Riekert Botha's Blog

Ons is uit die koninkryk van duisternis uitgehaal

Geliefdes,

Ons is uit die koninkryk van duisternis uitgehaal en oorgebring na die koninkryk van die Seun van God se liefde en nou is ons Sy liefde deelagtig! Daarom noem ons mekaar Geliefdes…

Die jaar het soos ‘n oogwink verby gespoed. Ons deel graag ‘n paar hoogtepunte met julle:

Teen einde November sal ons 14 “In die voetspore van Jesus reise” voltooi het. Dertien daarvan is by L’Abri (ons huis in Vermont) aangebied en een is in Inhassoro Mozambique aangebied. Ons staan in verwondering oor die impak wat hierdie afsondering, fellowship en lering op mense se lewens het. Ek en Riekert het die voorreg om die materiaal herhaaldelik te behandel maar Jesus alleen doen die werk in elke hart en ons dank Hom dat ons ‘n klein bietjie daarvan mag aanskou.

Die datums van 2025 se “reise” sal 1 Oktober op die webtuiste riekertbotha.co.za beskikbaar wees. Bespreek so gou moontlik want die plekke is baie beperk.

Ons het nie hierdie jaar gereis soos die vorige 10 jaar nie. Vroeër het Riekert uitnodigings aanvaar na gemeentes en skole regoor Suid Afrika en daar bedien. Ons glo dat daardie hoofstuk verby is en dat ons, in die toekoms, meestal uit Vermont sal werk en bedien.

Die YouTube bediening bly vir ons verrassend tov die hoeveelheid mense wat bereik word. Die terugvoer en waardering van die kykers is bewys dat Jesus die kanaal gebruik en seën.

Riekert het vir ‘n paar jaar nie boeke geskryf nie maar is weer goed op dreef om bybelstudies te skryf wat CUM boeke sal uitgee. Hy beplan om elke 6 maande ‘n boek klaar te hê sodat dit verwerk kan word vir druk. Ons is opgewonde oor hierdie projek.

Die Woordskool in die DeWetsaal in Onrus gaan nou vir 7 jaar aan. Die mense wat dit bywoon kom uit verskillende gemeentes en groepe. Saam groei ons in liefde en kennis van Jesus en die geniet heerlike fellowship. Dis opvallend om te sien hoe die gelowiges vrymoedigheid kry om mekaar te bedien met hulle unieke gawes en die leiding van die Heilige Gees. Die liggaam van Christus werk oor die grense van kerkgeboue en struktuur.

Ons kinders is druk besig by hulle onderskeie werke. Hulle behou die Geloof. Hulle streef na gesonde huwelike en families. Ons dank Jesus vir elkeen van hulle.

Willem en Michelle trek die einde van die jaar Kaap toe waaroor ons natuurlik baie opgewonde is. Willem sluit by Christiaan se besigheid aan waar hulle skoliere tutor in wiskunde. Michelle het ‘n pos by Curro Durbanville aanvaar.

Christiaan en Adelinde en die kleinspan is baie gelukkig en gesond en loop met Jesus. Ons sien hulle gereeld en dis ‘n voorreg om so naby ons kleinkinders te woon.

Dian en Katelyn gaan vir eers in Pretoria aanbly. Hulle is albei nog besig met hulle studies terwyl hulle voltyds ook werk. Die lewe in die stad is uitmergelend maar niks is tevergeefs nie. Hulle leer kosbare lesse en ons sien hoe Jesus hulle lei.

Ons leef ‘n unieke lewe en word deur Jesus gerig en versorg. Ons is dankbaar vir die getuienis in ons harte dat Jesus ons Here en Voorsiener (ons Werkgewer) is. Hy gebruik Sy kinders om ons te vertroos en bedien, net soos Hy ons gebruik om hulle tot diens te wees. Ons is so dankbaar vir elkeen wat ons dra in gebed en finansies. Ons ontvang elke goeie gawe uit Jesus se hand!

Philippians 2:1-11 ESV

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Mag ons in elke opsig van ons lewens Jesus, ons Here, gehoorsaam.

Mag ons lewens Hom eer bring!

Saam met julle in Sy diens,

Riekert en Pippa

Saam met julle voor Sy troon…

Liewe Familie en Vriende,

Hierdie brief is om diegene te bedank wat oor die jare vir ons ondersteun.

