A Season of Darkness — But There Is Still Hope

           We are in a dark season.

Here in South Africa, winter has arrived. The days are shorter, the nights are colder, and sickness seems to spread more easily. People are struggling. Many families are hurting. Relationships are falling apart. Finances are tight. Health is failing. And for some, the darkness isn't just outside—it's inside too. It feels like life itself has turned cold.

But this isn’t a new story.

In the book of Mark, chapter 5, verse 25, we read about a woman who was also in a dark season. For twelve long years, she suffered with a bleeding condition. The Bible tells us she spent all her money trying to find healing. She went from doctor to doctor—some translations say “physicians,” but today we know many people turn to all sorts of solutions, even witch doctors—yet she only grew worse.

Twelve years. That’s twelve winters. Twelve seasons of pain, shame, and hopelessness.

But something shifted.

One day, she heard about Jesus.

That’s all it took. A moment. A whisper of hope.

She told herself, “If I can just touch His garment, I will be healed.”

And she did. And she was.

Her healing didn’t come through money, or medicine, or tradition. It came through faith.

Faith in Jesus. Faith enough to reach out through the crowd and touch Him.

And I believe, in this season—this dark, cold, difficult season—Jesus is calling again.

Calling you. Calling your family. Calling your marriage. Calling your soul back to the light.

Will you answer?

Many people ignore the call. They think, “Maybe next time.” They delay the very touch that could bring their healing. Don’t be one of them. Don’t ignore the voice that says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

We are setting aside five Sundays this June as a time to respond to this call:

1st June

8th June

15th June

22nd June

29th June

Come with expectation. Come ready.

These five Sundays could be your turning point—the moment where your long winter breaks, and the light of healing, restoration, and peace begins to rise again in your life.

The woman in Mark 5 was healed in a moment.

Your moment could be now.

Kindness Where No One Looks

"Greeting the powerful is easy; greeting the unseen is humanity."

In our fast-moving world, we’re quick to celebrate status, power, and popularity. We gravitate toward those in positions of influence, greeting them with smiles, admiration, and respect. But what about the quiet figures in the background—the cleaner in the hallway, the beggar at the corner, the lonely elder at the park bench?

"The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members."

– Mahatma Gandhi

True humanity shines not in the way we respond to the celebrated, but in how we treat those who can give us nothing in return. Every person we pass carries a story, a soul, and a weight we cannot see.

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

– Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)

Kindness doesn’t need an audience. Compassion is most powerful when it is unseen—when it’s extended simply because someone is human, not because they are important in the eyes of the world.

So today, don’t just greet the powerful. Greet the unseen. That’s where true humanity lives.

The Grace of God in a Mother’s Hands: A Mother’s Day Reflection

 

Mother’s Day is a time to honor the women who wear countless hats—caregiver, teacher, protector, provider, and friend. But beyond all the titles and roles, there is a divine strength that flows through mothers, a quiet power rooted not just in love but in the grace of God.

There is something remarkable about a mother’s ability to carry what seems unbearable and to give more of herself than seems humanly possible. Consider the mother raising five children on her own—juggling work, meals, discipline, and emotional care—all without the presence of a partner. Where many would break, she bends but doesn’t shatter. She does what needs to be done, often with no one watching and no one applauding. She does it because love doesn’t count the cost.

Contrast this with a father in the same situation. Often, when faced with raising multiple children alone, society doesn’t expect him to handle it the same way. He may lean on his mother or sisters—dispersing his children among relatives to manage the weight. It’s not that he loves them any less; rather, it is a reflection of how unique and divinely equipped mothers are for the roles they fill. Women carry a God-given grace that allows them to hold things together even when everything is falling apart.

This supernatural strength isn’t just resilience—it’s grace. It’s the kind of strength that doesn’t always roar but whispers, “Keep going.” It’s found in late-night prayers, early-morning sacrifices, and the soft songs mothers hum as they put their children to sleep.

The Bible beautifully speaks of this kind of woman in Proverbs 31:25–28 (NIV):

> “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue… Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”

This passage captures the spirit of the godly mother: clothed in strength, wrapped in dignity, and walking by faith. Her hands may be tired, but her heart is full. Her children may not understand now, but one day they’ll rise and call her blessed.

So this Mother’s Day, we honor all the women who carry the weight of motherhood with grace, especially those doing it on their own. May they know that their strength is seen, their sacrifices matter, and their God walks beside them every step of the way.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the beautiful, strong, and faithful mothers. You are living proof of God's grace in action.

Starting the Day with God

“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” — Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

There’s something incredibly powerful about starting the day with God. Before the world demands your attention, before the noise of life rushes in, there is a sacred space in the early morning where you can speak with your Creator. Psalm 5:3 reminds us that God is listening, and not only that—He welcomes our voice. The psalmist shows us what it means to begin each day in prayer, laying our requests before God with hope and confidence.

This verse teaches us the value of expectation in prayer. It’s not just about asking—it’s about trusting. The psalmist doesn’t walk away wondering if God heard him. He waits expectantly, knowing that the One he prayed to is faithful. That same assurance is ours today. When we bring our needs, dreams, and burdens to God each morning, we can step into the day with peace, knowing He is already working on our behalf.

