Gimme Gimme Gimme

In a world where everyone screams

"GIMME GIMME GIMME"

I want this and that and that 

always some money

Oh, what's that thing so shiny,

and someone to call hunny

to make me a happy chappy

everyone living for the moment

and no perspective for what lasts

May our prayers be

Lord give me: 

New eyes to see

Your majesty

Your love and grace

and to seek your face

Lord give me

New things to delight in

delight in Your beauty

Your eternal faithful word

Your plans for the world

Lord give me

a Mind that ponders

on all Your wonders

a mind that yearn

to learn of You more and more

Lord give me

A new heart

That accepts your forgiveness

and a heart

that loves others

but loves You more

Riana Odendaal

May 2016

Behold my Servant - The Ultimate Promise Keeper - The Messiah

Behold My Servant: The Ultimate Promise-Keeper

My dear people Israel, behold my Servant

My Servant the Ultimate Promise-keeper

A promise He made to you

To send you into Babylonian exile

And that the stones of Jerusalem

Will all be on a pile

Which, in time, you found it to be true

A promise He made to you

To send His shepherd Cyrus

Who will send you back to the Promised Land

A promise made nearly two centuries

Before Cyrus was even born

Or any of you found yourself in Babylon

And… you found the promise fulfilled

A promise I made to send My Servant

The Messiah

That will save you from sin

A Child that will be born

And later suffer on a cross

For the sins of many

A promise which you all saw was kept

To the very last detail

A promise that My Servant, the Messiah

Will come again, and will reign forever

Is yet still to be fulfilled

But keep your focus on HIM

He is the Ultimate Promise-Keeper

He will come again

And reign forever

He is faithful!

Riana Odendaal

May 2016

(Scratching the surface on Isaiah) 

growth

On a sweet crispy Fall morning

under a bright blue sky

a little seed fell to the ground

pushed into the earth by feet trodding over

till no longer it a trace of it could be found

Deep under the dust, still it lay

hibernating

Throughout the cold winter months

drinking in the few dew drops

and every last little ray of sun

Slowly but surely

A little root grows out so lean

and by the time Spring comes around

It pushes out a brand new colour of green

a new plant sprouted

and drinks in the early spring rain

till it grows a beautiful crown

which turns many a frown

into an appreciative smile

Riana Odendaal

May 2016

Before

Before you get entangled in the Christmas lights

Run to The Light of the World

Before your inner glutton feasts on Christmas lunch

Run to the One born in the House of Bread (Beth-lehem)

The Bread of Life that will always satisfy 

Before you panic over christmas gifts and what to get

Think about the Greatest Gift of all time

Your Redemption

Before you panic over guests coming over

Think of those who have no one

Before you get caught up in the hustle and bustle

Sit quietly at the feet of the King, 

Ponder on the miracle of Christmas

The King of the universe, born as a baby

Riana Odendaal

December 2015

Bread of Life

On that blessed morning

As Mary gave birth to her baby boy

and lay Him in the manger

the Bread of Life, born to give us life,

in the House of Bread (Beth- lehem)

The star pointed wise men from the East

to where the Light of the World,

 the Bright Morning Star

lay in human flesh

to come and Worship the newborn King

May we also now come

and Worship Him

as we reflect and ponder on 

the miracle of Christmas

The Messiah born

to bring us Life

- eternal life with Him.

Riana Odendaal

December 2014

God's olives

An Olive
Perfect, round, purple
Purple for Royalty.
Crushed, pulped
Oil oozing out
precious oil.
olives galore crushed together
for the oil needed.
Oil to go into lamps
to light up dark corners of the world
Jesus placing us olives
(or had-been olives)
in strategic places
to shine His Light
in a dark world
that need to see Him.



Riana Odendaal
November 2015

Rahab

Rahab

A lady of the night
part of a pagan culture,
homemade gods
and little to none eternal sight. 

In the world around them strange things happen
three days of darkness in Egypt recorded some years ago
just before that, bloodrivers and flies galore
The deep Red sea split
Egyptian army drowned, whilst
Millions Israelites with camels, cows and all in tow
walked safely to the other side.

These strange folks are now moving closer
closer to her city, her comfort zone
the Jordan river went to stand on a heap
and overflowed its banks further upstream

She sits and up and take notice of these Israelites
and their God that does all these strange and wonderful things
Their God is so unlike their homemade gods
Like someone she can believe in, have faith in. 

Forsaking her idols
and trusting in this new God
not really knowing Him but starting the journey
a journey of a lifetime
forgiven and set free
to love and follow after,
from now and forever more
the God of Israel
the God of the universe

Her story can be yours too.
Put your trust in God, and God alone. 

Riana Odendaal

September 2015