Walter at McDonald's

Most Sunday evenings after church we go eat at the Mac’s just around the corner from the church. Yes I know junk food and all that but as a family we enjoy it and it solves the problem of having to go home at 8-8.30pm and still make something to eat

.

A few Sundays ago we were walking back to the car, after having finished our meal. I just out of courtesy thanked the security guard that was patrolling the area. Allie then got the ‘feeling’ to give him some money to buy a cup of coffee. He thanked us whole heartedly and we continued to walk to our car. As we got to the car he came up to us and just asked if this is our car. We answered  yes and then he said he had been ‘reading’ our car and he had taken all the scriptures down and was going to go and check and see in what context they were written in the bible. Wow, great stuff. We then chatted to each other about our wonderful God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. 

He introduced himself as Walter. He is from the Shona tribe in Zimbabwe. What an amazing man of God he is. We have come to know him better from our visits to Mac’s and he just shines the light of Christ  out to the world. Always helping people and going the extra mile, doing the job that he is doing it is not easy to remain positive. We are blessed to have met him. 

See below our car, Allie likes to stick scriptures on the back window.

TAKE(me)AWAY

Hiya Saints !!!!!

'Bout two weeks ago, got home from work on a Friday evening. Allie & Mattie wanted to get Steers burgers. My mind and body had already gone into shut down mode and I was really not keen to go anywhere. So I tried a few feeble excuses, too tired to think up any good ones and when that didn't work I thought I'd just act self righteously miserable. 'Lookit me I'm such a martyr dontcha just feel so really sorry for me!'

Well off we went to Steers which was all of about two minutes drive away, too close to even call it round the corner. While standing in Steers waiting for our order I started to feel less sorry for myself and actually started to be fascinated by and enjoy the people around me. I was kinda standing behind this glass door when I looked out through it. The combination of the setting sun, clouds and glass all just kinda combined for a beautiful sight that really touched my soul and spirit. Suddenly this strong feeling rose up within me. What if Jesus comes now, right at this very moment? It was such a strong feeling I felt like running out of the building and looking up towards the sky. But I didn't, people might think I'm looking for UFO's or doing a Chicken Little impression and what if I missed my order! Oh yeh I've really got my priorities sooo sorted.

That feeling just kinda stayed with me for the whole evening. So you can call me crazy for believing that Jesus is coming soon, like tomorrow or maybe in the next thousand years or so but am I really? How do you feel about it? I know some of you out there don't even think at all about this. But you have a choice either He is coming or He isn't. The word of God says He is coming and this word has stood the test of time for 3,500 years and has stood out as the shining light of truth. I bet you that you cannot make sense of this world unless you refer to the makers manual, His word the bible. So if there is even just a slim chance of this being true wouldn't you be more crazy if you didn't check it out personally for yourself.

You know the only hope that this world has is in Jesus Christ. I lived for forty years (yeh my wandering in the desert period!) without hope before I met my saviour and I was such a massive skeptic. But the love of God just came into my life and changed me forever, for eternity. Oh yeh and He is still waiting for you to come to Him with His arms wide open. So if you don't know Jesus, feel far away from Him, feel down, lost, broken, hurt, angry, confused, feel like you have totally messed up your life beyond redemption, pulled apart by the way this world is now, just open up your heart to Jesus Christ. He is waiting to strengthen you and help you through this life and get you ready for the next life which will be beyond any joy and beauty you can imagine. How do I know this? 'Cause these are the promises of God in His manual, the bible, so don't be distracted and deceived by the way things are in the world now, they are not going to remain this way. Oh yeh you can call me crazy if you want to.

Crazy
by Mercy Me

Why I would I spend my life longing for the day that it would end..
Why would I spend my time pointing to another man..
Isn't that crazy

How can I find hope in dying, with promises unseen..
How can I learn your way is better
In everything I'm taught to be..
Isn't that crazy

I have not been called to the wisdom of this world..
But to a God who's calling out to me..
And even though the world may think
I'm losing touch with reality
It would be crazy
To choose this world over eternity

And if I boast let me boast
Of filthy rags made clean
And if I glory let me glory
In my Savior's suffering
Isn't that crazy

And as I live this daily life
I trust you for everything
And I will only take a step
When I feel You leading me
Isn't that crazy

I have not been called to the wisdom of this world..
But to a God who is calling out to me..
And even though the world my think
I'm losing touch with reality
It would be crazy
To choose this world over eternity

Call me crazy
You can call me crazy
Call me crazy

I have not been called to the wisdom of this world..
But to a God who is calling out to me..
And even though the world may think that
I'm losing touch with reality
It would be crazy, It would be crazy, It would be crazy
To choose this world over eternity

Isn't That crazy..
Call me crazy
You can call me crazy
Call me crazy

LoCTY!!!!!!!!!

