Ohmè 's Blessing

In knowing the Lord regarding Ohmè coming to live with us,
I was given assurance :

I will record Ohmè among those who acknowledge me,
The Most High will establish her,
The Lord will write her in the register of the peoples… from Psalm 87

Thus I had this blessing to convey to this new child in our home. Like I do with both our own kids, I wanted to print this blessing together with a photo of Ohmè , to stick on her room door. Using this blessing (something like a Jewish Mazuza), I like to pray Scripture for our kids .However , knowing Ohmè ’s background and her having been exposed to some weird and warped form of Christian practise , I was apprehensive.

Lord, how do I approach this child and tell her I want to anoint her and pass this blessing on to her ? How can we , as her new care takers, bring her to You, without her running for the hills ? Will we be ok in all this ?

How faithful You are O Lord God ! You gave me the assurance straight away :

For Ohmè:

Fine oils have been poured upon me.
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like the cedar of Lebanon;
Planted in the house of the Lord,
They will flourish in the courts of our God.

For us as parents/care givers:

They will still bear fruit in old age,
They will stay fresh and green,
Proclaiming ; “The Lord is upright, He is our Rock”
From Psalm 92

Ohmè's Blessing card to go with this photo of her:

I will record Ohmè among those who acknowledge me,
Indeed, of her it will be said :
“The Most High himself will establish her “
“Because she loves me” says the Lord,
“ I will rescue her,
I will protect her
For she acknowledges My Name.
Ohmè will call upon Me ,
And I will answer her.
I will be with her in trouble.
I will deliver her and honour her
And show My salvation to her”
From Psalm 87 & 91

Mazuza Blessing

In knowing the Lord regarding Ohme coming to live with us,
I was given assurance:
I will record Ohme among those who acknowledge me,
The Most High will establish her,
The Lord will write her in the register of the peoples… from Psalm 87

Thus I had this blessing to convey to this new child in our home. Like I do with both our own kids, I wanted to print this blessing together with a photo of Ohme, to stick on her bedroom door. Using this blessing is something like a Jewish mazuza I like to pray Scripture for our kids.

However, knowing Ohme's background and her having been exposed to some weird and warped form of Christian practice, I was apprehensive;
"Lord, how do I approach this child and tell her I want to anoint her and pass this blessing on to her? How can we, as her new caregivers, bring her to You, without her running for the hills? Will we be OK in all this ?
How faithful You are O Lord God! You gave me the assurance straight away:"

For Ohme:
Fine oils have been poured upon me.
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
They will grow like the cedar of Lebanon;
Planted in the house of the Lord,
They will flourish in the courts of our God.


For us as parents/caregivers:
They will still bear fruit in old age,
They will stay fresh and green,
Proclaiming: “The Lord is upright, He is our Rock”
From Psalm 92

I will record OHME among those who acknowledge me,
Indeed, of her it will be said :
“The Most High himself will establish her “
“Because she loves me” says the Lord,
“ I will rescue her,
I will protect her
For she acknowledges My Name.
Ohme will call upon Me ,
And I will answer her.
I will be with her in trouble.
I will deliver her and honour her
And show My salvation to her”
From Psalm 87&91

Africa is not for sissies

There is a saying:
‘ Africa is not for sissies ’

It takes a certain tenacity, toughness of character, to live in Africa.

In my African Country we have just had a National Election. Our hope and prayer was that the currently ruling political party won’t get a 2/3rd majority which would have given them the right to re-write the country’s constitution. They missed it by a hair width. We are elated ! We thank God ! He has given us a ray of hope in darkness.

This morning I pondered: How can it be ? 66% Of the population choose to have unrighteousness rule over them.
Have they no sense ?
Have they no wisdom ?
Can they not interpret the signs ?
So much in this majority party point towards dictatorship,lawlessness, corruption, immorality, power abuse.

Why ? O Why do the children of Africa not display wisdom in their choices ? Is it arrogance or ignorance? How do one understand that a whole nation willingly chooses the lesser when an array of better choices are present ?

