Issue 10 Entering the Rest

Complimentary copyNot for sale

DEC

EMBE

R 20

11/J

AN

UA

RY 2

012

ISSU

E 10

As it is in Heaven

Working from

HOW TO:

Resting in God

Entering the SABBATH

10th issue

One of the most important tools in business today is NETWORKING. If nobody knows about your business you are invisible.

Join a Networking group that is serious about Business and about keeping Christ as our centre and foundation.

OUR MISSION• To grow, equip and encourage Christian business owners• ToextendGod’sKingdombyusingouruniquemarketplace

gifting to bring finances into our local churches • Togiveexposuretoeachmember’sproductorservicesothatwecansupportand

refer business to one another • TocreateacultureofexcellenceandintegrityinBusiness

Check out what we have been up to on our facebook page.

www.facebook.com/kingdombiznetworking

is produced by:

Tracey Olivier - Editor [email protected]

Belinda Peck - Admin [email protected]

Elaine Young - Sub-Editor [email protected]

Sherrene Burnett - Ad Sales 082 456 0348

[email protected]

Steve Joubert - Ad Design [email protected]

Ruth Brophy Plowman Publising consultant

and is printed by: DNA Print (Pty) Ltd. [email protected]

CONTENTS

VOICE OF THE PROPHETResting in God 8

HEART OF THE PASTORWorking from Rest 12Entering the Sabbath Rest 14

HAND OF THE HARVESTERAs it is in Heaven 18

IN EVERY ISSUEWhere to find CONNECT 3Letter from the Editor 4The Rest is HIStory 26Advertising Information 30

CONNECT is available at the following locations:

AmanzimtotiSweetwaters Full Gospel ChurchKingsway Church

Durban North Living Waters Church,

EmpangeniChristian Family Church

Hillcrest GraceHill ChurchFocus On The Family BookshopHillcrest Christ Church

Kloof/Gillitts Kloof Harvest ChurchSarepta ChurchKloof Baptist ChurchSt. Agnus ChurchKloof Catholic Church, Kloof Methodist

Morningside The Olive TreeArtisan & Well Hairdressers Lambert Baptist Church

Musgrave/GlenwoodScripture UnionStOlav’sChurchHis People Church

Pinetown/WestmeadHighway Christian CommunityPinetown Baptist ChurchDoxaDeoFour Ways Spar

PietermaritzburgAfrican EnterprisesThe Coffeeberry Cafe All Saints Church

UmhlangaUmhlanga Harvest

WestvilleWestville Methodist Church, Westville Baptist Church, Westville Presbyterian Church

Please let us know if you wish to distribute the CONNECT magazine in your church or business.

This issue is very special as it is our 10th one! We decided to look up the significance of the number 10 -

have a look at page 29. Over the last few months, as I have

been getting busier with work and life, God has really been speaking to me about enteringHisrest;andI’vebeenwrestlingwith what this actually means and how to live it out. Does it mean we do nothing and sit around waiting for God to do everything?

2 Peter 1:3 says, “For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue)” (Amplified Bible). He has already given us everything we need for the task - sowedon’tneedtositaroundwaitingforGod to do something for us. And when we domove,wedon’tneedtobeinaconstantfrenzy trying to prove ourselves to God and man.

This journey towards the place of Rest has led me to a person, the Prince of Peace Himself. I have meditated on Hebrews 4 and on Isaiah 40:31, which says, “But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired” (Amplified Bible).

That wait is not a lazy laying-back-with-my-arms-crossed stance, but a leaning back on the breast of Jesus - listening and expectantlywaitingforthenextinstructionand direction, and then soaring to do that in an attitude of rest and peace.

I am learning this new skill and realising that it is all about TRUST. If we honestly trust God in the things that we are doing and working towards, there is no need for panic and fear. This requires constant renewing of the mind - where we consciously look at the “reality”and choose to believe what God says about it. Then we must look the giant in the eyes tell ourselves not to be afraid. I am not quite there yet, but am loving the journey and finding it absolutely fascinating. The peace that surpasses all understanding is obtainable and my goal is to live in it more and more. It’squiteaddictive!Whenyouareatpeace,your thoughts are clearer and problem solving becomes easier.