PS Jesus loves you more than you can possibly imagine!

Growing Up

Precious Saints !!!

Was woken up one morning with this song by Chris Rice (thanks Helga on CCFM) and the first few lines just kinda stuck in my mind for a few days and evoked a ton of memories both good and bad.

What dreams did you have as a child as to what you wanted to be when you grew up and became an adult? Well I wanted to be a fireman, policeman, doctor, vet, soccer star, rock star and so on. As I grew older my ideas changed as to what I wanted to be. So by the time I was a teenager I wanted to be a rock star. Hey I really loved music but did I have any talent? Sad to say just about zero.

So we become all 'grown up' and stumble into a job and the 'real' world starts knocking our dreams to pieces. Sorry man, you can't do that, you're too short, too skinny, too white, too stoopid and so on. I remember going for job interview after job interview where they asked the same dumb questions. "Did you captain the 1st rugby team, 1st soccer team, 1st dis, 1st dat, I see you don't have a post matric qualification"....drone on and on. Hey can't a guy come second here? As a scrawny 20 something I just about used to wet my pants(or something worse) when I went for job interviews.

The other really intelligent question was, "I see you don't have any experience....." Well knock me down with a perfumed pink feather. I had just come out of the army where I was trained to meet interesting people and kill them!!! My young friends and I were giving up our lives to protect your sorry fat backside. How am I gonna get any experience if you don't want to hire me. Well that's what I felt like saying but I really did not have the guts to say it.

Anyways you eventually get a job, get married, get divorced, get married, get divorced and then get married again and hopefully stay employed throughout. And all this time you are kinda thinking to yourself there has just gotta be more to life then this. By the time I'd reached 40 I'd carefully patched up my heart, sealed it reasonably tight and would only let in people if they would be able to give me something in return. I would give love but you better give me some love back.

And then at that stage I had almost reached breaking point. Allie my lovely wife after giving birth to our only son had two nervous breakdowns in the space of three/four years. I mean what had I done to deserve this? I was really losing myself and finding it so difficult to really put others first. Then Allie started seeking for something bigger, higher then herself and she literally upset my whole wheelbarrow of manure. She actually started going to church! This kinda freaked me out initially I mean I was kinda steeling myself to push my wheelbarrow for the rest of my life and work out some kinda plan to make the manure smell better.

Well one thing led to another and one Saturday evening I met my saviour Jesus Christ. WOW!!! He gave me a tiny glimpse of his glory and my life was changed forever. Now I wanna do things 'cause I know that He loved me first, I'm learning more and more His purpose and plan for my life. And guess what I am really super duper special, I'm so precious that God himself came down and died for me. He purchased me with His own blood! Can you actually fathom the depth, the width the height of that love? Not likely this side of heaven. Now all this does not give me a big fat head but makes me feel truly grateful and humble and just wanting to serve Him with all that I have. Oh yeah, am I perfect? No ways, I'm full of holes and frayed at the edges but I'm really trying to love God back and the more I get that right the more I am able to give of His love back to the world.

God just blows me away constantly with His love. A youth pastor from Khayelitsha phoned me yesterday on my cell to tell me that He loves me as a brother in Christ. A woman the other evening introduced me to her sister and said that I'd saved her live. And it goes on and on. I'm not saying all this to get a Noddy badge or to tell you how great I am but to tell you how great God is. Love Him back more and more and you will see how He uses you. Go on I dare you!

