In recent years, we the citizens of South Africa, had on numerous occasions been plunged in total darkness - first, the darkness fell unexpectedly, and we were left in total confusion, with meals half-cooked, visiting with friends or family and suddenly finding ourselves in total blackness, unable to see each other or proceed with whatever task or activity we were engaged in.
We came to name this darkness "load shedding". Later, the darkness became a normal part of everyday life to the extent that official schedules were published to "enlighten" us as to when we could expect this temporary darkness, normally for two hours at a time!
This inconvenient disrupting of our lives were as a result of the inefficiency and inadequacy of our electricity supplier. In other words, it was not the fault of every citizen in the country, but practically every citizen in the country, except those is distant rural areas, who had to make do without electricity anyway, were impacted by load shedding.
At present our country is experiencing a different kind of "load shedding"; a different kind of darkness. The difference being that this seems to be of a more permanent and damaging nature.
It does not matter what your religious beliefs are, or what your political leanings may be, or your cultural background, we are all suffering from this temporary darkness which engulfs our nation: the turmoil, corruption, dysfunction and dissention within our Government and the absolute anarchy of students who claim the privilege of tertiary education as their right and who not only demand the right thereto but also demand to be given it free of charge! What rebellion! What arrogance!
This does not bode well for our country's future. Corruption and crime are so rife as to have become the norm of the day!
What a pity!
What a shame!
What a disgrace to our country and to every upright citizen of our beautiful land!
What a shocking reality that the person who is supposed to lead our diverse nation, is causing our country to be the laughing stock of the world and is reducing our economy to rubbish status by the ridiculous decisions and attacks on those who are trying to uphold the morality and ethics in our land. What an absolute unacceptable reality that he refuses to see the error of his ways, acts like a aging demented monarch, and refuses to make way for someone more capable to take his place! What a shame that a faction of the ruling party still cover for him and uphold his position within the party and government with seemingly no regard to the damage to our country's economy.
What a sin that murders are committed in our country everyday. That we are killing one another whether in passion or premeditated. And the murders are not necessarily committed by strangers, but by those who are supposed to be our nearest and dearest!
Who can forget the wonderful, glorious time when this nation unanimously voted for a democratic land and government? And I think if records be disclosed, that day also depicted a marked reduction in crime of whatsoever kind. We were too busy being one; being a nation!
Who will ever forget the day when in 1995 Madiba donned the Springbok Rugby jersey and walked onto the field to congratulate our national rugby team who had just been the victors in the Rugby World Cup competition and this nation stood tall and revelled in the glory of our national heroes and our unity?
We spread light and glory to all the rest of the world.
But there came a time when our not so famous current President took it upon himself to proclaim and declare that the ruling party would reign until the day that Jesus, the Christ, returned!
What presumption!
How could any appointed leader of the elected ruling party make such a grievous mistake in his representation of our nation as to challenge the Almighty God?
However, as we have since found out: God is not challenged. This was clearly shown by the outcome of the recent municipal elections when the ones who would 'reign until the return of Christ' lost all the big metropolitan cities and became a rural party! What a shame! What a turnabout!
We are called to be light in this world. We are called to be the salt of the earth. Salt is used in changing from negative to positive, to cleanse, act as an disinfectant for wounds, to stay colours in the process of dyeing, to keep a rational balance in the brain, to give taste to food, to bring out the taste of the other ingredients, in other words, to be a positive element and influence all around.
When salt, however, is used to build roads and loses its saltiness, it becomes something to be trampled on - and useless for all other purposes.
Even if it would seem that we cannot expect such behaviour and influence from some of our rulers, we can, each one of us individually and as a nation, live lives that will show the rest of the world that there are also positive aspects to our beloved country; that we do have heroes - think of Wayde van Niekerk's glorious feats in the recent Olympics; think of all the medals brought home by our paralympic and Down Syndrome athletes! Wow! Wasn't that something? Think of the upright standing and righteous ways of our Thuli Madonsela! What a woman! Voted one of the most influencial people in the world: not because of her riches and possessions but because of her righteousness! Our Paralympic athletes may be physically handicapped, but their spirits are whole and buoyant! Remember what amazing goals they were able to achieve notwithstanding their physical handicaps! Consider what extra effort it took for them to do so!
Remember every deed of kindness towards yourself just during the past month! Remember the ones who served you with a smile during the week! Remember every helping hand along your way. Remember that we are one of the countries to enjoy the most sunfilled days. Remember our unique flora! Remember our big five! Remember our glorious beaches! Remember that we are a nation worshipping God Almighty! Remember that God blesses those who honour and worship Him! Remember Madiba's dream for our country!
Come on South Africans! Let us not be useless; let us not lose our saltiness and lie down and let our country be trampled on. Let us rally, shine and overcome the spiritual load shedding that seems to have pervaded our government and country in part. Let us not lack a sense of responsibility, let us not allow our minds and spirits to be corrupted. Let us be light in this darkness! Darkness cannot prevail against light!
Each ons of us can achieve this, and many already are! Think about the organizations that go about speading good cheer in our communities; providing warmth and food and medical care. Our national rugby team may not be the number one in the world right now, but I know that some of them give of their time and efforts to share their skills with the unskilled and underprivileged and to act as role models in character for those who have no other role models to emulate in their lives. I was proud watching them each leading a handicapped child onto the field when they played against the Barbarians at Wembley over the weekend!
Matt: 5: 13-14 :
"You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its saltiness, how can
it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be
thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city
on a hill cannot be hidden, neither do people light a lamp and put it under
a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the
house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see
your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (NIV)
Mr President, I am sure you understand that your life, actions and decisions are viewed by all in the world. Are you being light or are your actions declaring that you have lost your "saltiness"?
Let's go South Africa! Let's once again show the spirit of 1995! Let's show the Spirit of the Word and show the world that we can and will overcome our present difficulties and once again spread light and be a role model in the world.
Thank You, Lord, that Your Word declares that we are to be salt and light to this world that we occupy. Please help us to be the salt and light that You intended us to be.
Sunday 6 November 2016
Monday 24 October 2016
EVER FAITHFUL
For the last two weeks, I have been feeling rather grotty if I may be allowed the use of that word.
It is Spring, and hayfever is caused by pollen and such in the air, which in turn sometimes leads to sinusitis, which in turn can cause more serious infections because of the nasal drip that accompany these conditions.
Last night, I developed a headache, backache, and a temperature. I got into bed early drinking a hot toddy consisting of boiling water, lemon, honey and ginger. I downed a pain and fever reliever with it and settled down to do some serious reading.
The phone buzzed informing me that my youngest who lives in the USA was in ER undergoing scans because of severe abdominal pain.
Not what I wanted to hear at that moment. I shot up a prayer to the Lord for help, healing and assistance for her, phoned and asked them to keep me updated and carried on reading.
Af'ter some hours, the phone rang. It was my daughter saying that doctors cannot find a thing wrong and that the pain has subsided. Thank You, You are indeed ever faithful.
Back to sleep.
We are planning to go to Johannesburg for a week, leaving tomorrow, to attend a wedding on the 29th. What with feeling under the weather, and my husband generally not being well, I got up this morning wondering whether we should try and cancel our flights and stay at home instead.
I sat down in my prayer corner and saw my diary open on the kist in front of me. The text at the bottom of the page is Proverbs 3:26:
"For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from
being caught."
I opened Joshua Cooley's book of devotions 'The one year devotions with Jesus' at today's date. The Scripture for the day is 2 Cor. 12:9:
"Each time (the Lord) said, "My grace is all you need. My power works
best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so
that the power of Christ can work through me."
I then read Psalm 138. Verses 7 - 8 says:
"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will REVIVE me (Capitals "
inserted); You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my
enemies, and Your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that
which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; do not
forsake the works of Your hands."
Thank You, Lord, that you are ever faithful to all creatures great and small! Thank You that we may boast that Your strength works best in our weaknesses.
It is Spring, and hayfever is caused by pollen and such in the air, which in turn sometimes leads to sinusitis, which in turn can cause more serious infections because of the nasal drip that accompany these conditions.
Last night, I developed a headache, backache, and a temperature. I got into bed early drinking a hot toddy consisting of boiling water, lemon, honey and ginger. I downed a pain and fever reliever with it and settled down to do some serious reading.
The phone buzzed informing me that my youngest who lives in the USA was in ER undergoing scans because of severe abdominal pain.
Not what I wanted to hear at that moment. I shot up a prayer to the Lord for help, healing and assistance for her, phoned and asked them to keep me updated and carried on reading.
Af'ter some hours, the phone rang. It was my daughter saying that doctors cannot find a thing wrong and that the pain has subsided. Thank You, You are indeed ever faithful.
Back to sleep.
We are planning to go to Johannesburg for a week, leaving tomorrow, to attend a wedding on the 29th. What with feeling under the weather, and my husband generally not being well, I got up this morning wondering whether we should try and cancel our flights and stay at home instead.
I sat down in my prayer corner and saw my diary open on the kist in front of me. The text at the bottom of the page is Proverbs 3:26:
"For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from
being caught."
I opened Joshua Cooley's book of devotions 'The one year devotions with Jesus' at today's date. The Scripture for the day is 2 Cor. 12:9:
"Each time (the Lord) said, "My grace is all you need. My power works
best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so
that the power of Christ can work through me."
I then read Psalm 138. Verses 7 - 8 says:
"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will REVIVE me (Capitals "
inserted); You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my
enemies, and Your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that
which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; do not
forsake the works of Your hands."
Thank You, Lord, that you are ever faithful to all creatures great and small! Thank You that we may boast that Your strength works best in our weaknesses.
Friday 21 October 2016
AT THE RIGHT TIME
What is the saying: Good things come to those who wait?
