Ray's Graduation!

I am so incredibly proud of Ray - for all his hard work, his brilliant results, his growth, maturity and godliness - for his graduation this evening!! (Can you believe you are actually done love??)  

Growing up at BISA (the Bible Institute of South Africa) I have been to many graduation ceremonies, but tonight's was by far my favourite. Especially seeing all my old (and awesome!) classmates receive their well deserved degrees. They are not simply a group of students, but a family, with friendships built that will last into the next lifetime - and that is the beauty of the Gospel. 

It was wonderful having Ray's parents drive hundreds of miles to come and see him up on that stage, their joyful smiles reflecting their bursting hearts.

Something I love about BISA is the Christian Leadership Programme. It is when lecturers go into the communities of the Western Cape to teach, train and equip men and women, young and old, Biblical truths - from understanding the Bible and interpreting it in its correct context, to foundational doctrine, to practical preaching or missional skills in their cultural setting, to church history... They are pastors, Sunday school teachers, elders, youth leaders, ordinary people with a passion for learning, wanting to deepen their knowledge and love of God, to make a difference in the lives of those around them - which they do! Many of them never finished school and live in areas of extreme poverty, gangsterism, violence, rife with HIV/AIDS, unemployments... but it was so encouraging to hear their life changing testimonies in the difficult circumstances through which they minister and persevere. Over and over again it was the story of God's grace, His provision, the cross of Christ always at the centre and utter thankfulness at this great opportunity to learn. (It humbled me to see how they treasured the privilege of sitting under the teaching of God's Word and how I so often take it for granted...)

Dr. David Seccombe spoke, reminding us all of the power of the truth of the Gospel, how God's Kingdom is unstoppable, uncontainable, how one day every single knee will bow, whether willingly or unwillingly, and declare that Jesus Christ is Lord! All glory to God!! 

After awards were handed out, the celebrations began - the rushing about to give hugs, to snap pictures, and (of course) to eat some cake! 

Congratulations class of 2012!!

Mission of marriage?

"Love is action and not emotion."

Marriage is mission - our purpose is to reflect the relationship between Christ and His bride the church, to be sanctified, growing more into the likeness of Christ, built on the Gospel, proclaiming the Gospel together, perfect, harmonious unity like that of the Trinity, God and His glory at the centre, our love for Him the basis for it all. 

Simply put? It was designed, graciously gifted to us by God, to give us glimpses of His wonderous plan of redemption, reconciliation and restoration, to display the sort of complete and sacrificial love that He has for us shown by Jesus' death on the cross, the process for us for us to be made holy, not necessarily "happy", but to be sanctified, humble, and grow in our dependence on God, who alone can bring true and lasting joy and fulfilment!

True rest.

" The heart of man is restless until it finds its rest in Thee."

{Saint Augustine} 

Sometimes I find myself living in a world of wishful thinking. I am consumed with "What if..." or "If only..." or "When that finally happens..."

It is an existence of longing, of waiting, of searching, of daydreaming, of discontentment (if I am being brutally honest). The reason for this is because I have taken God's place in my life, I am the centre of my universe, motivated by pride and man's praise, of finding pleasure in fleeting material possessions, or empty idolatry. I want to please myself instead of being fully satisfied in the cross of Christ or finding my true fulfilment in God's will for my life.

My story is not actually my story but God's - He wrote it, He is the lead character, I am humbled at the privilege of just being able to step onto the same stage...

Our purpose is life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. I am humbled again and again to ask for God's gracious forgiveness, to turn from self toward God, to prioritize the Kingdom, to be saturated in my living, my breathing, my thinking with the Gospel as a child of God, to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus being freed by the innocent blood He shed for me, to live in the light of eternity! 

Lord, may I find my rest alone in You. 

dear daddy*

Wishing my dad and very happy father's day! I am truly blessed to have such an incredible dad as you, kind, eternally patient, unconditionally loving, godly beyond belief, gentle yet firm, disciplining us in a world that pushes for freedom without boundaries, but most of all I just want to say thank-you for teaching us the Word of God, always pointing us to our Father in Heaven, for making Christ the centre of our family. For as long as I can remember I can hear you reading the Bible to us at the dinner table, leading us daily in family devotions, I remember us praying each evening together, kneeling with my little hands clasped, amazed at your wisdom and quiet passion for the cross and standing in awe of your great depth of understanding of the Word. You have made it a joy and privilege to grow up in such a household, reflecting my Heavenly Father, personifying Him in with your life. 

Star of the Morning

Hours away from writing my final exam but I have this song playing through my mind...  

Beautiful Saviour
Wonderful Counsellor
clothed in majesty
Lord of history
You're the Way
the Truth
the Life 

Star of the Morning
glorious in holiness
You're the Risen One
Heaven's champion
and You reign
You reign
over all.

