To be free – my hitch hike story
I told some friends that I will write a blog post about my hitch hiking experience to Mosselbay, this is how it started:
One of Marlese’s school friends Andries planted the seed in my head to hitch hike, he is what I call a free soul. In short he travels with his 4×4 bakkie and go where the Holy Spirit leads him. He will help anyone in need or just start a conversation about God with anyone he meets. He sometimes (more often than not) pick up hitch hikers and share the gospel with them. Andries had his own struggles in becoming as free as he is now and some people are uncomfortable by him being so free. But his way of life is encouraging for me.
Marlese and the kids were in Oudshoorn helping her friend Marianne to startup a new Farm Stall on their farm, it is ± 400km from Cape Town where we live. I stayed at home because I did not want to miss David Watson who was visiting All Nations the same week and I attended a 3day seminar presented by him (if you click on David Watson you will see a summary of this teaching). On the Wednesday 24 March 2010 Andries and I went to visit Cor & Letitia Uys at their new home in Wellington. Andries asked me on our way there why don’t I hitch hike to Oudshoorn and surprise Marlese and the kids? I said no at first but the seed was planted, I still had other appointments to honor.
So on Friday morning I learnt that my other appointments were cancelled and I was on my way to stay at my parents place for the weekend in Somerset-West. As I was driving on the high way I saw a young colored couple hiking with a baby so I stopped. I took them to Somerset-West where they wanted to go and on our way there we had a wonderful time together as I practiced some of my new skills sharing the gospel with them.
After I dropped them off I started to consider hiking myself. When I got to my parents place they weren’t there and I decided right there and then that when they arrive I will leave my vehicle with them and go.
Yes they were shocked of course but I asked them to trust God with me that I will get a lift to Mosselbay although it is almost 5pm. My father dropped me at the N2 high way to Mosselbay outside Somerset-West saying: “Should I wait until you get a lift?”. I laughed and said dad just drop me and go I will be fine.
It was funny, I walked pass the vehicles as the long weekend traffic was at its peak and people looked strangely at me when I asked for a lift. At some stage I got doubts if I would ever get a lift and the next moment I walked past my dad. He said: “Should I rather give you a lift?”. I replied no dad I will get a lift soon. As I walked past him I prayed “God please give me favor and give me a lift that my dad could see it before he turns off to Somerset-West.
The next truck driver I asked said yes! What a blessing. His name was Crossbow and we started to chat. Here I was hitch hiking I think for the first time in my life at 37 years of age and again trying to find a way to share the gospel with Crossbow. I soon realized he is a baptized believer in Jesus Christ and was he, he made such a good impression on me!
I could not resist and later when we stopped I phoned my parents to inform them that God had sent me a lift just as I had faith in asking for it. Crossbow even took the chance and spoke a few words to my mom. The ± 400km flew past us like a quick thunder-storm, we did not stop talking all of the way and the conversations were very encouraging for both of us.
A very good friend of ours, Jules picked me up next to the high way at about 9:45pm. I was already on cloud nine and did not know that this was not the end. As I started to share with Jules and Mercia about my experiences and more specifically about the teachings of David Watson I soon realized that I was send there for a reason. 
This was all part of Gods plan because everything that I shared with them where so spot on with where they were finding themselves in their own missions in Mosselbay. We could not stop sharing till very late the next morning.
The moral of this testimony is that I was willing to go and I trusted God every step of the way. He blessed other people on the way and I also felt blessed being the messenger. The next day they took me to where Marlese and the kids were and they were overwhelmed to see me. That night I went back with Jules ad Mercia because I just knew that I didn’t finish sharing all that God had placed on my heart and so it was.
All I can say is that I think I understand Andries a little better and I will definitely trust God for more the next time I feel prompted to go! Please pray for Jules and Mercia they have to make huge decisions that will impact their future missions.
