My adventure on this monday evening!

This was another Monday. I worked at the office and came home to take a nap. After I made myself a little something to eat, I relaxed on the couch. It was warm, so I had the windows wide open. After a little snooze on the coach, I heard my neighbors come, so I opened my door to say HI. As I stepped out, my door banged shut. The wind had created quite a drift. Bang. So now I stood outside (not even shoes on) and my cell phone, my keys and car keys and everything was in my apartment!! Oh man!!!! At this moment, my neighbor from the other side (her name is Beauty) came with her daughter. I realized that my big window was open so maybe if I find a big ladder, I could ask my downstairs neighbors if I can go through to their yard and tackle my flat from the back. Beauty works at a school only 5 minutes from our complex and she knows the genitor. “They have such a big ladder, Kerstin. Let’s go”. So after Beauty’s daughter gave me her shoes, Beauty and I went to the school, got the ladder and came back with it (this was quite a sight). We asked my neighbors that live underneath me and they let us through into their yard. From there, I climbed this ladder. Boy, what an adventure. I got in, got my own shoes and went out to help Beauty carry the ladder back. God shoed His favor in such a great way!! If I had not opened the windows…..if my neighbors underneath me had not been there…..if I had not found a ladder…… I am surrounded by awesome neighbors and engulfed by a great great God!!!

My 2little Princes

I need to tell you about my neighbors. I do have quite a few lining in this complex but I am extremely blessed by the ones living to my left. There are two little boys called Michael and Dexter. They are my little Princes. I love spending time with them outside watching them crawl and recently walk. I call them sweetie crawlies. They love to explore and when they smile….my world is alright, when they cry, my heart cries, too…when I can hold them, I am blessed. Here are some pics of my sweetie crawlies, my little Princes Michael and Dexter!!!!

Adventure in Cape Town

This was my first real trip to downtown Cape Town without a car. Shirley and I went last Saturday. We went on a bus. That alone was already a little adventure for me because I never sue the bus on my own here. Let me tell you that that bus "was flying" over the roads. Pretty "hectic" stuff. However, Shirley and I arrived safely at the Green Market where we spent some time looking around. I did not try to look to interested in the things people were selling. As soon as I did though, I had them ask me: "What do you want to pay for this, Ma'am? Tell me, I make it cheap". I saw tons of stuff. We passed the area with all the take away food nick nacks and I found TUPPERWARE...so cool. There was even a stand with Christmas CDs. After a nice coffee and some Italian pizza,we headed back. Thank you Shirley for a great day out and about!!

Habakkuk and Ibex :)

A few weeks ago I head a "hell" of a week. I think it is safe to say that the week stretched into a month of hard time. Being on this side, I can tell you it is a hard time.Emotionally, I am battling but I know that God wants me to embrace this time. I know that HE is using this so I better start learning I guess. I think of that post and I still feel lile the woman , the statue ont he pic I used. Now a new month has begun...I am shaking my head...feeling a bit like Job....I could ask questions: Why?? - but he also learned in his situation, he said: blessed be the name of the Lord. Boy, I can learn from Job. On sunday, I watched a great show on National Geographic on IBEX. First, when I heard that word Ibex ( Are you ready for some German crazyness?), I thougth: Eyebacks hehehe Anyway, as I watched and listened I thougth of Habakkuk 3 that I had started to read. In verse 18 and 19 it reads int he NIV: yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. As I saw those Ibex hopping from cliff to rock and rock to cliff, I thought back to the "deer", the "surefooted deer" as in New King James Verson of the same verse. Habakkuk must have thought of the IBEX. SO I watched those Ibex, those wild goats in the Judean Desert near the Dead Sea. Horns on bucks grow up to 120 cm / 48 inches long, and have 24-36 knobs on the outer curve. Those horns are hollow so when the bucks fight and smach their horns against each other, they won't get hurt. It is amazing. They will have their babies on the top of a mountain front, but then they need to climb down every day for food. Climbing down the wall of death is what fascinated me the most. Seeing those IBEX having such a sure footing really was amzing. Ibex are of the goat family, Capra but have further developed short muscular limbs with rubbery hooves to enable their survival on the rough, rocky mountains and stony screes they defend as their own. The males of this agile species have also developed the longest and most heavily reinforced horns, seen in mature adults, crowning them king of their mountains. I am and stay amazed and as Habakkuk three ends in the NKJV: 19 The LORD God [a] is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. Yes, MY GOD WILL get me over this high hill , HE WILL!!

