As you pray -9 May 2008

These days I thanked God again for the opportunities we have in Christian radio ministries to multiply the benefit of good messages from different events by airing them. At Radio Khwezi, on Saturday Samkelo Shoba featured True Love Waits's Jan Roos doing a presentation in Escourt. On Tuesday Dumisani Zondi had snippets from the Mighty Men Conference in Greytown. On Wednesday Khwezi listeners heard a sermon by Uncle Joe Newlands at CFT's Ascension Day outreach in Durban. And, we have just listened to Pastor Ngcobo's sermon which was recorded in Durban as well.

We join our French brethren in thanking God for 25 years of the KwaSizabantu ministry in France. I was encouraged by comments from those who attended the celebrations in Valence last weekend. May the Lord march on in France, and beyond.

Kjell and Margrit had a blessed time of fellowship and sharing with the brethren in Switzerland this week. They also joined Onkel Friedel and Tante Rita for some of the sessions. As they fly back we pray for travelling mercies.

Michel Hege and Patrick Diring will appreciate your prayers for their week of services which started yesterday in the French island of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean. They have also been invited to speak at a meeting of 400 men. Michel's subject will be Nehemiah and Patrick's Elijah.

From Paris, Jeremie Fillatre requests that we pray for him, his brother Eric and the True Love Waits team that will be proclaiming the abstinence message in an evangelical church on the western side of the city on Sunday.

It was good to hear from Onkel Friedel and Tante Rita. After a marathon of services and conferences they welcome the last lap this weekend before flying back home next week. They together with the team and the brethren will value your prayers for the Pentecost services at Lindach this weekend (9-12 May).

TAK Radio in Berlin will broadcast a special Mother's Day programme on Sunday under the theme "Warum unbedingt Jesus?" (Why is Jesus a must?)

Greetings from Peet Botha, Gideon Jacobs and Paul Celick (a Russian American brother) and the family in the USA. Peet and Gideon have got quite a programme in the USA and they thank God for His blessings at the different services thus far.

On Tuesday they spoke in a Slavic church and there was a great response, especially from the young people. There was a request for a follow-up meeting and the Celicks have opened their house for an open discussion next Tuesday, 13 May.

Let us also remember their service with married couples and parents tomorrow and Sunday's Pentecost service in the Slavic Church.

Burma

Many of us are moved by the plight of the Burmese people where after a trail of destruction by a cyclone up to 100 000 are feared dead and an estimated 1.5 - 2 million are in need of food, water and shelter. The UN and individual nations from the onset were ready to rush in with relief aid but for its own political reasons Burma's military regime which has an iron grip on the country is effectively blocking the desperately needed help. Most of us fail to understand the kind of political philosophy that leads to such logic.

As I watch recent events around the world I am shaken anew by the depths to which the human heart will sink in an effort to secure its position. Once again, the truth of what the Bible says about the human heart is confirmed.

Apart from God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord what hope is there for this world?

Let us pray for Burma and this sick world.

Mother's Day

Sunday 11 May is Mother's Day; yet another opportunity to pause, appreciate our mothers and thank them for what they mean to us.
Thank God for our mothers.
God bless our mothers.

O Love that will not let me go

The words of the first verse of George Matheson's song 'O Love that will not let me go' warm my heart.

"O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee,
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be."

Have a blessed weekend.