Equipped to go
We had the privilege to have David Watson as a guest speaker at All Nations Cape Town 22-24 March 2010. David is one of the world leaders in planting churches and what a pleasure it was to meet him in person.
Here are some of the important pointers that I learned from him:
1.) Church planting is not a Job, it is a lifestyle.
2.) We can not draw people to Christ only God does (John 6:43-51).
3.) If we listen, we shall live.
4.) The church need to learn how to be obedient (John 14).
5.) Strive to live everyday the way God said in Deu.6 and thus be a beacon to the people around you. Be the light that draws them to you – cockroaches vs. moths.
6.) People do not want your religion! They want the God they see in you! Don’t try to teach them your religion, teach them about God the Father, the Holy Spirit and Jesus the son. Trust God for the rest!
7.) Discovery Bible studies work best. This is where God speaks to people through his word.
If you would like to find out more about the Church planting process or Discovery Bible studies, please visit David’s blog at http://www.davidlwatson.org/.
Joe Ewen
Tuesday, 23rd February 2010. Joe from Scotland visited All Nations again to teach about the Gifts of the Spirit. Encouraging and stirring hunger for more of God.
“Faith begins when mans’ power ends. The greatest word that can come from your mouth is “Thank you, Jesus”.” Faith is a gift of God. Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
We had the privilege of having Joe over for dinner. We enjoyed our friendship in the Lord, sharing our hearts and trusting God for insight He is pouring out in our lives. We need to settle this in our hearts: “God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow”. He wants you to push through!
David Broodryk
We’ve been challenged (positively) by the teachings of David Broodryk. He visited from Johannesburg, ZAR, in March 2010 talking about Church Planting. He is a South African and broke away from the old traditional way of doing church a couple of years ago. “Is it time for the church to change direction?”. We need to find out what God is telling us and do it in obedience and fear of the Lord and not of man.
Have you experienced how nice it is to be served in church? It’s a very fulfilling feeling, receiving a wonderful message every Sunday – but do we spend time studying Gods word? Or we enjoying home cell during the week – but what happens the rest of the week?
We are challenged to serve and not be served anymore!
We need to go as Jesus commanded. If we look at Matthew 28:18-20, the foundation is set. You can also study Mark, Luke of what Jesus commanded us to do. Read these gospels and ask the question: What did Jesus do and what did He taught?
God of Everything?
I’m busy reading through Floyd McClung’s book, FOLLOWING JESUS, for the second time. The first time I couldn’t put the book down, but now I study it. I want to share the following with you….
What does it mean and how do I hand over control of everything in my life over to Jesus; it doesn’t stop with an act of personal commitment to Him. “Everything” means that I will also rethink beliefs and attitudes in my life, including…
* God Himself – He is involved in everything in this world, and therefore deserves my trust as He
teaches me how to live in the world for Him and His Kingdom.
* Mission – He is the God of mission, and calls everyone into that mission with Him; that it is not
something done solely by ‘missionaries’ but by every committed follower of Jesus.
* Church – Church is not a ‘temple’ to attend on Sundays, but a community of people who are
church and therefore have the opportunity to intentionally ‘do church’ wherever they go. We
don’t bring people to church but live church among people.
* Work – Because Jesus created all of life and cares about all of life, there are no ‘unholy’ vocations
in life – only unholy choices made by people.
* The World – The earth is God’s creation and needs to be respected and protected, not wasted
and exploited. People of all cultures are made in the image of God and need to be respected as
such.
Most of us are emotionally attached to the things that give us comfort, security and pleasure in life. God made us to enjoy life, and for good reason: God made the world and He made us to live passionately in it. Being passionate for Jesus is the only passion that will not destroy us. All other passions will take over our lives. He made us for pleasure and for adventure. He put music and art and sports and business in our hearts.
Loving Jesus by making Him God of everything in our life does not mean that we cannot enjoy the gifts God has given us, but it does mean that those gifts need to be surrendered to His rule. As we allow the love of Jesus to penetrate our hearts and our minds, we realize that our identity and security comes from His love for us and not from our attempts to find meaning in life without Him.