Here's that song

The Power Of The Moment (by Chris Rice)

What am I gonna be when I grow up?
How am I gonna make my mark in history?
And what are they gonna write about me when I’m gone?
These are the questions that shape the way I think about what matters
But I have no guarantee of my next heartbeat
And my world’s too big to make a name for myself
And what if no one wants to read about me when I’m gone?
Seems to me that right now’s the only moment that matters

You know the number of my days
So come paint Your pictures on the canvas in my head
And come write Your wisdom on my heart
And teach me the power of a moment
The power of a moment, the power of a moment

In Your kingdom where the least is greatest
The weak are given strength and fools confound the wise
And forever brushes up against a moment’s time
Leaving impressions and drawing me into what really matters

You know the number of my days
So come paint Your pictures on the canvas in my head
And come write Your wisdom on my heart
And teach me the power of a moment
The power of a moment, the power of a moment

I get so distracted by my bigger schemes
Show me the importance of the simple things
Like a word, a seed, a thorn, a nail
And a cup of cold water

You know the number of my days
So come paint Your pictures on the canvas in my head
And come write Your wisdom on my heart
And teach me the power of a moment
The power of a moment, the power of a moment

Copyright Clumsy Fly Music (ASCAP)



LoCTY !!!!!!!


We know what real love is because Christ gave up His life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters. (1 John 3:16)

Do You Remember What I've Done? 2

Yo Saints !!!!!!

So there I was feeling pretty chuffed with myself for heeding the gentle whisper of His Holy Spirit and wearing my heart on my sleeve for you wacky (but much loved) bunch of people. And then there were a coupla emails and phone calls back to me. The general line of comment was something like this "Hey bozo, where is the attachment? Where is the testimony, did you FORGET to attach it?!, Do you actually know how to work your email package?"
Phew you guys are a tuff audience. Actually I was just doing the good husband, trusted confidant thing. I had not asked Allie her permission to send out her testimony to the bunch of you, but I did that last night and she is happy to do that.
So here it is and something extra as well as I also include the way God used this testimony yesterday and just remember this started with Paul and Belinda's testimonies.
All of you out there have a miraculous testimony, although you might not think so, your testimony can break down walls, barriers and be an incredible instrument for God. Your testimony is a living day by day sacrifice to your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ which takes in the past, present and future, never be ashamed of it, wear it as a shining badge inside and outside you, a badge that shines/reflects God's glory. I just smile when people say God don't do no miracles today. The greatest miracle in the universe is when we are reconciled back to God through the blood of Jesus Christ, when we reach that point in our lives when we acknowledge Him as the Lord of our lives, King of Kings, King of Glory.
Below are two emails between Allie and Belinda.



Hi Monds,
See the email below from Belinda.

Well, yes I was sitting the lounge yesterday watching something on TV whilst Matt and Chadd were playing. The phone rang and it was Belinda!. We had such a lovely long chat. The last two times we saw each other was firstly 8+ years ago at my Mom's funeral (I was 6 months pregnant and I think she was 1 month). Then shortly afterwards when I had Matt and he was just born and she was still pregnant, Val and I went to visit. We did not see each other again, perhaps the time was not right. But what am I saying, God's timing is perfect and that is why He has brought us together again!.
She said that she had just read Val's letter and was looking out of the window wondering how she could reach her Mom and Dad. By the way her Mom is my sister Val's best friend who worked in Barclays bank with her before she became a nun. Her Mom and Dad are also Roman Catholic and she considers Belinda a bit of a black sheep as she and her husband Paul now belong to the AOG in Edgemead and not the Catholic church. She turned back to her computer and there was an email waiting for her. MINE!!
She read it with joy and tears and sometime later phoned me and we had a beautiful conversation, sharing and laughing and just overwhelmed that we had such similar testimonies. A 'coincidence'? I don't think so - more likely a GOD incidence.
She asked also if she could share my testimony with her Mom and Dad and others and I said of course. Testimonies are to be shared with everyone. Even the shortest of testimonies is a great witness to God our Loving Heavenly Father.
Praise God from whom all blessings come.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose".
Romans 8:28
God Bless
Love Allie

God is good.

From Belinda

I just finished reading a letter from Aunty Val...from PE.

AND just turned to my computer..... and opened mail from her sister!!!

so amazing...... I am about to read your testimony now.

Thanks in advance.

I know that this communication is not by chance.....

I know that God has a plan.

I am so excited.

chat later...

bye
love
from
Belinda

I Need You Now

To The Precious Saints !!!!