Some six months ago, I may even be more, maybe nine months is more correct, I was chatting to a friend of mine in Durban. She is a devout believer and ever busy labouring in God's Kingdom.
She sounded a bit out-of-sorts, if I may use another expression and I asked what the worry was. No worry, she said, just frustrated and impatient. She felt very seriously that the Lord wanted her to do something new, but as much as she asked and waited, she felt no prompting in her spirit about any one ministry or direction in which to move at the time.
I said "hang in there girl, it will come" having no idea what or when or how.
When we spoke again a few months later, she was even more impatient, more frustrated, still waiting, still asking....
In the meantime, down here in Cape Town, a young man from our congregation was appointed as National Coordinator of the Surfers Mission organization - it could even be that his appointment was more or less at the same time as my first mentioned conversation with my friend. Surfers Mission teach and assist surfers along the coastline of our country and tell them about the goodness of God and the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus, the Christ.
Friday morning, while we were in a missions meeting, discussing our own way forward here in Durbanville, Francois, who now resides in Jeffreys Bay, telephoned me. I promised to phone him back and promptly forgot! So, being the faithful man that he is, he phoned me back yesterday afternoon.
We caught up with news about their mission and ours and when I asked what their prayer needs were, he mentioned that they urgently needed a national prayer coordinator for their mission organization.
A light blazed in my mind! I knew exactly the right person for that job! My friend in Durban! She is a prayer warrior (have you seen the movie "War room"?). She is also intelligent, computer literate with uncapped internet access and best of all waiting to hear from the Lord regarding a new mission!
I mentioned all of this to Francois who was interested and became excited when he heard that she has been waiting on the Lord for a new mission! I promised to contact her and to send them each other's contact details.
Well, when I phoned her last night, she was immediately sure that this was exactly what she had been waiting for and she was very excited.
Now, we will just wait and see what the Lord is going to do in this instance!
Luke 11: 9-10:
"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will
find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks
receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be
opened."
Sometimes we have to be very patient and wait because that which we ask for is not quite ready, or the need does not yet exist, but will in the future - the exact time known only to God. Take heart, be patient, wait upon the Lord. He is faithful and will not disappoint if you ask according to His Will.
Thank You, Lord, that You know more exactly what it is we need than we do ourselves. Thank You that You will rather let us wait than give us something inferior.
Some six months ago, I may even be more, maybe nine months is more correct, I was chatting to a friend of mine in Durban. She is a devout believer and ever busy labouring in God's Kingdom.
She sounded a bit out-of-sorts, if I may use another expression and I asked what the worry was. No worry, she said, just frustrated and impatient. She felt very seriously that the Lord wanted her to do something new, but as much as she asked and waited, she felt no prompting in her spirit about any one ministry or direction in which to move at the time.
I said "hang in there girl, it will come" having no idea what or when or how.
When we spoke again a few months later, she was even more impatient, more frustrated, still waiting, still asking....
In the meantime, down here in Cape Town, a young man from our congregation was appointed as National Coordinator of the Surfers Mission organization - it could even be that his appointment was more or less at the same time as my first mentioned conversation with my friend. Surfers Mission teach and assist surfers along the coastline of our country and tell them about the goodness of God and the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus, the Christ.
Friday morning, while we were in a missions meeting, discussing our own way forward here in Durbanville, Francois, who now resides in Jeffreys Bay, telephoned me. I promised to phone him back and promptly forgot! So, being the faithful man that he is, he phoned me back yesterday afternoon.
We caught up with news about their mission and ours and when I asked what their prayer needs were, he mentioned that they urgently needed a national prayer coordinator for their mission organization.
A light blazed in my mind! I knew exactly the right person for that job! My friend in Durban! She is a prayer warrior (have you seen the movie "War room"?). She is also intelligent, computer literate with uncapped internet access and best of all waiting to hear from the Lord regarding a new mission!
I mentioned all of this to Francois who was interested and became excited when he heard that she has been waiting on the Lord for a new mission! I promised to contact her and to send them each other's contact details.
Well, when I phoned her last night, she was immediately sure that this was exactly what she had been waiting for and she was very excited.
Now, we will just wait and see what the Lord is going to do in this instance!
Luke 11: 9-10:
"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will
find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks
receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be
opened."
Sometimes we have to be very patient and wait because that which we ask for is not quite ready, or the need does not yet exist, but will in the future - the exact time known only to God. Take heart, be patient, wait upon the Lord. He is faithful and will not disappoint if you ask according to His Will.
Thank You, Lord, that You know more exactly what it is we need than we do ourselves. Thank You that You will rather let us wait than give us something inferior.
Wednesday 19 October 2016
ON BEING A COMFORT TO OTHERS
Have you ever needed comfort? I have...
Paul, the apostle, also had a need to be comforted.
2 Cor. 1:3-5 :
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation,
that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the
comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
How did God comfort me?
By whattsapps from friends and family; the love of my children; the Word, the daily infusion of strength by the Holy Spirit of God, the expressions of love and sympathy from those around me; prayers of people from across the country; visits of friends; hugs, embraces.
Paul, also speaks of receiving comfort:
2 Cor.7:13:
"Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced
exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been
refreshed by you all."
The Word says that the Holy Spirit has come to be our Comforter. He comforts not as above with hugs, and kind words and embraces. From experience I have found that He comforts by empowering us to endure and overcome that which causes us to need comfort, whilst at the same time, allowing and directing other people around us to comfort us in the manner in which they, in their turn, have experienced comfort from others.
By being a comfort to another soul in distress, we ourselves will be comforted. The Word says when Job prayed for his friends, God changed his circumstances.
Be comforted, be uplifted, be blessed this day as you comfort someone on your way.
Thank You, Lord, that your Spirit and Word is given us to comfort and strengthen us from day to day.
Paul, the apostle, also had a need to be comforted.
2 Cor. 1:3-5 :
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation,
that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the
comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
How did God comfort me?
By whattsapps from friends and family; the love of my children; the Word, the daily infusion of strength by the Holy Spirit of God, the expressions of love and sympathy from those around me; prayers of people from across the country; visits of friends; hugs, embraces.
Paul, also speaks of receiving comfort:
2 Cor.7:13:
"Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced
exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been
refreshed by you all."
The Word says that the Holy Spirit has come to be our Comforter. He comforts not as above with hugs, and kind words and embraces. From experience I have found that He comforts by empowering us to endure and overcome that which causes us to need comfort, whilst at the same time, allowing and directing other people around us to comfort us in the manner in which they, in their turn, have experienced comfort from others.
By being a comfort to another soul in distress, we ourselves will be comforted. The Word says when Job prayed for his friends, God changed his circumstances.
Be comforted, be uplifted, be blessed this day as you comfort someone on your way.
Thank You, Lord, that your Spirit and Word is given us to comfort and strengthen us from day to day.
Thursday 13 October 2016
EVERLASTING, UNCHANGING GOD
I have just read Psalm 136 again.
The Contemporary English version says:
verse 1:
"Praise the Lord! He is good. God's love never fails."
The 1933 King James says:
"Give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth
forever."
The New King James version says:
"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy
endures forever."
The Amplified Bible says:
"O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-
kindness endure forever."
It does not matter how we translate it - the meaning, and the character of God, remain unchanged! Stop and think about that!
Thank You, Lord, for your love and mercy, Your grace towards mankind and your loving-kindness from day to day. Amid all the chaos that surrounds us, what would our planet be without You?
The Contemporary English version says:
verse 1:
"Praise the Lord! He is good. God's love never fails."
The 1933 King James says:
"Give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth
forever."
The New King James version says:
"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy
endures forever."
The Amplified Bible says:
"O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-
kindness endure forever."
It does not matter how we translate it - the meaning, and the character of God, remain unchanged! Stop and think about that!
Thank You, Lord, for your love and mercy, Your grace towards mankind and your loving-kindness from day to day. Amid all the chaos that surrounds us, what would our planet be without You?
Sunday 9 October 2016
A SHORT BUT EXTRAORDINARY VISIT
This afternoon after lunch I was standing in the doorway of our little home, intending to close the stable doors against the cool breeze, when I noticed the figure of a little lady slowly walking in the street passing our home.
As is usual in our little village, I called out a greeting when she got to within hearing distance. She diverted her steps and came towards the door, calling as she came close: "I must thank you for your beautiful garden. I live in a first floor apartment and whenever I go for my walkabout I so enjoy seeing all the lovely gardens around me".
I stepped out and met her outside... petite, rather fragile looking, with wisps of silver grey hair, huge almond shaped hazel eyes, and lovely accented Afrikaans. We introduced ourselves and during the course of our conversation I found out that she was in fact already in her eighties. We chatted for a few minutes, and soon found ourselves on which was obviously very well-loved mutual ground : our need to worship the Creator God for all the beauty surrounding us in nature, including gardens and their inhabitants of all possible kinds.
We took a short stroll in my garden and I picked a couple of branches of the bottle brush tree's beautiful red plumes, as well as a few twigs of a "fynbos" shrub bearing minute, yet perfect white flowers. Around the corner we added five of six golden blooms from the pincushion shrub of the protea family and we completed the posy by adding a few sprigs of lavender.
My, was my new friend chaffed! She could not thank me enough whilst carefully holding the flowers against her body with both hands. Her last remark as she started off towards her apartment was that she felt like a bride with her exquisite bouquet!
Looking at her retreating back, I realised that I had just experienced a moment of intense beauty and joy - as if I had been touched by something beautiful; as if a butterfly had settled on my hand for a few precious minutes!
I was also privileged today to have a bouquet of flowers delivered to my youngest daughter in the U.S.A to celebrate her birthday with her. What a joy!
