The Rain is coming!

something is happening in our nation, around the world... and I feel God saying... look out... for the rain is coming! sometimes I feel like we've become like Elijah... waiting upon God to send the rain. That rain that the whole land, all its people, the whole earth is thirsting for.... Waiting for revival, for the refreshing of His Spirit.

Elijah kept on sending his servant to see if there was a cloud in the sky. Patiently he had to wait.... for God's appointed time. He could have given up... not a cloud in the sky.... who would have thought it could rain. But he knew Him who had made the promise. And he knew Him that is faithful, forever faithful.

And the rain came, after many many years of drought. God heard the cry of His people.

So about a month ago I saw a vision in which a big rain cloud comes and washes the earth... with new life sprouting forth from the earth... it was so beautiful and so fresh. Before the rain there was so much expectation, and after the rain there was so much rejoicing.... And God reminded me again about it this morning.

So I asked God what does it mean? And His precious Spirit replied: "Prepare for the rain..., make sure you have enough seed to sow (delve into my Word). Then sow generously! And then watch my miracle of New Life come forth. Then tend the new sprouts with a gentle hand, guide them where necessary and remove the weeds where need be." It reminded me of a gardener lovingly looking after the plants and especially the new growth in his garden... "Tend the new life," God said, it reminded me of shepherding the flock.

So I'm asking His Spirit to prepare me, to not miss the moment, to not be ill-prepared.

Isaiah 55: 10 - 11

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

God says "It's going to rain" and I want to be ready.... will YOU be?

Psalm 68: 7 - 9

When you went out before your people, O God, when you marched through the wasteland, the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance."

We praise you oh Lord!

A Christian's answer to the changes in government in South Africa.... God is God

God's Word is very clear, it's not politicians, powerbases, even registered voters that determine the outcome of rulers' powerbases. If you read Daniel, you can clearly see God's hand in what was happening.

Therefor as Christians, let us not be dismayed, anxious, concerned, full of wrath and hatred about what is happening in our South African context. Let us trust God to be God. Some notes follow about what the Bible says about God, appointing and steering rulers and the call that we need to humble ourselves and pray for our leaders. And that we will get the leaders we deserve!

GOD’S APPOINTED TIME

Habakkuk 2:2-4 (New International Version)
The LORD's Answer
2 Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. 3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

1 Corinthians 4:5 (New International Version)
5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

Acts 4: 23 – 31 (NIV)
The Believers' Prayer
23On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

" 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. 27Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Acts 4:24 - 28 (Amplified Bible)
24And when they heard it, lifted their voices together with one united mind to God and said, O Sovereign Lord, You are He Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that is in them 25Who by the mouth of our forefather David, Your servant and child, said through the Holy Spirit, Why did the heathen (Gentiles) become wanton and insolent and rage, and the people imagine and study and plan vain (fruitless) things [that will not succeed]?
26The kings of the earth took their stand in array [for attack] and the rulers were assembled and combined together against the Lord and against His Anointed (Christ, the Messiah).
27For in this city there actually met and plotted together against Your holy Child and Servant Jesus, Whom You consecrated by anointing, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel, 28To carry out all that Your hand and Your will and purpose had predestined (predetermined) should occur.


GOD AND RULERS' HEARTS

Deuteronomy 2:30But Sihon king of Heshbon refused to let us pass through. For the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate in order to give him into your hands, as he has now done.

Exodus 14:8The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.

Ezra 1:1[ Cyrus Helps the Exiles to Return ] In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing:

Proverbs 21:1The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

Daniel 11:27The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.

HUMBLE YOURSELF AND PRAY

2 Chronicles 7:14 (New International Version)
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land

2 Chronicles 7:14 (Amplified Bible)
14If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (The Message)
If I ever shut off the supply of rain from the skies or order the locusts to eat the crops or send a plague on my people, and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I'll be there ready for you: I'll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health. From now on I'm alert day and night to the prayers offered at this place. Believe me, I've chosen and sanctified this Temple that you have built: My Name is stamped on it forever; my eyes are on it and my heart in it always. As for you, if you live in my presence as your father David lived, pure in heart and action, living the life I've set out for you, attentively obedient to my guidance and judgments, then I'll back your kingly rule over Israel—make it a sure thing on a sure foundation.

