Jonah

Jonah

Jonah, to Nineveh you must go
About My grace they should know
In the opposite direction he went
On the boat, he goes
thinking "God can't find me here"
The storm erupted. Everyone in fear.
Into the angry sea Jonah goes
A big fish sent from above
Keeps him safe for three days
Reminding him that
God is even at the bottom of the ocean
Suddenly the fish vomits him out
From the darkness of the sea
to the light of day
Garment complete with algae stains
He shouts repent repent repent
Everyone's day in sackloth and ashes they spent
God's grace and mercy to the Ninevites extend
Some hard lessons Jonah had to learn



Riana Odendaal
October 2019

Cast the first stone - if you are without sin

So here we go

I'm being pulled and dragged by the arm 

the accusations against me is flying through the air

by those who claim to be white sheep

but really paint their outward appearance white

and deep inside is just as sinful as any other.

They believe themselves to be perfect.

We go this Man in town

we all believe to be a great Rabbi.

The guilt sit on my shoulders like a rock

even though I know I'm not the only guilty party

but my tongue has been cut to speak against the other. 

"Rabbi" this woman... the rest of their accusations drift past my ears

The compassion and mercy shines from His eyes

unlike the so-called religious leaders of the day.

The Rabbi tells them to cast the first stone

if they are without sin

as He know full-well what is going on in their hearts.

He bends down and scribble in the sand

one by one their guilty consciences let them walk away

their loud accusations against me ricocheted. 

The Rabbi soft voice speaks to my soul

"Woman, where are they? Have no one condemned you?"

No Rabbi, not even one.

"Neither do I. Go and sin no more."

Instantaneously the weight of guilt and judgment fell from my shoulders

as I walked away in this never-before- felt grace given to me

This Rabbi must be the Messiah we so long for

No one else can forgive sins

No one else knows what is going on behind religious masks

Except God. so this Rabbi must be the Messiah

(John 8:1-11) 

Riana Odendaal

October 2019

Daniel

Daniel prays

Jealous colleagues

Tricks King Darius

by signing silly new law

Daniel thrown in lion's den

God's Angel close lions' mouths

Daniel kept safe

Darius praises God

 Lions have breakfast of jealous colleagues  

God's name is honoured above all

by all in Medio-Persia

Riana Odendaal

October 2019

Secretary of the grassplains

Secretary of the grassplains

Tall and proud he slowly marches

throughout his territory

With his black pants and grey coat

looking for a snack slithering around

wide open spaces

he will with his presence grace.

Numbers decrease at alarming rates

bush encroachment; their grassy plans cut smaller

and smaller and smaller .....

makes that we see less and less and less

secterary-birds marching around the countries' grassy plains

Praise the name of the Lord

From the place where the sun rises to the place where it sets the name of the Lord is to be praised

so from 

Australia to Argentina

Bali to Berlin

Cape to Cairo

Denmark to Dakota

England to Everglades

Francistown to Falkland Islands

Gabarone to Grenada

Helsinki to Hungary

Italy to Idaho 

Jerusalem to Johannesburg

Kigali to Kumasi

Lagos to Los Angeles

Mpumalanga to Magreb

Nampula to Nigeria

Oslo to Oxford

Perth to Pakistan

Quebec City to  Quito

Russia to Rwanda 

Sierra Leone to St.Lucia

Tehran to Tampere

Ukraine to Urucu

Vereeniging to Vitoria

Windhoek to Winnipeg

Xais-Xais to Xikumbane

Yemen to Yafo

Zanzibar to Zambia

and everywhere in between the name of the Lord is to be praised. What we are doing to take God's word to them, so that they may Praise Him? 

Saul / Paul

"We honour God" You belong to a cult.
You worship differently than us, so you're the problem.
You worship something else.
We will persecute you.
hunt you down, wipe you out.
Come, team, let's go get 'em christians
We will start at Damascus
Blinding light
A voice thunders from heaven
"Why are you persecuting me?"
"Who are you,Lord?"
I AM the Lord, the risen Savious
Follow Me!
Yes, Lord. I will follow
through misunderstandings and persecutions
stonings and shipwrecks
to death
I will follow You

- Paul' lifestory in a nutshell

Riana Odendaal
October 2019

You have been kind enough to come

"Peter"

Yes, Lord!?  Go with these people at the gate

A Roman Soldier and some servants.

and they are asking directly for me?

Where are we going?

Peter, just go with them, I sent them to you. 

So we walk the 50kms to Caesarea

Still not to sure what to expect.

We arrive at Cornelius' home

filled with anticipating friends and family.

This man of God will tell us about this God we fear and honour

but don't know much about. 

You have been kind enough to come, Peter.

The Messiah has come,

He paid for our sins on the cross

He rose on the third day

He ascended to heaven to prepare for us

He will come back again one day

"We believe"

and at once the Holy Spirit filled them too

A sure sign that they are now too, part of the body of Christ.

May we be kind enough to go, kind enough to those around us

but obedient to God who sent us to go.

(ref: Acts 10-11)

Riana Odendaal

October 2019