How little it takes to change an ordinary day into an experience to remember - a thing of beauty!
The words of a childhood song echoed in my head:
"All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all...."
(Cecil F Alexander)
Thank You, Lord, for the bountiful beauty and blessings that you continue to provide that give us unlimited pleasure and joy; that we may also share it with those around us.
As is usual in our little village, I called out a greeting when she got to within hearing distance. She diverted her steps and came towards the door, calling as she came close: "I must thank you for your beautiful garden. I live in a first floor apartment and whenever I go for my walkabout I so enjoy seeing all the lovely gardens around me".
I stepped out and met her outside... petite, rather fragile looking, with wisps of silver grey hair, huge almond shaped hazel eyes, and lovely accented Afrikaans. We introduced ourselves and during the course of our conversation I found out that she was in fact already in her eighties. We chatted for a few minutes, and soon found ourselves on which was obviously very well-loved mutual ground : our need to worship the Creator God for all the beauty surrounding us in nature, including gardens and their inhabitants of all possible kinds.
We took a short stroll in my garden and I picked a couple of branches of the bottle brush tree's beautiful red plumes, as well as a few twigs of a "fynbos" shrub bearing minute, yet perfect white flowers. Around the corner we added five of six golden blooms from the pincushion shrub of the protea family and we completed the posy by adding a few sprigs of lavender.
My, was my new friend chaffed! She could not thank me enough whilst carefully holding the flowers against her body with both hands. Her last remark as she started off towards her apartment was that she felt like a bride with her exquisite bouquet!
Looking at her retreating back, I realised that I had just experienced a moment of intense beauty and joy - as if I had been touched by something beautiful; as if a butterfly had settled on my hand for a few precious minutes!
I was also privileged today to have a bouquet of flowers delivered to my youngest daughter in the U.S.A to celebrate her birthday with her. What a joy!
How little it takes to change an ordinary day into an experience to remember - a thing of beauty!
The words of a childhood song echoed in my head:
"All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all...."
(Cecil F Alexander)
Thank You, Lord, for the bountiful beauty and blessings that you continue to provide that give us unlimited pleasure and joy; that we may also share it with those around us.
Saturday 8 October 2016
BRETHERN/SISTERS WHO DWELL TOGETHER
Last night we attended a very special birthday party.
The birthday man is a respected businessman who had built up an international company, as well as a national company - he achieved and accumulated much in the business world.
He achieved all this success despite the fact that he is a diabetic. His very active life was how-ever, brusquely interrupted last year when he suffered a massive heart attack. The damage to his heart was, in fact, so severe that the professor who attended him was loath to operate on him at all. The medical man explained the very high risk to life; that that he might not live through the operation and left the decision to the patient and his family.
Let's call him Peter for the purpose of this entry. Peter and his family prayed about it, and whilst he was in hospital a very dear friend came to him and gave him the following verse from Scripture:
Ps. 118:17:
"I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord has
chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death."
Peter decided to make this Scripture his own and told his physician that they should proceed with the operation.
The rest is history! More than a year after the operation, we were privileged to celebrate his birthday with him. He told us that we, who were invited to share this celebration, were indeed hand-picked and although the invitations were sent out merely a week before the date of the event, it seems that everyone found the time to be there and one invitee from Botswana, just 'happened' to be in Cape Town at the right time.
The guests were varied - his physician attended, as well as his lawyer, his accountant, his p.a. of many years, some schoolfriends from Grade A, his wife, whom he dated from high school, his children, his grandchildren, members of their cell group from church, three pastors and their wives, friends - we were a motley group.
The purpose of the celebration he said in his speech about his life, is primarily to 'declare the works of the Lord'. He remarked that on the day he left the hospital, the professor saw him walking in the passage and shouted after him: 'You are a walking miracle, do you know that?' Secondly, it was to celebrate his birthday with us, to share this precious moment in his life. Thirdly, he declared his wife to be an angel from heaven. From my own experience, I agree with this statement!
Two of his grandsons were granted the privilege to ask him any questions they wanted and he had to answer within the 30 seconds allowed him by his p.a. One grandson wanted to know what he would receive for Christmas!
His one son-in-law talked about how after his operation, Peter who had been his father-in-law for years, became his father. His younger brother told how they were never close but how, after Peter's recovery, they have become closer and closer and are now sharing many precious moments.
Peter himself acknowledged the power of the prayers of his family and friends and the roll it played in his survival and recovery. His sickness and recovery brought together a band of about 70 - 80 people from all different walks of life in a bond that will always exist with him as the hub. We, although not all blood relatives of Peter and his wife, are in fact, their 'family' in our love and concern for them and their wellfare. Last night we all experienced what Ps. 133 sets out:
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in
unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard,
the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the
dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord
commanded the blessing- Life forevermore."
There is another similar situation playing itself out in Gauteng at the moment. This event involves my own family. Again the closely knit family is standing together in unity and in prayer. My daughter-in-law has set up a support group on whattsapp and this enables family and friends from all over to be involved in support, also with life and strength infusing prayer for the patient and loved ones. What miracles prayer bring about! What a miracle technology is! How we appreciate the privilege of being involved in this way. Prayer changes things! It has been proven times without count!
God willing we will also be able to celebrate another birthday next year in this greater family as well!
Thank You, Lord, that You answer prayer and recognise and value unity amongst brethren and sisters and that we are able to declare Your works from day to day in many different lives and circumstances surrounding and involving ourselves and our loved ones. Blessed be Your Name!
The birthday man is a respected businessman who had built up an international company, as well as a national company - he achieved and accumulated much in the business world.
He achieved all this success despite the fact that he is a diabetic. His very active life was how-ever, brusquely interrupted last year when he suffered a massive heart attack. The damage to his heart was, in fact, so severe that the professor who attended him was loath to operate on him at all. The medical man explained the very high risk to life; that that he might not live through the operation and left the decision to the patient and his family.
Let's call him Peter for the purpose of this entry. Peter and his family prayed about it, and whilst he was in hospital a very dear friend came to him and gave him the following verse from Scripture:
Ps. 118:17:
"I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord has
chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death."
Peter decided to make this Scripture his own and told his physician that they should proceed with the operation.
The rest is history! More than a year after the operation, we were privileged to celebrate his birthday with him. He told us that we, who were invited to share this celebration, were indeed hand-picked and although the invitations were sent out merely a week before the date of the event, it seems that everyone found the time to be there and one invitee from Botswana, just 'happened' to be in Cape Town at the right time.
The guests were varied - his physician attended, as well as his lawyer, his accountant, his p.a. of many years, some schoolfriends from Grade A, his wife, whom he dated from high school, his children, his grandchildren, members of their cell group from church, three pastors and their wives, friends - we were a motley group.
The purpose of the celebration he said in his speech about his life, is primarily to 'declare the works of the Lord'. He remarked that on the day he left the hospital, the professor saw him walking in the passage and shouted after him: 'You are a walking miracle, do you know that?' Secondly, it was to celebrate his birthday with us, to share this precious moment in his life. Thirdly, he declared his wife to be an angel from heaven. From my own experience, I agree with this statement!
Two of his grandsons were granted the privilege to ask him any questions they wanted and he had to answer within the 30 seconds allowed him by his p.a. One grandson wanted to know what he would receive for Christmas!
His one son-in-law talked about how after his operation, Peter who had been his father-in-law for years, became his father. His younger brother told how they were never close but how, after Peter's recovery, they have become closer and closer and are now sharing many precious moments.
Peter himself acknowledged the power of the prayers of his family and friends and the roll it played in his survival and recovery. His sickness and recovery brought together a band of about 70 - 80 people from all different walks of life in a bond that will always exist with him as the hub. We, although not all blood relatives of Peter and his wife, are in fact, their 'family' in our love and concern for them and their wellfare. Last night we all experienced what Ps. 133 sets out:
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in
unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard,
the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the
dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord
commanded the blessing- Life forevermore."
There is another similar situation playing itself out in Gauteng at the moment. This event involves my own family. Again the closely knit family is standing together in unity and in prayer. My daughter-in-law has set up a support group on whattsapp and this enables family and friends from all over to be involved in support, also with life and strength infusing prayer for the patient and loved ones. What miracles prayer bring about! What a miracle technology is! How we appreciate the privilege of being involved in this way. Prayer changes things! It has been proven times without count!
God willing we will also be able to celebrate another birthday next year in this greater family as well!
Thank You, Lord, that You answer prayer and recognise and value unity amongst brethren and sisters and that we are able to declare Your works from day to day in many different lives and circumstances surrounding and involving ourselves and our loved ones. Blessed be Your Name!
BRETHERN/SISTERS WHO DWELL TOGETHER
Last night we attended a very special birthday party.
The birthday man is a respected businessman who had built up an international company, as well as a national company - he achieved and accumulated much in the business world.
He achieved all this success despite the fact that he is a diabetic. His very active life was how-ever, brusquely interrupted last year when he suffered a massive heart attack. The damage to his heart was, in fact, so severe that the professor who attended him was loath to operate on him at all. The medical man explained the very high risk that he would not live through the operation and left the decision to the patient and his family.
Let's call him Peter for the purpose of this entry. Peter and his family prayed about it, and whilst he was in hospital a very dear friend came to him and gave him the following verse from Scripture:
Ps. 118:17:
"I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord has
chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death."
Peter decided to make this Scripture his own and told his physician that they should proceed with the operation.
The rest is history! More than a year after the operation, we were privileged to celebrate his birthday with him. He told us that we, who were invited to share this celebration, were indeed hand-picked and although the invitations were sent out merely a week before the date of the event, it seems that everyone found the time to be there and one invitee from Botswana, just 'happened' to be in Cape Town at the right time.
