Vir my dierbare Moeder en sussies op Moedersdag

My gedagtes draai vandag ver...ver oor die uitgestrekte oseaan en die duisende myle wat ons skei...maar dan weer is my gedagtes ook intens en net so naby soos my eie hart, want vandag is n dag vir wonderlike herinnneringe aan al die tye wat ons saam deurgebring het.

 

Ek dink aan al die koppies tee wat ons gedeel het, al die heerlike speel dae wat ons kinders saam geniet het, al die koeke wat ons versier het en al die heerlike boerewors wat ons saam gebraai het. Die lag en gesels, die kleintjies wat mekaar gebyt en geknyp het , die warm sonskyn op my vel onder die groot wilge boom by die Kenridge huis swem bad.

 

Partymaal wonder ek hoe die lewe sou wees as ek die horlosie kon terug draai en ek weer in die Kaap om die draai by my familie kon bly - as ek weer die geleentheid kon he om die Boland van voor af te waardeer en van voor af herinneringe weg te le...Daar is belis n deel van my wat altyd sal bly verlang, wat nooit kan vergeet nie, en wat altyd sal bly wonder oor n soete re-unie wanneer ons nog almal jonk genoeg sal wees om weer oor die wit duine te gaan ry na n oggend by die Blou Peter...

 

Nietemin, te midde van baie verlange weet ek ook hoe gelukkig ek is om die roepstem van my Vader te hoor wat se dat elke land, volk en taal in Sy hart is, en dat dit Sy hartsbegeerte is dat AL Sy kinders Sy boodskap van liefde en vrede sal hoor...en dan onthou ek ook dat Jesus gese het dat daar niemand is wat nie vader of moeder of broer of suster verlaat het aan wie Hy nie weer vaders, moeders, broers en susters sal gee nie - ja, somtyds wel ook saam met vervolging.

 

Dit is dus vandag my hardsgebed dat elkeen van ons daagliks vir mekaar sal bid en sal opdra aan die troon van genade. Ons is ver van mekaar, maar ons is nog steeds n eenheid - een in ons begeerte om die Koninkryk van God te bou waar Hy ons geplaas het, een in ons doel om Sy liefde, vrede en Wysheid daagliks uit te lewe..."we want to live our lives in such a way that it counts for eternity."

 

En dit is juis hier waar ek eer wil betoon aan die wonderlikste Moeder vir my op die hele aarde  - n Moeder wie se voorbeeld my altyd geleer het dat haar Meester eerste in haar lewe was. Mamma, jou lewe van toewyding aan die Meester, jou liefde vir Sy werk, Sy huis, Sy Woord, Sy lewenswysheid, Sy teenwoordigheid is die mooiste mooi wat enige vrou ooit vir haar kinders kon gee. Jou lewe was nie perfek nie, maar selfs daarin spreek jou voorbeeld boekdele, want in jou menslikheid is jy n voorbeeld wat tot my spreek wanneer my nietige menswees my tot die swakke realiteit van my eie bestaan roep...en dit is dan wanneer ek jou telkens hoor se: "Vir my is die lewe Christus..." Ek sien dan so duidelik die padwyser wat se: There is only one way...

 

Dankie Moeder vir al jou sterkte, krag van karakter en moed vir more...Jy is n wonder in jou inspirasie en n miljoener in al jou geestelike skatte wat jy so vryelik met my deel. Daarom, my liewe Moeder eer ek jou weer eens vandag as n uitverkore instrument in die hand van ons Koning - n Moeder van Naam in die huis van ons Vader - en n Moeder wie se geestelike kinders ons eers eendag in ons Ewige Woning duidelik sal kan sien...Ek is so lief vir jou en so trots op jou...ons is voorwaar bevoorregd soos min...

 

n Wonderlike Moedersdag wens ekjou toe...en n wonderlike Moedersdag aan al my dierbare sussies - mooier as julle is daar nie...

You are the "I AM" in me...

When my soul is thirsty and dry

When the sum total of all my efforts and being

Still leaves an unpainted canvass of longing and little achieving

It is then I can turn to You

And from the depths of Your Spirit within me I cry

To You my Rock and my Salvation

Your Spirit is water to my soul

Your Being is Bread to my hungry heart

Your Blood is the Life Flow that to my weary soul imparts

That “I AM”* in me** is greater and unimaginably more beautiful

Than my being can ever desire

In Your Beautiful Magnificence

My longing heart is satisfied to make an exchange of rest

In the quiet place Your knowing overtakes the distance to my hazy horizons

And Your strong love paints my empty canvass with YHWH ^^

Jehovah Tsidkenu *** knows best

Footnotes: References taken from the Bible

·         *    Exodus 3 : 13 - 15

·      *   Colossians 1 : 27

·      **  Ephesians 3 : 19

·      ^^ Tetragrammaton – “He Brings into Existence whatever Exists” – Ex. 3: 13 - 15

·         **  Jeremiah 23: 6 –  The LORD MY RIGHTEOUSNESS

·         *** Romans 6 : 18

·         *** 11 Cor. 5 : 17

Written By: Yulande Oosthuyzen

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