Webcast details for the celebration

Here is the link for the live webcast for Elmien's life celebration on 6 March 2010 at 11am GMT (London).

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/elmien-cilliers-celebration-service

If you are unable to join us for the live celebration, you can always view the video at another time by following the above link.

You can download the service booklet for the celebration on Saturday here: Mediafire.com

The photo album is at: Photos

Love

Le Roux, Elbrie, Johan & Gabriel

Elmien's Life Celebration

We would love you to join us on Saturday the 6th of March at Winchester Family Church, Stanmore Lane, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 4BT, from 11am onwards to celebrate Elmien's life.

If you can make it, please let us know by 2 March for catering. RSVP to elbriedekock@hotmail.com / 07919250350.

If you can't make it we are busy putting together a live webcast of the celebration. More details on how you can view it will follow soon.

We would like to compile memories of Elmien. If you have a story / something she said / something funny / something life changing - a memory you have of Elmien - please share it with us. You can email your "I remember something about Elmien" to elbriedekock@hotmail.com

Love

LeRoux, Elbrie, Johan & Gabriel

Leaving the Tent behind

On Monday 22 February at 6h30 Elmien left her tent behind and went on to be in the presence of the Lord with Jesus.

During her final hours I was sharing with her with encouragement: "The Lord is waiting for you, you will soon be with him and with your Mom and Dad; be able to speak to Abraham and Moses, and sit with Paul". She whispered: "I love you", and then after a while uttered her final words: "I am coming, I am coming...."

Shortly thereafter she breathed her last earthly breath and quietly moved on to be with the Lord. God's peace is tangible in our home and we praise Him for His goodness and mercy.

Elbrie shared this scripture with her last night: Isaiah 57:1-2 "Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. For those who follow godly paths with rest in peace when they die."

As a family we have experienced such support from the cloud of witnesses that surround us. We thank everyone of you for every contribution you have made to Elmien's life.

This will be the last entry on this "Miracle Journey". Thank you for walking it with us - Elmien has truly received her miracle in the Glory of our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ. I would think Elmien would close in saying..... Jesus IS enough!
Tribute from le Roux:

MONUMENTS (poem written by le Roux)

Barely 20 our passion bloom

Sparkling love to light our way

She brought resolve to set the sights

On clear objectives to reach the goal

Through nights of books and heavy toil

Prepare exams and studies deep

My heavy eyes that seek some sleep

Alert my love to prod my side

To keep active and engaged with every page.

Sweet day when reward was there

The cap of credit to say ‘Achieved’

Her monument of support rise up

For my achievement is for her to fame.

With child on arm, in hand, on breast

She ventured on a plane alone

To join me in a land, uncertain on what it holds.

God’s Spirit touched our hearts and set our aim

To reach out to the lost.

I preach at night and work the day

She practices the Word through faith

Her message cleared the way.

A church established in this wake

With souls that count 5000 in this day.

Inscripted on this monument: ‘Obey’

Through thick and thin she takes the hand

Of three young toddlers every day.

Her heart and soul, faith and daily prayer

Guide their steps and sets their way.

When darkness brings a frightful day

She seeks the Father’s mercy clear

And show her love and great resolve

To let their hearts not fall.

These monuments that stand today

Declare to all of her resolve that none shall tear her children away.

In walks of life we seek to find

A friend to ask, to tell, to share

How blessed we are when friendship is

So combined with love and unselfishness

When chips are down and pressures on

Her friendship blooms, her wisdom shines

Inspire to push on and to resolve

The toughest challenge of them all.

The friend she is, will always be

The Monument in my heart.

No other monument stands as tall

No other desire is more dear

To serve the Lord with all she knows

To bring Him Glory

And shine His light

Her eyes so soft

Her mind is clear to live the Word

And practice what she preach.

And now we know that she reflects

The love of God, declared!

How great it is to have her monuments

Deeply etched into our hearts

For us to hold and cherish

Until we meet again.

Tribute from Elmien's children:

If one word could describe Mom it would be ‘selfless’. She was someone amazing. From the day we were born we were lavished with such unconditional love and care, forming us into the people we are today.

Through times of joy and happiness she rejoiced with us making those times so much more special. Through times of sadness and pain she comforted us, always sharing God’s promises to encourage and give us hope. She gave us space to be ourselves, in our own unique way, always providing the heavenly roadmap, to guide our way.

She didn’t just share her life with us, her unconditional compassion was shown and actively given to all those around her.

Mom’s life was all about selfless giving. She gave her all for us during our forming years and even as adults she still abundantly gave of herself without ever asking for anything in return.