Support groups vs. our own comfort zones
Over the last few weeks we really had to redefine our callings. Conrad and I were asking ourselves: “if we would go back to Brackenfell (across the traditional “Boerewors gordyn” to Afrikaners, our own people), how would we do things differently? It takes an outsider to motivate and encourage an insider in the community to engage in the great commission.
We realised in 2009 how easy it is to become complacent and comfortable with the surroundings and fellow believers that you know love and respect. But the biggest danger is that you start to live inwardly and selfishly and that is not what Jesus called us to do.
The challenge will be to support and love one another BUT to make the great commission a lifestyle in our day-to-day living. We will share more about the basic principles of engaging in the great commission in future posts.
Foundations of Farming (Farming God’s way)
Were were looking forward to be part of Farming God’s Way. Phyllis and Euginia was the two ladies from Red Hill that showed interest in Foundations of Farming. We have spent Saturday morning, 29th August in lecture with Sam Adams helping us with hands-on training on how to farm God’s way.
I would like to share a few points with you, if you would also like to apply these basic principles in your garden. The main focus is to mentor and discipling individuals. If I could say, using farming as a foundation to share the gospel and also having the opportunity to uplift and help building communities in need to sustain and make a living for themselves.
We would like you to encourage even your own gardener (building relationships) so that they could take these basic principles home and make a difference.
A few principles:
- On time
- High standard
- Minimum wastage
- With joy
With FOF we do not burn! Our bug-buddies are killed and we need them! We do not plough. Weplant into the surface where the crop residues from the previous year are left (apply God’s blanket)
The reason for the God’s blanket is:
It feeds the soil
Organisms are balanced
High fertility in the soil
Soil structure is improved
Higher soil water holding capacity
Higer CEC
Stable soil
No slumping
Reduced land preparation cost
If you would like more information on Foundations of Farming visit www.farming-gods-way.org
Farming God’s way
23-7-2009
It’s primarily about mentoring, and discipling, not about farming! An Apostolic initiative for preaching the gospel strengthening and planting churches and extending the Kingdom of God within an emphasis on sustainable agriculture as a model for life transformation of individuals, communities and nations.
In the near future we will be starting to do Foundations for farming in the communities we’ve been working with. We are very exited about this joint venture. Land has been spotted where individuals representing All Nations, can start and use this opportunity where we will build relationships to share the Gospel.
www.farming-gods-way.org
Human trafficking
We had an information morning on 24 July 2009 in human trafficking. It is when woman, men and children are deceived into leaving their homes and being moved to a different town, city, province and country. The ultimate consequence is that they are sold into forced labour, prostitution, domestic labour, organ removal and adoption. It is horrific to see that this is happening all around us! We have been asked to inform others about human trafficking especially with the 2010 Soccer coming to South Africa. They foresee that thousands of South Africans will be trafficked within the country and to other countries. Be alert; make sure your children are informed! Make sure you are traffic proof and share this information with others.
If you would like to watch a DVD – TAKEN or NOT FOR SALE.
Check it out on www.anexcdw.org.za and report cases to the helpline at 0800 555 999
Search and rescue – where are you?
Confess your sin, and increase respect. Have courage and be serious about Jesus! Do you want to live a holy live?
If you don’t exhale (confessing your sins), God can’t do the inhaling or cleaning thereof. If you confess, you get it all out and you make room for the good in your life to come in.
Get the old clothes off: to be able to do that, you have to be naked – and that is uncomfortable and exposed yes.
Do you read the owners manual when you purchase a new piece of equipment? Do you read the manual before starting or do you start and when things get messed up or broken, then go to the index (concordance) to find the specific problem to be fixed?
God’s Word is not an owner’s manual.
How do you read a LOVE LETTER?
Yea, over and over again, opening it slowly, smelling, thinking and meditating over it.
