- YoUtH -

Tonight, we had another awesome meeting with our Youth, only three pitched up, but we see these three as our leadership.

What was most exciting was what they discussed happened this week:

Irene had couldn't sleep, and she felt God wanted her to read Revelation 10:18 and to sum the whole journey up, in the end she prayed for boldness to speak God's truth to those who do not know Him. The story behind the story: she and her mom works at the same company, they started a Biblestudy group where they all discuss a short passage, pray and then start the day. Irene wanted to share something specific, but was a little afraid to share it. And then she ended with this prayer for boldness to share God's love with those who don't know Him!

Reinhard is going through an amazing journey to trust God for a DIVINE revelation. (He's going to have a day of solitude tomorrow to spend time with God! What a guy!)

This morning as he was brushing his teeth, he felt he needs to fast. During his lunch break, he sat in his car, started talking to God and could literally felt God's presence filling the teeny-tiny spaces of his Mini (car). He had such an amazing "lunch" with God, how Father sang a love song over him....and knowing the wrestling Reinhard is going through at the moment, it is truly amazing to hear!

This is really just a small post, but I really had to post on how God is revealing Himself in AWESOME ways and how God can talk to the Youth in (sometimes) unconventional ways. Please keep praying for them, they're a great bunch, and God is busy with great stuff in their lives. Also know that you guys have a part in this, if it wasn't for your support, we wouldn't have been here!

(Picture: from left to right: Louis, Reinhard, Lilli, Jurie, Irene)

Some thoughts on prayer

I'm busy reading a book by E.M Bounds, Purpose in Prayer. And this one thought jumped out of the page for me:

"Prayer in its highest form and its grandest success, assumes the attitude of a wrestler with God."

I'm not saying it is the only form, but something stuck in my head: Do we give up too soon in prayer? Or do we wrestle with God like Jacob did until daybreak?

Bounds go further to say: "Prayer is the contest, trial, and victory of faith - a victory not secured from an enemy, but from Him who tries our faith that He may enlarge it. He tests our strength to make us stronger..."

Thus, God is not an "evil" god for sometimes making us wrestle with Him, but He wants us to grow stronger. Think about a coach, he will test your boundaries, drive you further than what you think is possible, because he knows it will make you stronger for the race, building stamina.

Why then do we question God when He delays an answer?

So, in conclusion, when you wrestle with God do not think it's because He is angry, or doesn't care about your position or situation...think about God preparing you for the race, building your spiritual stamina. Wrestle until daybreak, do not let Him go until He blesses you.

And remember, you won't wrestle every day with God...

Speak Blessings Over Your Family

Psalm 5:12
12For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.

What do you believe and say to your loved ones every day? For orthodox Jews, on Friday evenings in their homes, the father lays his hands on his children and pronounces God’s blessings over them. No wonder Jewish children grow up to be winners in the fight of life! They become some of the world’s greatest inventors, bankers, musicians and entertainers.

Although a minority race, the Jews have produced the most number of Nobel Prize winners. I believe that it is because they bless their children in the same way the patriarchs of the Old Testament did. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob released God’s blessings upon their children by laying hands on them and speaking forth the blessings. (Genesis 27:27–29, 38–40; 48:14–16)

In the New Testament, the apostles pronounced blessings over the churches they were preaching to. To the church in Philippi, Paul declared, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) John released a powerful blessing upon Gaius when he said, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” (3 John 1:2)

Even Jesus pronounced a blessing of deliverance on the daughter of the Syro-Phoenician woman — “go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter”. (Mark 7:29) This was a blessing of deliverance by proxy. The woman took it by faith and found that her daughter was well when she reached home. (Mark 7:30) Likewise, the centurion took the blessing by faith and healing came upon his servant back home. (Matthew 8:8–13)

The parents of a little girl did the same thing while worshiping in our church. Their daughter was in hospital in the final stages of cancer. When I pronounced the blessing of healing that Sunday, they received it and pronounced it over their daughter. She was soon discharged from the hospital healed!

My friend, bless your loved ones. Declare over them, “The Lord blesses you and surrounds you with His favor as with a shield.” Speak forth your own blessings by declaring, “Thank You Lord, You prosper me and I am in excellent health!”

