As you pray -4 April 2009

My dear friends

Some of you will remember our dear Dutch friend, Feike ter Velde, and his blessed service at the Dutch Christian station, Evangeliese Omroep. He made Christian TV programmes for 16 years.

It warmed my heart to hear from Feike these days that even though he is officially retired he still does a lot of preaching and addresses various Biblical subjects. Let us remember him, the family and the ministry.

Greetings from Klaus Deis in Limburg. Today is a big day for his family. His daughter Stefanie is getting married to Stephan Marterer.

Let me pass on to the young couple the 'Just a thought' that I sent out today.

Just a thought - Main Guest

A special message to the Bridal Couple

Here is the unfailing key to a successful and lasting marriage:

When all the other guests are gone make sure that the Main Guest, Jesus, lingers on for the rest of your lives.

Time flies. Four weeks have gone by quickly for us, Joel, Hanna and their baby, Dora. The Schneiders will fly back to Switzerland tomorrow. Our family and the support team are very thankful for Joel's gifted hands in physiotherapy. May the Lord bless him and the family and grant them safe travelling mercies.

It was such an encouragement to hear from Michele Coetzee about God's blessing on the ministry of Good News Community Radio at Jivannadi Mission. GNCR's station manager, Steven Mabugane, was elected to the Board of the Association of Christian Broadcasters (ACB) at last month's annual conference. Let us remember GNCR and Jivannadi Mission.

Today being the birthday of Dr Albu van Eeden, many of us thank for him and wish him His further blessing. It is moving to see how the Lord is using him to minister to us in various ways.

South Africans will testify to the fact that Easter time has come to be associated with horrible road accidents. I ask myself if it is just a coincidence that at a time when we should be focussing on the blood of the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world our attention should be drawn away by the blood spilt on our roads. May God have mercy on us.

Some of you might have seen this moving story from E-Mail Ministry.  

LIFE’S STORMS

A pastor had been on a long flight between church conferences. The first
warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane
flashed on: Fasten Your Seat Belts. Then, after a while, a calm voice said,
"We shall not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a
little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened."

As the pastor looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive.

Later, the voice on the intercom said, "We are so sorry that we are unable
to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us."

And then the storm broke ..

The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the
engines. Lightning lit up the darkening skies, and within moments that great
plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean. One moment the
airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if
it were about to crash.

The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. He said, "As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying. The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm.

"Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently the storm meant nothing to
her. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat; she was
reading a book and every- thing within her small world was calm and orderly.

"Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world. When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm when it lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all the adults
were scared half to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid." The minister could hardly believe his eyes.

It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its
destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, our pastor
lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time.

Having commented about the storm and the behavior of the plane, he asked why she had not been afraid.

The child replied, "Cause my Daddy's the pilot, and he's taking me home."

 

Have a blessed weekend.

Pressing on!
 
In His love

Fano Sibisi