Power, Pipes, Pumps & All...

This is the first of my biannual blog posts... A forced habit documenting some of our (by now) decade old relocation to the south of JHB. It's quite weird saying that, because of just how much has happened over these 10 years. But I suppose this is a universal truth, and underscores how life can feel like both a marathon and a sprint, at the same time. For example, I remember moving to Walkerville like it happened yesterday, but ask me when was the last times I slept through the night... I have no idea!?

I won't back up too far for context, other than to say, 4 months ago (just before I started my current job), I had been unemployed for 11 months... Needless to say, those were 11 looooooong months, but only in so far as I was unemployed. Life carried, and it was still full of joy and grace and purpose... Although we certainly needed some practice at being able to see and appreciating it, for the challange it was! The truth is, perspective remains one of the best gifts God can offer any of us... However very rarely, if ever, does it come without a cost.

So to cut to the chase, allow me to pick up where my last blog post ended...

On a related note, and to end where I started, the job front remains a bit foggy, but something that has been clear in my heart for the past 3 months, has been my desire to farm chickens on the Berry Farm (where we live). This culminated in my finalization of a funding proposal and business plan to that effect, which has managed to raise sufficient interest to merit another months R&D, at which time I will either become a chicken farmer, or something a little more conservative and predictable. Over to you Lord.

Well, the jury is out, and after a rather nail-biting finish, I do have a new job, but I'm neither a chicken farmer or something more conservative and predictable (hang no!). In fact, I was appointed the Berry Farm manager on the 13th February this year, and have been learning lots, sleeping little, and loving the opportunity, ever since! I must add, it didn't come without some birth pains, as Dannean will testify, and felt like we had to go in for an emergency C-Section at one point... being 1 day away from relocating back to PE, and moving in with my parents (as much as I love them)! Of course, that definitely wasn't how the story was supposed to end in my mind... But God clearly never grows tired of keeping us guessing, and despite his grace never failing, nor does his desire to test our faith and resolve! 

With reference to the scripture below, it certainly felt like a day (or a couple months!) of trouble, but it also certainly feels now, like we have been set high upon a rock!

Anyway... back to my new job.  I know we've all heard or used the phrase 'Dream job', but I can tell you that I have indeed found (or rather received) mine for now! And while it's no Sunday afternoon stroll, it's certainly not a Monday morning rat race! I mean, being able to walk out of my front door, into my 30 hectare office, working with an endless variety of farm and community challenges, while using all the talent, gifting and wisdom God supplies, feels like such a blessing and privilege. And so, after 4 months in the saddle, it remains as energizing and rewarding as I'd hoped it would be... Although I must add, I have never lived on less sleep and more prayer!

But work aside, 2025 has been very memorable for many other reasons thus far too, including;

Hiking with friends and family to the top of the Tugela Falls in April...

Catching up with old friends from far away lands down under...

Baptizing and making young disciples...

Seeing my kids growing up, my folks growing old, and my wife growing more beautiful💕

Celebrating with family from afar... and 18 years of marriage far away from the children!

And of course... learning to manage a farm... Power, Pipes, Pumps and all!

   

In conclusion, life probably is a lot like a box of chocolates afterall... you never know what you're gonna get! However... With God... And Jesus... at least we know, that we're always loved, always protected, always provided for, and always accepted. And that's something no job, not even a dream job, can even give... or compare with!

Until December. 

Strength and grace✝️💟

Bliksem, this was a year!

 The last time i blogged was in June while away celebrating my 17th wedding anniversary with Dannean. I think i recall back then already feeling very much like the second half of 2024 could only get better... At least from a work / income generation perspective. Afterall, you can't live on the goodwill of others much past the 3 month mark (from past experience), and that had already come and gone...

Well, just to let you know, with much disbelief, gratitude and frustration, I way underestimated the goodwill of others, the patience of Job, and God's purposes! Because I write this post as the sole provider to my family, who has not provided an income since March this year! Which in case you were wondering, is a full 9 months today! Let's just say that Eish is only one of a couple 4 letter words that have crossed my mind over this time😅

Having said so, I could rant on about this challenge for some time, but really, that's neither here nor there. The facts are... I haven't earned, we have survived, and God is still good. I'm just glad no one told me about these facts before the fact, because if you had, I would have told you on the spot to take the facts, and post them to Australia (or some other spot where the sun don't shine). So then, what shall I talk about in trying to honour my biannual June and December blogging commitment?

