Posts in category: Weekly

Pic: Linda’s group with Mrs. Nondabula is going well. Pastor Nobulikhalya said she is giving thanks to God for sending Linda at the perfect timing. +

Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:38‭-‬39 NIV +

Written by Jung

I’ve always thought that carrying a cross for your own crucifixion was a very cruel punishment. What if a prisoner had to go to a market and buy the bullet before their execution? Can you imagine?

The cross carries significance for all of us. It represents love, truth, hardship, and atonement through His blood – all the reasons why we are Christians.

So, what does it mean to carry your own cross? It means that merely desiring what Christianity is isn’t enough; you have to be one. You must walk the walk and talk the talk. You have to live your life according to what Christ means to you.

Today, live your life as a reflection of the Christ you know. Jesus is there to guide you.

Pic: These ladies will form their own groups. Mama Dorothy on the right was not concerned, but she smiled very late. +

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 NIV +

Written by Jung

At one of the Vuku meetings, one of the pastors shared that he struggled greatly to follow God’s direction. He expressed it as if he had gained an understanding of what Jesus wanted him to do, yet he had been failing to follow through, and make it happen.

Even though he spoke as if he were lost, perhaps that’s what the passage is talking about. When we hear His voice, there’s always a chance that we might have misunderstood it, and that’s okay. We should continue trying with humility, and through our search, we will often discover what He truly intended. How He guides us is through the relationship we have with Him. Our willingness to follow His guidance makes us disciples.

Therefore, the point might not be to get it right on the first try but to learn to enjoy the journey of realizing God’s pleasing and perfect will for our lives.

Remember, Jesus is with you today whether you’ve got it perfectly or not. Go out and enjoy it!

Pic: Sharing a meal with His people is something special. PFA Training Centre Lilongwe, Malawi. +

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
Isaiah 55:6‭-‬7 NIV +

Written by Jung

We are the ones who sought and found Him.

We are the ones who called on Him while He was near.

We are the wicked who have forsaken our ways and unrighteous thoughts.

We have received His mercy and been pardoned.

No one can do this on their own. Otherwise, Christ’s love would have sprung up in many different places around the world. It had to be shown through Jesus and spread out through His people.

Because of Jesus and His people, we were able to turn to the Lord.

What we are and what we have today is owed to Jesus and His people. That is why we humbly share what we know with those who are lost.

His mercy and love belong to them. Let’s help them turn to the Lord.

For He is good.

Pic: Pastor Lim took members from the Malmasbury Vuku community on an outing, and it’s evident that he takes pride in them, having known them since 2011. +

What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.
1 Corinthians 14:26 NIV +

Written by Jung

I remember vividly when I used to deliver messages to validate my position in the church. I started leading a missions department when I was a young Christian, so I was known to be unaware of many details of the Bible and the inner workings of the church.

As I matured, I began to understand the meaning of what Paul was saying here. My purpose had to be to edify the church, particularly in the Vuku language (though not exclusively), by bringing them closer to Jesus.

This realization came with the understanding that it couldn’t be achieved solely through my desire to do so. I had to comprehend not only their background but also their spiritual lives in order to effectively communicate. Simply sharing my knowledge could provide a valuable lesson, but it couldn’t replace genuine worship.

It was never about me; it was always about Jesus and His heart towards His people. When I grasped that, I truly understood the preciousness of His people.

Remember, you are precious to Jesus.

Pic: This is Paul, Dorothy’s son. We have witnessed how Jesus’s love can transform mother and son relationships. What a blessing. +

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:29‭-‬31 NIV +

Written by Jung

This is what God does when He is there for you. He gives strength to the weary and increases power to those who have fallen. He renews strength so you can soar like eagles. He will keep you from becoming weary and fainting.

As Christ ambassadors, this is what we are called to do for those who have hope in the Lord.

We become strength to each other and increase power to those who have fallen. We renew each other’s strength so we can soar like eagles together. We keep each other from becoming weary and fainting.

And His heart will be revealed to you.

Pic: Our rising stars of Vuku Family. They are from Green Village Church in Site C +

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV +

Written by Jung

Talking about trading places, I believe that’s representative of our relationship with Jesus. He took on our sins, and in turn, we gained and became his righteousness.

So, what does it mean for us to embody his righteousness?