YOUTH ON A MISSION FOR A MISSION

The youth came up with this on their own.

We started talking about how Jesus told us to go out into all of the nations. One thing led to the next, and they as youth decided that we need to go on a mission.
We decided to paint a banner,

that will remind us of what we are busy doing and focusing on.
The fascinating thing is that we do not know where or how we are going, BUT we are trusting God that we will be going in April of 2012.

The painting of our vision was so awesome, and we bonded. I think the saying that a common vision binds one together is actually true.
May God be glorified.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

Hey Jul almal.

Die amazingste ding het gebeur. Dit het nou die maand so uitgedraai dat indien ek my tiende betaal, gaan ek nie kan uitkom die maand nie. Daar was absoluut geen manier hoe dit sou werk nie.

Ironies genoeg in die tyd lees ek Mal 3 vir my stilte tyd, en die Gees kom herhinder my net aan 'n spesifieke gedeelte van die skrif.
Kerke hou mos daarvan om klem op die eerste gedeelte te plaas, van dat jy moet gee, maar soos wat ons weet is God nie slawedrywer nie. Hy toets jou hart.
Die Gees highlight toe die gedeelte wat lees, "...toets My, en kyk hoe die hemel se skatte vir jou sal oopgaan..." (Jurie vertaling lol).

Anyway, ek betaal toe my tiende, en ek sit voor die rekenaar (ek doen die internet banking ding), en se toe vir Vader, ek gaan nie uitkom die maand nie, maar ek gaan U toets aan U woord.

Nounet het iemand R1400 in my rekening inbetaal met die caption "BLESSING".

Ons Vader ken ons harte.

Victory Weekend

Ons het die naweek wat verby is 'n wonderlike geleentheid gehad waar ons mense kon bedien met die waarhede van die skrif.
Die skrif stel dat die waarheid sal vrymaak. Partykeer is dit nodig om die waarheid te bedien sodat mense kan sien waar daar leuns in hul harte wegkruip.

Daar word vir 'n teller gevra; hoe weet jy dat 'n noot vals is? Die teller antwoord deur om te se, ek werk heeldag met die ware Jakob, so ek weet hoe moet n noot nie voel nie.
Jy word nie vry deur om die heeltyd op die valse te fokus nie, jy word vry deur om die waarheid aan te gryp.

Tydens Victory weekend behandel ons areas waar mense heel moontlik nog moet bevryding ontvang. Ons behandel temas soos: Verslawings, Geestelike verwarring, Seksuele sondes en selfs huidige Verhoudings, en die is verhoudings met God, mens en verlorenes. (Daar is vele meer as net die bogenoemde)

Lilli het 1 les toe kon aanbied wat oor Transformation gaan, en ek self het toe aangebied oor die Kruis, Geestelike verwarring asook seksuele sondes. Daar was ander sprekers ook.
Dit was baie lekker om die kans gegee te word waar ons ons byle bietjie kan slyp sodra dit kom by toekomstige teaching moontlikhede.
Dit was ook amazing om te sien hoe God werk in mense se harte.
Maar dis meer AMAZING om te weet dat dit absoluut niks te doen het met hoe mooi Lilli is en of watse styl klere ek aan het nie, maar dat dit ALS oor die VADER gaan.

Wens ek kon vele meer met jul deel.

Vrede en Vreugde.

Back to School

We had an amazing three weeks at the first Church Planting School SOUTHERN AFRICA!

We knew this would be a an unforgettable experience, but I don't think we ever thought it would be life changing! (Like our MPD coach would say: We are 'ruined'! - meaning we would never be the same)

What made this so life changing?

The first week we discussed the essence of discipleship.

And the 'magic formula' is........

Intentional Relationship.

If we were to break down discipleship into it's simplest form, it is relationship. Think about it, why did Jesus disciple His Twelve? Out of need? Out of duty? No, LOVE. I.e. relationship.

The other reason I think this was so powerful was to walk with the Faith Giants: Floyd McClung, Steve Murrell, Bennie Mostert (although only for 10 minutes, it was still powerful!) and other absolutely amazing leaders! You can't stay in their presence and not be influenced!