Something I could do, would be review my 2024 testimonies journal, where I keep record of all the good things God has done in my life over the year... Much of which I must admit thoroughly overshadows and undermines my woeful introductory tale of financial hardship. I mean, how hard can my life really be, having been to Dullstroom, Kruger, the Berg (twice) and just started a 3 week holiday with a JHB-DBN-PE roadtrip visiting friends and family!? And this is just referencing beautiful places and faces. What about the amazing works the Lord has performed in our little start up church, where God does his best work of taking our ugliness and brokenness, and making it beautiful!

But no... Instead of recalling tales that will likely render this post a facebook boast, allow me to tell the whole truth. Which goes more along the lines of a work God does in each one of our lives that transcends our concept of time, and instead I believe, deals with the concept of condition. That is, for me and most mortals I imagine, my sense of timing, and what needs to happen by when, is primarily driven by felt needs (including a fair dose of fear). God's sense of timing however, I believe the Bible teaches, is more process driven, and this by a loving Father who knows the true condition of our hearts, and what it really takes to change them. For those of us familiar with the Bible, just think Israel's journey out from Egypt.

Anyway, to make this a little more personal however, being a self sufficient man flows strongly in my veins. This is pumped around my body by a heart that loves God, but hates not being in control. And control is one of the masks pride wears, because pride believes it knows better than others, even God, and therefore must decide what needs to happen, by when. On this note, the Lord gave me advanced notice that I would not have the answers I wanted to have, to the situations or circumstances i didn't want to be in, in 2024. Sounds like fun hey!

Or if i had to draw a real life comparison, it's a bit like driving in heavy fog... You know that kind of fog where you can only see 30 meters ahead, and you've got your hazard lights on, so no one smashes into you from behind... Scary stuff! In such cases, the destination very quickly becomes much less important than staying alive, and trying to understand or explain the fog away, much less important than actually navigating through it. 2024 has been a year of heavy fog, but by God's grace, I hope we're about to exit it! And when we do, I'm not exactly sure where we're going to find ourselves, but I do (must!) believe, that the views will be worth the anxious prayers and heartfelt tears that have paid for it!

In conclusion, please allow me 4 parting shots on 2024...

1. Chasing a vision has cost many people their lives. I'm not sure if my vision is for this age, or the one to come, but it certainly hasn't cost me my life... Although I have been gifted a friend and partner who sometimes feels it has come very close to costing hers! Dannean Krige, I love you and salute you darling. Thank you for riding this roller-coaster with me, and thank you for trusting the Lord for me in 2024!🎢
2. To all those who have cared for us financially and in gifts through this 9 month "pregnancy"... Not even knowing what it might all be for, or if I had even possibly lost my mind, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You have been such an encouragement and comfort to us, and we salute you!✊
1. Mom & Dad
2. Nick & Kath
3. Ryan & Shelley
4. Greg & Jacquie
5. Renz & Jo
6. Dalton & Chez
7. Michelle & Gary
8. Richard
9. Angie
10. Duran & Shells
11. Gary & Abby
12. Lydia
13. Nicky
3. To all those who have prayed for us... Thank you! Especially our fellow leaders and family at People of the Way church. God answers your prayers!🙏
4. On a related note, and to end where I started, the job front remains a bit foggy, but something that has been clear in my heart for the past 3 months, has been my desire to farm chickens on the Berry Farm (where we live). This culminated in my finalization of a funding proposal and business plan to that effect, which has managed to raise sufficient interest to merit another months R&D, at which time I will either become a chicken farmer, or something a little more conservative and predictable. Over to you Lord.

(this is not me!)

Thanks for reading!💛 And 2025... We're coming hard for you! ⚔️🛡️✝️

Faith and Fire

In all honesty, I did not write what I am about to share, as a blogpost. I actually shared it in church yesterday (the 8th September 2024) during a time we call "Five minutes of Fire". The thing is, my last blogpost was in August 2022 and as Sean has pointed out (many times over the last two years!) I was way overdue writing onother one. I guess I am sharing this, as not only is it personal to me, but I also hope and trust that someone reading this will be greatly encouraged by what I share.

There is a quote by John Maxwell that says: 

“A faith that can’t be tested, can’t be trusted”. 

Let me say that again: 

“A faith that can’t be tested, can’t be trusted”. 

Faith is an incredibly difficult substance to measure. The Bible says in Matthew 17:20-21 that “if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you”. A mustard seed is tiny; about the size of the back of a pin, and I don’t know about you but I have never managed to get a mountain to move even a millimeter, let alone move from one place to another entirely.

