Xenophobia, Displacement, Forgiveness & Unity

Our son was admitted to hospital on Monday. We will not be able to see him or speak to him for seven days. It's been very hard for all of us. The only other time we've not been able to communicate was when he was in my womb and we eagerly anticipated his birth, he is our firstborn.

This morning I played his harmonica while praying for him hoping somehow he could hear the sound in his heart. I hoped he would know at that moment we were praying for him and then it hit me- Does God feel anything like this? He knows us and speaks to us and is quite near to us but often we are too busy rushing from here, there and doing this and that good work to make time to just sit for a visit with Him. Could we sit and have coffee with Jesus? We make the time to breathe, think, maybe even listen to someone else talk? What if we had the opportunity to have that cup of coffee with Jesus? What if we took the time to listen for his still, quiet voice within us? We might just hear his voice!

That’s what happened with my friend Lawrence. A few months ago he visited our church at Green Market Square. His prayer request was always the same, “please pray for me, I need to spend more time praying and talking to God. I know I need to do this but I am finding it difficult.” We always prayed. Then three months ago Lawrence was hit by a car on the way home from work. It was a hit and run. While Lawrence lay on the ground unconscious his cell phone and money were stolen from his body. He eventually got transported to Somerset Hospital. At first he wasn't expected to live, then it wasn't likely that he would walk again. When we visited him we asked, “Now do you have time for God, Lawrence?” He laughed. We prayed. Then the doctor said, “you must be praying very hard because I am going to be able to repair your leg and there is a chance you will walk again.” Lawrence replied, “No sir, the people from church are praying for me. That is why God is healing me.” Lawrence now has a steel rod in his leg and he walks without any help at all. Lawrence has not been able to return to his business as yet at the market. But that’s not only because of limited funds. It’s because during Lawrence’s recovery time he has been seeking to know God daily. His niece, her husband and small child recently fled for their lives due to the Xenophobic riots occurring in South Africa, they showed up at her uncle Lawrence’s door in tears. All their belongings had been stolen and their car burned. Lawrence said, “Stop crying. Stand and see the deliverance of the Lord.” Days later Lawrence’s niece and her family moved into a 3 bedroom home in Parklands, fully furnished and food and clothing had also been provided for them. Prior to this they lived in a one room shack.

Lawrence’s sisters came down from Zambia at the time of his accident to care for him. One young niece was left in his care and the sisters returned to Zambia. The young niece asked her uncle when he would be looking for work as there wasn’t much in the house to eat. Lawrence replied that God would provide for them. Although Lawrence could no longer sell his wares at Green Market he began to make necklaces at home, thinking perhaps he could sell them to friends at the market who could sell them for him. People from around his community dropped by his home to buy from him! Lawrence continued to spend time with God daily. One day the Lord told Lawrence he was going to give him a wife. He had already spoken to a woman in Zambia about him and his sisters should go and meet her. When Lawrence called his sisters they thought he'd been taking too many painkillers! He laughed but told them exactly what God had said and where they could find the woman. The sisters followed Lawrences directions to the letter and to their great surprise found a woman to whom God had spoken about Lawrence! The families are presently arranging the wedding for these two young people! Lawrence is looking forward to the wife God has chosen for him and to building a new life in South Africa.

Hosea 2:14:
“Therefore now I am going to allure her. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards and will make the Valley of Achor a door of Hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth as in the day she came up out of Egypt. “In that day,” declares the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’, you will no longer call me ‘my master.’ I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips, no longer will their names be invoked. In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that they may lie down in safety. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord. “In that day I will respond,” declares the Lord- “I will respond to the skies and they will respond to the earth and the earth will respond to the grain, the new wine and oil, and they will respond to Jezreel.
I will plant her for myself in the land, I will show my love to the one I called, ‘Not my loved one’ I will say to those called “not my people’; ‘you are my people,’ and they will say, “You are my God.”

This is a promise from God! God’s word does not return void. South Africa! God has called you the last greatest place on the earth! People come from around the world to see what God is doing in this nation! A miracle occurred in 1994 and people want to see what else God is up to here! Mandela was not only released from prison but promoted to the highest office in the land! God has been working on your behalf! Mandela was not bitter, he forgave and God blessed Him! He had no enemies therefore God could bless him and confidently put him into office to lead his people! He had not a corruptible heart. He survived the desert, the Valley of Achor and God made it a door of Hope! Not only for Mandela but all South Africa, and ultimately Africa and the world! The natural speaks of the supernatural! People are flocking to this country to glimpse the New South Africa; there is hope around the world for a new and better way. Why are you not part of this? Why are you taking matters into your own hands? Why are you only caring about yourselves? Madiba, like Martin Luther King had a dream straight from the heart of God! He waited for it and God put him in power to help his people just like Moses! Zuma says the priests prayed for the ANC and that ANC will remain in power until Jesus comes back. Jesus stands at the door knocking, just like the refugees from the nations of Africa who’ve come across your borders seeking new life. They seek that same door of Hope that God has made in South Africa!
God said, “I will show my love to the one I called ‘not my loved one.’ I will say to those called, ‘not my people, ‘you are my people,’ and they will say, “You are my God!”