The guests were varied - his physician attended, as well as his lawyer, his accountant, his p.a. of many years, some schoolfriends from Grade A, his wife, whom he dated from high school, his children, his grandchildren, members of their cell group from church, three pastors and their wives, friends - we were a motley group.
The purpose of the celebration he said in his speech about his life, is primarily to 'declare the works of the Lord'. He remarked that on the day he left the hospital, the professor saw him walking in the passage and shouted after him: 'You are a walking miracle, do you know that?' Secondly, it was to celebrate his birthday with us, to share this precious moment in his life. Thirdly, he declared that his wife to be an angel from heaven. From my own experience, I agree with this statement!
Two of his grandsons were granted the privilege to ask him any questions they wanted and he had to answer within the 30 seconds allowed him by his p.a. One grandson wanted to know what he would receive for Christmas!
His one son-in-law talked about how after his operation, Peter who had been his father-in-law for years, became his father. His younger brother told how they were never close but how, after Peter's recovery, they have become closer and closer and are now sharing many precious moments.
Peter himself acknowledged the power of the prayers of his family and friends and the roll it played in his survival and recovery. His sickness and recovery brought together a band of about 70 - 80 people from all different walks of life in a bond that will always exist with him as the hub. We, although not all blood relatives of Peter and his wife, are in fact, their 'family' in our love and concern for them and their wellfare. Last night we all experienced what Ps. 133 sets out:
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in
unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard,
the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the
dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord
commanded the blessing- Life forevermore."
There is another similar tragic situation playing itself out in Gauteng at the moment. This event involves my own family. Again the closely knit family is standing together in unity and in prayer. My daughter-in-law has set up a support group on whattsapp and this enables family and friends from all over to be involved in support, also with life and strength infusing prayer for the patient and loved ones. What miracles prayer brings about! What a miracle technology is! How we appreciate the privilege of being involved in this way. Prayer changes things! It has been proven times without count!
God willing we will also be able to celebrate another birthday next year in this greater family as well!
Thank You, Lord, that You answer prayer and recognise and value unity amongst brethren and sisters and that we are able to declare Your works from day to day in many different lives and circumstances surrounding and involving ourselves and our loved ones. Blessed be Your Name!
The birthday man is a respected businessman who had built up an international company, as well as a national company - he achieved and accumulated much in the business world.
He achieved all this success despite the fact that he is a diabetic. His very active life was how-ever, brusquely interrupted last year when he suffered a massive heart attack. The damage to his heart was, in fact, so severe that the professor who attended him was loath to operate on him at all. The medical man explained the very high risk that he would not live through the operation and left the decision to the patient and his family.
Let's call him Peter for the purpose of this entry. Peter and his family prayed about it, and whilst he was in hospital a very dear friend came to him and gave him the following verse from Scripture:
Ps. 118:17:
"I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord has
chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death."
Peter decided to make this Scripture his own and told his physician that they should proceed with the operation.
The rest is history! More than a year after the operation, we were privileged to celebrate his birthday with him. He told us that we, who were invited to share this celebration, were indeed hand-picked and although the invitations were sent out merely a week before the date of the event, it seems that everyone found the time to be there and one invitee from Botswana, just 'happened' to be in Cape Town at the right time.
The guests were varied - his physician attended, as well as his lawyer, his accountant, his p.a. of many years, some schoolfriends from Grade A, his wife, whom he dated from high school, his children, his grandchildren, members of their cell group from church, three pastors and their wives, friends - we were a motley group.
The purpose of the celebration he said in his speech about his life, is primarily to 'declare the works of the Lord'. He remarked that on the day he left the hospital, the professor saw him walking in the passage and shouted after him: 'You are a walking miracle, do you know that?' Secondly, it was to celebrate his birthday with us, to share this precious moment in his life. Thirdly, he declared that his wife to be an angel from heaven. From my own experience, I agree with this statement!
Two of his grandsons were granted the privilege to ask him any questions they wanted and he had to answer within the 30 seconds allowed him by his p.a. One grandson wanted to know what he would receive for Christmas!
His one son-in-law talked about how after his operation, Peter who had been his father-in-law for years, became his father. His younger brother told how they were never close but how, after Peter's recovery, they have become closer and closer and are now sharing many precious moments.
Peter himself acknowledged the power of the prayers of his family and friends and the roll it played in his survival and recovery. His sickness and recovery brought together a band of about 70 - 80 people from all different walks of life in a bond that will always exist with him as the hub. We, although not all blood relatives of Peter and his wife, are in fact, their 'family' in our love and concern for them and their wellfare. Last night we all experienced what Ps. 133 sets out:
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in
unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard,
the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the
dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord
commanded the blessing- Life forevermore."
There is another similar tragic situation playing itself out in Gauteng at the moment. This event involves my own family. Again the closely knit family is standing together in unity and in prayer. My daughter-in-law has set up a support group on whattsapp and this enables family and friends from all over to be involved in support, also with life and strength infusing prayer for the patient and loved ones. What miracles prayer brings about! What a miracle technology is! How we appreciate the privilege of being involved in this way. Prayer changes things! It has been proven times without count!
God willing we will also be able to celebrate another birthday next year in this greater family as well!
Thank You, Lord, that You answer prayer and recognise and value unity amongst brethren and sisters and that we are able to declare Your works from day to day in many different lives and circumstances surrounding and involving ourselves and our loved ones. Blessed be Your Name!
Thursday 6 October 2016
A WEANED CHILD WITH HIS MOTHER
First, I want to thank each of the 10 002 people who have thus far visited this blog. I trust that you found a word, a Scripture, or a thought to comfort you, uplift you and to position you in the direction of a life fully aware of the circumsances in the lives of those around you and to understanding how much we each in our own lives have to be thankful for.
Ps. 131 has only three verses but what a picture David paints with his words:
"Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself
with great matters, nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed
and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is
my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever."
Like a weaned child.... not haughty, not driven by ambition, or lust, or greed after power or possessions, not anxious, fretful, or afraid, but cosy, secure, safe, satisfied, loved and cherished on the lap of the one person who knows what he/she needs and the one who will provide his/her needs when necessary!
"Hope in the Lord, O Israel!"
We need to calm our hearts and souls and know that God knows our needs and, in His ultimate wisdom, will supply what is truly necessary when it is truly needed.
Thank You, Lord, that we may be comforted in the knowledge that You know all and You are Jehovah Jireh, the Provider.
Ps. 131 has only three verses but what a picture David paints with his words:
"Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself
with great matters, nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed
and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is
my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever."
Like a weaned child.... not haughty, not driven by ambition, or lust, or greed after power or possessions, not anxious, fretful, or afraid, but cosy, secure, safe, satisfied, loved and cherished on the lap of the one person who knows what he/she needs and the one who will provide his/her needs when necessary!
"Hope in the Lord, O Israel!"
We need to calm our hearts and souls and know that God knows our needs and, in His ultimate wisdom, will supply what is truly necessary when it is truly needed.
Thank You, Lord, that we may be comforted in the knowledge that You know all and You are Jehovah Jireh, the Provider.
Tuesday 27 September 2016
THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE
I don't think there is a believer who is not acquainted with the words of 1 Cor. 13. Yet, the other morning, listening to the Word being preached from the pulpit, it struck me that we do not really pay enough attention to the contents of this, one of the most beautiful passages in the Word.
Love. I must have love. I must show love. The very foundation of my every thought, word and deed should be love.
The Lord Jesus said in answer to the question asked Him by a lawyer as to which is the greatest commandment in the law (can you just see that legal mind ticking away attempting to outsmart the Lord?):
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all
your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: "You
shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law
and the Prophets." Matt. 22: 37-40
Interesting last words: What do they mean? Simply that we cannot keep the Law or obey the prophets without love!
Read 1 Cor. 13 again, slowly...
Nothing I do is worth anything at all if it is not founded in love.
The biggest misconception we as human being suffer is that love is mere passion. Yes, of course, passion has its part in loving somebody, but true love asks a decision of your will. Augustinus says of God: "You love your creatures, but without passion." When you love as God does, unconditionally, viewing loved ones lovingly yet dispassionately, your judgment in critical situations will be more just, more lenient, more compassionate, more practical, more beneficial to them; selfless.
If we can convince ourselves to take this all-important decision before making our marriage vows, then, I believe, we will not have half the number of divorces taking place. Instead we will in critical situations be reminded that we had decided to love and keep loving this person, come what may...
Thank You, Lord, that your love is unending....everlasting, from generation to generation, forevermore.
Love. I must have love. I must show love. The very foundation of my every thought, word and deed should be love.
The Lord Jesus said in answer to the question asked Him by a lawyer as to which is the greatest commandment in the law (can you just see that legal mind ticking away attempting to outsmart the Lord?):
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all
your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: "You
shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law
and the Prophets." Matt. 22: 37-40
Interesting last words: What do they mean? Simply that we cannot keep the Law or obey the prophets without love!
Read 1 Cor. 13 again, slowly...
Nothing I do is worth anything at all if it is not founded in love.
The biggest misconception we as human being suffer is that love is mere passion. Yes, of course, passion has its part in loving somebody, but true love asks a decision of your will. Augustinus says of God: "You love your creatures, but without passion." When you love as God does, unconditionally, viewing loved ones lovingly yet dispassionately, your judgment in critical situations will be more just, more lenient, more compassionate, more practical, more beneficial to them; selfless.
If we can convince ourselves to take this all-important decision before making our marriage vows, then, I believe, we will not have half the number of divorces taking place. Instead we will in critical situations be reminded that we had decided to love and keep loving this person, come what may...
Thank You, Lord, that your love is unending....everlasting, from generation to generation, forevermore.