Some reading this may know that 2024 has been a rather challenging year in the Krige household. Sean ended his last paid work season in March this year (so that was his last full salary) and I was convinced that we would just move from one work opportunity to the next with no loss of income. Not so. We are now in September (in case anyone needed reminding) and Sean has yet to earn a salary for a month’s work. Let me also just share that before the 11 months of income that ended in March this year, there was another 5 months of no income!

“A faith that can’t be tested, can’t be trusted.”

I have found, in this season of our lives, so much comfort in the Old Testament book of Daniel. I am sure many of us grew up with the story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den and perhaps even know the story of Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego in Daniel chapter 3. This is where I want to point us to today; because although I started my blogpost talking about my faith, this is not where I want to end it.

For those who do not know the story here is a short summary: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were three Jewish men who were officials in the Babylonian government. When King Nebuchadnezzar ordered all the people to worship a golden statue or be thrown into a fiery furnace, the three men refused to bow down. Despite the threat of death, they remained faithful to their belief in the one true God. In fact their exact words, when challenged by King Nebuchadnezzar, were: “...our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the furnace, a furnace that was heated seven times hotter than it was usually heated. And what comes next is what made my heart leap when I read it. Daniel chapter 3 vs 24 and 25, in the New King James version, say:
“Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”
They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

I have read this story before and I always thought that the fourth being in the fire was an angel. It was only when I read these verses a few months ago, and compared different versions, that I read in the New King James and the King James versions the words: the fourth form is like the Son of God.

Let these words sink in for a bit. The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego took place 600 years before the birth of Christ and yet here the king sees one like the son of God, in the fire with the three men. Oh friends, let these words give us hope and joy and faith!

“A faith that can’t be tested, can’t be trusted”.

You see, often we think that when we have faith, we won’t end up in the fire in the first place. And sometimes God works with us like this. But not always. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s faith still got them thrown into the fire. God could have intervened beforehand, at any time, to prevent this. He could have stopped King Nebuchadnezzar from making the golden statue or from making the decree that everyone had to worship the image. But he didn’t. God could have blinded the eyes of the men who came forward to accuse the 3 Jewish men which resulted in them being brought before the king. But he didn’t. God could have changed King Nebuchadnezzar’s heart and mind and caused him to choose not to throw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fire in the first place. An angel could have rescued them, an earthquake could have shaken the earth and caused the furnace to drop into an abyss. But none of this happened because a faith that can’t be tested, can’t be trusted. And so instead of rescuing Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego out of the furnace, their faith was fully tested. BUT GOD sent Jesus to stand in the fire with them. There were not three men in the furnace that day, there were four! Jesus was in the fire too.

The singer TobyMac from DC Talk, asks us: Do you suppose that the same God that stood in the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is not also standing with you? Your furnace may look different than theirs, but the one alongside you has not changed.

The Krige family furnace looks different to each of yours. But Jesus has not changed. God could have taken us straight from March to April with a paid work opportunity for Sean. But he didn’t. God could have brought work along in May, June, July or August. But he didn’t. God could bring a work opportunity along in September. He hasn’t yet. But we are hopeful and we continue to hold to His goodness, kindness, faithfulness. Knowing that:

“A faith that can’t be tested, can’t be trusted”.

We can only know that our faith is true and real and solid, when it is tested. Sometimes this testing has to take place in a fire like for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, sometimes in deep waters like for Noah and Moses, and sometimes like Daniel, our faith needs to be tested in a den of lions.

But take heart dear friends, because however and wherever this testing takes place for you or I, Jesus is there! He is in the fire, he is in the water, he is in the lion’s den right alongside us.

There is a song that puts so much of what I have shared into words. The song is called Another in the Fire. I pray that whichever furnace you currently find yourself in, you will listen to it, let the words wash over you, let the truth of them go deep into your hearts and rejoice in the truth that you are never ever alone: 

There was another in the fire

Standing next to me

There was another in the waters

Holding back the seas

And should I ever need reminding

Of how I’ve been set free

There is a cross that bears the burden

Where another died for me.

Ready, Steady, Wait!?!?!

6 months down the 2024 line, and things aren't quite as I'd imagined... This time last year I had just taken up a 12 month contract with a Canadian benefactor, with a vision for a Kingdom (church) growth and community development project. In summary, my sweetspot! In reality, a part time vegetable packshed site manager, in Marikana, North West province! 

Make no mistake however, I was provided with an amazing opportunity to learn a whole lot more about an industry that has always inspired but perplexed me... Farming. Furthermore, I was able to continue exploring and investing in something very close to my heart... Being the mentorship, leadership and discipleship (through sports and camping) of youngsters.