Die feit dat ons kan doen wat ons doen, is te danke aan Jesus se goedertierenheid wat ons deur julle toewyding beleef.

Jesus gee ons ons “marching orders” en Hy voorsien wat nodig is om Sy opdragte te gehoorsaam. Julle is deel van Sy voorsiening.

Baie Dankie!

Mag Jesus vir elke Heilige in Sy koninkryk voorsien.

Mag julle Sy seën beleef in julle dienswerk.

Saam met julle voor Sy troon…

Riekert en Pippa

Steen van aanstoot en mal perde

Liewe Familie in Jesus,

Julle was so kosbaar met jul bediening aan ons deur die jaar en daarom wil ons julle graag vertel van die paaie waarop Jesus ons lei.

1. Gedurende die laaste jaar het ons weereens gesien hoe die "Steen van Aanstoot" en die "Rots van Struikeling" ons grootste skat is. Stamp Hom weg en Hy verbrysel jou, omhels Hom en Hy genees jou.

2. Ons het die afgelope jaar hoë profiel kerkleiers met baie aansien ontmoet wat geen vreugde in Jesus vind nie. Ons het ook onopsigtelike, onindrukwekkende dissipels ontmoet wat in die heerlikheid en lig van Christus lewe. Ons het mense ontmoet wat met groot ywer hul eie bedienings bou en mense wat met vredevolle oortuiging hul lewens aflê vir die Geliefde - letterlik.

3. Daar is mense wat ons nie graag weer sal wil besoek nie. Daar is mense wat ons baie graag weer sal wil sien, en dan is daar ook mense wat ons graag weer sal wil sien maar skrikkerig is om dit te doen aangesien hulle in lewensgevaarlike areas werk.

4. Die toer was revolusionêr vir my en Pippa en het diepgaande skuiwe in ons harte bewerk. Ons is oortuig daarvan dat Jesus ons in sleutelareas onherroeplik verander het.

5. Julle weet in alle waarskynlikheid van die Reise wat ek en Pippa volgende jaar in Vermont gaan aanbied. Elke Reis duur 7 dae en word by ons aan huis gehou. Daar is 15 sulke Reise en hulle is reeds almal vol bespreek. Dit is n wonderlike belewenis om mense se honger na Jesus te sien (veral in die tyd waarin ons nou leef). Twee van die Reise word DV in Mosambiek aangebied. Die een is in Inhassoro (en is vol bespreek deur Suid-Afrikaners). Die tweede is in Pemba en is uitsluitlik vir die plaaslike gemeente wat almal voorheen Moslems was.

6. Ons het ook duidelikheid gekry oor die Woordskool en dat ons daarmee sal aangaan. Ons sal voortaan op Maandae-aande in die De Wet-saal vergader.

7. Met sekere kontakte het ons dieper bande gebou en uit hierdie verhoudinge ontstaan daar ook nou natuurlike netwerkskakeling. Ons het geen idee wat dit alles mag inhou of waarheen dit sal lei nie, behalwe dat Jesus daardeur verheerlik sal word. Dit lyk ook of daar groot belangstelling onder Suid-Afrikaanse gelowiges is om die Jesus-Reise in buurlande by te woon.

8. Ons is dankbaar om weer tuis te wees en om ons kinders en kleinkinders weer te sien. Ons sien uit om met julle te kan fellowship, met die Reise te begin, en met die Woordskool aan te gaan.

,Die malperd van ‘n Afrika-toer was voorwaar ‘n afspraak van die Here!

Mag Jesus jul elk in julle bedieninge seën en lei om die evangelie van die heerlikheid van Christus bekend te maak tot Hy kom!

Liefde

Riekert en Pippa

Filling big shoes

Our one year old granddaughter was here for the weekend and found her Oupa's shoes in the kitchen. He and I like our shoes "in"conveniently lying around where we can trip over them at regular intervals… and so Amelia decided to try them on for size. The photograph her daddy took of her is so precious! The little legs with the enormous shoes coming up to her knees, her Oupa with his stockinged feet behind her and the look of delight on her little face all speak to me of the wonder of life!

How often do we find ourselves "trying on" new experiences or skills? We come across something that prickles our imagination and we try it on for size. "Can we make a go at this?", we ask ourselves. The first emotion is delight and excitement until we take our first step. The reality of the situation hits us and we quickly lose our enthusiasm as the difficulty of moving becomes exhausting. Even one step takes all our energy. The shoes are too big. We are too small. But give us enough time and practice and we find the strength to take two steps and then three. We grow in strength and stature because that's the rule of nature and soon we have filled the shoes that were so overwhelming.