Start at the beginning and read it all the way to the end.
Get disciplined and get the whole letter (BIBLE) in! Meditate on it. Take scripture in context. God writes to you personally. If God wants to speak to you, it is important…… read everything.
The seven signs in John
When we start a small church we encourage them to start reading the seven signs in John. When we read these scriptures together we will ask the following four questions:
- What does this story say to you about human nature?
- What does this story say to you about the person of Jesus?
- In what ways does this story effect your way of thinking about your own life?
- With whom should you share this story?
You can also write the story down in your own words, using your journal. Every time you will read these scriptures God will reveal something new to you. And remember, what God reveals, He heals! We as a family started to do the seven signs together.
Water into wine John 2:1-11
Nobleman’s son healed John4:46-54
A man healed at the pool of Bethesda John 5:1-16
Feeding the five thousand John 6:1-14
Jesus walks on the sea John 6:16-25
A man born blind receives sight John 9:1-41
The deat of Lazarus John 11:1-46
King Pie Shops and the Gospel
We will complete the CPx course by the end of July 2009. Once this is done we will focus on our business but it will be a focus with a difference. We will be in a position to apply what we have learnt and spend more personal one on one time with our staff. Our goal from the start was to do the CPx course in order to find ways to spread the Gospel within a business environment. We recently realised that we have a perfect opportunity to practice what we’ve learnt.
I believe that this will enable us to go with hands on experience to Australia or wherever God wants us to go after next year’s CPx.
Here are some of the steps that we will use in this environment (Luke 8:4-8).
1. We will have to distinguish between moths and cockroaches – John 6:44-47.
2. Once we can identify the moths we will spent more time with them (looking for the person of peace).
Luke 10
3. Plant Jesus – I think this will be our biggest challenge (Dt.6:4-9).
4. “MAWL” and multiply – John 14
M = model
A = assist
W = watch
L = leave
Man to man; woman to woman
Friday afternoon the 27th February we had a separate “ladies and men’s” meeting. Floyd leading the men and Sally, leading the ladies meeting…
Sally said that she want to share a few of her life’s lessons with us. She doesn’t want us to make the same mistakes she did… I am so thankful that there is still older woman who wants to teach the younger generations. As the word says in Titus 2 :3b “They are to give good counsel and be teachers of what is right and noble. So that they will wisely train the young women to be sane and sober of mind (temperate, disciplined) and to love their husbands and their children. to b self-controlled, chaste, homemakers, good-natured (kind- hearted), adapting and subordinating themselves to their husbands, that the word of God may not be exposed to reproach (blasphemed or discredited).
The main topic was around responding to disappointments…. Something all of us face, no matter what colour of your skin, your age or gender, where you come from or what you have or do not have…
A brief summary:
“Don’t waist your sorrows”. Nothing that can come to one from any source can injure him unless it causes him to have a wrong attitude. It is one’s response that blesses or burns.
Our attitude and the way we respond to disappointment is very important!
Common reasons for disappointment:
- Disobedience.
- Giving up hope!
- Negative speaking
- Allowing fear to come in
- Doubting God’s word
- An attack of the enemy
- Low self-esteem
- Weary in what we’re doing
No matter how big or small the disappointment, it does impact our hearts intensely… How do we respond?
A few Do’s and Don’ts:
Don’t become negative, critical, have resentment in your heart, become bitter, Proverbs 21:23, Ephesians 4:29, don’t harbour grudges or revenge, don’t question the character of God, don’t make major decisions, don’t get intro perspective (the enemy wants you to think that you’re not good), don’t act in unbelief!
BUT rather,
Embrace disappointments because we’ve got a lesson to learn. Look for the good in the midst of the difficulty. (Philippians 4:8)
Have gratitude! Forgive, give disappointment to the Lord, Hebrews 5:8, Forget disappointments – we cannot go forward if we keep on looking backwards. Be content Philippians 4:11-13, do remind yourself of God’s character, share your need with someone you can trust and be transparent, ask for the Lord’ grace.
