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!

Back in the UK

Dear friends and family,

It is a month since I last updated the blog. It was also one year since the visit to the hospital and the first verdict of the doctors. 'Only a miracle will work' they had to agree.

The past four weeks were exceptionally difficult with a sudden change in my ability to swallow which resulted in significant weight loss. I looked so much forward to the visit of le Roux in South Africa as I really felt so well and was enjoying my time in South Africa. His visit was taken up by the battle against the onslaught which culminated in me having a stent (small pipe) been put into my oesophagus to ease the pressure. We also decided that it is better for me to return earlier to the UK. Last week I said goodbye to all my lovely friends and family in South Africa and very excitedly returned to my grand children and children in the UK.

Through a scan back in the UK they discovered last week that the stent dropped down into my stomach and I was immediately booked into hospital to investigate. Last Friday another stent was put in, with the intention to remove the old stent this coming Friday. All of this has made it even more difficult to eat with more weight loss and to the great concern of all around me.

Today the full result of the scans was made available. The verdict was grim. It reminded me of a year ago. The cancer has grown aggressively in the liver over the past month with little options and solutions offered by medicine.

The onslaught threatens to overwhelm. The physical signs are damning. In the midst of it, I can only resort to the One and Only Loving Father who’s Word is eternally true. The work that Jesus has done on the cross is complete, there is nothing to add and no circumstance can taken anything of it away or nullify what it has accomplished.

With every breath I take, with every sip of liquid food I want to remind my soul and body what Jesus, the Word has accomplished.

Thank you for standing with me in the gap as we continue with this miracle journey. Now is the time!

Luke 1:37 ‘For with God nothing is ever impossible, and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfilment.’
Ps 103:3 ‘Who forgives every one of all your iniquities, who heals each one of all your diseases’ - Jesus the perfect Lamb.

When the light of God’s Word shines through!

I have been reading and doing some study these last weeks in the Gospel of Luke. This verse in Luke1:37 For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfilment. (Amplified Version) was highlighted to me and for the first time I saw and read it in this way.

‘For with God nothing is ever impossible’ most of the translations give only this sentence. This is why I love the Amplified Version it brings more than one translation together. ‘…no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfilment’. When Gabriel, the angel of the Most High who stands continually in God’s presence, brought the message of the birth of Jesus to Mary, that she will be the virgin to give birth to the Son of God into the human world he continued with this verse Luke 1:37.

Mary didn’t doubt the Angel’s message and answered Luke 1:38 Then Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said. And the angel left her. The exact way and will of God for the birth of Jesus the Messiah, was prophesied over centuries. God’s word was fulfilled immediately by the fruit of Mary’s lips. The moment she said: “Let it be according to your Word”, the Son of God was conceived in her.

God’s Word and promises which He has given to you and me are our certain Rock and Foundation to stand upon and not to give up on during our time of hardship, trails and tribulations, He is with us. His promises stand true to help us and strengthen us in times of hardships (Isaiah 41:10 Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.) When I read the Word I am deeply encouraged.

Our minds are in the first line of attack. When our bodies are weary, weak, hurting and playing up, our thoughts bombard us to give up: ‘condemning us with the reality of our senses, trying to convince us that this Word we hold fast to is not real and working! Where is the Jesus for you now?’ This is a temptation and lies of your enemy the devil, to discourage you and pump unbelief against what God is saying through His Word of power to you. As we recognise the lie we can see better to keep our focus on His Word and know Jesus has stood fully in our shoes, these thoughts start to dim in His light and the truth of the knowledge of who He is.

Oh how I want to plead with anyone who is in a tight spot to keep on trusting in, relying on, cleave to; believe in Jesus the Son of God who is the Word of God. Jesus became flesh, born on this earth like us humans to have sympathy in every way with us. In other words, He knows what it means to be tempted in human flesh. I have found I need to keep renewing my mind constantly by reading and hearing what God is saying to me through His Word. I am allowing the Word of God inside my spirit to wash my mind, pushing through from my spirit to overflow to my soul and body. I am always lifted up by His Word to continue on this journey in His strength and victory. I have to set my face like a flint to the goal of what Jesus already accomplished for me through His suffering. His promises revealed in the Bible, is true to me in every way. I wilfully have to make the decision and say it aloud to myself; ‘Jesus I believe you, you are the only Way!’

See Hebrews 2:18 For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering].

Dear friend HE IS ABLE, Jesus went through all we can ever imagine and conquered it for us. The Word says Jesus runs to our cry to assist us in every way, believe His word. Remember ‘no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfilment’.

Dear friend some practical advice I would like to share. During my struggle with this long term sickness and disease, what I personally valued very much, was to have a friend, a family member, someone who will be able to commit, to stand alongside with me on my journey. In my case it was my immediate family and family in Christ in the UK. In South Africa, where I ‘m recently being treated with IV Vitamin C etc. It is now my sister and her family supporting me, spiritually and emotionally as well as in many other ways, together with my husband and children in the UK. Without this support of love, encouragement and care it would have been very difficult for me.

