Hello folks,
Another storm today, 6th February, and the power is off, again.
To crown it all the generator has now packed up. It switches on but flakes out as soon as one fridge is plugged in. We will phone Danny in the morning.
Very unpleasant with no power, you have to lie in bed in the dark looking at a ceiling you cannot even see. You cannot read, or watch TV, cannot work on laptop or tablet. Tablets and cell phones cannot be recharged. Cannot make tea or any other hot drink.
We no longer have any lamps, hot water bottles or heaters as we gave them all away not realizing we may need them again. Previously we were blessed with underfloor heating and air conditioners in our rooms, and whenever there was a power cut the generator automatically kicked in and the power came back on, within seconds.
Winter is coming, but we will face that hurdle when we get there.
My laptop no longer works without being plugged into a power point. Battery packed up a while ago and there is no money to replace it.
Learning patience and more patience. God is in control.
7th February, phoned Danny, re generator. He will come and take a look.
Ruth off to church. Danny came and checked generator, nothing he can do, it needs a service which we cannot afford at this stage.
When he left I forgot to close the wooden door of the laundry leading to the back porch, which is fully enclosed with burglar bars and a security gate. Result next door's dogs and our dogs had a barking match.
It got so bad that I was forced to chase the dogs into the laundry and as I closed the wooden door
and came into the kitchen,
I heard another rumpus and
saw that Sally had grabbed Vlooi again and (even though she was still wearing the funnel hood) she still managed to sink her teeth into Vlooi.
They were in my bedroom which is quite a distance away, but you can see right into it from the open kitchen doorway.
My first thought was that this will be the end of Vlooi. In order to separate them there has to be two people (and someone always got bitten in the process) and I was alone. I knew that I could not do it.
Nevertheless I proceeded to the bedroom with my walker and suddenly realized that I might be able to pry them apart with the walker. I then managed to push them into a corner between the built-in wardrobe and the wall and pressed as hard as I could and eventually Sally let go and Vlooi managed to escape, but I knew I could not release Sally as she would just grab Vlooi again.
Now what to do. I couldn't stand there holding her prisoner until Ruth got home from church. Looking around for a solution I saw that their leashes were hanging on the bedposts closest to me which was close enough for me to let go of the walker for a second and grab one to secure Sally so that she could do no more harm.
Miraculously I had hung the leashes there about a week before this incident. Normally I hung them on the posts at the other end of the room which would have been utterly impossible to reach without letting her go.
I praised and thanked God for the ability that He gave me to handle this problem without so much as a scratch. Also I could see that He had provided the solution ahead of time, because the leash was already where I needed it at the right moment.
to be continued
next post 15th May
Turn to me and be gracious to me for I am lonely and afflicted,
The troubles of my heart are enlarged
Bring me out of my distresses
Look upon my trouble
and my affliction
and forgive all my sins
Look upon my enemies,
for they are many
and they hate me with a
violent hatred
Guard my soul and deliver me
do not let me be ashamed
for I take refuge in Thee
Let integrity and uprightness
preserve me
for I wait for Thee
Redeem Israel, O Lord
out of all his troubles
The Lord sat as King
at the flood
Yes, the Lord sits as King forever
The Lord will give strength
to His people
The Lord will bless his people
with peace
I will extol Thee, O Lord
for Thou hast lifted me up
and hast not let my enemies
rejoice over me
O Lord, my God
I cried to Thee for help
and Thou didst heal me
O Lord, Thou hast brought
my soul from Sheol
Thou hast kept me alive
so that I should not go
down to the pit
Sing praises to God,
all you, His godly ones
and give thanks to His Holy Name
for His anger is but for a moment
His favour is for a lifetime
Weeping may last for the night
but joy comes in the morning
Now as for me, I said in
my prosperity
I will not be moved
O Lord, by Thy favour
Thou hast made my mountain
to stay strong
Thou didst hide Thy face
I was dismayed
To Thee, O Lord, I called
and to the Lord I made
supplication
What profit is there in my blood
If I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise Thee?
Will it declare Thy faithfulness?
Hear O Lord, and be gracious to me
O Lord, be Thou my helper
Thou hast turned for me
my mourning into dancing
Thou hast loosed my sackcloth
and girded me with gladness
That my soul may sing
praises to Thee
and not be silent.
next post 13th May
Hello folks,
God's moral character is pure sacrificial love.
It is this Almighty God Who loves us, (who are so unworthy of His love) so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die on a cruel
cross, in order to set us free from the curse of sin and death.
"for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:16
"But God shows His love for us, that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8
"No in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:37-39
"Greater love has no one but this to lay down His life for His friends."
John 15:13
"Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her."
Ephesians 5:25
Surely this one act of His alone should bring us to our knees and make us His willing slaves?
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galations 2:20
"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God."
1st John 3:1
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."
1st John 4:18-19
"But love your enemies, do good to them without expecting anything back. Your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."
Luke 6:35
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us."
1st John 4: 18-19
"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is Love."
1st John 4:8
"Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers all wrongs. "
Proverbs 10:12
"Jesus replied, 'love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like unto it, love your neighbour as yourself .' "
Matthew 22: 37-39.
"This is how we know what love is; Jesus Christ lay down His life for us. We ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
1st John 3: 16-18
" And above all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
Collosians 3:14
"Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
1st Corinthians 13: 4-8
"And now these three remain, Faith, Hope and Love but the greatest of these is Love. "
1st Corinthians 13:13
What a wonderful place this world would be if everyone was filled with God's love. There would never have been a war, or a murder or a theft and all the other heiness acts.