Because I am a very visual person, I sometimes imagine, as life throws “bullets” atme,thatIamlikeNeofromTheMatrixand am able to bend to avoid them. When you are in Rest, time seems to stand still andyouareabletoseetheenemy’sdartsfrom a distance. Fear makes you take rash decisions in the heat of the moment, decisions you sometimes regret for the rest of your life.

In Business we need to be particularly sound-minded, so that the decisions we make impact our future for the better.

I have been so encouraged as articles have come in confirming what God has being saying about His Rest. I want to encourage you all as we enter the ‘silly season’,nottobecaughtupinthefrenzyof busyness and consumerism. Instead, quieten your hearts, lean back in to the chest of the Prince of Peace and enquire of the Lord what He wants you to do. Then go with surety and spread your wings as God takes you to new heights in 2012. Take

Entering the Rest

Rest [verb] To cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength

some time to connect with your family and find out how they are doing and what God is telling them for the new year. Link hands and hearts as you agree with God for a year of REST.

Congratulations to our winners of the ‘WHERE HAS YOUR CONNECT BEEN?” competition (see page 24).

On behalf of the team of CONNECT I would like to wish you all a very blessed and peaceful Christmas and a year of REST in 2012.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER http://Twitter.com/Connectbizmag

BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/connectbizmag1

ww.connectmagazine.co.za

HAND OF THE HARVESTER

RESTING IN

GOD


The rest we read about in Hebrews 4 always used to fascinate me, like some mystical relief that awaited us – but

getting into it was complicated, although no one would admit it. God was the hide and we were the seek – and when the game was over one day, there would be rest! Then I discovered the simplicity of Christ being the resting place, the Sabbath, the 7th day, perfection Himself, the Second Adam, the prototype of God-man, the fulfilment of the Law, the end of all works, all striving... and I realised that access to rest has already been granted to us.

Rest. At last. In Christ. Not just a hypothetical rest – but MY rest. I need not fight to survive any longer!

Understanding that Christ IS my new heart has changed me forever. This believing heart can therefore never be resistant to Him by nature, only by ignorance. He entered, with me, into an eternal rest. A lack of rest is a result of separationanxiety–theanxietycomingfrom a belief system that supports isolation. If I am eternally joined to rest – Himself – then surely He is able to keep me with Him. WE ARE ONE!

Rest is therefore an experienceofdeepsurrenderthat comes from knowing that a permanent place has been made for me, by a permanent God who made an eternal covenant with His son, to ensure an eternal resting place

called: LIFE! Life as HE lives it – yeah! I am hidden in Christ and now we live rested, together!

Rest is not a lack of stress – it is the presence of rest amidst any amount of stress. It is life livedtothemax,withoutfear. I used to envy the people I saw, whose lives were impeccably organised, their homes uncluttered and personas pristine-calm and collected. I, on the other hand, seemed to lose items whilst running, with kids in tow, life falling into place only in the nick of time, it seemed. At the end of the day, body aching with tiredness, I would

fall into bed with sheer gratitude that this King of Glory had outwitted all odds and I could sleep easy, knowing that another day would provide more opportunities for this rest to shine! Those same amazing people would often ask me how it was that I had so much peace, with all I had going on. With dishevelled hair, I would begin to boast about this Christ, my hope, my peace... my resting place.

Wisdom has taught me to know my own limits, emotionally and physically. Our spirits have no limit, but our bodies do... unfortunately. I have had to find creative ways to take my mind off the issues that can so easily become my entire focus. ExercisingmymindANDmybody! Joy is also a weapon of mass encouragement. For me to laugh is gain! The best

humour is in Heaven and I think too many

Rest. At last. In Christ. Not just a

hypothetical rest – but MY rest. I need not fight to survive any

longer!

