PERSEVERANCE/ VOLHARDING

Lord‚
when all around me has become a desert
and to cry makes no difference …
you hear me.
When you see how everything before me has become a dead end‚
how it has died within me …
then you open a new road for me
at your right time
so that I can escape from my dead end situation.
You then bow down
and save me from under the broom bush‚
into a new life.
amen
Barend Vos

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Here‚
wanneer alles rondom my woestyn word
en dit nie meer help om te huil nie …
hoor U my.
Wanneer U sien hoe alles voor my doodgeloop het‚
hoe dit doodgegaan het binne-in my …
dan is dit U wat op die regte tyd
’n nuwe pad voor my oopstoot
sodat ek kan uitkom uit my vasgeloopte situasie.
Dan buk U af‚
en red my onder my besembos uit‚
in ’n nuwe lewe in.
amen

HELP MY HERE /

O God van die heelal‚
Here van alles wat bestaan‚
U wat uit niks alles gemaak het‚
maak vandag van die niks in my‚
iets wat U kan gebruik.
Kyk met genade na my en na al u kinders
wat u deernis en troos nodig het.
Troos ons om ander te gaan troos.
Maak van ons instrumente
waardeur U u liefde prakties maak
deur ons dade van liefde in die wêreld.

Laat mense vandag iets van u glansende genade
sien blink in my optrede teenoor ander.
amen

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O God of the universe‚
Lord of everything that exists‚
you made everything out of nothing‚
today make of the nothing in me‚
something you can use.
Look down in grace to all your children
who need your consoling tenderness.
Console us in order to console others.
Make us instruments
through which you love is made practical
through our deeds of love in the world.

Let people see today something of your shining grace
in my behaviour towards others.
amen

DON’T QUIT – KEEP PLAYING

The Concert

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to

 her seat and discovered that her child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights

 focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. To her horror, the mother saw her little boy

 sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.’

 At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and

 whispered in the boy’s ear,’Don’t quit . . keep playing.’

 Then, leaning over , Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling

 in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, 

and he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice

transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience.

 The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn’t recall what else the great master played.

 Only the classic, ’ Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.’ Perhaps that’s the way it is with God.

 What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy.

 We try our best, but the results aren’t always graceful flowing music. However, with the

 hand of the Master, our life’s work can truly be beautiful.

 The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully…

 you may hear the voice of  The Master, whispering in your ear, ‘Don’t quit . . Keep playing.’

 May you feel His arms around you and know that His hands are there, helping you

 turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.

 

DANKIE HEER / THANK YOU LORD

Vader‚
U heers oor die eeue‚ oor oseane‚ kontinente.
U is groot!
Van geslag tot geslag
speur u oë.
Dankie dat dit ook
op my rus.
Dankie dat U wat so groot is‚
ook vir ’n kleintjie soos ek
plek het op u skoot.
amen
Johan Cilliers

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Father‚
Throughout the centuries you govern over oceans‚ continents.
You are so big!
Your eyes see
from generation to generation.
Thank you that they also
rest on me.
Thank you that you make space
for someone small like me
on your lap.
amen

HELP US TO TURN AWAY FROM EVIL / HELP ONS OM WEG TE DRAAI VAN SONDE

Christ‚ our companion‚
you didn’t come to
humiliate the sinners‚
but to shock the “just”
into an understanding of self.
You welcome us
even when we are disgraced‚
but you confront us with our
self-complacency and smugness.
Help us to truly turn away
from all evil‚
and save us from our perceptions of our virtues.
We ask this in your Name.
amen
Janet Morley

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Christus‚ ons metgesel‚
U het nie gekom om sondaars
te verneder nie‚
maar om die “regverdiges”
tot selfkennis te skok.
U verwelkom ons
selfs as ons in die skande kom‚
maar konfronteer ons met ons
selfgenoegsaamheid.
Help ons om waarlik weg te draai
van wat boos is‚
en verlos ons van ons bewuste deugde.
Ons vra dit in u Naam.
amen

KAAPSE KERSGEBED

Kaapse Kersgebed

 

 

Wat ’n mooi dag, Here!

