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:

Can do kids

Daar was al baie tye wat Marelie vir my die woorde gesê het "Mamma ek kan nie......." en baie dikwels was ek so gefrustreerd om dit te hoor want ek het geweet dit was iets wat sy wel kan doen. Gister was weer so 'n dag. Die aanpassing hier is en was maar nog steeds swaar - elke dag is vol van sy eie probleme en alhoewel sy redelik goed aangaan is daar maar nog steeds die dae waar ek hierdie woorde hoor. Dit breek elke keer my hart want daar is 'n deel van my hart wat net alle paaie vir haar wil glad maak en elke hindernis wil wegvee en partykeer het ek nie die woorde om te troos nie. Ek lees toe 'n oulike stukkie oor "can do kids" en ek sit vir jou 'n stukkie hier aan.

Our kids need us to believe in them and show it through our words and actions. I was so grateful God gave me such a powerful lesson and promise from His Word to pass on to my child in the midst of a crisis. God wants you to know that you are His can-do kid! You can do whatever He's calling you to do today, because He believes in you and He's with you! He wants to pass that truth on through you, and use you to help your child know that they're a CAN-DO kid, who can do all things through Him who gives us strength!

Dear Lord, help me see beyond who my child is to who he can become in Christ. Show me if there are areas in his life where he is comparing himself to others. Help me notice and nurture his personal strengths and remind him that he can do all things through Christ. I pray you would open the eyes of my heart to learn Your truths in my everyday life and pass them onto my children. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Die foto bo is van 'n kleeeiiin nuwe poppie wat ek gemaak het. Hy is omtrent 5 cm hoog. Die gesiggie het ek uit klei gemaak en die lyfie lap. Die eier is klei wat ekgeverf en toe gecrackle finish het. Die glasie is 'n klein kershouertjie waarin ek seed beads gegooi het net om die onderkant vd glasie te anker.

Bedtime Stories

Ons het nou die dag saam met Marelie na hierdie fliek gaan kyk. Dis sulke oulike gesinsvermaak! Julle moet vir DeV vat om dit te gaan kyk, ek is seker hy sal dink dis baie snaaks en lekker lag!!

New years prayer

Ek bid hierdie vir jou en vir my vir 2009.

Father in heaven, thank You that You are Sovereign. Thank You that You know me and Anna-Marie. You planned for us to meet You here today. You created our hearts. You know our every need, our deepest desires, and our open wounds. Lord, I ask that in this new year, You would fall afresh on us. Father, You are Holy and call us to be Holy. Yet, we confess that so often our hearts wander from You, our speech does not glorify You, and our actions do not honor You. Soften our hearts to receive the words Your sweet Spirit has to speak to us. Clothe us with humility. Take away our desire to always be right and have our own way. Help us to seek Your Word in all that we say and do. Help us to submit to Your Word; allow it to penetrate those deep places in our hearts that resist change. If necessary, put us through the refiner’s fire to burn off those things that keep us from walking in step with Your character.Give us hearts that love and seek after Truth above all else. Give us wisdom and discernment to reject the lies of this world and the evil one. Guide us into all Truth. Guard our hearts and keep our eyes fixed on You. Grow in us those things that will make us more like You. As we study Your Word, fill us and saturate us with You! Today, Father, we surrender our thoughts, our speech, and our hearts. Thank You that You are Faithful and True. We trust You will do a mighty work in us and through us this year and carry it on to completion until the day we step into eternity with You. Help us to trust in You with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. Help us to acknowledge You in all our ways so that we can hear Your voice as You say, “This is the way, walk in it.” Lord, we love You and thank You that You love us. May our lives be a living testimony of You. We ask this in the powerful and mighty name of Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord who will do immeasura bly more than we could ever ask or imagine. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Snow boarding en ander sneeu grappies

Hierdie het ek gister op Mt Hood geneem voor sy begin snow board het. Was sommer vir my 'n ou mooi fototjie.

Kyk na die arme garage se "merchandise". Jy gaan dalk op die foto moet kliek om te kan sien wat aangaan.

A Savior has been born

Op Oukersaand kon ons nie kerk toe gaan nie aangesien die diens gekanselleer was agv die sneeu storm. Ons het besluit om te kyk na "The Nativity story" 'n dvd wat ons gekoop het 'n tyd gelede om spesiaal oor die Kerstyd na te kyk.

Vir my die aangrypendste deel vd dvd was waar hulle die ster uitbeeld wat inskyn op die krip in die stal. Dit het my weer herrinner het dat dit God se Seun was wat absoluut mens geword het. Wat 'n ongelooflike gebeurtenis - wat 'n geskenk, wat 'n onbeskryflike genade aan 'n mensdom.

Vir Jesus om te kan sterf in 'n menslike vorm moes hy eers gebore word as 'n hulpelose pap babatjie.