plain EVIL

I am telling you now why I call this post PLAIN EVIL. Yesterday as part of my job for a saturday clean up, I had to water the plants in our two gardens and remove any type of weed. The watering was great as I also watered myself a bit (laugh). That wasn't bad at all because summer has started here in Cape Town and the sun was out....so a splash of cold water was awesome. As I was watering the plants a "plant" caught my eye. It looked nice, yellow and seemed two embrace the normal plant. As I kneeled down adn looked underneath, I saw a network of roots: this was a major weed. The more I tried to get to the root, the main root of this big weed, I got disgusted: it was huuuuge and it was deep in the ground.As I was digging I found another one of that kind. I thougth:

These ones are plain evil!! They disguise themselves as being nice and beautiful colourful plants but in reality they are evil and not good- in reality they actually take the water, the plants should get."

As I was praying, I could see so easily how that one was an illustration of sins in my life and of lies from the devil. They can sound so real, so right but are meant to do evil. When I don't look at things in my heart, my garden in there will be infested by such plain evil soon because evil grows...... We heard our Pastor preach this morning about Godly desire and good intentions and how good intentions can be just like those weeds.....looking good on the outside but no eternal value.

I desire more of God in me

A "hell" of a week

It is friday evening, I am sitting at a little Cafe in a mall watching all the people go to the movies. They all pass my table where I am sitting trying to find a breather from all that happened this last week: my email account got hijacked, my facebook account as well (not to mention my nearly nonexisting myspace account)!! A few hours ago, I found out why I had other problems as well. Back to the movie crowd now: it is friday night so they all buzz in from all sides. While I am watching this scene unfold I ask myself a funny question:

Why do they all look so put together? / Why do they all walk as if they proudly displayed the latest fashion?/ Why all this effort when they go see a movie IN UTTER DARKNESS???

Have you ever thougth of that? It is nice to sit here and relax,breathing in....slowly...breathing out. I learned a lot this week. Learning , real learning is painful because it always costs us something. However, learning is important and I want o learn. I love the feeling when I realized something and am able to put it into practice now. I am glad I can sit here and observe, breathing in and breathing out. The week started in church with a message that really hits the sweet spot right now: Give thanks and Praise God in ALL circumstances. My soul and heart aches for the peace of God that transcends all understanding, so I start to thank the Lord (Pil 4)

email hijacked- facebook hijacked!

Dear readers, please disregard anything coming from my yahoo email adress and my facebook since Wednesday (yesterday). Both accoutns have been compromised. Thank you bunches!!! Sunshine K

subsequent entry on THE VISITORS

Since last tuesday, Fat Cat and Prrt alias Leo come to me every day. When they see me coming in my car, they run towards me, then they welcome me with a purring meaw and follow me up the stairs. They love my couch and my bed to take their naps and they led me to their owner Wendy, one of the neighbors in my new complex of apartments. I don't believe that things happen 'by accident'!!!! So here are some pics of Fat Cat and Prrt while they are roaming around my apartment, while they rest. They really adopted me!!!!! They even love to chill underneath my car on a nice sunny day :)

A surprise but very welcome visit today

Today as I opened my door after a nice breakfast and good reading and time with God, I saw two cats roaming around in the complex. I like them and always stop to pet them and let them come to me. Now as I was seeing them I make a “cattish” noise and they come. They follow me to my apartment. Surprising to me, they walk inside: “Welcome to my abode..!” Both start sniffing around and I sat down to observe..I love to watch animals. As I am typing this, one of them is still with me (2 ½ hours later), relaxing on my couch. So they sniff around and start purring. I pet them and enjoy their presence thanking God for this surprise and welcome visit. Both find their favorite spot on my couch after checking out my bedroom and the kitchen counter and the sink – grin. I need to go and post some postcards but I don’t want to leave to be honest. It is a nice sunny day, so my door is open and the birds are singing. I am thankful for this moment. I embrace it and I cherish it in my heart.

