Lockdown 370

Lockdown Day 370 - 31 March 2021

On the mornings of April 1 and 2, 2021, watch for Antares, the brightest star closest to the moon. If you are looking from the Northern Hemisphere you will be looking southward. And you will be looking high overhead or high in the northern sky from Earth’s Southern Hemisphere.

Antares is a huge red supergiant star, it's mass about 15 to 18 times that of our sun. It’s an enormous star, with a radius in excess of three astronomical units (one AU is Earth’s average distance from the sun). If, by some bit of magic, Antares were suddenly substituted for our sun, its surface would extend well past the orbit of Mars. The lifespan of supergiant stars is short by stellar standards.

The ruddy color of Antares indicates a low surface temperature of about 3,500 kelvins (5,800°F or 3,200°C). Our yellow-colored sun’s in surface temperature is about 6,000 kelvins (10,000°F or 5,700°C).

Furthermore I would like to share the visibility of our planets:

Visible tonight, 

31 Mar – 1 Apr 2021

Mercury:	From Thu 05:02
Venus:	Until Wed 18:13
Mars:	Until Wed 21:42
Jupiter:	From Thu 02:40
Saturn:	From Thu 01:46
Uranus:	Until Wed 19:31
Neptune:	From Thu 04:47

For more information or to see where exactly these planets are, this link will assist:

(Just click on the planet you want to locate once in the website.)

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/night/

Gazing at the low light nightfall I am excited to see and locate the planets. I sincerely hope you will also find them and also experience a sense of magnitude confirming the existence of a living God. 

Tonight I offer up a prayer for everyone who feel they have lost God. He knows where you are, all you need to do is look up and call out. Look for the answer, because it will come.

#Ggt

#Gbwy

Lockdown 369

Lockdown Day 369 - 30 March 2021

With Easter weekend approaching, the shops and businesses have Easter eggs and bunnies in their windows, on their shelves and in their adverts. I wonder where March went, feeling cheated with time that waits for no-one. Easter has special memories of primitive holidays on the Wild Coast, hunting eggs on the beach, carefree as children should be. 

To this day I am a sucker for a chocolate egg, especially the dark chocolate filled ones. Marshmallow eggs are also a treat and I love putting them in the freezer and enjoying them cold, tasting like mallow ice cream.

Exactly where it all started and how eggs and bunnies became part of Passover got me thinking. I decided to do a little research and found all of it originates from the northern hemisphere, celebrating spring and the end of winter. Because it coincided with the original Passover in the book of Exodus as well as the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, it became incorporated into Passover celebrations as a symbol of new life. While I can see the reason for this, I realise that it bears no significance for us in the southern hemisphere waiting on winter (no new life there). 

Although I enjoy the sweet treats, the spiritual significance of Passover, as I prefer calling this time, is far more important to me. Apart from being protected from eternal death, we were saved eternally when Jesus exhaled His last breath on the cross. But the most awesome thing of it all was when He was resurrected, proving He is Lord of all, above reproach and death, signifying our salvation and victory as His followers.

Now that is something to behold and to revel in every day of the year. May this week of preparation for Passover be a time for reflection and renewal of faith. 

#Gbwy

#Ggt

Lockdown 368

Lockdown Day 368 - 29 March 2021

Monday. Business as usual. Washing, cooking, dishes. Repeat. Walked all my steps in a few hours of chores. Thankful I can move and am healthy.

Wondering if Mr. Prez is going to speech tonight, I decided to go stock up on a few items while shopping for meat loaf ingredients.

With dinner done and waiting, I went for an impromptu coffee nearby with one of my core friends. Turns out it was an appointment God organised. I got the feeling He re-arranged my diary. You know when you plan your day and things just sort of work out completely different but good?

As the sun sets on this day, I am compelled to share with you the wonders of God's world. He created earth and all that is in it so it stands to reason that He uses it to His advantage.

