I say a little prayer for you

As a Christian, we often say to each other, will keep you in my prayers, you are in my prayers, etc. 

but are we actually praying for each other? Are we actually saying: Jesus, here is XXX,this is what is happening to him/her. Can you please help?"

Do we? Or has it just become a thing we Christians say because it's we're unable to say anything else? 

It's so easy to send that little prayer emoji and then we think we're being there for that person. But is that what Jesus wants us to do? 

I think Jesus is tired of us making empty promises to each other about praying for each other and using His name when we make this promise. 

Perhaps we should say less and just pray more 

Anton-gone too soon

My liewe jeugmaatjie. Maat Anton. Gone too soon my friend. We're so shocked at your sudden passing. How do we make sense of this? Why did God let you die at your son's cricket match? Why did God let your son witness this. Oh Lord, only you know but my human mind is so confused, my soul in anguish and my heart is broken. 

We've share so many precious memories. The last few years as we've all grown up and lead separate lives, we'd see each other in passing and always promise to braai soon. Ai, how fickle we as humans are. We don't do the things that matter when we're alive. And then when death steals away a friend we sit and look back at the what ifs. 

The last time I saw you, you'd just come out of the 7/11 and call out to me. I didn't recognize at first and then I heard that distinct chuckle in your voice. That voice so warm and friendly. And then your infectious smile. I was scolding at you for being a stranger and of course you're just the one laughing off my rant. 

Anton there are so many memories just flooding my mind. As youth mates, we all shared a special journey during very formative years of our lives. We witnessed each other becoming adults. Struggling to make sense of this world but knowing that being anchored in Christ we'd be ok. 

I'll never forget when you and Sandra started dating. You couldn't believe your luck that she loved you back. Remember that one day at youth, we were like having a serious biblical discussion and sitting in this circle. Suddenly you place a piece of paper in the middle of the circle which reads: Sandra, I love you. It was hilarious. And of course so sweet. 

You loved Sandra so much. She was literally your queen. Sandra my friend o don't know how you're gonna get through this. If we are all so heartbroken and devastated, how must you be feeling. Your other half is gone. 

Lord hear our silent prayers because words fail us righr now 

Random thoughts of the day

I haven't blogged in ages. There are various reasons for this but when one looks back on the reasons or rather excuses, they seem ridiculous. The same can be said for my prayer life and reading of the scriptures. I desire to have a better prayer life. I desire to read the scriptures more but I create amazing excuses to absolve myself from my laziness. Oh Lord, forgive this week soul.

and sadly this lack of discipline has spilled over into my diet and exercise plan. 2017 has been terrible thus far. I weigh more than I ever have yet the resistance for change is indescribably enormous. Have I given up on caring about my appearance? Why does it not bother me more? Why don't I care more than I do? I suspect that the elevated stress levels  have diminished my ability to care about my weight. I want to be better. I want to be fitter but wanting this is not helping me to actually do things. Oh Lord save me from my miserable self. Save me from my self-destructing behaviour. My spirit is willing but my flesh is weak. Save me...

Getting ready for the kitchen tea....

It's Wednesday eve, 4 sleeps before my sister's kitchen tea. 

I've been quite anxious about the event. Co-ordinating everything is quite frankly a full time job! I'm constantly worried that I've missed a step. Two nights in a row I dreamt that I pitched at the event on Sunday and I hadn't completed any of the tasks I was supposed to perform. 

Well tonight I made sue that about 80% of my work is done for Sunday. Ai, the life of the perfectionist is a tiring one. I've been cutting, licking, pasting and tying things for the kitchen tea for 5 hours straight.   But at least I predict better sleeping and dreaming tonight. 

I pray this event will run smoothly and everyone, especially Ilse will have fun. 

The Joy of The Lord is my strength.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. (Psalm 28:7 NIV)

Today I am truly touched by the joy of The Lord. I don't know how to describe it, I cannot define it, it's just part of my being. 

We had what could have been a potentially difficult meeting tonight but because of the faith of believers, everything was conducted in peace and love. And it brought me joy in abundance to witness such love and understanding of the Father's will. 

I see and feel the joy of The Lord all around me. God is gracious to even the most 'useless' sinner. Even in our unfaithfulness, God is faithful. 

I love how God manifests His power in the little things so that I am forced to sit up and take note. It often happens when I least expect it. When I go into a meeting and fear the worst, then God surprises. It's either a solution to a problem never expected or He gives me strength to face the challenge. 

Often I've imagined the situation would come to some blow-out and then visualized how I would crumble and cry. But I tell you, The Lord has given me inexplicable courage. And yes it's inexplicable because its supernatural by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Father gives me confidence in the  truth when I have lost hope. 

My heart fills with songs of joy Oh Lord. 

There is no better place than at your feet. 

The Christmas morning service.

