Made to last

Esme's funeral today was a sad but beautiful event. It was Ashani's speech that made something abundantly clear. Our original home fellowship group, where we all met way back in 1998 built relationships that have lasted and will most likely endure for many years.

Here's what was really funny though. I was only 23 when I started the group and registered it as a 'young adults' group, but it ended up being anything but that. Esme was nearing retirement at the time and the rest of the group was a mixed aged, multicultural, multilingual crazy concoction, but we all ended up loving that special time we spent together.

The years may have passed and our paths may have all gone in different ways, but the love and friendship never ended. I can well imagine that not long after arriving at the pearly gates and doing the grand tour, that God might have introduced Esme to my family members already there. I can hear her laughter as she recounts the tails of our times together and that just has to make me smile.

He can paint the sunsets

Nothing grabs my attention more than a beautiful sunset. With great skill, God the master artist speckles the sunlight with dust to create that orange glow. Then on other days He swooshes the clouds and sun rays across the sky to form spectacular pictures.

As the sun sets and the evening draws nigh our time of rest has come. Yet as we sleep the earth turns and we know that with the dawn of a new day, the pattern will repeat and it won't be long before the sun will set again.

I've been deeply touched over the past few weeks, by friends who have had family members ill in hospital, by friends loosing a life long companion pet but even more deeply by friends who have lost loved ones that I have known well and cared deeply for.

As the sun has set on these precious lives, I know that not only will life continue for those left behind but that those who have departed will face the joy of an eternity of sunrises, but now in God's presence. My heart goes out in sympathy and compassion to all of you.

Written in loving memory of Esme Lubbe for whom we will say a final farewell tomorrow.

Tuna mate

Now Tuna with even the simplest but right ingredients, is absolutely divine! It's easy on the tongue and especially the nose if you're like me and not that fond of sea food. The trick is figuring out which ingredients work together well and repeating the pattern. Our relationship with God grows part by simple experiences that touch the heart and truths learnt in scripture that are applied in a consistent pattern.

For example: If you struggle with a bad temper it does nothing good for your health. In fact anger pushes up your blood pressure and puts stress on the heart. If we have an experience where we are on the brink of loosing our temper, but manage to stay under control by reminding ourselves of the word which says, “Be angry but don't sin,” we will learning the process to changed behaviour. In that instance we may be able to control our temper and the result will mean finding a calmer solution to the problem.

As we have success in that one instance we start the process of gaining victory over a bad temper. We need to remind ourselves however that this is a process and at first we are not going to get it right every time. We will slip up and make mistakes, but if we remember to ask God for forgiveness and repent, our heart will become more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Ask God today to show you the unique fit needed for your situation.

Cous Cous

Arriving home late, I decided to try something quick, my first bowl of Cous Cous. Sadly for me I paired it with the one thing that Cous Cous does NOT seem to go with, Tuna! Bleeeh! I tried to finish it but it just wasn't going to go down so I had to toss it and try something else for dinner. Salad. Both sad and boring.

There are some things in life that just do not go together, like a bad attitude and success. Being grumpy and difficult will just not produce in us the strength needed to achieve success in life.

If we want to walk the spiritual road to success it will have to require a willingness to humble ourselves and change our attitude towards the process of learning. As we learn we grow and our attitude turns to reflect the heart and love of Christ.

Passing through

My folks passed through Jo'burg this weekend on route to Kruger National Park on holiday. It was a short overnight stop but very much enjoyed and appreciated. It always amazes me how much a short visit can warm the heart.

In this life we are merely visitors passing from this life to the next and our time here is short. Yet along the way we meet people who's kindness and warmth touches our soul and they are never forgotten.

I hope that your prayer, as it is mine, will be that we can make a lasting impact on people wherever we go and that the love that God has given us will be shared with them and touch them deeply. That way we will have a legacy on this earth no matter what earthly seed we may or may not produce.

Written in sand

Have you ever judged a person or situation only to get a completely different response to what you were expecting? Isn't it strange when someone reacts in a completely different way to what we expected?

Jesus did that when He refused to judge the woman caught in adultery. In fact He challenged those present by saying, “He who has no sin caste the first stone.” Then He began to write in the sand. They all left.

None of us know what He wrote in the sand that day, but I can only guess, can't you? Let's be wary of judging people based on our own perceptions. Let's give people a chance to show us who they really are and no matter what, let us show love with an open heart!

Porcupine

I don't know if it has happened to you, but I know it has happened to me. Someone does or says something and totally irrationally you bark back a response and go into defend mode like a Porcupine sticking up its quills.

Why does that happen? The reason it happens is because somehow what has been done or said triggers a very painful memory and our response is to find some violent way to protect ourselves. This is because whatever pain we are carrying has not fully healed and we receive the message as a dagger heading for our wound to inflict further damage.

How should we respond to people when their quills go up? With love, compassion, empathy and some more love. Think of love like a blanket and as we throw it over the porcupine we are able to approach and then wrap our arms around it to assure it that our intentions are good.

Love does cover a multitude of sins and conquers all our fears.