Draw me close to my Daddy's heart

One of my all time favourite songs when I feel alone and far from my Heavenly Daddy's arms:

Equine Angels giving disabled children wings to fly!

Absolutely humbled by our Heavenly Daddy's grace. Yesterday saw the first equine therapy session with disabled little angels. About 2 years ago we rescued two beautiful little ponies and they were put through rehabilitation therapy. Nemo (one of these ponies) had the opportunity to give back today by being one of the ponies used during the hippotherapy session with children suffering from Muscular Dystrophy. The effects of the therapy was so evident. We witnessed four children who can barely move, ride a horse and LOVING EVERY SECOND OF IT! This was the first feeling of "walking" these kids have ever had. What a blessing! The interaction between horse and child blew my mind! I am literally in tears as I am writing this post. God used his creation to give these little angels a taste of freedom.

El Shaddai - the God who is more than enough!

And the Lord said to Moses, " Has the Lord's arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not" (Num 11:23)

Numbers 11 starts out with the Israelites complaining that they do not have any meat to eat. They complained that they had all the fish they wanted in Egypt and now (after being rescued) they only have manna to eat. God heard their cry and told Moses to tell them that He heard their cries and after they have purified themselves, He will send them the meat they have asked. Moses asked God how this would be possible as there were 600 000 men alone to feed (not to mention women and children) and all the animals they had would not be enough to feed everyone. The Lord then asked:"Has the Lord's arm been shortened?" (God is trying to tell Moses and the Israelites that NOTHING is impossible for Him)

Nothing is beyond reach when God is on your side. In 2 Peter 1:3 God promises to give His children " all things that pertain to life and godliness". This includes things that pertain to our spiritual, physical, emotional and financial needs.

God is bigger than any problem you can ever encounter. Seek Him first and eveything you need will be given to you.

He is El Shaddai - the God who is more than enough!

(Reference: Extreme Teen Bible: New King James Version) 

Balloon Bibles

Today, in the wake of Superstorm Sandy hitting the USA, I would like to share with you a story of God's grace and how natural phenomena (such as strong winds) may sometimes be beneficial to spreading the Gospel. I read this story about a week ago and I would like to share it with you:

Bible 'Balloon Offensive' Floats into North Korea

By George Thomas

 CBN News Sr. Reporter

 

SEOUL, South Korea -- When it comes to human rights and religious freedom, North Korea is the worst of the worst.

For Christians, the price of belief in God could mean death. 

One human rights group is taking action with an unusual aerial offensive to encourage the country's secret believers. 

Target: North Korea

Just before sunset, a vanload of undercover Christians from Seoul heads north. For their protection, CBN News concealed both their faces and names.

"What we are doing could get us into trouble," one Christian named "Peter" said.

"We are going here some four miles from the North Korean border and close to the Demilitarized Zone," he told CBN News.

The Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ, is one of the most heavily fortified and potentially dangerous places on earth.

One million armed North Korean troops stand ready on their side of the DMZ; the South has just as many.

One factor that could ruin the whole excursion -- the weather.

"One slight change in the wind direction could mess up the mission," Peter said.

Operation Dandelion

Peter dubbed the mission Operation Dandelion.

"We started this project back in 1991, and just as a dandelion needs the wind to spread its seeds, we need the wind to spread the message," Peter explained.

That message is the Word of God printed in the Korean language on thousands of bright orange balloons.

"It's almost impossible to get Bibles into North Korea, so using balloons is one of the most effective ways to share the gospel," Peter said.

A tank in the back of the van pumps helium into the balloons. The team works quickly, all the time keeping tabs on the wind direction.

Prayers are whispered -- then the release. A few minutes later the balloons begin their slow drift across North Korean airspace.

"By sending these balloons, we let our North Korean brothers and sisters know that we are praying for them and the scriptures on the balloons are meant to encourage them," one undercover believer said.

How it All Began

The earnest prayers begin at an undisclosed location in Seoul.