Jurie and I are fired up, passionate and eager to equip the saints! Let me put it this way, since we have to start the Youth from scratch, it's not always easy to know exactly where to start, what to do, where to go...but this School has given us such clear direction, that we know for sure what we have to and want to do with the Youth. We are praying currently about a specific High School in Rustenburg, we've asked around but it doesn't seem like anyone is involved with this school spiritually. So, if it is God's will, we really want to pursue this and see if we can start something there. Even one small group will be enough.

Another thing that really pierced my heart was Steve Murrells' story (He is one of the co-founders of Every Nation) and in his book - Accidental Missionary - he wrote that he is 'n reluctant leader. And I thought by myself, 'Lilli, now you have no excuse!' This guy saw himself as a reluctant leader and currently their church is 54 000 members!!!!! WOW.

He also said, he only did what he knew he could do: he knew he had to disciple and he knew how to teach. And that is what he did. He would disciple newly believers and teach them how to disciple others and so the process went on (and is still going on for the last 27 years!). As Steve said: "the same ol' strokes".

So, in essence, discipleship is very simple: Build relationship, share your story, introduce them to Christ and tell them to go and do the same.

Of course, this process can sometimes take YEARS or it can take days. We have to be obedient and sensitive to the Spirit.

It's a journey.

But our hearts are on fire.

We love God, we want to obey His call to make disciples.

May God give amazing opportunities this week to build relationship and disciple people!

I DO!

About two weeks ago it was as busy at a beehive here at 44 Mispel Ave!

The bride was awake at 6, ready to beautify herself, radiating with joy and having a glow of "I'm getting married TODAY!" around her!  I, on the other hand, painted a different picture: Scurrying around getting the gazebo up, moving the chairs and then....it started drizzling... Uhm, we had plan B, but we REALLY want this wedding outside, under the trees, with the Chinese Lanterns hanging from the branches and the red carpet as the aisle... I did started praying, nearly making deals with the Lord, if He could just PLEASE hold off on the rain :)

But the day ended in a beautiful half sunny day!

But the story is more than this.

When we met Tammy & Konrad, our concern was their living together. And we didn't how to address the issue without either creating hurt or offense or worst case: disunity amongst the youth (we hardly knew them that time and didn't know how they would take the news).

But God (in His awesomeness) starting working in their hearts and in the end, they were more than just all ears, they were willing to take the step of faith.

This was all three months ago.

What did God do in the time being?

- God provided Tammy with a dress (FOR FREE!!!!!)

- The family provided snacks, so they didn't have to pay for catering

- The venue was free (Oom Louis and Tannie Rina said we could use their garden)

- Their rings' cost was minimal 

- Someone sponsored their honeymoon

And the lists goes on!

Jurie's message the best I have yet heard (and I'm not being biased).  He shared Ephesians 5 and gave such a clear, simple message what the different roles of husbands and wives are.  And then ended with what it means to submit: It's not so much the "bowing down" of yourself, but lifting up the other person.

But we'd rather have Tammy and Konrad share their hearts with you maybe next month!

Irene shares her heart...

Irene (one of our cellgroup members - see picture) was kind enough to share her heart with us. It is still a privilege to be amongst them! Over the next couple of months we will regularly post a piece written by the Youth themselves. And keep your eyes open for the wedding pics of Tammy & Konrad!

What connect group means to me

Im Irene, Im turning 21 this year, and I want to tell you what connect group has done for me.

Wow, if I have to say what connect group and youth means to me,I wouldn’t know where to begin.

The first night I met Jurie and Lilli they asked me so who am I and where do I come from, what is my story basically. They were so eager to get to know each one of us. So they started to lead the connect group.

They encouraged me to go to prayer hours, and not to feel ashamed of the way I pray, because God knows my heart. Im the kind that can talk on and on for hours, but when it gets to praying before people, hehe I climb into my shell. They did’nt give me even chance to think about it. I went and I felt amazing, it felt as if I took a huge step into my future.

