Welkom terug

Die Kaap in al sy glorie... dis behoorlik 'n "vroegoggend" en ons is terug van 'n wonderlike par dae van asem skep! So 'n wegbreek (al moes ek werk) gee mens sommer weer krag en die foto help! Die eerste paar dae wat ons daar was het ons amper wegggespoel, veral in Kampsbaai waar ons vriende bly. Hulle is nog besig om hulle huis te bou en daar was 'n paar benoude oomblike toe die reen net nie ophou val nie. Genadiglik het die son weer begin skyn na 4 dae se reen en die bouery kon aangaan. Die klipmuur op die voorgrond word gebou uit rotse wat op die erf was - dit word opgekap in kleiner blokke en dan gebruik om die stunning muur te bou. Die onderste venster met die toegetrekte blindings is waar ons geslaap het... ai, dit was so 'n voorreg om in die oggend met die eerste "oog-oopmaak" oor Kampsbaai te kyk by die een venster uit en Leeukop aan die ander kant!

Die skool begin more en al probeer ek om vir De Villiers te verduidelik dat almal voel soos hy, troos dit hom glad nie! Hy sal verseker vir die res van sy lewe op vakansie kan bly!

Asemrowend...

Oppad vanoggend sien ek en De Villiers hierdie asemrowende mooi sonsopkoms oor Gonubie - die weste was later ook iets om te aanskou maar toe het ek bestuur en kon nie 'n foto neem nie. Ons aanbid darem 'n wonderlike God, Hy het nie nodig om dinge vir ons mooi te maak nie, maar tog doen Hy dit, net omdat Hy kan en omdat Hy ons liefhet!
Ek is die 3 dae tussen die 2 vakansiedae af en sit hier by Ben by die shop en blog. Voel skoon vreemd om weer te blog en voel natuurlik baie skuldig dat ek ons "saamwees" tyd so afskeep. Ons het eintlik soveel om te sê en om voor dankbaar te wees en soms voel ek ek het niks om te sê nie, maar as mens net om jou kyk besef mens net hoeveel het jy eintlik! Daar is die holrug-geryde gesegde dat dit nie die hoeveelheid asemteue is wat mens aan die lewe hou nie, maar die hoeveelheid teue wat jou asem wegneem - (in Engels klink dit so: "It is not the breath we breathe that counts, but every moment that takes our breath away") hierdie was een van daai oggende...

Sonsopkomsdiens - Gonubie

Risen from the Dead!
And we have seen and testify that the father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in Him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.1 John 4:14-16, NIVThese letters were written at the end of John's life. He had been an eye-witness to the events on resurrection Sunday. He wanted his readers to know that what he was saying was not only true, but could be totally depended on. John will have seen Thomas thrust his finger into the wounds of Jesus and heard the excitement of the two who ran all the way back from Emmaus, having seen the Lord! These were events that could never be erased from his memory and it was absolutely vital that new believers in Jesus caught the validity of John's experience from the lips and pen who had proved over a long life that what Jesus had said and done was true and that He really was the Saviour of the world.The resurrection was not just a story that John and the other disciples had concocted. The strength of his words, “We have seen and testify” come down the centuries with the force of conviction of someone in the witness box in a court of law. And just as powerfully, John could testify to the fact that down the years he had found the risen Lord Jesus to be totally trustworthy. There wasn't a hint of doubt in his witness statement. He knew that he knew that he knew. Jesus had been raised from the dead and was alive and could be trusted.And today, as we celebrate with thanksgiving the victory of the cross, the atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God and the glorious resurrection of the Son of God, let us determine to be like John and put our trust in this same Jesus, for as John said in verse 15, “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in Him and he in God.” What a privilege, what a joy - to be alive in God - both for now and throughout eternity.

Prayer: Dear Father God, Thank you, thank you, thank you for the gift of Your Son. No words can fully express the inner joy of Your salvation. But I do look forward to telling you face to face in Heaven! In the Name of the risen Lord Jesus, Amen.

Ek het my morsdood berlang na jou vandag! een van die redes is seker maar net omdat ek 'n jaar in die verlede geleef het... Hoop julle Opstandings-Sondag is lewensveranderend!!!

Onbeskryflike genade vir ons

Ek lees vanoggend Jesaja 53. Eintlik begin dit seker al in 52:13. Wat my veral tref is in vers 10 praat Jesaja van " Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer" en daarna in vers 11 die amazing woorde "When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied." Isaiah 53:11
Hierdie woorde is geskryf 600 jaar voor Jesus se geboorte en met God se volmaakte plan vir die wêreld waar geword nes dit voorspel is.
Wat 'n ongelooflike genade - ons is vry, ons het vergifnis ontvang en ons mag deel deur Jesus in God se teenwoordigheid nou en vir ewig.
O Here ek wil vanoggend sê dankie vir U ongelooflike genade en liefde vir ons. Ek besef net weer wat U dood en opstanding vir my beteken. Mag ek altyd my vreugde in U vind.
My woorde is min en gee nie weer als wat ek voel in my hart nie, maar ons prys U, ons Redder God.
In Jesus naam Amen

GOEIE vrydag

Sensational News!
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.1 John 3:8, NIV

I read a book recently which was attempting to describe what the work of the cross was all about without any reference to the devil. It was a bit like trying to describe a game of soccer without mentioning the idea of a goal! Some things are just not possible!Satan's last temptation of Jesus was to challenge him to use his powers to flick out those Roman nails and come down off the cross. At the last, the devil's last attempt to grasp victory from the jaws of defeat was to try and stop Jesus from laying down his life voluntarily, without ever having come under the authority of Satan, the god of this world. For if Jesus were to die now, then there would be nothing that could prevent the resurrection. The curse of death could only fall on those who had come under the influence of sin. And here was Jesus, totally sinless, about to die! Satan, death and hell were about to be defeated.Satan had failed. What a nightmare for the god of this world. Jesus was about to overcome death, and from that moment onwards anyone who would choose Jesus as their Saviour, and come under the covering authority of the Son of God, would also escape the judgment of death. Today has always been known in the calendar of the church as Good Friday. I feel like screaming from the housetops that it's not just GOOD Friday. For in reality it's totally stupendous, unbelievably wonderful, out-of-this world, sensational, miraculous, beyond comprehension Friday! As the old hymn says:“There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin,He only could unlock the gate of Heaven and let us in!”

Prayer: Dear Father God, Saying thank you seems a totally inadequate response to such incredible grace. We are so very, very grateful that on this special day we can remember with joyful thanksgiving the most important act there will ever be in the whole history of the world and the universe. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Dis alweer 'n jaar terug wat julle hier in Suid Afrika kom kuier het en wat 'n voorreg was dit nie om julle hier by ons te gehad het nie! Dit voel al vir my ons het nie genoeg gekuier toe julle hier was nie... Hierdie foto is geneem by die Paasfeesviering by die kerk.. onthou jy nog?

Wat is 'n Verjaarsdag?

Volgens Wikipedia: Birthday is the name given to the date of the anniversary of the day of a person's birth.

Dit klink so "boring", is dit nie? Maar eintlik is verjaarsdae "boring", mens sien so uit na die dag en as dit gebeur, is dit maar net nog 'n dag! Maar hierdie aanhalings oor verjaarsdae gee mens se eie, unieke dag, heeltemal 'n ander kleur. Lees bietjie wat se die bekendes (en minder bekendes), van Verjaarsdae...

"Our birthdays are feathers in the broad wing of time." -- Jean Paul Richter

Is dit nie pragtig nie?

"The more things change, the more they remain the same." -- Alphonse Karr

So waar...

