Seker.co.za | My Getuienis
Gebedsbrief — Desember 2014
Jaargang 15 Uitgawe 4
Met hierdie brief sluit ons 2014 af asook ons besprekings oor hoop.
My gebed is dat die 12 skrywes oor hierdie tema, elkeen versterk en opgehou het in geloof en hoop op wie ons in Christus is en daarom voor Hom mag staan met ons diepste hartsbegeertes.
Dat ons nooit hoop sal verloor op grond van wat om ons gebeur en wat ons met die oog waarneem nie, maar dat ons sal vashou aan die wete dat ons Vader in beheer is, dat Sy hart brand van liefde vir ons en dat Jesus Christus elke oomblik vir ons intree. Dat die Heilige Gees van God vir ons pleit en uitspreek wat ons nie eers kan verwoord nie.
Mag elkeen wat betrokke is deur gereeld in te tree en saam te stem in gebed vir geliefdes en ander se geliefdes, Sy rus ken omdat Sy vrede in jou hart heers.
Mag Sy blydskap hierdie feestyd elkeen se krag wees omdat ons weet dat Hy in beheer is, dat Sy wil volmaak is en dat Hy ons vrede is.
Baie dankie vir elkeen se betrokkenheid, volgehoue vriendskap en eenheid in geloof.
Baie dankie vir elke bydrae om hierdie bediening moontlik te maak om ook ander te kan bereik en te bemoedig. “Om te glo, is om seker te wees van die dinge wat ons hoop, om oortuig te wees van die dinge wat ons nie sien nie” Heb 11:1
Ons moet seker wees van die dinge wat ons hoop
Kom ons wees eerlik (anders bid ons tevergeefs en is ons gebede kragteloos) Bevestig weer elke aspek ernstig
Ek glo dat ons Vader mense volkome kan genees van enige verslawing
Ek glo dat ons Vader siek verhoudings kan genees en herstel
Ek glo dat Jesus Christus vir almal se sondes betaal het, ook vir elkeen van my geliefdes
Ek glo dat die Heilige Gees kan en wil oortuig van sonde, geregtigheid en oordeel
Ek glo dat God se tyd volmaak is en daarom vertrou ek Hom en sal ek wag vir Sy tyd
Ek glo dat God my gebede hoor en my liefhet as Sy kind
Bely ongeloof, kleingeloof, ongeduld en twyfel ? Jak 1:2-8; Markus 9:23,24; Johannes 11:40
Bevestig jou hoop en geloof: Rom 8:25 1. Dat jy kind van God is
2. Waarop jy hoop, wat jy vra en
3. Waarom jy dit wil sien (onthou die eer van God en Sy Koninkryk)
Kontak Besonderhede Posbus 73442 LYNNWOODRIF 0040 epos: editor@actup.co.za
Webwerf: www.actup.co.za Selfone: 0827181176 of +27718891994 Faks: 0867544713
Standard Bank Tak:Menlyn Kode: 012345 RekHouer:Act-Up Tipe:Tjek RekNo: 013253735
Absa Tak: Menlyn Kode: 630345 Rek Houer: Act-Up Support Tipe: Spaar Rek No: 9164437461
RELIGIOUS VISA INSTEAD OF THE TOURIST VISA NEEDED.
As most of you know, I temporarily left the USA on the August 5th to comply with my VISA requirements. At the moment I’m
in Cape Town for a breather, but I’m also here to go through the process of applying for a Religious visa. Returning home
after 6 months often ends up busier than you had bargained for. This I embrace with a smile, because home will always be
home and I love visiting my friends, family and church family! For a while, I could also visit with my son here back home.
Presently he is back in Florida for his next seasonal work term at Admiral’s Cove. Some administrative things need taken
care of and I also made the strategic decision to move out of the Granny flat attached to my home, making me a ’nomad ‘in my own country: D.
As I believe God is leading me into long-term relationships in Window Rock, Hands on Africa is assisting me with obtaining a Religious Visa instead of the Tourist Visa I currently have. The difference between the two Visas is that the Religious Visa will extend my period of stay up to two and a half years opposed to my current six months Visa. However, this is a long tedious proses and can take up to 9 months from the submission date. During this period, I’m also not allowed to go back to the USA, meaning it is going to be a period of waiting and trusting God. Hoping for a quick positive response, but also resting in God, because He knows best and has the bigger picture in His loving hands.
IF YOU WISH TO HELP ME BY SPONSORING THE WORK I AM INVOLVED IN YOU CAN USE THE FOLLOWING METHODS:
FOR SOUTH AFRICAN SPONSORS
Donate directly into my Bank account:
BANK DETAILS: L BOTHA; ABSA SAVINGS ACCOUNT: 398200578;
FOR ABROAD AND SOUTH AFRICAN SPONSORS
Sponsor me through HANDS ON AFRICA by contributing as follows:
Go to our website: www.handsonafrica.com click on the donate
button and use your credit card or Paypal.
All donations in the USA and SA are Tax deductible.
(We are a registered 501,C3 company in USA and 18A trust in South
Please use my name “LISE NM” as reference when doing the
transaction through HANDS ON AFRICA.
I would like to extend special thanks to all of you who have taken part in this ministry through prayer,
financial and practical support. I could not have done anything without your help. Please continue to
pray for me that I will be faithful in everything I do. I would like to extend special thanks to all of you
who have taken part in this ministry through prayer, financial and practical support. I could not have
done anything without your help. Please continue to pray for me that I will be faithful in everything I do.
Is dit maklik om in die spieel te kyk?…..
Hierdie tweede laaste brief waar ons oor “hoop” nadink, wil ek ‘n faset beklemtoon wat vir elke gelowige kind van God belangrik is om vryheid en daardie vrede van God, wat alle verstand te bowe gaan, te ervaar. Vir baie van ons is dit nie so maklik om in die spieel te kyk, probleme in die o? te staar en te konfronteer nie. Baie makliker om dit te ontken, te vervang met iets anders om die probleem te kamoufleer of in stilte te koester, of om ander mense se opinies te volg sodat dit hulle verantwoordelikheid word.
In die Bybel lees ek: Jer 6:14 “Hulle het ‘n goedkoop raat vir die wonde van My volk, sê die Here: Hulle sê net: “Alles is reg! Alles is reg!“ Maar niks is reg nie!” Ontkenning gaan beslis nie help nie. Ons moet ons probleem herken en erken.
Miskien is jy deeglik bewus van jou probleem, die masker wat jy dra, maar het jy oorgegee omdat jy besef dat jy dit nie kan wen nie. Moontlik beheer allerhande vrese en seer jou lewe en steel jou vrede sodat jy nie die lewe in oorvloed kan geniet soos wat Jesus van praat in Joh 10:10 nie. Jy sukkel dalk om ‘n persoonlike verhouding met die Here te handhaaf...wat jou probleem ookal mag wees, dit is eers wanneer jy besef dat jy self nie kan nie, dat jy God nodig het om jou te help, dat jy op die regte plek is en jou oorwinning kan begin. Dan is al jou hoop op Hom, op niks en niemand anders nie.
Mat 19:26 “vir mense is dit onmoontlik, maar vir God is alles moontlik”
Jesus het in die bergpredikasie gesê wie die gese?ndes is: Mat 5:3 “Gese?nd is die wat weet hoe afhanklik hulle van God is, want aan hulle behoort die koninkryk van die hemel”
Kom ons konfronteer ons “hang-ups”, ons bekommernisse, vrese, afhanklikhede, beheer, bely dit en lê dit af, sodat ons in volle vertroue en hoop op God, die wedloop kan loop in Sy liefde en vrede
Heb 12:1 “Terwyl ons dan so ‘n groot skare geloofsgetuies rondom ons het, laat ons elke las van ons afgooi, ook die sonde wat ons so maklik verstrik, en laat ons die wedloop wat vir ons voorlê met volharding hardloop”
Verwerk uit Celebrate your Recovery John Barker Konfronteer wat
jy wegsteek onder jou masker …….
Lees verder op www.actup.co.za
Seetstetsa en sy matriek.
Seetstetsa se pa het van Lesotho af gekom na Centurion om 'n inkomste te genereer waarmee hy sy mense in Lesotho, nie ver van Maseru af, kan onderhou.
Hy werk bedags baie hard op straat om vullis te herwin wat hy dan verkoop twv oorlewing. Snags slaap hy in die bloekombos agter die Sasol garage want hy kan nie 'n blyplek bekostig nie.
Hy het Saterdag vir my op versoek 'n "piece job" gedoen en daarmee "groot geld" verdien deur hard te werk om boomstompe uit te grawe.
Wyl ons oor 'n beker Oros gesels oor sy herkoms en gesin vertel hy dat hy 2 kinders het. Die oudste seun, Seetsetsa, skryf nou matriek. En as hy slaag kan hy begin werk en is dit een minder mens om te versorg uit sy karige inkomste hier in Centurion. DAAROM VRA HY DAT ONS SAL BID VIR SEETSETSA EN DAT HY SAL SLAAG.
Maandagaand, nadat hy die vorige Saterdag gewerk het, stuur hy vir my 'n sms: "May God add more to you and your family. I am proud of you pls thank you." Woensdag het hy met trots die oorbetalingstrokie kom wys - hy het met die hulp van FNB R1 000 oorgedra na sy gesin in Lesotho!
Wat 'n Pa! Wat 'n mens!
Ek sal bly wees as julle vir Seetstetsa en sy matriek voor Die Troon sal neersit.
Ingestuur deur IP du Plooy.
OM IN CHRISTUS TE BLY, BETEKEN… Lees onder in Afrikaans.
What is Act-Up?
• Act-Up is a 24/7 Prayer Ministry registered as an Article 21 Company with Directors and an Advisory Board.
• We empower people to work through their issues via the 10 modules of a Foundation Builder Course
• Following the Foundation Builder, we also provide a course in prayer support, -healing for yourself and reaching out to others
• Our logo symbolizes growing out of darkness into Light, with the cross of Jesus as the centre
• On 29th July 2000, God answered Leah’s intense cry to Him with Isaiah 41:17-20. This Scripture became the foundation for Act-Up Support.
Bybel Gefundeerde Ondersteuning
“Ek sal op die kaal bergtoppe riviere laat ontspring, en in die laagtes fonteine laat uitborrel. Ek sal woestyngebied in rietvlei verander, dor land in fonteinwêreld. Ek sal in die woestyn seders laat groei, doringbome, mirte en olyfbome…Dan sal die mense sien en erken, almal sal begryp en insien dat die Here dit gedoen het…” Jesaja 41:18-20
Gebedsbrief — Oktober 2014
Jaargang 15 Uitgawe 2
Om in Christus te bly, in Hom te hoop en vrug te dra, kan ons op geen ander plek as by die kruis begin nie. Ons moet 1. Jesus se kruisdood en vergifnis aanvaar en glo. Dan alleen kan die hoop in Hom en Sy opstandingskrag vir ons realiteit word wat vanuit ons hart, 2. ‘n lewende hoop word, ons hartklop. 3. Vanuit hierdie hart, geanker in geloof, wat klop in hoop, spruit Goddelike liefde.
