Why is it that we don’t really want to choose meekness? Why is it so much easier to act mighty, and to try and prove that we are always right and always the best?
The trials we faced this year taught me that meekness is not weakness, but that it is power under control. The Apostle Paul said that God’s Kingdom is not words but power (1 Cor. 4:20), and we can learn a lot from how Yeshua lived this truth. To come to the place of complete surrender to God is one of the most difficult things to do if you are still trying to control your life and the situations you face. The moment when you realize that there is nothing left in yourself to help you – no answers, no strength, no nothing – that is when you start yielding to God and become totally dependent on Him. This “surrendering” is what made me realize the power of meekness. You see, only God can impart wisdom – divine wisdom. Aldo wrote the other day: “Wisdom said that Jesus Christ is wisdom living inside of this boy Samuel.” It is when we completely surrender our everything to Him – even our minds, our ideas, our plans and our hopes and dreams – that God pours out His divine wisdom in us. (Photo: Aldo reading his Bible.)
Yeshua said: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt.5:5). The Hebrew word for “meek” really means “to be moulded”. As we surrender ourselves in meekness to Yeshua, we allow ourselves to be putty in Yahweh’s hands so that He can mould us into His image. This is how His character becomes more visible than our old nature. Yield yourself to the purpose of God and to be controlled by Him. We cannot afford to be in control of our own lives for the hour that we are about to enter. Fear is definitely one of the most devastating emotions that we all have to face, but as we entrust everything into Yeshua’s control, we can rest in Him knowing that He is in control of our tomorrow, and that He has a divine plan for our lives.
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun (Ps. 37:3-6).
When we delight ourselves in Yeshua and submit completely to Him, He will place His desires for us in our hearts. That way, our desires will be His desires, and He will be His delight to fulfilling those desires. That is exactly what Abba Father taught me this year: “Just keep on surrendering, Retah...”
I used to have big desires, big dreams and big self-made plans; but after this difficult year with all the giants we had to face, I only wanted one thing: To love Yeshua more and more. Nothing else can give me more satisfaction that that. If I surrender everything into His hands, then I have nothing to worry about. “All I want is more of You, Lord!”
We are at our holiday home in Yzerfontein and it is already well past bed time. We watched a DVD entitled “The Call” tonight; and after all the excitement the kids are finally off to bed. (Photo: Josh doing Bible study.)
This will be my last web letter for the year. Our office will be closed from the 15th of December until the first week in January, and it is the only time that my staff get to take a few weeks off. Our program is very busy throughout the year, and I realize that because my schedule is so full, they also get pushed to higher standards. As Yeshua raises my expectations, their expectations automatically get lifted too.
I honour Yahweh for the people He sent to walk alongside me on this journey. There is Ma’am Patrys, Aldo’s teacher and one of his closest friends. She walks with him day by day, and she just loves him and serves him. I will never be able to put her worth into words. Then there is Judike, my personal assistant. She helps me with everything; from arranging my overseas trips, to helping me with the editing and translation of the books. And Tanya, my secretary, who plans my diary and who co-ordinates all my events in South-Africa. From the quality of their work I can see that they do it for the King, and I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for all their hard work. They are always ready to lift up my hands and to be Yeshua’s hands and feet in this ministry. And then I also want to give a big thank you to my Mom, Grandma Bessie. She faithfully bakes the rusks for the Spirit School’s every month. She delivers her baked goods early each morning, and then stays a little bit longer to enjoy a cup of coffee and a rusk with the people as they arrive. This is one of her ways of serving, and this is how she becomes the “servant bride.”
To every person who partners with us, through the monthly CD-club or through donations on the web page, thank you – thank you – thank you! I often get tears in my eyes when I rush to the office on a Monday morning and I have to climb over Aldo where he and Ma’am Patrys are on their knees on the living room carpet busy praying. Monday’s is the day when they pray for the ministry, and for the partners and their needs – from financial needs, to health and family... you name it! And believe me, Aldo can go on and on. Throughout the good days and the difficult days, Ma’am Patrys was just always the same. Thank you Ma’am Patrys! In the mornings she is Aldo’s teacher, and in the afternoons she tutors Josh and helps him with his homework. Thank you Ma’am Patrys for being so faithful!