Anyway, this contract finished 3 months ago, but provided me with enough insight, and a brand new and grounded vision, for what impactful and sustainable farming, education and discipleship can look like. And so once again, I was presented with an opportunity to review and reevaluate my vision, skills, and opportunities matrix, through Kingdomship...

In so doing, I recrafted a vision of an organisation I'd love to grow and run (it already exists in part), and shared it with my small network of potential partners and investors. Fast forward to today, and I'm writing this post while away celebrating 17 years of glorious (good, bad & ugly) marriage to my darling Dannean. But still no investment (or salary)!

Fortunately however, one of many lessons marriage has taught us, is that it's far more helpful to laugh in the face of fear than cry, and we can do this bravely, mainly because it's not our first white knuckle finances rodeo, and also because we have come to know a perfect love that casts out all fear (of finances) (1 John 4:18)... And just to prove it, in the middle of this work drought of mine, by faith 6 weeks ago, I planned a roadtrip for Tristan to celebrate his 13th birthday (as a rite of passage to manhood), and a 17th wedding anniversary getaway (to the Pilansberg gamepark).

And so how funny and ironic was it, when I took these photos last week, of an almost flat broke dad and husband, fly fishing in Dulstroom and big 5 game spotting in Kruger, not to mention drinking champagne (thanks mom!) with his gorgeous wife! And all this because, there's always money when we need it by faith, but rarely money when we want it for fear!

Or said another way, our Heavenly Father loves us too much to give us everything we want, when we want it... But instead gives us everything we need - in faith - when we need it! The difference is as subtle as it is significant... And these photos, and my bank account, will testify to that!

Anyway, I'll try not to bore you with any more testimonies this past 6 months, other than this one... Which must be our little church turning 1 year old, and suddenly not being so little! Of course I look forward to sharing another big testimony on the job front in my next installation, which if all goes according to my plan, will definitely call for more champagne glasses and lots of belly laughter - in faith!

9 Years in the Making...

I'm not exactly sure why, but my social media engagement levels (which only constitutes facebook anyway) are presently at an all time low. Accordingly, it seems a bit ironic to be sharing my latest blog post here - on social media. Anyway, i suppose we are now a society of ironies, chronies and loonies, so I'll just be one.

I think the second half of 2023 for me is a story of 'being careful what you ask for'. I mean, during my extended 'unemployed' Sabbath earlier in the year, the Lord challenged me to write down exactly what job I wanted. This makes complete sense of course, but in reality, is much easier said than done.

The reason for this, is firstly you have to actually believe that God wants to answer your prayers, secondly that if he doesn't, you won't fall apart, and thirdly that what you're asking for actually lines up with what you believe. This third point of course, is a great irony in much of religion today, but we'll just leave it at that.

So here's some of what Dannean and i wrote down 9 years ago in our 10 year vision and start of our Walkerville Adventure. In particular, farming, schooling & training, and a transformed church, constituted 3 of the last 4 elements making up season 4 (years 6-10) of the vision (ref the graphic below). Interestingly enough, I actually blogged about exactly this 18 months ago, and have included an extract thereof below, in light of where I presently find myself...

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'Lastly, on the work front, my desire to generate an income from something I actually believe in / am passionate about, burns stronger than ever. And so while I remain incredibly grateful for the past 5 years of corporate assessments and reporting, the Lord knows I've paid my independent contractor dues! My heart's desire remains to be doing (full time & paid for) community development in a shape and form that facilitates real transformation. One year into Season 4 of the vision (above), I do wonder where we're going to end up, but for now, the Lord holds those cards, so we'll just carrying on watering the tree (vision), and let him take care of the growth.' (extracted from July 2022 post - Pre-destined for a Post-everything World!)

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I find it pretty amazing, that 18 months after blogging this, I have just concluded the first half of a 12 month contract as a full time community development agent, majoring in education, farming and church planting! If that isn't God, tell me what is? The challenging part of this however, is that its been 9 years in the making... But feels like we're only just getting started!

Truth be told, I am a complete novice in the area of farming, but have been most grateful to U Can Grow (the company I'm currently secondered to) for the opportunity to learn about vege farming, supply and packsheds. From an education & training perspective, Eduship (our private homeschool) continues to work really well for our family, with Izzy (our 8 year old daughter) being the latest edition. And lastly, our 6 month old church plant is up and running, and like any good baby, continues to add much joy, pain and purpose to our lives!