First tour through my new appartment

Let's walk through my little appartment..... p.s. do you recognize the music?

Ich liebe dich - I love you

This song is one of my favourite songs rightnow. Sorry guys that it is in German: here is the translation: "Jesus, ...I don;t have a lot for you but your also appreciate the little that I bring to you from deepest heart. Jesus, what could I do your you? Your hand guides me and prepares the way. And I know you see me as I am standing here before you. Your GRACE is sufficient although I can see my weakness and I am coming just as I am because I am not able any other way and I look up to YOU and praise YOU. I love you because you have loved me first yes I love you because you have paid so much for me yes I love you, I love you, I love you! Jesus, what would I be without YOU. YOu have given me so much. Your love lets me live! Jesus, you know I need you. YOu are the air in my throat and the breath of my soul. And I know you see me as I am standing here before you. Your GRACE is sufficient although I can see my weakness and I am coming just as I am because I am not able any other way and I look up to YOU and praise YOU. I LOVE YOU because you loved me first, yes I LOVE YOU yes I love you because you have paid so much for me yes I love you, I love you, I love you!

Face like a flint (Isaiah 50:7)

Isaiah 50:7 (New International Version) 7 Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.

I was reminded of this verse yesterday. God gave it to me years ago when I was an intern in Oregon.Yesterday as I was praying, I was thinking of this verse again. You know, the first time that I came across this piece of Scripture was actually in my first weeks of being a Christian. I did not know the Bible really then. But I knew that I needed to persevere. All hell had broken lose after I declared Jesus the Lord of my life. One thing in particular was my relationship to my fiance back then.I was bombarded with really evil stuff. Especially my mind was a battle ground of its own.I knew I had to hold on to Jesus - that was all that made sense to me. The friend that had brought me to Christ, prayed for me that Jesus might set my mind like a flint. I really liked that prayer for that is what I so so needed. I could actually picture it and made it my daily prayer to Jesus:

Please make my mind like flint!

That is when I first got to know the verse. Later as I learned more and more to read the Bible, I studied this vese, this passage. Having a mind like flint is all about an attitude just like Jesus had on the cross (Phil 2). He set his mind like flint when the darkness came and HE for -the first time- felt the loneliness and seperation from HIS Father...He felt all our sin and shame...HE needed that mind to be set like a flint!

So here I am and I say: Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.

My mind is hard now against all the lies ot the enemy..... and my heart knows that I won't be put to shame because I trust in Jesus and Jesus alone!

On Eagle's Wings

It is said that the eagle is the only bird that actually flies higher when a storm is coming. The eagle flies higher and higher to be in the end above the storm

It's tuesday and today I am with Jesus 9 years, 8 months and 6 days. I realize I live in the time and day of God's grace and mercy (Psalm 145). I come before HIM with a heavy heart.It's hard to define even really why my heart is heavy. I kind of know why but still I know that my God is with me in everything. I have a lot to be thankful for and I am thankful!! (a new appartment and the end of a nomad life living out of 1 suitcase this week!!) At the same time, I know that I can fly on HIS eagle's wings higher than this storm, higher than this storm of transition that rattles my soul, higher than this storm of worry. Up there, I will be able to focus again, up there my soul can rest knowing that my God, my Deliverer does not only take great care of me but of my friends and my family as well!I love to be on HIS eagle's wings. So that's where you will find me today! And only through His mercy and grace, I can find myself there. He is faithful, His words are sure, He never changes and HE knows me. He knows YOU , too!!

YOuth-Worship

It's monday today , so today is YOUTH night here at Coastlands Community Church. In the office I was asked to create some youth slides for the announcements at church. I had fun playing around with some pictures and what you see here is what I came up with. We are currently in a series about WORSHIP. I pray that God's Spirit transforms us all as we draw near and worhsip...with all we have and wherever we are. I can worship God by being good at the things I do, by thanking HIM, by trusting HIM... All those things have not come that easy to me in the last few weeks. I let the god of WORRY reign way too muc. I was confronted with some fears that run really deep. I could see how the limbic system in my brain would kick in again and again. I let doubts come in which made it harder to trust. I am so thankful that Jesus loves me irrespective of all that. He is outragously in love with me and I receive this today!