"A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman's birthday but never remembers her age." -- Robert Frost

Voorwaar 'n slim man... ek dink nie hy is so gebore nie...!

"Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest." -- Larry Lorenzoni

Ha-ha!

"A well adjusted woman is one who not only knows what she wants for her birthday, but even knows what she's going to exchange it for." -- Anonymous

En ook weet wat BAIE kosbaar is!

"There is still no cure for the common birthday." -- John Glenn

Dis nou 'n feit soos 'n koei, ons almal het verjaarsdae, maak nie saak hoe jonk of oud, ryk of arm ons is nie

"Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again." -- Menachem Mendel Schneerson

Hierdie is my "favourite"!

"We know we're getting old when the only thing we want for our birthday is not to be reminded of it." -- Anonymous

Hmm... dis nou as die "hot flushes" ons in elk geval daaraan herinner!

"A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip." -- Anonymous

Ek het besluit om elke dag, vir die volgende 365 dae, iets spesiaals te doen (enige idees?)

"Birthdays are just nature's way of telling us to eat more cake." - - Anonymous

Ek't nie 'n verjaarsdag nodig om my te laat koek eet nie :O)

"Think of birthdays this way: you're not getting older, you're getting wiser."-- Anonymous

Ek weet nie altyd of dit so waar is nie...

"You have no birthday because you have always lived; you were never born, and never will die. You are not the child of the people you call mother and father, but their fellow-adventurer on a bright journey to understand the things that are." -- Richard Bach

Dis diep... ek dink nie ons is veronderstel om ... " to understand the things that are" nie. Miskien net 'n bietjie daarvan!

"Fly free and happy beyond birthdays and across forever, and we'll meet now and then when we wish, in the midst of the one celebration that never can end." -- Richard Bach

Hierdie is pragtig, wens ek kon al die pragtige wense wat ek op my verjaarsdag gekry het, in botteltjies prop en op 'n rak sit (langs die pienk spookasem wolke). sal dit nie lekker wees om elke af en toe een oop te maak en van voor af te geniet nie

Hierdie aanhaling kry ek vanoggend:

On seeing his shadow fall on such ancient rocks, he had to question himself in a different context and ask the same old question as before, "Who am I?", and the answer now came more emphatically than ever before, "No-one." But a no-one with a crown of light about his head. He would remember a verse from Pindar: "Man is a dream about a shadow. But when some splendour falls upon him from God, a glory comes to him and his life is sweet." ~ R. S. Thomas ~

My wish for you....

A dream is a wish your heart makes

and my heart makes a wish for you

That you may find a rainbow

where all your dreams will come true.

May there be sunlight ever streaming

into your heart each day,

May you find the hand of friendship

along each new highway.

And may loving arms enfold you

when you need someone to care.

And may your heart know that my heart

is with you everywhere....

Ek hoop jou nuwe lewensjaar is gevul met liefde.

Ons geliefde see

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand…" Isaiah 40:12a (NIV)My family and I love to vacation at the beach. As my husband and I sit digging our toes into the warm white sand, our children play in the emerald green salt water. The massive size of the ocean always reminds me that God is bigger and more wonderful than my mind can comprehend. I'm always compelled to quote out loud Isaiah 40:12 while sitting on the beach:"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?" (NIV)What a superb reminder of God's mighty power in the creation o f the universe and galaxies. Even more amazing, He measured the span of them between His thumb and first finger. Hold those fingers up and look at their span for a moment. Now imagine God looking at the space between His thumb and first finger while saying, "I think I'll make the universe about that big." If that doesn't give you a picture of just how big our wondrous God is, think about this: He poured the oceans from the palm of His hand! Oh, friend, when I gaze upon a huge body of water that could swallow me up in an instant, and I realize that God, at some moment in time, held the entire ocean in the palm of His hand, it simply blows me away!As I consider this truth, I find myself awestruck by the greatness and glory of our God. The Lord God is so gigantic that He knows every creature that lives in that great body of water. He sees every ship that sails its waves. With a God this big, what could ever escape His attention? What need could we have that He cannot handle? Where could we go that we are not in His presence? What on the earth, above the earth, in the earth, or below the earth can make us afraid? Certainly, we can place our trust in a God so big that even the ocean waves obey their boundaries.And yet we doubt instead of having boundless faith in an unbound God. We live in fear instead of living carefree in the care of God. Let me ask you—what person or thing can compare to Him? Who or what is more stable than God? Is anything more powerful or glorious? Too often I forget the wonder of God even though all of creation declares His glory. I need to remind myself daily of His greatness. In doing so, all my fears tend to fade in the light of His presence.Today will you take time to recall how great and magnificent He is? Do it again tomorrow and the next day, too. See if you don't find yourself awestruck by the One so magnificent we can scarcely wrap our minds around the thought of Him. But, oh how we need to try! It will do wonders for our faith and put to death our fears that smother our peace. Nothing gives me hope nor soothes my anxieties like meditating on the attributes of God. For what's impossible for a God who holds the whole world in His hands? Nothing—absolutely nothing!Dear Lord, You are Lord of all and over all, whether Your people acknowledge it or not. All of Your creation declares Your greatness and beauty. Stir my heart to worship You so that the rocks don't have to cry out. You are worthy of all my praise. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Courage...

Terwyl ons nou so op die onderwerp van vrees is; ek lees vandag die:

Courage is the mastery of fear, not the absence of fear.
— Mark Twain

Reflections on a birthday

Hierdie simpel ou fototjie het ek gister geneem toe ek Marelie by die skool gaan haal het. Dit het vroeer gesneeu (kan jy glo my eerste sneeu verjaarsdag in 41 jaar!!!) en die lig was ongelooflik skerp. Die son het so half uitgekom en op die wit sneeu weerkaats dat ons amper nie mekaar kon sien nie.

So ja eks nou nog 'n jaar ouer en hopelik darem bietjie wyser ook as 20 jaar gelede! Ek lees hierdie nou die dag in 'n advertensie in 'n tydskrif en besluit sommer dis my nuwe motto vir my 41ste lewensjaar.

Fear less, Hope more

Whine less , Breathe more

Talk less, Say more

Hate less, Love more

O ja en ek herinner Twiggy elke oggend aan hare ook - Bark less, Wag more

Nou nie dat ek weet of enige van ons twee iets hiervan gaan regkry nie, maar ons gaan try.

Jou verjaarsdag

My liewe, liewe Vriendin

Ek het so gehoop ek kon vandag jou stem hoor en het jou probeer skype. Dis 'n spesiale dag vir jou en ek hoop julle 3 vier dit op 'n baie spesiale manier! Jy het in 2007 vir my 'n kaartjie gestuur met hierdie pragtige woorde en ek wil dit vandag vir jou ook gee:

How many hours have we talked away? How many nights have we been there for each other, trying to figure out the hows and whys of life...How often have we laughed so hard over things that weren't really that funny, or celebrated victories that only friends could understand the real importance of? Do you know how many times I've looked at you and thought to myself, "I'm so glad she's my friend"?... more times than you'll ever know!

Baie, baie geluk met jou verjaarsdag, Ellen. Ek hoop hierdie jaar is VOL wonderlike, heerlike, uitspattige, asemrowende, verruklike verassings en is 'n absolute stunning jaar! Ek verlang so na jou en hoop ons kan op 'n stadium weer bietjie face-to-face kuier

Ongelooflike dag

Ons het vanoggend die honde Bonza Bay toe gevat, dit was so verskriklik mooi op die strand en hulle 2 (en natuurlik De Villiers) het hulle self gate uit geniet.

