CAM-Kids

FINDING REST By Johan Terblanche


A few weeks ago, we were in church. In front of us there were a mother and her two children. In a whispering but loud enough for me to hear voice, the boy asked his mother if he could lay down in her arms. Without saying a word but with great gentleness she pulled him closer and allowed him to lay down with his head on her lap.

I am sure that there are many who can relate to this. Sure, there are many who are simply tired and looking for a place to rest, but there are others who wants to be close to their mothers, to hear their heartbeats and to know that their mothers are there for them. They are not looking for much. All they want is to be in their mother’s presence and experience their mother’s love.

But even as a grown-up, I often find myself laying down on the couch with my head on my wife’s lap or having my wife laying down with her head on my lap. Also, my grown-up children (Monique who is 32, Leandrie who is 29 and Luan who is 25) often lie down with their heads on my lap or on my chest. Without us talking to each other, we all enjoy these precious moments with one another.

Sometimes, life tends to make us feel worn out, tired and alone. There are days when we battle to cope and barely make it through the day. When this happens or when we are overwhelmed by what is happening, we often call upon the Lord, hoping that He will allow us to rest in His arms or lay our heads in His lap.

These are the days when we need assurance of God’s love, when we want to enjoy His presence and be assured that He is there for us. And even though the Bible tells us that the Lord our shepherd, will let us rest in green meadows and lead us beside peaceful streams, we often feel like this is not the case. (See Psalm 23:1-2)

Still, the Lord wants to assure us that when we turn to Him, He will give us rest. The Word confirms this when it says that he who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (See Psalm 91:1)

Despite our weakness or tiredness, we can still turn to Jesus who said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

Therefore, let us turn to Lord and let our souls find rest in God from whom our hope comes. For after all, He is our rock, our fortress and our salvation. (See Psalm 62:5-6) Let us rest safely in the arms of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

Should you need prayer or guidance, you are welcome to send an email to [email protected] .

Regards and God bless

Johan Terblanche
Christ Alone Ministries

EVEN WHEN By Johan Terblanche


In the Bible we find many instructions given to us. Allow me to quote a few.

• “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)
• “Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Mark 12:31)
• “Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37)
• “Be kind to each other.” (Ephesians 4:32)
• “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
• “Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people.” (Mark 16:15)

Though God instructed us to do this, there are times that we don’t feel like doing it. There are even times when we don’t want to do it. This often happens when someone did something wrong to us and we just don’t feel like loving, forgiving, or even helping them.
But in reading the Word (Bible), I came across a scripture where Jesus did not feel like doing what was needed. When Jesus was praying in on the mount of Olives, He knew that He was about to be captured and to be killed.

Since He would have preferred not to die, He prayed “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me.” (See Luke 22:42)
However, even when Jesus did not feel like or did not want to go to the cross, He still prayed, “yet not My will, but Yours be done.” (See Luke 22:42) Then, an angel from heaven appeared to Jesus and strengthened him. (See Luke 22:43)

Going back to what the Word instructs us to do, we must realize that these are not just mere instructions, but the will of God for us. Therefor, even when we don’t feel like or don’t want to do what the Lord expects of us, we still need to say, “Not my will, but Your will be done.”

Then, when we submit to or decide to do God’s will, He will give us the strength and the courage to His will or to do what He instructed us to do.

Whenever the Lord leads us to go left while we feel like going right, let us say, “Not my will, but yours be done.” When the Lord tells us to love our neighbour, to forgive those who sinned against us, to be kind to others, to carry each other’s burdens or to tell others about Him, let us pray, “Not my will, but Your will be done” even when we don’t feel like it.

Regards and God bless

Johan Terblanche
Christ Alone Ministries