Now is the time, says the Lord. Now is the time for the prophetic fires to be lit in South Africa to go throughout Africa! It is the fire of the glory of God! He is a consuming fire! Either you will be part of His glory that will go forth into the nations or you will be consumed and destroyed by this fire. The Lord has said he will remove the names of the Baals. Stop the rumors and bitterness; come out of agreement with it in your hearts and from your lips. He longs to abolish bow and sword and battle to betroth you as His Bride in righteousness, justice, in love and compassion and faithfulness. The Lord has invited you time and again to humble yourselves, pray and seek his face! Turn from your wicked ways that he can hear from heaven, forgive your sin and heal your land! He longs to make covenant with you! He proclaimed a great blessing which South Africa can partake of in Psalm 133:
How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity-
It is like the precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aarons’ beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It’s as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mt. Zion. For there the Lord commands his blessing, even life forevermore!

Oh South Africa! Here and receive God’s direction in this dire hour! Do not conform any longer to the world’s ways! God has such good plans for you! To bless you and to prosper you; not to harm you, but to give you a future and a Hope! Open the doors of your hearts and let him in!

Lay down your agendae! Give him your burdens, fears and worries! He will abolish them all so that you may lie down in safety, so that you may be betrothed to him forever. It was the Lord who allowed all to be taken away. Not to punish you or prefer anyone over you but to prepare you to “plant you for himself as His Kingdom!” Those you call not my loved ones have given safe haven to your leaders when they were in exile. Where would they be had these countries not opened the doors to them? Say to those you have called, ‘not my people,’ ‘you are my people,’ and they will acknowledge the Lord! He will command His blessing, even life forevermore!

Taking Our Rightful Places

Creation Waits

Painting by Janice VanCronkhite www.jvcartworks.com

A friend asked, “When is it all going to start?” Although I hadn't the slightest idea, out of my mouth came the words: “When people take their rightful places in the Kingdom of God.”

My mind whirled over God's reply, I prayed for understanding. Eventually I did fall off to sleep only to be awakened by a strange dream. My friend's wife was instructing me to give the reading for their family church service. I couldn't understand why I had to give it, why not my husband or my friend's husband, why ME? Then I knew God was telling me something in the dream. I woke up and read my assignment: 1 Kings 5:5:

(Preparations for Building the Temple)

When Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king to succeed his father David, he sent his envoys to Solomon, because he had always been on friendly terms with David. Solomon sent back this message to Hiram:

“You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the Lord his God until the Lord put his enemies under his feet. But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side and there is no adversary or disaster. I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the Lord my God, as the Lord told my father David, when he said, ‘Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for my Name.’”

Solomon was not afraid to declare who he was and what God had promised about his destiny. He declared what he believed was his purpose and gave Hiram the opportunity to supply all the timber.

“When Hiram heard Solomon’s message he was greatly pleased and said, ‘Praise be to the Lord today, for he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation.”

Solomon had the boldness to step into his rightful place to do what he’d been destined to do before the world began. Hiram responded by providing exactly what was requested.

Like Abram, God called us out of our nation and away from our family to go to a place He would show us, a place where He would reveal His plans and purposes for our lives. We dared to believe him. This is an account of the journey God has called us to in Africa as He rebuilds His Kingdom. Have you stepped out in in faith into your rightful place? It’s the place God prepared for you even before the world began. All creation groans and waits for the Sons of God to be revealed. Now is the time.

The Inner Court of Our Promised Land

Are relationships meant to be the stepping stones along our journey in life?

The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and so began his journey… He traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh and Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So Abram built an altar to the Lord there.

Building an altar was to mark the place God and Abram entered into covenant with one another. Abram is known for his righteousness. He was God’s friend, in whom he had put his faith, hope and trust. Are we known as friends of God? What happens when we get as far as the great tree of Moreh and Shechem? Will God’s promise to Abram still be His promise to us? “To your offspring I will give this land.” How can that be in the world we live in today? Physical? Spiritual? Could our Promised Land be the place God has chosen to dwell with us in relationship whereby He rebuilds our faith?

“Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, who you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”

This is Livin'

I saw pictures on a friend's myspace yesterday that skyrocketed me over the mountain of despair, doubt and unbelief. I've been a bit like Habbakuk recently crying, "How Long Lord?"

