Seënwense

Mag jy vandag

in die skoonheid van God

se genade loop,

want Sy genade is

voor jou

agter jou

om jou

bo jou

en binne jou! 

8 ways God speaks to us today

He conversed with Adam in the first garden. He told Noah to build an ark. He spoke to Moses in a burning bush. He promised Abraham a son. Paul heard His voice on the way to Damascus. But does God still speak to us today?

If so, how? When? Where?

1. Through His Word in general.

2. Through His Son, Jesus Christ

3. Through Nature and God’s Creation

4. Through Other Believers

5. Through Music

6. Through Circumstances

7. Through His Spirit

8. Through Prayer

Does God speak to all of us the same way? No, we are all unique. Are these the only ways God speaks today? No. He’s a creative God. He speaks so many ways, including through miracles.

Click HERE for more info.

Mossiestilte: Gen. 32:31

En die son het vir hom opgegaan net toe hy Pniël verby was; en hy was mank aan sy heup. 

Worstel jy met God op hierdie stadium? Die son sal vir jou ook opgaan. God se tyd is nie jou tyd nie. Vir hoe lank moes jy werk om te kon kry wat jy graag wil hê, en steeds, nadat God vir jou voorsien het, het jy nog steeds vrese. Bid die Here se seën af en sien hoe God in jou lewe werk. Dalk het jy ook merke, tekens, of mankheid as teken van jou worstelinge maar ook jou seëninge. 

Here, en Almagtige God, dankie dat u geregtigheid my gered het. Dankie vir u seëninge en dat ek nog deur u genade mag lewe. Met U het ek geworstel en U het my aangeraak. Tog twyfel ek selfs nog nadat U my gewys het hoe U vir my omgee en my wil seën. U son skyn weer oor my en U sorg vir my dag na dag. My lewe getuig van u goedheid. Ek kan die littekens wys. U is die ware en ewige God en Vader. U sal ek loof en prys en u goedheid bekend maak, oral waar ek gaan. Amen.

[Aangestuur deur Pieter Swanepoel.]

“What If God Should Go On Strike?”

“How good it is that God above has never gone on strike
Because He was not treated fair in things He didn’t like.
If only once He’d given up and said, “That’s it, I’m through,”
“I’ve had enough of thee on earth, so this is what I’ll do.”

“I’ll give my orders to the sun, cut off the heat supply,
And to the moon give no more light and run the oceans dry.
Then just to make things really tough and put the pressure on,
Turn off the vital oxygen till every breath is gone.”

You know He would be justified, if fairness were the game.
For no one has been more abused or met with more disdain
Than God, and yet he carries on, supplying you and me
With all the favors of His grace, and everything for free.

Men say they want a better deal, and so on strike they go,
But what a deal we’ve given God to whom all things we owe.
We don’t care who we hurt to gain the things we like,
But what a mess we’d all be in if God should go on strike.”

[Walt Huntley]

Dear friends, let us seriously “think” about the words in this poem, and then humbly bow, being thankful for "every perfect gift" that comes from God, the Father.

Dust If You Must

Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better
To paint a picture, or write a letter,
Bake a cake, or plant a seed;
Ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there's not much time,
With rivers to swim, and mountains to climb;
Music to hear, and books to read;
Friends to cherish, and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out there
With the sun in your eyes, and the wind in your hair;
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
This day will not come around again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
Old age will come and it's not kind.
And when you go (and go you must)
You, yourself, will make more dust.

Rose Milligan

[Thank you, Liz.]

Maandag-gedagtesaad

Mossiestilte: Jes. 37:19

en hulle gode in die vuur gegooi; want dit was geen gode nie, maar werk van mensehande, hout en klip - daarom kon hulle dié vernietig. 

Die mens het baie krag teenoor die wat aardse gode het, maar die dag as jy God se kind aanvat moet jy weet, jy vat nou te veel. God se kinders is gereinig en geheilig vir sy doel. God laat sy kinders met oorwinning teenoor die vyand wegstap, sodat Hy verheerlik kan word bo hulle aardse gode. Vandag wil God jou geveg vir jou veg en Hy stuur sy engel om jou vyand neer te werp en uit te wis en jou die oorwinning te gee.