Ek dink almal wat erge teleurstellings en stres ervaar het, sal met my uit ervaring saamstem.
Dit is net in Christus waar lewegewende hoop gevind kan word.
Hoop wat op enige iets of iemand anders gebou word, kweek vrees en onsekerheid. Mag ons Skrif van vanjaar, vir elkeen van ons waar word:
Lees verder op: www.actup.co.za
Gebed en Inligting: www.actup.co.za Registreer asb op die webwerf om jou gebedsbriewe af te laai
Getuienisse: facebook: Garden of Praise: Hier kry jy geleentheid om jou eie lofprysing te pos.
Mag God, die bron van hoop, julle deur julle geloof met alle vreugde en vrede vervul, sodat julle hoop al hoe sterker kan word deur die krag van die Heilige Gees!” Romeine 15:12 “hierdie hoop besit ons as ‘n veilige en onbeweeglike lewens anker vir die siel” Heb 6:19
100,000 PEOPLE BECAME CHRISTIANS IN BURUNDI.
"Lord, I'll do anything, I'll go anywhere." This was the prayer of Simon Guillebaud as a young man, before he was called into one of the world's most dangerous mission fields.
In 1999, when he was in his early 20s, Guillebaud gave up a steady marketing job to move to Burundi, a war-torn nation in the Great Lakes region of Southeast Africa. In the 15 years since, he has seen God move in incredible ways, and is passionate about seeing the country and its people fully restored.
"I went out with a few hundred pounds, most of which got stolen on the first day, and I just thought 'Bring it on,'" he tells Christian Today.
"That was in 1999, when Burundi was the most dangerous country in the world and I fully expected to die. Other people I cared for were killed and there were tons of ambushes, but I remember a friend once leaned across to me and said: "We're immortal until God calls us home". Philippians 1:21-22 says "To live is Christ and to die is gain...which shall I choose?" That's a win-win. I desire to be with Christ, and safety is not the absence of danger but the presence of God. We live by fear so often in Western culture, but in Burundi you have to live by faith."
Guillebaud set up an umbrella organisation, Great Lakes Outreach (GLO), which works with local groups and gifted leaders to share the Gospel, and has seen one percent of Burundi come to Christ in the last eight years – 100,000 people.
He is full of compelling stories about miraculous events. "My friend Agnes was deaf, dumb and blind, and she was permanently curled up in a ball. For seven years her parents would wheel her onto the patio to catch the sunlight and then wheel her back inside every single day," Guillebaud recalls.
"She must have been prayed over a bunch of times, but then a group of young people prayed for her and her whole body uncoiled. She got her sight and hearing back but was still lacking speech. She joined a church choir by faith and then a few weeks later God released her tongue to praise him and since then she has not shut up!" he laughs.
"She's a turbo-charged evangelist, and you just can't debate her story – she was on national radio, and everyone knew her as a vegetable but now she's fine."
Another story involves a woman who refused to listen to a team's Gospel message, until a girl was released from demon-possession before her eyes. "20 people gave their lives to Christ that day, including that lady, and I think anyone would if they saw that kind of power," Guillebaud notes.
"Another time, a witchdoctor invited some of our guys – which is incredible because witchdoctors rule by a culture of fear – and they started speaking the name of Jesus. He fell down under the power of God, and then asked them to come back after a couple of days. When the team turned up, he'd assembled the whole village – they preached the Word and 50 people gave their lives to Christ."
As Guillebaud speaks, he gives the impression that he could talk about God's provision all day. He's clearly passionate about releasing people into the fullness of life, and seeing them transformed by God's goodness.
But why is it that we so often hear about these incredible miracles taking place abroad, while in the UK they don't seem to be nearly as frequent?
"I can't give a satisfactory answer to that, but there are several contributing factors," Guillebaud responds.
"In the West we have access to healthcare, and as soon as we fall ill we ring up the doctor, while Burundi has the least amount of doctors per capita in the world.
"There's also a dimension of spiritual hunger – when people pray in Burundi 'Give me my daily bread' they really mean it. We've never had to pray that, but in Burundi there are no social services, so there's a desperation and a recognition of need, and a humility which is often lacking in us. Burundians will fast, whether willingly or unwillingly. CS Lewis said "God gives where he finds empty hands", and ours are stuffed full. There's a challenge to us in the West there."
He continues: "There's also a circle of faith and unbelief. Africans are very innately spiritual; you don't have to teach them that Satan and God are real, they know that and they've seen the power of both – they've lived under the fear of the witchdoctor and have experienced the freedom, or not, with Jesus.
"It's hard for us in the West to believe because we're so cynical and always questioning. Sometimes we need to be slapped in the face with the kind of power encounter which happens more out there. And then a friend of mine once said that we see more miracles in Burundi because we leave the Church building – the signs are for the unbelievers. The Kingdom of God is the best kept secret, trapped in the four walls of the Church. We're meant to be out there, pressing into the Kingdom. It's in the darkness that we see these outpourings, which is a real challenge to the Western Church."
As for the UK, His current message is that the walk of faith is 'certainly uncertain' and 'carefully careless'. "When we journey with God we can be certain of who he is, of his character, of his worth, but once we've got that then it's totally uncertain as to how we live truly authentically," he says.
"We don't know the outcome of what that might be, but we can trust him, and can faithfully leave things to him – being carefully careless. As God calls he will show you. We tend to want our ducks all lined up in a row, but the only guarantee if we wait for that is that we'll miss out on endless divine opportunities. Most of us are constrained by fear, and I want to see people living by faith, free from fear."
Guillebaud contends that "fear is the end of faith", and explains that the very real possibility of losing his life in Burundi has taught him to be thankful for the way God has provided. "I've experienced death threats, and there was once a man who wanted to gouge out my eyes," he reveals.
"The biggest lesson I've learnt from Burundi is gratitude – everything's a gift. We live in a culture of entitlement, but when I thought I was going to lose my eyesight I thought 'Wow, what a gift it is to see!' If you ask a blind person whether sight is a right or a gift, they'll say it's a gift, but we take it for granted.
"Health, access to clean water and enough food are all gifts, and yet we don't think twice about them. But then I know a boy who ate mud for a year because he was so hungry, and he had to have stones cut out of his gums.
"I thought I'd be dead by 30, didn't think I'd ever get married or have kids, and those are gifts, not rights. I perhaps see a grimmer side of life to most people, but I'm a happier person because of it," he insists.
"We learn in the extreme darkness of a warzone the privilege of service. You don't have to go to Burundi to learn that, but you can apply the lesson."
And it is these lessons that Guillebaud hopes to share in his new book, Choose Life – a volume of 365 readings, one for every day of the year – which he describes as "a daily kick up the backside, or encouragement, to make good, life-shaping choices".
"I'm really excited about it! I've written a number of books, but this is a daily shot in the arm for people to amp up their discipleship. It's not about lashings of guilt, but about choosing gratitude," he adds.
"It covers so many different things, and is full of incredible words from amazing people such as Oswald Chambers, Tim Keller and John Piper, and we're also releasing an app that is 21 weeks of challenges – one a week – and I'd love people to join in with that interactive style community."
Currently in the UK with his wife and three children for two months, Guillebaud has no plans to leave the mission field just yet.
"I was at the National Prayer Breakfast a couple of months ago and this lady came up to me and said 'Do you remember me? 15 years ago I was in one of your youth camps, and now I'm a Member of Parliament'. Those are the kind of things you get to see when you're in it for the long-term – you see the fruit, and the outwork of the long-term vision," he says.
"I don't want security – when you have security, you don't need God. I just want to be in his will, that's the safest place to be. It's amazing to have the opportunity to come back and tell stories and see lives transformed through prophetic little Burundi where the Lord is doing great things.
"It's in the darkest places that light shines the brightest."
WIE IS DIE WARE DIENAAR VAN GOD WAT JY KAN VOLG?
Waarskuwing aan God se mense oor die gevaar!
(Boodskap gelewer deur Pastoor S. Sam Selva Raj in die Moederkerk)
“Iets vreesliks en afskuweliks het in die land gebeur: die profete tree vals op, die priesters regeer met hulle eie gesag, en my volk hou daarvan! Maar wat sal julle doen as die einde kom?” (Jeremia 5: 30, 31).
Die Gees van die Here het my die laaste paar maande dit opgelê om hierdie boodskap aangaande sekere gebeure in hierdie wêreld met julle te deel. Die aantal mense wat vertrou kan word, is deesdae al hoe minder. Dit is uitsonderlik om opregte werkers, opregte dokters, opregte ingenieurs of opregte onderwysers in ons alledaagse lewe te sien. En bo alles is dit moeilik om ? opregte dienaar van God te vind!
As ons die bladsye van die geskiedenis omblaai, lees ons van baie ryk mense wat al hulle gerief, hulle familie en land opgegee het toe hulle die roeping van die Here tot sy bediening ontvang het! Met baie opofferings het hulle na baie plekke gegaan en na volke wat in donkerte en agterlikheid gedompel was, die evangelie van ons Here Jesus Christus verkondig en baie gelei tot die reddende kennis van die Here Jesus Christus.
1. JY KAN DIE MENSE VOLG WAT MET DIE HEILIGE GEES GEVUL IS EN DEUR HOM GELEI WORD.
2. JY KAN DIÉ MENSE VOLG WAT NIE ? LIEFDE VIR GELD HET NIE.
3. JY KAN DIE WARE GEESTELIKE BOODSKAPPERS VAN GOD VOLG.
Dien die Here met alle opregtheid. God se heerlikheid sal jou sekerlik bedek. God seen julle.
Skakel vir volledige teks: www.echoofhiscall.org/afrikaans.pdf
WEB TUISTE: www.echoofhiscall.org
7 000 TALE IN WÊRELD: 2 551 BESKIK OOR EEN BYBELBOEK.
BYBELSONDAG – 31 AUGUSTUS 2014:
Nie net kan Afrikaners die Here dank dat die Afrikaanse Bybel reeds vir 81 jaar beskikbaar is nie, maar elke spreker van een van Suid-Afrika se amptelike tale kan Hom dank vir die Bybel in hulle taal. Sedert 2012, met die publikasie van die isiNdebele Bybel, beskik elk van die 11 amptelike tale oor 'n volledige Bybel. Wêreldwyd is daar egter miljoene mense wat steeds geen toegang tot die volledige Bybel in hulle eie taal het nie. Teen die einde van 2013 was die Bybel in slegs 491 tale beskikbaar, waarvan 196 Afrikatale is. 'n Deel van die taak van die 146 Bybelgenootskappe in die wêreld wat in sowat 200 lande en gebiede werksaam is, is om die Bybel vir mense in hulle eie taal beskikbaar te stel. Van die byna 7 000 tale wat in die wêreld gepraat word, beskik sowat 2 551 tale tans oor ten minste een Bybelboek.