Later we may even find time for relaxation. We might take our shoes off and leave them lying around for some other little person to find and try on. Maybe we stand behind that little one and help them balance and even assist them in taking a step, enjoying their triumph and joy and hoping that they, too, will persevere until they have mastered something new and succeeded in something that once was far too big for them but will fit them perfectly in due course.

In quietness

"In returning and rest you shall be saved;

In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." Isaiah 30:15

This scripture and the many more about quietness and trust have always drawn me. How I long for quietness in my soul. My inner life reflects the outer clammer of the world and the hunger for calm stability becomes a gnawing demand. I find tiny niches of quietness in my days… the early mornings before anyone rises and the night time wakefulness while the world sleeps but those glimpses are full of my own tiredness and, sleepy eyed, I find it difficult to fill the need.

Taking time off in order to be quiet has become a privilege in this century. It is therefore, with the deepest gratitude, that I sit in silence in the wild places of Namibia. Now that I have tasted quietness, I am convinced that it may never again become a luxury, put off, as for those favored few. Quietness is a necessity of the soul. Jesus often disappeared into the wilderness. He is our example in all areas of life. I realize that in order to quiet my heart in the midst of screaming noise, I must first learn to quiet my heart in the stillness of nature.

Riekert and I have spent two months experiencing nature… driving here and there, always seeking the next adventure. And then we, at last, came to the place of rest…

To sit still for more than 15 minutes without planning the next move, that is not lazing around, that is skill. And it's a skill long forsaken in our lives. Skills need to be learnt. Skills need time to master. I find myself determined to take the necessary steps to learn and master this life skill in the months to come.

For joy

While driving through Kaokoland you may be privileged to see sculptures made from stones and wire. They depict men performing different activities and they are so unexpected that the sight of them brings a surge of joy and surprise. The sculptor must be a very special person and I imagine his own joy while making and positioning these art works.

Everywhere we go in nature, we find evidence of the joyful Creator, Jesus Christ. A solitary green tree embedded in the rock of a desert mountain, the decorative designs of stones, plants, insects and birds, the abundant brilliance of the starry skies. I see and learn that God is able to do far more than I could ever dream or think and that He delights in unexpected and surprising displays of His majesty.

One of the questions I asked when we had the opportunity to take long leave, was "for what purpose?" I felt guilty about being the recipient of such grace without a definite reason. I felt I should explain and defend the privilege. But after 2 months of waiting for some deep and meaningful answer to my question I believe it to be, "Just for the joy of it!"

God is God and He is good and He loves to bestow gifts and create beauty just for the joy of it. Being in ministry and working as a nurse for thirty years has taught me the importance of servanthood and sacrifice. In seeking to grow in the knowledge of God, He is now showing me His abundant goodness, love and joy. God is good. God is love. God is joy. He doesn't only give these things. He gives them because they are who He is. To get to know Him in this way, is a very humbling experience.

Like the stone man lying on a rock in the middle of a naked landscape or a fragile blossom in the desert, every surprising, undeserved and impartial gift, reveals to me more of my Lord and God, my joyful Creator. How can I not fall down in worship before Him?

Communing

Riekert was my first serious boyfriend. I remember our first date in detail. I remember what I wore, where we went and what I ordered but most of all I remember the list of conversation topics in my jean pocket in case we ran out of things to talk about. Needless to say, the list was an unnecessary precaution.

It may seem strange that after 30 years of happy communication, I had a few qualms about spending 90 full days alone with my beloved husband. The "list" came to mind a couple of times :) Would I have enough stimulating conversation to keep him amused for so long?

Riekert, of course, was horrified by my fears.

In my mind's eye I had a picture of Jesus and Adam walking in the cool of the day. Adam didn't read up on interesting topics before they were able to communicate meaningfully. They walked along companionably chatting about what they saw and experienced. They may have laughed at an animal's interesting antics and I am sure they were often silent without feeling pressured to fill the void with words…

Communicating is as much about sharing comfortable silence as about words. We enjoy both words and silence as we travel along and all the while we are assured that around the next corner will be a new and wonderful topic of conversation. Such is the joy of travel and friendship!

Where wrinkles don't count

This morning as I was putting on my very wrinkled clothes, I was struck by the glad thought that there is a place where wrinkles don't count.