I will put my law in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people…. from Hebrew

Maybe Africa don’t have God’s law written on their hearts , maybe they don’t have generations that have loved the Lord and thus have God’s blessing flowing down to their children, written into the fibre of their genes. Maybe that’s why they are easily mesmerized by a charismatic individual or political party .Maybe that explains why they make the choice to blindly walk by the light offered by a mere man, rather than the Light offered by God Himself.Maybe they are just like the rest of us. The history of Israel choosing a human king over God , is in the Bible and speaks for all of us.

But now, All you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches; go, walk in the light of your fires and the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my Hand: You will lie down in torment…..Isa 50


Africa is a dark dark place, even though the sun shines so bright .After 8 generations of European descendants living in Africa , my kind are still aliens here. We are still in the dark as to the strange ways of Africa.I look at my Christian ancestry and I see so many blessings down the generations.Even while I am an alien in Africa; still unwelcome after nearly 400 years of ancestry in the so-called ‘cradle of mankind’ . Yet God gives me a ray of hope, a bright beam of Light just at the right time, every time:

… ….Who among you fear the Lord and obeys the word of His servant? Let him who walks in darkness, who has no light, trust in the Name of the Lord and rely on his God….. from Isa 50
I will give you treasures hidden in darkness, riches stored in secret places…
.Isa 45

Faith is like a film, it is developed in darkness.

Do you think you can escape that which no mortal person has ever avoided ? Which of the saints in the world were without crosses and tribulations ? Not even our Lord Jesus Christ went one hour while He lived without the anguish of His coming suffering. Why do you seek any other than this royal way of the holy cross? The higher a person advances in spirit the heavier the crosses are that are often found, because the grief of a sense of separation from God increases with love for God. from The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis

I received a celphone sms message from a dear friend this morning:
I have been waiting from 12 last night for the sun to rise to drive out the darkness surrounding me. Jesus came to fetch my brother as it was his time to go. My heart is broken.

There are times of intense darkness for every believer. Darkness of different kinds. Our hope is in the Light .

In the beginning was the Word,..through Him all things were made.In Him was life and that life is the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it…The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory….. from John 1

My apology if you are offended by my writing.I am unapologetically writing from a Christian perspective.I have many wise, loving and dear African Christian brothers and sisters who live holy, God-centred lives and perceive themselves as much aliens in Africa as I perceive myself one. I did not set out to offend, I am no better than any other in the presence of my Maker. I need to have hope ,living in a dark place. I live by the hope held out in God through Jesus Christ my Savior who said:

I am the Way and the truth and the Life. John 14

Reflections on death

My Father-in-law passed away shortly before Easter. The funeral was yesterday only , since we waited for Hubby’s brother, arriving from Canada. Some people made the comment about his passing : ‘At least he didn’t die over Easter’

My mother and I discuss this comment. My Mom’s Dad, Husband and one Son, all died over an Easter week end. At least not the same week end. Mom sees this as follows:

Jesus himself died and rose into a new life, over Easter. Thus it is very special when a loved one leaves this life during Easter, in the footsteps of Jesus.These people ar4e God's favourites, His 'favourites', His 'witbroodjies'. This includes the man hanging on a cross next to Jesus, who gave his live to the Lord in his own dying moments. What Grace ! What Love !

What a wonderful viewpoint !

In my Father’s house are many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you…I will come back and take you to be with me… from John

My sister, also living in Canada , was not able to come when my brother passed away two years ago, on Easter Sunday. The Lord comforted her through a dream she had:

She dreams our brother is getting married on a Sunday. She’s upset with him for the short notice and anyway, who gets married on a Sunday? The name of the bride was also not even on the invitation.

For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready…. From Rev 19

Hubby’s daily reading the day after his Dad passed away gives us comfort:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? …For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to …. From Romans 8

Today the sun shines bright, the kids have gone back to school with a moan and Hubby’s still asleep after he and his brothers had a late night reminisce over their Dad and their youth years.