Every morning I wake up, do you think I thank and praise and worship my Saviour? Of course I do! I mean you all know me as this wonderful, incredible, fine upstanding Christian to whom you all look up to as such a great example. Yeah right ! Lemme tell you anything good you see in me is from God (James 1:17) and that is only made possible by His love, grace and mercy which I'm slowly coming to realise through Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. Sometimes I'm in despair for those around me, sometimes I'm so lost, in a panic, don't have the courage to get up and go out in this crazy world which is driven by pride and fear. I ask God what do you really want me to do in this crazy mixed up world today? I'm really a paralysis analysis oke. But you know if I humble myself and talk to Him ('cause we all can) He reaches down and through His love, He restores my eternal hope and says just trust me,you are my child and I have given you the authority of my son, 'cause without Jesus this world just does not make any sense at all.
So in these past few days I have carefully walked (with Jesus) through all kinds of 'things' good and bad and when I'm feeling lost, when I'm hurting, when I see those around me being hurt, thousands dying in natural catastrophes,wars, whose fault is it? Who does the 'world' blame? You got it, God. Even those who don't believe he exists will quite contritely tell you that is why they cannot believe in Him 'cause of all the 'bad' stuff going on in the world today. Man, even they know something is wrong and mankind has not been able to fix it and is not 'evolving' into something better, forget all the nasty four letter words, there is one three letter word that blows them all away and that word is SIN. Jesus in Matthew 24 told us that in the last days these things would happen. Paul on many occasions expands on this in his letters to the various churches and then there is the book of Revelation. How many of us read the bible, how many of us pick up the pattern as to how God dealt with the Jews in the Old Testament? So many just dis the bible without even having opened it. They ask you to explain your faith without referring to the bible, ha now that is a good way to install a crunching handicap. Just because people believe or disbelieve something does not make it the truth but as Solomon (some wise oke) said there is nothing new under the sun.
Ag Raymond you know people have been saying that for years, that the end of the world is nigh. So how can we take this seriously anymore this is really the genre of crackpots and lunatics. Don't worry, they laughed at Noah as well, who was this crazy old man building this colossal contraption in his back yard. They stopped laughing when they started to drown. There is a cliché that goes like this, "the only thing we learn from history is that we don't learn anything at all."
Of course then there is that other wannabe god. Satan who comes to lie, cheat and destroy, has anyone noticed him? What is his main aim, you mean you don't know? Come on, he wants to either stop you from getting to a relationship with God or if you have one to drive a wedge in it and break it down, he wants you to act outside of God's love and purely for yourself. He wants you to worship him. Just perchance do you see any evidence of his handiwork in this world today. But don't be fooled he is already defeated but he wants to take you down with him.
But when I look at people, when I deal with them I know Jesus died for each and everyone (John 3:16) on this messed up planet no matter what you believe but the only way out is through Him (remember the song by Sir Cliff) and I know I need my Saviour Jesus Christ every day of my life to help me do His will and to help me show His love, grace and mercy.

I've never seen that little town where You where born
It was long before my time and far away
But as time goes on I think about You more and more
And wonder what it was like in those days
I wish I could have walked with You
You might have called me friend
But there's no way I could have known You then

But I know You now
I know Your name
A lot of awesome things You did and why you came

I didn't know You when You helped that lame man rise up from his bed
I didn't know You when You stood there and called Lazarus from the dead
But I know You now

I didn't see You feed that tired hungry crowd with five loaves and two fish one afternoon
And I didn't see You catch Peter's hand so he wouldn't drown
When he tried to walk on water like You
I couldn't see Your face when You taught those little kids
There's just no way I could have seen You then

But I see You now
I see Your love
I see a tiny glimpse of You in every one of us
I didn't see You on the Mount of Olives crying as You prayed
I couldn't see You when You were kissed by Judas and betrayed
But I see You now

Oh , I didn't need You when that cruel and angry mob shouted "crucify him"
And I couldn't have needed You when they laughed and mocked You
But it could be that I'm a little bit like them

'Cause I need You now
I need Your grace
And how I needed Your forgiveness to be saved

I didn't need You when Pilate's soldiers beat You to the ground
I didn't need You when You hung there bleeding from Your thorny crown

But I need You now
Oh, I need You now
I need You now......
(I need You now,words by Kelly Shiver performed by Billy Ray Cyrus from the album The Other Side)

LoCTY !!!!!

Purrrrspektive

To The Precious Saints !!!!!!!