Ons is vanmiddag na ons bietjie gerus, Gonubie se strand toe, daar was nog steeds nie 'n windjie (nie so lekker vir die surfers nie!)

BEDANKING...as Volwassene

Ek kry vandag die pragtige email... wens dit was moontlik om weer so sorgvry soos 'n kind te leef...

Hiermee dien ek amptelik my bedanking as volwassene in. Ek het besluit om weer al die verantwoordelikhede van 'n 8 jarige te aanvaar. Ek wil McDonald's toe en dink dat dit 'n 4 ster restaurant is. Ek wil weer stokkies oor 'n reën poeletjie laat seil en 'n sypaadjie pak met klippe en aan-aan speel. Ek wil weer dink dat Smarties beter as geld is want jy kan die goed eet. Ek wil op 'n warm somersdag onder 'n groot skaduboom lê en saam met my pellies lê en droom met 'n grassie innie kies.Ek wil weer terugkeer na 'n tyd toe die lewe eenvoudig was, jou kennis beperk was tot kleure, maal en deel tafels en Siembamba. Dit het jou nie getraak dat jy nie geweet het wat jy nie geweet het nie, so what ! Al wat jy geweet het was om gelukkig te wees want jy was salig onbewus van al die dinge wat jou moes ontstel of laat worry soos vrypuisies byvoorbeeld.Ek wil weer dink dat die lewe goed en regverdig is, en dat almal eerlik en opreg is. Ek wil weer glo dat enigiets moontlik is. Ek wil salig onbewus wees van die kompleksiteite van die lewe en weer opgewonde raak oor die klein goedjies in die lewe soos gekleurde popcorn.Ek wil weer eenvoudig lewe. Ek soek nie dae wat bestaan uit computers wat crash nie, berge papierwerk, nuus wat depress nie , hoe om meer dae in die maand te hanteer as wat daar geld in die bank is nie, doktersrekeninge, skinder, siektes, en die verlies van geliefdes.Ek wil weer glo in die krag van 'n glimlag, drukkies, 'n vriendelike woord, die Waarheid soos wat dit in die Begin bedoel was, regverdigheid, vrede, drome, die verbeelding, die mens sonder sy maskers en skuins motiewe, en sommer net modderkoekies bak.So . .. hier is my tjekboek en my motorsleutels, my krediet kaartrekeninge en sommer die hele kaboedel wat soos grootmens lyk.Ek bedank offisiëel as volwassene.As jy hierdie saak nog verder wil uitpluis of wat ook al jou intensie is, moet jy my eers inhol, want..." Touch! Jy kan my nie vaaaang nie!! "Kom ons word weer soos kinders want dis tog aan hulle wat die Koninkryk behoort, Die eenvoudige dinge in die lewe is baie keer die kosbaarhede wat ons op ons oudag sal onthou.'n Lekker druk van my af .Ek hoop jy val langs my in !
"Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood" (Helen Keller)

De Villiers was vannaand heeltemal bereid om net so vuil in die bed te klim! Hierdie foto doen nie regtig "justice" aan hoe vuil hy was nie... dit was iets vreesliks!

Die sisterhood

Women Judging Women
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble..." 1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)

How differently might our lives be if we women didn't have to fear the harsh criticisms of other women? Might we be willing to step out a little bolder for Jesus? Might we be willing to be a little more vulnerable? Might we live our lives a little less guarded?Oh sweet sisters, women judging other women must absolutely break God's heart. The crazy thing is when we judge others, we elevate ourselves past the ability to recognize our own propensity to sin in the very area we are criticizing. Show me a woman who is leveling a judgment against another person, and I will show you a woman who is wrapped in sin herself.If it's not the very same sin she's criticizing, it will be a sin just as dangerous - pride.It is a subtle shift that Satan invites us into. Voicing criticisms against others will coat the eyes of our soul with smut so thick, we become blinded to our own sin. Pride and self-righteousness will detour us from God's best path and lead us on a treacherous journey of denial. We'll deny our own sinfulness. We'll deny our own need for grace.Those who can't see their own desperate need for grace, refuse to freely give grace to others.Now, if you're like me, you may be tempted to start making a mental list of those who you have felt judged by and you started praying a few sentences back: "Please let so and so read today's devotion. Oh I hope she sees herself in this and gets a whammy of conviction."But, let's stop making that mental list and receive this message personally. Even if we aren't naturally critical people, this is an area we can all grow in.I recently read a wonderful quote outlining a beautiful plan when we feel tempted to judge someone else.

Francis Frangipane in his book Holiness, Truth, and the Presence of God says, "Anyone can pass judgment - but can they lay down their lives in love, intercession and faith for the one judged? Can they target an area of need and rather than criticizing, fast and pray, asking God to supply the very virtue they feel lacking? And then persevere in that love - motivated prayer until that fallen area blooms in godliness? Such is the life Christ commands we follow!" If it causes even one of us to fall in front of Jesus in repentance and allow Him to wipe the smut of pride and self-righteousness from our spiritual eyes- it will be a great start. Now, let me be that one.

Dear Lord, may I first fall in repentance into Your loving arms of grace. Thank You for the harsh ways I have been judged lately for it opened my eyes to this stinging way we women can be. Forgive me for not extending grace at times to others. I am a woman who desperately needs it - so, I should be a woman who freely offers it. When I am tempted to be critical of someone else, help me hold my thoughts and my tongue. Instead of voicing those things, help me bring them to You in honest and heartfelt prayers for that person. May I be one who is so motivated by love, that I will persevere in my prayers for that person until I see You working in glorious ways. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Action Steps:The next time I feel critical of someone else, I want an action plan so that I can respond biblically. Don't you? Why not write out today's scripture verses on an index card and carry them in your purse. Below the Scriptures write, "Instead of criticizing, I will commit this person to prayer. I will stand in the gap for them with love and persevere in my prayers. I commit to keep my mouth closed but my heart wide open."

Pienk Spookasem

Vanoggend tewyl ek hare droogmaak sien ek die wolke deur die venster - dit was ongelooflik mooi; pienk wolkies in die weste

en toe ek uitgaan sien ek die stunning sonsopkoms - ek wens ek was op die strand want dit moes iets ongeloofliks gewees het.

En dan kry mens die as 'n dagstukkie...:

Ah, I hear him - my beloved! Here he comes, leaping upon the mountains and bounding over the hills.Song of Solomon 2:8, LB

There is only one point where we can hear him. It's the point where our spirit connects to his Spirit. This is where we hear the voice of God speak into our hearts.This doesn't happen easily. Just as we need to be connected on the internet before we can receive any message. But so many times something interrupts the connection. There may be some error preventing it. There may be other voices on the line. There may be ‘Spam' getting in the way or faults in the hardware or it may be wrongly set up, or have an incorrect password. But once the right connection is established we can communicate from one side of the world to the other. What an amazing wonder.But far more amazing is the fact that we can connect to our eternal God, who inhabits time and space and knows the end from the beginning. Our password is ‘Jesus'. ‘Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name given under heaven given among men by which we must be saved' (Acts 4:12).We need the sacrifice that was made on the cross, where Jesus shed his blood for us. This removes the errors on our line and guards and protects us as we communicate. We need to know the truth of the Scriptures to have the right ‘set up' and we need an open heart to receive all that God has for us.However, God is not in a box, He can speak through a burning bush, or a ‘still small voice' or an angel, or even through the ‘world wide web', but He needs us to have that open listening spirit.Let us ‘hear him' as He comes to us. Maybe in this year He's calling to you, and maybe you will hear him in a new, intimate way or recognise His voice for the first time. He does say that His sheep recognise His voice and follow Him, ‘My sheep recognise my voice, and I know them, and they follow me' (John 10:27).‘I heard the voice of Jesus say; come unto me and rest, Lay down Thou weary one, lay down, thy head upon my breast.I came to Jesus as I was, weary and worn and sad;I found in him a resting place, and He has made me glad.' Horatius BonarPrayer: I open my spirit to Your Spirit, Father, and draw near to seek Your face. Help me to know that ‘oneness' with you, deep inside. In Jesus' name, Amen.

