Things are tough, and they are going to get tougher (my personal belief – not necessarily anointed prophecy). The church will likely be going through a metamorphous during this phase. The fat self serving caterpillar is going into a tight dark place to emerge as a butterfly, carrying no baggage and able to fly. We don’t want to miss out on the tight dark place if we can possibly help it.
There is a lot of talk about a coming renaissance period – a period of cataclysmic change in a similar order to when Martin Luther nailed the manifesto on the church door. I am guessing that in another 3-10 years maybe a bit longer - the church is going to grow into what we are only starting to dream about now.
Change can be terrifying, or terrifically exciting, depending on who is in charge, and one's attitude.
Imagine cascading down a really fast and boulder-ous rapid in a little canoe without first being able to scout the river for waterfalls, cliff faces, whirlpools, and any other equally hazardous obstacles. That is kind of like the picture I am seeing in our near future.
But if as you start your descent, you realize your tour guide is really good at watching over you, navigating you down the best routes, carefully selecting routes that maximizes your gained expertise without putting you in any situations that are out of your depth, then after a while you develop a sense of security. Each potentially disastrous stretch causes you joy and to prosper instead of suffering loss. Pretty soon you begin to relax and start to enjoy the ride knowing that your guide is not going to put you in a situation that you cannot handle – and the whole journey begins to take on a spirit of adventure and fun despite the potentially hazardous events happening all around you.
By the time you get to the really heart stopping frightening parts, you have gained a quiet confidence, knowing that your guide purposefully put you into this situation and will be able to see you through it, and besides – it should be a real hoot.
When somebody who is being swept along out of control sees that things are working for you, they are going to want in. The problem is though, that they never had the training in the quiet waters, they never learned the serenity of trusting in their master incrementally. They will be okay if they really manage to put their trust in God at that stage, but it might not be quite as easy as we naively first thought to just slot in at a later stage. Bottom line: –
- Today is the day of salvation.
- If today you hear His voice, harden not your heart.
- Rejoice in the day of calamity, because without the testing, there will be no butterfly
- With God, all things are possible
- God is the author and perfector of our faith
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Of Angels And Demons
Once upon those early days when Lisa was still my flat mate on the beachfront in PE, Lisa invited some young chaps who were visiting friends to come to the youth group we were about to attend. One of them accepted. Whoopee, I think.
I had the job of doing the overhead projector during worship, and for some reason, I was having quite a job keeping the slides still. Then towards the end of the worship, a commotion broke out in the back ranks, as Jeremy, our invited guest started to manifest, writhing, and frothing, and shouting – the bible is quite a good text book for the whole affair. It happened just like it says.
Luckily, our youth pastor, George Georgio was a reformed ex-Satanist, and he jumped right in and got him out the back where he ministered the Power of the Holy Ghost and the blood of Jesus and straightened our Jeremy out.
Turns out, Jeremy was a Satanist High Priest, and thought it would be a good joke to join us and create a bit of havoc. He later asked me how I was finding the overhead projector task, and told me that he was trying to get the slides to flip over to read backwards.
Well as things turned out, Jeremy got saved instead.
A few months later, I got a call from Jeremy (who lived in Queenstown). He told me he was having all sorts of problems, and asked if he could come and spend his school holiday with us. After speaking to his mom, I agreed, but little did I know what I was in for – crash course 101 in demonology.
Having Jeremy to stay was let me tell you, a steep learning curve. Every morning when I would leave for work, Jeremy would be fine. Every evening upon returning – Jeremy was a mess. As soon as it became dark, the manifestations would begin – altered voices saying “he is mine”, all that kind of stuff. Each time, I would have to enter into intense warfare, and each time God would win, and Jeremy would be again restored to sanity.
One night however, I just couldn’t seem to get a break through. I did everything I knew how, but the onslaught was relentless. He was too demonically inspired to turn my back on and leave him unattended, but I could not go on any longer, and I knew that I needed reinforcements.
It was around this time that God reminded me that there are things like angels.
I lifted up my voice and said: “right, I need one angel on this foot, one on the other one over there, one on that hand, and one last one on that arm over there”. Immediately Jeremy became pinned down on the floor by a strong force pinning him down on each limb. Wow, okay.