Ya YOU, don't look around or behind you or at the person next to you and if you are working away by your little lonesome self, don't feel lonely 'cause He is with you always. Jesus is saying U RRRR PRECIOUS TO HIM he paid the highest price that one can pay for anyone. So no matter how vrot you are feeling today that does not change this truth.

If you ask the majority of people about Mondays, you kinda get the colour answer, black, blue or a combo black and blue, if its really a bomb of a day. Mondays are such clichés, everything seems to go wrong and what makes it so difficult is that my brain is still in neutral weekend mode when Monday springs up on me and screams in my ear SURPRISE!!!! its Monday. Oh what joy. I'm looking so forward to going to work, all those exciting deadlines, playing with exciting financial packages, meeting all those terribly depressed and morose people. Everyone is just so hyped and motivated to serve their fellow citizens in Cape Town, yea right.

So there I am hanging on to a leather handle of the bus, like a choice piece of meat, while trying not to put too much weight on my fractured toe. The bus is crammed, standing room only. Yea running late again, gee wot a surprise. We are caught in a tailback from Cape Town to Timbuktu and everyone is enjoying sucking in all the free carbon monoxide fumes. Its stifling hot in the bus and a woman is virtually fainting as she decides discretion is the better part of valour and sits down on the floor. I'm miffed I can't read or sleep as the bus driver tries doing his best Schumacher impression all the way to town.

A couple of years ago my spirit would have been crushed to the point of desperation. My thought then was. Man is this it? Is this all that life is cracked up to be? This endless joyless trudge of spending most of your time doing something you don't want to do. Now and again you get a "happy spark" when something good happens to you and you hang on to that memory and cherish it. You collect those memories, you treasure them and you try your best to plan and create new happy moments. When you go through a dark times then you call up those happy moments and you also look forward to creating those new ones. But this is such an inadequate philosophy to use in your life, you start falling apart from within, but that's okay as long as you look good and fashionable from the outside. I'm Kooel ! Oh yea what about you dieing some day? Listen I've got enuff on my plate I'll deal with that when it comes up.

Thank goodness Allie, when she was going through some of the darkest moments of her life started asking the same questions that I had been ignoring for years. She really started truly searching and eventually found a place and a person of truth. Me I was not interested. Church!!! Huh that's just a place full of hypocrites (always room for another one hey). Somehow through God's grace and mercy and the love of Christ He reached out and changed our lives forever.

So now when I hang around (literally) on the bus seemingly going nowhere slowly, I know that this life is just a mist, a millisecond compared to eternity and its definitely not all there is. I'm going to live forever with Jesus in heaven 'cause He bought me with a price and nothing can separate me from His great and all consuming love. And He has a purpose and plan for my life while I'm here. So if you feel like nothing and pretty vrot then join me and all the Saints and dare to believe in the promises of God. Put quite simply it's the plain everlasting, loving, truth.

We have heard the thunder
We have seen the storm
Echoes of your kingdom coming
Rumours of our home
Where one day we will stand before you Lord
Our altogether beautiful reward
And we will give you glory, bring you honour
King above all kings, you deserve our everything
We will lift our voices with your praises
Jesus you are our King
Though now we walk in darkness
Though now we see in part
Right now we're warmed by the burning flames
Of the fire in our hearts
You've promised you will lead us to your throne
Where we will worship you and you alone
(King by Tree 63)

LoCTY !!!!!!!!!!

PS There are quite a few scriptures in here but have fun and work them out 4 yer self. Go on don't be so lazzzzy !

The Curtain is Torn Forever

Hi You Precious Saints !!!!

