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by Calven CelliersAs I wondered around the garden earlier this week, I was drawn to one of the potato bushes (Lycianthes Rantonnetii) and its myriad of little white blooms. It really is looking so beautiful at this time of year. Whilst still a fair distance away, however, my eye was suddenly drawn to a distinct, but small, cluster of purple blooms in this sea of white. I strolled over for a closer inspection. How beautiful. Yet how bizarre. On this huge bush of white blooms was a small sprig of purple blooms, that really stood out.As I stood there admiring this awesome sight, I found myself contemplating how all through the Bible people had to stand up against the norm because of their faith, and thereby stay true to their personal experience of God. In his letter to the Church at Rome, the apostle Paul touches on this very theme when he wrote:“2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2NIV)One of my favourite quotes that relates quite nicely to this verse says that, “Ships don’t sink because of the water around them; ships sink because of the water that gets in them.” At a time in world history when it’s so easy to get bogged down by all the negativity being shoved down our throats, we need to remember that the key to escaping the world’s grip of conformity is the metamorphosis of the mind. This is accomplished through God’s gift of the Holy Spirit who is working to change believers’ hearts and minds from within. With the light of God’s abiding presence shining through your life, you can offer a glimpse of the life-changing hope, peace and joy that comes from knowing Christ. In a world full of darkness, the light which shines through you is often the spark used to ignite the reality of God’s love in another person’s heart. When the forces of evil try to use doubt, insecurity or condemnation to make you shrink back, remember this is not God’s will for your life! Your purpose in Christ is as distinctive as your fingerprint; and you do not have to settle for being mediocre or ordinary. Your uniqueness is part of what makes you extraordinary; so, do not let yourself or others cause you to live small. God knew what He was doing when He created you; remember you serve a big God who desires to do big things in and through you. God never intended for humans to be cookie cutter people who all think, feel and live exactly the same. You are uniquely made.You were not called to just fit in or be invisible – you are not just another face in the crowd. Be a sprig of purple in a sea of white blooms. At a time when it’s so easy to get…

Guest Postby Dave GriffithsSince March, the world has changed, and these changes have had an effect on our South African way of life.For Christians church doors have had to close. Ironically it has become dangerous to go to church. And yet God’s Word clearly tells us to “let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing’ (Heb. 10:25).Some think this is a hoax, not real. Others are too frightened to move out from home. Surely God is in control, but it is difficult to see His guidance at this time. NHCF Birthday Service 2019 Perhaps that is why God is the source of Hope to the extent that He can fill us with all joy and peace by means of our faith in Him. (Rom.15:13)  Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of God.It is a discipline of worship to develop the habit of faithfully assembling with others in meetings where the primary purpose is to worship God.  That is why the bible describes the church with metaphors like body (I Cor. 12:12), building (Eph. 2:21) and household (Eph. 2:19). It’s a relationship between individual units and a larger whole.It would be easier to just rely on “live streaming” or TV and save the petrol and sit at home by ourselves. It is undeniable that meeting together means to worship God in the physical presence of other Christian believers. These words allow no other interpretation.The three most important disciplines that we as Christians must learn in life are :-Bible intake. Read God’s Word and meditate on what you have read. What does it mean to you?  What is God telling you?Prayer. Talk to God every day and be aware of the Holy Spirit with you.Worship. This means both private and corporate. (in church)When you read the bible you will notice that Jesus participated faithfully in the public worship of God at the synagogue each Sabbath and at stated assemblies of Israel at the Temple in Jerusalem. Also Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:16).“Worship the Lord your God” (Matt. 4:10) The more we truly worship God, the more we become like Him.One day, the doors of the church will be open, and we will celebrate true worship together. Dave

by Graham MolAs I write this I am treated to a gentle rumble overhead and the tap tap tap of droplets striking the ground. A familiar and beloved scent fills my nostrils, there is nothing quite like the smell of rain, especially here in Africa. A passage of Scripture comes to mind of how God "sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." This snippet comes from Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:43-48)In Jesus command for us to love our enemies He grounds it in what theologians call the Providence of God. God who created and sustains the universe is also involved in directing it according to His will. This includes the rising of the sun (or the more scientifically correct but less romantic sounding turning of the earth) and the sending of the rain. All things great and small are under His caring oversight. What this means is that all good things that we as human beings receive, a new day to live, life-giving rain, we receive from Him, regardless of our relationship or lack of relationship with Him.Jesus is saying that God shows love to His enemies by still giving them good things. This is a very good thing for us, since even if we are believers now, we were at one stage His enemies. We can be glad that God shows love to His enemies for we all need the sun and the rain.If we follow Jesus' command and love our enemies, still doing good for them and blessing them even if they don't deserve it, then we will be like that bright morning sun, that cool refreshing rain, in their lives. If we love our enemies, we will be like our heavenly Father, who through His goodness blesses all.The shower of rain was all too brief this afternoon, but the memory of it remains for me. The air is clearer, fresher, more fragrant. The earth is also richer, having received the necessary minerals from the falling droplets. May our loving actions bring the same rejuvenation into our environments as we shower others with love. God BlessGraham

by Caryl MollThere have been many ‘turn around’ times in my life - where I have been prompted to refocus on my Lord. They’ve been times to re-examine what it means to be a ‘Child of God’: times for some serious introspection.I’m not talking about the first step to becoming a Christian - when we surrender our life to the will of God and accept Jesus as our savior (John 3:16). Rather, I’m talking about the deeper meaning for committed Christians in our daily walk with Jesus.I remember a very pertinent sermon in the early 2000’s (given by our dear Mervyn) where we were encouraged to “Delight in the Lord…” (Ps 37). At the time, I was relatively new to this whole ‘Christian thing’ and spent days pondering what this verse and instruction really meant. How was I supposed to apply it? What did it mean to DELIGHT? Biblical references were in short supply in our home at the time, and we didn’t have “Google”. My next best option was to start with the dictionary:“Take pleasure” it said. But what did that mean? How do I ‘take pleasure’ in God?At the time, I resolved to ‘simply enjoy my life’ knowing that God was in control. Perhaps I could understand the many talents He’d given me. What was God’s intention with me?  What was my purpose in His Kingdom”? Did he, indeed, want to use me in some way?One day, I was looking at my unused piano. “That’s where I can start”, I thought. I have always been a goal-driven/analytical person, so I embarked on a path of returning to formal lessons in search of ‘Delight’. As the months passed, I considered re-doing all my piano exams. I thought to myself, “I have fingers and talent, so PLAY! Let’s see how God can use me.”The four years that followed were rather arduous and I was none the wiser “if” God really wanted to use me at all. All the time, however, I remained constantly aware of the Biblical instruction: “DELIGHT yourself in the Lord…”Eventually, after numerous exams and up to five hours of practicing a day, I suddenly found my fingers doing their own thing… They were rattling up and down the keyboard in a blur. Was this DELIGHT? I felt like an observer in this process, not yet a full participant. Somewhat surreal.I have always admired pianists that can shut their eyes and ‘let their fingers do the talking’. They have a God-given ability to translate themselves into their music – like dancers. As the months passed, I noticed a subtle change in my own playing. The more I asked God to be with me at the piano, the more the music translated in passion and expression. I felt my fingers dancing. I even started to sing as I played (something I’ve never been comfortable with) It felt like God’s joy was feeding into me. I found myself praying while playing – talking to God and thanking Him for this…