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29 March 2012

21 Years and How We Met!

On Friday, the 30th of March, Christo and I will be married 21 years!

For the sake of memory making I want to share how we met.

NOTE: The whole time while writing this post, I sat with a smile on my face! :-)

It all started with a conversation between my aunt and me at a Sunday lunch in December 1986 - the year I finished school. My Aunt’s husband was a comedian in the entertaining business, They badly wanted to introduce me to the young Magician who was performing with them for some time.

During that Sunday lunch I agreed to meet him.

Surprisingly, when my Aunt approached the young man he wasn’t interested! I didn’t ponder on it, and thought it just wasn’t meant to be. Three weeks later my uncle was in hospital for some routine tests, when my dad decided to go and pay him a visit. While he was visiting my uncle, the Magician showed up. My dad wasn’t even aware that my aunt was trying to match us, and just had a friendly conversation with him.

Then a few days later my aunt called me, thrilled to inform me, the Magician asked her to arrange a blind date for the two of us.

She, as well as I, was very amused that the Magician not only finally agreed for us to meet, he was eagerly looking forward to meet me, as soon as the coming Friday, and that - after he met my father!

That Friday evening my parents drove me to my aunt’s small holding outside Bloemfontein in the Bainsvlei area. I tried on 3 outfits before I was finally satisfied with my appearance and can still remember chatting with my mother the Friday afternoon, trying to envision what the evening would be like. I was all excited and could hardly wait to meet this handsome young man - a Magician. Very eager to make a good impression, I put my glasses in my handbag and convinced myself I will not have difficulty to see without my glasses. I was 17 years old and life was promising with expectations and surprises!

We were at my aunt’s place first and afterwards I couldn’t remember one word about the conversation we had before the Magician arrived! The first thing I remember is the moment he appeared in the lounge’s doorway and the pair of blue eyes looking at me…! After my parents left, we would have dinner with my aunt, uncle and their three young children and then he would take me home. We didn’t say much to each other during the evening. My aunt and uncle kept the conversation going. I very distinctly remember sitting at the dinner table, him next to me, so near and the touch of his fingers, when he took my hand when my uncle said grace…

After dinner and coffee, he took me home in his dad’s new car - quite impressive (LOL). All the way I couldn’t think of anything to say, I was so afraid I would say something that made me look stupid! At home, he walked me to the door like a real gentleman and said good night. My dad was still awake - In the years to follow my dad would never go to bed before he heard Christo leaving - must be part of God’s protection on our life to stay pure till the day we married.

The next day I was nervously waiting for any clue that he felt the same chemistry I did and would like to get to know me better. Sometime during the afternoon my Aunt called me, she just want to warn me, he is going to call me and ask me out to the movies! I hardly put down the phone and the phone rang again. It was him and he asked me out to the movies. And for the love of me I cannot remember what the name of the movie was! Afterwards he took me for a cool drink at a restaurant in the highest building in Bloemfontein, looking down on the most beautiful garden in front of the Opera house. It was just so romantic. No one ever made me feel so special as he did that evening.

That night, just before he left, he asked me to accompany him to church the Sunday evening and afterwards have tea with his parents. I was so nervous! He wants to introduce me to his parents?

Well, the rest was history! Two weeks later he asked me to be his girlfriend and I’m his ever since!

The following couple of years I was his assistant when he performed on stage as a Magician. He even pierced swords through my head! I trusted him with my life from the start! In later years he laid down this hoppy of being a Magician, but his sons periodically try their hands at the tricks.

We only got engaged almost three years later - my Mother believed I had to finish my studies before I could get married. We got engaged on my Grandparents 50th Wedding Anniversary

and got married another 15 months later, three months after I finished my studies.

The past 21 years:

I’m secure - I’m married to a man who pursue God and long to bring Him glory every day of his life and loves me like Jesus loves the church and he will and is giving his life for me...

I’m growing - he is making me holy and constantly challenge me to become more than I can be…

I’m living my dream - sharing every day’s joy and challenges with my best friend, stay at home and homeschool our 8 Blessings…

Thank you God for creating me to be this Man’s Helper. Please grant me the wisdom to help him become everything You intend him to be.