A MAN/WOMAN AFTER GOD'S HEART
What could it possibly mean to be a man/woman after God's own heart?
We often hear that King David of Old Testament times was a man after God's own heart. Yet, when we look at his life, it appears that he was as human as any one of us. He even planned another man's murder to be able to marry his widow! Shocking! Not something that many of us would do, or even contemplate!
What then is the secret of David's life?
When we research his life, we find that he feared no one. Just think about the Goliath incident! Or the time when he came so close to king Saul's person (knowing that Saul sought to kill him) that he could have cut off a piece of Saul's garment!
We also begin to understand that he revered and respected God. In this regard we only have to remember the time when the Israelites brought the ark back to Israel when Ussa died next to the ark because He stumbled and touched the ark, and when David refused to take the ark to his dwelling place as a result of his fear of God. We read about this in 2 Samuel chapter 6.
David sought God's will for his life. We often read how he first consulted God before going to war against other nations.
He loved praising and exalting God's name! We find lots of proof thereof in the Psalms and songs that he composed. He was not mindful of the opinions of others regarding his love and devotion to God.
We read in 2 Samuel 6:14:
"And David danced before the Lord with all his might, clad in a linen
ephod".
He encouraged others to praise and exalt God.
Ps. 117:
"O praise the Lord, all you nations! Praise Him, all you people! For
His mercy and loving-kindness are great toward us, and the truth and
faithfulness of the Lord endure forever."
He was not without sin, no, but, he was willing and ready to immediately confess his sin and to ask for God's forgiveness; to subject himself to whatever punishment, if any, the Lord would deem fair to meet out to him.
In other words, God took the number one place in David's life and God's honour was of paramount importance to him.
1 Samuel 17: 45-47:
"Then said David to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, a spear,
and a javelin, but I come to you in the Name of the Lord of hosts, the God
of the ranks of Israel, Whom you have defied. This day the Lord will
deliver you into my hand and I will smite you and cut off your head. And
I will give the corpses of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds
of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know there
is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saves not
with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into
our hands."
I am sure that David and his sling would have won a Gold Medal if he were to participate in the Olympic Games at any time!
David knew God, the Almighty.
He did not rely on his own strength, but on the Lord God.
He did not put his trust in people but his faith and trust was in the Lord God
He was prepared to act in the Name of the Lord God on behalf of his people.
He desired to build a house for the Lord God, where the nation could worship the Lord.
Would you therefore agree that when we look at the relationship between David and the Lord God, it is indeed possible for each one of us, man or woman, to also be close to the heart of God?
No, God certainly does not expect any one of us to go out and physically kill a giant, but we must also not limit what God can do in and through each of us.
One of the great men of God of the previous century once said: "The world, and God, is anxiously waiting to see what God can do in and through a man, or woman, who is totally devoted to Him."
By living in such a close relationship to God as David did, by continuously seeking His will for our lives, praising and exalting Him in what we think, say and do, we too will be enabled to do great things for God in our homes, our families, amongst our friends, in our neighbourhoods, our communities, and our countries.
It took one man, Noah, to build the ark. It took one man, Moses, and his brother, Aaron, to lead God's people out of Egypt. It took one man, Isaiah, to pray for a drought and three years later to pray for it to rain - our prayers are powerful instruments in the sight and hand of God.
It also does not matter what age we are. It was a young Samuel, not yet of school going age, to whom God gave a message to deliver to Eli. It was a teenager, Jeremiah, whom God annointed as prophet to His people, Israel. John, the baptist, was in his thirties when he was preaching repentance and baptism and preparing the way of our Lord. Paul, Peter and John, preached the Gospel, and wrote the books of the New Testament, when they were already old, infirm and even imprisoned.
2 Cor. 4:16 says:
"Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted,
and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is (progressively)
decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being (progressively)
renewed day after day." (Amplified Bible)
Also remember that God's mercies are new every morning and that He has promised that He will be ever present until the end of the age.
Rom 12:2 reminds us to "not be conformed to the world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you]." (Amplified Bible)
The most wonderful words ever uttered about any person is this : "He/she was a man after God's own heart".
Let's live it!
Thank You, Lord, that I also can be a woman after Your own heart. Please help me to reach this goal.
We often hear that King David of Old Testament times was a man after God's own heart. Yet, when we look at his life, it appears that he was as human as any one of us. He even planned another man's murder to be able to marry his widow! Shocking! Not something that many of us would do, or even contemplate!
What then is the secret of David's life?
When we research his life, we find that he feared no one. Just think about the Goliath incident! Or the time when he came so close to king Saul's person (knowing that Saul sought to kill him) that he could have cut off a piece of Saul's garment!
We also begin to understand that he revered and respected God. In this regard we only have to remember the time when the Israelites brought the ark back to Israel when Ussa died next to the ark because He stumbled and touched the ark, and when David refused to take the ark to his dwelling place as a result of his fear of God. We read about this in 2 Samuel chapter 6.
David sought God's will for his life. We often read how he first consulted God before going to war against other nations.
He loved praising and exalting God's name! We find lots of proof thereof in the Psalms and songs that he composed. He was not mindful of the opinions of others regarding his love and devotion to God.
We read in 2 Samuel 6:14:
"And David danced before the Lord with all his might, clad in a linen
ephod".
He encouraged others to praise and exalt God.
Ps. 117:
"O praise the Lord, all you nations! Praise Him, all you people! For
His mercy and loving-kindness are great toward us, and the truth and
faithfulness of the Lord endure forever."
He was not without sin, no, but, he was willing and ready to immediately confess his sin and to ask for God's forgiveness; to subject himself to whatever punishment, if any, the Lord would deem fair to meet out to him.
In other words, God took the number one place in David's life and God's honour was of paramount importance to him.
1 Samuel 17: 45-47:
"Then said David to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, a spear,
and a javelin, but I come to you in the Name of the Lord of hosts, the God
of the ranks of Israel, Whom you have defied. This day the Lord will
deliver you into my hand and I will smite you and cut off your head. And
I will give the corpses of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds
of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know there
is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saves not
with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into
our hands."
I am sure that David and his sling would have won a Gold Medal if he were to participate in the Olympic Games at any time!
David knew God, the Almighty.
He did not rely on his own strength, but on the Lord God.
He did not put his trust in people but his faith and trust was in the Lord God
He was prepared to act in the Name of the Lord God on behalf of his people.
He desired to build a house for the Lord God, where the nation could worship the Lord.
Would you therefore agree that when we look at the relationship between David and the Lord God, it is indeed possible for each one of us, man or woman, to also be close to the heart of God?
No, God certainly does not expect any one of us to go out and physically kill a giant, but we must also not limit what God can do in and through each of us.
One of the great men of God of the previous century once said: "The world, and God, is anxiously waiting to see what God can do in and through a man, or woman, who is totally devoted to Him."
By living in such a close relationship to God as David did, by continuously seeking His will for our lives, praising and exalting Him in what we think, say and do, we too will be enabled to do great things for God in our homes, our families, amongst our friends, in our neighbourhoods, our communities, and our countries.
It took one man, Noah, to build the ark. It took one man, Moses, and his brother, Aaron, to lead God's people out of Egypt. It took one man, Isaiah, to pray for a drought and three years later to pray for it to rain - our prayers are powerful instruments in the sight and hand of God.
It also does not matter what age we are. It was a young Samuel, not yet of school going age, to whom God gave a message to deliver to Eli. It was a teenager, Jeremiah, whom God annointed as prophet to His people, Israel. John, the baptist, was in his thirties when he was preaching repentance and baptism and preparing the way of our Lord. Paul, Peter and John, preached the Gospel, and wrote the books of the New Testament, when they were already old, infirm and even imprisoned.
2 Cor. 4:16 says:
"Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted,
and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is (progressively)
decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being (progressively)
renewed day after day." (Amplified Bible)
Also remember that God's mercies are new every morning and that He has promised that He will be ever present until the end of the age.
Rom 12:2 reminds us to "not be conformed to the world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you]." (Amplified Bible)
The most wonderful words ever uttered about any person is this : "He/she was a man after God's own heart".
Let's live it!
Thank You, Lord, that I also can be a woman after Your own heart. Please help me to reach this goal.
Friday 20 May 2016
I AM BLESSED BEYOND ALL EXPECTATIONS
I recently experienced something that very few people get to enjoy.
We celebrated five generations of women alive and well in our family.
WOW! What a blessing! That is quite something, don't you agree?
And best of all, we had no say or part in the achievement at all...it was all by the grace of God.
My mom who will be 93 in July; my eldest daughter, second eldest granddaughter who lives in Hillcrest, Durban, and her daughter, my only biological greatgranddaughter, aged only 8 months, all visited me at the same time.
Another visitor, my granddaughter's friend, who also hails from Durban, just happens to be a photographer! So we were able to make memories and capture the moments for future generations.
One particular photo is quite a treasure. The photographer captured all of our left hands on one photograph. Imagine, 92 years between the ages of the five hands displayed in one photo.
Over and above the blessing of this shared moment between five generations, I am also blessed to have not one but three children, 5 biological grandchildren - one grandson and 4 granddaughters - and one biological greatgranddaughter. Over and above that there is my son-in-law's daughter from a previous marriage and her little daughter and although we do not all live on one continent, we are all blessed to have a roof over our heads, food to eat every day and clothes to wear; we have people who love us and care for each other, who has each other's wellbeing at heart - what more can one ask for?
So, as you can see, I am abundantly blessed by the mercy and grace of God.
What is the difference between mercy and grace?
Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve; and grace is God giving us what we do not deserve....
There are wonderful blessings declared in the Word of God.