ENJOY every season you’re in – be content where you find yourself!
“Amy Carmichael has said the eternal essence of a thing is not in the thing itself but in one’s action to it. The distressing situation well pass, but ones’ reaction toward it will leave a moral and spiritual deposit in his character that is eternal”.
Contentment
For the last week I have been in such an uncomfortable place dealing with my emotions. And on Friday afternoon we had a ladies group session with Sally, talking about CONTENTMENT! God using individuals to confirm that He is working in my heart. This discussion meant so much to me. We serve an amazing God – He is in control of our lives. What He reveals, He heals! His grace is enough for me, every day…
A few verses that Sally shared with us as follows:
Philippians 4:11 Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
I have to know that the difficult seasons will come on our journey and if I am not content where I find myself I will harbour resentment in my heart looking at my (sometimes difficult) circumstances and that will lead to resenting God. This struck me so hard! These feelings inside of us will turn into bitterness and will consume our hearts.
There are a few principles to walk in contentment. I would like to share a few reasons we lack contentment:
- Converting another time, place and situation, meaning looking back wards where we were. We miss what God has for us in the NOW if we constantly look back on the past and do not grasp what He wants to teach us now. This is exactly what I felt the last week. Longing to go back to the known circumstances. But also knowing that I don’t want to go back. Torn apart and that the enemy wants to steal the learning opportunity from with all the negative emotions.
- Embarrassment is all about what I own. My car, status, appearance. God knows what is best for us. The most important is that we will walk in humility – that’s the cure for embarrassment. To humble ourselves before God.
- Resenting God for allowing situations we find ourselves. Did you ever ask: “Why me, Lord?” The answer is: “Why not you?”
John 16:33 read, I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you]. - Comparison will always lead to a lack of contentment. This is an effective tool of the enemy. 2 Corinthians 10:12 reads Not that we [have the audacity to] venture to class or [even to] compare ourselves with some who exalt and furnish testimonials for themselves! However, when they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding and behave unwisely. This is a very big lesson, especially for our kids to learn! Not to compare to a friend and for us not to compare our children to other children.
I have to focus on God, more than ever! We need to TRUST God. He is moulding us, shaping us to grow in Him. Sally shared that she went through a very difficult time and after her breakthrough she could assist her daughter in the most difficult time of her life. As she said: “If we don’t face difficulties in our lives, how will be able to assist our children when they go through difficult times. God has something rich to teach us and He’s got the eternal view. We have to be grateful for these difficulties, because we can only boast in our weaknesses!”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 reads Be happy [in you faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always); be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly], thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].
We have to work with God, not against Him. In my next difficult circumstance I will rather choose to work with God and ask what lesson is in the specific situation for me? This will help me to get my heart ready to bring release or break through in the inner walk I will have with Him, which is much more important than my circumstances.
I will also accept that I am special. Unique and God has approved me. I will accept myself for who I am!
I can only close with 1 Timothy 6:6 that reads [And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness accompanied with content meant (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain.
We have so much to learn from each situation, in stead of resenting the learning process God offers us! My prayer that there will be so many testimonies of growth in God…
Kids Ministry
We had Malvin Pumboka, from the Lxp group (Leadership experience program) with us during the week. His team shared some key points regarding kid’s ministries and how to reach out to children.
I’ve been involved with kids ministries over the last few years and Malvin and his team just brought new enthusiasm and insight. I love to work with kids. I enjoy creative ideas, singing and doing fun activities with kids. Because of my three energetic kids I sometimes lack the energy to keep up with them. It’s not just about my own oikos but also about reaching the un-reached.
Malvin reminded us what the Word of God says in Matthews 19:14 But Jesus said, allow the little children to come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 18:2 And Jesus called a little child to Him and set him in their midst, and said, truly I say to you, unless you repent and become like little children (trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving), y1996ou can never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And whoever receives and accepts and welcomes one little child like this for My sake and in My name receives and accepts and welcomes Me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in and acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk in the depth of the sea.
Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God which He has purchased with His own blood.
Kids just want to have fun! In the simplest ways, we can make a difference. I had the privileged to be part of Radio Tygerberg 104Fm, Adopt a Child project in 2005. These kids just want to be held, loved and acknowledged.
Global challenge!
Ann- Marie, representative from Global Challenge Expeditions (Jeffery’s Bay) shared some of her experiences she had with some of the young people she mentored in their expeditions all over the world. You can visit the web on Global Challenge Expeditions at www.gcexpeditions.org All about embarking on the journey of a lifetime! Exploring the planet, sharing your faith, serving the poor and impact the nations. Discover God’s heart and enter into the life He has for you. A life like no other… An ultimate journey if you’re 18 years and older!
She mentioned so many things that touched my heart… She started off by asking: “What will keep you going?”
The only thing that would keep us going, is if we learn to live from our hearts and not from our heads. God already authorised the work we’re doing, but we need more intimacy with Him. The most important is to know that there is no specific recipe in living our lives, but for sure principles we have to follow.
I choose not to have an ordinary life. We will be amazed how God will use us in the midst of our trials. He is looking for the modern Daniels, Josephs and Paul’s.
She gave a few tips regarding missions. She told us that she has three friends, named Fish, Justy and Preserve. They have one surname in common, although the surname is used as a name for these three friends. They are called Self-Fish, Self-Justy and Self-Preserve. These three will intensify when we go on an outreach. This is the difficult place where we will find ourselves, searching for security and belonging. These are weapons Satan will use to try and take us out. We need to bring these three friends of ours to the altar and lay them down, every day… or we won’t survive!
The lesson: Life that happens will GROW us! God grows our capacity through life challenges and shape our character in the process. We need to trust God in our journey.
The words of a song Clara and Anna-Marie shared with us this morning as follows:
Open up the sky
Our beloved Father please come down and meet us
We are waiting for Your touch
Open up the heavens shower down Your presence
We respond to Your great love
We won’t be satisfied with anything ordinary
We won’t be satisfied at all
Open up the sky fall down like rain
We don’t want blessings we want You
Open up the sky fall down life fire
We don’t want anything but You
Our beloved Jesus we just want to see You
in the Glory of Your light
Earthly things don’t matter they just fade and shatter
When we’re touched by Love Divine
Here we go lets go to the Throne
The place where we belong
Right into His arms.
If you would like to live a life out of the ordinary, make a change, challenge yourself in the possible in your circumstances and trust God for the impossible, even in the small things!
Organic Church
We had a powerful teaching on Organic Church by Niel Cole from Los Angelas, California today. I would like to put a few notes on the table…
If we could compare Christianity with a football game and we have Jesus on our team, He should not be sitting on the bench… We should give Him the ball. Unfortunately, we tend to put Him on the side line (in our lives) instead of giving Him ALL authority in our lives!
We need to plant JESUS in people’s hearts and out of that church will follow. It’s not about the church (building) but about Jesus in people’s hearts! We could do church and skip Jesus and miss the whole point! We have to individually answer the question: Who is Jesus to me?
The church is His project. He builds it! He owns it!
We need to remind one another of who we are. We are not alone… Let’s draw our swords together (to the Word of God) and turn the church inside out. We have to ignite the church (all living creatures). Let’s have faith in Jesus, ride out with Him in this journey, and don’t loose sight!
It only takes one seed to reproduce an apple tree. A single apple tree has enough seeds to plant an entire orchard. Are we willing to be that seed falling or planted in the ground?
DNA identifies you from who you are. We have to have a healthy DNA to be able to build healthy DNA churches. Catch the Jesus Virus by seeking the following:
D – Divine truth
N – Nurturing relationships
A – Apostolic mission
Our highest goal is that Jesus would reign as King in all the earth!