Amen

From my Husband:

What Linnie forgot to add was that she was not so impressed with my dad’s second car that I visited her with the following Monday! It was a (much) older car of which the passenger seat was so warn out that when you sat down, you were almost level with the road, and had to peep over the dash board. Linnie is the very best thing that God ever brought over my path. It was with wonderful memories and smiles that I read this posting of her. What amazed me over the years is with what great amount of detail that she remembered important events.

15 March 2012

The GPS of life…whose instructions do you follow?

We are never to old to learn, are we? Over the past few weeks I discovered the value of a GPS!

Remember the years of old, having someone in the passenger seat, giving trying to give instructions from a map book, or even worse trying to read the map book yourself while driving? In the beginning years of Christo and my marriage I was his navigator with great confidence. I have very good sense of direction, but I have one major weak spot, I don’t know my left from my right :-( That caused some serious communication problems at times. As the years has gone by, and little blessings were added to us, it became more and more difficult to concentrate on map books and giving directions, with a baby or toddler in the back seat, who needed my attention too.

Baby CJ 1994

So it was truly a blessed day when Christo got his GPS and I didn’t need to navigate anymore.

Shortly after Christo got his GPS I got one too, but I didn’t use mine very often. I don’t drive to unknown destinations very often and when I do, I like the challenge to follow directions in the old way. Stretching my brain to remember street names, figuring out where is right and left, looking out for beacons to indicate I’m still on track!

But things change, or maybe my brain just needed a break :-) Over the past month I had to drive to the other side of the Peninsula quite often. Since it was an area with plentiful places I didn’t often get the change to pop in to, I allowed myself the privilege to visit one or two places on the way. As usual, time wasn’t in ample supply. I tried to fit in as much as possible, and decided to give my GPS a try.

What a relieve and blessing to use the GPS! l almost every single day found myself lost not having an idea where I was. Willingly, thankfully I trusted my GPS, carefully listened to each instruction, attentively watched the little screen for extra visual direction.

Once, two of my little ones were driving with me, chatting with each other, pointing out interesting places, asking questions and soon I had to explain to them they had to be quiet, as I needed to listen to the voice on my phone, otherwise we would be on the road much longer than needed.

In another situation I accidentally, in a moment of to many distractions, took the wrong turnoff and found myself in an extremely stressful situation, in which I had to trust my GPS even more to get out of a very uncomfortable area.

While in the past I only used the GPS now and then, and more for the fun off it, for me, as well as the children :-), it is not an unfamiliar feeling anymore to rely on my GPS for instructions. I’m actually getting in a routine of making use of my GPS as part of the equipment necessary for reaching my destinations safe and sound. Listening to instructions very carefully, ignoring voices that can distract me and interrupt my concentration.

So it may not surprise you, that on one of these outings I added the GPS on my phone to my One Thousand Gifts list.

While having lots of time to meditate - after all the GPS was now thinking for me - I became aware of the correlation between a GPS for road instructions and the Bible for instructions for my journey on earth!

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Tim. 3:16-17

Some interesting points came to mind:

The possible wrong ways of using a GPS:

I can switch on my GPS only after I got lost - and in the past I did! It only added stress to my situation. Trying to operate the GPS while I’m in a difficult situation is not advisable! There was a time in my life during which I only opened my Bible when I was in trouble, as a kind of safe way out;

Before you start your GPS navigation, you get to choose the specific route you want to follow - one for the shortest route, one for the quickest route, and your route. I was in the habit of doing just that with the Word of God! Before I was in the routine of reading the Word of God on a daily basis, I would only use the Bible for the shortest way to get to something, the quickest way to accomplish something, and more often, after getting instructions from the Bible, follow my own way.

But that is not how I’m using my GPS anymore...