Every week since 1991, 78-year-old Oh Mo Duk, along with a handful of other believers, has been preparing each balloon for the flight into North Korea.

"I was born in North Korea. This is my way of helping to get the gospel back to my countrymen," she told CBN News.

This is how the balloon Bible smuggling works: A hole in the balloon is filled with helium. A strip of tape is placed around it and then of it goes into the skies of North Korea.
 
"The helium will leak out of the balloon and eventually fall to the ground," Duk explained. "And when someone picks it up, they'll be able to read all 16 chapters of the book of Mark."

In the past, Peter used boats with other groups to launch balloon offensives from the sea. These balloons are larger and contain a small radio, a Bible, and other Christian literature.  

"Ok, this is not the most sophisticated or high-tech method," he acknowledged. "But when you are dealing with a country that is restricted, very secretive, and punishes its citizens, we have to try something to get hope to them."

In addition to the balloon operation, Peter's group organizes a weekly radio broadcast that's recorded in Seoul then transmitted over medium and shortwave frequencies into North Korea.

"The radio broadcast is like a regular church service with worship and preaching of the Word," explained one believer, who coordinates the broadcast.

"The North Korean government routinely tries to jam our signal, but we have other methods of getting the message across," the person said.

Execution of Christians

CBN News obtained audio recordings and photographs of secret underground church meetings inside North Korea.

"Father! Father! The descendants of the martyrs in blood are all alive even now," one Christian prayed.  "My Father! I know the Spirit of the Lord will come to restore and deliver."

"When a North Korean accepts Jesus Christ, he or she will face persecution, imprisonment, and possibly death because of their faith," Peter said.

Peter gave CBN News footage that apparently aired on a Japanese television channel allegedly showing the execution of North Korean Christians.

The footage shows a North Korean guard yelling, "I hereby declare that the accused is sentenced to death. The death penalty must be executed at once. Ready! Fire!  Fire!'"

'They Need Our Prayers'

Trying to get precise figures on the number of Christians today in North Korea is extremely difficult.

"Based on data gathered from North Korean defectors and international human rights groups we estimate there are approximately 30,000 Christians being held in political prison camps and about 10,000 underground believers who are in hiding throughout the country," Dr. Lim Chang Ho, with Kosin University, said.

Pressing Toward the Mark

Back along a stretch of the North-South Korean border, it's a little past midnight.

Using the cover of darkness, Peter's team continues to deploy hundreds of balloons at multiple locations.  Today the wind conditions have been good.

"Often the winds will suddenly change and we have to wait," Peter explained. 

"Sometimes we come back the next day, but we are persistent," he continued. "People's lives are on the line."

"We will continue do this and continue to pray until North Korea is free and the Christians can worship Jesus Christ without fear," he vowed.

Reference:  http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2011/september/balloon-offensive-invades-north-korea-for-christ/

 Our Hearts go out to the victims of Superstorm Sandy in the US

Save Our Children

Dear Daddy

On the 31st of March 2012 another child was gang-raped in South Africa.

This time though, the world took notice as a videoclip of the rape was proudly distributed by the perpetrators. 

This young girl is mentally ill and the rapists condoned their actions by "rewarding" her with a mere

 R2(US$ 0.26).

 

Sadly, as the world was outraged, South Africans resorted to joking about the ridicule of the situation.

On the radio, Childline's spokesperson commented that this has become the "norm" for us as South Africans.

 

Have we become so accustomed and immune to the cries of our children?

 

Are we losing our humanity?

 

Daddy, please save the children of Africa-please save OUR children!

Lord, you are my hiding place

You are the place I run to when things don't make sense

The place my heart discovers new peace

Where I am loved unconditionally

Where nothing else matters



I love you more than words could ever say

You are my refuge and my strength

My alpha and my omega

My rock when my feet stumbles

My Daddy on whose lap I can sit and cry my heart out

You are never too tired or too busy to listen to me

You take my hand and lead me to green pastures

You lead me to a place where my soul finds eternal rest

You are my Lord

You are my best friend

You are my Daddy and I love You with all my heart