Chans’ie has become a part of our family. She is like a daughter in our house. Chans, I bless you over and over for your heart of gold!
And to everybody who donated money into Aldo’s account every now and again, or put a little something into my hands when I least expect it – thank you so, so, so much! With tears in my eyes I opened a package the other day from an old lady who knitted me the most beautiful dress. The hours that she must have put into making it astounded me. I immediately went to my knees and thanked Abba for His blessing coming through her hands. Before we left for Israel a few people came up to me and said, “Retah, I want to give you this little something for Israel...”; when I opened the packets it was moisturiser for my skin, or a yummy packet of sweets, or even a special kind of tea that you can only get in a certain part of South-Africa. (Photo: Aldo and Chantel.)
When I ministered in America earlier this year, I found an envelope in my Bible after an event containing the exact amount of money we lost on the Israel tour due to the Rand-Dollar exchange rate. Our Abba is a great big God, but He knows every little detail of our lives.
At every place where I minister the organizers put something in the room to make me feel welcome... flowers, or a little card, or something sweet to eat. Thank you, thank you thank you. I feel so loved and welcome everywhere I go – and I can see Abba’s handwriting in the letters you write. With every “thank you”, I am also saying “all the glory to Abba!” I appreciate each and every one of you so much.
I can go on and on about this, but in the end I don’t have enough words to tell the people who support us how much you mean to me. I see every act of kindness, every hug, every handshake – even when I sometimes seem so busy and already on the run to the next ministry event.
I also want to say thank you to everyone who encourages us, and loves us, and cheers us on through the e-mails we receive. We print out each one and keep them in a file. There are days when I take that file and a cup of coffee, and I close my office door and read through the mails and cry. I need to hear from time to time that our difficult road makes an impact on other people’s lives – and that makes it all worthwhile. One such letter has the ability to make me pick up my chin again and say to myself, “Come now Retah, this battle won’t get you down... the harvest is great and the labourers are few. Just keep on going...” Thank you for each and every letter. Even if I can’t answer all of them myself, I do read them and they are precious to me.
To everyone who sends their prayer requests through to us – thank you for that also. That is what we are here for: to pray for each other, to take hands and to encourage each other – even if we have to do it from across the globe. I have heard so many testimonies of people who have been healed or provided for through the power of prayer. That is what God does through His body. Please do it – send us your prayer requests, but also start praying for others; and start walking on this supernatural road of faith with us.
And then there is another wonderful phenomenon that I see happening around the world wherever I minister: I see how the body is growing and maturing in Christ. I see how the old nature is stripped away to make place for God’s character. What a privilege to be able to be a part of it all! All the honour to our King for leading us forward into victory one step at a time!
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:16b-18).
I am sitting here tonight with so much peace in my heart. Yeshua promised us that the meek will be blessed, and that those who surrender to Him will have peace. In order to submit to Him and to surrender all to Him, you must love Him. Then you will be numbered among the meek who will inherit the earth. It was only because of Yeshua that we could overcome the battles we faced this year. It was only because of Him that we were able to stand. It is only Him and He alone that can receive all the glory and honour for the victory.
“Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Eph. 6:13).
And now we are going to rest in Him during this holiday, and then we are off to America for the first two weeks of January! The kids can’t wait! I know that it is only God who could have blessed us so abundantly after all we went through this year. This is my Abba!!!
Thank you Yeshua for what you did in 2011 and for what is still to come in 2012. The number 12 relates to divine government (symbolic through the 12 tribes, and the 12 disciples). The meaning of the year 2012 in the Hebraic calendar means: “The Lord’s eye is on His house.” It will be a year for divine government, and we will see that there will be large shifts in God’s kingdom and the church. The government of the Lord will be established in this coming year, just like the arc of the Lord (a symbol of His government) was established on the shoulders of the Levites. We are called to be kings and priests to Yahweh (Rev.5:10), let us establish and shine forth His government in righteousness, justice and peace for all the world to see!
And so my friend, before I sign off the last letter for 2011, all I want to leave you with is this: Surrender to Yeshua, and then keep on standing.
Have a peaceful festive season. I will be writing again in January - out of America.
LOVE
Retah and family.