Die taak is dus nog lank nie voltooi nie. Meer as 4 000 tale in die wêreld beskik nog oor geen Bybelboek nie. Bybelgenootskappe werk tans aan Bybelvertalings wat die potensiaal het om die lewens van 4 miljard mense aan te raak en te verander. Dit is twee uit elke drie mense wat vandag op aarde leef.
Dit is nie net eerste vertalings nie, maar ook hersienings of nuwe vertalings. In Suid-Afrika word daar tans gewerk aan 'n nuwe vertaling in Afrikaans, waarvan die Nuwe Testament en Psalms in Maart gepubliseer is, aan 'n nuwe Zulu vertaling, asook aan 'n Engelse vertaling vir Dowes.
Bid saam met Bybelgenootskappe dat meer taalgroepe God in hulle eie taal sal kan hoor praat
HOU JOU OË GEVESTIG OP JESUS.
Matt 25:8 “Gee vir ons van julle olie, want ons lampe gaan dood.”
BOODSKAPPE: Die week het ons telkens gehoor: “Hou jou oë gevestig op Jesus; moet jou nie laat onderkry deur omstandighede of deur mense wat jou wil aftrek nie; pasop om nie so gewoond te raak aan die boodskap van die Evangelie dat jy dit later net hoor en hoor en nie meer ontvanklik vir die Heilige Gees se werking in jou lewe is nie”. O, ons BID die HERE dat ons harte altyd soos sagte klei in Sy deurboorde hande sal wees, bloedbevlek deur SY genade, vergifnis en liefde! Dat ons olie nie sal opraak nie - sodat ons LIG nie sal op raak nie! Een van die selgroepe skryf: “We thank God for His Word and His presence in this College.” Amen.
DIE LIGGAAM VAN JESUS: Ons dank en loof die Here dat BBTC deel is van die Liggaam van Christus! Ons dank die Here vir broers en susters uit gemeentes reg oor die land wat ons kom besoek en ondersteun. Julle opoffering om te kom, is vir ons almal ELKE KEER ‘n baie groot bemoediging en inspirasie. Secunda Rondekerk was Saterdag hier en ons is innig dankbaar vir iets so spesiaal soos die nuwe gordyne vir die manskoshuis (King David) wat hulle gemaak het. Dan het ons ook die groot voorreg om komende Sondag vier selgemeentes van NGK Nelspruit Moedergemeente te ontvang. Julle is ALMAL so WELKOM BY BBTC!!
DAG van VAS en GEBED: Dinsdag was besonder geseënd - ons dank die Here vir hierdie spesiale geleentheid wat soveel skatte openbaar en geestelike groei vir staf en studente bring. Dit bring ons altyd nader aan ons HEER en aan mekaar - ons LOOF HOM daarvoor!
SHAI & ELREZA: Dit gaan baie goed met hulle! Hulle kuier nog heerlik, nou in Skotland by sendingvriende Fanus & Marie Viviers. Natuurlik mis ons hulle liefde en leiding baie! Maar die Here bly getrou - die program gaan voort. Bly asb voorbidding doen vir ons Rektor en Studente Dekaan wat tot 13 Okt met langverlof is. Asook vir die personeel - vir daaglikse volharding en toewyding.
OUDITORIUM: Quality Steel van Nelspruit is besig met die verandering aan die struktuur en dan sal dit gebring en opgerig word. Ons dank die Here vir hierdie baie groot geskenk!! Ons het al die jare die studente in een lokaal (die Chapel) gehuisves. Met ons aansoek om registrasie word vereis dat hulle in aparte lokale lesings moet ontvang. Op die oomblik word die squares van die koshuise as tydelike maatreël gebruik. Ons sien baie uit na die nuwe fasiliteit; vertrou asb saam met ons die HERE vir voltooiing daarvan!
VERVOER: Ons dank die Here opnuut vir die goeie voertuie wat ons het. Die Nissan bakkie is die getroue slaaf wat al die voorrade moet aanry, en die Quantum mini bus wat weekliks studente en personeel moet rondry - Dr, hospitaal, winkels, hardeware, tamatieplaas, Binnelandse Sake en Eye Wear toe vir wonderlike geseënde feitlik verniet diens! Dank die Here ook vir Bert Francis, ons baie betroubare bestuurder. BID ASB dat ons altyd mag veilig reis, ons besef NIKS is vanselfsprekend nie, maar baie groot genade van die Here GOD!
ALINGTON CHIPOFIA van Malawi: Hy is ‘n Finale Jaarstudent en lid van die Studente Raad. Hy was oppad terug na BBTC na die Julie vakansie toe hy beroof is en al sy dokumente verloor het. BID ASB dat hy sal slaag met sy aansoek om nuwe dokumentasie en dat hy spoedig sal terug wees. Die Kollege het die week op versoek van die studente self ‘n fondsinsameling gehou om hom te help.
STUUR-GEMEENTES: Die ondersteuning van stuur-gemeentes van studente en personeel is geweldig waardevol! Baie van hulle, ja eintlik die meeste, is baie ver van hul huise en families. Ons dank die Here vir jul ondersteuning en ons bid dat julle hulle in jul harte en gebede sal hou.
VOORBIDDING: Bid asb vir die Here seën op vlg week se opleiding: Prof Ed Gross van Amerika kom gee vir die vlg 2 weke klas, vlg week Revelation & Escatology vir die 2 & 3 Jaars; en BBTC staflid Rev Francis Brookman Aidoo hanteer die boek HAGGAI met die 1e Jaars.
Met opregte liefde en waardering! Die BBTC familie.
Tel: 013 719 8000/1; Epos: admin@bbtc.org.za; BBTC, Vallei van Genade, Posbus 828, Barberton 1300.
Op spesiale versoek: Bankinfo: FNB Barberton, Takkode: 270152, Tjekrekening 51600018323
DO YOU HAVE LITTLE HOPE THINGS WILL EVER CHANGE?
Anger, jealousy, fear, bitterness–these are the emotions that wrench the human heart. As a result, our relationships suffer. Our nights are sleepless. And we become unhappy, tense, anxious, and miserable.
Perhaps you have been searching for a way to escape from your pain, anxiety, boredom, and remorse. But your misery continues.
You may feel your situation is insurmountable. However, that’s not true. Be encouraged. Others have gone through similar struggles and won their battle.
You can experience true freedom if you are willing to deal with the heart of the problem.
Pride, anger, and denial separate people from the solutions and comfort they long for. By seeking God’s answer, even the most complex problems can be solved once and for all.
Dr. Henry Brandt has helped countless people from all walks of life find true freedom in their battle. As a biblical counselor with a Ph.D. in Psychology and Family Counseling, Dr. Brandt saw radical life transformation in counselees who were willing to apply biblical principles to their challenging circumstances. They came seeking ways to cope with their problems but left knowing God’s cure and complete healing.
Now Dr. Brandt offers you wisdom and comfort for a hard journey . . . and gives clear, lasting solutions for freedom. You can:
know joy instead of anger,
find peace in the midst of stress, and
experience a love that eliminates fear.
Face the Root Problem
To see your sin is disturbing if you fight what you discover. However, if you admit wrong-doing and seek help from God, the result is not guilt but an overwhelming sense of forgiveness, cleansing, renewal, and peace.
God shapes and transforms the lives of sinners every day, turning them away from the world’s false counsel and flawed reasoning, toward the path of righteousness and ultimate victory.
The apostle Paul experienced trouble, perplexity, persecution, and rejection. All these were very real to him. But he also said there is a power that will enable a man to face such treatment without distress, despair, self-pity, or ruin. It is the power of God.
1. There is no human remedy for sin.
2. The only cure for sin is in Christ.
Christ cleanses sin and invites you to walk in the Spirit. The antidote to sinful living is clear and abundant in God’s Word.
Begin the Journey to Freedom
You can be free and not live in bondage. You can walk in fullness of joy and not live in sadness, brokenness, or pain. This website will help you find the truth that will set you free.
A DESCENDANT OF THE DORSLANDTREKKERS DIED.
This weekend we had the funeral of ouma Willemina van der Merwe David at Ehomba.
She is a descendant of the Dorslandtrekkers.
She died as a poor person, but her legacy as a christian is worth more than millions!!
Before she died she reminded her family not to neglect the
“black book” (bible).
We thank God for a lady like Ouma Willemina!!
From Jacob Schoeman.
Kunene for Christ
OKAYO SE WATER.
En so trek Jacob oudergewoonte 4 uur vroegoggend vanaf Angola die werf binne ....
Piet en Wollie .... welgedaan!! En baie dankie vir die opoffering ... en jul
bereidwilligheid om te help!!!
Meer as 500 mense en hul diere kan weer naby hul kraal water drink ....
Mag die omgee gebaar ook ewigheidswaarde he vir daardie omgewing.
Mag die Woord van die Here stewig gevestig word daar ...
Mag ons Jesus se OMGEE HART ERF en nie moeg word om dit te
Wilma Schoeman <kunene@iway.na>
Die Moderatuur van die Algemene Sinode van die NG Kerk het met dank kennis geneem van die opmerkings en planne van die Minister van Polisie, mnr Nkosinathi Nhleko, om na die hele saak van plaasmoorde te kyk. Die NG Kerk, soos talle ander organisasies in die burgerlike samelewing, het die afgelope jare gepleit vir aandag en ingrepe, maar dit het op dowe ore geval of daar het niks van gekom nie. Ons wil met alles in ons hoop dat die minister se opmerkings nie politieke retoriek is nie en tot konkrete aksies sal lei.
Ons het ook met dank kennis geneem dat die Menseregtekommissie onder andere ‘n openbare verhoor gaan hou oor veiligheid op plase. Die MRK is ‘n goeie forum om ook na die saak te kyk.
Die Moderatuur wag met verwagting op die uitkoms van die Minister van Polisie en die MRK se aankondiginge.
Dr JJ Gerber
Algemene Sekretaris: NG Kerk
SIX REASONS TO STOP PANICKING ABOUT WHAT YOU’LL DO AFTER UNIVERSITY.
Final-year students and recent graduates should spend less time worrying about the future and realise they're not alone
Is the thought of graduating and finding a job making you stressed? You're not alone.
With graduation looming and inspiration yet to strike about your future plans, it's easy to get stuck in a cycle of despair. All of your friends are starting fancy grad schemes or llama-herding in Peru, while the only thing you've got lined up is a Breaking Bad marathon and scheduled panic attacks about the dwindling graduate jobs market.
Your student discount card is about to expire, and if another family member asks you about your career plans then you might just have a breakdown. Sound familiar? These six points might help to reassure you.
1. We're still young
Those who started a three-year course straight from school will have only just turned 21, so there's no rush to accept the first 9-5 job that you're offered. Becky Dnistrianskyj, a recent graduate from Cardiff University, turned down several graduate jobs in favour of continuing with bar work.
She says: "I don't see the point in accepting a poorly-paid graduate job that I'm not even sure I want to do, just because I'm expected to. I'd rather save up until I've had time to decide what I really want to pursue."
2. Comparing yourself to other people is a waste of time
Just because your housemate has secured their ideal job doesn't mean that you're a failure by contrast.