The most amazing thing happens when He impresses on one human being's spirit a message to relay to another's spirit. Such a message is so specific, it can only be for the recipient's benefit, as if Someone had seen their personal journal and deepest heart.

When you receive that message, you know there is no way on earth the other person could've known that kind of detail. This is how we know He gets us and really wants us to know it!

Being kind to others constitutes obedience to the Spirit's whisper. The reward? Kindness from God. Win-win.

#Ggt

Lockdown 367

Lockdown Day 367 - 28 March 2021

We left the farm with filled souls and renewed energy for the week ahead. I am moved by the utterly incredible impact of such a deep historic connection of friendship that goes back 28 years.

A lifetime of sharing and praying together is the fuel that drives relationships like these.

Tonight, while the full moon hovers like a silver ball over our balcony, dotting the treetops with a glittery sheen, I am aware that as surely as the sun and moon rise and set, so God is real, present and active.

So I offer up a prayer for my closest and those who are lonely. May you be blessed with a visit from God in the night hours and wake up with a fresh hope for each day.

Be kind to yourself and know that God really has got this.

Lockdown 366

Lockdown Day 366 - 27 March 2021

We left Gauteng this morning bright and early for a farm in the Eastern Free State. Charmiane joined us and we arrived just before 10am.

Marius and Ria welcomed us with warm scones and a steaming hot pot of filter coffee. What a way to kick off the day with a lot of catching up to do. Later, after a pot of tea and a fabulous chicken pie, we took an afternoon snooze.

The quiet spectacular view staring back at me is one of the reasons I keep coming back here. It deposits a pocket of joy in my spirit and is in many ways my muse.

Inhaling the fresh mountain air, I feel as though I can fly, free and unencumbered (meaning: not having any burden or hindrance).

This is day 1 of the new year of Lockdown and this how it has to be: burden-free. No matter what. This implicates a continuous action of letting go.

Letting go of whatever is pulling you away from God's Word and His presence. This is an act of random kindness (ARK) to yourself which will be the catalyst for many Arks to follow.

Give this to God. He's got this.

Lockdown 365

Lockdown Day 365 - 26 March 2021

ONE YEAR!!!!!

Day THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE.

This is an epic landmark day in the history of mankind, marking an ongoing change of direction for the earth and its people.

I wonder what would've happened if the the animal and plant kingdom could also contract or even worse, spread the abominable virus. I thank God from my deepest being that it is not the case.

Not only have I been blogging each day for the last year, but this date, 26 March, holds particular significance for our ralationship and marriage. Today, in 1982, my varsity bff Hester decided to take her new boyfriend an aero chocolate bar. She also decided I should leave one for his roommate (hubby😍). And of course, the rest is history.

This made me think of how a small act like leaving a peppermint aero on a man's desk could change two people's lives forever.

So tonight, this shall be the one year mark:

Master the

Act of

Random

Kindness.

Let's start with an ARK a month and watch the world become a better place.

God has been with us, and He has definitely  got this.

Lockdown 364

Lockdown Day 364 - 25 March 2021

Visual tribute #3.

Lockdown caused even the most ignorant to recognise and appreciate the arts. From music to sculptures to nature's inspiration, appreciation of the aesthetic has grown.

So tonight I go to bed with the words and pictures of a year milling around in my head, the memories imprinted like no other on a calendar that will stand out like a fiery beacon for years to come. And the words that stand out the most? 

Definitely GOD'S GOT THIS. 

#Godsgotthis

Lockdown 363

Lockdown Day 363 - 24 March 2021

Visual tribute #2.

Lockdown also gave the earth a breather and made us breathe with awe.

#Ggt

Lockdown 362

Lockdown Day 362 - 23 March 2021

Visual tribute #1.

The past two very hectic days I have constantly been thinking about the upcoming Lockdown 1 year Anniversary and everything the world has been through. As a tribute to all parts of the earth and human life, I decided to post a visual tribute for yesterday and today's blog.

God has got this.