My friend's photo was titled: This Is Livin'. He and his father sat on a dock fishing together. It wasn't from the old days when he was a little boy, it was from a new day that has dawned in their life and oh, how I heard the angels rejoicing in the heavens! I can't overlook that the natural speaks of the supernatural! The photo seemed to declare the signs of the new age. God promised Malachi he would send the spirit of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to their sons and the hearts of their sons to the fathers.

The words from two scriptures had been in my spirit/heart/mind all week:

Luke 6:46 "Why do you call me Lord, Lord yet do not do what I command?"

Matthew 16:13: "Who do people say that the Son of Man is? Who do you say that I am?"

After I wrote today's article my friend's photo reminded me of eternal life with God in Christ. Hence my title, This is Livin'. The two guys in the photo shine so brightly the love of a father and son and THE Father and Son I couldn't resist. Remember, what Jesus said in John 17:

"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."

Do you claim Jesus is Lord in your life? Have you made this commitment to Him? Are you putting his word into practice? When we make false claims about His Lordship we will get quite the shock. Romans 6:5-18: Who or what is your master? When we truly live with Jesus as Lord of our lives we voluntarily become obedient from our hearts to a new master. Previously we were slaves to sin but Jesus took our sins upon the cross, buried them in the grave and rose again to show us new life in Him! Sin no longer rules over us in this new life for we are under God's grace since Jesus' death and resurrection. His blood washes away our sin, cleansing us and enabling us to approach God's throne of grace confidently. This new life we live is unto God from our hearts. Romans 6:11: "in the same way count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God through Christ. Don't let sin rule in your body obeying its evil desires; don't offer parts of your body to sin, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who've been brought from death to life! Romans 6:23:

"The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ."

Matthew 7:21: "Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

Even in this age there are those demonstrating unusual power, who will experience great surprise in the last day if they have not submitted their lives completely to Christ. So be watchful, not judging, but careful who you align your lives with.

Matthew 16:13: "Who do people say the Son of Man is? But what about you? Who do you say that I am?"

Would God build his church upon Peter the person or his faith? How had this revelation come to him? Had he been asking for it? What we know is that Peter believed. He saw through the eyes of his heart the invitation Jesus offered to know God and be known by God. A sense/revelation came to him and he chose to believe. Jesus said, "you didn't get this from man, but from my Father in heaven." Peter didn't understand it all in that moment, but believed. Through personal experience with God Peter confessed Jesus is Lord. It's more than the words we speak, it's a transforming faith in which Jesus said he would build his church! Jesus said upon that rock he would build the church and the gates of hell would not overcome. He said he would give to Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and "whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

The church is God's visible Kingdom! It is to use the authority given it by Christ to represent His purity and holiness; to be extensions of His love and grace and even to stretch out our hands whereby His power can move to provide for those in need. Many in the world today decry unanswered prayers, war, poverty and lack- how is it that God allows this? His church is meant to be His visible Kingdom, yet people are not aligned, not in unity, or relationship with Him or with one another. Many have fallen asleep, become 'comfortably numb' and stopped being this visible Kingdom. But! Jesus asks once again: "Who do people say that the Son of Man is? Who do you say that I am?" Isn't it time to arise, come out from the grave like Lazarus and take off the grave clothes? Isn't it time to open our hearts, minds and spirits to the Spirit of God? Isn't it time to come alive in Christ?

The above postcard depicts South Africa’s national anthem. Riots have been occurring around Johannesburg and Gauteng Province this week; 13,000 are without homes and many have lost their lives. We prayed it wouldn’t come to Cape Town, but it did. Today in Cape Town there are reports of violence breaking out in pockets all around the city. Foreigners fear for their lives, children were kept home from school, people couldn’t go to work or school because of the violence around their locations. Why? Fear, poverty, greed, jealousy, corruption, division.

How can this be South Africa’s national anthem and yet so many are suffering from poverty, HIV-Aids, unemployment, desperation, rape, murder, war and starvation. Could you pray one hour a day for Africa? Would you gather some friends together to pray for what’s happening in South Africa right now?


Africans pour into South Africa from around the continent daily seeking refuge. God meant for this country to be light and hope to the rest of the continent. Many African nations provided asylum for ANC exiles during apartheid’s evil days. Sadly a sin likened to apartheid is happening- Xenophobia. South Africans against foreigners? Against anyone who isn’t like you? There are Indians, Congolese, Somalians, Rwandans, Zimbabweans, Sudanese, Kenyans, Mozambicans who all have come to South Africa, the Rainbow Nation, in search of jobs and/or a better, safer place to raise their families. Sadly some South Africans have taken matters into their own hands against “foreigners.” Those in hopes of refuge had found their homes have been burned down, they are blocked from going to work or school and some have even died.