3. You can't discover who you want to be until you find out who you are
Personalities often change at university, which can be daunting beyond the bubble of campus life. Challenge yourself by experiencing something new, while you still have the chance. Chris Jenkins of Southampton University has just returned from Southeast Asia, in time for his graduation:
"I had wanted to travel and experience different cultures for a while, and the summer before starting work provided that opportunity. It was the best experience of my life. I thoroughly recommend going out into the world and seeing it for yourself, regardless of whether you have a job lined up for your return", he said.
4. Many successful career-people have 'fallen into' their line of work
Recent statistics from the New College of the Humanities found that 19 out of 20 graduates had switched jobs within three years. Be confident enough to accept that your dream career might not be as you had hoped, and devise a new plan according to the aspects that you enjoyed.
5. Your degree won't go to waste
Deciding that you don't want to be a psychologist doesn't necessarily mean that the three years and thousands of pounds spent on a psychology degree was all for nothing – any university education teaches a desirable skill set. According to Prospects, many graduate employers seek degree-level candidates rather than those disciplined in a specific subject.
Marcus Zientek, a careers adviser at Sheffield University, says that many students are unsure of their plans after graduation:
"How uncertain they are does vary, from those who have an interest in a general area of work but have not yet decided about it, to those who describe themselves as not having any ideas at all.
"Panicking doesn't help and is unnecessary anyway. Don't let things drift – keep calm and make a plan. Realise that you're not deciding what to do with the rest of your life, but choosing a good next step for you."
7. My invoeging: Praat met Voorligtingsielkundigs, werkgewerorganisasies, Solidariteit, jou familie en vriende. Dink kreatief aan ander of eie moontlikhede. Slaan Paniek hok, want dit kan ons nie nugter laat dink of enige regte besluit laat neem nie. Hennie Maartens, BESTUURDER: SEKER.
DOES TAX RUIN YOUR SAVINGS?
Cape Town - After reading the story about the OneRandMan, a Cape Town savings hero who is spending his July salary R1 at a time, a Fin24 user wrote in to share his views on savings in South Africa and the impact tax legislation has on it.
South Africa’s leading tax expert, Prof Matthew Lester, an associate professor at Rhodes Business School, gives his advice and comments.
Fin24 user Renato feels that our savings are taxed too heavily.
Prof Matthew Lester responds:
There are very few countries that do not tax investment income. South Africa actually has a pretty lenient stance in that tax exemptions are granted annually on both interest and capital income.
The CGT (capital gains tax) inclusion rate for individual taxpayers is 33.3%, which results in a maximum tax rate on capital returns of 13.3%. That’s not too shabby by international standards.
A generous tax regime exists for retirement savings, tax deductible contributions, tax free status of retirement funds and partial taxation on exit. This is enhanced from March 1 2015 when the deductible contribution rate is increased to 27.5% of taxable income, up to R350 000 per annum.
All in, the tax subsidies on savings cost the country R40bn per annum.
I do not agree with your readers’ comments with regard to savings.
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ALLOWS SMALL HOUSE CHURCHES…
A house church in China is simply a church - ekklesia, a Greek word that means a gathering or assembly - of Christians in China who gather in a house, warehouse or any place other than the Three Self church.
While all house churches in China were persecuted in the past, the Chinese Communist Party now allows small house churches to operate as long as it has fewer than 15 members*. Once that number is reached, China's Communist Party requires the house church to register as a Three Self church.
Some house churches comply to facilitate renting or buying space to gather more people. Most house churches, however, refuse to come under the unbiblical authority of China's Three Self church and instead split into many small house churches, each with fewer than 15 members (this government policy has accelerated the penetration of the gospel into more homes).*
Other house churches even challenge the government for the right to gather as a church without having to register as a new Three Self Church.
If you are considering being a missionary to China, be advised that while the Chinese government tolerates Chinese believers gathering in house churches or foreigners participating in Three Self churches, the government tends to not tolerate foreigners participating in house churches.*
It is important for you to choose between serving in the Three Self churches or house churches, but not both. If you are discovered serving in both of them, the house churches will be persecuted for letting a foreigner influence them, and the leaders of the Three Self churches will be persecuted for collaborating with a foreigner who clandestinely works with house churches.
If you choose to serve in the Three Self churches, you can be relatively open* about your "participation". If you choose to serve in the house churches, however, you should keep quiet about your activities.
(* The Chinese government may be gearing up for yet another era of heightened persecution. During the first half of 2012, intelligence supposedly was gathered on all house churches. For the next 2 to 3 years, they are to be pressured to becomeThree Self churches. The subsequent 10 years apparently have been slated for shutting down by force those that refuse. If carried out, these plans will help to purify the church in China and accelerate its expansion.)
IN ‘N SOPNAT THAILAND VOORSIEN GOD VOEDSEL. RYSLANDE GEDY.
Kolossense 1:27 . . . God het besluit om aan hulle bekend te maak hoe seënryk en heerlik hierdie geheimenis vir die nasies is. Die inhoud daarvan is: Christus is in julle, Hy is julle hoop op die heerlikheid . . . Verskoon die vraag maar wat is jou hoop op “heerlikheid” in jou werk, in jou huwelik, jou huisgesin, jou finansies, jou gesondheid en nog meer. Is dit meer gebasseer op eksterne transformasie of interne transformasie? (wees eerlik teenoor God in jou binnekamer as jy hieroor nadink)
Tyd vlieg darem maar geweldig. Ons is al sewe maande hier doenig en die eerste maand van YWAM se DTS (Discipleship Training School) is agter die rug. Woorde kan nie beskryf (altans dit is nie in die mens se vermoë om regtig te kan beskryf hoe groot ABBA VADER is nie) wat ons Almagtige Vader almal leer nie. It is a journey beyond imagination. Oor drie weke gaan die hele kursus groep op ‘n geloofs uitreik vir twee weke lank (19 Julie – 30 Julie) na ‘n ander provinsie. Ons sal almal in die provinsie waarheen Abba Vader ons sal stuur bly vir die duur van die uitreik. Die voorbereiding daarvan is in alle erns en almal sien met groot verwagtinge uit daarna. Ons vertrou Abba Vader om ons nog meer van Sy grootheid te wys tydens die uitreik.
Ons bly in Ubon Ratchathani tydens die DTS en kom net naweke, of dalk net ‘n Saterdag – afhangende van die program - huis toe. Dit is lekker om weer by ons huisie te wees en voort te gaan met Frontida Kidz se bediening en om bietjie te ontspan, maar glo dit of nie, na ‘n dag van stilte en ontspanning verlang jy weer na die “fellowship” van ons mede broers en susters by die DTS. Mens groei so inmekaar en harte word daagliks gedeel en oopgemaak. Eenheid in God word beleef (neem kennis dat sewe lande hier verteenwoordig word) . . . soos wat die in die wêreld moet wees.
Ons visums is goegekeur vir die volgende drie maande. Prys Abba Vader vir Sy voorsiening en guns. Dankie ook vir julle gebede tydens die visum hernuwing. Ons moet egter teen 11 September weer Laos toe gaan vir visum hernuwing vir die volgende drie maande daarvan af.
“Monsoon” is in sy volle glorie hier en die wêreld hier is nie nat nie maar sopnat. Prys Abba Vader vir sy versorging vir die voeding hier, veral vir die ryslande. Dit is so prentjie mooi as jy deur die ryslande ry en die groenigheid omring deur die natuurskoon van die omgewing wat jou so in die oë staar. Dit bring natuurlik die temperatuur bietjie af maar die humiditeit is nogsteeds hoog (en hoër as gewoonlik) so jy “sweet” nogsteeds al rëen dit aanhoudend so lekker. Gras in jou tuin moet natuurlik teen die spoed van wit lig gesny word wanneer dit wil lyk of die sonnetjie bietjie wil “hallo” sê. Soos die rëen heeltyd neerdaal kan mens nie dankbaar genoeg wees vir Abba Vader se seëninge nie.
Bid asseblief verder vir die DTS studente en fasiliteerders vir ‘n Geesvervulde tyd wat voorlê.
Bid asseblief vir Abba Vader se finansiële voorsiening vir die uitstaande kostes wat ons nog moet betaal vir die DTS opleiding. Ons totale koste vir die DTS is R26 500 per persoon en ons kort nog net R8 000 per persoon. Prys Abba Vader vir Sy voorsiening en guns.
Bid asseblief dat ons gefokus en dissipline sal kan handhaaf om selfs voort te kan gaan met Frontida Kidz se bedieninge wat ons in Kanthararom begin het. Ons kan dit nie afskeep nie en moet volhou daarmee.
Ek (Andre) preek Sondag 6 Julie my eerste formele preek in die kerk. Bid asseblief dat Abba Vader deur die Heilige Gees my sal voorberei en lei om Sy woord te deel.
Julle is ons ondersteuners en ankers in gebed. Dankie dat julle ons in staat stel om met ons bediening, Frontida Outreach, die Evangelie te kan verkondig hier in Kanthararom, Thailand Indien julle finansiële ondersteuning vir ons bediening wil doen, kan julle van die onderstaande bankbesonderhede gebruik maak.
Rekening Naam: Frontida
Rekening Nr: 1317286438 (spaar)
Tak Kode: 470010
Die Here van die oeste sëen elkeen van julle ryklik.
Andre Olivier - +66 (0) 9 5048 6080
Marina Olivier - +66 (0) 9 4980 2311
27/30 Moo 5,
SOEDANESE CHRISTEN-VROU VRYGELAAT NÁ WÊRELDWYE STORM.
Dinsdag 24 Junie 2014
KHARTOEM. – ’n Soedanse hof het gister beveel dat ’n 27-jarige vrou wat verlede maand ter dood veroordeel is omdat sy die Christen-geloof aangeneem het, vrygelaat moet word, het die staatsnuusagentskap berig.
Die saak teen Mariam Jahia Ibrahim, wat met ’n Amerikaanse Christen getroud is, het wêreldwyd opspraak verwek. Brittanje het verlede maand die Soedanse saakgelastigde ontbied uit protes teen die vonnis.
“Die appèlhof het beveel dat Mariam Jahia vrygelaat en die vonnis tersyde gestel word,” het die Soedanse Soena-nuusagentskap gesê.
’n Staatsamptenaar het op 31 Mei aan Reuters gesê dat Soedanse amptenare besig is om aan die vrylating van Ibrahim te werk.
Ibrahim is tot 100 houe met ’n sweep gevonnis weens wat die hof bestempel het as haar owerspel omdat sy met ’n Christen getroud is. Ibrahim het in die tronk geboorte geskenk aan ’n babadogtertjie, haar tweede kind by Daniel Wani, haar Amerikaanse man.
Elza Meyer van Turn2God se boodskap aan SA
Dalk is jy afgelê of is daar sprake van afleggings by jou werk?
Dalk word jy a.g.v. stakings gedwing om tuis te bly en bring jy al maande lank nie ? sent huis toe nie.
Dalk is jou kinders honger, jou motor teruggeneem en paaiemente agter.
