Lockdown 492

Lockdown Day 492 - 31 July 2021

The great weather continues and we decide to travel down the Sunshine Coast to revisit Jbay to have coffee and a walkabout in the surfer quarter of the village.

As before, Infood did not disappoint. We sat outside in the warm sun with a band of yellow finches chattering away while feverishly building nests in the palm tree for the females to decide which nest is best. I was mesmerised by them, going about their daily grind, some of them building two nests simultaneously to try and meet their female's criteria.

They just keep building untill one of the nests is acceptable to the female. No mess, no fuss. Or maybe that's what the chatter is about, maybe they're saying, "I can't believe she is just not satisfied with this nest, now I have to build another one", or, "who does she think she is, taking my hard work apart just like that" 😂.

We left Jbay for St Frances where we had lunch at Chokka Block in the little harbour. With the fishermen on strike, all the boats were moored and the picture looked like a little fishing village you would find somewhere in the Mediterranean.

The Local Calamari was served with either crispy veg or chips and was tasty and cooked to perfection.

Still thinking about those finches, as I tidy the kitchen before going to bed, I praise God for each and every skill He embedded into our design, particularly our resilience in faith. The good news of my nearest starting to make progress in their recovery, highlights the fact that we are here to exhibit the greatness of the goodness of God and His incredible power. And confirming that He's got this.

Lockdown 491

Lockdown Day 491 - 30 July 2021

Kudos (meaning congrats, praise and honour for an achievement) to Tatjana Schoenmaker, who did us proud at the Olympics in the Women's 200m Breaststroke final in the wee hours of this morning. She smashed the world record and walked away with gold around her neck. What a proud moment it was!!

Here are a couple of pics that was posted on Instagram:

Our afternoon consisted of soaking up the good weather PE offered today. We soaked up the sun on Something Good's stoep, watching the water gather up the glitter.

Hubby joined us for a late walk on the winding paths following the shoreline over rocks and pools, the salty air saturating our thirsty lungs and skin. We spent the last sunny moments on a bench back up on the cliff, ready for a Friday braai.

As I retire, the small snippets of good news of my nearest's slow but steady stabilisation and recouperation puts a song of praise in my heart. I whisper a thank you from my heart before drifting off, knowing God doesn't sleep and He's got them firmly in the palm of His hand.

#Ggt

Lockdown 490

Lockdown Day 490 - 29 July 2021

Today we saw 4 seasons in one day. The day started out cool, sunny with a light breeze while I was walking.

Looking forward to our planned walk at Schoenmakerskop, but realised soon after our arrival, the weather had changed drastically with a wind so strong I found it difficult to hold up a camera.

The choppy sea looked like a pot of white paint was blown all over the blue and the water moved in one direction, looking like a huge river in flood.

We saw many whales playing in this stormy sea, spy-hopping, breaching, lobtailing and pec slapping. To them it was obviously the best weather ever for play-time.

We eventually left the wind outside to have a hot cuppa inside Sacramento. The weather kept on darkening and we saw how the sea was generating a dark cloud of sea mist rolling in.

A short bout of rain stopped abruptly, leaving us cold by the time we turned in for the night.  In my mind's eye I see those whales , playing in the rough waters, completely unperturbed by the safety hazards, threats and many other "what could go wrong" scenarios.

A complete and utter faith in their ability to withstand all that, unwavered and steadfast in their Godly design. Now that is a lesson in faith and how to execute it how God intended it to be.

So I pray for my nearest's healing with my faith unwavered and steadfast, unperturbed by the world around me, believing and knowing God's got their healing covered. Because He's got it all in His hands.

 

Lockdown 489

Lockdown Day 489 - 28 July 2021

Today, while prayerwalking for one of my nearest who is ill, I realised how many of us may find ourselves in this place. Most of us know someone who is battling this abominable virus.

Instead of letting the gravity of it all pull you down, you have the power of choice. Choosing how you will react can determine what happens when you pray for them.

Praying fearfully is like praying without faith. And praying without faith is like a politician riding a wild horse he doesn't know at all.

So tonight I share two scriptures from Hebrews (The Passion Translation) about faith, the kind we need:

"And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that He is real and that He rewards the faith of those who passionately seek Him ."

Hebrews 11:6

"Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen."