That same week, I led 3 girls to our amazing Jesus Christ, I asked Jurie to pray for them at connect group to give their hearts. And they did without hesitation. The girls went through so much, but I couldn’t stop telling them how their lives would change for the better, they started to join me at nights to worship in my room and to do Bible study. I could see how much God worked in their hearts,aswell as in mine, I never thought that God could trust me so much.

That Sunday I gave a testimony in church, which I could never do !!! But Lilli asked me if I would feel comfortable, and I just asked God to speak through me, my nerves were up !!

I also learned what it meant to be silent so you can hear when God speaks to you, Lilli talked to me what it means to anoint your room,as I had to,and didn’t know the first thing about it. Talking to Lilli is like therapy for my soul.

Jurie once talked to me and gave me like a whole paper full of verses out of the Bible for how u can pray for someone, it wasn’t a week later and my sister started to go to connect group with me, after praying for a year. But she still didn’t want to go to church with me. Jurie said I should just be patient God will work with her. In this month she came twice to church, and there is a major change in her.

Connect group is one of my highlights in my week. I can be Irene there, I can cry, laugh or whatever , it’s my home. I can ask a question and get answers, straight answers. Connect group is my family, and I can truly say that everyone there has climbed so deep into my life and heart, I never want to be the old Irene. Each week, I can feel how much I grow in Faith, I just want to say thank you for Jurie and Lilli for allowing God to work through them with me.

GOD SE GLORIE

Op die ou end, is ek en jy niks nie, maar God in ons, is ons nuwe skepsels, skepsel vir eer, skepsel wat die AMAZING WONDERLIKE GLORIE VAN GOD KAN UITDRAE IN DIE WERELD. 

mense se harte kan rik vir die koninkryk, die ultimate lewensversekering makelaars wees, want al die premies is klaar betaal in bloed, mense moet net teken op die dotted line.

Gits, God is net te dinamies.................

KAROLES EN LENTE

Wat 'n fees was dit nie, om herhinder te word wat dit is om soos 'n kind ons Vader te aanbid.

Oom Karoles en Lente het kom optree die Sondag by ons kerk.  Ek het gedag dit gaan boring wees en onvolwasse, maar to hul eers Jesus se soldaatjie sing, toe spring die klein kind uit my uit, en ek begin net soos die 5 jariges my voete te stamp en my hande te swaai.

Wat n vreugde om so God te eer in aanbidding.  Niks wat jou terughou nie, geen status wat jy moet behou nie, net jy wat jou alles vir jou Pappa gee.  Ek het skoon vanoggend wakker geword met 'n kinder liedjie in my kop. Prys Home met die tromme, Prys Hom met die harp.

Ek sal nooit vergeet van die dae wat ek my male se ore seker doof gesing het in die kar, toe ek die loflaadjie baantjies so geluister het, dat hul al begin trek het, (ek verstaan nou hoekom Jan de Wet bietjie vals geklink het c",  ).

Die Vader kan ons so baie leer deur om net na 'n kind te kyk.

Cell Group Meeting

Howdy folk

First of all, sorry for the long time since I posted anything on our blog.

I need to tell you though about the awesome cell meeting that we had the other night.

One of our youth members came and asked us that we need to pray more in our meetings.  So to honor his request we did just that.

We first of all started with communion and spoke about Jesus' wonderful gift that He gave us by dying on the cross.

After that, we started to pray, and the Holy Spirit started to minister to us youngsters.

The amazing prayers that came out of that, was so refreshing, and it filled us with hope and joy.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

AMEN

BY GODS GRACE HE WILL ADD

Lilli and I needs to update you as our followers on the brilliant spectacular amazing .....

Some in our youth group was unfortunately on the receiving end of people that did not honour their privacy and discussed their spiritual struggles with some other people in the church. (and others just do not have any transport)

This caused them to get hurt and they decided not to attend any meeting again.

Thankfully they started to come to our cell group.

Lilli and myself knew that only by Gods' grace will they be able to set this behind them and join us for services and the stuffs.

Well this Sunday this specific youthful person out of the blue, without letting us know, joined us for service.

And the others that do not have transport, WALKED to church.

May God be glorified, for He is the One that heals and changes hearts.

Lilli was in tears with joy, and I was amazed to see that God was honouring Lilli and my self's handy work.

