It is a new year filled with new dreams and hopes. It was so good for me to just spend some days in rest. It is always good to take some time to be still and ponder on what is truly important for our lives. And once again I know that this is nothing apart from the calling of being dedicated to Yeshua alone, and to lay down my life for the glory of God. That is all what life is about – it is all about Him!
It was great to spend time with my family and the moving to the Cape went well. Even though we worked hard to unpack everything, it was still great just to do something different and to enjoy quality time together as a family.
At the end of a year, you find your cup really empty. And I decided that this holiday time will be a time of filling each other’s cups with ‘fresh’ love – just being there for each other. To listen to all their stories, to laugh together, to run together and to see the true condition of our hearts together…… I found that only love can truly satisfy the heart. It is so easy to find fault where there is no love. When love fills the heart it sees the best in everyone and in every situation. Sometimes the heart of man forsakes the commandment of YHVH to love one another.
I look at Yeshua’s life. He walked among people and He was perfect in every way, yet they found fault in Him. The law that He walked in, was the law of love.
Love is giving of oneself. Love is staying in now consciousness - meaning that I do not want to escape my situation, but am willing to deal with it and to face it. Love means to be thankful for everything even if it is a non perfect situation. Love is content, love is gentle, love is pure, love is kind – not sarcastic, love is truth!
Whenever we keep on finding fault in every one or every situation, our minds are eating of the forbidden fruit that brings death. And we can only give what we have. Your negative words will be the house you live in tomorrow, or your negative words about others will be words of fire against their lives.
James 4: 8 ‘Draw near to God and He will draw near to you….’ You see, when we live in the presence of YHVH, it is not difficult to live in love. When we want His presence desperately, we need to desperately draw near to Him. That is the same with our families. If you want your children or your spouse near to your heart, you have to draw near to them. To give love, is to give of you.
How do I stay in His love and His presence?
In John 7:37 Yeshua says that we should come to Him and drink of His living waters. Don’t run into the world, but run unto Him. Let’s us this year teach our children and ourselves not to run away from reality, but to face it and deal with it together. There you will find healing.
Ps 16:18 I have set the Lord continually before me, Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. We are called to think about Him, to rejoice with Him, to communicate the whole time with Him. That is how we stay in Him, and in His love.
Ezek 37:27 My dwelling place also will be with them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people. What more can we ask in this new year, than to dwell in Him?
Rev 21:3 The tabernacle of God is among men
My heart for this year is to live in Him. To do His will and all that He asks of me to do and not to focus on myself. I want to stay in His rest and enjoy every moment of life.
We live 100 meters from the Stellenbosch mountain. So early in the mornings Tinus, Josh, some friends and I go running in the mountain. What a joy, we run to the top then sit down and receive our blessing from Tinus. What a privilege to pray together, surrounded by such beautiful nature, overlooking the whole of Stellenbosch. We are absolutely blessed!! As I type here I look out on the mountain and every now and then I stop just to say – Thank you Abba!!!!!!
Our house is not finished yet, and everyone is still on holiday here in the Cape. The plumber is not available, the electricians are not available, the hot water is not connected, and some rooms don’t have lights yet. We had a choice to get angry, or to enjoy the candle nights. We have only one bathroom that is ready to use, and it only has cold water. At night you hear some noises or screams coming out of the shower. And that brings such laughter to us. We don’t tell our visitors that we don’t have hot water yet... We all wait for the new noises that came out of the bathroom when it is their turn to shower! All I can say is ‘welcome to Africa!’
I sat with Josh last night and had a long talk. He is now going to high school. The tide has turned for him from us doing everything for him, to where he needs to share the responsibility in the house when Tinus is away working in Gauteng. We have started the mentoring process. ‘Josh, you have to press forward toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Yeshua. Keep your eyes on the prize and not only on the end of the race. At the end of the race is only a ribbon, but beyond the ribbon is the real prize what we fight and train for. Josh, this is the greatest honour that you can be given on earth. Run with patience this life’s race that is set before you. Learn what you have to learn, endure, and persevere. I know it is new and many challenges, but keep your eyes always on Yeshua, because He is the beginning and the end. He is your inspiration, your trainer, your encourager; He is your final goal. So whenever I teach you to have YHVH’s order in your life it is because He is a God of order. He is our final goal. We will run into His arms. Every morning, the mountain waits with a very steep hill. We are all equipped, pressing forward as in the race of life. Look around you Josh; you will see Him in everything. The mountain is breath-taking! If you look back, or to others who comment on you, you will surely be hindered.’
And that is exactly what happened. Someone made a comment and Josh looked back, then tripped over a rock and landed with a bang and a loud noise! There were tears, blood and a lot of motivation to make him start running again. And that day, we took a wrong road and after 2 hours his endurance was truly tested! Josh, this is life’s way of training us for the long days of trials and tests. You did well, because you got up and run through the pain.
Abba says to you and me – just keep on pressing forward! It is an endurance race, whatever you do, do it all as unto Me! You will receive an everlasting crown that will not fade away. (1 Cor 9:24,25)
That night around the candle light table, we could laugh again.
Life is beautiful – let’s celebrate ALL OF life! (the ups and the downs)
Love to you
Retah and family