This is the love she gave us. A lantern of love passed from her to light the way into our lives and those who cross our path.

update on behalf of Elmien (set out 9 February)

Dear Friends and blog followers

I am writing this update on behalf of Elmien to her blog distribution group.

Elmien's condition has deteriorated significantly over the past few weeks. She has been in hospital for draining of excess body fluids due to the cancerous activity a couple of times, and is indeed still today in hospital since Friday last. We hope that she will be coming home tomorrow. She sends all her love and appreciation for all the thoughts, prayers, support and kind words that so many have passed on.

Her body strength has weakened substantially and she is increasingly finding it difficult to manage on her own, walk about, or be without direct support. Some hours are better than others, and we expect that the following few days will be easier with the large amount of fluid that is being drained putting less pressure on the internal organs. Internally there is massive pressure on her liver with obvious consequences for the rest of the body. In the natural the prognosis is one of a very short timescale with increasing futher weakening.

The Word and her close relationship with Father God is her strength with no let down on her resolve to be healed and restored. It is remarkable to witness that no sickness or illness can touch the Spirit Man and that it remains peaceful, strong and in touch. It is in times like this that we learn to differentiate between faith to accomplish our needs, desired and how we see solutions and faith that is simple, totally reliant on a loving superior Heavenly Father that accomplish far beyond what we can ever imagine. True faith will allow Him to be the 'I AM'.

I will endevour to keep you informed on further developments.

With love

le Roux

Standing on the Word in times of difficulty!

I have received many messages on the Face Book and by email to find out when is the next blog ready! Thank you, you do keep me encouraged and going on!

I had a few weeks of many challenges and struggles in my body. The ankles and liver is swollen and pressure is on the other organs. I have to cope with pain and discomfort by the day which I never had in the past. My weight kept creeping up and became steady until a few days ago we notice a sudden increase which indicated some moisture retention. Yesterday I had some blood tests done and the oncologist checked the swelling out. She was not to concern now and said she would do draining later but it seems as the swelling has all to do with the liver. She would like to postpone draining as long as we can because it just set off a continuous draining once you started. This morning I stood up with the sneezes and a runny nose, which I straight away refused to accept! LeRoux is very diligent in growing and giving me every morning my shot of wheatgrass.

I want to add that I am calm in the Lord. No man can do anything more for me and I know when Jesus walked the earth He said ‘only believe in God and the One God has sent from above’; this is the anointed Son of God Himself. Jesus is the bread of life, water of life, the only door to enter through to the Father and heaven. Jesus gave His life that I (we) may have life in abundance. Jesus set us free from sin and sickness which is written in His Word and this is what I believe. Jesus is the full package, He is all in all!

I am one with Jesus’ flesh because I am part of the body of Christ. God is not a man that He should lie. What did Jesus say about the devil see John 8:44 (The Devil) he was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar [himself] and the father of lies and of all that is false. A liar as Jesus called the devil, so I will resist the devil.

I am God’s daughter and Satan is trespassing in my body because I fully belong to Jesus! Another idea I want to lay in your midst, I never call this cancer or sickness ‘my cancer’ it is not mine and I refuse to make it personal to me. It will stay that dark cells not part of God’s creation. These dark cells are commanded to die in Jesus’ Name and be cast out.

We are destined and appointed to live for His glory and therefore He has equipped us with all power through the Holy Spirit our guarantee for everything we need. So be it healing, the power of healing is already in us, it is operating in us through the Holy Spirit. We are empowered from on High, we do not have to wait for anything more. Jesus equipped us with all we need to live for His praise and glory! He is the perfect sacrifice we are free!

Last weekend I had my hair cut at my old salon I am familiar with and my friend who always cut my hair did it again after a year. She has done such a good job and was so loving and kind. It was a great blessing to see her again and been hugged with such joy. I looked so gorgeous that my hubby decided we are going to the movies. Yes I packed the wig away and this is my own hair!

The past few weeks some of our church friends came around. Our pastor arranged to bring a few people with him for a time of praise and worship at our home, which was really a blessing.

Studying Romans and Hebrews I am excited to share with you God’s goodness. It is very clear that we as humans could do nothing by works or by keeping the old Law to deliver ourselves from the fear of death and sin. God had a redemption plan and this verse says it clearly.

Romans 8:3 For God have done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh.

It is very clear that the Law was given to the Israelites to highlight what sin is and that we were all guilty of sin, but then the Word of God brings the solution so excitingly! Jesus became our ransom, the only one who could change things around, by becoming Man in the flesh like us. He was also tempted on earth but without sin.