... en jy besef net hoe groot God is, maar tog so naby ons. Ons hoef nie deur seremonies te gaan om met Hom te praat nie... is dit nie wonderlik nie?

Ons hoef nie Sout te adverteer nie!

Ek lees vandag die dagstukkie:

Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty again.Luke 14:34, GNB

Maybe you once had a nice meal. The table was beautifully set, the flowers were pretty, the atmosphere was relaxed and the food looked delicious. Everything was excellent, except for one thing - there wasn't enough salt in the steak. ‘I'll soon put that right', you thought, looking for the salt. But there wasn't any salt on the table.There was absolutely nothing wrong with the salt. But it wasn't where it should have been, so it wasn't any good to you. For what's the use of having plenty of salt in the cupboard, but none in the food? Our aim is not to keep salt in our cupboard.The characteristics of the Kingdom of God are wonderful: righteousness, peace and love. Everyone wants these things, but they must be where they're needed. The reality of the Kingdom of God should be in the character of men and women. It should be the driving force and the highest aim of people in schools, factories and offices. It should be there in journalists and politicians, and it should permeate the atmosphere in homes and churches. If it doesn't, what good is it? Who just wants to read books about righteousness, peace and love?Does anyone see the salt in the food on the table? Does anyone read on the menu ‘Steak, fried potatoes, mixed vegetables, and salt?' No, it's just there, and it makes itself known by the taste of the food. It's like the Kingdom of God in you. It doesn't have to be announced or advertised. You don't have to put on a show to prove that it's there. Just let it make its presence known by the atmosphere it creates, the peace of mind it gives, the convincing power it gives to your words, or the perseverance in doing good. The world doesn't need teaching about all this. It's crying out for the reality. The Kingdom of God can be a reality in your neighbourhood, when it's there in you. Don't for any reason demonstrate a watered down variety of the Kingdom. Just let the salt in you be there, and you'll be surprised how appetizing the things of God are to hungry people, and how they sense that you've got what they're missing! The salt in you is so good! It's from God!

Aloha

Vandat ons die eerste keer besluit het om na Amerika te trek, het Ben en Marelie elkeen hulle eie agendas gehad om hierheen te kom. Vir Marelie was die droom Disneyworld en vir Ben - wat anders as Hawaii!! Ons is so ongelooflik bevoorreg om nou altwee hierdie drome te vervul. Ons is al vir 3 jaar besig om te spaar vir Ben se Hawaii trip en het besluit nou is die tyd om te gaan!! Ons het die ongelooflikste special gekry op vliegkaartjies wat ons net nie kon laat verbygaan nie. So ons vertrek die 17e Maart vir 'n week na Maui. Ben en Marelie is totaal uit hulle velle uit en kan nie meer wag nie.

Vir Valentynsdag besluit ek en Marelie toe om vir Ben 'n Hawaiian aand te hou. Ons het die tafel te mooi gedek, ons swempakkies (!!) aangetrek en met ons plastiekkranse om ons nekke vir hom gewag om huis toe te kom vd werk af. Dit was 'n ongelooflike prettige aand! Ek het allerhande sosaties en doopsouse gemaak wat hulle 2 ir my gebraai het. Moenie dat die glimlagte jou flous nie - dit was omtrent 2 grade C buite!!!

Ek het 'n dvd by Walmart gekoop wat sulke fotos van Maui wys en dan sulke Hula musiek speel vir die atmosfeer. Ai dit was vet pret en ons het baie gelag.

Ons gaan maar 'n redelike budget vakansie moet hou maar dis nog steeds net te wonderlik en ongelooflik dat ons actually soontoe gaan. Met die ekonomiese klimaat hier wat nie so waffers is nie is ons maar bekommerd dat ons tydjie hier dalk kort geknip kan word so ons gaan maar oe toeknyp en op vakansie gaan.

So hier is 'n paar fotos van ons klein luau.

DeV se Verjaarsdag

Ons't die jaar se verjaarsdag so bietjie anders benader as gewoonlik. Eerstens omdat geld nie vreeslik volop is nie en tweedens omdat De Villiers ook bietjie moet leer waar geld vandaan kom. Hy wil verskriklik graag 'n Wii he, maar R4500 is baie geld om te betaal vir 'n 8-jarige se geskenk. Ons besluit toe om hom 'n keuse te gee: hy kan 'n klomp maatjies nooi en 'n partytjie he wat ons niks minder as R500 sal kos nie, of ons geen hom die R500 en hy sit dit by die geld wat hy al begin spaar het (Ben "betaal" hom vir sy werk wat hy by die shop doen , hy gee ook 'n "timesheet" in aan die einde van elke week :O) vir sy Wii. Hy besluit toe om die laaste opsie te vat; ons koek klas toe gestuur Woensdag en dit was dit. Ek is so trots op hom, hy spaar elke sent, letterlik! Hy stap nie by 'n 5c-stuk verby nie, alles word gespaar! Hy't nog 'n entjie om te gaan, maar ons sal hom seker maar die laaste entjie "haak". Ek het toe maar vir hom en sy beste maatjie James, gister Leeupark toe gevat (dis wat hulle wou doen!), by die huis kom swem, DVD's gekyk, pizza en roomys en, en... Die 2 het dit verskriklik geniet en ek was ook rustig! Hier's 'n paar foto's

Die verantwoordelikheid om 'n kind groot te maak is definitief groter as groot, maar dank die Here ons hoef dit nie alleen te doen nie!

Om dapper te leef

Kyk as daar nou een ding is wat ek nie is, is dit dapper. Vandat ek klein was was ek bang. Ek skryf dit in 'n groot mate toe aan Mynhardt wat om elke donker hoek en draai gewag het om my skrik te maak. Maar soos wat ek ouer geword het het dit half deel van my geword. Nie net bang vir fisiese bedreiginge nie maar ook hoe ek my lewe leef. Altyd half bang - en hierdie stukkie vandag herinner my weer dat ek dit moet bely en meer moet vertrou op Hom. Nou is die tyd om oor te gaan tot aksie en werklik te leef - vreesloos!!! Dis nogal vir my 'n scary gedagte.......... :-)

'O man of little faith,' Jesus said, 'Why did you doubt me?'" Matthew 14:33b (TLB)

Let me ask you, how many times have you wanted to do something, plan something, or even dare to dream something, but were too afraid? You know deep within that your torment isn't right. You know you're missing out on life and opportunities, but you're too scared to do anything about it.Those of us who live with anxiety are living below the mark of what we were created to be. Worry and its accompanying emotions are not and never were part of God's plan for His children. Yet thousands live this way each day.I've often wondered about the eleven disciples who stayed in the boat instead of stepping out onto the water like Peter (Matthew 14:33). Did they live with regret? I don't know. They did, however, miss an amazing opportunity to walk on water with Christ! Sadly, most people stay in the safety of the boat their entire lives and then wonder why life seems so empty, miserable, and dull. They go through life missing opportunities because they're afraid to really live the way God intended. What's Christ response to all of this? He asks "Why do you doubt me?" (Matthew 14:33).Doubt was the disciples' trouble. When Peter threw one leg over the side of the boat, nobody believed he could walk on water. I can almost hear his friends calling out, "Peter? Have you lost your mind? You can't do that!" And yet, while that thought was still fresh on the minds of his friends, Peter was already doing it. He was walking on water!Is there someone in your life planting doubt in your heart and mind over something you're already doing? If so, don't listen. Don't look back. Keep your eyes on Jesus and your faith will enable you to walk on water. Exercising your faith is key to courageous living. Like Peter, we are then able to step out of the boat into a world of possibilities.