Now I was finally able to get to the phone to call up the troops. Seemingly within minutes half the youth group arrived, those suckers got cast out, and we had our Jeremy back again.
PS – if you ever have to take a newly converted ex Satanist shopping – avoid the meat section. You could save yourself a whole heap of troubles.
PPS – Jeremy – if you are out there – don’t forget what I told you. Every time you see a grater remember – “Greater is He who is in me than he that is in the world”.
I had the job of doing the overhead projector during worship, and for some reason, I was having quite a job keeping the slides still. Then towards the end of the worship, a commotion broke out in the back ranks, as Jeremy, our invited guest started to manifest, writhing, and frothing, and shouting – the bible is quite a good text book for the whole affair. It happened just like it says.
Luckily, our youth pastor, George Georgio was a reformed ex-Satanist, and he jumped right in and got him out the back where he ministered the Power of the Holy Ghost and the blood of Jesus and straightened our Jeremy out.
Turns out, Jeremy was a Satanist High Priest, and thought it would be a good joke to join us and create a bit of havoc. He later asked me how I was finding the overhead projector task, and told me that he was trying to get the slides to flip over to read backwards.
Well as things turned out, Jeremy got saved instead.
A few months later, I got a call from Jeremy (who lived in Queenstown). He told me he was having all sorts of problems, and asked if he could come and spend his school holiday with us. After speaking to his mom, I agreed, but little did I know what I was in for – crash course 101 in demonology.
Having Jeremy to stay was let me tell you, a steep learning curve. Every morning when I would leave for work, Jeremy would be fine. Every evening upon returning – Jeremy was a mess. As soon as it became dark, the manifestations would begin – altered voices saying “he is mine”, all that kind of stuff. Each time, I would have to enter into intense warfare, and each time God would win, and Jeremy would be again restored to sanity.
One night however, I just couldn’t seem to get a break through. I did everything I knew how, but the onslaught was relentless. He was too demonically inspired to turn my back on and leave him unattended, but I could not go on any longer, and I knew that I needed reinforcements.
It was around this time that God reminded me that there are things like angels.
I lifted up my voice and said: “right, I need one angel on this foot, one on the other one over there, one on that hand, and one last one on that arm over there”. Immediately Jeremy became pinned down on the floor by a strong force pinning him down on each limb. Wow, okay.
Now I was finally able to get to the phone to call up the troops. Seemingly within minutes half the youth group arrived, those suckers got cast out, and we had our Jeremy back again.
PS – if you ever have to take a newly converted ex Satanist shopping – avoid the meat section. You could save yourself a whole heap of troubles.
PPS – Jeremy – if you are out there – don’t forget what I told you. Every time you see a grater remember – “Greater is He who is in me than he that is in the world”.
My First Brand Spanking New Car
When I first moved up to Johannesburg after completing my studies, well actually lets start a bit before that. My little Mazda 232 was getting quite tired and was giving quite a few problems after all the long PE to Tsumeb trips I had done with Ryk, and one day God put it in my heart to believe Him for a new car.
It was quite an ambitious ask – but I wanted a brand new car – I was tired of struggling.
I remember telling God that I wanted a new car, and that I did not want to have any debt. The amount of money I was able to put aside each month was actually a total joke when considering what it would have to grow into (refer to the Petrol from heaven story to get an idea of where I was at financially). I told God that if I was faithful to save the pennies (that which was in my power to save), would He please add to it what was in His power to add?
On moving up to Joburg, the Lord urged me to insure my car. I put the matter off, and again He urged me to insure my car. Three times He warned me, but somehow I never got around to doing it. One fateful day I went to get my car, and found it was gone! Now I really needed to get a new car.
My dad found out that one of the perks of his job was to buy a new car from the company for a massive discount off the dealer’s prices. He managed to get me a little white Corsa – about 1000 km on the clock. The amount I had saved – not very much, but God (oh lets savour those words – they are my favourite words) … but God… had added His portion through various unexpected events. Faithful as always…
Did I manage to get my new car debt free?
