A Cocoon of Protection

I marvel at the amzing God we have. Ther are few words to describe Him, and even those just touch the surface. God is bigger than our small human minds could ever comprehend - quite scary isn't it.

During a recent visit to the Zoo, I saw this fun attraction for kids and I loved the colours of the balls, the life and the fun portrayed.

The more I think about this picture, the more convinced I am that it depicts our lives in a Christian walk. Bear with me for a moment. Take the large plastic (?) balls, equate this to the protection, love and care that our Lord provides us. His loving angels stand at guard around us and protect us as we go about our business. We are the children inside these globes, going about our lives in complete protection. Despite being in the water, we don't get wet. We have plenty of space to stretch, enjoy and live.



When we fall, He is there to protect and catch us, to cushion us from the blow.

So, there is one BIG question that you may ask, why do we get hurt. I wish the answer were as simple or as short as the question. In the grand scheme of things, perhaps it is. The only way anything can harm us in our coccon, is when we let it in. We have control and access to all things coming into our lives, it is these things, through our own choice, that we allow to hurt us. If I look back across my life, the things that have hurt me, are all things I have let in, out of my own choice and my own selfish desire.

Let's be more aware of what we allow into our lives.

Be blessed!

The Grace of our Lord

The more one thinks about it, the quicker the list grows - there is just so much to be thankful for.
21. My Dad - for his quiet determination
22. Safe travels over the oceans
23. For the safety of His sancuary
24. For the safety of my family
25. For His completeness
26. My need for completeness in Him
27. The delight of returning home and seeing my lovely wife once again
28. For His gentle touch, His guidance and His strength - Our Lord helps us through everything
29. For every day I am able to achieve my goals
30. For His endless blessings

Being Thankful

My word - does time fly by when things absorb and occupy you, keeping you away from the things that you should hold dear to you. "Keep The Main Thing, The Main Thing!"

Well, as suspected, the start of this list of things to be thankful for has sparked much soul searching and debate in what I value in life and what I should rather value and appreciate. I am not convinced priorities are in the correct order, but this list is going a long way to "realign" my mind to focus on the correct things as opposed to everything else that comes across my path.

11. For the trust given me by my friends and colleagues.
12. Early morning trips that allow me to see the sun rise across the landscape.
13. Watching the sunset - seeing each star being called out to shine across the sky!
14. The support of friends who are always there to help when I need it.
15. Raymond - More than just a true friend.
16. For the new challenges my Lord has faced before me.
17. For His unending grace.
18. For our new house - it may not be perfect, but it will be a home that will be filled with much love and laughter. It will exude warmth and love.
19. The excitement of seeing old friends.
20. For the loyalty and love that my dogs show to me - what a wonderful way to get home each day!

1000 Things to be Thankful For

I was inspired by the Gratitude Community blog about 1000 things to be Thankful For.

I had an email come across the screen the other day that equated heaven to a bunch of offices where angels processed prayers. The "requests" office was large and very busy and as one went from office to office you were aware of the selfishness of man. The last office that was descurbed was a small office with only a single angel twiddling their thumbs. This room was to process all the "thank yous" sent bup to heaven in our prayers. I wondered how accurate such a portrayal could be? not the office idea, but how selfish we as humans are. The more I thought about it, the more I realised that it was not often that I thanked the Lord for any small blessing that He puts across my path. The big blessings are easy, it's the little things that we take for granted.

So, where to start? This most certainly isn't something that can be done all at once, although further reflection of it should be plainly easy. It shows how much we take for granted each day. But in what order? As I start to jot down ideas and thoughts I begin to wonder whether they should be in any particularly order - would it make these things less important to me? No - however all but the first 2 are in no particular order!

1) The Lord, his love for me, and for being His son (I can put all these as one can't I?)
2) My wife, Megan. For the angel that she is to me, the joy she brings to each day, the delight in my heart when I see her, for all she does for me and with me. I couldn't ask for a better companion.
3) My Family. Spread far and wide across this globe. My brothers and sister whom although we don't see each other regularly, mean the world to me. A family gives one foundation and their love and support in all things is all the encouragement one needs.
4) My Father. A man from whom I have learnt much over the years, fought wiht and loved. A man who taught me humility and honesty in the most amazing way.
5) My Mom. A lovely woman taken from us whilst still young, but I am thankful for even the little time that she shared with us. Thoughts of her still bring tears to my eyes almost 18 years down the line.
6)For a job doing something that I love, working with people that I enjoy, and living a dream.
7)For our new house - Been only in it a week so have to still be excited about it. It contains a view I have always dreamed of having, all the amenities needed plus more. We are truly blessed!
8) For a church and community that cares for and loves us.
9) For church leaders who stretch, challenge and grow me at each turn to be in the image of God. Still a long way to go, but heading in the right direction.
10) For my pets - 2 lovingly amazing dogs. Totally dedicated and devoted to us. If you want to know what love really is, you need a pet!