Dear Lord, I'm ready to get out of the boat by trusting You with my fears. Be visible before me so that my faith will be strong and doubt will flee. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Braambessies

Laasnag het dit so bietjie gesneeu en toe ons vanoggend opstaan skyn die son. Als skitter en is te pragtig en ek en Twiggy het toe gaan stap op die Indian Creek Trail hier agter ons huis. Ek wens ek kon met die kamera weergee hoe pragtig dit als lyk met die sneeu wat net so bietjie bietjies begin smelt.

Op 'n stadium stap ek toe by so 'n plaat braambessiebosse verby en verkyk my aan die sneeu wat kompleet lyk soos glitter op die takkies. Die gedagte kom toe by my op - deurdring my Here - partymaal voel ek asof ons lewens soos daardie takkies lyk. Pragtig glinsterend bo-op maar wanneer daardie lagie smelt is daar maar baie dooie takkies en vrot kolle daaronder. Maar ek weet ons stap 'n paadjie na heiligmaking en toe ek by die huis kom en my stilteyd hou lees ek hierdie:

Col 2:10-12

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

In Him you were also circumcised, in putting off the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

Ek hoop dit gaan goed by jou - ek voel ek moet hierdie vir jou gee vandag. Gaan lees 1 Peter 1:6 - 9 asb. Ek wil dit vir jou bid vandag en vra vir inexpressable joy ten spyte van die omstandighede.

Al my liefde

Die spelling bee

Hierdie was nou sommer my klein brag namens ou Marelietjie. Eintlik brag ek nie regtig oor haar prestasie nie maar wil ek sê dat Die Here so goed is vir ons. Ons "brag" eintlik oor Sy voorsiening vir wat ons nodig het.

Ek het dit al so baie gesê maar ek dink nie iemand wat nie in ons skoene was sal ooit kon verstaan hoe enorm die aanpassing hier was nie.

Daar was in elke klas 'n spel kompetisie van graad 1 to by graad 8. Die top twee kinders dring dan deur na die District spelling bee wat in Portland gehou word. Wel Marelie wen toe in haar klas en ons moet toe afsak Portland toe. Hoe die spelling bee werk is dat die kinders lyste kry van die woorde wat hulle moontlik gevra mag word. Eish maar dis VREK moeilike woorde - omtrent 75% ken ek of glad nie die woord nie of is ek ook nie seker van hoe dit gespel word nie! En ek is nogal 'n goeie speller........ Maar anyway so ons kry toe die lys - seker so 600 woorde en omtrent 'n week om dit te leer. Nou sussie is toe skoon moedeloos want hierdie is nou nog ekstra op al die ander huiswerk en hordes ander aktiwiteite wat sy ook nog het. So ons leer toe die woorde (ek kan nou almal mooi spel) maar sussie se moed loop laag. Ek hou maar net aan sê "dis 'n geleentheid en 'n opwindende ding om voor dankbaar te wees. En al wat ons verwag is dat sy haar bes moet doen soos vir die Here.

Die dag vd bee is toe 'n goeie grap want Ben is toe die senuagtigste van ons al drie. Dit was 'n goeie grap! Die hele experience is maar baie intimiderend. Die wenners van omtrent 12 ander privaatskole was ook daar en die standaard baie hoog. Daar is 'n paneel van 5 judges en vreeslik baie reels en regulasies. Jy moet hardop spel en mag nie die woord neerskryf nie - dis als uit jou kop uit. Meeste vd tyd raak ek so deurmekaar met waar ek trek dat ek skoon verkeerd gaan.

Wel sy het ons verstom. Sy was deur tot op die laaste 4 kinders - sy het die eerste woord in die finale ronde gekry en het toe "palindrome" verkeerd gespel met 2 ll'e. Sy het toe 'n 4de plek gekry. Sy was absoluut in ekstase - weer 'n les vir my (as dit ek was sou ek myself genadeloos gekasty het vir weke omdat ek 'n fout gemaak het). Maar sy was so in haar skik en tevrede. Maar hierdie is nie eintlik die grootste prestasie nie - toe ons later die middag weer by die huis is kom staan sy so stilletjies by my in die kombuis en sê "Weet jy Mamma ek dink ek gaan dit maak hier. " Ek vra toe hoekom sê sy dit want sy weet mos sy gaan dit maak! "Omdat die Here getrou is en Hy sal my altyd help omdat ek sy kind is" kom die antwoord toe. Sy was so uit haar comfort zone en haar toevlug was in haar hart na die Here en sy het defnitief Sy nabyheid in haar gevoel.

So dis vandag my brag - ons Here is getrou en Hy is vir ons lief want ons is Sy kinders. Al kom ons nie altyd eerste nie, is die wete dat Hy altyd daar is oneindig kosbaar. Die beste eerste plek ooit is reg by Sy voete.

Die ander seuntjie by haar is een vd graad 6'e wat ook 'n derde plek gekry het in sy kategorie. Van die 16 kinders wat Horizon gestuur het het net hulle 2 geplace.

Different Vessels for Different Uses

As ons so wroeg met al die goete wat ons dink ons nodig het of wie ons nie is nie, en wat ander het en is, dan beland hierdie in mens se "in-box" en jy besef maar net weer dat dit nie oor my gaan nie, maar oor God. Hy het ons VIR HOM gemaak, nie vir onself nie! Die HERE werk deesdae op vreemde maniere met ons, en HY eis van ons om heilig voor HOM te leef. Ek en Ben het Dinsdag begin met die Daniel-vas. Dis nie eintlik 'n vas nie, want jy sluit basies net enige iets van dierlike oorsprong en alkohol uit. Ons beplan om dit vir ten minste 10 dae te doen, 'n tyd om nader aan die HERE te kom sodat ons SY stem beter kan hoor! Bid 'seblief saam met ons!

Yet, O Lord, you are our Father, We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.Isaiah 64:8, NIV

This week I walked through a huge store, absolutely filled with different specimens of pottery. Every single design was unique. And every item had a specific use. As I looked at this overwhelming display of man's creative ability, I began to think of how it illustrates the creativity of God in the vast breadth of design and function on display.Many will have sung Christian worship songs which express this theme, with words such as “You are the potter, we are the clay” - recognising that God is the Master Potter and we are His creation. But many of the people who have sung these songs may still be wishing they are like someone else. Some walk through our doors looking for help on Healing Retreats. They see someone else's looks or gifting and then see themselves negatively as a result. They then feel inferior and before very long depression and even despair can follow.It is easy to forget that God did not make us to be like anyone else, he made us to be the person we are. Each one a very much loved special creation. The world idolises certain people and the rest of humanity seems to want to copy the “stars”. But God doesn't want us to be like anyone else - He rejoices when we are content with who we are and seek to fulfill the destiny that the Master Potter had for each one of us.It is as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus that an extraordinary miracle takes place - in our character we become more like Him - and in our humanity we become more like the person God intended us to be in the first place.Prayer: Thank you that as the Master Potter, the works of your hand are always perfect. Help me Lord to so walk in your ways that I both reflect your true character to the people around me and grow into the person Father God intended me to be. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Gonubie se See

Na al die storms wat ons kus verlede jaar beleef het, is Gonubie se see stadig maar seker besig om weer na iets te begin lyk. Ons het gister (en vanmiddag) bietjie daar gaan stap. Dit was absolute stunning weer, nou nie vir die surfers nie, geen wind nie en die temperatuur is so 25. Die son was bietjie sleg en ek't nie 'n idee gehad wat ek afneem nie, want dit was direk in die son in (met my selfoon, nogal!); ek dink die foto het baie goed uitgekom!

