Exciting announcement!
Posted by michdupreez | Filed under Uncategorized
For months now God has put it on my heart to get involved in the youth and so far I have constantly said in the area of Pretoria or Johannesburg. Months ago, I felt it needed to be the youth of Pretoria West – the Danville, Kwaggasrand area but there had never been an opportunity for me to get involved in there. There had been no doors opened to this dream placed upon my heart.
I have come to notice, it was because I hadn’t dealt with my past and it seemed God needed to take me on a journey first and because I hadn’t fully pursued God and given Him control of everything. I was still taking charge of my own life, trying to figure it out and to control what happened and I hadn’t fully stepped into the authority given to me by Christ.
So now, after God had taken me through counselling, I thought I was fine and ready. But then of course, I learned I had been talking about youth stepping into the authority of Christ given to them when I hadn’t done that. Now, I fully try and pursue God and try to be the person He created me to be, not what society or other people think I should be. I now do the things I am passionate about that God lets me do. I do things and follow and serve passionately unless He says no. And now that I voice my opinion against what is wrong, and say what I need to and do things I am passionate about for God, pursuing Him with all my heart, now He is opening doors I thought He wouldn’t ever. Now I realize I wasn’t ready but now it seems I am and God is leading me every step of the way.
God has now opened the door into the area of Danville and Kwaggasrand for me. Just over a month and a half ago, I was having a lazy day. Not prepared to get off the couch, get dressed or go outside. I’d go as far as the kitchen for food and the bathroom, doing only the necessary. But then, I get this phone call from Allen, urging me to come with to a school, where we are supposed to do sports ministry with kids and he had totally forgotten about it. Now, I’ll admit, I was NOT in the mood. This felt like another project of Allen’s that I was getting dragged into and this was something I was getting sick of but, I know Allen – he’s not big on kids and as usual I caved in. While I was bathing and preparing for this, a few times or even a hundred odd times, I spoke to God and told Him I was not in the mood, each time considering phoning Allen and telling him to go without me this time….but hey I went.
So yes, I dragged my feet all the way, this terrible attitude and then when I got there, it looked exactly like a school and neighbourhood I had worked with back home when I was grade 11 and God had called me to working with the youth, just over 3 years ago….my heart melted completely and God surprised me with this gift. The dream He put in my heart of working with kids like these, had suddenly been sparked again but this time the flame was huge and blazing!!!
This “special” school was a school of kids who “apparently had been kicked out of other schools because they caused too many problems”. Or this is what I was being told by the kids. Back home the school was similar, they came from problem backgrounds too. So now, my heart has been melted and now I have a door opened into getting involved in that community so that one day I can open up the centre “Children of Promise”. Now the only question is, how do I or we serve them?
Now we can serve them by covering school fees, providing sports clothes, sports coaches, musical instruments and so much more, anything that is neccessary. If you feel you want to sponsor or donate money or anything check out our contact page or donations/sponsor page.
Will keep you updated! Thanks for your support in establishing a godly generation.
Flavour of Christ
Posted by michdupreez | Filed under CTHF Series
God has purpose for our lives. Once 
we have dealt with things of the past, we have forgiven and we have stepped into God’s divine authority, we can grow and become more aware of God’s purpose for our life.
The ultimate purpose of our lives is making God known to men and women in the world – whether this be through words, deeds or lifestyle the point is to leave His lingering flavour behind.
Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Ephesians 1:3 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Matthew 5:6 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
We have all experienced His flavour in some way or another and now we need to pass that on to generation to come. We need to leave God’s scent and taste of grace, power and glory behind. Everywhere we go God should be seen and heard in our lives.
Our lives should be a testimony of what is unseen. The unseen should be seen in our lives. If we are not in line with God’s purpose for our lives then it will be difficult to see or detect that lingering scent of Christ. We won’t be able to see it and neither will others be able to.
Ephesians 3:16-19 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge– that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Job 36:5 “God is mighty, but does not despise men; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Once we had a taste of Christ we need to go out there and invite others to get a taste. We need to share our faith, just like you would want to share a piece of great tasting cake or cup of coffee with a friend. Our lives and that “something different” that people notice must be noticeable. It must be something that will get them to want to get to know God. God will use us for His purpose if we allow Him to.
We need to diligently seek Him and be obedient to His way so that His purpose in our lives can be seen, bringing Him glory. We need to remember to leave a trail of Christ’s beautiful scent…
Tags: Christ, coffee, flavour, glory, purpose
Heart of Stones
Posted by michdupreez | Filed under CTHF Series
In our life and walk with God, we have to overcome many struggles. As humans we have many insecurities or issues of trusting people or even God for that matter. But God loves us and wants to help us. He cares deeply about the state of our heart.
