The Colour of Love

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.                                                     Philippians 4:5 | NIV Deidre   Those early days of a spirit filled walk with Jesus are so full of wonder. It reminds me a little of that scene in the 'The Wizard of Oz', when the black and white picture suddenly transforms to vivid colour. Being aware of God's presence made beautiful little moments just that much sweeter and a hunger for the Word grew into soul-deep satisfaction, nourished by the living Bread of Life.  I was so eager to serve and learn and love and laugh, full of this new joy that was boundless in grace and mercy. Youth and children's ministry was a great environment for me and God opened many doors to speak life into little hearts. It's no wonder that Jesus said we should be like little children in our faith...

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight .                                                      Proverbs 3:5-6 David   My three year old daughter recently asked whether my job was counting and though it made me laugh, she's not entirely wrong. As a personal trainer and fitness instructor, I do spend a lot of time counting. Counting out reps and sets may have become routine, but counting all the ways in which God has led, guided and shaped me even in this area of my life, would be infinite.  There are perhaps a few moments in life when we experience or discover something that will impact the course of our lives radically. The day I first set foot in a gym, as a young teenage boy, I had no idea that it would be one of those moments....

But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine"                          Isaiah 43:1 NIV Deidre I love listening to the pattering sound of rain as it soaks the ground and stirs up a beautiful aroma full of life, renewal and hope. Whenever I hear it, it joyfully takes me back to what will always be the most profoundly defining moment of my life ...  The grindingly slow pace of life in a small town is a tough adjustment when you're used to the rush and fingertip conveniences of the city. Though this phase of my life, at the time, seemed drifting and meaningless, I now have the clarity to be thankful and recognise the grace that flowed through those simple moments.  My mom was an extraordinary lady and had an amazing gift for unfolding potential and drawing light out of children, ...

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the  Lord  require of you? To act justly and to love mercy  and to walk humbly  with your God.                                              Micah 6:8 NIV David  If I could string together all the footprints I've tread in my life, I'm sure they'd stretch around the world more than once. I enjoy walking, and in Cape Town, people walk for relaxation, health and enjoyment. Where I come from though, you walk because you have no other choice. In small towns, like the one I'm from, cars were a luxury few could afford and most people from my community are well familiar with the tapping companionship of your own footfall.  The high school I attended was over an hours' walk from my home. A fourteen kilometre round trip, that started in the dark on icy winter mornings and left my uniform sweat drench...

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.                                        Psalms 42:11 NIV Chapter 2 Deidre One of my favourite things to do as a little girl was to page through the family photo albums. I'd snuggle up close to my mom and she'd patiently recount the stories behind every picture again and again... She'd tell me all about the day I was born in a Ladysmith hospital and how they were expecting a boy, only to be completely surprised by the little girl that showed up instead. About the eight year long struggle to have a baby that she and my dad endured, and how God answered their prayers in the most miraculous way. We'd scroll through the pages, pausing at this and that. Baby days, all the firsts, birthdays, special days, days and days and days... No matter how many times I p...