Jesus has compassion with us because He walked the earth like us. He redeemed us of the law and gave us a New Covenant. Rom 10:4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

We should not mix the Law and the life in the Holy Spirit. When we mix the two we get confused and can never live in the fullness Jesus Christ has brought to us. Through the New Covenant He fulfils the way of the Cross, died and was raised to life by the power of the Holy Spirit. All for us so we don’t need to do anything more to please Him before He sees or hears us. He paid for it all even in the future. He has given us the whole package which are ‘forgiveness of sin, heals all our diseases, He blesses us and provide in all our needs, renew our strength, authority and power to do His acts of glory, signs and miracles following His Word, entering into the presence of our Father, death has been overcome forever and more’. Think about what have been accomplished on the Cross, Jesus our full Salvation, and if you are not sure about your stand in Christ, call or see someone you know that will be able to help you.

I sincerely pray that you will grasp this ‘whole package’ as Jesus said on the cross ‘It is finished’ John 19:30. Speak the life of Jesus in your situation and thank Him for His salvation and deliverance He has already given you.

Whatever we have ever done wrong He will not remember our sins and lawbreaking because there is absolute remission, forgiveness and CANCELLATION of the penalty of those sins and lawbreaking. No amount of confession of every so called “sin” as an offering made unto forgiveness can atone for our sin. Jesus Himself accomplished our cleansing of sin and riddance of guilt. We are to accept this offering with gratitude and great joy and gladness. The more we are going to concentrate on sin the greater our bondage to legalism and condemnation. How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of His eternal Spirit has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the ever living God? In accordance with the Will of God we have been made holy, sanctified and are consecrated through the offering made once and for all through the body of Jesus Christ. Hebrews10:10

In all these adverse circumstances I am not prepared to give up because I know God is powerful and His Word is the Truth. I stand on it and if I have done all the standing I will keep on standing.

This Scripture in Ephesians is so powerful I thought to copy it all.

(Eph 6:12) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

(Eph 6:13) Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

(Eph 6:14) Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

(Eph 6:15) and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

(Eph 6:16) In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

(Eph 6:17) Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

(Eph 6:18) And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

God cares for all of us

I want to share the emails and responses after some of my previous blogs went out. This is such a testimony to me how our Father loves us and take care of us. He prompt people to share His heart with me, to encourage me out of heaven, lifting my face like a flint to keep trusting and looking unto Jesus.

Hi Elmien,

You don’t know me I go to LCC. We have been praying for you and last week at the men’s prayer God gave me a picture when we were praying for you.

I saw a smashed cup, it was fragmented but the cup was restored, all the smashed pieces joined together to form a cup again. The cracks were still visible but the cup was now able to hold what it was intended for.

I believe God gave me this to encourage you, although you feel weak and fragmented, it is Christ who makes you complete!

As you continue to read through Luke read what the King James says several times in accounts where Jesus healed people.

Luke 6:10 -- "And, looking round about upon them all, He said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so; and his hand was restored whole like the other."

Luke 7:10 -- "And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick."

Luke 8:48 -- "And He said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. Go in peace."

Luke 17:19 -- "And He said unto him, Arise, go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole."

What good is a fragmented cup? When you pour into the cup it leaks. Praise God that in Christ he has ‘already’ made you complete and an effective vessel for the Holy Spirit.

I pray that having been restored in Christ Jesus that you become a cup not only whole but with no visible marks of physical damage and full of the Holy Spirit.

My sister’s son–in-law

You are an inspiration to many and a blessing.

I learned last night that the cancer is growing in your liver now. This is sad, but I feel that I must mention this and please forgive me if I sound insensitive....God is not a man that he should lie. His Word is the truth, not the report of the doctors. The truth is that you are healed. I know this battle is difficult for you and I am amazed at your strength and courage.

I can see Jesus in you. I can see him in you everyday you fight this thing, without complaints, just worshipping him. I am in awe of your faith. You are amazing!

I hope that you will just never give up, you are too precious to be lost now, there is too much for you to do. Your time has not yet come. Hang on and stand, let God fight the battle for you...remember that Jesus is your strength, you have shown all of us that you have relied on and trusted in Him. Do not let fear into your heart, but continue to believe the Word of God.

Elmien you are a great blessing!

Thank you so much for who you are.

From my sister-in–law out of SA. It is Le Roux sister.

My dear Elmien

If EVER I believed that God can save someone's life through a miracle, I believe it more than everything else in the world right NOW! You ARE HIS beloved child and HE WILL be taking care of you.

Love you lots!