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:
Death has been swallowed up in victory’
Where, O death , is your victory ?
Where, o death , is your sting ?
from 1 Cor 15

Jong Meisie Seisoen

Die boonste fototjie is van ‘Petite de quatorze ans ‘ (Klein danser van 14), ‘n bronsbeeld deur Edgar Degas. Delikaat vang dit vas daardie tussen-stadium in ‘n jong meisie se lewe, daardie

‘nog vis nog vlees’ wees.

My eie meisiekind kom een middag kla by my dat haar een tepel seer is, sy het haarself gestamp teen iets. Ek registreer nie dadelik nie; eers later die aand besef ek : Miskien is dit die bytjies wat gesteek het ! “ Maar dis te vroeg ! “ Skrik ek, “ sy’s nou eers elf !” Gedagtes flits oor al die skrywes oor die hormone in ons kos wat blykbaar puberteit vervroeg . Gryp my Mediese boek en blaai na puberteit. ‘Spot-on’ besef ek.Nie te vroeg en nie te laat. Degas se dansertjie is wel 14, maar sy is merkbaar ouer as my Elf-jarige. Darem het ons dogtertjie haar seisoen in seisoen bereik. Ek raak sommer gerus toe ek dink aan die Woord uit Genesis 8:
So lank as die aarde bly bestaan,
Sal saaityd en oestyd nie ophou nie,
Ook nie koue en hitte, Somer en winter.
Dag en nag nie .

Die video-clip hieronder is van ons ontluikende jong dame....

Wagtend vir ouboet wie by sy 1ste hoërskoolsokkie is,
Wagtend vir Daddy, om te help ‘n mooi voëltjie in die tuin identifiseer,
Wagtend vir haar katte om hul teen haar aan te vly vir aand ete,
Wagtend op die lewe.

Ek lees vanmore se Woord vir Vandag:

Daar is ‘n direkte verband tussen jou seën en jou lewensdoel. God seen jou nie sodat jy dit kan opgaar of daarmee spog nie… God se gawes is bloot instrumente om jou in ‘n beter posisie te plaas sodat jy sy wil kan doen.

God het ons meisie geseën met allerhande gawes. Baie daarvan is vir haar nog onbekend alhoewel ander dit eien . Sy sal haar lewenspad stap en in die proses hierdie gawes ontdek en ontwikkel.Vir my sê die Woorde uit Ester vir elkeen van ons: 'Wie weet ,Jy is gebore juis met jou gawes vir 'n tyd soos nou?"

My woorde van aanmoediging en gebed vir haar vandag: (Verskoon die Engels maar die AMP Bybel stel dit so pragtig .sien Kolosense 2)

I want you to know how great and severe is Mamma’s inward struggle

I am engaged in for you,
My prayer is that your heart will be comforted , cheered (especially!)

and encouraged as you come to know God more.
That God’s abounding wealth and blessings of assured conviction of understanding may become progressively and more intimately yours.
That you may know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly

that mystic secret of God: Jesus Christ.
And in Him receive treasures of Divine wisdom, Insight into Gods ways

and purposes for your life.
All the riches of knowing Him is stored up and hidden ,

ready to be discovered by you.
Have your roots firm and deeply planted in Him,

being continually build up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed

and established in your faith.
In Christ Jesus is the whole fullness of God,

And you are in Him, progressively reaching full spiritual stature,

coming into the fullness of life He has purposed for you

my beautiful daughter !
I love you .

Mamma

Christmas Day 2008

Crackers at the table

Tired from eating ?

Carving by the men is tradition

The tables

Mommy and daughter at the stockings in the Boma

Morish Christmas eve

The stockings, waiting to be filled, makes a lovely bed for cat napping

The SURPRISE present (combo birthday/Christmas/long-outstanding promise/need for new school) is presented

Ouma recieves a gift

The 'not-so little ones' from Christmas eve