Twenty TWO

So tomorrow is my BIRTHDAY! Whoop!

It is the evening before my birthday and whenever it is my birthday I always feel the great sense of a new season. To some it might pretty much seem too obvious that it is a new season, but not just in the natural is it a new season but also in the spirit!
This calls for thankfulness and celebration to the Father, Abba God for all He has done and carrying me not only for another year but giving Him all the glory for carrying me for twenty two years!

I feel destiny within me, growing each day, but God is showing me each and everyday that I can only find that destiny in Him. So I intend to do it no other way than His way. I believe this is a season of destiny, a season of flourishing and excitement. I intend to be a force to be reckoned with, and I want to be that young man people say, "That can only be His God!". I was never meant to go along with the normalities of life and politics, but to go against every grind that is not of God. I want to be taken out of the box, living a pure life before God and man, and live without any compromise.

I would like to honour certain people in my life who played a vital role in my growth and give them honour where honour is due. I might leave out some people, but please do not be offended.

Firstly I would like to thank God! He is the only reason why I stand today. He sent all these vital people and even the ones I met only once or twice, He controls it all.

Then I would like to thank my immediate family. You have seen the worst of me, that many has not seen and the best of me. Thank you to my parents who sacrifices so much for me, I know you try your best. I know things have not been the best over the years, but He is still faithful. Even through the divorce, I learned to love you in and after the process mom and dad. To my beautiful sisters who stay in the same home as I, you are my treasure and on the toughest of days you inspire me to get up from my bed. You are beautiful in your brokeness, my family!

A huge thank you to the Maxwells and the Biegnaars. To Mrs. Maxwell, thank you so much for looking out for me, for counselling me and for rebuking me and teaching me so much about youth and children's ministry. Thank you for the grace you have shown me. Thank you to your husband who has stood by your side prayerfully backing me up and supporting me in every way possible. Thank you to your two beautiful daughters, in which I have the honour of sharing a birthday with. I appreciate you all. Thank you to Mrs. Biegnaar and Mr. Biegnaar for your support when my little sister was ill. Thank you for supporting us and thank you for pushing me to do my best and to go for what I deserve.

To my closest of friends in the kingdom, Chester, Whitney and Jeremy! No words can help me express my gratitude and the fire you have stirred up in my heart for Jesus. You make me love Jesus more and you some of the honest people I have met. Thank you for the unashamed talks about marriage, sex and everything else in life that many do not talk about. I learn so much. Thank you for also respecting and celebrating the fire I carry and for always supporting me when I feel the Lord has spoken, even when it lead you into a sacred fast He has asked us to do. I know I am not the most open person, but I try and I am learning to be honest, so do not mind my silence at times.

To my other close friends Lauren and Melanie, you bring joy to my life! The Lord has used your humour and honesty to really speak in volumes. Thank you for driving destiny out of me and believing in my dreams. Thank you for your prayers and funny talks we had amongst some real serious ones. Your joy is my inspiration to smile again and to love my family and humanity even more!

Then to Miacarla, Josh and Prudence. You are inspirations to me far beyond words. Miacarla you show me the beauty in worship and creativity to God. Josh you are such a loveable brother to me and you just precious in my heart. Prudence you see and you hear, you made an impact and continually do every time I see you.

To my friends Deidre, Eugene, Candice, Patrick, Lenorae, Kristin and Claire. You have been so sufficient to me. Thank you that I can just be myself around you. I have felt your love and your support in the darkest of nights. You have understood and shown me so much grace coming back from Johannesburg. You just loved me without a thought back into your lives.

Thank you to all the precious worship leaders who inspired me to worship with no restraint. Amanda Swartz, Tania Adams Johannes and Ashwyn Johannes, Cheslyn Swartz, Pastor Winston Wilkonson, Shanon Webb, Angelo Hendricks, Jonathan Hendricks, Lucinda Hendricks, Michelle Coetzee and every other celebrity worship leader who has captured my attention.

Thank you to youth pastors Ricardo and Tracey Veenendal from The Bay Christian Family Church who really inspired me through the light of the Father in my cutting season and emo kid wannabe season. You inspire me to celebrate my youth and to love God with honesty and authenticity.

Thank you to Pastors Anton and Colette La Grange. I do not know you for long but you teach us how to respect and to love family. You teach us that family is so precious and you lead with hearts of honour and gratitude. You lead, you inspire, you serve!

Awww to my family the River Church Kenwyn! I know we have not been through the best of seasons, but in fact it is the best seasons we have experienced! The Lord has blessed me with grandparents, aunts, uncles, dads, moms and more siblings! You are precious in the eyes of the Father. Thank you for accepting me again, and for receiving my sometimes weird expression of worship. You do not judge, you show me what it means to be faithful to serving God and serving His people. Thank you to the leadership who has stood the test of time, I honour you today. You played such a vital role in my walk.

To the River Church Senior and Youth Worship Team, you are the best teams to minister in worship with! You carry a fire and unity that is rare in churches. I love what you all bring and the diversity of our worship when we become vessels in the hands of our God. I love you!

Thank you to the All Nations House of Prayer in Johannesburg for everything you taught me. I know it was short, but I appreciate you people who burn incense before the Father. Thank you to the leadership there, Apostle Shanon and Pastor Lester Webb. You exhort me!
Thank you to the Prayer room in Cape Town, Jericho Walls. I have met and made great kingdom connections that I truly value. Thank you to the leadership there who live the life of prayer and intercession, Papa and Mama, Daniel and Estell Brink. Thank you to the family of the Prayer Warriors there.

Thank you Shiloah Christian School for your support and love. To all my colleagues and students, I love you so much, more than words could say! You teach me how to be more strict and how to love and love and love!

There are many people not added in this blog, but please forgive me for not acknowledging you now. There are so many names!

So with all that said, I just want to say that I am thankful and honoured. I might end up crying or laughing tomorrow, but I do because I overflow with joy and a thankful heart for how good God is to my family, loved ones and I and how faithful He has been!

This scripture comes to mind,

Psalm 37:25-26
I have been young, and now I am old; Yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor His descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; and His descendants are blessed.

Shalom.