Gal 6 teaches that what you sow you shall reap.

OM DIE GELEENTHEID TE MIS

Die storie kom nou al 'n lang pad.

God is besig om in my hart iets te openbaar van die outoriteit wat ek/ons as gelowiges het in die liefde van ons Vader.

Matt 28:18 lees dat Jesus se dat alle outoriteit in hemel en op aarde aan Hom gegee is.

As ek/ons wedergebore is, en ons lewens is neergele, en ons leef dus in Hom dan, dan beteken dit dat ons het deur Sy genade alle outoriteit in hemel en ook op aarde.

Outoriteit oor wat?

Wel die Woord stel verder dat ons ( 2 Cor 10:4-6) wapens nie gevorm is in die vlees nie, maar magtig is en alle gedagtes tot Jesus tot gehoorsaamheid sal bring.

Wat van gedagtes/vestigings van siekte?

Wat van gedagtes/vestigings van armoede?

So word ek toe aangespoor om te begin loop in die wete dat dieselfde Heilige Gees wat Jesus uit die dood opgewek het, leef nou in my.  So dit is belangrik om volgens Markus 16:16-18 en 1 Cor 2:4 om nie net die goeie boodskap te gee nie, maar dit met liefde gestig met die Gees se krag.

Maar ek moet se, ek het so n geleentheid gemis, om vir n man wat seergekry het tydens n touch-rugby wedstryd te bid.

Gelukkig het God my toe convict en nie condemn oor dit nie.

So wat het God vir my gese?

Ek moet meer by Sy voete gaan sit.  Wat n mens is in sy gebedslewe is wat die mens is in die samelewing.

Ek por jul aan.  Moenie God se geleenthede mis nie.  Gaan berei jouself voor met ywer om altyd in gereedheid te staan.

Vrede en Vreugde vir jul

God is working!

It was our last Bible teaching class of this term. I have to admit, I feel a bit sad, the girls have crept into my heart with their typical Gr. 8 vibrancy and being inquisitive!

Normally they ask me loads of questions regarding evolution and do we really come from apes etc, and I still steer a bit clear of that subject - I have to do LOTS of studying before I can teach about that, Jurie is awesome with this topic being very apologetic, but eish...not my scene!

But I felt this week to share with them what God is busy sharing with me: Faith Confessions.  What are we saying? What do we fill our hearts and minds with and then speak?

I haven't been talking for 10 minutes, when I saw one of the girls are wiping away tears.  At first I thought, no, maybe she has something in her eye?  But afterwards she couldn't get to me quick enough to chat!

What a beautiful girl! She is a natural beauty, but you can see she has the Spirit in her, and she shines!

But I had the opportunity to really minister to her.  The enemy has come to steal from her, and she didn't know how to "retaliate". And just there on the lawn, we gave her some advise, prayed for her and as soon as I got home I sms'ed some Scriptures. Hopefully she'll come to join us at our Lifegroup or youth events on Fridays!

I feel so privileged that God trust me with these amazing, wonderful, beautiful girls.  Even when they are not part of Kruislig, they still want the Living Water.

I still can't believe that I doubted whether we really have to be here and work with the youth...the need is sooooo big!  I wish I could cut myself in 3 pieces to go and do the work at once :) And that is exactly why we need to disciple people and empower them to go and do the same!

God, You are awesome!!!

FiRsT LiFeGrOuP

This past Wednesday was our first official get-together with our youth. (for the moment there is a couple of young adults also joining us, but hey, the more the merrier!)

We send out an sms to say come one come all (and bring a friend or two) and they really surpassed my wildest expectations! We were a full ELEVEN! (and for me that is awesome, because we only have 5 youth in our church...)

But the one, most amazing, thing for me that I want to share, is the fact that 3 girls commited their life to Christ! So I know there was definitely one big party in heaven! When I drove back after dropping them off at the hostel, I thought in my heart: we may not have lots of money, but we have SOULS!

So now they are being discipled and I want to say WATCH THIS SPACE! :)

Please pray with us: we want the youth to really grow in their walk with Christ, to know and understand God's amazing love for them and to discern the Truth (and not live according to the lies in this world).