Better together

Gisteraand sit ek en Top Chef kyk op tv en vir die eerste keer sien ek toe 'n nuwe Lays Chips advertensie. Dit was net te oulik en het my onmiddelik aan jou laat dink. Dit is sulke groen balletjies (met gesiggies en armpies) wat so in hulle dorpie rondrol. Dan is daar een ou geel balletjie en hy is obviously baie ongelukkig dat hy geel is en almal rondom hom groen. Hy rol in die paint shop in en baie in sy skik kom hy ook groen uit. Maar o wee toe reen dit en daar smelt al sy groen af. So baie bek-af rol hy verder en skielik sien hy so 'n ou treurige blou balletjie sit op 'n trappie. Duidelik ook baie ongelukkig dat hy nie groen is nie. Toe hy by hom verbyrol kyk hy so terug en wraggies maak hulle 2 toe saam GROEN. Hulle slaan toe hulle armpies ommekaar en in die middel is hulle toe groen met so 'n strepie blou en geel aan die kante.

Die catch phrase is toe "it just goes better together".

Dit laat my so baie aan ons vriendskap dink. Ons het altwee ons sterk en swak punte, altwee ons eie oppe en affe en altwee ons eie kruise wat ons dra. Maar somehow " it just goes better together".

Hierdie is speiaal vir jou uit my gunsteling boek ;-) - die Bybel

Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:

If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Dankie dat ek met jou jou lewe mag deel. Jou vriendskap is kosbaar en ek bêre dit diep in my hart. Leun op my as jy dit nodig het, ek belowe ek sal nie oordeel nie, ek sal nie sleg van jou dink nie.

Disclaimer: Ek gee nie goeie raad nie -maar ek kan goed luister. Gebruik ten alle koste jou eie oordeel oor enige raad van my kant af!!!!

Woestyn-Wiskunde

Net as mens dink dat jy nou alles verstaan en besluit het om party goete nie te probeer verstaan nie, dan beland die storie in jou in-box:

Wiskunde in die Woestyn
Een van die grootste wiskundige wonderwerke sentreer rondom Moses en die Isrealiete. In die woestyn moes die Isrealiete kos kry en hoe voed jy 3.5 miljoen mense? Volgens die Kwartiermeester-Generaal van die weermag het Moses omtrent 1500 ton kos daagliks nodig gehad. 'n 6km lange goederetrein sou nodig wees om die kos te vervoer.
Die kos moes gaargemaak word met houtvure en jy moet onthou, hulle was in die woestyn. 4000 Ton hout sou nodig wees per dag en weer 'n paar goedere treine, elk amper 2 km lank, om die hout te vervoer. Om te dink, hulle het 40 jaar in die woestyn getrek.
Wat van water? Net genoeg vir drink en 'n bietjie opwas, sou hulle 50 miljoen liter elke dag nodig gehad het, en 'n goederetrein met tenkwaens, omtrent 19km lank, sou nodig wees om water te bring. Daar was net 'n paar putte in die woestyn. Hoe het hulle genoeg water gekry?
Nog 'n ding! Hulle moes oor die rooi see in een nag! As hulle met 'n nou paadjie, twee-twee, sou loop, sou die lyn 1280km lank wees en sou diet 35 dae en nagte neem om deur te gaan.
So daar moes 'n pad deur die rooi see gewees het van amper 5 km breed sodat 5000 mense langs mekaar kon loop om in een nag deur te loop.
Nog 'n probleem, elke nag moes gekamp word. 'n Kampterrein van 1200 vk km was nodig, dit is 40 kilometer breed en 48 kilometer lank.
Dink jy Moses het dit alles haarfyn uitgewerk voor die trek? Nee, hy was net 'n gewone man met 'n onwrikbare geloof in God. God sou sorg vir alles.
Kom, skep moed, ons het dieselfde God! Ons dink ons probleme is so groot. Onthou wat God kan doen! Sluit aan by God se span en plaas jou probleme in sy Hande. Laat Hy jou lewe beheer en Hy sal vir jou sorg. Vertou God en sy Seun Jesus Christus. Die uiteinde van sonde is die dood, maar die geskenk van God is die ewige lewe. Jesus is 'n geskenk en Hy moet ingenooi word in jou lewe as Here, as jy die seëninge van ons Groot God in jou lewe wil ervaar.

Nou ja, wie is ek, Anna-Marie Smit nou, om die Here se beloftes te bevraagteken? As Hy gese het hy sal ons help, dan SAL Hy! Ek wens net ek weet wanneer???

Die SON-neblom

So gepraat van seeninge tel, is hierdie nie pragtig nie? Popeye se saadjies waaroor ek so kla en kerm omdat dit orals mors, het hierdie mooie blom opgelewer!Die plant staan al hoer as ek!

Ek was vandag kwaad vir die Here. Ons kry net nie antwoorde nie, al wat ons hoor is beloftes dat die Here sal voorsien. Maar weet jy, dis nie lekker om so te wag nie! Ekvra vandag vir die Here of ons dan te veel vra? Is dit te veel gevra dat ons net uit die skuld wil kom om weer makliker te kan asemhaal? Ek kan mos nie glo dat dit in die Here se wil kan wees dat ons moet sukkel en mismoedig wees nie? Dit kan mos nie die beeld wees wat ons as Sy kinders moet uitdra nie? Op hierdie stadium is dit baie moeilik om opgewek en altyd vrolik te wees. En dan se Fil 4:4 ons moet altyd bly wees! Ek kan nie!!! Ek weet ons moet ons seeninge tel en al die wonderlike goete waaroor ek so maklik kan preek vir ander, maar die Here alleen weet, dis nie maklik nie! Daar is 'n opstandigheid in my, wat ek weet, net die Here kan weg vat!

'Skuus vir al die kla en kerm en uitroeptekens, maar ek weet jy sal verstaan... en die SON sal weer skyn :O)

What have you done for me lately, God?

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5 (NIV)

Is the glass half full or half empty? Is it partly sunny or partly cloudy? Perspective makes all the difference.Even for strong Christians who are grounded in their faith, discouragement can easily sneak its way into hearts and minds as life deals us chaos. As we struggle with the challenges and difficulties of everyday life, or things that happened to us that were unfair or unwarranted, it is easy to get pulled into a habitual mindset of negativity. Just like that old song from the ˜80s says, we may find ourselves asking God, "What have you done for me lately?"Our answer to that question will depend entirely upon our perspective. God does more for us each and every day than we deserve, but it 's so easy to lose sight of the good, because we are caught up in the reality of the bad. How do we combat this perfectly human attitude?

Prayer.

Resolve to have an attitude like Christ.

Take inventory of our every blessing.