Hebrews 11:1

Choosing faith goes hand in hand with letting go of fear. If you fear, even in the smallest measure, you allow your faith to be hijacked. It's like bungee jumpung into the spiritual realm. Trusting God is as difficult as it is easy. Just do it!

He's definitely got this.

Lockdown 488

Lockdown Day 488 - 27 July 2021

Not only did I see a Bloem coffee friend early this morning, I also welcomed my son to the windy city! Michelle and I enjoyed Como Caffé's great coffee and caught up on lost time.

At the airport, we had to wait outside for passengers to exit the building. The hello was sweet and we spent the afternoon visiting our usual digs at the seaside and watching the sunset at Schoenmakerskop.

With a hot day and a sea wind blowing inland, I wondered if the next cold front is on the way. According to the department of Water and Forestry's data, the Kouga dam has a 126million litre capacity and the level sits currently at 4%.

This means the rain was not nearly enough for the Langkloof. The prayer for rain continues!

After dinner, we enjoyed everything the Olympics had to offer, also celebrating our two SA silver medals in swimming and surfing. Well done girls! 🥈

The artistic gymnastics team final also produced some nerve-wracking moments as well as scintillating floor routines. We are looking forward to Chad le Clos in the Men's 200m Butterfly.

With the wind coming up outside I retire with a thankful heart and feel spoiled with family love. Be kind, even if you don't have a reason and make time for yourself. #Ggt

Lockdown 487

Lockdown Day 487 - 26 July 2021

And so Mr Prez announced an adjusted level 3 of Lockdown, changing curfew from 21:00 to 22:00, opening up Gauteng borders, the schools and sale of alcohol 4 days a week. For this mom it was good news, meaning Lukas can visit us during his study recess this week.

We started our day off with our regular walk and my day was filled with washing cleaning and shopping for this happy week ahead.

During all my stops I did a little people watching. The happenings in KwaZulu Natal saw the birth of a new kind of people in our country, setting aside differences for the common good of all, protecting each other and what is rightfully theirs. And it is showing.

Shop assistants and shoppers had hope in their eyes, a fierce pride for our people and it was evident in the way everyone spoke to and treated each other.

Maybe it was the adjusted level 3 adding to the happy vibe, or maybe I'm just excited for our upcoming visit, but I sensed a change in the spirit I have not felt since day 1.

It is like seeing the sun and moon simultaneously. That moment when you realise you can see them both, you feel a ripple of specialness go through your spirit.

So tonight I offer up a prayer for everyone who also feels this to pray along with me for an ever better country. I also offer up a prayer for everyone battling this virus (you know who you are), for the incredible healing victory God has for them.

I'm calling it once again, this time not only for rain, but rain in the spirit, for us to ooze the Spirit of Life from our pores. Victory is imminent for those who choose faith at all odds. Because God's got this.

Lockdown 486

Lockdown Day 486 - 25 July 2021

Sunday number 70.

After the 6-part Sunday series of real life wildlife photographs, I decided Sundays would be the day for weird, wonderful, magical and funny pictures, memes, jokes and pretty much any inspirational quotes or inspiring things I come across.

So, while the Prez's speech is pending, I though to share some lockdown funnies I recently found:

#Ggt

Lockdown 485

Lockdown Day 485 - 24 July 2021

Although it is still lockdown, world sport together with the olympics, serve as a window through which a glimmer of hope peeks.

Hope of a world starting to breathe despite the odds in this fierce battle against a virus and its variants. Hope of a "normal" life returning.

Watching the Boks play against the British and Irish Lions in Cape Town tonight, there are no spectators present. But there is a recording of crowd sounds playing in the background, to bring a degree of 'normal' to the game.

Earlier, we took a drive through Addo National Park, where we saw an Elephant cow with her  calves, a couple of Buffalo, Kudu and the Zebra nursery on an outing with two 'babysitter' adults. For these animals life has just gone on as always.

Although everything looks normal we should not be deceived by the "ceasefire" between virus and world. Although some of the statistics show progress, there are still so many unanswered questions and equally as many undisclosed facts since this pandemic broke out.

The only sure normal, the constant Way, Truth and Life, is found with Jesus, the Son of God. He is the benchmark and gold standard for all. Forever. For those who follow Him who loved us first, a normal perspective is eternity with Him.

"He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. "

I John 5:12

#Ggt