Daughter of the King

Daughter of the King

A creative writing of a woman’s identity

Background: While doing Missionary work among the Xhosa people in Southern Africa as a young woman I noticed the gross inequality between the males and females of the local communities. Great was my struggle for many years as I realized that this same gender inequality existed not only in 3^rd world cultures, but also in our christian churches – it only displayed differently as women not fit for Pastoral leadership…How I thank my Father for the revelation that He had brought to my heart in His timing…

The sparrow pitched himself on top of the white cross as if to proclaim with every chirp that he had found his home.

My thoughts travel back to life in my home village while the heat of the morning rest on my brow like thick incense. Makoti’s * and Makhulu’s * would be bending over the cooking fires now while the Intombi’s * would be swatting the flies that want to settle on the young Abantwana.* With a deep sigh my eyes focus on the invitation in front of me.

“Listen, O daughter, consider and incline your ear; forget your own people also, and your father’s house; so the King will greatly desire your beauty; because He is your Lord, worship Him. “

The cheeky sparrow flaps his wings and circles the cross. I remember the words of Jesus: ‘Do not worry, saying “What shall we eat” Or “What shall we drink? Or “What shall we wear?” for your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.’

The shrill whistle of the train pierce the words in front of me as I wonder if the holy anointing oil is fit for the heads of women for it was never to be poured out on the flesh. ^ The invitation of the King lies unanswered in my lap as I wrestle with the fragrant vision of myrrh, cassia, sweet cinnamon, cane and olive oil. ^

A quiet, gentle breeze from the valley carry the scent of lilies and roses as I notice that the little church seems to be leaning to one side today, as if the foundation is uneven and puts the cross at a disadvantage.

Thoughts jab my chest as I imagine how beautiful the women in my home village would look with the acceptance of their value as the King’s daughters dressed in royal garments and how the ugliness of dirt and poverty would be transformed by the King’s righteous scepter. The oil of joy and gladness will rest on their offspring instead of the buzzing flies…But where will they worship, and what Kingly work will there be for them to do? Perhaps, like Lydia, the seller of purple cloth, they could gather by the river…

I look up at the cross and hear the noise of the sparrows, as if with every screech to demand answers: “What is the worth of a King’s daughter?” and “Does the King anoint our heads with oil even as the good Shepherd anoints the heads of His Sheep?

Weary from struggling with my thoughts I turn over the invitation in my lap and almost jump out of my skin, for boldly it says: “You are worth much more than a sparrow. You are worth the redemption price of a son.** I gave My One and Only Son in exchange for you to be queens and joint heirs of my Covenant Promises to Abraham and David. *** This shall be the sign of My anointing on your life: You shall bear the image of the

Christ, the Anointed One.” ^^

Hastily I rise to enter the little church and remind myself to mail the letter with Good News to my village. “The King has entered His chambers; His Son is preparing a feast; there is lots of work to do and He is asking for you.”

 Footnotes on the Xhosa Words:

·          *      Makoti – Young married woman

·          *      Makhulu – Grandmother

·          *      Intombi – girl

·          *      Abantwana – children

·          **    Numbers 3 : 11 – 13

·          **    Numbers 3 : 44 –

·          **    1Corinthian 6 : 20

·          ***  2 Cor. 6:16 – 17

·          ***  1 Peter 2 : 4 – 5

·          ^  Exodus 30 : 22-33

·          ^^ 2 Cor.1 : 21; 1 John 2:27 – 3: 1

Written by : Yulande Oosthuyzen

March 02, 2011

Ministering to the human spirit

Most counceling that we are familiar with happens on a soul level, but christian counseling should include Ministry to the human spirit - not only soul care. The following link provides a good introduction.

http://www.theslg.com/v/vspfiles/templates/152/images/Custom/PDF/NewParadigm_HumanSpirit.pdf

Gems in the dust

People, faces…hurrying, scurrying

Walking, talking…working, wanting

It was a day destined to be different

When I knelt to rest from the burdens on the Way

My back was aching

My heart was lonely

The heat of the day had scorched my brow…

And then I saw it

A small stone with an unusual shape

Was catching the rays of the sunlight

In such a way that it shone brightly

I picked it up – how dirty it was…

With careful strokes I cleaned the dust away – it sparkled

I held it up against the light

And it reflected a glorious lustre – could this be a jewel?

As I contemplated the next steps for my new found treasure,

I straightened my back and looked beyond the horizon

My lonely heart rejoicing –

From deep inside I heard the Master Builder’s Voice

“From such cast away stones I build My House,

For they are but gems in the dust.”

Written by: Yulande Oosthuyzen

1 Peter 2: 4 – 10

Father's Love letter

http://www.fathersloveletter.com/video.html

Christians for Biblical equality

There is so much confusion over what God's Word teaches regarding male /female relationships...In order to build strong families, we need to correctly understand God's heart in this matter, for a strong family starts with the foundational building blocks of God's wisdom view of marriage and family relationships. I can highly recommend the articles of Christians for Biblical equility  - they will challenge you to really think through what you believe and what you live....

http://www.cbeinternational.org/?q=content/free-articles

I believe in male headship....

How is the new Testament concept of male headship different from the traditional hierarchical view of the family? Is subordination and submission the same thing? Excellent scholarly articles and resources can be found at Christians for Biblical Equility...

http://www.cbeinternational.org/?q=content/i-believe-male-headship

A Philosophy of the Christian Family and the Mission of the Church

“No longer orphans, but sons and daughters of the King” – Jhn 14: 18

The origin of the human family has its very conception in the heart of God – the One who claims for Himself the title Father. Yet, through sin, mankind has lost its way and has gone totally astray in its understanding of healthy, functional family life. Thank God for Jesus who left the glories of heaven to come and show us how to find our way back to the Father. By placing our personal faith and trust in Jesus Christ - in His death and resurrection - we have the forgiveness of sin, a second chance and a whole new perspective on life and our new journey that starts with our relationship with our eternal Father, a relationship with our new family of brothers and sisters in Christ, and the sure knowledge that we have an eternal home prepared for us where we will all be together with Him for eternity.