Dankie my Vader, en my Here, vir u genade om gered te word te midde van die stryd. My God is die Almagtige en is die oorwinnaar van my vyand. U red my met u heilige Naam.  Ek is dus meer as oorwinnaar deur Christus wat my die krag gee, geen aardse gode kan my aanraak nie. Prys u Heilige en grote Naam. U is die Alleenwyse God, hoog en verhewe is U. Amen. 

[Aangestuur deur Pieter Swanepoel.]

Derde kwartaalprogram: September & Oktober

20 September: Skole sluit

21 September: Fear Factor-aand (Jeug)

11-12 Oktober: Belydeniskamp

19 Oktober: Potjiekoskompetisie  

Oesmaande: September

Verjaardagwense

Bobo (Sally Aucamp), mag jy die wonderlike gevoel van liefde, vrede, vreugde en welwillendheid deel met jou inwoners. Mag Hy vir jou die krag en die genade gee om elke dag met al sy baie uitdagings te kan hanteer. Geniet jou spesiale dag. 

CAUTION - FEAR FACTOR!!!

Kerkgenotjies: Swak diens

Klein Jannie was in die kerk toe nagmaal bedien word. Sy ma het vir hom verduidelik dat hy nog te klein is om nagmaal te gebruik. Toe die kollektebordjie omgestuur word, sê sy vir hom om sy kollekte in te gooi.

Maar Jannie hou sy muntstuk styf vas, en sê: "As ek nie mag eet en drink nie, betaal ek nie!"

Vrugteslaai: Galasiërs 5:22-23

Die vrug van die Gees ... is liefde, vreugde, vrede, geduld, vriendelikheid, goedhartigheid, getrouheid, nederigheid en selfbeheersing.

As Suid-Afrikaners ken ons almal die resep vir ‘n goeie vrugteslaai. En ons deel graag resepte. Daar is min disse wat moeë mense so kan verfris op ‘n warm sonnige dag, soos vars koel vrugte. (Op hierdie blog is daar sommer 'n hele klompie vrugteslaairesepte - klik HIER vir 'n paar resepte.)

As Christene verstaan ons die woorde of geloofsresep, van Galasiërs 5 op ‘n soortgelyke manier. Daar is min dinge wat ons lewens verfris, soos die vrug van die Gees. Elkeen van hierdie “vrugte” is die gevolg van ons geloof in Jesus Christus. ‘n Keuse vir ‘n lewe aan die hand van God se Woord; ‘n aksie om my eie en ander mense se lewens positief te beïnvloed.

Mag die vrug van jou arbeid jou lewe verfris en vernuwe. Deel gerus Gal. 5 ook met jou vriende.

Vreugde is 168 000 e-besoeke!

VRYDAGGEBED

Hemelse VADER ...
Ek BID Spesiaal vir die PERSOON wat nou hier lees.
Hou asseblief hierdie kosbare mens STYF VAS in U sterk VADERarms.
Jy het soveel AANMOEDIGING en ondersteuning nodig.
Soveel BEGRIP en liefde.
Jy het My KRAG en HULP nodig, sê die HERE.
Jy smag na My STEM … na My RAAD en WYSHEID in elke BESLUIT.
Jy het OPBOUING en TOERUSTING nodig.
My VREDE en KALMTE.
Ek INSPIREER jou, sê die HERE.
Ek OPENBAAR aan jou die SIN en DOEL van jou lewe.
Jy vind jou waarde en IDENTITEIT in My alleen.
EK is met JOU, sê die HERE!
Dankie VADER.
Amen.

Terugblik: 2012 se heerlike basaar

Klik HIER vir nog 2012-basaarfoto's! 

Dink hieroor: Eer jou medemens

Eer jou gelyke, omdat dit 'n plesier is.

Eer jou meerdere, omdat dit jou plig is.

Eer jou mindere, omdat dit jou voorreg is.
-Langenhoven-

The Old Telephone

Those of us old enough to remember when the phone was wired to the wall, usually in the kitchen, can relate to this story. I loved this read.

When I was a young boy, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box.. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it.

Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person. Her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone's number and the correct time.

My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer, the pain was terrible, but there seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy. I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway.

The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear. 

