Impacted by a card

This came in the mail for me today. While reading it, I was impacted by what it said. It is a card from the Voice of the Martyrs. I support the persecuted church. This is what it says:

"Thank you for praying for me, supporting me financially, and writing to me with words of encouragement. I am convinced that it is through your prayers that I was able to survive all the trials I faced. I left behind many brothers and sisters in prison, and I ask you now to pray for and help them too; that way my joy will be complete" - From Helen Berhane (Eritrea) who, for almost three years, was imprisoned in a shipping container and tortured for her faith.

I would ask that you remember me, and remember our brothers and sisters that share in sufferings for the sake of Christ. (Hebrews 13:3) Though we are worlds apart we still have this connection, that we are part of one another. This is true for me too. My suffering is a different one, being a kind of absence from knowing and fellowshipping with my brothers and sisters. This is because I have been impacted afresh by the cruelty of living in a spiritually impoverished nation. I am confronted by it every day, in my motives, in my actions and in my plans. Please pray that I would be free of the suffering of materialism and that I could connect with my Heavenly Father, who is my chief joy. I believe that If I just knew of the poverty that I'm experiencing, I would redound with fresh insight and clarity for the sake of the Gospel and Christ's kingdom. It is something that I want to always have clarity on. This is because life does not come from without but it comes from within (John 10:10)

This is all that I'm asking of you for this time. Share with me and my brothers overseas who know what it means to suffer for the sake of Christ. I find afresh that I am wanting to share my faith with those around me, pray that I may have the boldness to do this.

Knowing Him, Declaring His Name

I want to share with you what God has done for me today.

First of all, a few photos

a house just down the street from where I live, what a colourful dwelling!

Perspectives on North Hagley Park, throwing bread to the ducks on a nice sunny day!

A few colourful trees while taking a walk around the park!

Sunset over Central City Christchurch!

Now that we have taken a look at some of the photos I've taken recently! lets get onto the good news! I'm excited to be able to share, that I have found some clarity for the future, through today's sermon at Church. This actually is in keeping with the book I just finished reading, "The Cost of Discipleship" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. One of the ways in which we can commune with the body of the Risen Lord, is in the preaching of the Word.

God has met me through the time that I have been in fellowship with my brothers and Sisters at church. While walking to church today, I had something drop into my Spirit, "Hand it over to us, we will show you how it's done" This was in reference to seeing more people coming to church and inviting them to don our four walls. There are atleast some expectations on this generation to bring many to know Jesus.

While I have been at Hospital, this is one of the things that I have been encouraged to do, by my Father, testifying of what He has done in me. This is basically, in listening to others. I have been able to submit to my doctors and nurses while they were deciphering what it is that has happened for me. In saying this, I have been able to be a witness to what God has been doing in me. One of the scriptures given to me early on is from John 10:4,5

"And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

I have been relearning what it means to hear from His voice. During the past while, I have been labouring to no avail. What I mean is, while the Good Lord took a nap and I didn't hear from Him, I did everything that I could, to work under the sun. But now that I have heard from Him directly, I have clarity about the direction ahead.

That direction, is in testifying to others what God has done for me, and inviting them into relationship with Jesus Christ.

I have a suspicion that this is what He is saying by His Spirit to the churches after being challenged in this way, during this time that I have been turned around and upside down. Some will say that I need a time of rest, but it is this time! not another! that he wants me to testify of what He's done. He does this in our weakness, it happens that I have done His will.


God has really changed the direction of my life in the past few months, from what I remember before. My heart was not moved by what kind of impact i was leaving on others, this is one of the biggest changes that have come as very important to me through it all.

Here is just a snippet of what God has placed on my heart through this time, they are only a few of the things that I want to share with you, so that you can better pray for me during this time. Now that I have clarity, I can also better answer any questions you have.

I am excited, but also please continue to pray for me. This is because I can speak about these things, but what is really on my heart, is a deep thing, something that I want to get out, but I know that this is the way that God operates, more than once has he called me to WAIT when proceeding forward. It also makes sense in the calling that He has placed for me, which is who I am, not what I do. I have a lot of similarities to Anna in Luke 2:36-38 for she would often wait upon the Lord, and then declare His redemption to Israel. I find a lot of similarities to her.

As you may realize from this, I am getting God's word behind me before proceeding, I recommend this to anyone before they proceed forward, for it is not what we do for Him that matters, but if we are parts of the body, it is His bodily presence that we carry in the world. This gives me encouragement to persevere and know Him.  Thank you for supporting me through my need.