So, other than this, and at the risk of boring you, or trying to prove the reason for my existence on Facebook, I think let me bring this post to a close, just like 2023. May the good Lord continue to bless and keep all of you who know the love and kindness of our Father in heaven. And to those of us still searching, I pray that 2024 will be the year you come to put your trust in the Author of life (Acts 3:15) and sustainer of the universe (Heb. 1:3).

When a Plan Comes Together!

July 2023... Oh wow, where did the past 6 months go!?

To answer that question, and in getting this post going, I'm going to include an excerpt (the closing paragraph) from my last blog post in Dec 2022 for context...

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Lastly, and on a work note, my billing job as I've known for the past 5 years (backend business report generator) is on the way out, and the hoped for replacement (as paid Eduship Dadmaster) is not on the way in... And so, for someone whose currency these past 7 years has primarily been time, there are not many easy replacements to be found. Needless to say, fortunately we have faith on our side, and know (for my eyes have seen) that with the Lord all things are possible!

Of course this is easier said than done, but God's goodness and His promises have never failed us yet, and that is something we have taken to the bank every time the need (not the want) has arisen...

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And so here we are, 6 months later... No surprises, the Lord delivered! But not before my dear parents provided a 3 month stop gap to see us through Jan to March, and Dannean pulled a rabbit out a hat to get us through April! Needless to say, we headed toward May with little more than a few hopeful job conversations and emails...

That was until my good friend and neighbour told me about a Canadian man that I needed to meet as soon as possible! Bill is his name, and to cut a long story short, my new boss! In a nutshell, much of what I was previously doing pro-bono (kids and discipleship) has become half my new job, and the other half is about supporting / developing small scale farmers through a community packshed deployment programme. This is run by my South African boss, Steve Carver, who is the cofounder of a company called U Can Grow. I should probably add, that all this turned around with enough speed that I earned a May salary! 

Suffice to say, God is never late, but rarely early! I've since been in the job for 2 months, and while I sometimes lose track of the number of balls I'm juggling, praise God none have fallen! Added to this, there is something very providential about earning Canadian dollars at this stage in the Rands lifecycle!

On another note, and also an equally exciting (and surprising) development for us, is the emergence and relocation of our little home church from my good friend's Covid constructed mancave, to a beautiful boutique Hotel on the outskirts of Walkerville! Lapeng Hotel is no stranger to us, as we have used the property many times over the years to access the large hill/small mountain (Perdeberg) just behind it, for prayer purposes. In fact, it is claimed to be the highest point in the highveld, and so offers a tremendous view of, and prayer point for, the surrounding community and beyond...

The venue also offers a near perfect setting for hosting all kinds of community events and celebrations, not least being the opening of a restaurant and coffee shop (in faith), as well as family focused offerings like Friday Night Jols, Sunday picnics, marriage  / parenting courses, and much more! For the more religious at heart, I can liken these developments in our life to that of being a spiritual big wave rider... Faith has brought us a wonderful wave of grace, and the Lord has made it clear that there is only 1 way to surf it...

ps. If all this love, faith and grace stuff sounds like American Pie to you, check this out...

On the note of love, Dannean and I also just celebrated our wedding anniversary, and as any farmer will tell you, very similar principles apply between marriage and farming... That is, don't sow bad seed, don't sow where you have not prepared the lands, and don't bother reaping where you have not sown! Well, by God's grace we are currently reaping the fruit of 16 years of marriage farming, and the crop of friendship, love and respect is abundant!

In conclusion, I really look forward to reviewing these new developments in 6 months time... Because if the past 6 months are anything to go by, the next 6 months should be one epic surf story! Thank you Jesus🙏✝️

God bless.

The Good Life vs The Best Life

2022... An interesting year. Interesting that word interesting. In fact, Dannean and I agreed as recently as last week, that when we feel the other making an unhelpful comment or observation, our response should simply be to say, interesting... This would then act as a caution sign to the other to reconsider their comment, or proceed with increased thought and consideration (it also has the added benefit of being used with much sarcastic humour!)

Coming back to 2022, and on a personal note, this has truly been a 'very interesting' year for us... A year where I have earned very much under budget, and yet a year where we have holidayed in PE, Durban and Cape town! A year where Eduship ran as a trial for our sons with great success, and yet a year where we couldn't get 8 more students to go public in 2023 (we got 3). A year where our little 'startup' church had Easter celebrations for 100 people, but where we had to fight hard to keep just 5 disciples. A year of highs, and a year of hards. 