Thy Kingdom come
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9, 10)
For information about Life Transformation Groups and other strategic resources available from Church Multiplication Associates, visit www.CmaResources.org
Training 4 Outreach
I have attended a Medical training session on Thursday and Friday afternoon. It is really a big responsibility, but I am eager to learn new things that I’m not familiar with. It’s a different story to be the doctor in your own house – taking temperature, giving Panado, giving TLC (tender loving care) to your husband and kids in comparison with working with team members, who will be depending on you in an emergency situation.
We received a lot of information regarding Diarrhoea, dehydration, Malaria, Wound care, Allergic reactions and First aid training. I feel now more confident to assist our team but I would like to ask you to pray for the following:
To hear God’s voice and allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us!
Protection during our travelling phase
Health and protection against sicknesses
Unity in our team
Communication
Spiritual growth.
On Saturday morning, I had to attend another information session regarding cooking procedures during the outreach. The most important lesson I have learnt is – if you can’t peal, cook or fry food, don’t eat it! We will protect ourselves with Malaria medication, inoculations and tablets that will clean the water. We will learn a lot about the villages and how the people live. We will share all the photo’s and experiences with you when we come back from Mozambique.
Faithfull, Available & Teachable
Different speakers visit us regularly during CPx. All of them are so passionate about God’s Gospel, Jesus and missions!
On Thursday we had Indaba, a local Black African Preacher in Fish Hoek who came to speak to us. Wow! I would like to share a few scriptures and words from his teaching.
He shared his testimony with us but also had words of wisdom… He said: “Carry faithfulness with you, always! Be what you are and don’t try to be someone else…”
Psalm 27:8 My heart says to you, Seek my face; Your face, O Jehovah, I will seek;
God will use you if you are Faithful, Available and Teachable. When God touches you, be obedient! Grab the opportunity to speak to people during the Easter Weekend.
Romans 1:14-16 reads I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the foreigners, both to the wise and to the unwise. So, as much as is in my lies, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
“Be obligated, eager and not ashamed to preach the Gospel. Let us have that eagerness of using every moment to share the Gospel, not limiting God”.
1 Corinthians 1:18 reads for the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those being lost, but to use being saved, it is the power of God.
: 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
: 24-25 But to them, the called-out ones, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolish thing of God is wiser than men, and the weak thing of God is stronger than men.
2 Corinthians 5:20 Then we ware ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as God exhorting through us, we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
“Let us represent Him and represent Him well. Let’s be a blessing, because we are blessed….” – Easter Blessings!
Encouragement
Sally (Floyd’s wife) is a wonderful lady. She spend some time with all the woman during an afternoon session, sharing some of her life’s experience and spoke to us about encouragement, the message God placed in her heart. I would like to share it with you.
1 Corinthians 14:3 it reads: …but he who prophesies speaks to men for building up, and exhortation, and comfort.
We often overlooked the practical side of the prophetic. It is important to express affirmation and appreciation to others – a reflection of the Father.
To be more creative. We should be like HUGE watering cans that fill up others. We need to speak positive words.
WHY should we encourage?
The answer: Because we ALL need it! We’re interwoven and we cannot be self-sufficient. If people don’t receive encouragement, they will go to another source where they will find it (prostitution, drugs etc.). If someone irritates you, start to encourage that person and give your part to encourage – it could change the situation if they are built up.
I realised that we as parents should have a healthy balance between discipline and encouragement. Kids are usually more reviewed than encouraged. I know that I had the gift of encouragement (including the creative ideas). But because of the strain of the kids and being tired my light faded over time… This message spoke directly to my heart! I need to encourage much more than I do at the moment!
Philippians 2:1-3 reads , “.. if there is therefore any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tenderness and mercies, then fulfill my joy, that you may be like-minded, having the same love being of one accord and of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better that themselves”.
We are also told to build up one another in Romans 12:10. In brotherly love to one another, loving fervently, having led one another in honor.