PRAYER FOR THOSE IN AUTHORITY

Timothy 2 (NIV)
Instructions on Worship
1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. 7And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles. 8I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

1 Timothy 2 (Amplified Bible)
1FIRST OF all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men, 2For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way. 3For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior, 4Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth.
5For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6Who gave Himself as a ransom for all [people, a fact that was] attested to at the right and proper time. 7And of this matter I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (special messenger)--I am speaking the truth in Christ, I do not falsify [when I say this]--a teacher of the Gentiles in [the realm of] faith and truth. 8I desire therefore that in every place men should pray, without anger or quarreling or resentment or doubt [in their minds], lifting up holy hands.

1 Timothy 2 (The Message)
Simple Faith and Plain Truth
1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.
4-7He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we've learned: that there's one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.
8-10Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray—not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God. And I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it.

PRAYER FOR SOUTH AFRICA

'Heavenly Father, thank you that we can take comfort in the fact that you are in control of every situation.
We pray for godly, honest leaders for our country, South Africa
God YOU make the impossible, possible. We pray for leaders who will bring peace and reconciliation to our land.
We pray that YOUR people in South Africa will keep their eyes on YOU and that you will bless them.
Please protect all innocent South Africans from the violence in our country.
We pray this in the precious name of JESUS.' amen

JESUS THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA

Revelation 1: 4 – 8 (NIV)
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 7Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.
8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

AMEN

God is sovereign - He does not get intimidated by politicans..

as South Africa watch the politicians play their power games and wonder what the future holds, i would like to implore you to know the God that holds the future.

it's not by accident that Pontius Pilate was the ruler in the time of Jesus, not by chance that at that point in time the whole "known" world was united with one language and a very developed road system.

if one reads Daniel, you can see God appoint and dethrone leaders. throughout the history of the Bible, it speaks about God appointing leaders and therefor also urges us to submit to their authority. The only time that Daniel for instance did not submit, was when they asked him to bow down to another god.

But this is my call, that we will pray more fervently for this country and the appointment of a Godly leadership. That we will be more vigilant in praying and hoping and believing that God is in control, also of this. And that we will stand on His word, that He is able to do so much more than what we can imagine or think. Whether it is Jacob Zuma or Mbete or any other leader, that gets appointed, do we stand as unbelievers, thinking that the rule of our country is in the hands of the masses, or do we know that God answers prayers and we will get the leader we deserve, and it will depend on our prayers and God's grace.

May God bless South Africa! And may He call His children, every one of us, to prayer, real prayer that stays faithful and waits up on God!

we all have cancer...

i saw a show tonight, by http://www.13thfloor.net/ ... it was amazing. it was called "wigs" and was about a cancer patient, but also about everyone around her. outwardly she had cancer, but inwardly all the others carried an illness inside of them. somehow it seems that we all carry some cancer inside of ourselves. that hurt, that secret, that disappointment or lack of that we do not disclose even to our closest friends and sometimes do not even admit to ourselves, even when we lie in our beds at night in the dark. those things that we hope that even God has forgotten about.

they started a site called "We all have cancer.Net" and real people with real hurts send in postcards from the show, admitting to themselves and everyone and no-one that they carry a cancer inside. it reminded me of the hurts and the secrets that i still carry inside of me... we all do.

in the show the one guy says "the cancer doesn't care, it has no grace", it doesn't choose because you are young or old or beautiful or not. and although some carry the external signs of physical cancer, the cancer within is the more deadlier. and some people if they do not deal with it, gets eaten up from the inside out, and dies, way before their earthly body gives up.

The only healer for this cancer is, Jehovah Rapha, Jesus. He has the grace and the love to cure the cancer, not matter how big it has become in your life. he came to set the captives free, to heal the sick.... one just needs to look at God's people in His Word, the murderer (Moses), the adulterer (David), the zealot (Paul), the back-stabber (Peter) to see that His grace is enough and that He can turn our cancer-filled lives into beautiful life stories . he can cure the cancer, if you let Him. what cancer are you still carrying around with you?

for small mercies...

today i will be thankful for small mercies. in a week where my heart was shattered in a million little pieces, i was held by the Almighty God. Held by a Father that protects us, and never lets us go...

and although this weekend feels like an eternity, i will be thankful for small mercies. for a brother that SMS me to see that i'm ok, i am eternally thankful. for a niece that is lying sleeping on my couch to keep me company, i thank God.

for a roof over my head in this intense storm, water pouring as if it is emptying heaven. for a gift to be able to write and put down my thoughts and emotions.

