Tillie’s Travail – Victor not Victim

It was a cold and windy Monday night and the prayer meeting was smaller than usual, perhaps the rains and lack of heat in the church building deterred people. But not long into the prayer time things warmed up considerably as Tillie began to call on the name of the LORD. On our way home, Patty and I agreed we could have listened all night to Tillie dialoguing directly with her Heavenly Father. Her powerful praise and intercession brought the fire of heaven into the cold building.

One of her declarations of praise was thanking her Father that we are Victors in Christ and not victims! Knowing Tillie’s background this was a powerful truth-one she had learned through seasons of great pain in her life. Tillie is a “colored woman,” which in South Africa is not viewed as a derogatory term. During the years of Apartheid (1948-1994) Tillie was identified as mixed race and she and her family were forced to live in an area designated for only colored people.

Years ago she was not permitted to reside in Fish Hoek. During this season of racial injustice she learned to travail in prayer-bringing the pain and injustice she experienced to a Just Father. Rather than turning this injustice to feelings of bitterness and anger she found solace in the victory of Christ and the power of the Cross. In Christ she had been forgiven of all her sins and therefore could forgive those who had wronged her. She could not do this in her own strength, but daily needed the power of the Holy Spirit to empower her to live in the victory of the cross. Crying out in travailing prayer became the source of her supernatural strength to live like Christ during one of the darkest periods in South Africa history.

It was during one of those prayer times where she felt in her spirit that one day she would own a home in Fish Hoek as a testimony to a Father who listens to the cries of His children. Today she not only owns a home in Fish Hoek, but her family also owns investment property.

We often see Tillie walking by Oceans Ministries property with an angelic glow on her face. We know exactly what she is doing as she covers the city in prayer during her many prayer walks. If I can catch up to her I ask her to cover Oceans in prayer as well, which she happily does.

Tillie’s life and testimony continually remind me to live under the victory of the cross. The enemy wants us to play the victim-to get bitter, stay angry, to get even until justice is served. This will not only destroy our souls, but it will bring chaos and destruction wherever we go.

Tillie knew victory was found by daily living before the throne of her Savior and crying out for His love to overflow her soul- so that she could love and pray for her enemies just like Jesus did on the cross.  She had learned that travailing prayer brings the heat of heaven’s love to earth which transforms everything.

Perhaps you are going through a season of darkness and even injustice. Keep travailing in prayer, asking the Spirit to reveal the victory that is yours in Christ Jesus, so that you too can testify to others you are a Victor not a victim!

I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit out of the mud and mire, He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see the fear and put their trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3

 

 

 

 

 

Ministries Collide. – The Fruit of Mutual Pursuit

Written by Mike Verkaik

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.       Matthew 7:7-8

During our ride to Oceans Ministries kids activities at the Wooden Shoe last week, I asked Albert, “When was it that you first recognized your need for Jesus to be your Lord and Savior? He replied.  “Remember that night at the motel when my family was in crisis? It was that night in the middle of a difficult situation.  I did not know where else to turn and there was a deep desire to let go and surrender all of it over to Him. In that moment I sensed peace. Now, I don’t know how people get through hard stuff without Jesus.”

Indeed, during that night of desperation,  and the unveiling of deep family wounds revealed the beautiful paradox of our Father’s love. God used one of Albert’s most vulnerable moments in His pursuit of a deep relationship with His son, while Albert’s response was a new and renewed faith that caused him to seek more of his Father’s presence in his life.

Through this mutual pursuit of a deeper relationship Albert began to discover HIs Father’s love and grace to transform the pain into a deeper intimacy with Him. As Albert kept knocking on the door of understanding and knowing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God opened His doors wide for Albert to taste and see firsthand the goodness of his Lord in South Africa.

First and foremost, the door of salvation:

On June 14 in False Bay Albert publicly professed his love for and faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized in front of the entire team. As he emerged from the water, the chorus of “Son of the King!” echoed in unison and celebrated his new identity and the transformative power of salvation.

 

The door of gratitude:

One of Albert’s favorite songs from the trip is Gratitude by Brandon Lake. His take aways each night showed a heart that was shifting focus away from what he didn’t have to being grateful for the things he had.  As Albert said, “ Seeing the people of Jim Se Bos, how difficult their lives are, but how joyful they live and worship made me realize how much I have to be thankful for.  They understand how merciful, loving and forgiving Jesus is to them, and that is enough.

The door of testimonies:

Albert resinated with many of the testimonies we listened to throughout the week. “Hearing how people came to know the Lord in tough spots, I related to that. But now I look at their lives and they are singularly focused on praising and serving Him. How their lives changed as they gave their lives to God. They have contagious joy and excitement for praising the Lord and the commitment to serve the communities.  It is inspiring to see how God has used them to care for the children, and to spread the gospel of Jesus.”

