A Prayer to the Chief Shepherd

"Therefore, I urge the congregation leaders among you, as a fellow leader and witness to the Messiah's sufferings, as well as a sharer in the glory to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is in your care, exercising oversight not out of constraint, but willingly, as God wants; and not out of a desire for dishonest gain, but with enthusiasm; also not as (machers) domineering over those in your care, but as people who become examples to the flock. Then, when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive glory as your unfading crown." 1 Peter 5: 1-4; the Complete Jewish Bible

Master, how shall I lead the flock

that You entrust to me,

How shall I adequately love the ones

that You have prepared for me?

How shall I entreat and protect

Your chosen ones in my care,

How shall I walk with certainty

Yet share Your example of humility so rare?

Master, will You teach me how to carry

Your lambs in my arms

Will You show me how to wrestle

for the willful ones in prayer?

Will You provide the care that cast away anxiety

Will Your constant flow of joy

replenish the burden of piety?

Gentle Shepherd, please lead me beside Your Living Stream

and restore my soul to Your Reflection...

For then I know that I can rest

in Your goodness and Mercy

as my feet find its way in Your Pastures of Peace.

Written by: Yulande Rix Oosthuyzen

August 07, 2011

Surrey, BC

Vir Moeder: DAAR IS N LAND

Daar is n land -
sonder die horison van skeiding

Daar is n land -
sonder pyn en lyding...

Daar is n land -
sonder die vrees van oseane

Daar is n land -
sonder die dofheid van trane...

Daar is n land  -
van soete vrede en rus

Daar is n land -
waar ons dierbares wag met n kus...

Daar is n land -
van blomme en glashelder riviere

Daar is n land -
met kosbare juwele vir mure...

Daar is n land -
met lofprysende heiliges

Daar is n land -
waar ons sondes vir altyd gereinig is...

Daar is n land - 
met n Ewigheersende Koning

Daar is n land - 
ons tuiste...ons woning...

Skrywer: Yulande Rix Oosthuyzen

Vrydag, 28 Mei 2004

Kanada, 12H30 

Lead on, Lord...

Weather beaten like an old farm plow
Is my shield of faith that I hold out
to the torrential rain of financial struggle

I know my Father is rich in houses and land
Yet, my cupboards are empty and my thin coat I can't stand
There's the pressures of rent, of schooling and gas
there's the extra labor for clothing, for food and for cash


I know that there must be an answer
that will close the books forever on this monetary cancer
I must plan for the land to be ploughed, watered and seeded -
Much prayer and many resources will be needed


I believe that tomorrow is the fruit of today
that blossomed and ripened in the labor I do and the words that I say
This is my Father's world - the gold and the silver are His
My path is never to forfeit even one little piece
of the adventures and rainbows of treacherous seas


So valiantly I go forward swinging my shield
It is time for project and process in this here field
Rain, sunshine or snow - it matters not
for this I know: That seasons will come and seasons will go
So I will find joy in today
In the truth of the clay resting and abiding in the Potter's Way


It is the pressure of His hand that I feel  as He firmly holds me
It is the shaping of my form I sense as He gently leads me


My faith shield, being tested by storms,
will be able to testify of distinguished norms
That though the struggles of life attempt to strip its colour
It only adds depth and boldness to the hand that holds it
An unwavering certainty that courage enfolds it

Written by: Yulande Oosthuyzen
New Westminster, BC November 2010