Firstly, just as Jesus had a choice, so do we. We must aspire to embrace his righteousness.

Secondly, we are not the fruit of our own work, but of Jesus’. This entails following his guidance rather than our own.

Thirdly, and in my view, most crucially, we shouldn’t confine ourselves with thoughts like ‘It’s impossible,’ ‘I lack the ability,’ or ‘I’m unworthy.’

When we genuinely surrender and learn to follow our Good Shepherd, we’ll grasp the immense power of Jesus, our capabilities in him, and how precious we are in Christ.

Pic: Introducing Vuku leaders from Green Village Church in Site C. They shared testimonies of how Jesus is working in their groups. +

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:5‭-‬6 NIV +

Written by Jung

What are the rewards of prayer?

I prefer prayers that benefit me. I don’t mean praying for my needs, but prayers that nurture my heart.

At times, I want to pray so that others can see what’s in my heart. Other times, I want to pray so I can highlight things that are incorrect around us.

However, when I am alone, there’s no audience but me and God. That’s when prayers shine and become beneficial to my soul.

I have the opportunity to examine what’s in my heart and my motivations. I can go easier on my shortcomings and surrender them to God, who has already addressed my failures through Jesus.

Realigning my heart and rediscovering gratitude in any circumstance is a true reward through prayer. Prayer brings joy.

You are truly good to me, my Lord.

Pic: Hello Malmesbury! We did Meeting 9- ‘My Love vs Jesus’ Love.’ +

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.
Psalms 107:1‭-‬3 NIV +

Written by Jung Lee

I was in Malmesbury last night, visiting a Vuku Family meeting run by Pastor Lim from Paarl.

There was a lady named Linda. She works in and around a very wealthy neighborhood. One day, a lady in the neighborhood invited three ladies, including Lisa, and treated them with drinks, which had never happened to any other workers. She felt that it was Jesus showing His love to her.

I asked her what made her feel that it was Jesus instead of the wealthy lady. Without hesitation, Linda said, “It wasn’t just what she gave us and allowed us to do, but the subtle difference in how she treated us.”

Often, we believe that something big or miraculous is needed to show Jesus’ love. The truth is that it’s not what we do for one another, but rather how we do it. When it is done with Jesus’ love, they will not see just a cup of water being offered, but Jesus in you.

Let others find Jesus in you.

You are precious to Jesus.

Pic: We moved our meeting to Mama Dorothy’s house so we could celebrate what Jesus has been doing in our lives. We discussed eternity and the kingdom of heaven. +

I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
Psalms 7:17 NIV +

Written by Jung

I was engaged in a conversation where we discussed how joyful it is to share the true goodness of Jesus with others. Sharing the truth and the love of Christ so that others can witness it brings its own abundant rewards. I could catch a glimpse of heaven in their eyes.

Later, I realized the incredible love that resides within those who discover the joy of spreading His love to others.

Before Jesus, giving thanks and praise to God were somewhat self-centered actions, as they were intended solely for Israel. This could be compared to boasting about the beauty of my house or the size of my family’s trust account. Ultimately, it was meant for others to admire and respect.

However, Jesus has transformed all of that. The house we used to boast about is no longer exclusively for my family, and our family trust account is not just meant for me and my children. It has become accessible to everyone, and anyone can take part in its ownership. Moreover, they can find delight in it for eternity even more than I ever could.

Taking this into account, sharing the truth and the love of Christ with the intention of letting others see it must be a selfless deed. Once this is understood and put into practice properly, we can grasp a genuine sense of joy and fulfillment in the kingdom of heaven.

I’ve seen this in the Vuku Family. Bless you, my family, and thank you.

Pic: Linda and her Vuku memeber in Site C. They have found hope in Christ despite the harsh circumstances. +

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
1 Chronicles 16:8 NIV +

Written by Jung

We’ve indeed experienced troubles over the past two weeks. Both physically and spiritually, it was challenging for everyone.

Yet, he sustained us. He kept us strong. We even witnessed some changes and within them, hope.

One thing I saw clearly was that regardless of how formidable the world’s grip may be, nothing lasts forever.

There is no kingdom that won’t eventually fall. There is no power that will rule indefinitely.

The only thing that is eternal is God and His kingdom.

Let us praise God so that everyone around us will come to know who Jesus is and what he has done.