Not exactly. I had exactly the right amount I needed except for what insurance would have paid out had I been obedient to Him. Truly, - it is better to obey than sacrifice.
It was quite an ambitious ask – but I wanted a brand new car – I was tired of struggling.
I remember telling God that I wanted a new car, and that I did not want to have any debt. The amount of money I was able to put aside each month was actually a total joke when considering what it would have to grow into (refer to the Petrol from heaven story to get an idea of where I was at financially). I told God that if I was faithful to save the pennies (that which was in my power to save), would He please add to it what was in His power to add?
On moving up to Joburg, the Lord urged me to insure my car. I put the matter off, and again He urged me to insure my car. Three times He warned me, but somehow I never got around to doing it. One fateful day I went to get my car, and found it was gone! Now I really needed to get a new car.
My dad found out that one of the perks of his job was to buy a new car from the company for a massive discount off the dealer’s prices. He managed to get me a little white Corsa – about 1000 km on the clock. The amount I had saved – not very much, but God (oh lets savour those words – they are my favourite words) … but God… had added His portion through various unexpected events. Faithful as always…
Did I manage to get my new car debt free?
Not exactly. I had exactly the right amount I needed except for what insurance would have paid out had I been obedient to Him. Truly, - it is better to obey than sacrifice.
The Cutest Little Pink Car That Squashed An Angel
One evening, Ulie (Ursula) was driving me in her little pink car (that later became my sister Hayley’s little pink car). It was a pink mini convertable – very cute, but of questionable road worthiness at that stage. As we were going down a steep hill (at the start of the freeway in Humewood PE, traveling down into town), the rain was pelting down. All of a sudden we saw the break lights going on for the car in front of us. Ursula slammed on the brakes as the slow motion camera began to roll. We skidded for an interminable length of time with no discernable loss of speed. As we approached the car infront of us, the car seemed to bump into a big cushion and almost seemed to bounce back on itself before coming to a complete stop, at which point Ursula blurted out: “Oops Lord! Sorry about the angel!”
Amidst many giggles, we blessed and praised the Lord for His deliverance.
Amidst many giggles, we blessed and praised the Lord for His deliverance.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Wipers For The Wiped Out
During my second last year at university, I was still living in a flat in Central, Port Elizabeth. Ursula had moved in with me after my first husband had wimped out of the relationship. Money was non-existent. One night while driving my yellow mazda in the rain, my windscreen wipers stopped working. I said: “Oh Lord, You know how I don’t have money to fix that. Please will You fix them for me."
I had stopped at a red traffic light near the Herald offices waiting to turn towards Humewood under the freeway. I noticed a gentleman stuck in the rain and felt the Lord say that I needed to offer him a lift.
Although a bit of a dodgy thing to do in that area, trusting God is always the safer bet. Well would you believe it. The man turned out to be the owner of a garage in Main Street. As soon as he noticed the plight of my windscreen wipers he told me to pop in and see him, offering to repair them free of charge as a thank you gesture.
“Bless you sir, wherever you are today - and thank you once again my Lord and friend, Jesus Christ.”
I had stopped at a red traffic light near the Herald offices waiting to turn towards Humewood under the freeway. I noticed a gentleman stuck in the rain and felt the Lord say that I needed to offer him a lift.
Although a bit of a dodgy thing to do in that area, trusting God is always the safer bet. Well would you believe it. The man turned out to be the owner of a garage in Main Street. As soon as he noticed the plight of my windscreen wipers he told me to pop in and see him, offering to repair them free of charge as a thank you gesture.
“Bless you sir, wherever you are today - and thank you once again my Lord and friend, Jesus Christ.”
Arms For The Poor
While staying in a commune with my brother Rick in Albert Road Port Elizabeth, a man came begging at the door. I had just been reading something that filled me with zeal. As I answered the door, I noticed that the man had a stump of an arm. Full of zeal in the spirit, I contemplated that what he really needed instead of alms, was an arm. I grabbed his stump and started to pray.
I felt a very peculiar feeling or sensation under my hands as the man’s arm started to grow. At that moment, unbeknown to me, my nephew Jo had been watching. All of a sudden from behind me I heard my nephew start yelling as he ran for his mom: “Ma-a-a – the guy’s arm grew!”