Sometimes I am confronted with secondary infections, like a cough, a sore throat or a sudden rash, even had pink eyes recently, sometimes suffering with swallowing difficulties. But as one army my committed sister and her family rise up with me and God’s Word is spoken, read and sometimes we just sing the Word and God’s promises to one another. It has a tremendous impact! Friend as long as you do not give up there is hope, and recovery in Jesus.

It can become very challenging to take your medication or supplements. In my case I need to take many supplements to build and balance my body after the chemo finished. Don’t slack trusting in and encouraging yourself by looking unto Jesus to stick to the program. Sometimes I become despondent with all of the supplements, but with my doctor, a devoted Christian not ashamed of Jesus, my sister and family’s encouragement I just stand up again to continue with the procedures and say to these capsules…’You are blessed to nourish my body and do me well, you go down and stay down to do your job!’ But oh Jesus didn’t give up on me when He had to fulfil my payment of sin and health and this knowledge is an inspiration to me!

When I received the chemo treatment I blessed the chemo to only hit the dark cancer cells and kill them. I asked Jesus to protect the rest of my body of any negative side effects it may have. Today I can testify how the Lord did protect me.

We as the victims sometimes need to do some research or ask a family member, or the friend standing alongside with us on our own behalf how cancer or any other condition forms and operate to help us understand our authority over it and thinking process about it. Knowledge conquers unnecessary stress and fears. Out of this research may flow some changes we will have to take action on like a diet, eating habits and lifestyle. Knowing what makes cancer or any other conditions thrive gave me a handle and I could take deliberate action to stop feeding or helping it on. Knowledge will also help to build your faith. Changes in lifestyle are a very tender issue to address. By acquiring good knowledge over a wide spectrum, not only one sided, will help you to make these good changes.

I trust God like a child… if a toddler stands on a table and his Daddy stands in front of him with arms stretched out and his Daddy says jump! The little one jumps because he trusts his Daddy to protect and catch him. What a joy and laughter after the act and Daddy cuddles him in his arms. Just like this ‘jumping act’ I am operating so simple in trusting the Lord. How? As I renew my mind I believe in God’s Word that what I read in this day is mine and it is the only truth, specially written for me. This is how my trust and relationship with the Lord is growing within me.

I speak about myself as healed and remind myself of His promises which I believe in as guarantee for the manifestation of my healing. I see myself as blessed to learn about His love for us. I am learning about patients and endurance to grow in me and to seek to walk in our Lord’s compassion.

Have I conquered all of it, not yet but I am positively on the way. Everyday is a new day of mercy, grace and love and I say that to myself and thank God for it. I am exposed to a practical experience everyday reminding myself of my healing, rejoicing in my Father’s love and telling Him about what is in my heart. Our Father’s love stretches from everlasting to everlasting available to everybody, I can say it with confidence because it is written all over in the Bible.

South African experiences! Matric farewell!

A few weeks ago were the farewell of the senior candidates, of my sister’s school. I was privileged to join them to the occasion. It was a Buffet dinner. The hall and tables were beautifully decorated and set. The young people going to be the following seniors in the coming years welcomed us and the VIP guests who are the seniors of this year. They were also the waitresses and looked after their guests in a brilliant way. The new school year in SA usually starts January running through to the first week in December of the same year.

As the VIP guests arrived they were photographed, announced and showed to their seats. The girls looked absolutely stunning and the partners coordinated with their colours; all of them in special evening wear.

It is a vibrant group of young people with a future ahead of them. Some will be going on to University and colleges to further their education and follow their dream career. They had a brilliant Christian guest speaker Dr. Lechuti, who used the opportunity to motivate and inspire the young people to grab hold of their opportunities and be grateful for them. He also challenged them to think about whom they are and where they are going in life. It was so good that we ‘oldies’ felt like just taking up the challenges ourselves.

After we ate it was the turn of the head girl, deputy and any of the others in the group who felt like giving a word of appreciation and farewell to their group of friends, whom some of them were together now in this school for four to twelve years and some together in the hostel.

Their speeches were spontaneous and every one spoke about being challenged in their years at school with the Gospel. They appreciate the Lord and gave Him honour and glory. They came forward as a strong group, with a great potential of leaders, knowing the Lord. Appreciation for the teachers and their education were part of their speeches, joys, humour, laughter and tears of farewell followed. Each of them in the group was presented with a farewell gift from the school, and then they could dance and enjoy the rest of their evening.

They had the opportunity to crown Jesus as their Lord. Word foundations have been laid and now they will be out there in the big world. We and the parents can pray and trust that they will make quality decisions and choices every step of their life’s journey.

My experience was one of joy looking back on South African history to see these children internationally educated in South Africa and giving them wings to fly with confidence.