John 14:1 Do not let your 
hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Holding onto things that have happened and things people have said or done to hurt us is a lot like carrying rocks. At first one or two might not seem heavy, but as you collect them, the amount and weight becomes heavy, weighing you down. From this you grow tired and stressed and you end up hurting yourself more than what is needed when others have long moved on.
Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
These rocks we carry in our hearts day by day need to be given away. We need to pray about it, detect where there is strife and unforgiveness as well as insecurities or issues we find hard to trust God with or hard to deal with and we need to give it to Him. Once we have done that, we need to forget about it. Leave it behind, don’t remember it, don’t mention it. Because now we have put it in God’s hands and we are leaving it there. We have put down our rocks at the foot of the cross and now Jesus can deal with it.
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
God wants to take these things from us, so let Him. Why do you still want to sit with the problem when the Alm
ighty Creator of this world can sort it out?! We need to remember to trust Him but every day we need to check our hearts for these stones that keep us from God. Detecting unforgiveness is crucial in our walk with God. If we check ourselves for that, choose to forgive and then leave it at the foot of the cross and walk away, then only blessings can come from it. We can then enjoy God and all His love and glory. But if we don’t do this we are held back from God and gaps are left open for Satan to come in.
Mark 11:24-26 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your sins.
So let us remember to search our heart for stones and then throw them away so we can enjoy God’s purpose and potential for our lives.
Tags: cross, forgiveness, hate, heart, insecurities, potential, purpose, rocks, struugles
True Vine
Posted by michdupreez | Filed under CTHF Series
In Cape Town some years ago baby vines were planted in the already existing vineyards. Those who had planted them soon noticed these baby vines were being infested by worms and the older vine plants weren’t. No one could understand why. After long consideration the gardeners pruned the older vines and planted the baby vines within the older ones. As the weeks went by the gardeners noticed that the baby vines started growing without any harm being done to them by worms and other pests and soon enough the baby vines and the older vines no longer grew as separate plants but had become one large vine.
This principle is that which is spoken about in the Bible.
Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:1-8 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
This concept should be true in anyone’s life. We cannot grow separately from the Father like a baby vine next to Him and hope to be perfect, strong and well next to Him. We need to connect with Him first, being the baby vine connected inside of Him and then grow inside Him, together with Him. Then becoming one with Christ and not apart from Christ.
2 Peter 1:3-9 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
Within this process we should start to build an identity in Christ, realizing our authority within Him. Christ has given us everything we need for this life and has con
quered all that needs to be conquered and as He lives in us we have an ability to partake in His divine nature escaping the evil desires of this world. We are capable of so much more just because of whom Christ is and what He has done. His power has given us all we need to live the daily life and to overcome all obstacles that seem too big for us to handle. Nothing is greater than God’s power.
We shouldn’t doubt in ourselves as that is what Satan wants, because when we realize our worth and the immense power we have because of God within us then he is at loss and basically doomed. Satan cannot overcome the Christian who has realized the power and authority of Christ within themselves.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
This realization of what we have in Christ and whom we are through Christ is a humbling realization and confession that it is only through Christ that we can achieve anything and reach our full potential
Once we realize what we have in Christ we are able to do all things well for His glory.
Tags: authority in Christ, connection, fruit, glory, growth, South Africa, True Vine
Clay Jars
Posted by michdupreez | Filed under CTHF Series
God created us, each uniquely different from someone else. He had us in mind before He created us and when He created us, He did so perfectly. But to the world or even ourselves we may not look or feel perfectly created. To us a pimple here and a crooked nose there may look like it doesn’t fit but to God, that is how He created us, a perfect piece of artwork.
Psalm 104:24 How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures
He took a piece of His heart and it became clay. He carefully laid it on the table and created each one of us. Like a Potter with clay making every single jar, each one differently shaped containing different features – features that He loves and has purpose for.
But as we go on in life we make mistakes, we fall, we get hurt. Each time this beautiful clay jar falls and another crack or hole is added to this piece of work. Each hole and crack representing a stumbling block – be it drugs, sex, money, words of people, insecurities and so on. All of us make mistakes and the things of our past can make us feel unworthy of love from such an Honourable King.