I read Colossians 1 yesterday, and what the writer prayed for the church there, I really want to pray over the youth:

1. that they may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

2. that they may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him , being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

3. strengthened in all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

4. giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints.

In just a short time span with our amazing peeps, i have picked up on alot of hurt and uncertainty. I'm trusting God for major spiritual breakthroughs!

(we'll upload a picture shortly!)

CHURCH CAMP

What an amazing opportunity to spend with our spiritual family!

We strategically don't plan any spiritual sessions, as we want the congregation to build stronger family bonds, get to know one another and have fun (of course!).

And it is just what we did!

(Just to explain, when one organise a camp with spiritual sessions, people tend to focus inwards, and since our goal is not to be focused inward, but to really get to know one another, it will defeat the purpose we are there.  We still gave everyone the freedom to minister if they feel the need to).

It was such a privilege to work with our "partners in crime" - the other two families whose responsibility it is to organise the camp.  For both Jurie and I it was a whole new, different experience (even if we had previous camp experience).

Riaan mentioned the other day about doing what we do in excellence, well people, these two families taught me a thing about excellence!  

We started camp with some icebreakers and Potjie! (I think it is a number 10 pot?? It's the biggest one I've seen in my life!)  Saturday we had some fun and games with a GPS treasure hunt and raft building.  You could easily spot the "competitive" ones amongst us! But it was worth while.  Francois is a keen Geo-cacher (please google it, it is amazing!) where you hide things in obscure places all around the world (apparently the games started as a test, to see whether GPS is really so accurate).  And he hid the clues in logs, in a stone (with a hole in), in a tap....Truly remarkable!  (the clues are hidden in small containers like pill holders).

The raft building was just as much fun. I have to say, it's a whole other story when children build it! It went by so quickly (and we tried to make it difficult...)

On Sunday we had informal church. we broke up into smaller groups and shared communion with each other. It was special for me to see how families use it together!  (the group we were had a little boy in.  And as we are drinking the grape juice, explaining it is Jesus' blood, he asks, "Why does Jesus have purple blood?" It was a precious moment!) 

And we ended camp with a baptism.  It's always such a big celebration for me personally, so I have to admit I was crying like a baby!  We are doing a "marriage course" with this couple, and the change in Shaun's life after the baptism is amazing.  We serve a God that is so intricately involved with EVERYONE.  When you truly follow God, you can't stay the same, you HAVE to change.  And by the change I see: They are definitely serving God !!

All in all, it was great to meet the bigger family, to socialise together and to know we all love God to bits.  Can't wait for next year!

GOD IS AWESOME

Just now, 10h00 2 March 2011, a messenger gave us a letter, an anonymous letter.

In it was R1000.

God of Wonders

I praise You for You are worthy of praise.

I thank You for Your provision.

Amen

Ever used ABS Breaks like this before?

I have likewise almost hit my head against the dashboard while depressing the ABS breaks to hard

First News Letter

After some time, Lilli and myself were able to send our first news letter to our peeps.

It feels so good to keep in contact

Peace and Joy to you

First time preach

What a day.

Yesterday Gerrie, Gilbert and myself had the privilege of preaching to the congregation.
Riaan (our pastor) was out of town, and thought it good that we need to "shotgun" preach.
We discussed 2 Pet chapter 1 with the spiritual family.

Although the piece extraordinary is according to myself and the other shot gunners; we now understand why Riaan always "complains" about how very excited the seated ones (crowd) are.
It is almost like speaking into a black hole.  Thankfully some people will nod their heads, and take in everything you say, but the others.
ARE THEY EVEN BREATHING.

But now I know: I need some practise when it comes to public speaking

Oh yes, go and read the piece of scripture. It will blow your mind. While you are reading, think about seed and how it is ready to grow and produce seed.
God bless!!

Matt 6:33 Alive and Well

Most of you (our followers) know by now that we are living in faith for our finances.

Just the other day, I struggled with the teaching that Jesus gave in Matt 6.

He promises and says that we should not worry about earthly posetions or status.

What can I then ask, why must I struggle to get more partners. How does it fit in with our walk with God.