In Malachi 2:15 we read that God desires a godly offspring. This always was our Father’s desire for us – that we should imitate Him and live freely in the fullness of an abundant life here on earth. Unfortunately, when satan got a hold of the dominion mandate that was first given to the human race (Genesis 1:26 – 28), he started to mar the model of the earthly family that was to imitate the image of God’s Family in heaven. Instead of Father God’s will being done on earth as it is done in heaven, satan successfully set himself up as the father of lies disguised as the Angel of light. Now, more than 2000 years after the birth of Christ, we see that the condition of the human race is more desperate than ever before, and that even the very understanding of right and wrong is now rising and falling on the bias and laws of Government institutions – another “wanna bee” parent to our nation’s children.

As much as we are admonished to pray for and be subject to governing authorities, the fact still remains that the responsibility and task for raising a godly offspring belongs first and foremost to parents and then to the local church - Deuteronomy 6: 4 ; Deut. 7: 6 – 8 ; 1 Peter 2:  9 -10, etc. . In the Judeo – Christian ethic of the Old Testament we find the roots of our Christian faith. Yet, in the newness of the New Covenant for us as gentiles, we also have the freedom to cultivate and train our children in the uniqueness of our own cultures while all the time preserving the perspective of godly wisdom that finds its very origin in the heart of God and that emphasizes the fear of the Lord. 

We live in perilous times where godly wisdom seem to oppose so much of what is widely accepted norms for child behaviour, healthy child development, family dynamics and healthy child discipline. This “enlightened “ way of raising children however does not seem to produce healthier individuals. The statistics for mental illness, behaviour problems, suicide rates and family divorce has reached an all time high. It is furthermore of incredible concern that research statistics for the Christian family does not show much difference in its divorce rate between the Christian and the non-christian family.

As never before the body of Jesus Christ as His heart, hands and feet to a dying and lost world, are called to make a difference in the lives of the hurting, the rejected, the poor, the widows, the orphans and all those who have been marginilised and wounded by our anti – god and anti-sound wisdom methods, beliefs and actions of child training and accepted norms of dysfunctional family life.

The task of nurturing Families and teaching them “to obey all things that I have commanded you” is a disciple making process that should include solid Biblical teaching, practical knowledge steps, one-on-one counseling and ongoing training courses for the healing, recovery and restoration of the Christian Family. In this way, the church will be actively involved and providing solid answers for one of the most pressing needs of our world – that of preserving a godly offspring.

 Written by: Yulande Oosthuyzen

I support women in all levels of leadership in the church

Excellent article http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/150262-supporting-women-in-all-levels-of-ministry.html

The Invitation to an Abundant Life

Are you thirsty?

Are you hungry?

Listen to God’s voice. It will enable you to eat a proper diet of “the Living Bread” that will truly satisfy you. Listen to His voice – it will cause you to drink His Living Water that will quench your thirst and leave your soul to feel delighted and prospered.

Your soul needs the Living Water and Bread of Life in order to truly LIVE, but you have to open the ears of your heart to want to accept this diet from the Creator, Your Life Giver.

I will make the same Covenant with you that I made with David. In fact, that covenant is still in place, but now I invite you to also join in this Covenant with Me. I have not changed My Mind to bless and prosper you and to make you a people of influence that will witness and lead the nations; but you have to be willing to keep Covenant with Me, and you have to allow me to make you into a people that will be able to call forth the destinies of nations, for I also desire for them to hear Me, know Me and be nourished by Me.

The time is NOW for you to come to Me. Do not say that you will come later. Call on Me NOW. I am near. Return to Me, and I will forgive you. I will have compassion on you. Come NOW, just as you are – you do not have to be deserving.

You may not understand Me, for My thoughts are vey different from yours – much higher, wider and deeper. My thoughts exist altogether on a different logical level of the universe, and the Word from My mouth is beyond the limits of time, seasons, atmospheres and every logical understanding.

Yet, in nature you can observe the brilliance of My thoughts as I speak forth provision for the earth and its inhabitants and command the rain in its time to enable seedtime and harvest. It is my desire that the laborer should enjoy the satisfaction and fullness of the earth which I give in abundance. I do not with hold that which is necessary for your existence.

My Thoughts towards you are much higher than your own. My thoughts toward you are for blessing and prosperity. Look at the earth. There is Provision for everything that needs to be accomplished. Will you hear My Word? I have a plan for you according to My pleasure. Come in agreement with My Word for you. Live in agreement with My Word for you. My Word is a Supernatural Power that always accomplishes My Purpose.

When you hear My thoughts and plans for you and choose to accept it above your own thoughts and plans for yourself, you will be sustained and satisfied by My Presence – My Living Water, My Bread of Life, My Nourishing Milk and the Sweet Wine from My Breath.

Then you shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace. Then all nature will applaud you as you live as My glorious representatives on the earth, choosing to establish My Kingdom and doing My Will on earth even as it is already done in heaven.

Instead of your earthly life being marked by thorns and thistles and the toil of painful labor and futility you will experience joy, beauty, strength and purpose befitting of My Divine Presence gracing you. A New Name and a New Identity will mark your future as you walk out My Everlasting Covenant with you.

So, Come all you who are thirsty….COME…

                                                                                               

Paraphrase of Isaiah 55

Written by Yulande Oosthuyzen, Dec. 2010