But everything bad that happens, anything we’ve done can be used for the greater good and God’s absolute glory. Only He can use our cracks and holes to shine His light through. We need to stop reminding ourselves about all our imperfections and let God turn them into perfections He can use for His glory. God has greater plans for these so called “imperfections”. We see it in Matthew and again in Corinthi
ans:
Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
2 Corinthians 4:5-7 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
So as clay jars, let us remind ourselves to choose to give God glory, letting Him use our cracks and holes to shine His light through for all the world to see. Just like a clay jar with cracks and holes holding a candle inside, so we should “Be the Crack in the Darkness, through where the Light gets in.”
Tags: Christ, clay jars, cracks, glory, imperfections, light, pottery, purpose
A Realization Of What We Already Have
Posted by michdupreez | Filed under Thoughts Of Living
Now it may seem this is another piece about being grateful for what we have and others don’t have but that is not completely what this piece is about. Now we are not speaking materialistically but spiritually.
We need to know how much we have in Christ. Christ has given us everything we need for this life and has conquered all that needs to be conquered and as He lives in us we have an ability to partake in His divine nature escaping the evil desires of this world. We are capable of so much more just beca
use of whom Christ is and what He has done. His power has given us all we need to live the daily life and to overcome all obstacles that seem too big for us to handle. Nothing is greater than God’s power.
We shouldn’t doubt in ourselves as that is what Satan wants, because when we realize our worth and the immense power we have because of God within us then he is at loss and basically doomed. Satan cannot overcome the Christian who has realized the power and authority of Christ within themselves but he can overcome the doubtful Christian.
This realization of what we have in Christ and whom we are through Christ is not a prideful one and should never be prideful, but is a humbling realization and confession that it is only through Christ that we can achieve anything and reach our full potential.
Once we realize what we have in Christ we are able to do all things well for His glory.
For further thought and reading refer to 2 Peter chapter 1, verses 1-17
Tags: authority in Christ, life, overcoming obstacles, self worth
A Generation Of Example
Posted by michdupreez | Filed under Thoughts Of Living
For many years the youth (children and young adolescents) have not been heard and have felt less worthy. They weren’t always allowed to be used for Christ in the Church and have not always been allowed to partake in different ceremonies, often just seen as pew fillers.* We see the same thing in many cultures and just in general in society today. We see it in households and many different areas. We see them being raped, abused, molested, used as child soldiers, sex slaves, as cheap labour, guinea pigs in the educational system and the list goes on.
What we need to realize is that children and young adolescents are more than just that. They were created by God and are used by God just as much as any adult and sometimes even more. In Biblical times they were often used to teach adults lessons and were often used as examples in the community. We can see that with David and Goliath (1 Samuel chapter 17). He was a child when He stood up against Goliath and later became a king; he made mistakes yet what often used by God. We see it when Isaac was used by God to test Abraham’s love for God (Genesis chapter 22) Abraham was asked to kill his one and only son Isaac on an alter, if Abraham really loved God. Because he was obedient to the Father, Isaac was spared. We see it in the story where Jesus feeds five thousand (Matthew chapter 14, verses 13-21) with the fish and loaves, which a little boy offered up. There are numerous other times in the Bible as well. We even see it when Jesus and the children; He sits them on His lap and blesses them (Matthew chapter 19, verses 13-14). To the disciples the children seemed insignificant and they had rebuked them but to Jesus they were extremely important. God even says that it is far better to go die in the depths of the oceans than to make a child stumble (Matthew chapter 18, verse 6). The importance of the youth is immense and it is something we need to take into consideration in all we do.
Children and the youth are important and they are and should be examples to adults and society. They should not be looked down upon and can be used for great things. They should not be seen as objects in society or in the Church. Many times t
hey are examples of Christ and of the faith we should have. They should be allowed to preach, teach and partake in any other ministry. They should be given more opportunities, they should be heard, they should be seen, they should be allowed the same opportunities we are and shouldn’t be looked down on or frowned upon. They should be allowed to dream and explore Christianity. Their capabilities shouldn’t be doubted because often they are more aware of things we are too blind to see and they are more sensitive to what is going on around them than we give them credit for.
To have children part of our ministries, communities and just society in general should be a privilege, honour and advantage protected and recognised by us not hidden and zipped shut. So let us hear them, allow them equal opportunity and recognise their importance and great significance in our everyday life.
*This is not the case in all churches, please do not misunderstand, but in many churches this is a very true reality; which may not always be their intention but does happen as they start to preach to the adults who pay their salaries and forget about the children.
For further thought and reading refer to 1 Timothy Chapter 4 but especially 1 Timothy chapter 4, verses 12-16
Tags: adults, generations, importance of youth, society
