Thoughts and Other Things

In acknowledgment of Women's Month, I spent this month having girl talks with the girls at the Orphans & Vulnerable Children (OVC) Centre I run Bible Study sessions at on Fridays. Of course the boys complained that I didn't do anything for them in July, I can't be blamed for forgetting, nobody makes a fuss about Men's Month, lol. (Next year it is boys). Anyway, I was so amazed at how the things I spoke with them spoke so much to me at the same time. I was also amazed at the amount of women the Bible features and how much they can teach us women of this age. However, today I told them about a woman who isn't in the Bible but one who has made the Bible's story of grace come to life in so many ways. Sarah Jakes-Roberts. I fell in love with her after I read her mind-blowing memoir, Lost & Found. I told the girls about her story to bring across a point that was burning in my heart all morning: don't write yourself off. It's been a year since I re...

Where do we draw the line with pet names? I'm one who has a serious problem with pet names. I'm not talking about nick names, I'm cool with those (I've acquired a whole lot of them in my lifetime), but I have a hard time swallowing once you suddenly  address me as "dear". Not in the adjective, "dear pastor" "dear neighbor" are completely fine. But the word as a noun is something else. Even worse if you insert the pronoun "my" before it; I shrink. I'm often labeled as 'fussy' or 'rigid' for it, but I really think we need to consider a few things when it comes to pet names. Familiarity. Pet names are used, or well are supposed to be used by people who are familiar with each other. Oxforddictionaries.com defines 'pet name' as a name that is used instead of someone’s usual first name to express fondness or familiarity. For that reason, I can't just meet you and now you call me "girl", no mat...

I read an amazing quote by Donnie Petty recently: "Come as you are, leave as He is." It's a simple statement but it's loaded with the things God's presence is able to achieve for those who draw near to him. God's love is so able that it doesn't require me to clothe myself with anything when I approach Him. He knows that there's nothing in me that is a weakness that His love can't handle. And that's the power of love, its ability to embrace one as one is and thereafter catalyze change. 'Strong' love does not require one to change before it can embrace you. It takes me in as I am then challenges and empowers me to change for the better. This then means my in/ability to accept another's imperfections is a reflection of the strength of my love. Many times you'll find that we want people to change into what we like and approve of in order for them to qualify for our love; our love is weak. God loved liars and murderers, prostitutes...

I spent the weekend with my father and his brother's family in KZN . I hadn't been to my father's childhood village in almost 6 years, and to say things have changed is an understatement. Firstly, I wasn't falling in and out of sleep during the seven-hour drive like I did growing up, I was the one behind the wheel. That was no problem, regardless of the sore neck and vetkoek-feet when we arrived last night; the problem was my backseat-driver father. The power of the Holy Spirit and my fear of public transport is the only reason I didn't leave Bruno by the side of the road and hitch-hike home. I fully understood Ephesians 6:4 when it instructed fathers not to exasperate their children (although I wasn't sure I understood what 'exasperate' meant but I was certain it was what I felt). When he fell asleep in the last mile on our way home, my heart was touched and appreciative of his presence. Sure it wasn't nice being told what to do when I knew wha...

Today I rearranged my room. I was making my bed when I thought the bedding looked boring, from there the whole setting seemed old, so I decided to change it. The decision to change it was easy because I had an idea what I wanted to change it into. I knew where I'd move the bed and chest of drawers and what color bedding and curtains I wanted up. At 2pm I was still up in arms shifting and sweeping, putting in place and hanging up. My flu symptoms were making a return, obviously invited by the washing of windows in the wind earlier on in the day. I was hungry, tired and feeling sick, I regretted my decision. I wanted to quit but problem was the room was still in the process, it was a mess in fact. If I left it as is, I wouldn't have enough room on my bed to sleep, my neighbors would see through into my room cause the curtains weren't up and I wouldn't be able to watch my favorite tv programs because I hadn't connected the telly yet. So I had no choice but to keep go...

She. Shhhh. The silent he. Formed in silent darkness as he lay asleep. From his side; his bone, his flesh, his own, yet another. Another, the womb-man. She. Shhhh. Silenced because of her fault, her naivety, her gullibility that lead her to pursuing what she already was; like God, made in His image. Silenced by her penalty, the periodic pain and flow that seized her body, defiling her, disqualifying her. Silent until she had to fight for herself. Fighting to see the realization of the promise; the manifestation of the seed that would be hers, the seed that would crush the enemy, that would still the voice of the critics, the shouts of the religious sects, the nagging of the cultural clique. She fought her way into history, sacrificing her dignity, called a prostitute, all so she could have what was rightfully hers, a seed. She fought against strong prejudices and judged, lead a nation and guided an army, while another She killed the enemy with a tent peg. She fought b...