Why do we not encourage?
- We are too focused on ourselves.
- We can be worried about pride.
- We live in fear of men and their response.
- We focus on the negative issues that keep us from seeing the good.
- We can have the wrong parenting example during our upbringing. Don’t keep the blessings away by not adapting to God’s way…
- Silence can be a hindrance…
- We think that encouragement is a ministry for Leaders, only. But Proverbs 18:21 reads “… death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those ho love it shall eat the fruit of it”.
Great occasions for serving God come seldom, but little once surround us – St. Francis de Soles
- Our busyness prevents us to STOP and take time to encourage.
WHO should we encourage? The answer: “Anyone, everyone!”
WHEN do I encourage? The answer: “We don’t need to wait for a super spiritual moment but we should encourage anytime, for anything at any time…”
HOW should we encourage?
- Keep it simple. Use sms’s, a short note, gift etc.
- Choose to die in yourself in behalf of someone else and silence the voice of the enemy and open your heart in a fresh way for God to speak to you.
- If someone goes through a hard time and you don’t know how or what to do, ask them what they need.
- Remember, 55% of our communication is non-verbal! Smile; give a hug or handshake if it’s needed.
- Believe in them. Reach out when someone fails, pray with them. Come alongside them when it’s going tough.
I really do hope that these notes form my diary will impact you for the rest of your life. Because you and I can do this till the day we die….
Values
During this week teachings we have spend a lot of time on VALUES…
What influence our beliefs and values? Sometimes our core values may be different from our commitments. We need to find out what our core values are…
We must be careful that we are not “double-minded” in our beliefs and values. The main message: We need to live out what we belief, what we want to do! Sometimes we are deceived by our own aspirations and what really comes out in the way we live…
There will be a constant warfare between good and bad, but let us open our lives for God to show us what He wants to change in our life.
“What are you willing to suffer for is what you’re passionate about! And what you’re passionate about, that is your core values” – If you want to look at Paul’s mission and passion read Acts 20:17-38.
School holiday
For the majority of parents, school holidays are a nightmare…. Who will look after the kids? How am I going to keep my sanity? How will I keep them busy?
Conrad and I will be busy with teachings in class while the kids will enjoy their mornings with volunteering students.
They will teach them some of the basic foundations on being a disciple and follower of Jesus as we have learned over the past few weeks.
Sometimes I really wonder how much the kids do understand? Then I realise, God is in control and I have to step back and don’t interfere where God is at work! They just need our encouragement and love.
They will learn more about the God’s story as Conrad mentioned in a previous blog. If they understand and know the key points on salvation, they will be able to share The Gospel with confidence and also work with us to share the God’s Story on outreaches with friends they will meet.
THE GOD’s STORY:
1. God’s creation
2. Rebellion and sin
3. God’s sacrifice (Jesus died on the cross, once for all people’s sin)
4. Return
5. Commission – Go! and make disciples
Choosing Friends – moths & cockroaches?
I am so glad that we are doing the CPx course. Just last week we could talk to Jeanelle (our 12year old daughter) about choosing her friends and how that choice can effect her own life, based on one of the teachings we’ve had.
At first she was upset with our discussion thinking that we were saying she should not be friends with the friends she made recently. We explained that there are 2 kinds of lost people and we can compare them with 2 insects namely moths and cockroaches.
If you turn on a light in a room where there are moths and cockroaches, the cockroaches will run away and the moths will come to the light. We asked Jeanelle to compare her friends with these insects. She then realized that there are only a few moths in their group.
She was convinced that the other moths that were not part of their group will not want to be friends with her. We challenged her to approach the one girl because it was just a lie from Satan that prevented her from having another good friend.
It was amazing, the next day Jeanelle came back from school telling us that this girl accepted her immediately. What’s even greater is that Jeanelle also told us that she is thankful for our discussion the previous night because we actually helped her to open her eyes.
This was very special!