It just so happened that our milk ran out at home.  We took notice, and decided to get milk after church.

However, at church, some of the milk were left over. (We socialize after the service with something to drink)

It was given to Lilli, and I found out about it at home.

The interesting thing is that we did not even ask God for milk. He being the loving Father that He promises, provided something as small as 1 liters of milk.

All my questions are not yet answered.

I am just reminded that God lives, and He cares.

God Bless

Please Be Patient

Our dearest partners, family, friends

We so DESPERATELY want to get a newsletter out, but with the move comes new unexpected turns: we don't have internet connection yet.

Since it is crucial for the church to have this up and running, we can assure you we are working on the problem. And even though we have signal via our cellphones...it is so limited, just sending a normal e-mail is a struggle and a frustration.

So please bear with us for a little while longer and we will have it in your inbox in no time!

PS The move went well, but we will share more of that later!

Be blessed and have a wonderful week!

About to Move again

IT HAS COME

We are about to move to our new spot in RTB.

We will be living at the office's new address.

Hopefully, we will be able to cook in a proper kitchen soon.

MY FIRST BIBLE CLASS

This one needs a bit of background.

Just yesterday 26/01/11, I (Jurie) met with Adrie Jacobs.  Now she organises the bible classes for the school.  She said that because I do not have a degree in theology that I might struggle to get in to minister to the kids of Rusties.

It just so happened that she said that I need to be there today 27/01/11 to get to know all the other youth ministers of the school, and it just so happened that one of the ministers did not arrive for his class.  Adrie turned to me and asked if I can take his class.

Without any preparation, Lilli and myself needed to speak to 60 gr 8 kids.  What should we say, what should we do.  The only thing that I knew what to do, is to talk about my testimony.

It went extremely well.  Just as Jesus said in Matt 28:17-19: that all authority has been given to Him and that we need to make disciples of the nations...., He opened up a space, where there was none, for Lilli and myself to minister to kids for the very first time in Rustenburg.

I pray that this will be the first of many opportunities to be able to share the good news with the kids.

What did I say to them you might ask?

I said at the end that God is love, and he loves you, even when you might think that you are a "loser", He doesn't.

That it is never to young to start to know Him.

Do not let the world get you under because of lies about you. John 8:32 says that truth shall set you free.  And the truth is:

GOD LOVES YOU.

REFRESH

BEING REFRESHED BY THE SPIRIT

I had the wonderful privilege to be part of our church's day of refreshing.  It was only for the women, but I know of a couple of guys that was a bit green after hearing our testimonies... ;)

While it is still very fresh in my memory, I would love to share a couple of things:

First of all, Jurie and I were chatting the one evening about our concerns, dreams, plans, hopes... for the year, and the conversation drifted towards the Day of Refresh for the ladies, and he asked me whether I would like to go.  Of course I wanted to, but true to my nature, I didn't want my wants to become a burden on our financial needs. So I said I'll think about it for a while and let him know.  My parents and parents-in-law came to visit one weekend, and my mother-in-law out of the blue said she wanted to pay for me to go to this day.  Father bless her awesome heart and willingness to bless me!

God is amazing.  I know I've said it before, but I can't stop saying it.  Psalm 37 says that He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart (amplified).  I think that is what makes this all so amazing for me, is to experience God's goodness so intense.  

To come back to the Day of Refreshing...

It is hosted by a group of women from His People Potch (and Klerksdorp).  What was really good about it being a group of women, they all have a different story (testimony) and thus giving a wider range of women who can identify/relate to them. 

SInce I was part of the organising of the event, I couldn't be fully part of the whole day, but this is what stuck with me:

John 4:10-14

The well known passage about Jesus and woman at the well.  

Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman and said to her that the water He gives, not only refreshes, but it will also become a spring of water in him.  

This woman as constantly thirsty, she had already her fifth husband, and the man she had then wasn't her husband.  Same with us, we don't feel completely refreshed or satisfied.  Only Jesus can fully refresh us, make us satisfied.

Someone else spoke about Ezekiel 47.

