My First Landmark, Turned 21!!!

So I thought I'd post something for blog cause. Not forgetting, that I'm proudly South African through and through and the significance in turning 21. I'm out the country but you can't take the country out of me. The blog entry reads, March 31 and my birthday is April Fools but for birthday sake I'm operating on South Africa time.

I'm so grateful to God for His grace, mercy and goodness over the nearly 10 years in my relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. Almost eight months ago I should have been literally dead and buried after a head on collision car collision on the highway. The car was a right off. How I survived with very minor injuries, truly a miracle.

The hardships that have come my way over the ten years, dealing with the issue of death be it myself at 20, or that of loved one who died of cancer when I was 15, or even my freind who took his life, I was only 16 at the time. It only gets better, struggle with depression 17, emigrating at 18 to Canada and trying to settle down and my health that continues to be tough to deal with. How is it even possible that I'm still remotely stable, alive and well?

All I can say is God is good and has sustained me through His word and prayer. Through every affliction He has carried me and still carries me to this day. I have seen the best of life and the worst of life and I'm sure there is more to come but there are no words of large enough for me to encompass my praise to my Maker, Father and King. Through my joys I grown a lot and through my sufferings I grown even more and loving every minute of it. He is building my character and I'm a better preson for it and of course using me for His purpose and glory so that others may know of Him as I'm able to share His grace, love and mercy He has afforded me.

I'm a blessed and grateful person. There has been great times of enjoyment too, all be it, coming to know him as my Saviour and King at 11, being blessed with many friends in two different countries, skydived, mission trips, university etc. For me, it is my suffering presently and over the last 10 years that I have grown in my realtionship with Jesus. I regret nothing and would not trade any of those experiences for the world.

To be Christian, Jesus tells us to deny ourselves, pick up your cross and follow Him. Suffering is part and parcel of being a Christian. What I have enjoyed the most is that I know Who's scars I am marked by. What Jesus did for us on the cross, is beyond my comprehension. His love. God's grace to save a wretched sinner like me. Making me into new creation in robes I do not deserve. Man was made in the image of God. Jesus came to restore God's image in man and has offered us eternal life. Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain and truly demands my life, my soul, my all.

Sure there are going to be more pothills, valleys and mountains to climb. Who cares! He has carried me and will continue to carry me. God is good. A new life in Canada, turned 21, trying to adapt in a foreign sure ain't easy but I' learning slowly but surely its not where I'm going that is important but it is Who I belong to and Whom I am traveling with that counts. Forgetting what is behind me,I want to know Christ more.

-Lloyd

If Only We Understood...

When Jesus approached Jerusalem, Luke 19:41,42
"As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes."

A friend reminded me, if Jesus Death on the cross was to be fully understood, our hearts, minds, attitudes. lives should be different. Maybe we ought live out the message of the Gospel, by telling others of this good news? Not just during Easter...

-Lloyd

The Life to Come

2 Corinthians 5:1-4
"Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life."

I heard this great talk tonight and was reminded and encouraged of the hope of eternal life we all share in. That we, here and now only experience a glimpse of the everlasting life to come. Death is not the end, but the beginning. This was the illustration that was used (Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis).

"Then Aslan turned to them and said: 'You do not yet look so happy as I mean you to be. There was a real railway accident,' said Aslan softly. 'Your Father and Mother and all of you are as you call it in the Shadowland-dead. The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning.' And as He spoke, He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at least they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before."

-Lloyd