Most of the time we live superficial lives where we are judged by appearance… what we wear and how we look become important to us but there is a place we can go, where those concerns are put into perspective and a very small place they consume!

Our loved ones don't see wrinkles when they look at us. Our grandchildren don't judge us when they play with our sagging skin. They see the person we are within the aging body and they love us still. That's the place I want to be…

Jesus doesn't look at my robes and adornment. He looks deep into my heart. His eyes never criticize my lack of refinement when He gently probes my innermost thoughts and shows me my hurt and rebellion. He knows my every weakness and my secret sin and He never turns away when I hesitatingly seek Him. He opens His arms and draws me in! That's the place I want to be…

The earth and sky and the living creatures are not concerned with my appearance. They live their lives as if I were just a part of the whole natural world and not the centre of it as I so often presume. If I am lucky and I sit quietly enough, they may include me in their activities for a moment, never stopping to assess my apparel but rather the harmlessness of my person. That's the place I want to be…

There is a place where wrinkles don't count. It's a place of honesty, sincerity and love. That's the best place to be.

Our loved ones don't see wrinkles when they look at us. Our grandchildren don't judge us when they play with our sagging skin. They see the person we are within the aging body and they love us still. That's the place I want to be…

Jesus doesn't look at my robes and adornment. He looks deep into my heart. His eyes never criticize my lack of refinement when He gently probes my innermost thoughts and shows me my hurt and rebellion. He knows my every weakness and my secret sin and He never turns away when I hesitatingly seek Him. He opens His arms and draws me in! That's the place I want to be…

The earth and sky and the living creatures are not concerned with my appearance. They live their lives as if I were just a part of the whole natural world and not the centre of it as I so often presume. If I am lucky and I sit quietly enough, they may include me in their activities for a moment, never stopping to assess my apparel but rather the harmlessness of my person. That's the place I want to be…

There is a place where wrinkles don't count. It's a place of honesty, sincerity and love. That's the best place to be.

The glory of God

I have never, before this week, experienced a lion in its natural habitat. I don't know what I expected but I was deeply moved by the presence and authority of these animals. There was no cowering or skittishness as the nine lionesses sauntered to the river. They were totally at peace and totally in control. The appearance of people in large vehicles were no deterrent. They gracefully passed us by as if we were not even there. A couple of the younger lionesses lay down to gaze at us before joining the rest of the pride.

Something of these animals spoke so clearly of majesty, serenity and dignity. I understand a little more of the meaning of Jesus' name: the Lion of the tribe of Juda.

This trip into the wilderness is showing me, more than anything else, the glory and multi-coloured beauty, wisdom and goodness of Jesus. The intricate beauty of the insects and plants, the delicacy of the little antelope, the vibrancy of colour and the calls of the birds, the endless expanse of the starry heavens, the sun and moon in their rising and setting.

Every creature is so intimately created. Every moment is divinely planned. How can I see or hear or smell the earth and the air and not know the goodness of God?

God is all around me. My heart and my soul rejoice in my Saviour. For, to me, He has shown great things and holy is His name. My soul will magnify the Lord all the days of my life!

Safety

Riekert and I were talking about the feeling of safety today.

I remember, as a child, moments of deep security and contentment… the evening ritual of bath and clean pajamas, the murmur of parents chatting in the lounge, the sound of Beethoven playing on the record player.

I remember the feeling of peace I experienced the couple of times we went to a farm in the Eastern Cape and the excitement of riding on the back of a bakkie through the "veld". I remember the joy of being woken up very early in the morning to witness the milking of the cows and the sweet cow smell and the rhythm of milk in tin pails.

Driving through Namibia brings back all those feelings. We avoid tarred roads and turn the Landy onto the paths less travelled. We drive through bushveld and grasslands where very few human feet tread. We camp in the sandy trails or in the bush at the side of the way. We listen to the night sounds and watch the stars appear and the moon rise. We wash in our little basin or when we feel like a good scrub we have a camp shower. We talk and laugh as we go along and as we prepare our simple meals.

As night falls, we climb into our rooftop tent where we are safe from predators and there, in our camp bed, I feel the deepest contentment, joy and peace and the nearness of Jesus and His beauty and purity and love as the light in the west darkens and the soft breeze blows through the mesh windows. Here I am at my most happy and at peace- here in the wilderness with Riekert and my Lord.