I now use my GPS as normal practice. It is so much easier to follow the GPS instructions from the start and reach your destination without detours, on the safest road, even if it does take a few minutes longer. Over the past 6 months I got in the routine to study the Word of God early every morning, before any one else is awake (okay, I do sometimes have a little one on my lap). What a joy to experience God’s presence every morning and the blessing of Him equipping me for the day, without me even knowing what the day would be like. Often I would get an instruction, which I only realized later the day was a need to know.

I noticed I enjoy my drives so much more , since I’m using the GPS. When I’m alone in the car I can even listen to worship music. My GPS fades out music when instructions are given. Life will always throw you temptations, disappointments, challenges, but with God’s Word as instruction on a daily basis, fears and worries can fade out. I’m constantly reminded of His love and His truths. As long as I follow them, I will have a vision, hope, peace.

I’m a visual learner and thanks to the visual map on my GPS, I don’t feel lost anymore, trying to figure out where I am; am I still on the right track! I know where I’m going and I know the navigator knows where I’m going. Just as there are times when I’m not quite sure where the GPS is taking me, there are times when I cannot see what God’s plan is for my life, times of confusion, doubt, sadness and fear. But with God’s navigation through His Word and His loving banner of protection over my life, as a result of following His instructions, I can be sure He has a hope and a future for me. He know exactly where He is heading with me. He will make a way where there seems to be no way…

When I do take the wrong turn, I don’t panic anymore! By following the recalculated GPS instructions I’m on my way again soon enough . Obviously not without a few challenging moments and a delay in my time of arriving. How encouraging to know when we do make wrong choices in life, don’t follow God’s instructions and do find ourselves off target and in trouble, God’s Word and loving kindness will always guide us back on track. If we only allow Him and follow His instructions to the letter. This will not be without consequences. There will always be consequences in disobeying God’s Word. The second time around will never have the same blessing as the first time, but God IS a God of second chances and we can trust in His forgiveness and mercy to pull us through.

As I have to quiet extra voices and listen very, very carefully and follow instructions on my GPS, trusting only the GPS and not taking instructions from ‘back seat drivers’, I have to quiet out all voices that distract me from the instructions in God’s Word. The Word of God is the only instruction that will keep me from destruction, living a life for self. Sadly, not many consider God’s Word as their absolute authority anymore. I constantly hear people saying the Word of God is relative. “What is true for you, is not necessarily true for me. Certain instructions in the Word of God, is not relevant for today anymore - it was only for ancient times.” The World, the Church, fellow Christians, all have opinions of what direction one need to take in a certain situation. These are all worthless, in comparison to God’s Word which intend to instruct man for a safe journey on earth for all times to come! I need knowledge of the Word of God, to be able to identify the lies, worthless teachings and wrong believes of our culture, which are not in line with God’s instructions. I’ve seen people put aside the Word of God as their Road map, and only pray about instructions and then act according to the feeling they experience - sometimes totally against the instructions given in the Word of God. We need to educate ourselves in the Word of God, and carefully choose Bible Believing Teachers to teach us about the Word of God. After all, not everyone know the Greek and the Latin of the Original Word of God.

Before one experience the benefits of trusting the GPS all the way, one can often decide to ‘get off’ the road plan halfway to the destination, trusting own insight, take own turnoffs and end up in a total wrong location! How often I hear the argument, “The Lord has given us a mind to make wise choices. We must not be irresponsible in the way we live.” Interesting the Word of God is very clear on the foolishness of Man and his own insight. Why would God give us 66 Books of instructions, if He was trusting we would make the right choices, by thinking for ourselves? I do agree, sometimes the instructions are quite challenging, aren’t they? But like everything in life, nothing worthwhile comes easy. When we do things God’s way, no strings attached, it is always for our own good, and God’s glory!

I want to challenge you to rethink how you use the Word of God in your life. If necessary make the necessary adjustments. Move over to the passenger side, put God in front of the steering wheel and enjoy the ride!

Much love

Linnie

This posting is linked with:
Encourage One Another - Link-up

Women Living Well Wednesdays

Homemaking Link-up

Wise Woman Link-up

28 February 2012

I'm A Control Freak!

“‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:9b-10

Do I really understand these verses? Do I walk in them?