Ezekiel was standing at the door of the temple, and there was water running under the door of the temple towards the East.  Then he was lead a little further away from the temple and the water was ankle deep.  They went further on and the water was hip-high.  Then further on it was a river that he couldn't pass through, and he was lead back to the bank and he saw there were many trees on both sides.  The Angel of the Lord said to Ezekiel that the waters are going towards the Easter Region and into the Dead Sea.  And when it reaches the Dead Sea, the waters will be healed and made fresh (verse 8).  And he goes on talking about fish and fruit that will come forth from the Dead Sea.  We all know NOTHING can grow in or from the Dead Sea, but here the Angel of the Lord is showing Ezekiel so much life that came forth from the river and the Dead Sea.

Lets say we are the small puddle of water that started at the temple, Jesus started this fountain in you, and He sent you to a "dead sea", how awesomely can He use you to bring life and to bear fruit.  When we are in a "Dead Sea", maybe your work situation or you have lots of unsaved friends, it so easy to think that there is nothing you can do to bring life.  But Jesus said He will give us a spring, a fountain in us, he needs just a small amount of water which by His Spirit can turn into a river so strong that you cannot swim through it, to bring life to that which is dead.

But how?

Remember when the Israelites where in the dessert and Moses had to build the Tent of Meeting for God?  In Exodus 31 God said to Moses he called Uri, and..."I filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and ability, in understanding and intelligence, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, in bronze, and in cutting of stone for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of craftsmanship..." (Ex31:3-5).

God equips all of us with special abilities so that He can use us in different areas.

Whatever God has equipped us with, whether you are a kindergarten teacher or a business man, we are all called to bring the Living Waters to a "dead sea" world.

People can either leave your presence feeling drained.  Or feeling refreshed.  What will it be.

I know the day was called "refresh", but I couldn't help thinking the day after, "I feel so refreshed".

It's my prayer that God will take you, fill you with His Living Water and make you a force to reckon with!  May He bring you to waters where there is rest, may He refresh and restore your soul.

   -  Lilli

Iets om aan te dink

God se hart klop vir die verlorenis, vir die nasies vin die wereld, kan jy die passie voel, die pols wat ons passie vir die nassies stig?

This is Something random to entertain

Boxed In

We have moved!

After a wonderful 10 days spend with my (Lilli) family, we had to say our goodbyes, pack our bags and get back to reality:  PACKING!  

It required careful planning, as we had to move our stuff out of the house so Megan can move in.  Yet, we couldn't move to Rustenburg, we needed the trailer which Megan would bring....But we did it, we are out and ... living out of boxes at the moment!

Yes, we are in our "halfway house".  We cannot move into the house yet, as they can only move out end of the month.

Our Halfway house:  Riaan (our pastor) emptied his actual office, which is at a guest house in town.  And we are in it!  Boots and all!  Some boxes are in a storage container, others in a garage and whatever we could keep close is now stacked around our bed!  Cooking nowadays is interesting and very simple! :)

The other great thing is:  It is still next to the church's admin office, and we get to be neighbours with our cell leaders! (they co-own the guesthouse and lives on-site) - so no more excuses for not being able to make it to cell group? 

Nunu (our pooch) is still at Kloofwaters and we have to admit, we miss her personality and extra breath in our house....but one of these days, we will be reunited.

Work started this week at the office.  Jurie and I still feel like first-time sailors, not quite found our legs yet...but we trust God for yet amazing things to come.

It is typical start of a new year:  long lists of things to be done, dead-lines already and brainstorming about things to come.  Apart from leading the youth, Jurie might jump in to help with the sound on Sundays, and I know his heart is to get into shape with his guitar so he can join the band!  I will be in the office, handling some admin things and also assisting where I can.  

When you think of us, please pray for a couple of things:

wisdom - how we need to tackle this thing, it's the establishing of youth group, not just taking over from someone else

name for the youth

raising of partners and financial support - please pray for favour

Last thought:  I was really blown away by people's kindness towards us.  Everyone that partnered without a blink.  Everyone that gave so freely.  Everyone that asked how we are  doing.  And I know God is behind it all.  This great, big God is so gracious towards us, and I'm humbled that He showers us so immensely with His goodness.  I stand in awe.