You can’t get more it is provided for already!

I had to come to the conclusion where I realised that all my prayers for more of the Holy Spirit, more of Jesus, more of the Father is fruitless and futile. All my prayers for revival all my life is not going to produce revival. We sing Christian songs where we constantly plead for more of Him. We think we will move God to do some supernatural sign or wonder so that we can believe that He heard our prayers or to prove that we are special in his sight!

The first step was to realise that God has given us all things that pertains to godliness and life in and through His Word the Bible. He already told us exactly what He has made available to every one of His children. He left nothing out that we should try to get from Him today. While He provided everything we can possibly think of and He provided even more than what we can think of or even ask.

See Ephesians 3:19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

3:20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]-

How did Father God provide me with all things? The answer: IN JESUS CHRIST! Even though we know the answers with our fleshly minds we need to grasp this with our WORD renewed minds. We can also say that we need to keep on renewing our minds until we grasp what the Holy Spirit is revealing to us. We have all heard the saying that it needs to drop from the mind to the heart. I have recently learned that it should be the other way round. The knowledge of the Holy Spirit living in us should be pushed from our spirit man to the un-renewed mind through the washing and transformation by the Word.

See Ephesians 4:23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],

4:24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

All the healing I have needed in my body to be free from cancer (or any other disease) has already been provided through the cross where Jesus became the curse, took the penalty for my sin and sickness then died on my behalf so that I could live. He sealed this testament with his resurrection and further by the out pouring of the Holy Spirit, God with me today. Therefore we lack nothing and should not continue to try and get healing from God but just take what He has already provided. It is not true that some people receive healing from God and others not. He does not choose whom He will forgive and whom He will heal. He healed everybody equally on the cross and forgave everybody equally on the cross.

The problem is thus not with God. Now what is the problem that some do not get healed and others do? I think in the first place we think God must still heal us in the future, so we keep on asking Him to heal us and due to our impatience, decide that He might not do just what we ask. God cannot give or provide more healing than what he has already done. My healing was accomplished when Jesus cried out on the cross: “It is finished!”

The second reason is that we might not understand; it is God’s will that all should be healed as it is His will that none will perish without everlasting life as He took away the sins of the world.

Ephesians 5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

People are not perishing because of sin but because they did not receive Jesus Christ as their Saviour, they did not believe in the One sent by Father God as the Saviour of the world. God’s grace is more, superabundant more than all the sins of the world put together. Thus repentance is not the act by which Jesus removes our sins. Repentance is the act of changing our minds to receive what God has already provided in Christ Jesus more than two thousand years ago for everyone who calls on His Name for salvation.

Healing for our bodies works the same way, it has been provided and this provision is sufficient to cover every disease lurking in our bodies. We need to see this with our spiritual eyes, hear it with our spiritual ears and receive it in our spiritual heart so that the process of this truth will be manifested in our bodies. Don’t get stuck on the time aspect, time is not the issue here, what is important is the fact that my healing has been provided. I do not have to change God’s mind to provide me with healing, I need to change my mind and begin to understand that I have been healed two thousand years ago. God cannot provide me with more healing or forgiveness than what He has already done. “It is finished!”

John 6:40 “For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

1John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us.

Matthew 8:2 And behold, a leper came up to Him and, prostrating himself, worshiped Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You are able to cleanse me by curing me.

8:3 And He reached out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed by being cured. And instantly his leprosy was cured and cleansed.

Another problem is that we get hung on the “faith” aspect. We might feel and be deceived by fear that we might not have enough faith to get healed. The good news is that all of God’s children have sufficient faith for their healing! How is this possible? When you were born from above and received the Godhead dwelling within you, you have the same faith as Jesus available to you.

Heb 12:2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source (beginning) of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its (our faith) Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

You need none of your own faith any longer you operate in and through the faith of Jesus Himself.

Therefore faith should no longer be our problem. We have all the faith we need to believe that we have been healed and will see the manifestation in our bodies. God cannot give us more faith. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ He has already provided me with all the faith I might ever need. Jesus Himself became my faith. Thus all I need to do is to operate in this gift of faith provided for me free of charge. We cannot ask for more faith because Jesus is sufficient at all times. Jesus is more than enough!

So after all this: “What must we do to be forgiven or healed?” Only believe in the One the Father has sent to accomplish such a great salvation for us, our healing included. Ask for a Holy Spirit revelation on Jesus Christ, your brother and the real Son of God willing to share His entire heritage with us. He is our Healer, and then takes your free gift of healing. This is our son-ship right!

John 6: 28 They then said, what are we to do, that we may be working the works of God? [What are we to do to carry out what God requires?]

6:29 Jesus replied, this is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger].

I trust this sharing will be a blessing to you as it is to me. My heart overflows because I do not have to perform and weary myself out to be in the Lord’s presence! Just believe Him and what He said in His Word, by renewing my mind.

Psalm 46:10 Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God.