For as long as I can remember, my mother has made it SUPER clear that Christmas is not about the material gifts, but about the greatest gift of all, THE SAVIOUR OF THIS WORLD. As a little girl I can remember Mommy teaching us that God loved us soooo much that he wanted to give us a present, and that present was His Son Jesus, who then gave us the best gift ever, LIFE EVERLASTING. So why then Mommy do we give gifts? We celebrate the greatest gift of all by sharing gifts with those we love.

And then of course Mommy made it very clear, that since God gave us this super gift, we should go to HIS house on Christmas and go to say thank you to God for loving us so much that he gave us the best gift ever.

Between the ages of 5 and about 12 (I can’t remember much before 5); we NEVER went to our own congregation for Christmas service. There were a number of contributing factors, but mainly we overslept. Mummy en Daddy was seker te besig om Father Christmas te speel die vorige aand. So Christmas morning was spent driving around looking for a service to attend.

Then when I was about 12, we starting attending the VGK Sarepta (then NGSK) Christmas services. OOOOOOO this was so beautiful for me!! They had a brass band that played in church and filled my heart with happiness. It all seemed so posh and magical, just perfect for Christmas. And of course my best friend at the time, Liezel Windvogel (aka Dude) attended here. I was in heaven. I was so happy and loved Christmas even more. We eventually became members here in 1992 and we just couldn’t imagine ever attending another service on Christmas morning. My favourite hymn always was Silent Night at the end of the service. There is just something so enchanting about that hymn, I can’t but cry whenever I sing that hymn.

Well I said I could never imagine attending anywhere else on Christmas morning, until Christmas morning in 2009 when my sister Ilse and I went to church at VGK Sarepta but when we got there, the church was PACKED!!! We didn’t ‘smaak’ being sardines on Christmas morning and decided to follow in my parents’ tradition and roam around the Northern Suburbs looking for a church to attend. Then Ilse remembered the Bellville Presbyterian Church (BPC) my dad had once taken us to. So we took a chance, went there and just our luck, we were early for their service

From the moment I stepped into the church, I felt that there was something special here and then I got a box of Lindt chocolates because it was my first time attending BPC. But besides the chocolates (which Ilse ate of course) this service was just special. They had such friendly greeters at the door, people in the pews were friendly and chatting to friends in a normal voice, not that hush ‘church’ tone I was used to. And then the ‘dominee’ had on an open-necked short sleeved shirt and his name was just Rod. Not pastor, not dominee, not reverend, not minister, not even Mr., just Rod. Almost like someone else I knew…just Jesus.

If I my memory serves me correctly the sermon was about how we describe Jesus. So he used some examples cos early on a Christmas morning the brain matter is not so lekker wakker. If we hear Kit Kat, we immediately say: ‘Have a break’. When we hear Smarties, its: ‘what a lot I got’. And for Bells…give that man a bells. (now at this point I knew I was in the twilight zone version of churches cos the dominee is talking and joking about whiskey on Christmas morning. LOL)

And then he asked us what do we think of when we hear the name Jesus and Isaiah 9:6 tells us:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

It’s been 4 years and I still remember this sermon so well. It reminded me of the lesson my mom about Christmas as a little girl. That simple message is what is all about. Who is Jesus? The greatest gift ever.

I have attended BPC Christmas service every year since then and in July 2011, I became a member and loving it.

I think it really doesn’t matter where you attend church on Christmas morning, just as long as we hear more of the good news of the gift that saved the world. THE BEST GIFT EVER!!!!!

Devotions for Lent: Week Two

The Second Week of Lent
Focusing on God can be a huge struggle: each day we are surrounded by things that compete for our affections. When we say "no" to the distractions of the world and choose not to indulge our overactive appetites for food, media images, or some other thing, we may feel surprisingly weak; even nervous. Our anxiety level jumps at the thought of being empty of some familiar thing.

But this emptiness pleases God. When we empty ourselves for his sake, he can fill us in ways nothing else can. When we make ourselves weak, he is able to make us strong. ... This emptying also reminds us of how Jesus emptied himself of his divine rights and humbled himself when he came to walk with us, and to die on the cross in our place.

Read and think about the following Scripture passages as a way to focus on God this week.

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Psalm 63.1-8

O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name. My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night ... for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. (NRSV)

Psalm 33.13-20

The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do. The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don't count on your warhorse to give you victory – for all its strength, it cannot save you. But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. We depend on the LORD alone to save us. Only he can help us, protecting us like a shield. (NLT)

Matthew 4.1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.' " Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.' " then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. (NRSV)

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Prayer
Lord, I ask you for the strength to persevere, for I am weak. Help my eyes to see this world as you see it; help me to look to you when I am tempted to fear the emptiness. I choose to stand before you and wait for your comfort, and not to run from that which I fear, or run back to old habits.

Help me to find my strength in you, and to abandon thoughts of saving myself. Help me to find my comfort in you, and to reject the messages I hear every day about the fulfillment I will find in food, riches, sex, and power. God, be my strength and comfort! I need your peace ... I need you. I am making space for you in my life today: Lord meet me in the empty places I have made. Lord, draw near to me, and fill me until I overflow.

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