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by Calven Celliers Earlier this week I decided that it was high time I took my car for a proper clean, INSIDE and OUT! Whilst I often wash the outside, even have it polished from time to time, I don’t have the inside cleaned and vacuumed very regularly. Oh sure, I throw out any accumulated till slips, pamphlets, sweet wrappers and the odd leaf that finds its way in under my shoe, but I’m talking about a thorough clean. As I sat there watching them first soap, wash, rinse and then shine up the outside, then wipe down, and vacuum the interior, I began thinking about how relevant this is to our lives as followers of Christ. One of the biggest mistakes we as Christians can make is to put more time and energy into outside activities, keeping up appearances, than into inside character-developing disciplines. Just think of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day and how terribly wrong they went all because they emphasized the outside over the inside.      “As religious leaders, the Pharisees often challenged Jesus because they felt threatened by his teachings. Jesus taught that spiritual cleansing and renewal took place in a person’s heart and showed on the outside in acts of mercy and justice. But the Pharisees taught a religion of mostly man-made rules and ceremonies. On the outside they appeared pious, but on the inside, many were filled with sinful thoughts and intentions.” (Roger Greenway) I definitely pick up a rather harsh tone in Jesus’ reprimand to the religious leaders regarding this matter. In the Gospel of Luke, He said, “39 …You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy — full of greed and wickedness!40 Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside?” (Luke 11: 39 & 40NLT)  Religious people often focus on the outward rather than the inward. It’s all about behaviour modification, conformity, and good deeds. Religion appeals to people’s tastes, preferences and ambitions rather than to hearts yearning for truth and cleansing. A relationship with Jesus, however, calls for transformation from the inside out as you devote yourself fully to Him. It’s dethroning yourself and enthroning Jesus; it’s complete divestiture of all self-interest as you surrender all of you to all of Him, giving God veto-power in your life. When we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour, God doesn’t just forgive us our sins, He begins a lifelong process of changing our very nature. A true and balanced spiritual life calls for God’s renewal from the inside out, as He creates in us the likeness of His Son. It involves personal disciplines such as prayer, meditation on the Word, and fellowship with God and His people, as the abiding Spirit of God nurtures us and prepares us for the challenges of daily life as God’s servants in this world. The truth of the matter is that we can polish away at the soft glow of a…

by John DoyleCount it all joy my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, and let steadfastness have its full effect, that you maybe perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)  That word "steadfastness" in Gods Word incorporates "Endurance".  James is writing to the 12 Tribes of Israel that had been dispersed to different towns and countries to help proclaim the message of hope in the Lord Jesus. They went through many trials as we read in scripture but James reminds them of God's Promise He gave to those who "ENDURE". In these days of the Lockdown and the challenges we have with Covid-19 there are many who are quitting and giving up. We are seeing this politically and socially and many businesses are suffering. As God's People lets not fall into this trap of the evil one. I am sure you are discouraged about certain things and perhaps weary with trying to be there for family and help others at this time. Its not an easy journey and many are asking God to intervene and that's a good thing and yes we should all be praying for Gods Divine intervention in this situation that we are all facing at this time. I am sure you will remember situations in your own life where you have had to press on in Faith and witnessed the presence of God. You found out that once you have got through it, that as a finisher you still had wounds and weariness but you still chose *ENDURANCE* because you know from life that God blesses Endurance. The Land of Promise, says Jesus, awaits those who endure - What an amazing promise from the Lord! Let the one who is taught the Word share all things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will you also reap. So the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not grow weary of doing good, for is due season we will reap, if we do not Give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:6-10) Lets be an encouragement to each other at this time and "ENDURE" this journey together and be like Jesus who Endured to the end and then said "IT IS FINISHED". Its time to sing with me: "Will your anchor hold in the storms of life, when the clouds unfold their wings of strife,When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain, will your anchor drift or firm remain,WE HAVE AN ANCHOR THAT KEEPS THE SOUL, STEADFAST AND SURE WHILE THE BILLOWS ROLL,FASTENED TO THE ROCK WHICH CANNOT MOVE, GROUNDED FIRM AND DEEP IN THE SAVIOUR'S LOVE"  May the Love of the Lord Jesus flow through…

by Graham MolWhile collecting my kids from school today, I saw one of the parents of a child in my daughter's class. Due to the lockdown and the social distancing procedures at the school, the last time I had seen this other parent was near the beginning of the year when her son had had his 6th birthday party and my daughter (and us the family) were invited. Greeting each other it was clear that we both were thinking of how long ago that was when she made the comment that she couldn't believe that the school year was nearly over and that there had been so much that the kids had missed out on with there being far less to none of the usual parties and playdates that would have taken place. They hadn't got to enjoy the full experience of their first year at "big school" and all the relationship building with new friends. I was reminded of the fact that we all have experienced losses this year; some small, some life alteringly big. Amidst it all I think of one of my favourite verses of Scripture:I will repay you for the yearsthat the swarming locust ate,the young locust, the destroying locust,and the devouring locust—my great army that I sent against you.(Joel 2:25 CSB)This promise of restoration is spoken by God through the prophet Joel to His people. Although they had brought the Lord's judgement upon themselves by refusing to obey Him and turning from His ways, He promises to repay them for the years the locusts ate. Although these words are specifically spoken to the people of that time, into their situation, the heart of God can be seen in them and this promise to repay is one that I have held onto in my life. I know that God will make it right, He will restore to us what was taken away. Whether that be in this life, as we see He did with Job, or in the life to come (see for example Matthew 19:28-30).This also means that God sees our distress. He is aware of every hurt, every bit of suffering and loss. We are not alone, He is with us and will make it right. Knowing this is a great source of comfort and encouragement in my life and I pray that it will be for you too. God BlessGraham

by Caryl Moll"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."Colossians 3:1‭-‬2 NIVhttps://thenewharvest.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/WhatsApp%20Video%202020-11-12%20at%2008.29.09.mp4With love, in Christ,Caryl