Die Kaap is skoon en soel na Oukersaand se reën.

Dankie vir elke tree wat ek hier mag opstap teen Platteklip,

op na die Tafel daarbo.

Dankie vir vriende wat so bedagsaam was om my saam te nooi.

In die grysblou van die berge op die horison,

in die diepblou van die see, in die helderblou lug;

in die groen en bruin en skakerings tussenin,

van plante en rotse en die berg;

in die skadu’ s en die lig, die warm en die koel,

in my eie asem- en spierinspanning – mag ek weet:

 God is by my, by ons. Die Kersboodskap is waar.

Ek weet dit veral vandag.

Want, Here, U het hierdie dag spesiaal geskep,

en eenkant gesit vir ons.

Hier bo-op Tafelberg, waar ons ons broodjies sit en eet,

 met die wind net ’n sagte luggie,

kyk ons hoe mense die mensgemaakte paadjies loop

soos miere in en uit hulle nes.

Ons stap al om die rand van die berg en kyk en kyk,

sover ons oë kan sien,

Is U daar ver anderkant Valsbaai,

Kommetjie, en by Robbeneiland verby?

Ja, u genade strek verby die horison,

 tot anderkant waar ons nou nog nie kan sien nie:

die ou jaar uit, die nuwe in:

die onsigbare, onbekende,

anderkant ons sien en weet.

En Here, as ons die afdraandpad weer moet vat,

 die steiltes af na onder,

oor klippe wat mens kan laat struikel,

af en af, na waar die stadsverkeer raas,

dan weet ons: U is ook daar:

oor elke klip hou U ons voete vas,

en as ons val, los U nie ons hand nie,

en help ons op, en vryf die seer,

en praat ons moed in vir die lang pad ondertoe …

Die pad saam met U.

Wynand Retief

BLY BY MY HEER / STAY WITH ME LORD

Stay with us‚ Lord‚
because it is becoming evening
and the day is almost over.
Stay with us and with all people.
Stay with us in the evening of the day‚
in the evening of life
in the evening of this world.
Stay with us in your grace and goodness‚
with your Word and sacraments‚
with your consolation and blessings.
Stay with us
also in the night of sorrow and fear‚
the night of doubt and temptations‚
the night of bitter death.
Stay with us
and with all your children
in time and eternity.
amen

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Bly by ons‚ Heer‚
want dit wil aand word
en die nag is byna verby.
Bly by ons en by alle mense.
Bly by ons in die aand van die dag‚
in die aand van die lewe
in die aand van hierdie wêreld.
Bly by ons met u genade en goedheid‚
met u Woord en sakramente‚
met u troos en seën.
Bly by ons
ook in die nag van droefheid en vrees‚
die nag van twyfel en aanvegting‚
die nag van die bittere dood.
Bly by ons
en by al u kinders
in tyd en ewigheid
amen
Ou Nederlandse kerkgebed

THE WAY / DIE WEG

Hemelse Vader‚
ek weet nou dat my vrome vrede
U nie bluf nie.
U weet tog dat daaragter eintlik maar
’n stuk ontevredenheid skuil‚
kwalik bedek deur my aanhoudende vrae.
Dankie dat ek egter óók weet
dat u Antwoord gekom het‚
saam met die blye stemme uit die hemel;
dat al die vrae van u kinders‚
oor geslagte heen‚
in daardie Kind van U beantwoord is.
Waarom anders het Hy Homself
“Die Weg” genoem‚
die enigste Uitweg?
amen

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Heavenly Father‚
I now know that my pious peace
doesn’t deceive you.

You know that it hides
a large chunk of dissatisfaction‚
barely concealed by my incessant questioning.
Thank you that I may also know
that your Answer has come‚
together with the joyous voices from heaven;
that all your children’s questions
throughout the generations‚
have been answered in your Child.
Why else did He call himself
“The Way”‚
the only way out?
amen
Barend Vos