Ek is bly ons het dit gekyk want dit bring weer by mens tuis die omstandighede - die nederigheid waarin Jesus na die aarde gekom het.

En ja verseker kan ons nie by die geboorte van Jesus bly nie en by die krip bly in verwondering staan nie maar nog steeds kan ek by die krip staan een maal per jaar in oopmond verwondering dat God sy eniggebore geliefde Seun vir ons gestuur het op hierdie spesifieke manier. Kersfees bly maar vir my spesiaal en die boodskap wat dit dra bly vir my belangrik.

Ons spartel maar nog steeds in meters en meters sneeu rond. Dis genadiglik besig om warmer te word en hopelik sal dit begin smelt. Ek sit vir jou 'n paar fotos aan dat jy kan sien hoe diep dit in die tuin lê. Ek sit ook 'n foto aan van waar Hood River se in loop in die Columbia rivier is. Mens kan nie glo dat daar sulke reuse stukke ys in die twee enorme rivier kan lê nie.

Today's THE Day

"Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."Luke 2:11-12, NIV

Ek lees vandag en 'n paar dae al voor Kersfees, dat ons moet aan beweeg van Mattheus en Lukas se verhale van Kersfees, want Kersfees moet in Johannes 1 gesetel wees. Die "advent" is baie belangriker as die "Event" , Jesus se kom s en natuurlike Sy 2de koms is waarna ons moet moet uitsien. Mag die vandag, en die verhouding wat ons met Jesus Christus het, gewortel wees in Johannes 1. Mag ons, soos die babatjie op die foto, in Sy hand wees, wat ookal die omstandighede!

God's Proud of you

Is hierdie nie "heart-warming" nie?

And a voice from heaven said, 'This is My Son, whom I love, with Him I am well pleased'.Matthew 3:17, NIV

God must have been very proud of Jesus as He humbled himself to be baptised.At this stage Jesus had only just begun His ministry, so God wasn't saying that He was pleased with Jesus because of His performance, but just in His humility and obedience.We're all God's children. There are many times He must rejoice with the angels and be delighted when we put Him first in our lives, and when we love others, (as well as loving ourselves). God wants us to enjoy Him as much as He enjoys us. The Father speaks these words over each one of us 'This is My child, whom I love. I am well pleased with you'. He's not pleased with us because of our service for Him, but because our hearts are seeking after Him.

Prayer: Father help me to understand Your love for me and to know that I am Your beloved child. Thank You that You love me, not for what I do but for who I am. In Jesus' name. Amen.

P.S. Ek kon myself nie keer om die prentjie hierby te sit nie! Weet nie of dit heeltemal pas nie, maar dit was pragtig. Die onderskrif was: "A Rare Friendship"

Yskristalle

Dis nog steeds ysig hier by ons. Ek sien op die tv hulle noem dit 'n "arctic storm". Dit lyk omtrent soos die Arctic en voel defnitief so. Ek moes net eers vir jou 'n foto stuur van die icicles net buite my studio se venster. Dit is amazing. Die buurman s'n is al meer as 2m lank - dit lyk ongelooflik!

Sprokies wêreld

Ons het nog sneeu bygekry - dis omtrent die meeste sneeu wat ons al op een slag gehad het vandat ons hier is. Buite is 'n absolute sprokies wêreld - als lyk so skoon en dis doodstil. Die mense is maar meestal bang om te ry so jy doen dit net as jy moet.

Ek sit vir jou weer 'n foto van my stoele dat jy kan sien hoeveel sneeu ons nog bygekry het.

Gister het Ben en Marelie gaan snow board op Mt Hood en toe hulle afkom het Ben beheer verloor oor die kar en het die kar oor die pad gegly. Gelukkig was daar 'n reeling en het hulle daarteen tot stilstand gekom. Daar is so bietjie skade aan die bumper gelukkig nie te erg nie - dis darem 'n plastiek bumper. Ek is net so bly hulle was nie in 'n ernstige ongeluk nie en dat daar nie op daardie oomblik 'n kar van voor af gekom het nie. Ben is nou heeltemal neuroties oor die ry in die sneeu. Selfs die 4 wheel drive en traction tyres help nie - daar is net te veel sneeu en die sneeu op die teer het nou vasgeys - so jy kan net dink watse gly spul dit is. Mense val hulleself simpel en op die nuus vanoggend het hulle gewys hoeveel mense opeindig in noodgevalle met gebreekte heupe bene arms en sleutelbene. Eish ek dink ek bly net hier in die huis! Ons eet maar brood vir die res vd naweek.

Vir more voorspel hulle blizzard kondisies!!!!!!!! Die wind gaan teen 50 mph waai. Arme Ben moet gaan werk. Gelukkig het hy nou kettings ook opgesit op die voorwiele so hopelik sal hy darem veilig kan kom tot by die apteek.