When Christ died on the cross for you the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom(Matthew 27:51). This meant that in future whoever confessed that Jesus is their Saviour and Lord could approach God in the holy of holies by using the name of Jesus Christ. However our God loves us so much that he looks right into our hearts and sees the yearning there and He constantly reaches out to us.
Yesterday morning(Wednesday) I was walking to the bus stop, the morning had been so poignant and it was like I was seeing everything for the first time, my home, my family all gifts from God, they really all belong to Him, as I do. God's grace just washed over me and I started crying. When I got to the bus stop there was a woman standing there she looked at me but mebbe she thought the strong south-easter wind was making my eyes water.
I sat next to one of God's children on the bus and there was another one sitting across from me. We just shared what we were reading and we praised and worshipped God(no we did not sing! ). When I got to work I opened my lunch box and Matthew, my 7 year old son, had put a little note in there for me. It was a drawing of Jesus on the cross and he had written below it ' Jesus Loves Forever' ,wow gotta find somewhere to put my face.
At lunch time we had our work fellowship meeting. On my way walking there I had just spoke to God and said that I really want to worship Him today and that I hope that Craig will bring his guitar. And that's what happened. He also brought two big flags as well and gave me one. So I had a ball waving this big gold flag around as we worshipped. We also shared the way His Spirit is working in our lives. His Spirit just took over and we prayed and ministered to each other and man I just waved that flag. It felt really good.
This morning (Thursday) everything goes kinda wrong from the moment I wake up. Have you had one of those mornings, good (?!!!) , then I don't feel so bad. One of the buses on our route broke down (should change their name from Golden Arrow to Broken Arrow). So all the buses that came past were full (standing room only). I then eventually got on a bus with the worst possible driver (he has various nicknames Cowboy, Knight Rider etc you can imagine why) if you have to stand all the way to town. So it was really a 'ruk en rol' jive drive all the way to Cape Town. And just so I could savour the moment for as long as possible a truck jack knifed on the N1 causing a huge traffic snarly. Hey Pete I read your email this morning so true.
But you know what? That's life. I know there are many of you out there going through far worse things then having a bad bus day, but know this, nothing changes the truth of the matter that Christ died for you and the curtain remains torn and sometimes all we can to is hang on and trust Him and that He gives us the strength to overcome all things.

Nothing But The Blood

Your blood speaks a better word
Then all the empty claims I've heard upon this earth
Speaks righteousness for me
And stands in my defence
Jesus, It's Your blood

What can wash away our sins?
What can make us whole again?
Nothing but the blood
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can wash us pure as snow
Welcomed as the friends of God?
Nothing but Your blood
Nothing but Your blood Jesus, King Jesus

Your cross testifies in grace
Tells of the Father's heart to make a way for us
Now boldly we approach
Not earthly confidence
It's only by Your blood

We praise You for the blood
We are ......
Restored
Forgiven
Reconciled
Justified
Sanctified
Made Holy
All by your blood, King Jesus
(Matt Redman. Chorus inspiration: Nothing But The Blood by Robert Lowry 1876)

So if Satan the accuser is screaming lies in your face today, if your sin has made you fall, if the world's sin has smashed into your life, just remember Jesus is the way the truth and the life (John 14:6). Jesus never said that the road would be easy with no traffic snarlys and only luxury Greyhound buses.

LoCTY !!!!!!!!!

PS When we face up to the glory of God, we find ourselves face down in worship.(Matt Redman)

Please take from me...

To You The Precious Saints !!!!!!!

Know this day how worthy you are. You were bought with the very life blood of Jesus Christ, God came down here to earth to die for you, just so He could have a loving relationship with you.

Every morning during the week (Mon to Fri) I wake up my son Matthew (aged 7) for school. Before I get him out of bed I get his chair ready and dish up his cereal. I then go wake him up. He is just like a big floppy doll as he flops into my arms (trusting me so completely) and I can feel his warm body against mine, feel his breath in my ear, smell his unique smell and then I carry him through and place him as gently as I can on his chair. I then go and fetch his Shrek or Spiderman blankie and he wraps himself up in it from head to toe (I call him Eskimoses). Always just before I wake Mattie up I look down on this incredible miracle that God has blessed us with (sleeping so angelically) and my heart just wants to crack. I wish that I could just leave him there to sleep but I know no matter how tough his day is gonna be it is better that I wake him. Before I leave for work I always whisper in his ear that Jesus loves him and that I love him and he nods his head in agreement.
And this is how our Father and our Saviour Jesus is with us all. His heart just wants to crack when every day he sends us out into this sick and dying world full of sin and corruption, He sees the knocks and hurts we take but He wants us to shine His grace,mercy and love to this world of His which denies the Saviour and Creator. And this is eternally good for us.
So if you have ever woken up in the small hours of the morning in a complete panic (over big things or small or a combo of both) and you toss and turn and dread the approach of the time you actually have to get out of bed and you would rather just curl up in a ball and be left alone, mebbe just for today. Then you get this huge guilt trip because the question screams in your mind ' Wot kinda Kristian R U'. Who the heck am I? And you feel so ashamed and you want to hide from Jesus but you know you can't. Sometimes all we manage to do is hold on in quiet desperation to Jesus our Saviour and just pray (minute by minute) that He gets us through the day. Sometimes you get to work and some cheery Christian beams at you and proclaims 'This is the day the Lord has made be thankful, rejoice and be glad', and you feel like belting them over the head with your coffee cup (yeah the truth hurts). Never feel alone when you feel like this, don't expect major easy to see miracles but He is all around you teaching you everyday down to the smallest detail and He won't let you go.
Last night Allie and myself ministered to beautiful gifted sister who is struggling and while Allie was praying His Holy Spirit was just playing this song over and over in my head.