Africa’s history is rife with conquerors, colonialism and proselytization. African nations have been stripped of their natural resources for the rest of the world’s use. They need someone to care. Too often our caring is teaching textbook religion rather than building homes and establishing relationships alongside them, walking, teaching, and sharing knowledge with one another; standing in prayer when a family needs help, pitching in with a few South African rands when the kids’ school fees are due and/or meals and friendship and prayer when the family can’t meet their commitments. It’s about community, neighbors helping neighbors; Acts 5- they sold their possessions and gave to one another as there was need til there was no need among them.

Many years ago, a few of us in a very prosperous church didn’t even know where the poor lived. But we’d read in the book of Nehemiah that he had seen Jerusalem (Atlanta, Cape Town, Johannesburg, etc.) was in ruins and its gates had been burned by fire. We wept, mourned, fasted and prayed for favour with the King (man) and with God.

That favour enabled Nehemiah to travel to be with the exiles who’d returned to the province and there he lived among them and helped them rebuild.

I had a vision from God when we first moved to Cape Town in November, 2000:

While on the plane flying over Africa God showed me an image from heaven: I saw the whole continent of Africa and a huge cloud over it, like the one from which God led the Israelites in the desert. I could see God raining down His Word over Africa. Out of the cloud came rain, it rained scriptures in the colors of the rainbow down upon the land.

Psalm 68: The earth shook; the heavens poured down rain before God, the God of Israel. You gave abundant showers, O God you refreshed your weary inheritance. Your people settled in it and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.


January 20, 2001 a group of us hiked up Devil’s Peak in Cape Town to pray and fly an 8 meter long banner over Cape Town. The banner declared:



Jesus is Lord!

Scripture raining down over Africa recorded on the Lord’s Banner of Love:

Let the little children come unto me.

The Father loves His son and shows him all he does.

When you have seen the son you have seen the Father.

Whoever believes in me streams of living water will flow through him.

But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart.

Now I will teach you the most excellent way. … these three remain: faith, hope and love and the greatest of these is love.

When Perfection comes the imperfect disappears. Perfect Love casts out all fear.


If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.

Unless you change and become like (my) little children you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven.

His banner over us is Love.

The banner reminded me of a huppa, which is used traditionally in weddings. It represents the presence of the Lord in the blessing of the relationship, the Bride preparing for Her Bridegroom.

How could the wise not have shared in Matthew 25? I wonder how many times might the wise have shared/ advised and the foolish did not listen? How often has God spoken to us and we have not listened or refused because of past bad experiences? Oh Lord, forgive us. Help us to be wise and not foolish; to know You at the time of your coming.

A prophetic word also written on the banner:

The banner of the Lord’s love is over Africa. He longs to woo us into His arms of Love. He is redeemer and Lord, the Lamb of God. “Humble yourselves, lay down your carnal weapons, your walls that have been erected to protect you will be crushed. Only the Lord is your hiding place. Come out from fear, from religion, violence, separation, persecution and rejection. Come into His glorious light of love. You must become like little children to accept this invitation. You must know that he is your hiding place, refuge, protection and your very great reward! His perfect love casts out all fear! Receive His perfect love. Let Him embrace you as Father. There is Freedom in His Banner of Love. Let His blood cover over you, taking the burden of sin that holds you captive, bringing you freedom- redemption- where death has no sting; where the power of rejection and pain no longer dwell. The shepherd is in the land looking for his lost sheep. He is not willing that any be lost, but safe in His arms of Love. Let Him find you. Call out to Him- Abba Father! Here I am!

I will bring health and healing to South Africa. I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. I will cleanse them and forgive them then the city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all the nations on the earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it. I am the Lord your God who churns up the sea so that its waves roar- “The Lord Almighty is His name!!” I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand- I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth and who say to Zion (South Africa) “You are my people” You are my people, you are my sons and daughters I come to love you.

There’s a scene in the movie Hotel Rwanda; which by the way suffered a terrible genocide in 1994 when South Africa could have suffered a terrible war. Joaquin Phoenix, a photojournalist is reviewing footage of massacred Rwandans. He apologizes to the hotel manager who says, “No, it is all right, perhaps your people will see this and send the help my people need.” Joaquin’s reply was so very telling of the world today: “I think they will see this on the news at about the dinner hour, shake their heads and say how dreadful and then turn it off and go back to eating their dinner.”

While our daughter crossed the street to get into our car a South African blared on his car’s horn then pulled up next to us and began swearing at my husband. Then he asked, “Why don’t you go back where you came from?” It hurt, it shocked, it pushed my husband’s buttons. Just imagine each day you are living in a foreign land, trying to raise your family without any of your family here with you or anything remotely resembling what you know. Yet you know this is where God wants you. How frightening! What more for those whose homes are burned, fathers and mothers senselessly killed by enraged mobs. What hope for future? God knows the plans he has for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us; to give us a future and a hope. Will you be part of His mercy and grace? Will you stretch out your hand so that God can cause the Red Sea around us to part so that we can cross over onto dry ground?