Identi-Fluff

This morning, while I was getting ready for work, my newest baby fluff cat, Midnight, rubbed up against my leg for attention.  I picked him up for a cuddle and I sometimes like to look at us in the mirror because then I can see both our faces enjoying the affection.  Midnight however decided he didn't like this one bit and proceeded to squirm to escape.  This promted the question: Little fluff how do you know what you look like, if you never look in the mirror? 

This reminded me of James chapter 1:23-25. 

23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

I ask you therefore, how often do you look at yourself in the mirror and see what measure of manor of person you are? It is only when we gaze into the 'eyes of Jesus' through looking at the word of God that we truly figure out who we really are. For no one has ever loved us like Christ did, for He gave His life to be the sacrifice for us so that we could live free. 

The Oaks Know

Growing up in mostly hot South African climates, winter was never a big deal.  The landscape hardly changed much and what we thought was cold was well, a wee bit of a chill.  From the time I first moved to Johannesburg, the one thing I truly fell in love with, was watching the Oak trees and seeing how magnificently their leaves displayed the seasons.  The most spectacular of which, being autumn (fall).  

It always amazes me therefore that we barely notice any change in the air temperature, and all of a sudden, the leaves start to turn golden brown.  As seen in the photo attached, autumn has begun.  The term/name for the season "fall" to me is so much more descriptive than autumn, because you can really picture it all happening.  By the end of this season, the magestic trees will lie bare for all to see throughout the cold winter months and then just as suddenly as fall began, spring too will announce itself with the cheary, bright lime green spring leaves.  Well, summer is summer and the dark green will prevail until the spectacle begins all over again with fall. 

As the trees automatically know the seasons, we too as Christians need to learn the seasons of our lives.  Some seasons are for change and new things, some are for growth and establishment, others for a harvest of great rewards and then too there are very real seasons of grief and pain. 

We need to be like the Oak trees, we need to have deep roots, grounded and stayed in God's love that no matter what, we can withstand the changes that the seasons of life bring our way.  God's word needs to be our anchor and strength and hold us when the winds of life blow.  

I want to encourage you today to set your mind on the things of God and learn and know what season you are in.  God in his majestic power will allow the seasons of life to shape you and you can wither and die, or you can anchor your roots and grow tall and strong and become a beautiful Oak Tree for God. 

Throne or mantle piece?

I ponder a lot!  A....LOT!  And recently I found myself asking the question... Do I really love God?  Is HE truly the Lord and King of my heart and does He sit in the throne, or have I put him neatly on the mantle piece, only to be taken down when I need Him? 

For those who really know me you'll know how absurd that question is. 

My thoughts centred around some bad habits that had crept in during that C..V..D thing we don't like to talk about anymore.  The practice of my faith looked very different before that all happened. 

In case you were wondering about the outcome of the question, I climbed into my car and went to a mid-week church meeting. Obedience is better than sacrifice. Obeying God's call to gather together, even when I don't feel like it, is more important than anything else. Life can only come into true perspective when we allow ourselves to be washed by the word on a regular basis. 

Whatever your choice is that you are just struggling to get dealt with, ask yourself what you would do if God was physically sitting in front of you on a throne.  

Goodbye 2023

2023 was indeed an interesting year.  As I look back on the year and reflect on this time, I do so with somewhat confusion.  It is a difficult year to put into words. 

There were so many painfully difficult goodbyes. Business relationships that ended and changes that weren't expected. New relationships were forged and with that their own challenges.

I celebrated my 50th birthday with a month long celebration.  An amazing trip to Cape Town seeing my favourite ballet, Swan Lake, was a dream come true. 

A lot of fun was had, but a lot of sadness was experienced as well. A dear relative passed on at a grand old age. 

Our weather was as confused as I was with snow this winter and early heat waves this summer.  

As I put these all behind me, and try to focus on the year to come, I am reminded of one key scripture:

Philippians 3:12-14

[12]Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

[13]Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

[14]I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

What that calling for 2024 will be, I know not yet, but one thing I do know for sure, if I place my hope and trust in Christ alone and listen to His voice, His guidance and strength will be my portion. 

So goodbye 2023 and thank you for all I've learned.  Hello 2024, I look forward to our time together!  

Happy New Year to you all! 

It's nice to see you!