"Information, please," I said into the mouthpiece just above my head.

A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear. "Information."

"I hurt my finger ..." I wailed into the phone, the tears came readily enough now that I had an audience.

"Isn't your mother home?" came the question

"Nobody's home but me," I blubbered.

"Are you bleeding?" the voice asked

"No," I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts."

"Can you open the icebox?" she asked.

I said I could.

"Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger," said the voice.

After that, I called "Information Please" for everything. I asked her for help with my geography, and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my math.

She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts.

Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called, "Information Please," and told her the sad story. She listened, and then said things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. 

I asked her, "Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?"

She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, " Wayne, always remember that there are other worlds to sing in." Somehow I felt better.

Another day I was on the telephone, "Information Please."

"Information," said in the now familiar voice.

"How do I spell fix?" I asked

All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston. I missed my friend very much.

"Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back home and I somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me. 

Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.

A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle. I had about a half-hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information Please."

Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.

"Information."

I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell fix?"

There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now."

I laughed, "So it's really you," I said. "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time?"

"I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your calls meant to me. I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls."

I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.

"Please do," she said. "Just ask for Sally."

Three months later I was back in Seattle .

A different voice answered, "Information."

I asked for Sally.

"Are you a friend?" she said.

"Yes, a very old friend," I answered.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," She said. "Sally had been working part time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago."

Before I could hang up, she said, "Wait a minute, did you say your name was Wayne?"

"Yes." I answered.

Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you called. Let me read it to you. The note said, "Tell him there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean."

I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.

Never underestimate the impression you may make on others. Whose life have you touched today?

Author: Anonymous

[Credits: Prince Albert Friend, Issue 318, September 2024, p. 10]

Things you can control in life

Your beliefs
Your attitude
Your thoughts
Your perspective
How honest you are
What books you read
How often you exercise
The type of food you eat
How many risks you take
How kind you are to others
How often you say "I love you"
How often you say "thank you"
How you express your feelings
Whether or not you ask for help
How often you practice gratitude
How many times you smile today
The mount of effort you put fort
How you spend/invest your money
How much time you spend worrying
How often you think about your past
Whether or not you judge other people
Whether or not you try again after a setback
How much you appreciate the things you have

By Ruben Chavez

Mossiestilte: Ps. 4:7

Baie sê: Wie sal ons die goeie laat sien? Verhef oor ons die lig van u aangesig, o Here!

Staan jy in vertwyfeling oor jou lewe en besluite wat jy maak; laat God se lig toe om in jou lewe te skyn. God wil jou laat triomfeer vandag. God wil hê jy moet Hom ten volle vertrou  en toelaat dat sy wysheid jou lei. God wil hê jy moet die goeie sien en ervaar wat Hy jou wil gee; bid dit in geloof van Hom alleen. 

Here, Vader van goeie gawes, aan U wil ek al die eer gee vir my lewe tot waar ek reeds gekom het en nog sal gaan. Ek kom opnuut en gee my swakhede vir U; U sal my tekortkominge uitwis en aanvul. U verhoor my as ek u aanroep en my bekommernisse voor u voete lê. U neem my skandes weg en gee my onverdiende oorwinning deur u genade. Groter vreugde het U in my hart gegee as al die aardse vreugdes. Prys u grote en ewige, Almagtige Naam. Amen. 

[Aangestuur deur Pieter Swanepoel.]

My plekkie in Sy hemelhuis

Om ouer te word is nie maklik nie. 

Jy is soveel meer broos en kwesbaar as jonger mense. Jy mis familie en vriende wat nie meer daar is nie, sommige in ouetehuise en ander reeds na die Vaderhuis. Daar is so baie wat jy nog wou doen, maar die krag, energie en tyd ontbreek - want jy word al meer bewus dat jou jare vorentoe nie meer so baie is soos “agtertoe” in die verlede nie. 

Jou liggaam raak broser en jou hart kwesbaarder. 

