Sunbirds

The past week or two we have enjoyed different sightings of both a male and a female White Bellied Sunbird on our Salvia leucantha (Mexican Bush Sage). 

Father-Son Time

A few days ago the boys and I took a long walk together.  It was a beautiful fall day and we enjoyed our time together.  The boys found a large rock and had fun jumping off the top while I took pictures. 

A Pure Heart

Take a few minutes to meditate on this quote!

“Now what is a pure heart?  It is, as we have said before, a heart which finds its whole and only satisfaction in God, which relishes and desires nothing but God, whose thoughts and intents are ever occupied with God, to which all that is not of God is strange and jarring, which keeps itself as far as possible apart from all unworthy images, and joys and griefs, and all outward cares and anxieties..."  Johannes Tauler (c. 1300 – 1361)

I think I'll also include a poem by Tauler.

What Thou Art To Me

As the bridegroom to his chosen,

  As the king unto his realm,

  As the keep unto the castle,

  As the pilot to the helm,

  So, Lord, art Thou to me.

 

As the fountain in the garden,

  As the candle in the dark,

  As the treasure in the coffer,

  As the manna in the ark,

  So, Lord, art Thou to me.

 

As the ruby in the setting,

  As the honey in the comb,

  As the light within the lantern,

  As the father in the home,

  So, Lord, art Thou to me.

 

As the sunshine to the heavens,

  As the image to the glass,

  As the fruit unto the fig-tree,

  As the dew unto the grass,

  So, Lord, art Thou to me.

Are you saved?

I recently read a message by Spurgeon.  I like what he had to say about the assurance of salvation.  The world is so full of "religion" and so little spiritual reality that it would do us good to examine our hearts and lives.  It is wonderful to KNOW you are born again!

“There is a great difference between presumption and full assurance.  Full assurance is reasonable: it is based on solid ground.  Presumption takes for granted, and with bold face pronounces something to be its own to which it has no right whatever.  Beware, I pray you, of presuming that you are saved.  If with your heart you do trust in Jesus, then you are saved; but if you merely say, ‘I trust in Jesus,’ it does not save you.  If your heart is renewed, if you hate the things you once loved, and love the things that you once hated; if you have really repented; if there is a thorough change of mind in you; if you are born again, then you have reason to rejoice; but if there is no vital change, no inward godliness; if there is no love to God, no prayer, no work of the Holy Spirit, then your saying, ‘I am saved,’ is your own assertion, and it may delude, but it will not deliver you. “  (emphasis added) C.H. Spurgeon

Solar Cooking

We recently became the happy owners of two solar cookers.  I had never heard of a solar cooker before but was excited to give it a try.  I figure if we can cook even a couple of meals a week in the solar cooker it is that much more propane and electricity we have saved.

Our first attempt at using it was unsuccessful.  We put a pot of chili in to cook but before too long the sky became cloudy and we had to finish cooking supper on the stove.  Our next attempt was mostly positive.  We put a peach cake in to bake but I underestimated the time needed and it got too late before it was finished.  But it only took 10 minutes in the oven to bring it to perfection.

Our third attempt was also unsuccessful. I think part of the problem is the type of pot we are using.  We'll try to have a positive report next time! :-)

The cake we almost finished baking in the solar cooker.

The Narrow Way

"Speaking out with a prophetic voice against all that comes short of God's highest purpose for His Church, may perhaps reduce our numbers, but God has always been more interested in quality than in quantity. We don't have to make the narrow way any broader than God Himself has made it." - Zac Poonen

Oily Feet

I love the pitter-patter sound of little feet running  through the house, but sometimes those same little feet can create havoc. Take for example the scenario of bare feet dipped in freshly drained diesel oil. Thankfully we saw those little feet before they went tramping through the house!

God's Canvas

I'm always amazed at what God "paints" in the sky!  Here in the Free State we sit on the "front row" and enjoy some of the most spectacular artistic exhibitions. One of the sunsets this week was truly breathtaking, but what was so amazing was that something was happening everywhere one looked in the sky.  Though the camera can not do justice to what we saw I'll post a couple of shots.

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.  Psalm 19:1-3

Wedding

On Sunday we attended our first Basotho wedding.  I was invited to speak at the wedding of one of the pastors in Lesotho - Phello Majola.  Actually many weddings are two day events.  Sunday was the second day at the home of the groom.  The wedding ceremony took place the day before at the bride's village. 

Antonie's Dedication

Philip, Amrie and Antonie Geise after Antonie's dedication.