the tyger || burning bright || #runwildlivefree
on 29 September, two weeks after my dad passed away, I was visiting @zietsmancarene -- I was making my way though town, coming back from KZN where I went to see my dad's lawyer earlier that morning.
it wasn't an unusual day, and I wasn't very emotional. I think, even now, I'm still numb to the reality of my dad's physical absence. anyway, I'll tell you about this another time.
as usual, Carené set up some series, and we got ready to art because, as she famously says, "kuns maak alles beter,". I don't know why, because this definitely isn't my usual style, but I felt that I had to draw this tiger, with me curled up against it's belly, in the middle of the jungle.
now, despite famously being a cat-person, I see myself more as a wolf (and it has nothing to do with weird spiritual stuff), and I'm not convinced that this is a self-portrait, but, here we are -- the tyger, an ode to William Blake's beautiful poetry, a journey of healing, and a refuge in this jungle of in-between chaos.
one day, we'll see the Lion lying with the Lamb.
but for now, here I am, resting in the shadow of the tiger. ••• Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp,
Dare its deadly terrors clasp!
When the stars threw down their spears
And water'd heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
the Lion and the Lamb || old city || #runwildlivefree
I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psalm 16:8
On my 16th birthday, God gave me this promise which He also gave Moses and Joshua: "I will give you every place where you set your foot," (Joshua 1:3). if you've been around me long enough, you'll know that THIS is why I take pictures #fromwhereistand
-- it's a turf war, and fortunately the War has already been won.
anyway, a year ago, I was exploring the Promised Land and its surrounding countries.
as I look back on the many adventures I've been on since saying YES to the call of God, I am amazed and positively flabbergasted at the ways in which He has proven Himself to be who He says He is -- so faithful!
this #runwildlivefree adventure/liefstyle/job/calling isn't always smooth sailing, and I've had to let go of some things, I've gone through a lot of character shaping challenges, and I've experienced deep-rooted joy.
in all things, I find my right standing in Him.
Way maker.
Miracle Worker.
Promise Keeper.
Light in the dark.
My God.
That is who He is.
it's not because of who I am, but because of who He is.
Christ in me, the Hope of glory.
https://bible.com/bible/8/psa.16.8.AMPC
the last stand || Meigiddo || Israel
a year ago, I was exploring the Promised Land and surrounding nations.
I suppose many people undertake this journey as a pilgrimage, to walk in the footsteps of the Messiah.
for me, though, it was a very spiritual experience, not because I walked where He walked, but because I was actively aware of Holy Spirit's presence wherever I went -- whether it was the Mount of Olives, or Bethlehem in the heart of Palestine, or standing on Armageddon, where the last battle is said to will take place.
the one thing I'm certain of is that, regardless where we leave our foot prints, if we keep in step with Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25), He will direct our ways.
and so, having done all (Ephesians 6: 12-18), will stand.
#runwildlivefree
if you commit yourself to live the life of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race. • Hebrews 11:5
#everytribeandtongue
#untilthewholeworldhears
run wild live free || until the whole world hears.
When I was 16 years old, I had a radical revelation of my Identity, and I was filled with the Spirit in my room one night, as I was crying out to God to reveal whether or not He was real.
For years, I had been going to church, and I had a deep love for God, but my worship was one-sided, and it had no revelation. When God opened my eyes to the reality of who He is, who He made me to be, and the purpose for which He created me my world was shook and EVERYTHING literally started to make sense to me.
I knew that I was called to the Nations, but I had no idea what that would look like.
On a frosty July morning in 2018, waaaaay before sunrise, my friend Carene and I had coffee to go with our usual Wednesday morning intercession.
We ended up speaking about the Nations, and I just knew that I had to go. There was nothing that could hold me back, no excuses to be made, nothing to hide behind -- for years there was pruning and shaping and moulding, but now it was time to RUN.
Within 4 days, I gave up the lease of my apartment, packed my life into the back of my car, and bought a plane ticket.
When you step out in obedience, God will ALWAYS sustain you.
Over the past year, I've travelled to 9 different countries to minister the Gospel, and not once was I sorry that I resigned from my fulltime job in February of 2018.
This is what God called me to, to run wild, to carry the Good News, so that other may live free.
