Have you ever marveled at the vast quantity of grape clusters on a healthy vine? God loves fruitfulness. In fact, God’s first command was to be fruitful. “And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply.” (Genesis 1:22). It’s not just plants that God wants to be fruitful, it’s us too. Jesus said, “I am… Continue reading Gen 1:22 – Fruitful and multiply
The day begins with our morning run. It’s always a great opportunity to think – fresh air and no distractions, as long as the route isn’t too tough. I’m doing a Bible study at the moment on “preparation” and I ponder the importance of this in our lives. Preparation means anticipating. It means thinking about… Continue reading Eph 2:10 – God’s preparation
You are in the middle of an intense argument and the other person has just made some convincing points. You are about to tell them why they are wrong when you suddenly realize they are right. Dread kicks in. No, you can’t be wrong! You are NEVER wrong, but it seems this time you are… Continue reading Luk 23:34 – Right or righteous?
Beauty and danger dance together in the Namib desert. The beauty of the rusty red colours belies the heat and danger of this vast landscape. It’s easy to get lost, and so marker poles have been placed to show the route to a beautiful vlei hidden between the towering dunes. Life’s journey is like a… Continue reading John 3:14-15 – The pole
We are driving along a remote Namibian road when we are stopped by a police officer. After asking for my license, he says, “I am Plaajies from Kietmanshoop”. I am flummoxed for a moment and then reply with my name and home town. It’s unusual to get a greeting like this from a police officer.… Continue reading Phi 3:20-21 – Where are you from?
The heat is relentless as it bakes down on the dry, cracked earth. Life is impossible here. However, despite this, the slightest hint of water changes everything. In the harsh Namibian desert poking through the parched soil we find a flower, delicately juxtaposed atop a thorny plant and the cracked clay below. Sometimes life feels… Continue reading Isa 35:1-2 – Flowering desert
Lion, elephant, hippo, and hyena, are all real possibilities as uninvited guests at our campsite in Chobe, Botswana. While the sun shines it seems safe, but as the inky darkness creeps across the bushveld chasing the receding sun, so the unease increases. Not only can we no longer see the dangers, it’s in the dark… Continue reading Heb 1:7 – Campfire
Elephants love stripping the bark from trees to get to the nutrient rich moist layers beneath the bark. However, trees are clever so they excrete tannins that make the tree bitter to try and stop the elephants. However, if enough bark is removed, the tree will die even if it has perfect soil, plenty of… Continue reading Eph 6:16 – Ring barked
Stark, dry, lifeless. Skeletal trees thrust claw-like branches heavenwards. It’s Deadvlei, in the Namib desert. These silent sentinels are all that remain of what was once a living forest. They were cut off from the river by the highest sand dunes in the world, the largest aptly called Big Daddy. The beauty is surreal and… Continue reading Psa 63:1 – The dry river
Employees at Starbucks are taught to use their apron as a shield. What does this mean? When customers are complaining or hurling insults, employees use their metaphorical shield to prevent themselves from getting hurt. We have a shield so much greater than an apron, we have God as our shield! “The Lord is my strength… Continue reading Psa 28:7 – God’s shield