Care for Others

We have just completed a study on the purpose of living by Selwyn Hughes. The purpose for living is "To love God and to care for others."

He concluded the study by saying "caring is carrying" and shared the following story:

A girl was seen carrying her little brother home after he had fallen and grazed his knee. The little boy was almost as big as her, and as she seemed to be labouring under the burden of his weight, a neighbour said: "Put him down, my dear. He is to heavy for you to carry". The little girl answered assertively: "He is not to heavy - he is my brother!"

Dear Lord, thank you for challenging me. Let me use every day of my life in fulfilling the greatest purpose You have given me - loving You, and caring for others. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Praise God for Namibian rain!!

NAMIBIA’S major storage dams are full after weeks of incessant rain. The largest dams in the country are the Von Bach, Hardap and Naute dams. Von Bach near Okahandja is 99 per cent full, NamWater said yesterday. The Naute Dam near Keetmanshoop is at 100,1 per cent of its capacity, while the Hardap Dam near Mariental is at 75,8 per cent despite NamWater’s efforts to maintain it at 70 per cent by opening the sluice gates. The Hardap dam level is being kept at 70 per cent to prevent flooding Mariental in the event of major inflows. Windhoek’s Goreangab Dam is now 100,8 per cent full. The Avis Dam on the eastern outskirts of the city has been overflowing and its sluices are being opened periodically. The Swakoppoort Dam, also near Okahandja, is 100,4 per cent full and the Oanob Dam near Rehoboth is at 89,6 per cent. At Gobabis, the Daan Viljoen Dam has risen to 75,8 per cent of full capacity. Source: http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

Just look what God has done! This dam is on the farm of the De Klerk family in the south near Grunau. When I visited the De Klerk farm in the beginning of February, this dam was completely dry.

"He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows." -- Isaiah 30:23 "You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the LORD, have created it." -- Isaiah 45:8

Praise God for His goodness, for good rains all over the country. Pray that His salvation will also rain down in all areas where there are spiritual dryness.

GDOP Namibia 2009

A prayer canopy above all the continents! This is the dream of GDOP which will this year take place on Pentecost Sunday May 31st, 2009. In 2008, 214 countries joined in! The prayer focus is that God will bless the nations so that “the earth will be filled with the knowledge and glory of the Lord”. (Habakkuk 2:14)

There is a threefold strategy:

During the 10 days from May 21-30, 2009 leading up to Pentecost believers will mobilize prayer chains in as many places as possible.

On the day of Pentecost on 31 May 2009 there will be prayer simultaneously in churches, public places or even sport stadiums throughout the country. In 2008 about 30 towns in Namibia participated in united prayer. This included all the bigger towns, but even smaller places like Koës, Schlip and Groot Aub. This year we trust that more small places will join and that farmers and lodge owners will create an opportunity for their workers to participate in GDOP prayer.

During the 90 days after Pentecost there will follow a special “time of blessing”, to reach out in our communities to help those in need. Many of the problems of our communities can be solve by those who live in and around them.

What can you do?

Volunteer to help organize an event in your community. Promote GDOP in your church or place of work. Go to www.globaldayofprayer.com for more information. Resources and materials for GDOP in Namibia are also being finalized and will be available to GDOP coordinators and churches leaders in March 2009. Call the Global Day of Prayer Office in Windhoek 061 258006.

Pray that believers from all Christian Churches, language and cultural groups in Namibia will unify in prayer on GDOP / Pentecost Sunday 2009.

He makes clouds rise

If you want to start a conversation with any Namibian, talk about rain. Namibians will appreciate your interest in something that is fundamentally important to all.

The country is predominantly desert, but enjoys regional climatic variations. Temperatures and rainfall vary considerably both seasonally and geographically. At the time of writing the north of Namibia is experiencing flooding while the eyes of people in the south is combing the sky for clouds that will bring rain.

Heavy thunderstorms can turn a usually dry riverbed into a torrent of muddy water in a very short time. Here is the Guruchab River between Keetmanshoop and Grunau in the south on the 27th of January 2009 when lots of rain fell in the catchment area. Praise God. What a beautiful sight! There is however need for wide spread rains in the south. This coming week prospects for rain stands at only 20%.

Please trust God to send rain to the dry and needy areas of Namibia.

He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; he sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses. Psalm 135:7

A Step into History

Last week I stepped into history as I visited three towns in the south of Namibia where I attended school many years ago. First stop was Karasburg. In the Nama language, the word 'Kharas' means 'a plain covered in stones'. I spend two nights on a sheep farm, the main industry of the region.

Karasburg is also an important truck stop for transport vehicles streaming into Namibia on the B3 from Upington on the South African border. The area has an extreme climate most times of the year with temperatures rising to 48 degrees celsius in the rainy season and dropping to 2 degrees in the dry winter season. Low rainfall is seen in this region, but the rains usually come in early January and leave as late as early April.

The purpose of my visit was to assist churches with Global Day of Prayer 2009. I also shared with them about a DVD Workshop on "Growing a High Impact Church". Financially times are tough in the south. Many believers are also living in spiritual drought as smaller churches struggle to survive or can't afford a full time spiritual leader. There are also few job opportunities in Karasburg and other towns in the south. Many living near the highway turn to prostitution as a means to earn money. Lets not forget the poor and needy in these towns.

Prayer for the Poor

Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: http://tomdavis.typepad.com

Prayer for Those With Cancer

The Cancer Association of Namibia hosts an Open Day to commemorate World Cancer Day on 4 February 2009. Visit them at http://can.org.na/

Bless, O God,all who struggle with cancer. Empower them with hope for each and every day. Provide them with loving and tender care, laughter,and the support of love. Grant them courage when they are afraid, comfort when they are in pain, and your blessing when all else seems hopeless, that in their fight with illness they may continue to praise you and glorify your name. Amen.

(Prayer by Vienna Cobb Anderson)
Also visit http://www.prayer-for-cancer.com/ for prayer helps.