God promises Abraham that he will be blessed and that his children will be like the sand of the seas and the stars in the heavens. Obviously Abraham does not see all of these, but I am sure he also saw his children to at least the fifth generation, as he lived for a hundred years or more after the birth of his first son. If we look back in the Word, however, we see that God's promises were fulfilled and that Abraham's seed was indeed blessed to the utmost.
We may believe that all God's promises in our lives will also be fulfilled. There are, of course, conditions to the promises of God:
Deut. 28: 1-14:
"Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord
your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command
you today that the Lord your God will set you on high above all nations
of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you,
because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: "Blessed shall you be in
the country. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your
ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the
offspring of your flocks. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading
bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when
you go out. The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be
defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee
before you seven ways. the Lord will command the blessing on you in
your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless
you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. The Lord will
establish you as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of
the Lord your God and walk in His ways. Then all peoples of the earth
shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be
afraid of you and the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of
your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your
ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you.
The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the
rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand.
You shall lend to many nations but you shall not borrow. and the Lord
will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not
be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which
I command you today, and are careful to observe them. So you shall not
turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the
right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them." "
As I am typing this, it has started to rain outside - a confirmation to me of God's goodness and mercy to us all. We may be unfaithful at times, but God's faithfullness will remain at all times.
How blessed can one person be?
Thank You Lord, for your kindness, Your mercy, grace and faithfulness; for Your blessings which we may experience every day of our lives.
Much more if we are but willing to live according to the Will and ways of Almighty God.
We celebrated five generations of women alive and well in our family.
WOW! What a blessing! That is quite something, don't you agree?
And best of all, we had no say or part in the achievement at all...it was all by the grace of God.
My mom who will be 93 in July; my eldest daughter, second eldest granddaughter who lives in Hillcrest, Durban, and her daughter, my only biological greatgranddaughter, aged only 8 months, all visited me at the same time.
Another visitor, my granddaughter's friend, who also hails from Durban, just happens to be a photographer! So we were able to make memories and capture the moments for future generations.
One particular photo is quite a treasure. The photographer captured all of our left hands on one photograph. Imagine, 92 years between the ages of the five hands displayed in one photo.
Over and above the blessing of this shared moment between five generations, I am also blessed to have not one but three children, 5 biological grandchildren - one grandson and 4 granddaughters - and one biological greatgranddaughter. Over and above that there is my son-in-law's daughter from a previous marriage and her little daughter and although we do not all live on one continent, we are all blessed to have a roof over our heads, food to eat every day and clothes to wear; we have people who love us and care for each other, who has each other's wellbeing at heart - what more can one ask for?
So, as you can see, I am abundantly blessed by the mercy and grace of God.
What is the difference between mercy and grace?
Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve; and grace is God giving us what we do not deserve....
There are wonderful blessings declared in the Word of God.
God promises Abraham that he will be blessed and that his children will be like the sand of the seas and the stars in the heavens. Obviously Abraham does not see all of these, but I am sure he also saw his children to at least the fifth generation, as he lived for a hundred years or more after the birth of his first son. If we look back in the Word, however, we see that God's promises were fulfilled and that Abraham's seed was indeed blessed to the utmost.
We may believe that all God's promises in our lives will also be fulfilled. There are, of course, conditions to the promises of God:
Deut. 28: 1-14:
"Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord
your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command
you today that the Lord your God will set you on high above all nations
of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you,
because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: "Blessed shall you be in
the country. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your
ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the
offspring of your flocks. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading
bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when
you go out. The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be
defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee
before you seven ways. the Lord will command the blessing on you in
your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless
you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. The Lord will
establish you as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of
the Lord your God and walk in His ways. Then all peoples of the earth
shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be
afraid of you and the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of
your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your
ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you.
The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the
rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand.
You shall lend to many nations but you shall not borrow. and the Lord
will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not
be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which
I command you today, and are careful to observe them. So you shall not
turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the
right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them." "
As I am typing this, it has started to rain outside - a confirmation to me of God's goodness and mercy to us all. We may be unfaithful at times, but God's faithfullness will remain at all times.
How blessed can one person be?
Thank You Lord, for your kindness, Your mercy, grace and faithfulness; for Your blessings which we may experience every day of our lives.
Much more if we are but willing to live according to the Will and ways of Almighty God.
Wednesday 18 May 2016
REACHING THE GOAL
Last week Friday, an ex-colleague of mine passed away.
That was upsetting.
She was alone when she died.
That is upsetting.
We were unable to find out the exact cause of death, although she went home early on Thursday because she felt very sick.
That is upsetting.
There will be no funeral, or remembrance service, or celebration of her life.
That is even more upsetting.
She held temporary jobs at different places. We tried to organise a small get-together to remember her and pray together at the company where she worked the longest, but was refused on the grounds that it would be inconvenient to accommodate staff members of competing companies - that was upsetting to the extreme.
Jeanine* was a about my age.
Sometimes she appeared to be larger than life. She was loud, and did not mind expressing her opinions or her emotions to one and all. In her younger years, she lived hard, played hard, smoked heavily, drank abundantly, and was financially comfortable, owning her own company, home and car, but she never had any children of her own.
Playing the game too hard, she lost everything she had.
From that point forward, life became a battle in more ways than one.
Then about 5-6 years ago, give or take a year or two, she went into a coma and landed in hospital. Nobody, including Jeanine, was able to tell us exactly what had gone wrong in her body. She was in a coma for quite a while, about two weeks, if my memory serves me correctly.
Once she was back at work, I took time to get closer to Jeanine. We would sit in the office in the evenings, tele-marketing together. At this time, her vehicle was in a state of disrepair, so I would offer her a lift home and on the way we would stop off at a nearby Spur restaurant and have a meal, especially on the evenings when they had specials, when we each enjoyed a meal and paid only for one! What a bargain!
We got talking about life, it's difficulties, challenges, disappointments, heartaches, victories, laughs, joys, and eventually about God and His purpose for our lives. Jeanine had lost her faith in God after having lost everything. She decided that He either did not care or did not exist.
I pointed out to her that God was so gracious and merciful to her, that although she had lost everything through her own wrong and misguided decisions, she had never gone to bed without food, always had a roof over her head, was employed, had colleagues who cared, and above all else God gave her a second chance in life when she awoke from the coma.
She was very thankful for that second chance and came to admit that she could thank nobody for that except the Almighty!
Jeanine was like every other person on earth. Romans 3:23 says:
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
We all make mistakes; we all take risks; we all make poor decisions - we all try to live life 'my way' until we come to the realisation that our track leads to a dead-end : a cul-de-sac.
She had reached hers in a coma in hospital BUT she was given a second chance at life, at making the right choices and decisions; at choosing to believe once again that God is alive and well and very much aware of what we are doing with our lives.
Romans 3: 24 - 26 became truth in her life:
"being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation, by His blood, through faith, to
demonstrate His righteousness because in His forbearance God had passed
over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present
time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who
has faith in Jesus".
What a blessing to witness the return of joy in her life.
After I retired, we seldom saw one another again, but kept in touch by E-mail from time to time.
I met her in a shopping centre per chance a couple of months ago and although she was still her positive, joyful self, she complained about her health not being good and I saw that her legs and feet were very swollen.
That was the last time I saw her.
Now she is gone.
The words of 2 Tim. 4:7 comes to mind:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith".
.... that she did! That indeed, was her ultimate achievement! Notwithstanding the terrible hurdles and obstacles in her way, she finished the race keeping the faith! Although for a little while she stumbled, and lay on the track not believing that she could carry on, she got up and notwithstanding the circumstances, she prevailed - she completed the race!
Heb. 12:1-2:
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let
us run with endurance the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus, the
author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before Him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God."
On Sunday morning, sitting in church, I watched a severely handicapped man, his left arm drawn up againt his body, his left hand deformed, his right hand clutching a walking stick with the help of which he was slowly, painfully, making his way to his pew to participate in the praise singing and to listen to the Word, and I could not help thinking "This man is a witness to all of us who are physically whole, who so easily take going to church and participating in the service for granted."
Jeanine's life, and that of this man are testimony to the power of God to keep us in the race - to activate our faith - to testify to the greatness of God Almighty.
Their battle was as real as any battle fought in the boxing ring, but it was not a battle against other human beings.
Ephesians 6:12 says:
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against
spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Let us therefore not be discouraged at what this world and life may throw at us. Let us look at the cloud of witnesses around us who show us how to live and how not to live, let us live as set out in Phillipians 3: 14:
"I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18:
"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 descend 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. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we
shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these
words."
Thank You, Lord, that your Word is a comfort in all circumstances. Thank You, for all the witnesses around us showing us the way not to live, and the right way to live to Your glory.
That was upsetting.
She was alone when she died.
That is upsetting.
We were unable to find out the exact cause of death, although she went home early on Thursday because she felt very sick.
That is upsetting.
There will be no funeral, or remembrance service, or celebration of her life.
That is even more upsetting.
She held temporary jobs at different places. We tried to organise a small get-together to remember her and pray together at the company where she worked the longest, but was refused on the grounds that it would be inconvenient to accommodate staff members of competing companies - that was upsetting to the extreme.
Jeanine* was a about my age.
Sometimes she appeared to be larger than life. She was loud, and did not mind expressing her opinions or her emotions to one and all. In her younger years, she lived hard, played hard, smoked heavily, drank abundantly, and was financially comfortable, owning her own company, home and car, but she never had any children of her own.
Playing the game too hard, she lost everything she had.
From that point forward, life became a battle in more ways than one.
Then about 5-6 years ago, give or take a year or two, she went into a coma and landed in hospital. Nobody, including Jeanine, was able to tell us exactly what had gone wrong in her body. She was in a coma for quite a while, about two weeks, if my memory serves me correctly.