Let this be your invitation: tomorrow morning, pause. Speak to God first. Lay everything before Him. And then, go forward with quiet confidence—He heard you, and He will answer in His perfect time.

The Power of Prayer in Every Situation”

In a world full of chaos, deadlines, uncertainty, and heartache, it’s easy to fall into the trap of constant worry. Whether it’s financial stress, family challenges, or just the weight of daily life, anxiety can feel like an ever-present burden. But the Bible offers us a powerful antidote: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6, ESV)

This verse doesn't promise that life will be free from hardship. Rather, it gives us a profound invitation to trade our worry for worship, and our fear for faith.

1. Do Not Be Anxious About Anything

That first phrase is bold. It doesn’t say “Try not to worry” or “Avoid the big stuff.” It says “anything.” God understands the pressure we face, yet He calls us to release every single anxiety to Him. This isn’t about pretending nothing is wrong—it’s about choosing trust over fear.

2. In Everything, By Prayer

The solution Paul offers isn’t escapism, it’s prayer. Prayer is not a last resort; it’s our first line of defense. It’s how we realign our focus from our problems to God’s promises. When we invite God into our situations through prayer, we begin to see our circumstances in light of His power.

3. With Thanksgiving

Gratitude is key. Even when life is hard, there is always something to be thankful for. Gratitude shifts our mindset and builds our faith, reminding us of all that God has already done. It helps us trust Him for what He will do next.

4. Let Your Requests Be Made Known to God

God is not indifferent to our pain. He invites us to bring our burdens to Him, to be honest, and to ask boldly. Whether it's a whisper in the middle of the night or a cry in the middle of a storm, He hears us.

Final Thoughts

Anxiety may knock on the door of your heart every day, but you don’t have to let it stay. The next time you feel overwhelmed, remember Philippians 4:6. Pause. Breathe. Pray. Give thanks. Tell God everything.

You were never meant to carry the weight of the world alone.

Pst Jay

Standing in the Gap – Faith, Obedience, and Intercession

In times of uncertainty and hardship, one of the most powerful things we can do is stand in the gap—to pray, intercede, and act with faith on behalf of others. This call to spiritual responsibility is modeled powerfully in the story of Moses and the parting of the Red Sea.

Exodus 14:21 says:

“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided.”

This verse marks a dramatic moment in history—a miracle that rescued an entire nation. But the miracle didn’t begin with the wind or the water. It began with obedience.

1. Obedience Over Understanding

When God told Moses to stretch out his hand and raise his staff, He didn’t give him a full explanation. He didn’t say, “This is how the sea will split.” He simply gave an instruction.

Moses could have hesitated. He could have asked, “Why?” or “Will it work?” But he didn’t. He obeyed. And because of that, the impossible became possible.

This teaches us something important: God doesn’t always call us to understand—He calls us to obey. Faith is often revealed in the moments we act without full clarity, trusting that God sees what we don’t.

2. God’s Presence in the Midst of Trouble

God never promised the Israelites a trouble-free journey. In fact, one of their first major obstacles after leaving Egypt was the Red Sea. But what He did promise was His presence and His power.

Like the Israelites, we too face Red Sea moments—times when it feels like we’re trapped, with nowhere to turn. But those are the moments when God shows up most powerfully. When we follow Him, even into the unknown, He makes a way where there seems to be no way.

3. The Enemies Behind Us Will Drown

As the Israelites moved forward through the parted sea, the Egyptian army chased after them. But what happened next is profound: the sea that saved Israel destroyed their enemies.

When we move forward in obedience and faith, we allow God to deal with what’s behind us—our past, our fears, our chains. He not only brings us out, but He also wipes away the threat of what once held us captive.

4. Standing in the Gap Today

Now more than ever, we need to be people like Moses—people who stand in the gap for our families, our communities, and our churches. The problems we face may look different than ancient Egypt, but the solution remains the same: prayer, obedience, and unwavering faith.

Standing in the gap means:

Praying even when you don’t see immediate results.

Believing for breakthrough when others have given up.

Trusting God to do the impossible through your simple acts of faith.

Final Thoughts

God is still parting seas. He is still moving in power. But He’s looking for people who will listen, obey, and stand in the gap.

So today, raise your “staff”—your prayer, your faith, your obedience. Step out even when it’s uncomfortable. Because on the other side of that step, a miracle may be waiting—not just for you, but for everyone you're standing in the gap for.

Carllon Nthako

Tragedy in Kwanokuthula

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS – The body of a 19-year-old woman was found today, allegedly with head wounds, at the sports stadium opposite Murray High School in Kwanokuthula.

SAPS forensic investigators were on the scene, and the circumstances surrounding the young woman’s death are under investigation, said SAPS spokesperson, Sergeant Chris Spies.

This tragic event has left the local community shaken, prompting renewed calls for safety and vigilance—especially for the youth.

In times like these, we are reminded of the importance of keeping our loved ones in prayer and seeking divine protection. The Bible urges us in Psalm 91:4 (NIV): “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

Let us pray earnestly for our families, our children, and our community—asking for protection, wisdom, and peace amidst rising concerns.