Life. Your every breath. Your every heart beat. A spouse or loved one. Children. Clothes that need to be washed because God gave you clothes to wear, and a way to wash those clothes. Good health to help those whose health is failing. Trusted and educated doctors to treat you when you are facing health challenges. A house that needs cleaning. A car to drive. The ability to purchase gas for the car. A job to go to. The ability to be a stay at home mom or wife. Healthy kids who can play music or sports. Friends. Family. Freedom. Jesus. Eternal life.What is on your inventory list today? If you were honest with yourself, would you say you have been looking for the positive aspects of the situations in your life? Are you considering how God could be using those things to draw you closer to Him? Or have you been primarily focused on the negative?During times of negativity, we actually become our own enemy. We wage a battle in our mind because we look at our situation from our own perspective, instead of what God may be doing through our situation. So in order to change our minds, we have to choose to change the way we think – our perspective. Attitude is a choice.Winston Churchill once said, "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." What do you usually see?To quote an old cliche, today is the first day of the rest of your life, and it is never too late to become an optimist! I have heard it takes 21 days of doing something for it to become a new habit. The more you practice challenging your thought patterns, the more automatic it will become. Changes may not take place immediately, but over time, the challenge gets easier, and optimism becomes the norm instead of the exception.Are you willing to take the challenge to become an optimist today? The rewards of looking for God's goodness in every situation will be a healthier and happier heart.

Dear Lord, help me with my human tendency to be critical or look for the negative in situations. Forgive me for a lack of gratitude for all You have given me. Thank You for Your patience with me as I strive to be a Godly example. Guide my heart to recognize You at work, instead of seeing things from an earthly perspective. Lead me into a closer relationship with You by helping me remember to count my blessings every day. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Make a list of the difficult situations or daily frustrations in your life. On the right side, write down something positive about that situation or frustration, and how God can grow your faith by depending on Him about that situation . If you have a hard time finding something positive, pray and ask God to show you.

Die brullende leeu

Vanoggend het ek nie 'n slimstorie of 'n mooi iets vd internet nie so vergewe my maar as ek sommer net 'n deurmekaarspul gorrel.

Ek besef net gister weer dat Satan so listig is - hy weet net hoe om ons op te trip. Hy gebruik situasies waar ons swak punte in ons karakter het om ons in uit te buit. Ek dink ook hoe meer ons na God soek hoe harder word sy aanslae en pogings. Ek vertel jou sommer 'n storie van wat gister met my gebeur het. Gister was nie 'n goeie dag vir my nie.Nie net oor die storie wat ek jou nou vertel nie maar dit was een vd dinge vd dag. Om een of ander rede in my diepste wese ly ek aan 'n verwerpings vrees. Ek weet nie waar dit vandaan kom nie, ek soek nog na die wortel daarvan maar dis 'n ander journey waarmee ek oppad is saam met God.

Hier in my straat woon 'n hele paar vrouens wat saam in ons kerk is. Ek ken hulle maar net so van sien en waai op 'n afstand. Ek sien toe in die kerk koerantjie dat hulle 'n klein vroue groepie gestig het vir 'n bybelstudie en besluit toe om te vra of ek ook mag kom. Nou vir my om te vra of ek mag deel wees van iets is al klaar moeilik (ek sukkel maar met die pride ding jong). Maar ek bel toe die vrou Sondag en kry haar nie in die hande nie maar los 'n boodskap op haar sel en vra dat sy terugbel. Niemand bel toe nie, en gisteroggend kyk ek deur my kombuisvenster en sien al die karre en vrouens. Onmiddelik kom al daai gedagtes en vrese van "wil hulle my nie daar gehad het nie" , "dalk hou hulle nie van my nie", "dalk het ek iets verkeerds gesê" en so voorts. En ek sak af in 'n mismoedigheid. As ek moet eerlik wees met jou - ek kry nogal swaar hier in terme van vriendinne. Ek het nie iemand wat werklik 'n vriendin in die ware sin vd woord is nie en is baie eensaam. So hierdie was so 'n goeie geleentheid om ander vrouens te ontmoet. Ek huil toe sommer en gaan sit met my Bybel so op 'n hopie. Toe kom die gedagte by my op dat ek besig is om Satan 'n vasstrapplek te gee - hier sit ek myself en bejammer, ek is 'n mess, ek is nie tot voordeel van Ben of Marelie nie of enige iemand anders nie. Plaas kom sit ek en skryf vir jou 'n inspirerende boodskappie of enige iets maar nee ek sit en pink 'n traantjie en voel hopeloos.

Om 'n lang storie kort te maak hierdie was die versie wat my toe weer moed gee wat my Vader toe vir my gee:

Ps 30:8 To You o Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim your faithfullness? Hear O Lord and be merciful to me; O Lord be my help. You turned my wailing into dancing you removed my sack cloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Die vrou het my toe gisteraand gebel en sy was so nice en het my baie hartlik uitgenooi om te kom. Sy was siek en kon my nie terugbel Sondag nie.

Unless the Lord builds the house

Ek kom vandag op die stukkie waarheid af en besef hoeveel tyd ons al in ons lewens gemors het omdat ons besluite geneem het wat buite God se Wil was. Die onderste lyntjie is dat aan die einde van die dag ons self die oorsaak van ons eie ontevredenheid en ongeluk is. Die "trick" is nou om 'n 180 grade draai te maak...
Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Psalm 127:1, NIV
When the truth of this Scripture dawned on me, I got a shock. It was clear to me that my life could be compared with the house and I could be compared with the labourer. Whatever I did in my life that was not in accordance with God's will for it would be useless. The Oxford dictionary describes ‘in vain' as meaning ‘to no purpose, with no result, uselessly'.Understanding this Scripture was a turning point in my life because I do not want to spend my life doing things that are to no purpose in God's eyes. I began examining the motives we have for some of the things that we do. Sometimes it is to please the selfish person within. It may be to please others and gain their favour or acceptance. It could be to build self-esteem by exhibiting our capabilities. We may exhaust our energy serving others, or, perhaps, as a payment to God for some sin or possibly because we see ourselves as indispensable to some people or situations. These are just a few of the motives that spur us on. None of these come from God.Having spent many years of my life as a doer, I am learning to go slowly before I act, to examine my motives and prayerfully to ask God whether what I am about to do is of him.Clearly we are not called to submit every tiny action to God, like, for example, whether we have an apple or an orange for breakfast. God means us to make most routine decisions on our own. There are also times when we submit a decision we have to make to God and he tells us to choose.What about the times when we have prayed and prayed and still do not know what God is saying? It seems that when we prayerfully and carefully move in the direction that seems right, God redirects us if we are on the wrong track. He honours our having sought his will.What about the times when we, like the labourer, have acted without God? We have a merciful Father who, when we confess our sins, forgives us and offers us another chance.
Prayer: Father I want to live a life that has a purpose and is fruitful. I can do this only to the extent that I submit to your will. Help me please Lord to seek your will and way and to be obedient in following it. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Road works

Toe ek hierdie in iemand se blog lees laat dit my aan julle dink en ek dog ek deel dit met jou vir bietjie moedhou.