Dalk het jy na gesprekke geluister waarin mense vertel dat jy jou grond kan verloor.
Dalk is jy ? slagoffer van misdaad en geweld.
Dalk is jy bang en wonder jy of jy nog ? toekoms in SA het?
Die omstandighede in ons land roep desperaat dat die seuns (dogters) van God hulself bekend sal maak. Aan elke volgeling van Jesus Christus, aan ál God se kinders, ja aan elkeen wat met die Heilige Gees vervul is, is die boodskap van léwe toevertrou!
In elke fabriek, organisasie, maatskappy, besigheid, industrie, staatsinstansie, ja, op elke plaas en myn is daar sekerlik minstens een kind van God. Die tyd het aangebreek vir die liggaam van Christus om op te staan en lewende hoop te bring. Jý is Sy hande en voete. Mense is desperaat, bang, uitgelewer en moedeloos. In plekke soos Rustenburg loop kaalvoet kinders honger kerk toe, omdat hulle gehoor het dáár sal hulle kos kry!
Die strategie van lewe kom tot volle reg waar mense die strategie van dood in die oë kyk en nie toelaat dat omstandighede hulle of hul toekoms rig nie. Ons bely dat God regeer, die tyd het aangebreek om te gló dat Hy werklik in beheer is.
In Jesaja 54 kondig God belofte na belofte aan vir mense wat nie meer uitkoms kon sien nie. Glo dat God ? waarmaker van Sy Woord is en bid hierdie beloftes in vervulling.
Here, gee ons die geloof om nie op te pak en weg te trek nie, maar ons tentlyne langer te maak en ons tentpenne dieper in te slaan (vers 2).
Here U is ons Redder, ons sal nie vrees nie (vers 5).
O God ons twyfel nie vir een oomblik dat U liefde vir ons onveranderlik is nie (vers 10).
Here, herbou elke dorp en stad wat deur mynstakings lamgelê word! (vers 12).
My Here, ek luister nie langer na slimpraatjies of doemprofete nie, sal U asb. Self my leer (vers 13).
God van vrede, gee dat alle mense in ons land in vrede lewe (vers 13).
Indien ons glo dat ons toekoms in ons omstandighede geleë is, het ons geen sekuriteit nie. Die Here rig jou lewe, jou toekoms is in Sy Hande. Soek Sy aangesig, bid vir openbaring en voorsiening en vertrou God onvoorwaardelik. Hy sal jou nie in die steek laat nie. Sy oë is op die aarde gerig om hulle wat met hul hele hart op Hom vertrou te help! Hy sal jou gebede verhoor en gou ook! Staan op slapende reus van gelowiges! Neem posisie in Christus in!
Maybe you are retrenched or retrenchment is a probability?
Maybe strikes prevent you from going to work and you didn’t bring a cent home in the last few months.
Maybe your children are hungry, your car is reposessed and your payments are behind.
Maybe you were told that you might lose your land.
Maybe you are a victim of crime or violence.
Maybe you are afraid and convinced that you might not have a future in SA.
The circumstances in our country desperately call out to the sons and daughters of God to reveal themselves. To each follower of Christ, to all God’s children and to everyone filled with the Holy Spirit the message of life is entrusted. In every factory, orginization, company, business, industry, state department, yes on every mine and farm there is at least one child of God. The time has come for the Body of Christ to arise en to present living hope. You are His hands and feet!
People are desperate and afraid, too many have lost hope. In Rustenburg I saw bare foot children coming to church in hope of food. The strategy of life reaches full potential where people are facing the strategy of death and refuse to allow their cirucumstances to direct there actions or future. We confess that God reigns, the time has come to trust that He is indeed in control.
In Isaiah 54 God makes promises to people who could not foresee any outcome. Trust in God and pray His Word into existence:
Lord, we are not packing nor leaving, we trust You to enlarge our tents and to strecth out the curtains of our dwellings (vs. 2)
We will not allow fear to control us, we confess that You, our Lord, is our Redeemer (vs. 5)
We won’t be doubtful o God, Your love for us is unchanging (vs. 10)
We trust that the cities and towns torn apart by strikes will be rebuild (vs. 12)
We are not listening to empty words or dooms talk. Lord God, You will teach us (vs. 13).
God of peace, please enable all people in our country to live in peace (vs. 13).
If we believe that our future is predicted by our circumstances, we will be insecure. We don’t give in to insecurity. The Lord God directs your life, your future is in His Hands. Seek His face, pray for revelation and providence and trust Him unconditionally. He will not forsake you. His eyes are searching the earth for people, who will trust Him wholeheartedly. These ones will find Him trustworthy. He will answer you without delay!
Arise sleeping giant of believers! Take up your rightful place!
Janine van Niekerk <janinevniekerk@gmail.com>
DIE VOORHANGSEL SKEUR...
Ds Chris le Roux vertel van die klein kapelletjie in Etiopië in die dorpie Aksum waar die ark van die verbond glo bewaar word. Is dit waar? Niemand weet nie, want niemand mag daar ingaan nie, behalwe ’n monnik wat die bewaarder van die ark is. As hy die eerste keer ingegaan het, mag hy nooit weer die kapel verlaat nie. Van sy aanstelling tot met sy dood bly hy daar in die kapel. Dan word ’n volgende jong bewaarder aangestel. Hoekom so geheimsinnig? Omdat hulle glo dat mense nie die ark mag sien of
aanraak nie, dit is te heilig. Daar word gesê as jy wel ingaan en gaan kyk, sal jy dood neerslaan!
So het Israel in die Ou Testament die ark ook gesien as simbool van God se teenwoordigheid. So heilig, dat dit soms amper as God self gesien is. Daarom het die ark in die Allerheiligste van die tabernakel, en later
van die tempel, gestaan. Die Allerheiligste was vir Israel die heel heiligste plek op aarde, God se aardse woonplek. Niemand kon daar ingaan nie, behalwe die heiligste mens, die Hoëpriester, en hy kon dit net
eenmaal per jaar op die groot versoendag doen.
So word die voorhangsel simbool van alles wat God van mense weggehou het. Hulle het immers aan God gedink as Iemand wat daarbo in die hemel woon, ver en ontoeganklik. Daarom dat sy heiligdom op aarde
ook ontoeganklik was. Maar met Jesus se geboorte het dinge verander. Sy geboorte word aangekondig met die belofte dat God nou God-met-ons is, Immanuel. In Jesus se leer en lewe het Hy ook beklemtoon dat God nie ’n veraf, kwaai en veroordelende God is nie, maar ’n God van liefde en ontferming wat by sy kinders wil wees, wat vir hulle ’n Vader wil wees.
Met die kruisiging het die tempelvoorhangsel van bo na ondergeskeur, en die heiligdom het oopgegaan.
Hebreërs 10 interpreteer dit so: ...ons het dus nou deur die bloed van Jesus vrye toegang tot die heiligdom,en dit op ’n weg wat nuut is en na die lewe lei. Hierdie weg het Hy vir ons gebaan deur die voorhangsel heen...
Is daar nie vandag steeds voorhangsels wat ons weghou van God as God met ons nie? Voorhangsels in die tempel, nie daar buite in die wêreld nie? Die voorhangsel wat God se liefde seker die ontoeganklikste maak, is liefdeloosheid by hulle wat Hom op aarde verteenwoordig, liefdeloosheid deur die kerk van Christus. Is geloof nie juis iets wat deur ons liefde sigbaar moet word nie? Liefde in gehoorsaamheid aan die God van liefde. Liefde as manier om God te eer en te dank vir sy liefde aan ons. Waarom is dit so dat die wêreld se beeld van die kerk van die Here ’n beeld van skynheiligheid, veroordeling en liefdeloosheid is? Is dit nie omdat die wêreld die kerk juis so ervaar nie?
Daar is vrye toegang tot die heiligdom, maar op ’n nuwe weg, die weg van geloof in God enaan dit wat Hy vir ons in Christus gedoen het. ’n Weg wat Christus vir ons deur die voorhangsel heen voorberei het.
My Vrystaatplaas Frans Smit
In die oë van God is ek maar net ‘n kind, eintlik ‘n kleuter – ek karring aan alles, toets en trotseer alles en is soms sommer net bloot nuuskierig. Ek is terselfdertyd ‘n leerder wie daagliks te doen kry met feite - wetenskaplik of soms rêrig onverklaarbaar – en dan dit hanteer as informasie wat ek teen wil en dank móét memoriseer, jy sien, ek’s bang ek mis iets.
Ek beland op ‘n plek wat my egter total onkant betrap. Eers is ek verboureerd want ek’s nogal sku vir ontmoetings met vreemde mense. Ek is totaal oorrompel deur die ontvangs wat ons inwag – gasvryheid is hier nie tersprake nie, dis hartlikheid, opregte hartlikheid wat só skaars is deesdae, maar die Presence laat my winduit. Ek is skaars bewus van my liewe vrou langs my wat haar beste voetjie voorsit en ooglopend die joviale kennismaking geniet. Ons babbelende vriendin loop voor en vang so in-die-loop gou-gou ‘n paar kuiertjies op – sy ken reeds hierdie man en vrou vir jare.
Vir die eerste paar oomblikke staar ek na die eenvoud – dís onverwags. Ek loer na die buitebande met groenteplantjies in, kyk wéér want dit pas nie heeltemal by die prentjie in nie. Die prentjie wat ek vir myself geteken het voordat ons gekom het is skielik vergete want die rooibaksteenhuisie voor my, groet my met ‘n oopbeksoen! Ek’s oorweldig. Hier’s geen statige, Heuwelsig- of Woodland Hills-mansion soos ek ‘n befaamde skrywer en teoloog se woning geskets het nie. Geen blink motors in die oprit nie, net ‘n bakkie met tralies langs die huisie in die koelte. ‘n Kat lê op die bank op die stoepie – stoepie, want dis piepklein. Ek word aan my elmboog by die voordeur ingelei. Die bekende reuk van boerekos omhels ons. Hierdie is nie ‘n woning, ‘n huis, ‘n opstal of herehuis nie, hierdie is home.
Die Presence het my nou in ‘n wurggreep. Ek ervaar ‘n hemelse vervulling wat tot nou toe nog met my doenig is. Ek is al twee dae besig met introspeksie - nee dis ‘n harde, monster van ‘n woord – ek’s eintlik besig om binne-in my siel en hart te krap, te peuter, te karring, te toets, te trotseer.
Iets wat wel in my prentjie pas is die Royal Albert-teestel wat op die tafel uitgepak staan. A ha, gedink daar’s klas hier rond! Die vrou praat onbedaarlik voort en haar man beaam tussenin omtrent elke woord. Ek glimlag in my hart, want ek weet hoe werk dit. Hulle verstaan mekaar só. Ek let op hoe sy haar man met respek en liefde behandel – sy’s kort-kort besorg of hy ok is… Totdat hy ‘n kans kry om sy deel van die storie by te las, dís toe sy belesenheid en welbekende “manier van ‘n ding sê” tevoorskyn kom. Dis vervrissend. Ons aandag is onmiddellik by hom en laat die vrou toe om haar Provita te eet en ‘n slukkie tee te neem. Ek merk dat haar oë ons nie vir ‘n oomblik verloor nie – sy loer oor die koppie asof sy wil sê: “Gaan julle maar aan, ek’s nou terug.”