This week was downright horrid!  Work was tough and then we ended up with being without power at home for 3 days.  To top matters off, the small bridge I cross from home on my main route to work started collapsing and the road was closed. 

By Wednesday evening, I was finished, physically and emotionally drained.  I arrived home and a few minutes later, the power finally returned.  Relieved but still out of food, I headed out to the store and decided to go to the small strip mall I frequented when I first moved into my home, as at that stage it was the closest one too me.  

Arriving at the mall I spotted my favourite Italian restaurant, and decided to stop by.  To my utter surprise, the waiter that served me was familiar and his greeting blew me away!  "Ah madam, what has it been...10 years since I saw you!". Wow! I was moved to tears (and still am) at the warmth and care that he showed me.  I managed to fight back the tears to enjoy a delicious supper, but the water works soon returned once I'd finished.

It was so wonderful to be missed and appreciated!  As a single women, I often feel unnoticed or appreciated in public spaces, but how this waiter treated me proved me wrong!  I left him a warm note of thanks, with a promise to be back and a hearty tip! 

We should never underestimate the power of the love and kindness we show each other every day!  Your smile, and warm greeting, may be the very lifeline someone needs to pull them out of the depth of despair.

This Christmas season, let us remember the joy we serve with and spread smiles and love to all we meet!!

A Beautiful Christmas

As I celebrate my 50th Christmas, I have spent a lot of time this year thinking about what this season means to me.  

A South African Christmas, unlike my picture, is hot, hot, hot 🔥!  Hence the reason Christmas in July has become a big thing here as we try to copy cat the American Christmas winter cheer!  

My passion for celebrating Christmas with gusto, strangely did not originate from childhood but rather following my late father's passing.  He has collapsed shortly before Christmas from a brain hemorrhage/stroke in December 1997, and sadly passed of 10 January 1998.  For many years after that I just could not celebrate Christmas with any cheer.  

As my soul recovered, I discovered a love for Christmas I had never known before and it has grown since then every year and this year for my 50th Christmas I have gone all out to make my home festive and fun. 

I celebrate now for many reasons.  As a child I fondly remember the fun my sister and I had each year as we put the tree up and decorated it together.  It would always be a summer of fun, with hours and hours in the pool, swimming until our toes bled (we had a concrete pool).  

At this time of year there were more parties and braai's and visitors than I you can imagine and we loved every minute. Mom was always baking something, and her Christmas cakes were legendary.

As a young adult living in Joburg, I remember going to Sandton City many times to see their giant Christmas tree.  I have worked through many festive seasons, ensuring that my colleagues could spend time with their families and although these times were often lonely, being home with my little fur balls gave me great joy.  

But what is all of this, if I don't speak of the reason for it all.  Is it decorations and trees and trips to the mall?  

No! It is about Jesus!  I look into the night sky over this season and wonder what it might have felt like for the three wise men to sojourn all the way from the far East to where this little child lay.  Or the shepherds as a mighty spectacle of the Glory of God and angels appearing before them.  It truly was a season for the miraculous!!  

God in His might had sent His Son, to start the journey of life that would lead to the ultimate sacrifice for all mankind. 

How can we not but celebrate that with all our might, and remember the proclamation of the Angel of the Lord, as he proclaimed "Peace on Earth and goodwill towards men!". 

How to lose a guy in 10 texts

 Andy Anderson thought she had cracked the forumla to get a guy to dump you, all in record time...that being 10 days. [Credit to the movie "How to lose a guy in 10 days"].  Well honey I think I have you beat. 

I have managed to achieve this magical feat of a dating faux pas in record breaking speed, all of 10 texts...give or take!  This amazing achievement was possible, all because the only thing I could confess to being attracted too about the guy was his faith in God!  ..........

Well now, in my defence, I'd only known him as single for all of 10 minutes, because the last time I saw him, he was "married with kids".  Hence, I had never looked at him with any interest at all.  

At first I was annoyed at him taking offense, but I do realize that I totally suck at the art of stroking the male ego, at least until I get to know you, then I can flatter like a pro. 

Sad thing for him, is he has no idea, how much of a compliment that was from my part.  NOTHING is more attractive to me than a man who loves God and knows how to worship Him in spirit and truth. 

Men of the world know this, muscles sag and faces grow wrinkled, but a spirit that is in love with God shines like the sun and attracts like nothing else on earth.  

Hopefully I'll have better luck next time!