The door of revelation – the amazing love of His Abba Father:

During a conversation after South Africa, I asked Albert, “What did you learn about God on this trip.”  His response revealed a profound understanding of God’s unwavering love and forgiveness, “God really does care for me, even when I let him down, He is still loving and forgiving. He calls me to be available, but he is the one that changes people’s lives.”

The door of service and calling:

While dwelling and praying on the mountain Albert felt the Spirit’s nudge of compassion, asking him to pray over his teacher at Ocean View. The day before she had shared some of her story and testimony with him, now he felt the Spirit saying, “bless her with the new found covering you have found”.

God continued to inspire and reveal His plan for Albert’s new faith, trust and voice as he sought Him in the vineyard. “When I get back”, He said, ”I feel God saying I need to let my boss know I need to adjust my schedule to have Tuesday’s off. I feel I need to be available as a mentor to the other kids at the Wooden Shoe during Ocean’s kids activities. I would also need to share my testimony at the next Bible Club. (Which is happening the day this blog comes out)”

I hope you have been blessed by our Father’s story woven through the life of this young man.  My prayer is that it may revitalize or enhance your pursuit of God’s initiating love for yourself and those placed in your circle of influence. May the Holy Spirit lead and encourage you to keep loving, keep knocking, keep asking, and keep seeking.

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Ministries Collide –   Seeking God’s Kingdom through the eyes of a 15 year old boy

Part 1 of 2 blogs written by Mike Verkaik

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  (Matthew 6:33)

Below is a young man’s story who has exemplified for me Matthew 6:33. His journey has been a demonstration of an unwavering focus on seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness above all his earthly pursuits.  May it inspire and remind us again that true devotion involves not just desiring to be an active participant in God’s kingdom but actively pursuing it through faith, sacrifice, and love.

Albert is fifteen and for the last two years has lived in a motel room with his mom, and two older sisters. In his young life he has seen and experienced more of the hardships of our broken world than many other adults will encounter in their life time. Yet, as I witnessed his response to these experiences and painful events, they did not draw him in, but began to cultivate a resilient, deep desire to understand and experience his Father’s love and identity through Jesus.

Car rides to and from work and events provided opportunities for meaningful conversations about God and cultivating a personal relationship with Him. These shared discussions revealed his deep desire, pursuit and curiosity to know and understand more the depth of His Father’s love for him and the relationship God was pursuing with him.

About six weeks before this past Kingdom Encounter to South Africa, Albert unexpectedly asked me, “ Mike, can I go to South Africa with you?” My initial thoughts were that it would be wonderful, but do you know all the obstacles in your way, given your limited resources, and what makes a 15 year old boy think he can go to South Africa?”

As we discussed the list of hurdles and challenges he would encounter to have the possibility to join the team, nothing discouraged him. So I asked him,  “Why do you want to go, Albert?”His response confirmed my desire to help and showed his desire for a deeper relationship with God. “I receive a lot of help from others, I would like to serve others instead, and after hearing about the trip, I would like to grow more in my relationship with Jesus.” In response, I turned the car off the familiar path home and said, “Okay Albert, let’s cross off the first hurdle, you will need to get a passport picture, it’s on me.”

That conversation began the amazing story of a young man’s persistent pursuit of desiring more of God’s kingdom and his righteousness.  The path he traveled was turbulent as he needed approval from the school to take exams early,  and a birth certificate confiscated by the storage facility, due to missed payments, needed to be reissued from his birth city 150 miles away. Then his mom would need documentation of full custody that was also lost in the box confiscated by the storage company, and lastly, apply for a expedited passport, which would hopefully arrive in time.

His Burger King pay check could have covered the cost of his passport, however, there were other obligations. It was his week to purchase gas in the family car. Also his special need’s sister, a high school senior, desired to attend her first prom, so Albert felt led to purchase the dress. No problem, no complaints from Albert, he’d just settle in two weeks. “Mike”, he said, “ I think if I give my next two pay checks I will have another $400 to give. If people support me more than I need, is there someone else who might still need assistance?”

Albert’s actions and statements were organically revealing his compassionate and trusting heart. From the sideline it seemed only through naivety he resisted discouragement and setback, but the truth is in his pursuit of this Kingdom Encounter, he attacked each hurdle with prayer, determination and a belief that as he sought the kingdom, all these things would be given to him as well (vs. 33b), and God did.

What are you currently running after? I found this list in my notes a while back. It is a good benchmark to keep me running in the right direction, and I hope it is for you as well. Thank you Albert for showing me what an active participant in God’s kingdom looks like.

Keys to seeking first His Kingdom:

  1. Develop a heart for God and His holiness…
  2. Obey His commands and precepts out of reverence, not obligation. …
  3. Put His interests above your own. …
  4. Devote yourself to prayer, His Word, fellowship and proclaiming the gospel. …
  5. Wait upon the LORD in faith, trust and humility.