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

Lockdown 484

Lockdown Day 484 - 23 July 2021

Friday. Day 484, and the rain kept coming for most of the morning, the rain gauge measuring another 10mm. Although still cold and overcast, we managed to get our daily walk done by coffee time and decided to go have that cuppa by the seaside.

The Tokyo Olympics is underway! Our country's athletes proudly boast their colourful uniforms, respresenting our rainbow nation at the official opening ceremony. After the speeches the Tokyo logo was displayed in the arena.

I knew Tokyo would at some point display their tech prowess, and sure enough, above the stadium a 3D ball of lights appeared, depicting this logo. 

The presenter said there are more than 1800 drones in the air, magnificently choreographed to change the ball from the logo to a globe, depicting the continents of the world. Imagine being there and seeing this live.  

The only people in the spectator seats are the contingents of all the teams' various country representatives and people from Japan working at the event. Seeing the black and white checkered empty seats serves as a reminder of what the world has gone through.

And then, the whole city of Tokyo lit up. All the sights and attractions were displayed electronically, another tech feast to literally feast your eyes on!

Japan went to town and displayed their best, from musicians to dancers, and of course, Mount Fuji. Last, but not least, the Olympic flame arrives. This flame always evokes great emotion across the globe. It is a symbol of unity of the world through sport.

Today, in 2021, this flame also carries the testimony of the humble resilience and survival of mankind. In the end, Naomi Osaka carries the flame to the top of the Mt Fuji replica in the stadium, where she lights the flame that will burn throughout the event.

Tonight I drift off with the flame in my thoughts, praying a prayer of thanks for the rain and more to come and for the Light of the world to shine bright through us all. #Godsgotthis

Lockdown 483

Lockdown Day 483 - 22 July 2021

It started raining yesterday evening, and hasn't stopped yet! We woke up as the patter on the window grew heavy and melodic, signalling the arrival of ice rain. The little balls of ice stick to the glass at first, then slide down very slowly.

Throughout the morning the ice rain kept coming, ushering in a short bout of tiny hail for a few minutes, melting fairly quickly after touchdown. By lunch time we had recorded 40mm and were extremely excited.

As we had not yet heard a word of whether it had rained in the Langkloof, I decided to call a guest farm in the middle of Langkloof to ask if it is raining in that area.

Morné from Louvain Guest Farm was happy to share the good news of rain in Langkloof. They measured 20mm last week and 32mm last night and today. He said they expect more and it is still raining. What wonderful news!

I'm told we need a flood to fill a dam. So the prayerwalking continues. This is a huge lesson in faith against all odds.

The Creator of everything also created natural laws and intricate weather patterns. I also believe He absolutely loves it when we call things in faith; our faith in His absolute power and omnipotence.

I remember when I was little I would believe things the grown-ups would say "won't happen". It was like giving me a fizz-pop, but telling me there's no sherbet centre.

I just always had this voice in my inmost being telling me there's more than just what is seen/science. That I should keep digging for the "sherbet", the pure untainted taste of God. 

So tonight I go to sleep with the sound of God's intent embedded in the patter on my window, thankful for the now 60mm and to say yes, it does rain here this time of the year. Because God can fill dams. And because God's got this.