Heaven or Hell - a heart for the lost souls

* DISCLAIMER - no photos because the hotel computer doesn't have a USB port...

This is my last and final blog from England and my update on my last adventures here.  I left Cornwall on Tuesday to spend a few days with Jaco and Lizelle.  I took a bus (a 9 hour journey I wasn't really looking forward to) but it turned out to be great.  The bus passed through the middle of London, which gave me a glimpse of a few attractions like Buckingham Palace, Westminister Abbey, the London Eye, Tower Bridge (with the Olympic logo) and tower of London - all which brought back wonderful memories of previous trips to the UK.

For the next 2 days I explored Norwich and Cambridge.  In Norwich, I took a guided walking tour through the streets.  To be honest, I won't be able to tell you much, as it was too much history jargon to my taste but I can tell you it has beautiful cobble stone streets and beautiful (and old) buildings :).  Cambridge on Thursday was fun.  I explored the city with one of the red city sightseeing buses.  Stops included the American cemetery in memory of the soldiers of World War II and in mid-town a lot of the 31 colleges in Cambridge, including Kings college (the most famous one of them all).  At the Great St. Mary Cathedral I climbed the 123 steps to the top of the tower for a breathtaking view of the city.  Cambridge reminded me so much of Oxford (but off course, these 2 universities are BIG rivals)

The last day and a bit I spent with Jaco and Lizelle at their church camp.  The first session their pastor read from Genesis 3 and specifically verse 9 struck me again.  Even after Adam and Eve ate of the fruit, being disobedient to God, the Lord still came to meet with them and called: "where are you?" even though He knew what they did and where they were.  Just as He called Adam and Eve, He still calls each one of us in a personal relationship with God.  But, He will never force this relationship on us - He wants us to answer (choose) to His call.  He doesn't ask us to be perfect, He just asks us to be obedient to Him and respond to His call.  Today, I want to ask you - are you in a relationship with Jesus?  Do you try and hide from Him like Adam and Eve?

I've read a book these last couple of days, "Revolution in World Missions" by K.P Yahannan and that has really increased my burden for the unsaved people and an increase importance / emphasise of Jesus' last words - the Great Commission.  I want to ask all of my friends and family reading this today (even if you read this and you don't know me) - What will happen when you die?  Are you sure you are going to go to Heaven?  Have you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Rom 10:9)?

If your answer is NO, or I DON'T KNOW, I want to warn you that you are not going to Heaven.  Jesus himself spoke of the coming judgement and of hell - a place of unquenchable fire, eternal weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:42).  But, God loves you so much that He put together a master plan - a plan that you can spend eternity with Him in Heaven.  The Bible says in Revelation 21:4 that Heaven is a place where God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain.  This week in my quiet time I read John 8:24 (Jesus speaking saying "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He [the Messiah], you will die in your sins."  All of us are born in sin (Psalm 51:50) and if we hold onto our sin, and do not deal with it, we will die in our sin.  Since all sin must be dealt with (because God is holy and righteous), those who die in their sin will have to pay for their sins in hell.  But if we have our sins dealt with this side of death, by trusting in whom Jesus is, and what He did for us on the cross to save us, we can avoid dying in our sins.  God loves you so very much and He doesn't want you to go to hell!  He wants to spend eternity with you - the reason Jesus died on the cross for you!  All you need to do is confess and believe (John 3: 16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  and Romans 10:9: "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, YOU WILL BE SAVED").  I'm writing these things to you because I care deeply about you and I would like to see you in heaven one day, next to me as we worship Jesus!  Jesus calls YOU today and loves you just as you are... Isn't it time you respond to Him?  Following Jesus is the best decision I've made.

To all my friends that answered YES - Praise the Lord!  Jesus told us to Go into the world and preach the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus (Matthew 28 and Mark 16).  It is wonderful that you will go to heaven to be with Jesus, but what about those YOU love or those around you?  So to all of you - I want to put the question out there - how are you obeying His Great Commission?  Remember that only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can save a soul from a life of sin and eternity in hell!

This is my last blog for a while, as I'm off to Romania tomorrow and I have no idea what to expect or even if I would have time to access my blog :) - but I would try to keep you updated on what I've been up to if possible.

Please continue to pray for fruitful work in Romania, that many people will hear and respond to the Gospel and for unity amongst the team.  And please keep me in your prayers, as this is a cycling outreach, that I would be physically ok :).

Much love

xxx

Creation Fest - the end

I can’t believe I’m writing this on my last night in Cornwall, telling you that Creation Fest is finished.  5 weeks later… and bags are being packed again and it is time to move on. 