Once she was back at work, I took time to get closer to Jeanine. We would sit in the office in the evenings, tele-marketing together. At this time, her vehicle was in a state of disrepair, so I would offer her a lift home and on the way we would stop off at a nearby Spur restaurant and have a meal, especially on the evenings when they had specials, when we each enjoyed a meal and paid only for one! What a bargain!
We got talking about life, it's difficulties, challenges, disappointments, heartaches, victories, laughs, joys, and eventually about God and His purpose for our lives. Jeanine had lost her faith in God after having lost everything. She decided that He either did not care or did not exist.
I pointed out to her that God was so gracious and merciful to her, that although she had lost everything through her own wrong and misguided decisions, she had never gone to bed without food, always had a roof over her head, was employed, had colleagues who cared, and above all else God gave her a second chance in life when she awoke from the coma.
She was very thankful for that second chance and came to admit that she could thank nobody for that except the Almighty!
Jeanine was like every other person on earth. Romans 3:23 says:
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
We all make mistakes; we all take risks; we all make poor decisions - we all try to live life 'my way' until we come to the realisation that our track leads to a dead-end : a cul-de-sac.
She had reached hers in a coma in hospital BUT she was given a second chance at life, at making the right choices and decisions; at choosing to believe once again that God is alive and well and very much aware of what we are doing with our lives.
Romans 3: 24 - 26 became truth in her life:
"being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation, by His blood, through faith, to
demonstrate His righteousness because in His forbearance God had passed
over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present
time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who
has faith in Jesus".
What a blessing to witness the return of joy in her life.
After I retired, we seldom saw one another again, but kept in touch by E-mail from time to time.
I met her in a shopping centre per chance a couple of months ago and although she was still her positive, joyful self, she complained about her health not being good and I saw that her legs and feet were very swollen.
That was the last time I saw her.
Now she is gone.
The words of 2 Tim. 4:7 comes to mind:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith".
.... that she did! That indeed, was her ultimate achievement! Notwithstanding the terrible hurdles and obstacles in her way, she finished the race keeping the faith! Although for a little while she stumbled, and lay on the track not believing that she could carry on, she got up and notwithstanding the circumstances, she prevailed - she completed the race!
Heb. 12:1-2:
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let
us run with endurance the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus, the
author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before Him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God."
On Sunday morning, sitting in church, I watched a severely handicapped man, his left arm drawn up againt his body, his left hand deformed, his right hand clutching a walking stick with the help of which he was slowly, painfully, making his way to his pew to participate in the praise singing and to listen to the Word, and I could not help thinking "This man is a witness to all of us who are physically whole, who so easily take going to church and participating in the service for granted."
Jeanine's life, and that of this man are testimony to the power of God to keep us in the race - to activate our faith - to testify to the greatness of God Almighty.
Their battle was as real as any battle fought in the boxing ring, but it was not a battle against other human beings.
Ephesians 6:12 says:
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against
spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Let us therefore not be discouraged at what this world and life may throw at us. Let us look at the cloud of witnesses around us who show us how to live and how not to live, let us live as set out in Phillipians 3: 14:
"I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18:
"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 descend 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. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we
shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these
words."
Thank You, Lord, that your Word is a comfort in all circumstances. Thank You, for all the witnesses around us showing us the way not to live, and the right way to live to Your glory.
Wednesday 17 February 2016
WARFARE
Have you seen the movie entitled "War room"?
If you haven't, well, do yourself a favour...
WOW!
In war, or any battle, especially spiritual warfare, you need a few things:
You need to know your enemy;
you need to know what the battle is all about;
you need to know your strength;
you need to wear your armour;
you need to know your weapons and how to use them;
you need to know and trust your Commander;
you need to fight in unity.
Eph. 6:12 says :
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against
spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
The enemy identified.
1 Peter 5: 8:
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like
a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
His aim and purpose exposed.
Hab: 3:19:
"The Lord God is my strength, He will make my feet like deer's feet,
and He will make me walk on my high hills."
Your strength is declared.
Eph. 6:13:
"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you my be able to withstand
in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Your protection and strategy.
Eph. 6:14-18:
"Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breast-
plate of of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the
gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be
able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always
with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all
perseverence and supplication for all the saints-"
Your armour and weapons are explained and always available.
Col. 1:18:
"And He (Christ) is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."
He is your Commander.
John 17:20-21:
"I (Christ) do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in
Me through their word; that they all may be one as You, Father, are in Me,
and I in You; that that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe
that You sent Me."
Unity.
Matt. 20: 18-20:
"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to
Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am
with you always, even to the end of the age."
Your mission.
When you watch the movie "War room" you will observe all the above principles taking place in so many easy steps for you to follow. Go and triumph. The battle is God's; the victory yours!
Thank You, Lord God, that Your word is explicit in its explanations and orders; trustworthy and easy to obey!
If you haven't, well, do yourself a favour...
WOW!
In war, or any battle, especially spiritual warfare, you need a few things:
You need to know your enemy;
you need to know what the battle is all about;
you need to know your strength;
you need to wear your armour;
you need to know your weapons and how to use them;
you need to know and trust your Commander;
you need to fight in unity.
Eph. 6:12 says :
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against
spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
The enemy identified.
1 Peter 5: 8:
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like
a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
His aim and purpose exposed.
Hab: 3:19:
"The Lord God is my strength, He will make my feet like deer's feet,
and He will make me walk on my high hills."
Your strength is declared.
Eph. 6:13:
"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you my be able to withstand
in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Your protection and strategy.
Eph. 6:14-18:
"Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breast-
plate of of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the
gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be
able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always
with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all
perseverence and supplication for all the saints-"
Your armour and weapons are explained and always available.
Col. 1:18:
"And He (Christ) is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."
He is your Commander.
John 17:20-21:
"I (Christ) do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in
Me through their word; that they all may be one as You, Father, are in Me,
and I in You; that that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe
that You sent Me."
Unity.
Matt. 20: 18-20:
"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to
Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am
with you always, even to the end of the age."
Your mission.
When you watch the movie "War room" you will observe all the above principles taking place in so many easy steps for you to follow. Go and triumph. The battle is God's; the victory yours!
Thank You, Lord God, that Your word is explicit in its explanations and orders; trustworthy and easy to obey!
Tuesday 2 February 2016
TO BELIEVE AND CONFESS
Under the heading "Jesus forgives and heals a paralytic" we read in Matthew 9 from verse 4:
"But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your
hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you.' or to say,
'Arise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power
on earth to forgive sins' " - then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up
your bed, and go to your house".
We learn a number of things from this passage of Scripture:
One: Jesus, the Son of God, knows our thoughts - the thoughts of all people.
Two: He is capable of healing the sick.
Three: He has the power to forgive sins.
Four: He desires to do both.
Five: He uttered to words : "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house" to the paralytic - and he was healed.
Jesus Himself believed and knew that He was able to and had the power to heal and forgive.
In the same chapter, from verse 18 we read of two more miracles. In verse 20 we read:
"And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years
came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to
herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well."
Again we learn a few things from this woman:
One: She believed that Jesus could heal her.
Two: She said so to herself. She spoke the words; she confessed her faith.
Three: She extended her faith, her words, into action - she touched His garment.
Many of us believe....
We believe that we are sinners;
we believe that Jesus is Lord;
we believe that He can and wants to forgive us;
we believe that He can heal us;
we ask for His forgiveness;
we ask for healing;
we may even believe that He has forgiven us, healed us, but we fail to confess it and so we hinder our faith from going into action.
Believe it, say it, see it - act upon it!
Thank You, Lord, that You and You alone are able and willing to forgive our multiple sins and heal us and create in us a new man/woman to Your glory.
"But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your
hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you.' or to say,
'Arise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power
on earth to forgive sins' " - then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up
your bed, and go to your house".
We learn a number of things from this passage of Scripture:
One: Jesus, the Son of God, knows our thoughts - the thoughts of all people.
Two: He is capable of healing the sick.
Three: He has the power to forgive sins.
Four: He desires to do both.
Five: He uttered to words : "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house" to the paralytic - and he was healed.
Jesus Himself believed and knew that He was able to and had the power to heal and forgive.
In the same chapter, from verse 18 we read of two more miracles. In verse 20 we read:
"And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years
came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to
herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well."
Again we learn a few things from this woman:
One: She believed that Jesus could heal her.
Two: She said so to herself. She spoke the words; she confessed her faith.
Three: She extended her faith, her words, into action - she touched His garment.
Many of us believe....
We believe that we are sinners;
we believe that Jesus is Lord;
we believe that He can and wants to forgive us;
we believe that He can heal us;
we ask for His forgiveness;
we ask for healing;
we may even believe that He has forgiven us, healed us, but we fail to confess it and so we hinder our faith from going into action.
Believe it, say it, see it - act upon it!
Thank You, Lord, that You and You alone are able and willing to forgive our multiple sins and heal us and create in us a new man/woman to Your glory.
Monday 25 January 2016
GLORY OR SERVITUDE?
I have been earnestly seeking God's face wanting to see more of His glory in my life.
During the night, the question arose in my heart, "What exactly do you want from God?"
This morning, I decided to find out the meaning of the word glory:
The Strong's New Exhaustive Bible Dictionary I consulted, has a number of meanings for this word: weight, splendour, copiousness, honour, magnificence, beauty, comeliness, excellency, majesty, to be clear, also of sound, but usually of colour, hence to make a show, and in a bad sense it could therefor mean also to boast, and thus to be (clamorously) foolish, to rave, to be exalted above others.....
That is as far as I got determining the meaning of the word, when suddenly the small still voice that we all know, said to me:
"but that is not at all what I have in mind for you, my child. I specifically sent My Son, Jesus, to the earth to set the perfect example for you: even when He rode into Jerusalem and was hailed King by the crowds, He did so on a donkey. His whole life on earth was dedicated to service to others, to washing the feet of His disciples, to a life of dedication to My will; to obedience unto death. That is what I have in mind for you."
