THROUGH CHRIST

Whether we can believe it or not the third day of the New Year, 2012, has arrived and is almost done. May I wish you all a wonderfully satisfying and fulfilling 2012.

There is the tale of the two donkeys chatting... says the first donkey:

" I cannot understand it... yesterday, people threw palm leaves and clothes before me to tread on... when I was carrying Jesus into Jerusalem ... today, nobody knows I exist"; says the second donkey, "that's the way it is - without Jesus you are nothing"!

This is true.

There is a song we sing: "Without Him I can do nothing. Without Him I'd surely fail; without Him I would be drifting - like a ship without a sail..."

This also is true.

But there is another truth, recorded in the Word of God :

                 "For by You I can run upon a troop; by my God I can leap over a wall."
                  Ps. 18:29

and

                  "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil. 4:13

Let us then not believe the first two truths only, BUT ALSO believe these two truths from His Word and let us go boldly facing this new year in His strength, for He has promised : "I will be with you always until the end of the age."

Thank You, Lord, that Your Word remains the ULTIMATE TRUTH - now and always. Help us to live according to Your truth and not act as if we are insecure, fearful, or without confidence as we start this year 2012, with all the wonderful opportunities, challenges and joys that it holds for each and every one of us.