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths… I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16 (NIV)

Last spring I monotonously approached my neighborhood exit where a newly posted sign announced that I could not make my normal left turn. Lined up on the road as far as I could see around the bend was a neatly laid row of orange and white barrels. Road construction had interrupted my usual routine. My daily plans would now be detoured due to the construction. Faced with this disruption that would surely put a kink in my life, I felt agitated and even hit the steering wheel with my fist. I would have to design new ways to reach my destinations and I wasn’t happy about it.One day when construction was completed enough to allow some through traffic, I turned left and surveyed the sights. I couldn’t believe what I saw. No more lovely forest. Gone were the inviting trails into the woods. Decades-old wooden fences and bridges had disappeared. Honestly, the place resembled the combined affects of earthquake and fire. That whole summer I rolled up to the intersection with its orange and white barrels, and it triggered in me negative thoughts and feelings. Soon after, my life was more seriously interrupted. A disturbing phone call forced me to drop everything. The bad news exploded like a bomb - my heart and mind quaked with emotion. Spiritual frustration filled my soul in the following months. I can’t remember how many times my fist hit hard places. I screamed at God when life carried me away from the direction I wanted to take.“How long will You take me out of my way?” I questioned God. I longed for my life before the interruption. Managing my days on autopilot was no longer an option as I faced my new circumstances. Slowly I began to see that this spiritual reconstruction paralleled the roadwork outside my neighborhood.Once all the orange and white barrels were gone and I was free to turn left at that intersection, I appreciated the results. Smooth asphalt spread out before me. Two lanes of traffic moved steadily. The “earthquake zone” had been transformed into a park-like setting. A tree-lined sidewalk encouraged pedestrians to walk toward the ballpark and the neighborhood church. Admiring the new landscape, I realized I’d been inconvenienced, but now I could see that the long delays were worthwhile.Today, although my life continues to zigzag through various “construction sites,” I realize God allowed me to experience the orange and white-barreled roads to illustrate a truth. He is at work up ahead rearranging the landscape of my life. Psalm 37:34 says, “Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land.” (NLT)I may not be able to see what that land looks like, but I believe His Word. So, with His help, I put my hope in Him, traveling the paths He lays out for me, even though they are not the familiar roads I would normally take.

Father God, You know how difficult life is right now. My interrupted life and the difficult roads You have me traveling feel like they’ll break me. Give me the capacity to graciously travel the paths You lay out before me. Help me trust You, In Jesus’ name, Amen

Die besluit om te glo

In Mark 9:14-27 lees ons vanaand die storie van die man met die bose geeste (heel moontlik epileptiese aanvalle)wat nie deur die dissipels gesond gemaak kon word nie. Jesus sê vir die seun se Pa in vers 23: "As U iets kan doen, sê jy... vir die een wat glo, kan alles gebeur". Om te glo is 'n besluit, en ons sê eintlik vir Jesus "Here, ons glo, help ons in ons ongeloof. Ons 2 Smitte moet keer op keer vir die Here vergifnis vra vir ons ongeloof. Dis nie dat ons nie glo dat God ons sal antwoord nie, dis net dat dit so lank vat! Maar Kenneth Copeland het al baie jare gelede gesê dat Faith & Patience die Power Twins is. Wel, ons moet seker maar net geduldig wees en baie bid.

Vanoggend toe ons 2 gaan fietsry het ons die mees ongelooflike reënboog gesien - ek kon ongelukkig nie stop om 'n foto te neem nie (Ben laat my nie toe nie!), maar hierdie foto het ek in 2006 geneem en gedink dis die mooiste ooit. Vanoggend s'n was nog mooier en was die volle 180 grade boog. Dit was absoluut stunning!

Vas & Bid... tot 'n Lewende God!

Ek en Ben vas en bid vandag vir The Flour Basket en ons hele toekoms... ek kry toe vanoggend die eletroniese dagstukkie en is so verskriklik dankbaar dat ons gebede vandag direk na 'n lewende God gaan wat definitief nie van hout of klip gemaak is nie. Lees hier...

But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men… they have ears, but cannot hear…Psalm 115:4 & 5, NIV

I once sat on a bus in Japan and talked to a young woman about my faith. I explained that I spoke to God in prayer and He answered my prayers, so I knew He was real. She was astonished. “When we say prayers to idols we don't expect them to answer us”, she said. She understood something for the first time and I did too. Two world cultures were meeting and discovering the differences between them.When I was six years old my father almost drowned in the sea. I was told by my mother that after hours in a life belt in the freezing cold sea, when all hope of survival had gone, he prayed and committed his family into God's hands. It was immediately after that prayer that the lifeboat arrived and came to rescue him. At six years old I learnt that God exists and hears our prayers.On arrival in Japan it was a shock to see lots of stone idols lined up on the wall of the temple. Each had a red bib tied on and pieces of fruit laid out in front of them. The trees at the Shinto Shrine had lots of bits of paper tied on to them. On each paper was a prayer, at least a kind of prayer. Why did the Japanese do things like that? If you ask them they say they don't believe in any kind of God. But I believe the reality is that they fear not doing these traditional ceremonies in case something evil might come upon them.Missionaries in Japan have the wonderful privilege of telling the Japanese people about the true and living God, who created the universe, and that He's interested in us all as unique human beings. He wants to have a loving relationship with us, through Jesus Christ, His Son. One Japanese lady told me how she went to England and stayed with a family who took her with them to church. Nothing was really explained to her about God. Yet something stirred within her spirit and after returning to Japan she began seeking after a relationship with God. I wonder if we Christians realise what an awesome privilege it is to know that the God who made the universe wants a relationship with us. Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I want to thank You that You have revealed Yourself to me. Thank You that I can come to You as Your child and simply speak to You, knowing You hear and answer me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Rantoni

De Villiers het vir Kersfees 'n Corn Snake gekry - dit was met my toesteming op die voorwaarde dat ek absoluut niks met die slang te doen sal he nie. Hy kon sy oe nie glo toe hy die slang sien nie; het het vreeslik gehuil! Maar ek moet se, die slang is baie minder moeite as al die ander diere saam! Die liefde wat De Villiers vir slange gehad het toe hy 4 jaar oud was, het net toegeneem - Rantoni is 'n paar maande oud en ons vriende het dit vir hom gekoop.

Vandag was dit baie warm en Ben het Rantoni laat swem... nogal in die swembad - ek moes die foto's neem... bietjie uit fokus want ek moes konsentreer op waar die slang is!

The Knots Prayer

Ek kry vandag hierdie in 'n email en dit herinner my toe aan jou "Can do"-post die ander dag.

Dear God:
Please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart and my life.
Remove the have nots, the can nots and the do nots that I have in my mind.
Erase the will nots, may nots, might nots that may find a home in my heart.
Release me from the could nots, would nots and should nots that obstruct my life.
And most of all,
Dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind, my heart and my life all of the ‘am nots’ that I have allowed to hold me back, especially the thought that I am not good enough. Amen

Die aarbeie groei kom uit ons tuin en het nie eintlik iets te doen met die gebed nie, maar hulle is so mooi!

Die Tandem

Ons vriende at Kaap toe getrek het, het vir ons 'n tandem persent gegee - hulle het 'n paar Cape Argus wedrenne met hom gedoen en noem hom die Groen Mamba. Ek en Ben het gistermiddag en vanmiddag op hom geklim en om Gonubie gery - dis 13 km. De Villiers het hierdie baie vleiende foto van ons geneem net toe ons hier by die huis afklim! Dis 'n ongelooflike "stress reliever" en as ons 2 al ooit saam moes werk, doen ons dit op die tandem! Om 'n draai te vat is soos om met 'n kar en sleepwa te ry! Dis baie lekker en ek hoop ons kan dit volhou.

Ek's terug

Ek was so lanklaas op die blog dat ek nie weet waar om te begin nie. My roetine was heeltemal uit die vakansie en die feit dat ons op 'n plek was waar geen selfoon-of internet opvangs was nie, het nie die saak beter gemaak nie! Die paar dae in die Grotte in die Baviaanskloof was absoluut ongelooflik. Daar is mens so totaal afgesonder van enige mensgemaakte ding (moenie eers van tegnologie praat nie) en jy voel so naby aan die Here - dit was verfrissend. Hier is 'n paar foto's: