That's God

Have you ever been just sitting there and all of a sudden you feel like doing something nice for someone you care for? THAT'S GOD... He talks to you through the Holy Spirit.
 
Have you ever been down and out and nobody seems to be around for you to talk to? THAT'S GOD... He wants you to talk to Him.
 
Have you ever been thinking about somebody that you haven't seen in a long time and then next thing you know... you see them or receive a phone call from them? THAT'S GOD... There! is no such thing as "coincidence."
 
Have you ever received something wonderful that you didn't even ask for? Like money in the mail, a debt that had mysteriously been cleared, or a coupon to a department store where you had just seen something you wanted, but couldn't afford? THAT'S GOD... He knows the desires of your heart...
 
Have you ever been in a situation and you had no clue how it is going to get better, but now as you look back on it, you got through it? THAT'S GOD... He passes us through tribulation to see a brighter day.

(Author: Unknown)

Shalom!
Anina

Eternal life

How would you describe eternal life?

Yesterday we said that our greatest pleasure in life is not only to receive something from God, but to experience His goodness and coming to know who He is!

Knowing God was one of Paul’s determined purposes in his life. The most interesting perspective of knowing God was however written by John:

John 17:3(NIV)

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

My perspective of eternal life was that it started the day I would enter into heaven through Jesus Christ. John changed my perspective totally…

Eternal life is to know the Father and the Son!

Your eternal life begins the day you start the journey of knowing who God is! The Greek word for “know” is ginosko. Ginosko may be defined as an intimate acquaintance with someone through a growing, progressive relationship.

In essence, eternal life is a growing relationship with God. It starts here on earth through Jesus, and it will carry on into eternity… because it will actually take an eternity to truly know our amazing Father!

Shalom!

Anina

His pleasure

There is a great difference between knowing God is good, and actually experiencing His goodness for yourself!

These past few days we experienced His goodness through His provision! He just opened His hand to the people and children of our congregation!

When you experience His goodness in such a tangible manner, you really come to know who He really is… that He wants to provide for you; He wants to give you your heart desire; and the best of all? He smiles when you are happy!

As we gave out gifts and food to our children and teenagers, it was as if I could see the Father smiling! He was happy because they were happy!

Ecclesiastes says:

Eccl. 9:7(MSG) 

Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, Drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes - God takes pleasure in your pleasure!

His greatest pleasure is our pleasure! Our greatest pleasure… not necessary to receive something from Him, but to experience His goodness and coming to know who He is!

May your greatest pleasure in life be to know who He is!

Shalom!

Anina

The finest detail

God’s love and His grace still amaze me in new ways every day! What is remarkable these past few days is how He is involved in even the finest detail.

Today we packed the Christmas packages we want to give as a gift to each and every family during this Christmas time.

We had a “Tin-with-a-treasure” project where people could donate non-perishable tin food and place a Bible message on the tin. God amazed us by His provision!

What is even more amazing is that somebody donated a few boxes of “corn flakes”. We thought that we would not be able to put corn flakes in every package… but because God is involved in the finest of details, He provided exactly enough corn flakes for each and every packet.

The Message says it so remarkable:

Romans 8:28(MSG)

That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

God is involved in the finest of details of our lives – even how many corn flakes you need!

Shalom!

Anina

56 Bicycles

I remember how excited I was when I got my first bike! I had a tricycle for a very long time, but when I turned five, my parents bought me a proper bike. It had two side wheels, but as I learned to balance the bike, they took the side wheels off and I couldn’t get enough of riding my new bike!

Most probably you can remember when you got your first bike… Or maybe you were one of the unlucky one’s that never got a bike because your parents could not afford it.

Most parents in Danville can’t afford to buy their children bikes, but when God extends His hand of grace, it can even mean that a child that never imagined having his own bike, are now riding  in the streets of Danville!

On Friday we had our Christmas party for 97 children. More than half of these children’s first wish was a bike.

Initially it sounded like an impossible task to get the funding for 97 Christmas gifts. But the Word of God says:

Luke 1:37(NLT)

³⁷ For nothing is impossible with God.”

It was not impossible for God to realize 97 children’s Christmas wishes. He provided the finances to buy each child what they desired for Christmas.

It was amazing to hand over these gifts to the children telling them: “God is the One who provided for your gift!”

Shalom!

Anina

The Burden-Bearer

A long-ago legend has it that, there once lived a man of towering strength, a giant of a man. He was a pagan whose strength perhaps led him to believe that he needed no higher power.

He made his living by carrying travelers across a broad river. One day a beautiful child came to the bank of the river. As the man bent down to allow the child to climb upon his back, the young lad said, "Are you sure you can bear my weight?"

The man laughed. "Why, I've carried full-grown men across the river. You, my little one, will be lighter than a pebble."

"Very well," said the boy. "But I must warn you. I am heavier than I look."

With a grin, the man raised the child upon his massive shoulders and stepped out into the swirling water. But the weight on his back grew strangely heavy. Soon the brawny giant was struggling not to sink.With superhuman effort he crawled up onto the opposite bank of the river and let the child down.

"How can you be so heavy?" the perplexed man asked. "Who are you?"

"I am Jesus of Nazareth," replied the boy. "And I carry the burdens of the world on my shoulders. Let me carry yours too."

And so it was that Christopher, today known as St. Christopher, was converted to Christianity. The story reminds me -- I don't need to struggle across each day on my own. There is One stronger than I. He is the Great Burden-bearer. He even carries St. Christopher, yet on His shoulders there is always room for one more.

"Lord, thank you for inviting me to come to you, especially when life is getting too difficult for me. I find comfort and peace in knowing that you are going to help me get across my river of difficulties if I just rest on Your shoulders. Remind me always of my limitations so that day by day I will remember that without you I can do nothing. Lord Jesus, please lift me up and carry me through this day."

(Author Unknown from d le lee, via 'inspirational_msgs')

Jesus is a weight watcher

For most people weight is a sensitive issue. Some women say they can just look at a piece of cake and well… they will put on some weight!

Dieting is a big part of some of these people’s lives. Most experts tell us that dieting is not the way to go, but to rather join a life-style program like weight watchers. According to Weight Watchers their program is not a diet, but a healthy way to live.

The reality is that many people are so worried about this kind of weight; they forget there is another kind of weight that can even have a bigger impact on your life!

Matthew 11:28a (NLT)

 ²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens…

Many of us carry extra weight around – heavy burdens that makes us tired and weary. If we just keep on carrying these heavy burdens it will have a definite impact on our spiritual health and will even influence your physical health. The irony is that most people that over eat do it because of their emotional burdens!

But you can join the best weight watcher program there is. It is not a quick fix, but a life-time commitment to follow the spiritual principals of this program. The Message translation states it very simple:

Matthew 11:28-30(MSG)

 ^28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

This is a life-time commitment of walking and working with Jesus. Let Him be your weight watcher and He will teach you to live freely and lightly!

Shalom!

Anina

What to do with weakness

Yesterday I referred to Aaron and Hur that held up Moses’ hands.

What is remarkable is that Moses, as the leader of so many people, acknowledged his need for help!

Francis M says we like to think of ourselves as self-sufficient, but for many of us it is easier to give help than receive help. It is even harder to acknowledge that you need help in a time of weakness. But a strong leader knows when he needs people to hold up his arms!

When Israel was fighting the Amalekites, as long as Moses held up his staff the Israelites prevailed. But when he lowered it the enemy gained the advantage. Moses became so tired that he couldn’t longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side... holding up his hands.' God not only gave Israel the victory that day, He showed Moses there are times when you need some help from others!

Sometimes accepting help will take some humbleness and acknowledging your weakness. In your weakness it is not only people that can help you, but in your weakness is where God’s power is actually shown the best!

Sometimes God will allow seasons of weakness into your life, so He can show His power through your life – but even with Him, you need to acknowledge your weakness and allow Him to work in and through you!

2 Corinthians 12:9(NLT)

⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Paul doesn’t only acknowledge his weakness, he actually boast in it!

What do you do in times of weakness?

Shalom?

Anina

Holding our hands high

Last night we had our year-end function with the leaders of Salem Danville. Fifteen dedicated people that gave up their time to serve the people of Danville!

This made me think of the following Scripture:

Exodus 17:11-13(NIV)

¹¹ As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. ¹² When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. ¹³ So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands when he grew tired. James Smith says Aaron signifies "stability," and Hur signifies, "fire or zeal”.

Our leaders held up our hands in 2011 – especially in the times we grew tired. They brought in stability and zeal and they made sure we were sitting on the Rock, Jesus Christ. With Him we overcame the enemy and gained the victory!

The victory belong to the Lord but He will always use people that stand together in unity with one purpose in mind.

Our purpose is to bring His Peace into the broken lives of the Danville people. A job we can never do alone!

Thank you to every leader for helping us fulfilling this purpose of God – you did not only hold up our hands, but you are holding up God’s hands and you bring honor to His name with every victory we gain!

Shalom!

Anina

Half full!

This time of the year is always a busy time with functions, getting sponsorships and the joy of seeing children and people receiving gifts they would never be able to buy themselves!

On Friday evening we took 26 teenagers for ice-skating, for some of them a first time experience. Each one of them also received a back-pack full of gifts!

There is a joy in seeing young people forgetting their circumstances for a few hours and enjoying life, just as they are supposed to be doing as teenagers.

One of our teenagers stays in a place without water and electricity and look after his older sister and her baby. He makes money by washing cars. The rest of the time… he is at school! On a Friday night he walks about five kilometers to attend the churches’ teenagers group!

But when you see him and ask him how he’s doing, he will always reply with a: “Aahh, it is good!”

He is a walking example of what contentment means:

Philippians 4:12(NIV)

¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Have you learned to be content, despite of what you circumstances might be? It is so easy to rather see the glass half full and complain about the half that you don’t have…!

Rather see the half that you have, be thankful for that half, then you have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation!

Shalom!

Anina

Keep on playing

Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE."

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy was sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."

Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized they couldn't recall what else the great master played. Only the classic "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

That's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't exactly graceful flowing music. But with the hand of the Master, our life's work truly can be beautiful. Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."

Feel His loving arms around you. Know that His strong hands are there helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces!

Shalom!

Anina

Walk in safety and victory

I have a few mottos in my life that I live by. One of those mottos is very straight forward but very important:

“Believe in God; believe in yourself; and get someone who will believe in you!”

The first two is obvious and most successful people believe in God and themselves. The third one might sound strange but it can make a big difference in your life.

Proverbs 11:14(NKJV)

¹⁴ Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
      But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs says that with no counsel you will fall. The primitive root literally means to be lost, thrown down or be inferior.

Counselor in the Hebrew context is seen as advice and guidance. In a sense the Bible is saying that without the advice and guidance of wise people you will fall. If you don’t have somebody that believes in you, you’ll feel inferior and it will be difficult to believe in yourself!

Although God needs to be our greatest guidance, Proverbs states that there is safety in a multitude of counselors, spiritual mature people that is willing to impart their wisdom in a younger generation.

I have a few of these counselors in my life. I see these ladies as my mentors; spirit filled ladies that teach me wisdom and keep me accountable. At times in my life when I did not believe in myself, they kept on believing in me, showing me the heart of the Father. Helping me to feel safe enough to believe in myself again!

Do you have a counselor, a mentor or an accountability partner that believe in you? Then you will walk in safety and victory!

Shalom!

Anina

Are you safe?

Jeremiah 7:9-10(NLT)

⁹ Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours, ¹⁰ and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, “We are safe!”—only to go right back to all those evils again?

This is an extremely hard Word. But in reality many people live this way.

Many people confess Jesus as their savior, but from the day they made that choice, their lives have never changed. Or maybe it changed for a few days, only to go right back to their sinful behavior.

Many people attend church once a week to sooth their guilty conscience and feel just safe enough to carry on with their sinful behavior on Monday.

The reality is that unfortunately this is a false sense of security, thinking I am right with God.

Jesus is the only way to be made right with God, but if you have truly made a commitment to Him, your life will surely change!

Many preachers make the mistake to emotionally convince people to accept Jesus as Savior, but they never explain that it is actually just the start of a life-long journey of change and sanctification.

Does it mean that if we struggle with some kind of sin we fall in the same category?

For me it is an attitude of the heart! If your attitude is “I will just carry on sinning”, then you fall in the category of the people Jeremiah is speaking of.

If your heart attitude is however “Lord, I am still struggling with this sin, please help me”, you are in the category of the repented, humble Christian who knows that it is a life-long journey of becoming more like Jesus.

Going to church won’t make you safe. Going to church will however help you to experience the arms of a loving Father. This true feeling of safety will motivate you to change, because there is no better place than the safe arms of our heavenly Father!

Shalom!

Anina

I feel safe

After our Sunday evening service one of the ladies of our congregation came to speak to me. She opened up about her broken past and some of the deep hurts of her life.

One of her greatest concerns were that she is usually very shy towards people and sometimes even experience panic attacks when she is among unfamiliar people.

This came as a surprise to me, because in our congregation she never looked nervous or uncomfortable, even when there were people that she did not know.

I was curious and asked her why she did not feel uncomfortable in our church. Her response: “Because I feel safe here!”

These words meant so much for me! Many times I’ve wondered whether the principals we operate our church on really makes a difference in people’s lives.

We operate under the principle of unconditional acceptance and love. Anyone is welcome in our church and we make sure each and every person feels welcome in our meetings. In a sense it is a place of protection, where people can run to!

You see, we as a church represent God’s name and His honor!

Proverbs 18:10(MSG)

¹⁰ God's name is a place of protection -
   good people can run there and be safe.

Just like people can run to God and feel safe, they are also supposed to run to God’s church and feel safe!

Make sure your place of meeting together as God’s family is a safe place for the broken and rejected of this world.

It will definitely make a difference in people’s lives!

Shalom!

Anina

Who’s writing your story?

This Sunday the congregations where we previously served at visited us in Danville. It was such a privilege and honor to receive them. One of our friends also ministered the Word and she asked us the following question:

Who is the author of your life-story?

The author of a book is the person responsible for the writing of the story. He chooses the story-line, the characters and the events!

As a “good “Christian we know that the right answer to the question is God. God is supposed to be writing the story of our lives. But if we look at one of the most righteous people in the Bible, we see that there were times when even he took the pen in his own hand…

Abraham was promised a son, but he thought God is just taking too long. He decided to write his own story and Ismael was born. It seems that every time Abraham took the pen in his own hand, he made a mess of his life-story.

But we also know that our Father is a gracious God and if we return the pen into His hand, He will most certainly start writing His version of the story!

Romans 4:2-3(MSG)

But the story we're given is a God-story, not an Abraham-story. What we read in Scripture is, "Abraham entered into what God was doing for him, and that was the turning point. He trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own."

Make your life-story a God-story by entering into God’s plan for your life, not your own. Then God will change your life-story into a best seller!

Shalom!

Anina

(Thanks Anserie for this powerful Word and thanks to Kaleideo congregation and WES for your gracious hearts and open hands towards us, we pray that God will bless and honor you for everything you do for Salem Danville!)

What Children Say About Heaven

• Mom, God's so neat, and heaven's supposed to be so great. Could me and Gloria go there Saturday for a sleep-over?
• Our seven-year-old daughter, Clarisa, was not really excited about going to Sunday school, but her little friend talked her into it. After the first class, at lunch she said, "I like my teacher, and she said if I come to Sunday school every Sunday, she'll show me how I can get a free trip to heaven."
• My three-year-old granddaughter, Morgan, came over one day and looked around the room and asked, "Where's Grandpa?" I answered, "He's in heaven." Surprised, she looked at me and said, "Still?"
• I know what heaven is like, because I was there. God makes people when He thinks of them, and then they wait to be born.
• Our six-year-old, Rachel, prayed, "God, they keep telling us You love us kids. But I'm wondering: If You know my older brother, do You think he'll ever get to heaven?"
  
• When Jenny was four, she asked, "Does heaven have a floor?" Surprised, I said, "Well, Jenny, what do you think heaven is like?" She looked up at the sky and clouds and replied, "Well, I can't see any floor, so I guess people are just up there on coat hangers!"
  I told nine-year-old Heather that someday we would have glorified bodies. She asked, "Do you think we'll look like Barbie?"
• One day my five-year-old grandson, Brett, who frequently went fishing with his dad, told his mother, "If Grandma's going to heaven with us, God had better have a pretty big fishing rod to haul her in!"
  (Author Unknown -- from 'Colorado Comments')

Diplomatic immunity

The principle of diplomatic immunity dates from Antiquity, when the Greek government extended special status to foreign envoys. Basically, it allows representatives of foreign governments to work and operate under the laws of their home country while abroad.

