HEER, BRING MY NADER EN NADER AAN U / LORD, PULL ME CLOSER TO YOU

Here‚ as ek soos Moses
in ’n klipskeur kon staan
terwyl u verbygaan‚
sou ek gesterf het‚
selfs al sou u hande my toegemaak het
sodat ek U net van agter kon sien.
Want‚ Here‚ ek is so ongewoond
aan heilige lig.
Ek leef soos die bleek insekte
wat wild skarrel
wanneer ’n mensehand
hulle klip‚ hulle skuiling‚ verskuif.
Ek leef in die blou flikkerlig
van die televisieskerm‚
in die rooklig
van Saterdagaandpartytjies.
Ek word bang‚ want aanstons
sal ek in u Lig moet staan –
sal ek‚ anders as Moses daar in die skeur‚
U in die gesig moet kyk.
Here‚ lei my dieper in die Lig
wat van U uitstraal.
Maak my meer en meer gewoond aan U
amen

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Lord‚ if as Moses
I could stand in a crevice
when you pass me by‚
I would have died‚
even if I could hide behind your hands
so that I only saw you from behind.
Because Lord‚ your holy light
is so foreign to me.
I live like the pale insects
that scatter wildly
when a human hand
moves their rock‚ their shelter.
I live in the flashing blue light
of the television screen‚
in the smokiness
of Saturday night parties.
I am afraid because soon
I will have to stand in your light –
and other than Moses there in the crevice‚
I will have to look on your face.
Lord‚ lead me into the light
that radiates from you.
Help me to more and more get used to you.
amen
Maretha Maartens

HEER, MAAK MY OE OOP / LORD, OPEN MY EYES

Here‚ maak my oë oop
om u heerlikheid‚
u magtige teenwoordigheid‚
oral‚ oral
raak te sien.
amen

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Lord‚ open my eyes
to see
your glory‚
your powerful presence
everywhere.
amen

U HET MY EERSTE LIEFGEHAD / YOU LOVED ME FIRST LORD

God of the heavens‚
when I look at your majesty
I realise my own nothingness –
not to despair because of it‚
but to become increasingly aware
of your goodness.
I am speechless before your love
towards a creature like me.
Father in heaven‚
You loved me first.
Help me to never forget it.
Let this assuredness take over my heart
despite the temptations of the world‚
despite the restlessness of my heart
despite my fear of the future.
Let the comforting knowledge of your unchangeable love
drive out the fear of my past
and the despair of the present
– and give me hope for the future.
amen

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God van die hemel‚
as ek na u majesteit kyk‚
besef ek my eie niksheid –
nie om daardeur in wanhoop te verval nie‚
maar sodat ek van die grootheid van u goedheid
nog meer bewus kan raak.
Ek staan verstom voor u liefde
teenoor ’n skepsel soos ek.
Vader in die hemel‚
U het my eerste liefgehad.
Help my om dit nie te vergeet nie.
Laat hierdie sekerheid my hart in beslag neem
ten spyte van die verleiding van die wêreld‚
ten spyte van die rusteloosheid van my hart
ten spyte van my angs oor die toekoms.
Laat die troostende wete van u onveranderlike liefde
die vrees van my verlede‚
asook die moedeloosheid van die hede verdryf
– en my ’n uitsig op die toekoms gee.
amen
Søren Kierkegaard

LORD, PLEASE MAKE ME WHAT I AM NOT / HEER, MAAK MY ASB WAT EK NIE IS NIE.

Loving Lord‚
don’t you ever get tired of being good to me?
Why then am I so slow in showing my love for you
by being good to others?

As you find joy in the happiness of your children‚
let me find joy in serving my neighbours.
O‚ Lord‚ give me what I lack.
Make me what I am not.
Let the proof of your forgiving and merciful love
for me‚
encourage me to be patient and forgiving and merciful
towards others.
amen

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Liefdevolle Here‚
word U nooit moeg van goed-wees vir my nie?
Waarom is ek dan so traag om my liefde vir Ú te wys
deur goed te wees vir ander mense?

Soos U vreugde het aan die geluk van u kinders‚
laat my tog ook vreugde vind in diens aan my naaste.
Ag‚ Here‚ gee my wat ek nie het nie.
Máák my wat ek nie is nie.
Laat die bewyse van u vergewende en genadige liefde
teenoor my‚
my aanspoor tot geduld en vergifnis en genade
teenoor ander.
amen
John Wesley

U TROU IS VIR ALTYD / YOU ARE ETERNALLY FAITHFUL

Ons Vader wat in die hemel is‚
by U vind ek rus‚ vrede.
Ek is tevrede.
Al sou die son uitbrand
en die heelal donker word –
u lig bly brand.
Al sou die aarde nie meer
om sy as wentel nie‚
u trou is vir altyd.
Here‚ U is my lewe‚
die som van my sin‚
die bron van my troos‚
die hoop vir my toekoms
amen

———————–

Our Father who is in heaven‚
I find rest‚ peace with you.
I am content.
Even if the sun burns out
and the universe grows dark –
your light will shine.
Even if the earth doesn’t
revolve around its own axis anymore‚
you are eternally faithful.
Lord‚ you are my life‚
the sum of my sense‚
the source of my comfort‚
the hope for my future.
amen
Johan Cilliers

LIEFDE VIR MY NAASTE / LOVE MY NEIGHBOURS

O Love
that burns forever
and that can never be extinguished
by cold human hearts‚
ignite my heart
so that it glows with love
for my poor‚ my helpless‚
my ungrateful neighbours.
amen

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O Liefde
wat altyd brand‚
en wat nooit deur koue menseharte
geblus kan word nie‚
steek tog my hart ook aan die brand
sodat dit met deernis sal gloei
vir my arme‚ my hulplose‚
my ondankbare naaste.
amen
Augustinus van Hippo

YOUR HAND THAT LEADS US / U HAND WAT ONS LEI

Wat voor ons is‚
– hoe ons sal lewe en wanneer ons sal sterwe –
dit weet ons nie.
Maar een ding weet ons wel:
Alle dinge en alle tye rus in u hande
en daar is dit veilig en georden.
Dankie dat dié orde voortspruit
uit u onfeilbare wysheid
en u oneindige liefde‚
o God‚ wat liefde is!

Help ons dan‚ Here ons God‚
om in ons onsekerheid u hand wat ons lei‚
raak te sien en te vertrou.
Ons bid dit in die Naam van Jesus Christus‚
Ons Here.
amen

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That which lies ahead‚
– how we will live and when we will die –
is unknown.
But one thing we do know:
All things and all times rest in your hands
And there it is safe and orderly.
Thank you that this order is based
on your infallible wisdom
and your endless love‚
o God‚ who is love!

Help us then‚ Lord our God‚
to see and trust
your hand leading us through our uncertainties.
We pray this in the Name of Jesus Christ‚
Our Lord.
amen
Charles Simeon