for a rugby team, that played like they should :) (yeah, i know it's a bit shallow). for the opportunity to enjoy the moment. for friends who truly care for me, and check up on me when i become too quiet. for a new little baby Nate added to our cellgroup at church and his parents that are keeping their eyes on God, even though they don't know the detail fo God's plans for this special child.

for the ability to exercise at the gym - albeit under great protest. for a cupboard overflowing with clothes, a fridge full of food, electricity and water and music equipment and everything else we take so easily for granted.

for the love i have known in my life, for the grace that has been more than enough. for a family which i could not have chosen better myself. for a mom and a dad that is still in love and speaks of the way a marriage should be.

for new opportunities in work. for having loved and lost. yes even for that i am thankful.

and when i look at all these things, i know that my gratitude is not for small mercies, but immense vast showers of blessings. God has said my grace is enough for you and i know, that is true. how is it then, that sometimes we get caught up in what we don't have, instead of what we do have.... today i will overflow with gratitude.

hope

it's been a while since i've blogged here... having lost a bit of the passion and wondering whether it even makes a difference in anyone's life. and this morning, on my facebook, i get a note from someone who found comfort in what i wrote. and i realised, that if this makes even a difference in just one person's life, it is a mustard seed that's been planted. even if that person is me...

so i've decided to start writing again.

and i thought i'd speak about hope. i think for so many of us, we've been beaten up so much by life, hectic schedules, harsh words spoken in a time-starved moment, unappreciative colleagues excluding us from the inner circle, people who discourage us and make us feel small. and disappointment, disappointment that when i thought i really tried to believe as hard as i could, i still did not get what i hoped for.

and that's when i realised that somewhere deep deep down, my heart had closed up to hope. if you've been beaten down one too many times, and if you have lived through a lot of heartache and if you've heard one too many sermons on "if you live a life pleasing of God, it will all be blessed", you'll find that you've stopped hoping. you're still believing God, that He is good and righteous and fair and amazing, but somewhere deep in the recesses of your heart, you've stopped believing that He is hope and that He is all these things for you. You've given up on dreams and hoping things will get better. You've given up on knowing that life also gets its ups.

and the other night during worship, that is what i experienced. as i said there before my heavenly Father, it was as if something broke open in my heart, like an infection that had been closed up for too long. and i realised that i had given up hope that God had good plans for me. on a head level i still believed it, but without realising it, my heart had died and with it, hope.

and that is when i had a revelation, when 1 Corinthians 13 speaks about the three things that need to remain: love, faith and hope, i've always understood the importance of love and faith, but didn't think that hope was quite as important. i knew that i had to guard my heart as "it is the wellspring of all life", but didn't realise that i had to guard my heart to remain hopeful. and in that moment, i knew that hope is the lifeblood of going on, standing firm, taking on God-sized assignments, loving God. without hope we will just get stuck in living day to day.

what is it that you hope for today, or used to hope for? The Faithful One says "I will never leave you nor forsake you" and "I have plans for you to prosper you". Perhaps today is the day that you need to open your heart again to hope. Because we can hope in him who is the only one we could really hope in. Lord won't you renew our hope.

memories that bring healing...

it's been exactly 365 days since Ilne's memorial service. somehow it feels like a lifetime and somehow it feels like it was only yesterday.

a lifetime of change has happened since then and yet it seems like nothing has changed. the pain seems as intense as ever. looking at pictures of our angel in hospital, always chokes me up in excruciating pain. her dad and mom and grandmothers and grandfathers and brothers are each walking their own paths of woundedness and healing. not a day goes past that her brother doesn't mention the loss in his short life of four years. not a day goes past where one of us do not look at a pink dress, or a picture of a ballerina or the seven year old in the church pew in front of you, when you do not think of how much she would have liked it or what she would have looked like by now.

but amonst all of this, God is still present. for the small mercies of a church lifegroup that understands when i have to talk about her and the time we spent in bloemfontein again, to a friend that phones from england, just because she remembers with me, to a prayer that speaks healing and rest into our lives. from the dreary rain that fell a year after her leaving for heaven, a sunny day would just not have been ok, to the elders from CRC still walking with my family for coffee and support.

God hears prayers - still, even though we don't always see it, or even though we don't always think the answer is what we wanted or expected.

it stays sure... constant... loving. and although there is still no sense to be made out of the hurt, we know God is with us in all this.

He did say that He will never leave us nor forsake us... and He has been true to His word.