My friends, the reason people are Unreached with the Gospel is because they are hard to get to. Often, it means crossing through war-torn countries, facing physical danger, overcoming language barriers, on horrid roads and terrible weather conditions, but it is worth it for the sake of the Gospel.
As a 16 year old, I KNEW that God was real because He showed up in my desperate cry for substance and Truth. This is the cry of the Nations -- for the sons of God to be made manifest!
You carry that Good News!
You are called to run wild live free, until the whole world hears!
#everytribeandtongue
#runwildlivefreewhy
The Gospel is this -- a revelation of who God is, and who He made you to be!
missionaries and millionaires || sioma || #runwildlivefree
a couple weeks ago, I visited Sioma in Zambia's Western province, right on the banks of the upper Zambezi.
besides the spectacular view that I woke up to, and the gorgeous people that I got to spend some time with, this was an enriching time of learning about the day-to-day life of Sector missions.
I had my reservations, because, in my mind, it feels like a trap to sign off and commit to one place for more than 2 years. A nomad and an adventurer at heart, this just seemed overwhelming.
I can honestly say that that perspective has changed.
arguably, Sector life is MORE adventurous than Expeditions because it concerns deep relationships, travelling, sowing, doing life with people, and laying foundations for the long-term cultivation of the Gospel.
the main reason people in rural areas across the world are Unreached, is because they're hard to get to.
would you drive 6 hours on 200km strip of road to reach those people who are in desperate need for the Love of God?
people spend thousands to go on safaris, to travel to exotic destinations, to see the remotest parts of the planet, yet this is what missionaries do every day.
you want to live a life of adventure?
you want to travel?
you want to eat exotic foods?
you want to learn new languages?
you want to expand your worldview?
this is that.
#everytribeandtongue
#untilthewholeworldhears
tetelestai || paid in full || #runwildlivefree
Seven months ago, I took this picture in Nazareth. "Nothing good comes from Nazareth," the words rang through my head.
As an oldest child, I've often considered the significance of Passover -- not because I fear death, but because I realize how desperately I fall short in my own efforts.
Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, the Passover Lamb was beaten for our transgressions, He brought healing by His stripes, and He settled the debt of our sins by His death.
He died so that we could live. In Him there is Life and Life in abundance!
He not only died, He rose again -- defeating Death and the enemy's claim to this kingdom He restored Identity and Authority, and He rules with the Father -- glorified.
Sin came into the world in the garden of Eden, when Adam failed to see that he was already like God, created in His image.
The price for Salvation was claimed in the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus willingly offered himself as Sacrifice in our stead so that Identity could be restored, reconciling us as Sons to the Father.
Today, we can live in that freedom, when we believe in our hearts, and confess with our mouths, that Jesus is Lord -- the Son of God -- and we shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, as co-heirs with Christ.
tetelestai: the debt has been paid in full; it is finished
#itisfinished
#runwildlivefree
#everytribeandtongue
#untilthewholeworldhears
the Great Unknown || Hebrews 11 || #runwildlivefree "Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way. And where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within. If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race." Chariots of Fire - Eric Liddell
Because of faith Enoch was caught up and transferred to heaven, so that he did not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. For even before he was taken to heaven, he received testimony [still on record] that he had pleased and been satisfactory to God. [Gen. 5:21-24.] But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. - Hebrews 11:5-6
https://bible.com/bible/8/heb.11.5-6.AMPC
gethsemane || crushed || run wild live free
This video features some non-comprehensive commentary about the garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations.
Our guide, Rotem, told us that the best type of olive oil is typically cold pressed (I'm no expert) and that the fruit is crushed as a whole -- including the pip.
Oil, within the Prophetic, speaks of anointing.
Here, in Gethsemane, Jesus asked His disciples to pray with Him, the night before He was captured by Roman guards and handed over to the Sanhedrin court (headed by Caiaphas), and later Pontius Pilate, leading up to His crucifixion.
Jesus told us to use Communion in remembrance of His death and resurrection. Here, where oil was pressed from the crushed fruit, Jesus was in such agony that He sweat blood.
For the sake of the World, He submitted to and obeyed the Father.
His sacrifice gives free access to the Throne of Grace.
For every Tribe and Tongue.
For All Nations.
For All Time.
#runwildlivefree
Then Yeshua comes with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He tells the disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” Matthew 26:36
https://bible.com/bible/314/mat.26.36.TLV