Ons loop deur die lang, droë gras. Daar’s mos iets omtrent ‘n Vrystaatwinter – iets wat net óns raaksien, maar vandag is hier nog iets. Die Presence. Die vrou kekkel vrolik voort en wuif heen en weer soos sy die oopte verduidelik. Die man beaam steeds. Ek hoor min en die hoendervleise hardloop op en af oor my lyf. Tóg hoor ek toe sy noem dat die plaas “uit die hand van God” kom. A ha, dit geweet, nou’s dit amptelik! Ek tuur oor die horison en maak dit weer hier binne-in my aan die kant: As ek hier my hand uitsteek raak ek sowaar aan God. Ek’s jaloers. Hoe sireen kan dit nou wees daar by my huis op die dorp? Ek wens ek hoef nie huistoe te gaan nie – ek drink alles om my in. Dit moenie ophou nie.
Die afsien by die kar was net so hartlik soos die die aankomsgroet. Ek kyk verbaas na my vrou toe sy die mense omhels en druk – mens sou sê sy ken die twee al jare lank. Maar toe dit my beurt vir groet raak, gebeur dieselfde. Ek sit doodstil oppad terug en wonder wat op aarde sopas met my gebeur het. Ek kan dit nie uitfigure nie, het nie naam daarvoor nie en is nie seker of dit ooit gaan ophou nie. Ek is op ‘n high.
Terug by die huis is ek stil en vroulief loer skelm na my – sy ken my, sy bly stil. Ek dwaal rond op die werf en doen dinge soos ‘n masjien. Ek kon nie ‘n oog toemaak nie. Die Presence. Die vrou se woorde maal deur my kop: “ As ‘n mens meer as die basiese noodsaaklikhede het, fokus jy op die verkeerde dinge.” Ek sit in die sitkamer en staar na ons “basiese noodsaaklikhede” – ek hou daarvan en is dankbaar, rêrig. Ek’s weer doenig hier binne-in: Is dit werklik nodig en hoe basies is dit?
In my verebed lê ek en prentjies teken. Prentjies van my liewe vrou en ek wat vergenoegd in ‘n viervertrekhuisie bly in die middel van ‘n Vrystaatplaas. Die prentjie sukkel maar, maar dan begin ek weer voor en teken ‘n binneband met groenteplantjies en ‘n stoep met ‘n kat daarop.
Die eerste ding wat ek onthou toe ek wakker word is die man se oë. Daar’s ‘n vriendelikheid en deurdringende sagtheid wat ek nooit ooit sal vergeet nie. Dis al of ek die Presence raaksien, eintlik is ek oortuig, dit is Hy. Verder hoor ek die lekker, interessante gesels van die vrou. Ek hoor nog duidelik haar woorde en sinne en kon selfs haar leestekens hoor, só ge-olie is die skryfster se praat. Danksy die slaap, kan ek vanoggend opsom: Dis besondere mense, Geesvervuld, gelukkig en tevrede. Hulle leef na-aan die aarde, styf teenaan God en werk rustig voort. Vir God kan jy dáár gaan aanraak, hieroor twyfel ek nie. Daar kan jy gesond word. Die vrede is tasbaar. Ek beny hulle.
Ek sit weer in ons sitkamer, slurp aan koffie en loer na ons meubels en Tannie Lenie se borduurlap teen die muur. Dis my binnebande met plantjies hierdie. Ek kyk op en en sien so ampertjies ‘n kat op my stoep. Ek vroetel weer hier binne-in my. Hoekom ervaar ek vrede hier? En toe weet ek: Die Presence. Hierdie is my Vrystaatplaas. Hierdie 1932-huis kom “uit die hand van God”. Daar daal ‘n kalmte oor my en ek gaan kruip langs my vrou in die verebed. Ek is op ‘n high.
AAN GOD DIE EER!!
LEPELLê IS KWALITEIT-TYD
Ousus, wie se 39-jarige suster in ‘n motorongeluk dood is, het in haar bedankingsrede in die kerk gesukkel om haar emosies in bedwang te hou. Maar toe sy vertel hoe haar suster in die Desembervakansie van haar verantwoordelike werk vergeet en weer kind saam met haar drie kinders geword het, het Ousus se oë helder geword:
‘’Veronica het die drie kinders die rotspoele laat ontdek; sy het vir Boetatjie geleer hoe om deur die branders te duik. ‘Nóú, nóú!’ het sy geskree, dat jy haar bo die gedreun van die see kon hoor. Dan duik sy saam met Boetatjie deur die groot brander. En as hulle anderkant uitkom, hys sy hom so uit die water op en dan lag daardie kind dat jy hóm tot op die strand kan hoor. Hulle het elke dag hulle draairoomys gaan koop, dit het hulle ritueel geword. Nooit die hele familie nie, net hulle vier, so tjie-tjie, asof hulle wegglip om stout te wees. En partykeer het hulle soos sardiens in ‘n blik in Boetatjie se strandtentjie lê en slaap, al vier van hulle, so op die groot strandhanddoeke, Boetatjie altyd soos ‘n maer komma agter teen haar rug, die ander twee met Veronica se arm oor hulle lyfies. ‘Ons het soos slange geslaap,’ het Tessatjie nog die een dag gesê. ‘Mamma was die groot slang en ons die klein slangetjies in ons tentjie.‘ Hulle het kwaliteit-tyd saam gehad voordat Veronica dood is...’’
Kwaliteit-tyd is herinneringsmateriaal
Kwaliteit-tyd...om nou-nóú te skree en jou seuntjie saam met jou deur die groot brander te vat, sodat julle saam in die see agter die brander uitkom? Kwaliteit-tyd... om saam draairoomys te eet of lepel te lê?
Ja, ja. Alles wat kwaliteit-tyd kwaliteit-tyd maak, is in hierdie beskrywing van ‘n laaste seevakansie te vind: gefokusdheid op mekaar, nabyheid, spontane aanraking en fisiese kontak, omgee, pret, ontdekkings saam, om mekaar as mense te herontdek, kommunikasie, veral luister na mekaar, avontuur, genieting, waardering van mekaar, om aspekte van mekaar te ontdek waarvan julle albei vroeër onbewus was. En, vanselfsprekend: geen selfone nie. Geen ander agenda as om by mekaar te wees nie. Geen skemas nie: ‘’As Mamma nou tyd saam met julle op die strand spandeer, moet julle beloof om julle vanaand in die restaurant te gedra...’’ Die minimum voorwaardes en net die allernoodsaaklikste reëls, soos om sonroom op die neus, droë handdoeke en oë agter die kop-- selfs op ‘n sogenaamd veilige strand --te hê.
Spirit Water and Blood. John 5:6 – 8
This is He who came by water and blood – Jesus Christ, not only by water but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, The Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on the earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three agree as one.
This painting started off being only a dove representing the Holy Spirit but then Jesus showed me there must be a second painting with the cross and the symbol of His blood and there must be water. The gold represents the glory of God (three in one). I realized Jesus is teaching me about the unity between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and that which is in heaven also is established on the earth.
It came to me weeks later what the deeper meaning behind 1John 5:6 – 8 is. The Holy Spirit was sharing with me about the moment Jesus died the veil of the temple was torn.
The colour of the veil was red, blue and purple. The veil was like the Father’s heart torn open to give us access to His most inner being.I also remembered the cross where Jesus called out “My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:47) That was the moment the Father turned His head because He could not look upon His beloved son’s pain (remember: they are One).
Later Jesus called out “Father in your hands I commit my Spirit” (Luke 23:27). These are the same words every Jewish child learns in Ps 31:5 as a prayer of confidence. To me this means God the Father was with Jesus right at the end! The proof lies in I John 5:8. “And there are three that bear witness on the earth the Spirit” (Holy Spirit),”the water“(God the Father) “and the blood” (Jesus).
When the soldier pierced His side blood and water poured out (John 19:34) Jesus gave His blood and the Father, His healing water! “And he who has seen, has testified, and his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe” (John 19:35). That to me means the Spirit was also there. Remember what the centurion said after Jesus died? “Truly this Man was the Son of God” (Mark15:39). How could he have known if the Spirit didn’t open His eyes to the truth?Allow this painting to minister to you. You might or might not agree with me, but to me this knowledge only deepens my love for my Saviour, three in One. The meaning of the cross only deepens.
PURE HOPE PRIMARY: 'n Storie van Wonderwerke
Ons kan droom, maar God droom baie keer groter. As God iets wil laat gebeur, sal niks en niemand in Sy pad staan nie.
Ons lees so baie in Sy Woord hoe kosbaar kinders vir God is. In Matteus 18 lees ons as ons nie soos kinders glo nie, sal ons nooit in God se Koninkryk kan kom nie. God se hart is ook nood en Hy sê dat Hy juis gekom het vir diè wat siek is en swaarkry. Daarom weet ek ook dat die kleuters by Pure Hope Kids vir God uiters kosbaar is en sien ons elke dag hoe Hy ons seën en hoe Hy wonderwerke doen.
Ons eerste groep kleuters wat in 2010 by ons begin het, was verlede jaar in graad R. Hulle het pragtig gevorder en was gereed om 2013 na graad 1 te gaan. Die probleem was watter skool? Daar is net een engelse skool in ons omgewing met `n baie lang waglys. Ons wou ook nie hierdie kinders na enige skool laat gaan nie.
Junie 2012 is ek na die Departement van Onderwys in Johannesburg. Ons was laat met ons aansoek, aangesien ons nie bewus was van die sluitingsdatum nie en die eerste groot wonderwerk is dat hulle ons aansoek aanvaar het. Vorms wat maande neem om te kry, het ons in `n week gekry. Daarna moes ons geduldig wag en glo dat God `n groot wonderwerk sal doen. Die kleuters was baie bekommerd oor die “groot” skool en het elke dag saam gebid dat God vir hulle `n goeie skool sal gee.
November 2012 stuur God `n Christen man van die Departement van Onderwys om ons te kom besoek. Hy was onsettend positief en die groot wonderwerk gebeur: ons mag 9 Januarie 2013 `n laerskool begin. God stuur ook vir ons `n wonderlike onderwyseres, Trudie , wat Hy lankal gereed gemaak het om hierdie groot werk te kom doen. Elf opgewonde gesiggies was 9 Januarie die eerste leerlinge van Pure Hope Primary.
Ons wapen en leuse
Ons glo God het elke kind met `n doel gemaak – om te ontwikkel en te groei en hulle volle potensiaal in God te bereik.
Die oop boek simboliseer:
(a) Die onderrig proses
(b) die Bybel waarop ons geloof en morele standaarde gebou word.
Die brug: onderwys is `n brug bouer tussen onderwysers en kinders, tussen kinders en kinders, ons bou ook `n brug tussen God en kinders sodat Hy verheerlik kan word.