I worship God Adonnai, my Jehovah Jireh, my Strong Tower, my FOREVER.

likePartners

This morning as I was eating my breakfast at the guesthouse, I was looking outside. What a beautiful day, I thought. The sun was shining; I could see the mountain clearly; and the color green was absolutely stunning. Then my gaze fell on the two trees standing very close to each other. I thought: " Each tree is different, yet they grew very close to each other. They keep each other company, they share life with each other". It is a beautiful picture how I view two partners in life. Both different from each other, yet close to each other. My heart longs for such a person and God knows. I was encouraged by how nature again could display a picture of God's truth and my longing so perfectly.

Dear dear Jesus, my Jeshua, my forever, thank you for this picture and thank you for being here with me. Thank you. I love you with all my heart, soul and mind, with all I have! Kerstin Sunshine

favor

I am back in Cape Town and on the mission to relax and find rest. I am able to do so in a very nice guest house I was booked in because I have not found an appartment yet. That guest room (roomS) is amazing, really great and I will take the most of it. I am experiencing the Lord's favor in many ways. I had a good reentry back here. My car started after 7 weeks of no movement without a problem. I am proud of Snowflake, ma own car. I missed it. On my flight from Frankfurt to Johannesburg, I got Champaign and a rose as the winner of the day (I was challenged to guess the volume of liters put into those waggons the flight attendands have to push).

Carrying that rose, everone smiled at me, so I had no problems at customs or anything. I take it slow

Germany09

Here are some impressions from my time in Germany! Enjoy!!!

Africa (live, HQ)

Please check this one out! It is an amazing version of the song AFRICA by ToTo....even the thunderstorm :=) Thank YOU God for calling me to SOUTH AFRICA

MOVIEwithPARENTS

This time my parents and I went to a movie. We did that the last time I was here. Then we went to see Ratatouille. Now we went to see ICE AGE 3. It was a fun time although my mom had problems with her back and legs. My parents are absolutely fun-loving people. My mom enjoyed Ice Age 3 immensely. I am glad for she really had a hard time with her back. I love my parents and it is fun going to the movies with them 

HONORcareSERVE

HONOR – CARE – SERVE These three words have formed in my heart. God is talking to me about those three words. It’s about my stay here in Germany, here with my parents, here in God’s will. Honor your parents – Care for your parents and let them see you care deeply – Serve them with all you have while Jesus will show Himself to them in it! I am thinking about it, I am meditating on it: What does HONOR mean? I respect my parents; I love them so much that I want them to have dignity. I am thinking about the words I utter in front of them. I encourage them and help them see the good things in a day. I give them my attention, listen to them and help them feel important with all their thoughts and worries and fears. What does CARE mean? I am there for them. I help my dad to understand how things work with the computer. I don’t take them for granted. I help my mom with everything in the kitchen. I love on them and utter my appreciation for them. They are my priority. What does SERVE mean? I wash their feet. I guess these 3 words play into each other. I serve them by giving them time…quality time. God told me to MAKE IT COUNT when I am here. That I is what I want to do. God has let my heart swell with Love for my parents and now is the time to show it, now is the time to let them see it, now is the time to practice it! HONOR – Care – Serve!!!!

In Frankfurt now!

Yesterday I flew in. It is still like a dream but I am sitting in my parents’ apartment right now. The jetlag hits me pretty bad in the afternoon. I am glad I made it through the evening and went to bed after 10pm which was good to get my body to the European Central Time Zone. As I went for a walk yesterday I listened to the birds. There are some birds that are pretty local here which means I don’t hear those in South Africa. One example is the AMSEL aka blackbird I love this bird. It can mimic the whistle you give and learn it in seconds. I read an article once that those birds were even able to mimic a ring tone of a cell phone. Yeah , they are pretty sharp. It was so refreshing to hear them. I am thinking about what BEING A SERVANT mean; what it means in my life right now. How can I care with God’s love without getting dry inside…without becoming overwhelmed. I always come back to God’s Sovereignty. Boy, am I glad for that. I want to do what I see the Holy Spirit do. I want to make it count! Every day! In the hands of God I will fall, rest for the restless and the weary, hope for the sinner. In the hands of God I stand tall- His hands are mighty to deliver, giving me freedom (Newsboys).