And that is and will be enough for me.
"Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into
His hands, and that He had come from God and was
going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His
garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that,
He poured water into a basin and began to wash the
disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with
which He was girded." John 13:3-5
God's glory belongs to Him to distribute as He thinks fit.
Thank You, Lord, that You are always there to answer our questions, and to indicate the correct path that you wish us to follow; that You have provided the only true example we will ever need.
Monday 18 January 2016
REMEMBERING WHO?
We watched the movie War Room for the second time last night...
You come away not remembering the arguments between the husband and wife; your memories are not really about the lack of attention the young daughter experienced, or the deception of the husband, or even the names of the characters - the lasting memories are those of the two prayer closets, the prayer warrior, and the faithfulness of Almighty God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
We would all like to be remembered for being perfect and for our perfect lives, don't we? But we can never attain that.
But if we remember during our lifetimes that we have our being in Him and that:
"For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we
live we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore,
whether we live or die, we are the Lord's." (Romans 14:7-8)
remembering Him in all our ways; loving and serving others as Jesus did, then, when we die, He will be remembered!
What a wonderful legacy that would be to leave to the world and our loved ones!
Father God, thank You for your legacy to us - your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Your Holy Spirit and your inspired Word. Help us to leave a legacy of love, servitude and devotion that will point our loved ones to You even when we are no longer around.
Friday 15 January 2016
GOD CANNOT NOT DELIVER
God's promises are true - He cannot not deliver.
2 Cor.1:20 says:
"For all the promises of God in Him are Yes and in Him Amen,
to the glory of God through us."
Isaiah 48:11:
"For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; For how should
My name be profaned. And I will not give My glory to another."
God will keep and perform His promises. We do not have to concern ourselves with that. His promises are set and cast by His spiritual laws. He is God. Nothing is impossible to Him.
We need only concern ourselves with keeping the conditions attached to His promises for them to be performed in our lives. The conditions also, form part of the spiritual laws by which His promised are governed.
Thank You, Lord, that because You are God, and because Your glory cannot be shared, You will keep and perform you promises. Help us to fulfil the conditions attached to Your promises, so that Your glory can shine forth in our lives and your faithfulness shall shine in and through us.
2 Cor.1:20 says:
"For all the promises of God in Him are Yes and in Him Amen,
to the glory of God through us."
Isaiah 48:11:
"For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; For how should
My name be profaned. And I will not give My glory to another."
God will keep and perform His promises. We do not have to concern ourselves with that. His promises are set and cast by His spiritual laws. He is God. Nothing is impossible to Him.
We need only concern ourselves with keeping the conditions attached to His promises for them to be performed in our lives. The conditions also, form part of the spiritual laws by which His promised are governed.
Thank You, Lord, that because You are God, and because Your glory cannot be shared, You will keep and perform you promises. Help us to fulfil the conditions attached to Your promises, so that Your glory can shine forth in our lives and your faithfulness shall shine in and through us.
Wednesday 13 January 2016
GOOD NEWS!
Up to now, this has been a day of beauty and good news.
My granddaughter, Melissa, is attending grade 1 this year and school started today. Her new teacher is young, beautiful and according to the photograph I have just received, her smile radiates friendliness and the ability to care.
Melissa is very excited about this new adventure in her life, and so are her parents. She is their first-born, so this is also a new and exciting experience for them.
I have just learned that my youngest sister's youngest daughter is pregnant with her second child!
What a blessing! What a joy to look forward to!
I have received, via my cellphone, lovely photo's of Melissa in her new schoolwear, her teacher, my sister's four grandchildren and all these lovely smiley faces have definitely put a smile on my face also.
Another photo I received is of my sister's husband. His head is prematurely bald, and I can see that his face is quite swollen, due to the last chemotherapy treatment he underwent a few days ago, but, standing with a grandchild on his arm, there is a big smile on his face as well.
That smile, in the circumstances, is priceless!
A good day full of good news and smiles.
I want to add to the good news of the day:
John 3:16 :
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believed in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life."
Thank You, Lord, for a wonderful day, for good news, for lovely smiles. Thank You that in You we have the ability to smile at and in the storms of life, because we know that You are with us and eternal life is as much a reality as the sun shining on this beautiful morning.
My granddaughter, Melissa, is attending grade 1 this year and school started today. Her new teacher is young, beautiful and according to the photograph I have just received, her smile radiates friendliness and the ability to care.
Melissa is very excited about this new adventure in her life, and so are her parents. She is their first-born, so this is also a new and exciting experience for them.
I have just learned that my youngest sister's youngest daughter is pregnant with her second child!
What a blessing! What a joy to look forward to!
I have received, via my cellphone, lovely photo's of Melissa in her new schoolwear, her teacher, my sister's four grandchildren and all these lovely smiley faces have definitely put a smile on my face also.
Another photo I received is of my sister's husband. His head is prematurely bald, and I can see that his face is quite swollen, due to the last chemotherapy treatment he underwent a few days ago, but, standing with a grandchild on his arm, there is a big smile on his face as well.
That smile, in the circumstances, is priceless!
A good day full of good news and smiles.
I want to add to the good news of the day:
John 3:16 :
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believed in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life."
Thank You, Lord, for a wonderful day, for good news, for lovely smiles. Thank You that in You we have the ability to smile at and in the storms of life, because we know that You are with us and eternal life is as much a reality as the sun shining on this beautiful morning.
Tuesday 12 January 2016
I can recommend the following books from my personal library :
TITLE: AUTHOR
Tuesdays with Morrie Mitch Albom
Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen
The Secret Scripture Sebastian Barry
Die Indringer Dricky Beukes
Eiland van Toevlug Terri Blackstock
Royal Pardon William Bosch
Tabernakel Annelie Botes
Branded by Grace Chippy Brand
Living without Liesl Douwleen Bredenhann
Die Hemel verander alles Todd & Sonja Burpo
Die Belofte Kim & Krickitt Carpenter
Man of Two worlds William Cibane
Spore op die Bergpad Ben Conradie
the one year devotions with Jesus Joshua Cooley
Run, baby run Nicky Cruz
Little Dorritt Charles Dickens
The old Curiosity Shop Charles Dickens
Diepsinnig maar tog so eenvoudig David du Plessis
Swing lo, swing hi SJ du Toit
Whale Capital Chronicles 1 SJ du Toit
The Left-out Ones Lorna Eglin
Hedendaagse Wonderwerke Frank Foglio
Hey God Frank Foglio
Cranford Mrs. Gaskell
Ons Grootste Taak Norval Geldenhuys
How to be born again Billy Graham
A Painted house John Grisham
The Rainmaker John Grisham
Good Morning Holy Spirit Benny Hinn
Where Yesterday Lives Karen Kingsbury
Pippie Anice Kruger
Die Heilige Gees in Aksie vandag PD le Roux
Studies in die Bevryding van die Gees PD Le Roux
Granate bloei in Jerusalem Marzanne Leroux-Van der Boon
Eugene Aram Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton
Not without my Daughter Betty Mahmoody
A Man called Peter Catherine Marshall
To live again Catherine Marshall
Fanie word Grootwildjagter PJ Schoeman
Treasure Island RL Stevenson
Shooting the Moon Callie & Monique Strydom
Genoveva Chr. v Schmid
Meet Mrs. Smith Anna Smith
The Amplified Bible Various authors
Moed vir elke more Milanie Vosloo
Die Natuurwonder van Suider-Afrika Alf Wannenburgh
My eie Droomreis Bruce Wilkinson
TITLE: AUTHOR
Tuesdays with Morrie Mitch Albom
Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen
The Secret Scripture Sebastian Barry
Die Indringer Dricky Beukes
Eiland van Toevlug Terri Blackstock
Royal Pardon William Bosch
Tabernakel Annelie Botes
Branded by Grace Chippy Brand
Living without Liesl Douwleen Bredenhann
Die Hemel verander alles Todd & Sonja Burpo
Die Belofte Kim & Krickitt Carpenter
Man of Two worlds William Cibane
Spore op die Bergpad Ben Conradie
the one year devotions with Jesus Joshua Cooley
Run, baby run Nicky Cruz
Little Dorritt Charles Dickens
The old Curiosity Shop Charles Dickens
Diepsinnig maar tog so eenvoudig David du Plessis
Swing lo, swing hi SJ du Toit
Whale Capital Chronicles 1 SJ du Toit
The Left-out Ones Lorna Eglin
Hedendaagse Wonderwerke Frank Foglio
Hey God Frank Foglio
Cranford Mrs. Gaskell
Ons Grootste Taak Norval Geldenhuys
How to be born again Billy Graham
A Painted house John Grisham
The Rainmaker John Grisham
Good Morning Holy Spirit Benny Hinn
Where Yesterday Lives Karen Kingsbury
Pippie Anice Kruger
Die Heilige Gees in Aksie vandag PD le Roux
Studies in die Bevryding van die Gees PD Le Roux
Granate bloei in Jerusalem Marzanne Leroux-Van der Boon
Eugene Aram Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton
Not without my Daughter Betty Mahmoody
A Man called Peter Catherine Marshall
To live again Catherine Marshall
Fanie word Grootwildjagter PJ Schoeman
Treasure Island RL Stevenson
Shooting the Moon Callie & Monique Strydom
Genoveva Chr. v Schmid
Meet Mrs. Smith Anna Smith
The Amplified Bible Various authors
Moed vir elke more Milanie Vosloo
Die Natuurwonder van Suider-Afrika Alf Wannenburgh
My eie Droomreis Bruce Wilkinson
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