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by Calven Celliers2020 has been a tough year, for all of us, in one way of another! The winds of change have swept through our lives forcing us to rethink, re-budget, reinvent and remind ourselves that although current circumstances won’t go on forever, some of the necessary adjustments will at the very least be with us for a long time to come. I’ve heard it said that whilst we may all be in this storm together; the reality is that we’re in different boats. Regardless of where you may find yourself at the end of this difficult year, my heartfelt prayer is that you have personally experienced the faithfulness of God along the way. Renowned atheist Richard Dawkins once commented that “Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence.”For us as believers, however, 2020 has been an unexpected opportunity to prove that our faith is anything but a cop-out, or an excuse to evade the need to think. Former chaplain at both Harvard University and Stanford University, the late David Elton Trueblood, hit the nail on the head when he said that, “Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.” It’s human nature not to trust strangers. But the more time you spend with someone, getting to know them, investing in the relationship, the more likely you are to trust them and believe what they say. 2020 has been a year in which God has certainly shown Himself faithful to His people.At its core, faith is a state of trust. The author of Hebrews goes so far as to say that “6 …without faith it is impossible to please God…” (Hebrews 11:6NIV) The more dependent we are on God to show up and come through, the more we get to witness God’s capacity. We cannot live, nor testify to, what we do not know. God’s desire is for our faith to be emboldened, and this can only happen with ongoing experiences where we are placed in situations and circumstances where we are required to trust in God without reservation.What we glean from Scripture is that God created all things, knows all things, has unlimited power, and is therefore in control of everything. That is what His sovereignty means. Nothing happens outside of God’s knowledge and nothing happens outside of God’s permission. 2020 did not take God by surprise! Everything we go through is significant in the grand scheme of things. There is a master plan. Or should I say the Master’s plan.We will experience troubles during life, but as Scripture reminds us, God will give us the peace, wisdom, and strength to get through every situation we face because He has already overcome whatever we endure. So be encouraged! While none of us knows what 2021 holds, we know and trust in Him who holds 2021. God is so faithful and I want to urge you…

by Graham MolOne of the things I look forward to each year as we approach the Christmas season is the new Christmas-inspired music released by various Christian artists. There have been many beautiful albums released over the years that have become firm favourites of mine to listen to amongst all the traditional carols. Despite all the other disappointments of 2020, I am happy to say that my search for a album to put on repeat this year has been successful. Heaven Has Come by Sovereign Grace Music is well worth listening to as we lead up to Christmas Day. You can see that they have drawn inspiration from some of the classic Christmas Carols, reinterpreting them, while at the same time offering carefully and beautifully crafted original pieces. Sovereign Grace Music sums up the purpose behind the album with this statement:For many, Christmas is far from “the most wonderful time of the year.” But when grief feels unbearable, when our resources are depleted, when the shame of sin crushes our spirits, and when heaven seems an eternity away, Christmas brings unimaginably good news: heaven has come to us.“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21, ESV)The first song on the album, O Come, All You Unfaithful introduces this theme of hope for the hopeless, hope that is found in Christ alone. Here is a sample of the lyrics:O come, all you unfaithfulCome, weak and unstableCome, know you are not aloneO come, barren and waiting onesWeary of praying, comeSee what your God has doneChrist is born, Christ is bornChrist is born for youIf you find yourself in that place of fatigue and depletion, whether it be physical, emotional, spiritual or in all aspects, I would encourage you to listen to this album and allow the Holy Spirit to use the delicate melodies, deep theological truths and faithfully written words of hope to minister to your soul. And even for those who are in a good space, the songs are still an encouraging blessing.All the details and links to streaming of the album can be found here: Heaven Has ComeThere are also some of the songs available on YouTube. Two of my favourites from the album are Heaven Has Come to Us and How Low Was Our Redeemer Brought.God BlessGrahamhttps://youtu.be/C-QHbpYjuIg

by Caryl MollWorship should be so easy. Shouldn’t it?  “Worship” is a natural outpouring of our Spirit as we seek to express our love and awe of the incredible God who we serve.Ok, I have to admit that I sometimes battle to do this - particularly during church services on a Sunday morning. To me it feels awkward as I watch others lift their hands in unified praise. “Should I raise my hands?” I ask myself. I feel really uncomfortable and battle to focus.  It’s just awkward for me.However, my own spontaneous worship usually comes in quieter moments where I am alone and where there are no social barriers between me and my Lord. I can focus on God fully and not the people around me. I can simply be myself. The truth is that we are all unique. I believe that God knows each of us intimately and loves us anyway (Ps 139), even if we may be reticent in following the crowd.So, my experience in the Eastern Cape wilderness in January 2019 was one of those heart-stopping moments when I realised that it really was ok to be me and praise the Lord in whatever way I personally can – so long as it’s honest, natural and comes from the heart…---xXx---It was our first day of our much-anticipated holiday – just Robyn (my daughter) and I - a week together to celebrate my 60th birthday and also the culmination of her achievement – becoming a Vet. It was just the two of us, mother and daughter, on a pristine beach in one of the most beautiful settings in South Africa - Umgazi  River Bungalows, Port St Johns, Eastern Cape.Our bungalow was perfect – set on the river mouth where terns fished freely as the tide filtered in and retreated at its own methodical pace. Our location separated us from most human contact.On the first morning, I woke up really early.  Light filtered through our curtains as twilight stepped aside for the sunrise. I nudged Robyn and pointed to the cows resting quietly on the beach across the estuary. She was awake immediately. She’s always had a soft spot for cows.We grabbed our walking shoes and headed for the ferry which would take us to the opposite beach. We could hear the crash of waves in the distance as we stepped off the little boat. Our feet sank into the soft sand and produced the morning’s first footprints. Slowly we made our way towards the cows at the water’s edge.  They were nonplussed as they lay there chewing their cuds. The sound of the ocean was building with each step. Becoming Deafening. We stopped to take in the incredible beauty surrounding us. Miles and miles of unspoiled beach. Paradise.Suddenly, an overwhelming urge to sing filled me. It took hold of my voice and placed Matt Redman’s song, “10 000 reasons” in the forefront of my thoughts. I allowed myself to lift my hands and sing into the waves. Loudly. Robyn…