But take heart when Jesus Christ returns to take His children home then we will have this perfect world that we so long for.
next post 11th May
Hello folks
it is now 4th February. Ruth and I are going to town this morning as we need to change my address at the bank before Ryan has to provide banking details for Adsence re blogging.
The dogs know we are going -Benji and Harry jumping all over me. Ruth comes into my room to tell me something and Sally is so worked up she grabs Vlooi again.
While we are trying to separate them the other three get into a fight but we have to ignore them so that we can separate Sally and Vlooi. Ruth gets badly bitten on index finger, I get bitten and scratched on my right hand.
Vlooi Sally
We manage to get dogs sorted and off to town we go. When we arrive at the bank we are told that our proof of residential address is not acceptable so we have to go to Ruth's bank for a statement to prove our address.
We have to walk quite a distance in the mall. Even though I am using my "walker," I can't make the distance and have to sit for awhile. I am out of breath. Why did I take so long to decide to sit and rest? Same story, all the way back, walk and sit.
We did some urgent shopping of fruit and vegetables, bread etc using the money we were keeping to pay Rose at the end of February.
On the way back home in pouring rain, we saw a dog running wild on the busy street trying to avoid the traffic. It didn't know which way to go to avoid being hit. Ruth pulled over to the side of the road and managed to get the dog into the car.
The dog is in very good condition. Clean, well fed, collar around its neck with her name and two cell numbers.
Ruth phones first number and informs owner that we have his dog in our car. He says he will be with us in ten minutes. After half an hour, still no owner of the dog. Ruth phones again and gets voicemail. She leaves a message saying that if he is not here in five minutes we would be leaving taking his dog with us.
He arrived before this could happen. We would have loved to have that beautiful loving dog but that is out of the question. we can barely feed our own five.
Friday morning, 6th February
Ruth has to see the doctor for a script for an antibiotic as her finger is very swollen and hard to the touch. She did put antibiotic ointment on the wound yesterday but forgot that she should take oral antibiotic as well because of the extent of the wound.
Sally was also bitten by Vlooi and now has to wear her funnel hood to prevent her from licking the wound. We learnt another lesson from this. When she has the "funnel hood" on it is not so easy for her to bite.
to be continued..
next post 8th May
The earth is the Lord's
and all it contains,
The world and all who dwell in it
For He has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
and who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands
and a pure heart
who has not lifted up his soul
to falsehood
neither has he sworn deceitfully,
he shall receive a blessing
from the Lord
and righteousness from
the God of his salvation
Lift up your heads, O ye gates,
and be lifted up ye ancient doors.
That the King of glory may come in
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty
The Lord, mighty in battle
He is the King of glory.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates
and be lifted up, O ancient doors
that the King of glory may come in
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord of hosts
He is the King of glory.
To Thee, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O, My God, in Thee I trust
Do not let me be ashamed
Do not let my enemies exult over me.
Indeed none of those who
wait for Thee will be ashamed
Those who deal treacherously
without a cause
will be ashamed.
Make me know Thy ways
O Lord,
Teach me Thy paths
Lead me in Thy truth and
teach me
for Thou art the God of my salvation
For Thee I wait all the day
Remember, O, Lord,
Thy compassion and Thy lovingkindnesses
Remember me, for Thy goodness sake, O, Lord.
Good and upright is the Lord
Therefore He instructs sinners in the way
He leads the humble in justice
and He teaches the humble His way
All the paths of the Lord are
lovingkindness and truth
To those who keep His covenant
and His testimonies
For Thy Name's sake O, Lord,
pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
Who is the man who fears the Lord?
He will instruct him in the way
that he should choose
his soul will abide in prosperity and
his descendants will inherit the land.
The secrets of the Lord are for
those who fear Him
and He will make them know His
covenant.
My eyes are continually toward
the Lord
and He will pluck my feet out of the net.
next post 6th May
Hello folks,
We are now going to look at the Omnipresence of our Almighty God.
OMNIPRESENCE
"God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."
John 4:24
He is present everywhere in the universe. No one can hide from Him and nothing escapes His notice.
"Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven You are there, if I make my bed in Sheol You are there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me and Your right hand shall hold me."
Psalm 139:7
"Am I a God near at hand" says the Lord, "and not a God from afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him? Do I not fill heaven and earth? " says the Lord.
Job 23:23
For His eyes are on the ways of man and He seeth all his goings.
Job 34:21
The idea that God is everywhere is not the same as pantheism which equates God with the universe. The doctrine of God's Omnipresence says that He is present everywhere in the universe NOT that He is the universe.
Thus says the Lord, " Heaven is My throne and earth is My footstool. Where then is a house that you could build for me? And where is a place that I may rest?
Isaiah 66:1
The fact that God is everywhere should be a constant source of comfort to His children (how few of us understand this) wherever we go and whatever our circumstance God is always with us.
God has promised us that He will always be with us.
"When you pass through the waters I will be with you and through the rivers they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched neither will the flame burn you"
Isaiah 43:2
"For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Hebrews 13:5
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the world."
Matthew 28:20
For in Him we live and move and have our being.
Acts 17:28
"For where two or three are gathered together in My Name there I am in the midst of them."
Nearness and distance make no difference to what God sees and does.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place , watching the evil and the good.
Proverbs 15:3
.
We must also remember that although God is Omnipresent we can become separated from Him.
"Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. "
Isaiah 59:2
You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
Galations 5:4
They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.
2 Thessalonians 1:9
next post 4th May
It got so bad that I was forced to chase the dogs into the laundry and as I closed the wooden door 