One of my colleague from our business

Hi Elmien

It was so wonderful to see you in the office last week! I have read your blog and understand that things may look grey but I still believe that good will overcome. Remember last year when you were first diagnosed and the negative attitudes that surrounded your prognoses. And yet - here you are, a year on, still smiling and still determined! I believe in my heart that you will continue to defy all the odds and get stronger. We are all here for you and love and support you!

I hope you and the family have a wonderful Christmas and a fabulous 2010!

Take care, keep resting, keep eating, and keep believing!

Family friends from our church

Hi 22 December 2009

Praying for you today just felt to say that we love you and are praying & believing for your full recovery in 2010.

God is saying:

Don't give up hope my child, hold on be steadfast. What remains is faith, hope and love. The enemy may seem to win battles and take away much but there is stuff he can't touch. We are going to win the war.

I am holding you and your faith won't fail. Shortly an avalanche of prayer, a chain reaction, is going to start for you and the enemy’s designs and plans will be totally exposed and destroyed. He won't know what has hit him!

I came to give you life and life in abundance. What you now have is lack but soon that will change my glorious daughter - beloved!

Here are the lines of a song I have written recently:

"Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father, he is good to all he is good to all

Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father, it is freely given it is freely given.

Daily he loads us with his benefits; his mercies are new every morning

His love and kindness know no end.

This is our God, This is our God"

Friends from our church where we lived previously.

Dear Elmien, 22 December 2009

This morning I read from Daily Light this phrase from Isaiah 60:20 'And your days of sorrow will end'.

Today is the shortest day of the year, the day when there is most darkness.
The beginning of Isaiah 60 says 'Arise shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.'

The whole of Isaiah 60 is about the glory of Zion, but in a way also seems to me to be somehow relevant to you.

I do pray that the living hope of Jesus in you will be a bright light in this day and in the days to come.
“The Life-light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out” (according to the Message paraphrase).

Shekinah Shalom

A dear friend from SA

Dearest Precious Elmien,
You continue to teach us so much about faith, love, family, friendship and life! You encourage us daily to worship the Lord and praise HIM for all HE HAS done for us, and this you do in the midst of your battle! I admire you so very much Elmien and thank God for you! I actually don’t have the words to say that could for one moment describe the respect and love I have for you! All that you have learnt only few get to grasp it? You are constantly in my thoughts and prayers and as your precious sister in the Lord I put my arms around you and give you the biggest hug and say that I love you ... and I thank you for taking the precious time to share with us all these very precious jewels! You are AMAZING!! I am trusting the Lord with you for your miracle! Without faith it is impossible to please God and I know that it is in your heart as much as mine to walk by faith as pleasing God is ALL I care about... the rest follows!

Be strong my lovely friend and even though it’s dark outside... the light shines so bright in your heart and life and it will drive out the darkness! The Lord's hand is certainly on you for good!

We are all praying for you and standing with you all the way...

LeRoux is wonderful, what a mighty man of God he is! God will undertake for all you need as HE always has...

Friends with whom LeRoux worked previously.

Stay brave Elmien and remember God is Love; Le Roux and all the family love you - so God is always with you

Thinking about you, I am reminded of Jesus’ parable of the Good Landowner and the Vineyard Owners – Matthew 20:1-16

We wish you a peaceful Christmas and will be praying for you

Love and regards

My friend Madeleine called from SA and spoke words of encouragement, healing and wisdom from God’s Word. I listened carefully to my friend because she herself went through though times in her own health and how God brought her through. Never a day passes that she is not smiling and resting in God’s goodness. She is in a wheelchair but lives life and victory to the full. Bringing in the lost by living, loving and giving to the needy whom God prompts her to give. She minister to them by love and deed and they come to her to ask about this Jesus. She is a living testimony of life in Jesus. Thanks Madeleine as I look at you there is just joy unspeakable.

My children speaking life to me and the comments on the blog of friends and family, a sweet aroma to my soul, cheering me on to stand firm on God’s promises.

Le Roux’s brother called and my sister and family visiting in the Cape with them on that day all spoke to me. They folded me in their love like a blanket.

Our pastor and his wife came to visit and we had a glorious time together. Another pastor and his wife came a week before and as I say we had a glorious time of sharing and praying together.

This is why I lift up my hands in praise to my Lord and keep on standing on His powerful Word. He is faithful and sent His sons and daughters to encourage me, showing in a tangible way His love to me in this challenging time, but now changed into great victory because of Jesus.

It is a great encouragement for me and my family to know God has surrounded us with such a great cloud of witnesses.

I am eating better each day and my weight is stable creeping up by the 100gm. I am grateful for every change I notice in my body.

Dark, grey and cold but looking unto Jesus!