Talle goedjies begin pla, soos jou balans wat nie meer is soos wat dit behoort te wees nie. Jou visie en gehoor wat al hoe meer en meer verswak. Al hoe meer medisyne kom by jou medisynelysie en jou eersehulptassie word vol goedjies wat belowe om jou energie te gee. Jy raak meer bewus van jou alleenheid - en vir sommige mense van hul eensaamheid. Jy word nie meer na plekke saamgenooi nie en jy vra ook nie self nie, omdat jy dalk al een of twee keer afgejak is. 

Dis nie meer vir jou so lekker om in jonger groepe geselskappe te wees nie, want jy word al meer bewus dat mense in die geselskap verby jou of bo-oor jou kyk - jy is maar net daar, maar nie deel van die geselskap nie. Daar word vir iemand anders in die geselskap gevra hoe dit met jou gaan, in plaas daarvan om direk die vraag aan jou te vra. Wanneer jy by ‘n geselligheid is, kry almal soms geskenkies - maar die jonger garde vergeet of dink nie dis nodig dat jy ook enetjie kry nie. 

Trane vloei soveel makliker - trane van vreugde, verlange of hartseer, maar sakdoekies daarvoor is nie nodig nie, want die Heer vee dit self af  - wanneer Hy afbuk na jou en sy arms om jou vou en in die mooiste woorde verseker van Sy Ewige Liefde vir jou. En wanneer Hy saggies uit Sy Woord met jou praat en jou vertel dat Hy 'n plekkie gereed kry vir jou in Sy Hemelhuis, weet jy dat jy niks meer nodig het as hierdie Vader van jou nie! 

En nuwe lewensenergie soos ‘n vars waterval bruis skielik in jou en jy weet jy móét vir ander híérdie storie van jou en jou Hemelvader vertel!  

[Dankie, Valerie!]

Dink hieroor: Ek glo nie in tandartse nie ...

'n Meisie besoek die tandarts en hy sê vir haar die prosedure is voltooi. 

Sy antwoord: "Yes, thank God for that."

Die tandarts vra vir haar: "Wie in vandag se tyd, glo nog in God?"

Sy antwoord: "Ek glo in Hom."

Die tandarts sê: "Sien jy nie wat in die wêreld aangaan nie - hoe kan daar 'n God wees, terwyl daar soveel armoede, rampe, hartseer en ellende is?"
Die meisie kyk na hom en sê: "Wel, ek glo nie in tandartse nie!! As daar werklik tandartse was, hoekom is daar so baie mense met stukkende, gevlekte of bederfde tande?"

Die tandarts antwoord dadelik: "Wel, ek kan nie mense help wat nie na my toe kom nie."
Die meisie "boul" hom toe uit deur te sê: "Dit werk presies dieselfde met God. Hy kan jou nie help as jy nie bereid is om na Hom toe te kom en met Hom te praat nie.

[Dankie, Valerie, vir die aanstuur.] 

Verjaardagwense

Diane (Sally Aucamp), mag God jou seën met daaglikse klein bederfies, vrede en vreugde in jou gemoed.  Mag Hy vir jou die krag en die genade gee om elke dag met al sy baie uitdagings te kan hanteer. Geniet jou spesiale dag. 

Maandag-gedagtesaad

Mossiestilte: Jes. 63:7

Ek sal die goedheid van die Here prys, die roemryke dade van die Here prys, ooreenkomstig alles wat die Here aan ons bewys het, en die veelvuldige goedheid ...

Wanneer laas het jy jou vrou geprys omdat sy pragtig is? Wanneer laas het jy jou man geprys omdat hy so sterk en manlik is? Nie net moet jy dít doen nie, maar ook jou God, en Koning, prys vir sy goeie dade aan jou en jou gesin en werk.

God laat niks gebeur sonder 'n rede nie en sal sy goedheid nooit onttrek van jou nie; sy genade sal jou altyd bybly en versterk, en in jou benoudheid, stuur Hy jou barmhartigheid met 'n engel vanuit sy koninkryk.

Dankie my grote God! In majesteit tel U my op en beskerm en verlos U my elke dag. Help my om nie wederstrewig te wees en u Heilige Gees te bedroef nie. O Heilige Gees, leer my en lei my en bevestig my in die weg van die Vader. Ek loof en prys u heerlikheid en heerskappy, o Almagtige Vader. Amen.

Lentevreugde vir Dutoitspan se seniors

Foto's: Elsa Minne