After a time of resting at Yzerfontein we are on our way home. It is so important to make time in our lives and busy schedules to rest and reload. I have found that the weaker your body becomes, the more difficult it is to run this race of life. Our holiday was full of good memories. Many nights we would just lay outside and count the stars with Jehovah, and in the morning we would race to see who is first to spot the bright morning star. The fresh ocean air and the crisp mist on my face when the family and I jogged on the beach in the early mornings did me wonders!
Aldo was ready and waiting for us at the door with his running shoes on every morning – ready and eager for his 2 km walk with Mom or Dad. And now that we are back at home I miss the giggles from the girls (the cousins), that brightened up our days. Aldo still can’t laugh properly yet, and he only makes a special noise and with that we know he is laughing. Little Zozzie was himself again, full of jokes and lots of plans to catch us with his tricks. Holy Spirit was like a cloud hovering over us in the day, and a column of fire hovering over us night. Every night the kids would sit around the dinner table and read their Bibles, and each shared what Holy Spirit revealed to them. Zozzie and the cousins learned a lot from Aldo about the Holy Spirit, and in turn they taught him some social skills. I cannot stop thanking my Abba for Aldo’s healing! This was the first holiday in years that we could all just relax and enjoy each other’s company.
The children are really enjoying the soccer world cup. While we were at Yzerfontein they would go and play a game of soccer on the grass after every match they watched on T.V. We spent the last week with some friends at the sea, and the kids forgot their soccer ball at Yzerfontein. Eventually Aldo convinced Tinus to buy them a new soccer ball with all the flags of the participating countries on it. The boys couldn’t wait to test the new ball and ran ahead to where the van was parked in the parking area. The girls and I wanted to go to the bathroom before heading home, and the boys were all too happy to wait for us in the parking area – their latest soccer field. When we returned from the bathroom I could see Aldo’s was avoiding my eyes, and Dad was standing with the medical kit open next to him. “What happened, Aldo?”
“I wanted to show Josh how I could kick a goal, and then a fell forward and hit the paving.”
There was blood everywhere! When we drove home no one said much in the car and later I heard the sound of the girls crying. When I asked them what was wrong Sammy answered: “I can see Aldo staring out of the window, and I know how badly he wants to play soccer – my heart is breaking for him!” Regardless of the bruises our holiday went on and we still enjoyed every day! Aldo didn’t complain once, and accepted that the ball had to be put away again – at least until we found a saver pitch to play on.
It was late Sunday evening and we were busy packing because the next day we had to leave for home, but Aldo wanted to write and not pack. Then the cousins started arguing, because only one of them was packing while the other one was playing with Josh.
Everybody is busy with their own things and packing, but Aldo writes: “Mom, read Numbers 11.” He looked up and said, “There is more, so much more – there is the fullness of God, Mom.”
Foto van aldo wat bybel lees op die bankie.
Late that evening I read Numbers 11, and then I started to realize what Abba wanted to tell me.
Numbers 11 (vs 1- 6):
Now when the people complained, it displeased the LORD; for the LORD heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. Then the people cried out to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the LORD, the fire was quenched. So he called the name of the place Taberah, because the fire of the LORD had burned among them.
Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!”
1 Corinthians 10: 6-10
Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
The goal of God’s calling for the children of Israel was for them to enter into the Promised Land, to enjoy it’s riches, and that they might establish and be an expression of God’s kingdom here on earth. However, although Israel was redeemed trough the Passover, delivered out of Egypt, and brought to the mountain of God to receive the revelation of God’s dwelling place, the tabernacle, nearly all fell and died in the wilderness - failing to reach this goal. (Quoted from the Recovery Version Bible)
Hebrews 3:7-19
Be Faithful
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. In the day of trial in the wilderness, Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me. And saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘ They shall not enter My rest.’”
Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: “ Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
Failure of the Wilderness Wanderers
For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Because of their evildoings and the unbelief in their hearts, they could not enter in. This signifies that although we have been redeemed through Christ, delivered out of Satan’s bondage, and brought into the revelation of God’s kingdom, we may yet fail to reach our goal of God’s calling – that is to enter into and poses the good land (our inheritance) that God has for us. (Quoted from the Recovery Version Bible)
Philippians 3: 12-14
Pressing Toward the Goal
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
God’s plan is for us is to enter into the Promised land, so that we could be His expression in this present age and participate in the fullest enjoyment of Christ.
“My Children, the time is so, so short. Make sure that the pleasures of this world do not become more important to your heart than My presence. The pleasures of the world shall not endure. Be occupied with Me and not with the things that so easily pass away. Be devoted to Me with your whole heart - I want to take you into maturity, into My fullness. Not many people live in My fullness, not many people experience My power flowing through them, because they are satisfied with the condition of their heart. There is more – so much more!”
Let us learn from the mistakes of the Israelites so that we won’t be kept wandering in the Wilderness and ultimately miss the Promised Land and the plan God has for our lives. Let us surrender everything to Him, trusting Him to finish what He started in us. He is faithful. He is just. He is our Rock, and we can trust Him.
This morning Aldo came into our room very early already dressed for school. Josh looked up and said, “No, Aldo – not today. It is still holiday!”
“Enough is enough,” Aldo replied. “Mom, phone Ma’am Patrys and tell her to come. I want to catch up on all the work that I missed.”
“No Aldo, it is still holiday. We must rest!” said Josh in his own defense. (I hope you can see who likes to play in our house.) Ma’am Patrys just laughed when she came in this morning. “Aldo we will work at home today. Go and get undressed. At least I can see you are well rested!”
Tinus is also back at work, and I am leaving for the airport soon – flying out to Namibia until Sunday.
God bless you all, and seek His fullness – don’t settle for luke-warmness!
Retah and family