Creation Fest was a fun filled week for the whole family.  There is so much activity all the time.  With bands, seminars, workshops, youth and kids programmes, sport and massive skate park – there was sure something for everyone’s taste (That sentence sounds very much like one out of my press releases J - but it’s true).  What an amazing experience it was!  The Lord was really mightily at work.  I spent every morning with the kids (5-11 years) and our theme for the week was – Jesus, the hero of our faith.  In the afternoons I was helping on the retail / merchandising side of things or was in the ‘office’ or back with the kids.  I’ve really developed such a soft spot for some of the kids, and by the end of the week it was sad for me to say goodbye.  I had the privilege to counsel 2 girls after they’ve made the commitment giving their hearts to the Lord.  It was so special to have been part of the best decision they would make in their lives.

The Skate Park

The kids tent

Anna - one of the "soft spots" in my group

Worship session

Each night I was able to attend the worship sessions – after a busy day, just to be still and worship our Creator.  With amazing worship leaders and bands, this was an amazing time.  The Lord really spoke / ministered to me through the lyrics of songs.  During the week over 100 adults and the last time I heard, more than 35 kids made a commitment, giving their lives to the Lord and are saved.  And so many more have heard the Gospel, and already Christians were encouraged.  Praise the Lord for every soul that was saved this week.  He really did change stubborn, stony hearts into soft, fleshly hearts as He promised in Ezekiel 11:19-20. 

Thank you to everyone that prayed with us (and for me) during the last 5 weeks.  The Lord sure answered prayers!

A very good friend of mine sent me the words of a Koos Du Plessis song… The chorus of the song really described my heart of the last 5 weeks.  The words of the chorus are (sorry to all my English friends): “As almal ver is, vind jy jouself.  Waar jy in laaie in stil hart kamers delf.  As almal ver is, vind jy jou siel – weerloos en eensaam, soos ‘n vrou voor ‘n spieel” (Direct English translation, but won’t be so poetic, is: when everyone is far away, you find yourself.  While you digging in the drawers of your quiet heart.  When everyone is far away, you find your soul – defenceless and lonely, like a woman in front of a mirror”).  In this time, I had a lot of time to dig in the deepest part of my heart and deal with certain things.  The last few weeks were not always easy – a lot of change and with that a lot of uncertainty but in that comes growth (thanks Karen for that bit of encouragement). 

In my devotional time this last week I studied John 6.  Part of the chapter is where Jesus instructed His disciples to go ahead, get in their boat and go to the other side of the sea.  They were obedient to the Lord, but they faced trials – strong winds and big waves.  After hours of sailing, they only sailed a few miles.  Jesus stood on the shore, watching them and just at the right time, He walked towards them and announces His presence: “It is I, do not be afraid”. This taught me so much.  Being obedient to God doesn’t mean that life will be easy.  I will face difficulty at times and He allows it but just as with the disciples, the Lord is watching me, knowing and understanding what I’m going through.  And then, just at the right time, He reassures me that all I need is His presence. In this time I needed to press into the Lord, keep my focus on Him, spent time in His words and holding onto His promises. It is in this difficult time that my fragile heart experienced His comfort, His grace, experienced His new mercies every morning and learnt the most of who Jesus is.  In this time while my heart was fragile, defenceless, open I experienced the grace and mercy of Jesus.  Drawing my strength from Him, I had an amazing time at Creation Fest and was blessed to have been part of the work He is doing in Cornwall

On Friday night, Creation Fest was brought to a close by worshipping with Scott Cunningham Band.  And the Lord assured me through the lyrics of one of their songs:

“My child, don’t worry. Take My hand.  I’m taking you down this road you don’t understand.  There may be tears while you waiting for the answers.  You can see the picture, but I can see the future.  And I can tell you right now, that it’s going to be oraait.”

I would like to encourage you – in the difficult times, the trials of life – take Jesus’ hand and hold unto His promises.  He is standing, watching over you.  You might not understand all the “why’s”, but you can only see the now, a small part of the picture, but He knows the future.  He is working out the best plan for you (Rom 8:28: - all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose)

Knowing He is working out the best plan for me - I can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for me next J

Prayer Request:

·         Pray for my preparations and safe travels to Romania on Sunday, 19 August

·         Pray that the possible language barrier that might exists would not be a hindrance to the Lord  using me in Romania and to share the Gospel

·         Pray for instant unity amongst the outreach team in Romania – as our time together is short

XOXO

BIG BIG LOVE

I can’t believe it has been more than a week since my last update!  So much to tell - it has been such a full, crazy but wonderful week.  It is now just over a week since moving to the Royal Cornwall Showground in Wadebridge, (camping, if I may add) – and it’s been l-o-n-g working hours getting ready!