Verskillende mosaïek stene: - Verskeidenheid van kulture. Ons kyk holisties na die kind
Die kruis: Hy is die middelpunt van alles wat by die skool gebeur. Hy is ons bron van krag en inspirasie.
Die verskillende skakerings van blou simboliseer die Wysheid van die Lewende Water wat onderwysers toerus om in kinders se lewens in te bou, om hulle te inspireer om `n toekoms te bou op die regte fondasie.
Verdere wonderwerke by Pure Hope Kids
Januarie 2013 vergroot ons die klasse van 12 kleuters na 15 kleuters.`n Totaal van 60 kleuters word nou in die kleuterskool bedien.
God is vir ons so goed dat ons in April 2013 nog twee klasse gaan begin. Dit sal `n totaal van 90 kleuters beteken in die kleuterskool.
Mag God ons help om elke dag totaal afhanklik van Hom te wees. Mag Hy ons oë oopmaak vir Sy Grootheid en elke wonderwerk wat Hy doen.
Mag ons gehoorsame instrumente in Sy hand wees sodat Hy deur ons kan werk. Mag ons Jesus se hande en voete hier op aarde wees.
Ingestuur deur Riana Andersen.
AN AFRICAN WARRIOR STORY
2 Cor 13:4: For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God.
For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God towards you.”
2008 In Malawi, I met the ultimate warrior for Christ. For in his weakness, Christ is strong. He came to us while we were busy with an eye clinic. (ministry tool used in Africa) He came into the room greeting us with a big smile waving his machete around very dangerously. I asked the interpreter to tell him to put the weapon down because we need to share an amazing story with him. Lucky for me, or so I thought, he put the weapon on the floor. I asked him if he knew Jesus. Between all the wrinkles I could see his eyes lit up and showing a beaming toothless smile. “Yes, I know Jesus; I’m a warrior of Jesus!” Again he picked up the machete demonstrating that he is on the road all the time praying and being a warrior for Jesus”. To my bewilderment he asked if he could share a story. Curiosity got the better of me and I nodded a “Yes”.
This is his story. “I was on the road one day when people came to me. They wanted to kill me. I ran into the bushes hiding myself from them. I stayed there a long time until it was dark, so I fell asleep. The next morning when I woke up my sleeping blanket was pulled over me.” His next words stirred me inside. “I knew it was Jesus who put the blanket over me, protecting me from the cold. He is my Savior and protector.” My eyes opened wide and I could see the very old man for who he really was. I did not see the soiled rags on his body or the dirt on his feet any more. I saw a spotless bride washed clean of sin. He was a prayer warrior through and through. I could only pray for him and bless him, thanking Jesus for his life. I could not even give him a Bible because he is unable to read and yet he knows more about Jesus than some of us. That night I went to bed blessed by the unexpected visit from a warrior.
MALAWI , GRACE FARM NEAR BLANTIRE
We are sticking with God
Lam. 3: 19-36.
19-21 I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness,
34-36 Stomping down hard
on luckless prisoners,
Refusing justice to victims
in the court of High God,
Tampering with evidence—
the Master does not approve of such things.
Source: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations+3&version=MSG. Translation: EUGENE H. PETERSON. THE MESSAGE.
Written by the prophet Jeremiah. Echoed by millions who are in union with Christ.
Wanneer die Voorspraak kom wat Ek vir julle van die Vader af sal stuur, die Gees van die waarheid, wat van die Vader uitgaan, sal Hy oor My getuig. Joh. 15:26. ANV., Bybelgenootskap
The Helper will come---the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God and who comes from the Father. I will send him to you from the Father, and he will speak about me. John 15:26. GNB.
Dié wat die Here dien, moet getuig: “Aan sy liefde is daar geen einde nie.” Psalm 118:4. ANV.
Let all who worship him say, "His love is eternal." Ps. 118:4. GNB.
SONDE, WOL EN SKAPE
Op my reis na New Mexiko het ek een ding geleer. Doen wat jou hand vind om te doen en kyk hoe die Here daardeur werk. Vroeg oggend was Nelson Betonie, Navajo pastoor by my agterdeur, Cowboy hoed in die hand wil hy weet of ek gereed is om skape te skeer. So eindig ek op by ouma Elenore se plasie in Window Rock, Indiane reservaat, waar ek diens gedoen het. Die ouergarde se skapies word deur die gemeenskap geskeer, almal maak beurte.
Onder die skeerders afdakkie word die skaap se pote aanmekaar vasgebind en voorwaar, die skaap is waarlik stom voor haar skeerders. Selfs toe die eerste knip by haar nek bloed trek blaas sy net so bietjie harder deur haar neus. Nelson wys mooi hoe ek moet maak en laat toe die takie aan my oor terwyl hy rustig vertel hoe hy die skeerdery ervaar.
Sien jy hoe skoon is die wol teen die vel? So is dit met mense ook. Wanneer die vuil aanpak, keer die wol se vetlagie dat dit deurdring tot teen die vel. God se planne vir ons lewe is nog altyd daar, al dwaal ons af. ‘n Skaap wat swaar gelaai is van die wol is nie gesond nie en sukkel om gewig op te tel. ‘n Geskeerde skapie word mooi rond en gesond.
Dit tref my diep, hoeveel emosionele bagasie dra elkeen van ons rond? Die skeerproses is seer en los bloedmerke, maar die totale voordeel van die wol wat af is, oorskadu die pyn.
Terwyl ek die afgesnyde wol in die streepsak gooi , endig Nelson met die volgende woorde: “ Vuil wol word mooi skoon gewas en verwerk tot voordeel van ander. “ Was jy al skaam om te getuig oor jou sonde wat God weggesny het? Doen dit ‘n bietjie en sien hoe dit ander raak en inspireer. Na ‘n lekker middagete saam met Ouma Elenore, keer ons terug sendingstasie toe. ‘n Onvergeetlike oggend saam met Jesus waar ek prakties kon leer van sonde wol en skape!
LISE-Mare BOTHA ( 44)
WINDOW ROCK, NEW MEXICO (LAND VAN DIE NAVAJO INDIANE) USA.
EK IS GOD SE OOGAPPEL
Op Maandag, 29 Junie 2009 vertrek Santie, ses werkers en ek met ‘n sleepwa vol tuinvullis na Virginia. Ons sou dit eers gaan aflaai by die stortingsterrein te Virginia voordat ons sou gaan werk.
Die oprit by die stortingsterrein is plus minus 4 tot 4.5M hoog. Bo gekom, sukkel die manne om die sleepwa los te haak. Ek klim uit, gaan staan agter op die sleepwa om ekstra gewig op die agterkant te plaas om die afhaak te vergemaklik.
Die manne ruk en pluk en uiteindelik is hulle klaar. Ekself aanvaar die sleepwa is agehaak en dat hulle die sleepwa na die kant beweeg om die vullis af te gooi.
Ek tree agteruit, een man skreeu “ho” maar dit is te laat. Ek land nie tussen die tuinvullis in die mobiele houer van die stadsraad nie; ook nie op die rand van die houer wat my kon oopkloof, rug breek of enige ander ernstige beserings kon opdoen nie.
Nee, ek val tussen die muur en die skerp rand van die houer af. Toe ek bykom, staan my oudste broer en twee werkers langs my.
In die hospitaal opgeneem, vind ons ‘n gebreekte bladbeen, vyf ribbes en die vyf gebreekte vlerkies van die werwels.
Dit, het ek besef was my tweede kans. Dit kon soveel erger wees. Maar sy engele het my op die hande gedra.
WAAROM? God is liefde. Al het ek soveel van die val probleme oorgehou, weet ek verseker, Hy wil my nog gebruik en daarom is ek tot sy beskikking.
“ LORD IF IT IS YOU COMMAND ME TO COME TO YOU ON THE WATER.” SO HE SAID “COME”.
My journey started in 1995 and like the Israelites it took me a long time before I could enter the Promised Land. I was standing in a shop waiting at the pay point. My attention was drawn to the very tall man with a long pony tail standing in front of me. I remember thinking “this must be an American Indian.” And then I found myself wondering about his presence in Cape Town. A clear voice whispered in my heart: “Are you willing to accept these people as your family?” Without thinking my spirit answered: “Yes.” I pondered over this incident, waiting, never forgetting that day or the man’s face.
In 2009 I made contact with an South-African based organization who reached out to the Natives in South America, but it was only a year later that, within God’s perfect timing, the door was opened for me. In October 2010 I received notice from them that there was a presentation I could attend close to my home. Not sure if this was the right thing to do I let the moment slip through my fingers. The next day I woke up with a strong sense of guilt because of disobedience. I had to repent and asked Jesus for a second chance. This was graciously granted!
The moment I heard the message I knew I had to go. The message was very clear: “People are dying without Jesus.” This thought combined with my love for Jesus plus the knowledge that He will never put something in my path I will not be able to handle, made me report for duty.
In December 2010 my first mission trip to the Native American people took place. It was also on this mission trip that the Holy Spirit prompted me to take the step of faith to be a fulltime missionary.
Lise-Mare Botha, (44)
Home base is in Cape Town South Africa but almost half of the year I spend in North America NM or when God is gracious to me in the South American jungle, volunteering wherever I’m needed.
Wie sal Ek stuur en wie sal vir My gaan?
As ‘n baie jong kind het ek Jesus gevra om in my lewe te kom en toe ek so tussen 9-10 jaar oud was, was ek by ‘n kinderkerk byeenkoms en daar het ek baie duidelik die boodskap in my hart gekry dat ek eendag ‘vir die Here gaan werk’
Soos Maria, het ek daardie woorde in my hart gebêre en my skoolloopbaan voltooi. Ek wou graag sendeling word, maar die onderwysers het my sterk afgeraai; verpleging was toe my ander opsie, maar daarteen het my Vader baie kapsie gemaak. Weens finansiële druk, het ek toe by die Bloedoortappingsdiens in Johannesburg begin werk.
Omtrent ‘n jaar nadat ek begin werk het, het ons ‘n uitnodigingsprediker vir die spesifieke Sondag, en sy boodskap gaan toe oor Jesaja 6: Wie sal ek stuur en wie sal vir My gaan...? Ek het dadelik besef dat die roeping in my hart nou gaan begin. Ek het aansoek gedoen by die AGS Teologiese Seminarium en was goed gekeur. (Daardie jare was dit absoluut ongehoord vir ‘n dame om haarself in die Teologie te bekwaam.)
Ek is omtrent 2 jaar nadat ek my studies voltooi het, met my man Ben Chapman, getroud en het ons vir 16 jaar in die voltydse bediening gestaan. Dit was mooi jare, maar ek het ook diep in my hart geweet – die Here het meer vir my. In 1986 het ek ‘n Christelike Telefoonberadingskursus deurloop en vir 21 jaar telefoonberading vir Telefriend Counselling Service gedoen.