Comfort. Hope. Perspective. Goodnight* 

That I might live

"My Lord, what love is this?
that pays so dearly,
that I, the guilty one,
may go free! 

Amazing love!
Oh what sacrifice,
the Son of God
given for me,
my debt He paid
and my death He died
that I might live -  

That I might live"

Good Friday!

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 

{Romans 5:8}

Purpose and Perspective

As the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve I read these verses: 

"Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book"... Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy." "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. "I, Jesus... am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."... The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.... He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.

 {Revelation 22}

This should be ever present in out minds, shaping all of life's purpose and perspective... living in the light of eternity... "Come Lord Jesus" COME!  

A new year

My eternal hope and security, my firm foundation for the New Year: 

" Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." 

{Hebrews 13:8} 

The Christ in Christmas

"For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

{Isaiah 9:6}

Christmas memories*

T'was the night before Christmas... 
(My memories of today - as a list!) 

1. Whistling Christmas carols and dancing around the kitchen.
2. Doors thrown wide open, summer sunshine streaming in, a cool breeze blowing.
3. Helping my mom cook the most elaborate and scrumptious Christmas feast - heaps upon heaps of delectable goodness - learning how to cook the meals that I will one day be making for my family :)
4. Putting our feet up, sneaking in some chocolate, while our mouths water over Nigella and Jamie on the tellie. 
5. Fingers stained with berry juice, licking sticky, sugary caramel, creamy custard and mounds of whipped cream (making a summer trifle!) 
6. Attempting to stuff more "stuff" in already packed fridges... 
7. Wishing friends "A very Merry Christmas!" - spreading the cheer! 
8. A thousand twinkling fairy lights and a million candles scattered across the room*
9. Red and gold, deep purple and silver. 
10. Busyness, busyness, busyness!!! Running around here and there and everything - doing so much, yet at the same time doing nothing in particular at all.
11. Thinking how strange it has been to spend half of my Christmases throwing snowballs, cuddling by a roaring fire, trying to dry out wet mittens, baking chocolate chip cookies and shopping up a spree of magical presents, while the other half have been spent lazy and warm, swimming at the beach, watching the sunset late at night, drinking champagne and ice tea. 
12. Hearing my mother shout into the phone, wishing all our German family a  "Frohe Weihnachten" - loving my family heritage and traditions.
13. My father reading the birth narrative. 
14. Food! Turkey, glazed gamon, roasted lamb, Mediterranean couscous salad, potato, green and pasta salads, fresh bakery breads with soft cheeses, nutty, herby stuffing, cranberries and apple sauce, chocolate fudge sauce drizzled over New York cheesecake, sweet and tart berry trifle, sweet, sparkling drinks.....  
15. Ripping open beautiful wrapped gifts - excitement! 
16. Surrounded with the most incredible family and friends <3
17. Late night phonecalls with my person (liefde!) 
18. Thinking that all the hard work, all the hours, all the effort was beyond worthwhile :)
19. Falling exhausted into bed, a smile on my face, my heart stirred with memories, my dreams full of hope and happiness, thinking about tomorrow.... Christmas day!

The miracle of Christmas

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel - which means God with us."

 {Matthew 1:23}

the place of Honour

Once again I was struck by what true love really is. It is astonishing. It makes you heart beat faster and takes your breath away. It was seen at a beautiful wedding this weekend, in a glance, a sweet kiss, a hand being held.

It was all said in there vows and reflected in the speeches. It wasn't about the stunning, radiant bride clothed in the purest white, her veil dancing in the wind, or the handsome young groom, his face shining with uncontainable joy as his beloved glided down the aisle. It was all about Jesus! 

Jesus sat in the place on honour. His name was gloried. 

[True love is not cheap, or easy, or about you, sex, money, whatever... It is counter-cultural in every single way: selfless, self-giving, self-sacrificing, as seen in the ultimate example of Jesus' innocent death on the cross to save a sinful, undeserving, rebellious world...]

They said things like, together they could better serve the Lord, together they could better minister to the world, together they could better fulfil the Great Commission. They spoke of how their wedding feast was just a glimpse of the majestic banquet to come - a shadow...

One day, Jesus Christ would return for His bride, the church. If you have been washed by His blood, cleansed by the cross, forgiven and made new, you would stand holy, blameless, pure before the Father - like a bride clothed in brilliant white. They spoke of how God has invited us to the the greatest wedding of all time... and how it says "Have you been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb?" Have you responded to the Gospel?!

How challenging. How encouraging. What an example! This is how it is meant to be...

"After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God... Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!... These are the true words of God." "

 {Rev 19:1, 7-9}