And while it doesn't all make much sense right now, hang it certainly could be a whole lot worse! And I guess that's half the key to happiness... Remembering you've always got it better than someone else (and in our case, it seems like more than the majority). The key to the other half of happiness for me, is trusting that if I got hit by a bus tomorrow, my best life will have just begun (in heaven / glory). However, before that best life, I am required to live a good life... and that friends, is much easier said than done. Let me explain...

You see I believe there is a great difference between the 'good life', and living the often quoted 'best life'? The good life is lived with a battle mindset... A mindset that causes one to live based on one's values, as evidenced by certain tangible virtues (a value lived). Living one's best life on the other hand, is not lived with a mindset of values, but instead with a mindset of self orientation / preservation (albeit with the best intentions). Sometimes of course they overlap, but in the big decisions, they shouldn't.

But it's how we make our life decisions that remains one of the key elements of building a good life. I have found it very helpful to visually clarify our good (vs best) life, by creating a family coat of arms that includes the values and virtues that underpin and sustain it. (click on the badge for more on this if you're interested)

Anyway, to keep this practical and personal, here are my 2022 'good life' brag items, which I unequivocally subscribe to God's grace...

1. The first being arguably the greatest victory any non single person can have in living a good life... That of having a fun, fruitful and faithful marriage. Dannean remains my greatest earthly asset, whose value to me continues to increase!
   
2. Runner up to this must be us having successfully completed our first year of Eduship - being our homeschool / normal school experiment at the Berry Farm (where we live). If you will, I'll let Connor and Tristan's end of year school portfolios speak for themselves in this regard.
3. Thirdly, I finished another year (now 6 and counting) journeying with a bunch of Christian brothers and fellow disciples of Christ. This requires a level of commitment and dedication to the faith, which I consider one of the greatest privileges and blessings in my life (and which I rarely encounter in broader Christian circles).
   
   
   
   
   
4. And finally, having been able to successfully create and publish 2 online courses, on 2 different subjects, both being very close to my heart, and both many years in the making... (click on either picture if you'd like to view the courses)

But these 4 victories of our attempted good life, did not come easily or cheaply. None of them offered immediate reward or easy satisfaction, and all of them were rooted in our life purpose, vision and mission. And so to borrow the strap line from one of our favourite wine farms in Stellenbosch (Delheim), which we visited last week, 2022 was 'worth the journey'. 

Before I add my musings on 2023, let me add another thought on this idea of the good life. Goodness appears as a fruit of the Spirit in the New Testament of the Bible, written in the Greek (50AD), and translated from “agathosune,” meaning “an uprightness of heart and life”. Then go back another 1000 years, to the wisdom of King Solomon, who taught us to 'Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.' - Proverbs 4:23. Essentially, a good life begins in a good heart, which by definition can only come from and be rooted in God.

On to 2023... And I am reminded of a time in my life when I would seek out a specific word for the year - something that would help provide definition for what I sensed the year ahead would hold. I think this practice had its merits, but good luck in trying to find a word for the year these days! Perhaps instead a string of emojis would be more relevant and applicable in these current times... Here's my first attempt at it; 🙈🍷🙏😅🤐😵‍💫🤪🙉🍷🙏🤮😱🤪😪🙊🍷🙏. Let's just say you need to cover a pretty wide range of negative emotions (obviously including much wine and prayer!) to safely navigate any year since COVID 19 (or in South Africa's case Zuma's kleptocracy from 2009-2018). 2023 of course will be considered many possible things for many different people, but for me, it's primarily another test for the values and virtues I claim to hold dear, and therefore my 25th year since leaving school to live a good life (in an increasingly bad world).

Lastly, and on a work note, my billing job as I've known for the past 5 years (backend business report generator) is on the way out, and the hoped for replacement (as paid Eduship Dadmaster) is not on the way in... And so for someone whose currency these past 7 years has primarily been time, there are not many easy replacements to be found. Needless to say, fortunately we have faith on our side, and know (for my eyes have seen) that with the Lord all things are possible!

Of course this is easier said than done, but God's goodness and His promises have never failed us yet, and that is something we have taken to the bank every time the need (not the want) has arisen. Because as we know, wanting and needing are 2 very different things... The former being the primary substance of the best life, while the latter remains an essential ingredient in the good life. Afterall, the most famous Psalm helpfully reminds us that...

But rest assured, should you put your faith in Jesus, there is a day coming where all that we've ever really wanted, we will have. And that day, will be the best day of the rest of our eternal lives!

Love and blessings, Grace and Glory!