How many times have I turned away
The number is the same as the sand on the shore
Every time You've taken me back
And now I pray You'll do it once more

Please take from me my life
When I don't have the strength
To give it away to You
Please take from me my life
When I don't have the strength
To give it away to You, Jesus

How many times have I gone astray
The number is the same as the stars in the sky
Every time You've taken me back
And I pray You'll do it again
(Take My Life by Third Day)

Paul tells us this; And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can't and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord ( Romans 8: 38&39)

May You All Abide With Him Today

LoCTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jesus' Blood Never Fails Me

To The Precious Saints !!!!!!

Today and forever just remember you were all bought by the death and blood of Jesus Christ.

How does one put into words the way Christ and His Spirit does a continuous work in our lives, how he provides for us each and every day, how He builds and strengthens our faith which is far more precious than gold.

This past Sunday morning alarm goes off. Oh no what time is it? 6.30am do I really have to get up, I mean will anyone miss me, most of my guys in my Sunday school class will be on youth Alpha anyway, some more excuses flash through my mind but eventually I get up(heavy conviction by His Spirit) and wake everyone else up.
Eventually we all clamber into 'ole Stanley(1978 Japanese vintage Mazda) and Stanley really ain't feeling to well lately(something about a burnt valve, and worn rings giving him permanent indigestion!). So we hukkel and sukkel down the N7 and we are really smokin' as we crawl up the first bridge. Allie starts praying aloud that we make it there and exhorts all of us to do likewise. Hey there goes Natalie. Hi Natalie, bye Natalie, as she passes us in her car. Into Frans Conradie and Stanley reckoned no that's it and no further so we got out and started to walk. Not very far because Natalie did a U turn and came back to fetch us. So I kinda told Stanley to chill and we'd be back for him, how, I did not have a clue.
Get to Sunday school and we have half a band, the half that is there would rather be somewhere else and are in a bit of a churning spin. What do we do? Most of our kids are away on Alpha and we can't do some of the skits. How are we going to keep those kids that are here occupied? What to do?(jeepers why did I get out of bed this morning) Haven't a clue lets just ask Jesus. So we pray and we just ask God to help make us available for Him and then to be obedient to His will.Surprise surprise everything works out fine. The band is great(definitely could have done another song). We do some skits. Clint was great in motivating our group of non conformists(no don't wanna do nothing!) to get them to do their skit. Michelle had such a neat idea getting us all to go outside and asking us to find something that reminded us of Gods' love for us.
Then there was the problem of getting home and picking up Stanley on the way. By this time however my fellow teachers all knew of our predicament so we had three options of a lift home. Then Grant said he'd just bought a tow rope on Thursday because God had laid it on his heart to be prepared to help out others with car problems. So that was sorted. As you can imagine it was a laugh a minute with Grant towing us home. EISH my bro!
Got home and just decided to go and buy some petrol. We had already raided the bank(Matthews piggy bank) and got some money together for petrol. Poured in the magic liquid and voila Stanley started(after a few burps and poeps), no wonder he didn't want to go any further earlier on.
Then off to a honour a breakfast invite from Cheryl, lekker stuff. We had great fellowship(and food!) and I fiddled around with the pool equipment for a while trying to get it to work a bit better.
Going to worship God with the rest of His Body is always such an awesome experience. Intercessory pray before service is always a blessing. Then saying hi to most of you. Apologies to the ones I missed. Then what a blessing there was a group of ladies from Table View Roman Catholic(we shared an Alpha weekend together, beginning of the year) and I finally got to meet Anne Rodrigues in the flesh(I have been communicating with her via email for almost a year now). The youngsters had just come from their Alpha weekend and were so excited and revved up for Jesus. Testimony time and man its always just so stunning to see God's work of grace in peoples lives.
Just after the service one of our sisters came up to us and said that we must not worry if the money for the purchase of our new car does not come through in time(we need it by the 28 September) as they would lend us the money until our money comes through(huh, yea, okay, WOW!!!!). Then ministry time and guess what Anne R comes up for prayer on behalf of her daughter, but we sommer prayed for her as well. Then during ministry His spirit just flowed as we were available and obedient again and as always I was just blown away by God's majestic work.
We had to take Madelyn back to St Josephs and we didn't think Stanley was really up to driving along the N2 so Bev came to our rescue and took her to the home. I went with her. Afterwards we had some supper at our place chatted listened to some songs and then she was off home.
I have probably left out so much but I hope this is the gist of it. Thank you all for who you are, may the love of Christ continue to grow within you and may you grow ever closer to our Holy Redeemer.