Well – I took such fright at that moment that I wished the guy well and told him not to worry, the arm would continue to grow. The guy himself I think was so drunk he did not know what was happening to him. In all, the stump probably grew around 5 inches.
I know God is faithful to watch over his work to complete it. One day we will know how it all turned out in the end. I pray that next time God leads me to pray for something like that, he increases my courage to see it through to completion. It would have been so cool to see a new hand appearing don't you think?!
I felt a very peculiar feeling or sensation under my hands as the man’s arm started to grow. At that moment, unbeknown to me, my nephew Jo had been watching. All of a sudden from behind me I heard my nephew start yelling as he ran for his mom: “Ma-a-a – the guy’s arm grew!”
Well – I took such fright at that moment that I wished the guy well and told him not to worry, the arm would continue to grow. The guy himself I think was so drunk he did not know what was happening to him. In all, the stump probably grew around 5 inches.
I know God is faithful to watch over his work to complete it. One day we will know how it all turned out in the end. I pray that next time God leads me to pray for something like that, he increases my courage to see it through to completion. It would have been so cool to see a new hand appearing don't you think?!
Mission School Momento's
Egg Surprise For Breakfast:
I attended mission school for a while, not as a student, but as the kitchen help. One day we had about a hundred people to feed for breakfast, and only 50 eggs. We weren’t sure what to do, so we prayed over the eggs and started to break them into the frying pan.
As we broke the first, we were thrilled to see it had a double yolk. We were quite surprised to find that the second one also had a double yolk – what are the odds of that happening? By the end, we were in raptureous laughter – all fifty eggs HAD DOUBLE YOLKS!
“NO WAY DUDE!”
Well, obviously “yes way God!”
............................................................................................................................................
The Desires Of My Heart From A Stranger:
All the washing of dishes at mission school was taking its toll on my hands, which were beginning to dry and crisp up. In my quiet time with the Lord one morning, I expressed a desire for hand cream. Within a day, a missionary I did not know, returned from the field and brought me a gift of hand cream.
Thank you so much Dad for paying so much attention to me.
I love you so.
............................................................................................................................................
Pantry Pleasures:
Strange as this may seem, keeping the pantry stocked became the kitchen staffs responsibility, and time after time God answered our prayers specifically.
One incident that stands out in my mind was the day we went to the freezer and found the freezer was empty.
We prayed earnestly for meat, and later that day – somebody arrived in a bakkie loaded with meat. We did not know the gentleman from a bar of soap, but behold, the freezer was full.
Who drives around in a truck loaded with meat waiting for God to tell them where to take it anyway?? –
… an angel perhaps?
I attended mission school for a while, not as a student, but as the kitchen help. One day we had about a hundred people to feed for breakfast, and only 50 eggs. We weren’t sure what to do, so we prayed over the eggs and started to break them into the frying pan.
As we broke the first, we were thrilled to see it had a double yolk. We were quite surprised to find that the second one also had a double yolk – what are the odds of that happening? By the end, we were in raptureous laughter – all fifty eggs HAD DOUBLE YOLKS!
“NO WAY DUDE!”
Well, obviously “yes way God!”
............................................................................................................................................
The Desires Of My Heart From A Stranger:
All the washing of dishes at mission school was taking its toll on my hands, which were beginning to dry and crisp up. In my quiet time with the Lord one morning, I expressed a desire for hand cream. Within a day, a missionary I did not know, returned from the field and brought me a gift of hand cream.
Thank you so much Dad for paying so much attention to me.
I love you so.
............................................................................................................................................
Pantry Pleasures:
Strange as this may seem, keeping the pantry stocked became the kitchen staffs responsibility, and time after time God answered our prayers specifically.
One incident that stands out in my mind was the day we went to the freezer and found the freezer was empty.
We prayed earnestly for meat, and later that day – somebody arrived in a bakkie loaded with meat. We did not know the gentleman from a bar of soap, but behold, the freezer was full.
Who drives around in a truck loaded with meat waiting for God to tell them where to take it anyway?? –
… an angel perhaps?
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