 

On Thursday, 2 August, we had the Creation Movement Road show in Camborne.  What a blessed experience.  With our blue stage truck, we had 5 bands playing and a skate park, all happening in the car park of Tesco.  My role was to be the (learner) stage manager – whatever that means ;)!  To be honest, I had to Google what that means. But it was fun.  The best part for me was really watching a guy, in his 30’s (my guess) surrendering and giving his life to the Lord.  Watching him pray for salvation just brought such joy to my heart (and I don’t even know him) and made the road show just worth every second.  The joy in my heart was absolutely nothing in comparison to the rejoicing (and party) that was happening in heaven about this one man’s soul.  Jesus said, according to Luke 15:7, “…there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance”.  I really developed such a soft spot for the Creation Movement Road show and think it will be awesome to bring it to home grounds… To SA!

Skate Park

Scott Cunningham Band



Creation Movement Roadshow

Saturday was the long awaited D-day, the start of Creation Fest 2012.  It is the 10^th anniversary – a testimony in itself of God’s faithfulness.  Lizelle and Jaco came to visit for the weekend as well as Jordan, the friend I met in Oxford about 3 weeks ago.  I have been serving mostly in the kids tent – and what a blessing.  I am having great fun with the kids.  We have 3 days left of the festival and so far, it has been filled with lots of people, good music / bands and good teachings.  My highlights were definitely on Sunday.  The 2 teachings with creationist, Ken Ham, on the relevance of Genesis and the fact that science confirm the Bible (awesome!) and to see live and meet my favourite band, Rend Collective Experiment!  I am taking loads of pictures and videos and can’t wait to show it to you all (well, at least those that are interested) Haha.

At the entrance to the main stage

Rend Collective

Kids Tent

If there is really one thing that the Lord is and has been ministering to me in the last week is His BIG BIG, never ending, unconditional love for me (and you off course).  Not because of something that I did, but because He is God, and He IS love.  This has really been the theme throughout my personal devotional time (still studying the gospel of John), teachings and music lyrics from the bands (you know, those few sentences that touch the heart strings). There is this one worship song that a lot of the bands have been playing as well as singing it at the volunteer morning devotions (off course, I’ve been singing it in my head ever since).  The lyrics go as follow: “He is jealous for me… He loves us, oh how He loves us, oh how He loves us, oh how He loves”.  Such simple lyrics, but the message is so clear.  A few of Rend Collective’s lyrics (or even one liners) stirred my heart…  Lyrics such as “His love never ends, never runs dry for me” and “countless second chances we’ve been given at the cross. Oh Your cross changed everything, there my world begins with You again”.

 

Constant reminders through Scripture this week… Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…”  That joy that was set before Him – that was me and you.  He thought of me when He was crucified.  He loves me so much that He endured the cross and the shame.  Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrated His own love towards us, in while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Jesus died on the cross – took God’s wrath and judgement – for me while I was still a sinner.  Even when I rejected or rebelled against Him.  He loves me so much that He was willing to sacrifice Himself in my place, that I can have eternal life.  He did it even though He knew He will be rejected by many.  During my quiet time, in John 4, Jesus demonstrated His love towards a Samaritan woman – He knew what she did and even though He knew that, He still revealed Himself to her.  Jesus loves us so much, that He will reveal Himself to us.   And then, a fresh reminder on John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”.  Because God loves me, He doesn’t want me to perish.  Because He loves me, He had a master plan for me to spend eternity with Him (going to heaven / my salvation) – His Son Jesus.  And the motive for His master plan? HIS LOVE FOR ME!! You know what, He really really loves me!

But, how do I respond to His love?? I am in awe and in adoration and every time I hear it or is reminded of it, I fall more in love with Jesus.  That He would love me with all my fears, failures, weaknesses – knowing everything that I’ve done and everything I’ll still do.  He knows it all, and yet, He still loves me.  His love never changes! He loves me more than I can humanly comprehend.  What an amazing thought!

But, I’m not the only one.  That same love He has for me – He has for you too.  Do you know how much Jesus loves you?  Do you know what He did for you on the cross?  How do you respond to His love?

May you experience Jesus’ love this week and even better – may you respond to His love!

xxx