Here is a great song by Third Day (words by Mac Powell)

Who is this King of glory that pursues me with His love
And haunts me with each hearing of His softly spoken words
My conscience, a reminder of forgiveness that I need
Who is this King of glory who offers it to me

Who is this King of angels , O blessed Prince of Peace
Revealing things of Heaven and all its mysteries
My spirit's ever longing for His grace in which to stand
Who is this King of glory, Son of God and son of man

His name is Jesus, precious Jesus
The Lord Almighty, the King of my heart
The King of glory

Who is the King of glory with strength and majesty
And wisdom beyond measure, the gracious King of kings
The Lord of Earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things
He is the King of glory, He's everything to me

The Lord of Earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things
He is the King of glory, He's everything to me

His name is Jesus, precious Jesus
The Lord Almighty, the King of my heart
The King of glory

LoCTY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Worthy is the Lamb

My Family in Christ !!!

When last have you really messed up big time? When last have you spat in Christ's face as he hung on the cross dying for you? When last have you been just like Judas and betrayed your Saviour? When last even though you know your weaknesses and know the Devils tactics as to how he exploits those weaknesses, have you allowed yourself to fall so fast and so hard and then tried your level best to justify your compromised position? I did this weekend and man was I so ashamed of myself. I had a terrible argument with Allie my wife on Saturday morning and of course I blamed everything on her I was just so Mr Perfecto Self-righteous. After we had stopped shouting at each other I just could not bear to be in the house so I spotted the washing grabbed it and ran. While hanging up the washing I could not believe how God could love me I felt so vile. Then I started to experience it really deep down, God's grace and His mercy breaking through my anger and self loathing.
WOW what a God we serve it is just so breath taking there are no words enough that can describe it. Allie and myself later asked each other for forgiveness, by this time His Spirit had knocked me off my selfrighteous perch, and God just started healing us.He used you guys, His Body, to reaffirm who we are in Christ. As he spoke through Hennie at Sunday school. As we stood at the door on Sunday night and we were just so grateful for every one of you coming to worship God. The service was awesome and Allie and myself ministered together last night in such a beautiful way as His Spirit worked through us to heal and bless others. During the worship I felt so humbled by the Majesty of God I just fell down on my knees and put my face to the ground and prayed for all of you who make up this little part of His Body.
God just kept on speaking to me the whole of Sunday. Through the woman who came up to be ministered to. She had asked God just to tell her that He still loves her by playing her favourite song(Power of Your Love),which He did. She has gone through a really hurting period in her life and it all culminated that day. Her life has been radically changed and the change has been and still is soooo painful. But God is keeping her firm and strong. Just pray for her today. Through ministering to Ryan during the worship, the message from God via Geoff and just ministering to others and seeing the love of God on your faces as you worshiped Him,the only one worthy of worship. And speaking to people who are busy overcoming the sin and weaknesses in their lives. Thank you all of you for being specially you.

Just imagine this.

Then I looked again, and I heard the singing of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and the living beings and the elders.
And they sang in a mighty chorus:The Lamb is worthy - the Lamb who was killed He is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing. And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They also sang:Blessing and honour and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.
Revelation 5:11-13
Paraphrased in Michael W Smiths chorus line
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
You are holy



LoCTY!!!!!!