So geniet julle wonderlike sonskyn en warmte en spaar maar 'n gedagtetjie vir ons.............

My hart

Ek lees nou net..............

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23 NLT

Nog meer Twiggy in die sneeu

Haai skuus jy sal ook dink ek haak nou weer vas maar hierdie is net te cute! Ek dink DeV sal die fotos geniet. Ons het gister met Twiggy gaan stap (net so om die blok) en sy was vol bolletjies. Gisteraand het Ben en Marelie buite die drive way skoon gemaak en sneeumanne gebou en Twiggy was vir 'n redelike lang tyd buite besig om Marelie te "help" en vir elke buurman en buurkind in die straat te blaf. Sy was later so van die sneeu dat Ben my geroep het om te sê ek moet haar laat inkom want sy plak nou letterlik in die sneeu vas. Sien foto 2.

Ons moes haar afsoak in 'n warm bad want anders trek ons haar hare uit saam met die sneeu. Sy was HOOGS ontsteld toe Ben en Marelie aanhou buite speel en sy moet binne bly. Sy het voor die deur gaan sit en huil tot hulle ingekom het.

Nog meer Twiggy in die sneeu

De-cluttering of mind and space

Hierdie advies kry ek in 'n email vandag en besef skielik hoe belangrik dit is om soms net bietjie "huis skoon te maak"! Hier is'n paar tips indien jy Nuwe Jaar voornemens soek...
1.Get rid of that anger, jealousy and self-doubt. If you're waiting for an apology from someone, let it go. If you need to say sorry, then bite the bullet and do it!
2. In the same vein, make room for happiness. Take the space where that negativity used to be and fill it with something positive. For example, instead of complaining endlessly about how bad you day at work was, take the time you have to have fun - watch a funny movie, go out with friends or do something creative.
3. Practice acts of kindness. You'd be surprised how it will clear your mind and leave you feeling good as well!
4. Be creative! Allocate time towards a hobby every day - be it painting, gardening or reading - and let your mind soar. We're creative creatures, so use what you've been given!
5. Prepare for change and accept it. One of the biggest mental litter bugs is the refusal to adapt. Rather than fearing change, let it excite you.
6. Toss out those bad habits which leave baggage or guilt, such as drinking too much or gossiping behind other people's backs. It all comes back to you and causes more trouble than it's worth.
7. Sleep! To have an uncluttered mind you need to recharge it often with revitalising rest and relaxation. Make sure you get enough sleep and the rest will follow.
8. Why not spring clean every season? Cleaning up your surrounds and de-cluttering your physical environment is therapeutic. The more orderly your immediate surrounds, the more orderly your mind will be.
9. Communicate with your loved ones. Communication is the glue that holds all relationships together. Speak openly with your partner every day and try to initiate regular family time where you can all speak - with no TV on in the background! You don't want to be strangers in your own home.
10. Have a medical check up. Avoiding our health doesn't make problems go away, and ''what you don't know can't hurt you'' certainly does not apply! The best cure is prevention, so stop being stubborn and make your health a priority.
11. Make time for exercise. You don't need to spend three hours a day in the gym...just start walking when you can, or even get physical and do those chores around the house. No matter how you get moving, just get moving! If you involve your family then not only will you be spending quality time together, you'll also motivate each other to keep going.
12.Clean up your eating habits. If your food is your fuel, it's better to put in the best if you want the best out. Adopt a healthy eating plan as a lifestyle and see the difference it makes!
13. Figure out what you want from your job and if you're headed in the right direction. If you're unhappy, then do something instead of complaining!
14. Set goals and take steps to achieve them. If you feel you're meandering along meaninglessly, it's up to you to do something about it!
15. Remember...you have one life to live and how you live it is completely up to you. Feel empowered to make your own decisions and be the person you want to be!

Snow balls

Dit sneeu nog vrolik voort hier by ons - die voriges het nog glad nie gesmelt nie so dis nou al 'n redelike dik laag wat op die grond lê. Twiggy is natuurlik mal oor die sneeu. Mens sou dink hulle pote sal brand vd sneeu maar sy kan vir lank buite rond hardloop en sneeu vlokkies vang! Dis te snaaks om haar fasinasie met die sneeu te sien. Die enigste nadeel is dat as sy inkom na so 'n draai buite plak die sneeu in sulke bolletjies aan haar pote vas. En hulle SIT. Jy kan dit nie aftrek nie en obviously smelt dit dan nou maar af op my matte en die sitkamerbank!!

Ons lag nou lekker toe ons sien Twiggy se foto is nie so vleiend nie. Ons het haar so reg op die snoet gevang - Ben sê sy lyk soos 'n ant eater!! (haha)