In daardie tyd, lees ek eendag iets in die Message Bybel: John 4:35 ‘.......Open your eyes and take a good look around....I send you to harvest a field you never worked. Without lifting a finger, you have walked in on field worked long and hard by others’. Ek was verstom, want van jongsaf en in die bediening, was ek betrokke by elke area van die kerk. Ek glo die Here het ‘n fout gemaak toe hierdie teks so in my gesig ‘opgespring’ het.... ‘n Paar maand later word ek genooi na ‘n praatjie oor ‘onbeplande swangerskappe, aborsie en alternatiewe opsies vir meisies’. Dis tóé dat die stem van die Heilige Gees my weer herinner aan die teks. In Maart 1996 sluit ek aan as ‘n vrywilliger by Neo Birth Krisis Swangerskap Sentrum. Daar leer ek toe alles oor swangerskappe (al het ek reeds 3 keisersnees gehad!!) en keuses wat beskikbaar is. Ek was by hierdie Sentrum tot 2008 betrokke, eers as vrywilliger en later as personeellid. Hier het ek gewéét wat dit beteken om gehoorsaam te wees en ook te leer hoe belangrik die voorbereiding van die Here in ‘n mens se lewe is en nie langs die pad te gaan sit nie.
Daarna het die Here my gelei om te begin om opleiding aan te bied vir vrywilligers wat by soortgelyke sentrums betrokke wou word en nou met my aftrede het ek hierdie opleidings geboekstaaf en glo ek dat ek nog ‘opleidings’ gaan aanbied op plekke waar ek nooit kan kom nie.
My aanmoediging aan almal: moenie die droom wat die Here in jou hart geplaas het, opsy skuif wanneer jy voel dit kom nie toe uitvoering nie. God gebruik die lewenslesse om jou voor te berei vir Sy droom.
Principal - Procura Training Academy
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That's my girl! by Marlene Kleynhans
I was a teenager, living for the moment. I followed the popular crowd and tried to fit in, by hanging out with guys who gave me confidence. I was easily flattered by smooth talk and empty promises. I became rebellious and did not keep to any rules, which caused me to be in trouble all the time. I did not have a good self-image and kept on trying to find acceptance from friends and from relationships. I fell in love every now and then, ended up with a broken heart and then craved attention from the next guy, just to start the whole cycle again. I was a mean and dangerous girl for any guy. I dressed to impress and flirting was my game. That was such a miserable life.
I knew about God, but I had no idea how to connect Him with my daily living. I went to church, hearing nothing and went with the only intention to have a good time and checked out the guys. I broke the 10 commandments every day of my life and I did not even know or cared that I was lost. I only read Song of Solomon, ‘cause it was all about love; I never even saw the connection that it was about Jesus’ love for me. I can’t believe I’ve been so deaf and blind.
When my first baby was born, I thought that one day God will keep me accountable for his life. That puzzled me, ‘cause to bring up a child in the ways of the Lord, cannot be done without knowing God personally. I started to seek Him, by reading the Bible and praying. I soon discovered that I was lost and I was so ashamed of my life. That was a shock, because I thought that I was a bad good girl or was I a good bad girl? One day I just fell down on my knees and confessed my sins and asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. When I opened the Bible, I read Isaiah “I called you by your name; you are mine”. For the first time I felt loved and accepted. I was blind, and now I see. The word of God became so alive, I couldn’t stop reading it!
I started to pray with moms at school and the Lord softened my heart for teenagers who were so confused and without guidance. I saw myself in every confused girl, who made the wrong choices. We put up a mailbox at the school for prayer requests and we returned some of the letters, with a word of inspiration. My heart broke for every desperate letter from a girl who had no hope, no answer and no confidence and broke up with her boyfriend.
I started to write a newsletter, full of quotes, inspiration, scriptures to hold on to, etc. and distributed it among the girls. The name of the newsletter was The Mustard Seed and prophetically that was the seed planted to impact the lives of teenage girls.
I few years after sowing The Mustard Seed, I had an experience which I want to share with you. I drove passed a florist and I saw bunches of sunflowers on the side walk. I heard in my spirit, the Lord saying, “Stop and buy a bunch.”
I reasoned that I did not really have money then to spend on sunflowers and if I would buy flowers, I would rather choose roses. Well, I made a u-turn, bought a bunch and let the friendly guy put a bow around it. As I put it on the floor of the passenger seat, I heard in my spirit: “You have to keep your eyes on Me as these sunflowers are turning their faces to the sun.” I was in awe of it reaching the roof of the car and I spoke my mind: “Lord, why these loooong stems?” and immediately I heard, “These stems stand out; you too have to stand out.” I just whispered, “Wow, Lord!”
I thought that I would drop by to bless Mom with it and while I was on my way to her, I counted how many sunflowers were in the bunch and I counted 5. While speaking to the Lord, I asked Him, “Lord, there are 5 sunflowers, do you want to tell me if that means anything?” Thinking my own thought, I reasoned may be it is the Trinity and Mom and I, but He spoke into me, one word: “Virgins”. I thought by myself, how many virgins were waiting for the Bridegroom? I couldn’t remember the parable. I couldn’t wait to get to my Bible to read it again. It became so clear that He says that we are preparing to be His bride. We have to be like the 5 wise virgins, keeping their eyes on Him, to be set-apart and holy, pure and consecrated. The oil that is produced, by the sunflower, through crushing, is the Holy Spirit, who we need, to be ready when our Bridegroom comes.
The bow, to symbolize that a wedding is going to take place soon!
This whole incident impacted my life and I committed myself to live only for Him, my Savior and Bridegroom!
In 2010, I fasted and prayed for God’s calling on my life. I clearly heard His still, small voice, “a girls’ magazine”! I can remember that I almost jumped up, because of the fright I got. I experienced it as a fright, but with no fear. Excitement stirred up in me and I started to share this with the girls and we prayed for a name for the magazine. The name, That’s My Girl came up in my mind, after a few days, after searching for some Hebrew names and meanings. I wanted to be sure that it comes from the Lord and paged through scriptures to find an answer. I read Matt. 25 again about the 10 virgins, but found nothing and then kept on reading. I read about the talents which were given out and in verse 21 a light went on when I read, “Well done, good and faithful servant …”! That is what the Lord will say to a girl, who is a wise virgin, holy, set-apart, consecrated, in love with Jesus, “That’s My girl”!!! Wow, isn’t He worthy to be praised? Just like an earthly, loving father would say to his daughter, “That’s my girl!”
The year 2012, February, the 7th issue was printed and I believe that with the 8th issue, which was due in May/June, the Lord took us to a new level. The number 8 has a Biblical meaning of New Beginnings and I trusted the Lord to take us to a new level. We changed the format from A5 to a bigger A4, with more pages, (prophetically, expanding out tent pens) standing on the word, Luke 6:38 Give and gifts will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over…. I believe that the time has come that we will see the harvest of the Mustard Seed and the 7 issues (4000 printed of each issue) which were given away for free (a few were sold).
Issue 8 and 9 were sent to 89 CNA branches throughout the country, but sales were not good and I had to stand firm in my faith that God is working behind the scenes. The attacks of the enemy came in like a flood (Isaiah 59:19) and I chose to believe the promise of God that He will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight. I am still clinging to every promise and daily I am reminded to walk by faith, not by sight. At this moment I trust the Lord for open doors at CUM books, Exclusive books, Gospel Direct, PNA and that the sales in CNA will go wild.
The good news is that the Lord is bringing many volunteers into the ministry, all with a few things in common: they are in love with Jesus, they want to be involved with building His Kingdom here on earth, and they have a passion for teenagers and want to contribute their talents and gifts to impact the girls.
When I shop in the mall, my heart aches for girls who look like I used to be and when they pull their guts together to write an email, I wish that I could just reach through the computer screen to give them a hug. My dream is to give each of the girls a magazine and when they read it, they will find Jesus among the pages. He will meet them where they are, not judging them, but draw them with cords of love and whispers, “You’re My Girl, you’re to die for”.
Geen groter oomblik
Soms praat ons diep dinge, dikwels nie. Maar op 'n dag toe ons wel diep dinge gepraat het, vra ons vir mekaar: “Hoe, wat en waar was die werklike groot oomblikke in jou lewe?” In daardie oomblikke het baie gedagtes deur my gegaan: troudag, geboorte van ons kinders en kleinkinders, die dag toe ek na 'n motorongeluk tussen Clanwilliam en Calvinia besef het dat ek toe nie dood is nie, die dag toe ek nie in die diepsee by Zanzibar verdrink het nie, die dag toe die bewaker van die Ark in Axum, Ethiopië, sy hand deur die tralies van sy woonerf gesteek en my hand geskud het, die dag toe ek in die tuingraf in Jerusalem gestaan en gedink het: alles hier is stowwerig en aards: stof is jy en tot stof sal jy terugkeer. Hier het Jesus Christus uit die dood lewend geword. Hier het die wêreldgeskiedenis gedraai.
Maar skielik het ek geweet: die grootste oomblikke in my lewe gebeur keer op keer. Hulle gebeur soms tydens die erediens in die kerk. Hulle gebeur soms tydens 'n begrafnis. Hulle gebeur gereeld hier voor die rekenaar. Hulle gebeur terwyl ek bid of huil of opkyk in die eindelose blou van die Vrystaatse lug. Die grootste oomblikke in my lewe — groter as enige ander ervaring op aarde — is wanneer die teenwoordigheid van God Self my as onverdienstelike sondaar omvou, met lig deurstraal en in een oomblik seën met 'n voorsmaak van al die seëninge wat daar in Jesus Christus is.
Maretha Maartens, 60 plus, Bloemfontein, Suid-Afrika.
Jy word uitgenooi om telkens te kom vertel wat jy in jou verhouding met God beleef en al beleef het.
Wat ons hier plaas, is die getuienisse van mense van die 21e eeu wat soos die psalmskrywer sê: "Aan sy liefde is daar geen einde nie."
Gebruik net asseblief elke keer die sjabloon (template) wat ons in dié artikel voorsien.
Life’s greatest moments
One day, when we shared deeper thoughts, the question arose: “When, where and what were the really momentous moments in your life?” Lots of thoughts crossed my mind: wedding day, birth of children and grandchildren, surviving a serious car accident somewhere between Calvinia and Clanwilliam, not drowning in the sea off the Zanzibar coast, having my hand shaken by the guardian of the Ark in Axum, Ethiopia. I thought about thoughts in the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem: how dusty everything was: Dust thou art, to dust returnest... But that dusty spot was the place of the resurrection. It was the turning point in the history of the world.
Suddenly I knew the answer to the question concerning the most significant moments in my life. They sometimes happen in church or at a funeral. They often occur right here at my computer. They happen while I pray of cry or look up into the unfathomable depths of the Free State skies. Life’s greatest moments are when I, an undeserving sinner, become aware of the presence of the eternal God, the nearness of our ominipotent, merciful, just, holy and loving Father. Life’s greatest moments are when one knows that one is in his Light, when one tastes living water and when, for another brief second in time, one savours a foretaste of all the blessings that are in Christ.
Maretha Maartens, 60 plus, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
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