More is to come.

Be blessed and thankful!

Excitement and apprehension...

The documents have long since been signed. Technically the property is not yet ours and we have to sit in wait for the legal processes to be finalised. Why do not these people understand the anxiousness surrounding a property purchase and the final registration of the property.


We have a little over a week to move into the new abode, what excitement and adventure. However, the apprehension mounts as the days slip by in waiting for registration to occur. We have much to do on the house in preparation for our occupation and as the days slip past us we begin to find it more and more difficult to squeeze so much into such a short space of time. We would love to jump in there and start, but after caution form the legal fraternity, we are left with the apprehension and anxiety of having to wait, wait, wait

France for a week

Amidst the excitement of any pending trip, is always the anguish of leaving home. Most importantly leaving my wonderful wife behind. France, a regular destination for me for work, has become very familiar for me. I love its character, charm, culture and believe it or not, the people too! I have to add here that the food is always good and the wine thoroughly enjoyable too!

Travelling to far off places from JHB, whether for a day or a week or even longer, sees the airport as an emotional place as tight embraces and a last touch of the lips sees me journeying across the globe and leaving my darling behind. I can only wonder how much stronger the wrench will have to be when children arrive.

I love the thrill of flights, meeting new people, seeing new things, the comfort of the old and familiar, as well as the challenges that each trip brings. My heart however stays firmly behind me and small simple prayers are uttered regularly whilst I am away for protection over Megs and our home. Many think it is a grand life and easy to get used to - in the beginning it is, then a slow reluctance to leave develops, and thought of missing another day with your wife begins to make each trip seem longer and longer.

The flight back from France was a day flight. Thought I would choose something different for a change, usually I tavel by night. I had no need of sleep and my mind kept on wandering to the moment I am back on ground and reunited with my love. Flying across Africa with such beautiful sights of the Sahara desert, tropical rain forests, enormous thunderstorms in the distance and mighty rivers flowing across the rich African earth, but yet nothing is more beautiful than the sight of my love running to greet me as I walk out into the arrivals hall. This makes the trip all the more worth while!

Heaven is a place where nothing happens....

I never thought I could get so incensed by a simple title for a photo as the above picture. The enormity of what the picture and title are saying hit me pretty much like an SNCF train heading through the chunnel. Is this really the perception that people have about heaven? My word - how misinformed you are!

Do people really believe that when we die and go to heaven we are literally going to sit on a cloud and live peacefuly ever after without having to do a thing? Goodness, how off the path can you get. I don't have sufficient strength in the bible texts, but the bible talks of a New Jerusalem (See Revelations), streets paved with gold. People singing and dancing and worshipping their Lord and King. I cannot see it being a place of simple quiet, nothing happening. It will be a place filled with excitement and love, love for a King of such magnitude that all you can do is worship Him!

Welcome to Blogging

Blogging - something that has fascinated me for quite sometime. Everyday people out there making their stand on the world, being heard and being a part of things. I've not had the guts to take my stand until now, so here at last is my foot going down and entering the fray.

I have always wondered at what I would put into such a blog if I was ever to start one, and now that I have started, the question is no closer to being answered. I do however hope to not include any drivel and make it worth reading. I won't blog for the sake of it - I am only too aware of the limited time and pressures that people have to cope with on a daily basis and I would hate to waste not just my time, but the precious time of others too. I hope what I have to say will be of value to those who choose to read it. I am welcome to any thoughts and suggestions, so please do make your comments.

To set the scene - A young man living in Johannesburg, South Africa, working in the agricultural industry, with a passion for life. Is life not what we make of it rather than what "life thrusts upon us"?

At the outset I wish to state publically I am a Christian. I see eyebrows raised already. I am not interested in a religious way of life, and my Christian walk isn't justbecause I believe in God, but rather every thing that I do, I want to reflect God in it. I am not interested in doing things because that is the Christian way, I want to do things because my love for my Lord creates a desire in me to do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord. For are we as Christians not called to be "Christ-Like" in all we do?