In a sense we as Christians have diplomatic immunity on this earth.  

Romans 8:1(NIV)

 ¹ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…

No condemnation means a not guilty verdict. So does this give us a license to sin if we are in Christ Jesus?

It is always necessary to read verses in context:

Romans 8:2(NIV)

² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

We are, through the blood of Jesus Christ set free the law of sin and death. This means that we have diplomatic immunity from the penalty from sin. We are set free from eternal death!

But this definitely does not give us a license to sin! God is quite clear on what will happen with us when we still choose to sin after we received diplomatic immunity through Jesus Christ:

Revelation 3:19(NIV)

   ¹⁹ Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

A good father will discipline his children. In the same way our heavenly Father will discipline us when we sin.

So our sin will not condemn us to eternal death, but if you keep on sinning you will be disciplined by a loving Father.

Shalom!

Anina

Heaven’s currency

Whenever you decide to travel to another land there is a few things to consider.

One of these things is money. Each land has their own currency and it will be almost impossible to buy anything in a foreign land with your own country’s money.

­Currency can be defined as a unit of purchasing power. It is a medium of exchange, a substitute for goods or services. It doesn't have to be the coins or bills with which you're probably most familiar. In fact, through the ages, everything from large stone wheels, knives and slabs of salt have been used as money.

Here in South Africa we use the Rand. If I were to travel to America, I’ll have to exchange some Rand for Dollars; otherwise I will not be able to buy anything in America.

Heaven also has a currency!

Matthew 6:20-21(NIV)

²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

But what is heaven’s treasure? In what currency does our heavenly Father operate in?

Our Father makes payments with only one currency. The moment He had to pay for something He used this currency…

This currency is of immeasurable worth and there is no higher currency in the universe!

On earth, this currency is not worth much; but in heaven a life of one person has more value than all the gold in the whole world!

Most people on earth don’t respect or value life anymore. For God however there is nothing with a higher value than a life! He proved this to us when He paid the ultimate price with the life of His Son, Jesus Christ!

Heaven’s treasures are people! Do you operate in heaven’s currency?

Shalom!

Anina

Heavenly citizenship

To be an ambassador is quite an honored position. But what exactly is an ambassador?

Webster's dictionary define it as a representative in another country, appointed by  a higher authority in his own government; one who is sent on a special diplomatic mission or an official messenger or agent with a special mission. An ambassador lives in a foreign country, with customs and cultures that are very different from his own.

We saw yesterday that we as Christians should be ambassadors of Christ. In a sense that means that Christians are appointed by a higher Authority. You are appointed by God as His representative!

As an ambassador you are also sent on a special mission with a special message. You live in a foreign world with different customs and cultures that are very different form your home country.

But where exactly is your home?

Philippians 3:20a (NIV)

²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven.

We are citizens of heaven. We are not from this world! So if you sometimes feel uncomfortable in this world, know it is because this is not your real home. You are only sent here as a representative of heaven.

Your mission as Christ’s ambassador: to recruit people for heaven!

Your message: the price for citizenship has been paid in full!

Your manner: His love!

Shalom!

Anina

Daddy you’re a pastor

In South Africa, at most of the busy intersections, you will find a few hawkers trying to sell you something that you most probably don’t need. The other day while we we’re travelling home, we stopped at a red robot at one of these intersections.

One of the hawkers was selling cheap sunglasses and he tried to sell one to my husband. My husband gave the sunglasses one look and said to the guy: “That is the ugliest sunglasses I have ever seen!” The hawker just laughed, but from the back of the car there came a response that wasn’t expected!

“You’re a pastor daddy; you can’t say that to him! How must he feel?”

My husband had to apologize to my daughter and made her a promise to never again say something so impolite to somebody.

It is a bitter pill to swallow when you’re seven year old starts to teach you spiritual lessons, even if you just said something jokingly!

But in our daily life, we sometimes forget Who we represent:

2 Corinthians 5:20(NLT)

²⁰ So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

We represent Christ every time we speak, no matter where we are! The way we will speak to people will either let them come back to God or push them away.

In what way are you speaking to people? Are you a worthy ambassador of Christ? Can God make an appeal through your life for people to come back to Him?

If not, be careful, you might just be reprimanded by someone you might not expect it from.

Shalom!

Anina