Hi Edith 

Thanks for sharing your experience with me. Friends are certainly a gift from God and it sounds like the Lord has gifted you with a whole bunch of very special friends. Cherish them every day! I pray that you may go from strength to strength. 

Linda Ritchie

I have been really sick for a few weeks. It’s been that type of illness where every moment of every day is a challenge. At one stage I used to count the hours until I could crawl into bed and close my eyes for some blessed escape! 

When things were at there worst, I longed to just feel normal – not even great – just normal so that I could go about my daily life. And I realised just how much I had taken my health  for granted. 

So let me ask you; what are you taking for granted? Your spouse? Your children? Maybe it’s your less-than-ideal job that at least keeps you debt-free at the end of every month. Perhaps it’s your nowhere-near-new but reliable car that’s paid for. 

Appreciate these things. Value them. Thank God for them. They are God’s gift to you and you will never know how much they mean to you until you no longer have them.

Linda Ritchie

• Great news, Lesege!

I pray that God will continue to give You His peace and wonderful assurance that there is no need to worry because He is omnipotent and able to do the impossible!

• Thanks for your feedback, Sebo.

I am so humbled that God used this blog to work in your life. All praise to Him! I pray that you will continue to give all your concerns to Him and experience His indescribable peace in your life.

Shalom,

Linda Ritchie

Why do we worry so much? We worry about our finances. We stress about the threat of xenophobic attacks in our country.We stew over our child’s hooligan-like behaviour. We fret about losing our jobs. Sound familiar?

I believe we worry so much because we think that there is nothing we can do about certain situations in our lives.

But there is something we can do. It’s remarkably simply and unbelievably effective.

We can pray!

In Philippians 4:6 and 7 Paul writes;

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

And in Matthew 6:31-33, Jesus says;

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

These verses remind me about a song from my childhood:

Why worry when we can pray?

Trust Jesus, He will lead the way.

Don’t be a Doubting Thomas,

But ‘ly fully on His Promise,

So why worry, worry, worry, worry

When you can pray?

Good question! If we profess to be true followers of Christ, then worry has no place in our lives, but prayer does. Replace worry with prayer. The result will astound you.

Linda Ritchie

Earlier today, thousands of ardent soccer enthusiasts  formed a human chain around the Sandton hotel in which Bafana Bafana are staying in order to show their support for the ‘boys’.

The excitement level in the yellow-and-green-clad crowd was at fever pitch with vuvuzelas blowing and people shouting. I even heard at least two people on radio broadcasts reduced to tears due to the sheer magnitude of it all.

This got me thinking. If this is the response of people towards a small group of men who as yet have not even entered the arena of the ultimate football war, imagine what our response will be if we are alive to see Jesus return as the conquering King of the universe!

One thing I am sure of is that today’s football hype will pale in comparison to our response on that day.

We will either respond with  exhiliration and joy at the prospect of finally meeting our Saviour face to face, or with fear and trembling at the prospect of the judgement that awaits each of us.

‘What will your response be on that day?’ Your answer to this question will determine where you spend eternity. I urge you to give it some serious thought … .

Linda Ritchie