Posts in category: Weekly

A Christmas message from Thandokazi on behalf of Vuku Family.

When we look towards December 25th Christmas Day, it is when everyone celebrates with their family and sometimes there are gifts on the day. He who has received a gift welcomes and enjoys it, and he who has not received a gift becomes sad. Jesus was birthed by Mary and was conceived by the Holy Spirit. This means that Jesus was not born in the same way as everyone else. Mary had to believe in the angel of God when he told her about the way she would receive the baby, even though at first she did not believe. Luke 1:34 shows Mary’s lack of understanding, while verse 38 shows Mary’s belief in this miracle. When we look at the year 2020, things did not go well with the coronavirus, losing loved ones, and unemployment, this has caused us to be doubtful. Through all those things, Jesus did not forsake us, not because we did well or because we have great faith, but because He is a gift to us. May we enjoy this Christmas with our loved ones with the faith that even in this situation/time Jesus will carry us and protect us until we see each other again next year.

For the last 5 years, we have witnessed the growth of Christ’s love in Thembeka as a Vuku leader.
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In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

What is our good deeds?

What do they need to see from us in order to glorify our Father in heaven?

It is the love of Jesus. The desire to bring them to our heavenly Father, so they may experience the fullness of life and have eternal life.

When it shines through us, they will see God through Jesus and glorify him.

That is the love we received from Jesus.

Nokuzola started her own Vuku group. It is our first group from a partnership with ChungWon Church in Bloekombos. There are two more groups that will begin this week.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:3

When we think about God’s kingdom, it is a far way perfect land. So seek his kingdom feels very abstract and remote.

But his kingdom is wherever his people are. Jesus said, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” He points to the disciples and says, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Therefore, you are his people and his kingdom is among you.

Seek first his kingdom.

We resumed Vuku training in Bloekombos ChungWon Church. It was an amazing time.

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For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:16‭-‬17

Life is tough. Things that happen in life can easily hurt and damage us. We do everything that we can do to prevent it, but we have to admit that we are vulnerable beings.

The biggest damage that the world can do to us is changing us. We get tired and manipulated into becoming someone we never meant to be or wanted to.

It is a fearful world.

However, knowing Jesus is such a life changing experience. He keeps us inline and gives us strength to endure through any challenges.

Because all things were created in him, we don’t need to fear anything.

So when we are finally finished with this fearful world, we will be with him for eternity as we were created to be.

Just like coming home to where you are accepted and loved. Where you can rest and feel comforted…. in his arms.

Nothing can separate us from Jesus.

Making a child’s day is not so difficult. Just lose the fear of, ‘They might break it.’

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But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But you, man of God, flee from all this (worldly desires), and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
1 Timothy 6:6‭-‬7‭, ‬11

If we can’t take nothing out of this world, what should we work for?

How shall we achieve the contentment, when all things will pass?

In this Paul’s letter to Timothy, he advises to pursuit righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. These are the characters that Jesus builds in you as you walk with him.

It means your identity and characters in Christ are the things will be with you for eternity.

Who you are in Christ is the everlasting gift from God.

Lolo is a student at CPUT studying Public Relations. It hurts me to say that we, adults, are failing to give hope to such young minds. We decide to start Vuku meetings with him at his res every Sunday

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I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Psalms 32:8

Do you remember when your child took the first step?

How happy and proud you were?

Yet, you were worried sick at the same time.

It is the same for our Father in heaven for us. May be not ‘worrird sick’ part.

He is watching us every step of the way. He is guiding us every step of the way whether we see it or not.

In behind of everything, there is His love for us.

We met with Kraaifontein Vuku Family that was planted by Joseph Lee. Papama shared her experience of leading a Vuku Group with them.

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And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7

This verse is from Meeting 10 – True Peace in Love.

As we we grow our relationship with Jesus, he takes over different aspects of our lives one by one.

Initially, we believe many problems can be addressed by money, but the money fails us over and over again.

When Jesus does, he doesn’t fail. So we start to surrender more and more, and realize that everything is related to Jesus and his kingdom.

Once we see that we start to believe nothing will happen to us apart from God’s will.

That is our assurance and security that we find in Jesus.

Peace of God, our Father in Heaven.

We gave Linda and Monica copies of Vuku Family Workbooks and added them to them Whatsapp group. Her first message to them group was, “I would like talking about bilbe and I want to learn more.”

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”
Exodus 32:1

This is when they made a golden calf… But why?

It wasn’t that they believed the stupid cow statue was their creator or a saviour.

They were scared that Moses wasn’t coming back, so they were artificially building a bridge to their creator in a shape of a calf.

We often do that as well. When we are desperate or in needs, we try anything to force God to do something. We will take any advise or ideas that might get us the ‘higher power.’

Our fear and anxiousness takes our sights and hearts away from Jesus, and force us to make plans that is not from Him.

In His time, the answers will come, and that is the perfect time.

Let’s wait on Jesus and nothing else for He is coming.

When we depended on each other in Christ, it has to be based on trust and respect for one another. We went to encourage Thembisa for sharing Jesus’s love can be tough.

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Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20‭-‬21

What is a church?

I vividly remember praying for a community that share the same passion and joy in Christ.

Where a body of belivers who work to share Jesus’s love in the world and come back to find peace and comfort among believers.

Yet, I found more divisions in churches and struggles that were crippling than empowering.

My hope for a such church seemed like an unobtainable ideal.

Now, I have you, Vuku Family, where I find peace and comfort, where I find strength and courage.

Indeed, what Jesus has done through Vuku Family is beyound I could ask or imagine.

Jesus will be praised by me for ever and ever.

Nolitha and Nolwethu has been friends for a long time. Initially, Nolitha was hesitant to start Vuku meeting with her due to fear of jeopardising their friendship. Now, they can’t stop studying on the Vuku book together.

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For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Luke 19:10

How did Jesus find you?

He said he came to find the lost, and we all were once lost.

He came to me in my darkest hour.
He came to me when I couldn’t love myself.

As if he knew that I needed him, and offered me hope.

The hope of better days.
The hope of little help.

Now I see it wasn’t just better days or mere help.

It was a joyful life.
It was redeeming love.

I was found in Christ.