17 December 2009

It is Thursday morning. The weather is grey, dark, dreary and cold and I am feeling like the weather! I had a stent removed out of my stomach and a stent put in place for me to feed myself less than a week ago. My energy levels are as dreary as the day outside and my weight is now at scary levels according to the dietician who worked out my BMI. Oh but my hope is fixed on Jesus because I had such a great chat with Him and the Father during the night every time I woke up.

I have an appointment with the oncologist on this very grey day. Le Roux was gentle and understanding helping and nudging me to get dressed. I have decided not to take any further chemo and she, the oncologist was happy with the decision because she was of the same mind and do not see that my body will make a next round of chemo. The reports as grey and dark as the day. She was very compassionate in her own way and made us aware to contact a hospice so I can be in control of my last days. I looked her in the eyes and said: “Caroline, I just want to say it again to you I am not going to die. I am too young and I believe God’s Word is true. His promises to me were none of death but of life and victory in Jesus. I read a book of Dodie Osteen healed of liver cancer, with God nothing is impossible.” I left the room because Le Roux and she still wanted to discuss matters and I chose not to be part of this conversation. Although I warned her not to scare my husband, she laughed and promised she won’t but will try to just answer his questions.

As I walked to Ward 2 to have blood taken for tests my mind played hide and seek with me. What if you are wrong and you are going to die? Do I recognise this “What if” oh yes I do and I started quoting God’s word to myself and prayed in the spirit, while I was waiting for the nurses to help me. Le Roux came and he was all smiling. I asked him how many days did she give me. Le Roux looked with great compassion to me and his answer was. "Our Lord is our hope and future it is the start of a journey walking in God’s goodness as never before. An exciting road because this healing is going to manifest or these people will never know how alive God and His Word are." What a husband showing me always to the love, mercy and grace of Father God. Meanwhile he has loads to deal with himself, running and trusting the Lord for business to keep flowing, building up a new company, dealing with the closing of the year end, intellectually dealing with the figures, and books himself. Cooking and feeding me at home! As I looked at him I thanked God for a husband who shows so much of God’s character to me. So how do I still bother with these “what ifs”?

Oh the wonderful Jesus whom is the Word of God whom became flesh for us. As I was studying the book of Hebrews that night these are the verses standing out to me.
Hebrews 10:35 Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward.
10:36 For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.
10:23 So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word.
I bring it under your attention that I specifically put it in this order as the word spoke to me and I meditated on it. If this is not God speaking directly to me through His Word I am missing Him through a ‘wicked unbelieving heart’.

I was reminded of what my youngest son said to me the previous weekend: “Mum it seems as if you haven’t got this quite worked out you know as I know there is only One Healer and he lifted his one finger heavenwards, that is Him”. I was shocked and then I knew he is right ‘believe in God and also in Jesus’. I say it many a times to myself, now I need to walk in it. I know it I should not give a hair's breadth of doubt in my mind. There is no place or time in my case for an unrenewed mind. Emails of encouragement from family and friends in South Africa, USA and the UK followed after my previous blog…God speaking to me through them? Oh yes I believe that.

I ended with God’s word just washing through me from Hebrews to Psalm 40, 70, 71 being lifted by Him and again Psalm 46:10a “Be still, and know that I am God!” This verse is on a magnet at my bedside table. One of my dear friends gave it to me on the airport as we flew out of South Africa. My sister’s words ringing in my ears… Rest in the Lord!!!

The next morning as I woke there was this great stillness…and I want to quote my dear friend Russell as he wrote it on his face book.

‘Woke up in a Winter Wonderland! Thick snow! Stark black and white landscape! The world’s noises muffled by the blanket God spread over us in the night.’

God’s Word do wonders for me…read with me.

Psalm 40:2 He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings.
40:3 And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear (revere and worship) and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord.
40:4 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who makes the Lord his refuge and trust, and turns not to the proud or to followers of false gods.
40:5 Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; no one can compare with You! If I should declare and speak of them, they are too many to be numbered.

I say thank you Father for Jesus Christ Your Son and our full Salvation. Nothing has been left out of Your salvation plan everything had been dealt with. We are so privileged to know Jesus our Redeemer. I am so satisfied with Jesus! Thank you to all our family, friends and followers of my blog who have been so dedicated over the past year, praying, standing with us, sending Word of God, emails, telephone calls, SMS’s and encouraging me not to give up. Thank you Lord for all these precious friends and family in my life, You are a good Father!

May you have a wonderful, blessed Christmas time together with your loved ones and see Jesus Christ as our ultimate Redeemer! Blessed be the Name of the Lord!