Dear Thessalonians

Dear Thessalonians

We came and shared God's truth to you

The Holy Spirit's power worked in your lifes

You received His word

with afflictions, with joy.

Others are telling us how you now life

your eyes were opened to your idols

these you have left for good

and now serve the Living and True God

For that we thank God every time we remember you

we thank God for His work in your lifes.

- From Paul, Silvanus and Timothy

1 Thessalonians 1 rewritten in other words. 

Riana Odendaal

October 2019

The woman with the alabaster flask

Jesus and disciples recline at the table

In the house of Simon the leper

joyful chatter abound.

Suddenly enters this woman

in her hands a flask of alabaster

Not a word spoken

as all eyes on Jesus

the expensive oil drips down his head, face to the floor

"What a waste!" suddenly fills the air

"The money could have been spent in this and that way"

But Jesus quiets their exclaims with

"She prepared me for my burial"

"She will be remembered by this wherever the gospel is told"

We don't see things the way God does.

Lord, may we learn to see things in new ways.

may we waste our expensive oils on You. 

Riana Odendaal

October 2019

(Matthew 26: 1- 13) 

The day of Atonement

The day of Atonement/ Yom Kippur

A day given to the Israelites

Instructions given for the sacrifices

A covering for the priest and his family

who then sacrifices for the nation

a covering for their sins for the year

followed year after year after year

A Shadow of the Substance what is to come

The Messiah came - the Substance

who is the Perfect Sacrifice

the High Priest

The only Mediator between God the Father and us

who not only covers our sin for time being

but who forgives

and cleanses us from all unrighteousness

with covers us with His righteousness

The Perfect Sacrifice

and Love for all mankind

Stop striving to be perfect - we can't be

and accept His atonement for you

which alone will cover and cleanse you

Confess you sins, and Trust Him to cleanse and Forgive you

*********************

Hebrews 9: 13-14

For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

********************

Riana Odendaal

October 2019

Words

Words.....

you spoke a few words

perhaps even forgotten by yourself 

what came out of your mouth

but it is hanging like a noose around the hearers neck

and a dagger in their heart

the venom of what is in your heart

is forever etched in the hearers memory

will you ever know the damage you caused?

will you ever learn to be careful with your words?

will you ever get rid of the venom in your life?

Riana Odendaal

September 2019

The Skeletons in the closet -- Mozambique

The skeletons in the closet

Under the bright blue skies and baobab trees

deep under the dust and mopane trees

lies more than meets the eye

skeletons hiding in the closet

wars with others and wars within. Floods and droughts

A quick glance at recent Mozambican history

Portugal move into Mozambique in 1600's

1962 saw the start of Frelimo, who started the war against the Portuguese in 1964

In 1974 Mozambique gained independence from Portugal, and the Portuguese given 24 hour notice to leave the country.

In 1976-1994  they had Civil war with Renamo and Frelimo fighting each other with various other countries backing these two parties, 

With the war ending in 1994.

Just 6 short years later in 2000 the area had wide-spread devastating floods

And you ask me, this happened 19, and 25 and 45 years ago, and what has that got to do with us, today in 2019?

Scratching on the surface we find

Skeletons from the war is still scattered all around

Ruins of homes and hotels, engine parts and others rusted goods chilling under trees.

In the memories of those who lived during the war, or even fought in the war

Memories of families that died, or fled to other countries - never to be seen again

and even more practical - there is a generation of people that can't read or write

simply because they didn't go to school because there was a war going on

and today can't read a Bible even if they will receive one.

How does that affect you who didn't go to the war, or might not even know about it? 

Perhaps you can consider donating money towards Audio Bibles so that this generation can have the Word of God spoken to them, that can set them free.

Freedom and forgiveness of sin and show them the way to eternal life, and free them from the skeletons of the war still stuck in memories.

And you can Pray. 

Riana Odendaal

July 2019  Mozambique

Donderstorm

Donderstorm

Slierte nat val uit die hemele neer
Die wolke dreun en steun
Wit blitse skiet orals heen
Die sinkdak raas, en min anders kan gehoor word
Die voëltjies kruip weg uit die reën
Maar sal netnou weer sing van die nat-seën
Die bome en plante drink die hemelse water
En almal se harte het ‘n smile op
En fluister Dankie Vader vir die reen

writtten January 2019

African Wild Cat #TheYafeChronicles

African Wild Cat

My fur is a beautiful blend of taupe, black and beige
Underneath this camouflaged fur I hide strong muscles, 
cunning, bravery, growls, and instinct to hunt fowls....
and so much more.
I prefer you not to see me if you are a tourist.... or my prey
If you pass me by, I will hide in the deep shadows so grey
I might be small, but in my heart I am a lion
The lion of the small cats of Africa
I am an African Wild Cat
Consider yourself lucky if I cross your path

#TheYafeChronicles