Over the past 2 weeks I was confronted with pain and trauma from my past that crippled me, severely. I have weaknesses, misconducts, bad habits that took root over years, due to my sinful nature, circumstances out of my control (painful childhood years), spiritual immaturity and lack in knowledge of God’s Word. In the past 15 years I grew in knowledge about God’s Word, I started to crucify these fleshly passions and desires; took baby steps walking in the Spirit and believed over time my life should represent a life living in the Spirit. With everything in me I tried to walk more and more in the Spirit. I’ve came to know God desires obedience and not sacrifices, and my heart turned from focusing on me, myself and I, to living my life Him, and thus others. Life should be good - right? NO! The more I tried to walk in the Spirit, giving up my sinful nature, the more I experienced a battle against my flesh.

I can relate so much to Paul’s words in Romans 7:15-16:

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.”

Years ago, Christo and I received a teaching by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson on deliverance ”Teaching and preaching for life-change”. In the opening teaching he explained how the more we want to walk in the Spirit, the worse the flesh will become. (Galatians 5: “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”)

The flesh never gets better. Just read Rom 6 to understand that.

So how can I do this? How can I live everyday life in my home, between my 8 children, walking in the Spirit and model to them a life in Christ? I’m desperate to find the answer, because being a mother can bring out the worse in me! There I’ve said it! And homeschooling them, makes it even worse! Add to that the expectation to be a godly, submissive helpmeet to my husband and I’m totally overwhelmed!

As you all know I’m reading Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts, and I’m almost finished with the book. The principles of being Thankful in all circumstances is a sure key to living a life in the Spirit, but over the past two weeks even that couldn’t lift me out of the pit of my own destructive and sinful nature.

I’m a control freak, and want to be in control of everything in my life. Over the years I’ve read tens of books on Christianity, motherhood, being a helpmeet, homeschooling and put systems into place to help me live a spirit filled life. I guess for me, I first have to get my mind over the matter and then my heart follows. As the years past, these systems surely gave me the structure to live the life I long to live in the spirit, submitting every area of my life to God, but in a sense it was only an illusion. Over time I’ve tried to find fulfillment and security in the structures, and that is outside of Christ.

The moment my life is out of control, and that happens every single day in my house of ten, I do the things I don’t want to, I walk in the flesh. And walking in the flesh is like a bomb going off, shrapnel flies in every direction and it not only has a destructive effect on my life, it is destructive on everyone around me.

As I cried out to the Lord in the past two weeks, 2 Corinthians 12 came clearly to mind. The more I ponder on it, the more I realized, though I cannot live without structures in my life and will always want to be in control and that is good, God put it in me with a reason. I have to let go for God to perform miracles in my life. I need to get to Jesus’ feet and admit I’m so weak. I’m not Super-Woman. With all the head knowledge and heart convictions, that what I am doing is in His perfect will and His calling on my life, I have to get back to my Father and rest in Him! Knowing I’m in His will and walking in my calling, will not make my road easy. Quite the opposite. The enemy will throw me all kinds of traps, and I need to know it is fine to experience infirmities, reproaches, persecutions, distresses and to have needs - to be so weak, I don’t know what to do next.

I fell for the lie that when I’m walking in the calling of my life, I will be strong. I forgot about 2 Corinthians 12 - I will only be strong, when I rest in my Lord, and let Him be strong in me, even more in my weaknesses. I’m going to stop trying to fix my weaknesses, implementing yet another structure to falsely strengthen my weakness, and focus more on what God wants me to do in my weakness. Even though I have an agenda, I need to stay submissive to God on what is His agenda for every moment of my life. Will that be easy - no way! Do I understand 2 Corinthians 12? Not even nearly! It is so much easier to follow my plans for the day, but my plans have proofed over the years to be sown in the flesh, with corruption as harvest.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

Letting God, will mean I’ll have to crucify my sinful self even more! It is ironical - I will need to be even more “weak”, I will need to be meek, gentle and lowly in heart.

These were only beginning thoughts, and I realize I will need to pray and read more.