As you pray -25 January 2009

My dear friends

"But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:6)

Today when I read this portion of Scripture gratitude filled my heart. It was as if I discovered anew that our God is a God of the heart.

Yes, I miss going up to the house of the Lord to worship Him together with the brethren.

In my situation I do not even have to go into my room and shut the door; Motor Neuron Disease has done that for me. It has confined me to the bed in my room.

Yes, I miss kneeling before God in prayer. I miss lifting up my voice to God in prayer. MND has robbed me of my mobility and voice. 

What would have become of me if I served a god like Baal who would seem only to hear loud incantations? In fact, as it turned out on Mount Carmel, the likes of Baal are not only deaf, but dead.

Here I am, having not only to pray in the secrecy of my room but in the secrecy of my heart. What a joy to be able testify that God sees and hears me right there. He is indeed the God of the heart.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Onkel Friedel, Tante Rita and the brethren in Australia.

At the service this morning Onkel Erlo mentioned that Detlef Stegen has been invited by Rev Hans Koller to minister in Romania for the next four weeks. Let us remember Detlef and the brethren in Romania.

We are thankful that Dr Peet and Andra Botha are back safely from the USA. Dr Jan Pienaar has also just returned from conducting services in Paraguay and Bolivia.

I believe that many hearts were warmed this morning when Peet and Jan shared about God's working, blessings, challenges, the hunger and the ample opportunities for ministry out there.

Tobie and Ilsa Vermaak together with Thomas Maphanga travelled to Mozambique on Thursday to visit the ministry of Carlos Vilanculos. As the Lord reminds us let us think of Carlos as he ministers to his people under challenging circumstances. 

The new academic year has begun in South Africa. Education in this country is facing serious challenges in various aspects. May God have mercy on us and our children.

The other day Peter Dahl from Southern KwaZulu-Natal paid me a visit. I was glad to have him share about the Lord's work in that part of the country.

Peter also mentioned that this weekend at Harding they expect a visit from Linda Magqabi. Linda has settled in Johannesburg but he is originally from Bizana, a neighbouring area to Harding. May the time be of fellowship be blessed.

Some of you would have seen on the KwaSizabantu website that work on the auditorium is to begin in earnest. The website team would like to give weekly updates on the progress of reconstructing the auditorium.

Norbert Husslig came by on Friday and he requested prayer support for them as the reconstruction team.

For pro-lifers in South Africa, Sanctity Life Sunday is only one week away. Let us pray that the Lord will bless the message of life in churches and through different actions.

Talking about the pro-life cause, pro-lifers across the world are dismayed that USA president Barack Obama in his first week in office has lifted the ban on American funding for abortions in different countries.

I tremble at the responsibility that rests on the shoulders and consciences of those who at the stroke of the pen can save or condemn to death millions of lives.

Two stories from eSermons caught my attention.

Where Is God!?

A couple had two sons, ages 8 and 10, who were very mischievous. These two were always getting into trouble and their parents knew that if any misconduct occurred in their town, their boys were probably involved. The boys' mother heard that a clergyman in town had been successful in dealing with children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The clergyman agreed, but asked to see them each individually. So the mother sent her 8-year-old first, in the morning, with the older boy to see the clergyman in the afternoon.

 The clergyman, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, "Where is God?"  The boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response. He just sat there with his mouth hanging open, staring wide-eyed at the imposing figure of the pastor. So the clergyman repeated the question in an even sterner tone, "Where is God!!?" Again the boy made no attempt to answer. So the clergyman raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face and bellowed, "WHERE IS GOD!?"

  The boy screamed and bolted from the room, ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him. When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, "What happened?" The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, "We're in BIG trouble this time. God is missing - and they think WE did it!" v

"The Altar of Ego," Pastor Mark Elliot

The Potato Salad Promise 

Tony Campolo tells about a church that one day every year celebrates student recognition day. One year, after several students had spoken quite eloquently, the pastor started his sermon in a striking way: "Young people, you may not think you're going to die, but you are. One of these days, they'll take you to the cemetery, drop you in a hole, throw some dirt on your face and go back to the church and eat potato salad." We may not like to acknowledge it, but someday, every one of us will have to face the "potato salad promise", that we will all die. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust....."

Staff, www.eSermons.com

Have a blessed week.
 
Pressing on!
 
In His love
 
Fano Sibisi
Tel  032 4815512
Fax 032 481 5507
Cell 083 2650302
E-mail:  fano@cft.org.za
Web   :  www.cft.org.za