Rest is not a lack of stress

– it is the presence of rest amidst

any amount of stress.

www.connectmagazine.co.za | 9

miss out on the wonder of a God who is the best comedian and has inside knowledge of all our funny bones. Joy is a high-density

diffuser of discouragement and a mental medicine, a tonic to the soul. My body listens for the sound that is in Heaven – rejoicing – and longs for it. His pleasure in me, it IS my rest. My delight is that His love rests in me, and this can never be removed

My song is my life; so worship is not something I do, as much as someone I become.Adorationismerelyanextensionof a jolly grateful life. Christ, my wisdom, is my best friend. His perspective on everything is so refreshing. He always defuses complicated situations by giving me fresh views on people and on my own perceptions.

There is no formula for achieving rest. Rest is just moment-by-moment love and friendship with the One who said, “It is finished”. If I believe and lean back into that mattress reality, He gets to show off His capacity on my behalf. If I try and keep up, I will always come up gasping. I was not called to cope – I was called to live! For me to live is Christ-full spectrum of God-life! Pain, pleasure, relief, disappointment, love, hard work... all of it, within the endless boundaries of His gaze upon

me. My reward is often knowing that He understands, despite any of my feelings of fear of failure. All our successes will onlybemeasuredonHeaven’sscales,soI rest in that too. His presence is like pure anaesthetic for pain and vitality for a new day, all at once! I have not known a time when He has not strengthened me again, and restored me to a higher capacity. His promise is from strength to strength and glory to glory.

Beloved – our resting place forever is a Person we call Home.

Isi de GersignyJubilee International Church, Sydney, [email protected]

There is no formula for achieving rest. Rest is

just moment-by-moment love and friendship with the One who said, “It is

finished”.

10 | www.connectmagazine.co.za

Gideon CordierFathers Heart [email protected] 192 0768 Facebook.com/gideon.cordierwww.jonahjourney.co.za


HEART OF THE PASTOR

Rest is not a high-level priority in most businesspeople’slives.Wearetoldthat good business people should

have a work ethic... high energy... a high pain threshold... stamina... stickability, etc etc. In fact we revere and are in awe of those business folk who fly around the world, seemingly effortlessly, doing one deal after another and who can get by on four hours’sleeppernight.Yet our “Work Ethic Philosophy” can be in complete opposition to God’swayofworkingforour lives.It is interesting to look at the transition regarding rest from the Old Testament to New Testament.In Genesis we see thatGodWORKEDsix

days then He RESTED FROM WORK (the Sabbath, our Saturday). But in the New Testament we start the week with REST, Worship, Fellowship, etc. so effectively we are “WORKING FROM REST” as opposed to “RESTING FROM WORK.”This should bring a total shift to our

thinking. Instead of it being all about us, our work ethic, our labours and plans, we start the week focussing on God - getting His perspective, reminding ourselves that without Him we can do nothing anyway.We prime the pump of our week by bringing ourselves, our tithe, our worship, our sacrificetoGod’sHouseandin effect we are declaring God as our Source and our Provider.When we “REST FROM WORK”, we are resting from

When we “REST FROM WORK” we are resting from our labours, the

sweat of our brow, our cleverness, our quick wittedness in a world of very

clever business people.

WorkingRestfrom


our labours, the sweat of our brow, our cleverness and our quick wittedness in a world of very clever business people.When we “WORK FROM REST” we are acknowledging that we are called and anointed to do business... that God’s favour goes before us... that He is our provider and that if we are diligent in what God has given us, He will open doors that no man can open, and give us insight into situations that we wouldn’t otherwise have.We step into a new week refreshed and restored,withGod’swordfreshinourminds... knowing we have honoured God by putting Him first, that our tithe is in the storehouse, that the windows of Heaven are open, and that God is going to rebuke the enemy for our sake and pour on us an empowerment to prosper and succeed. It will mean a new way of thinking spiritually and emotionally, but it will change our lives and lifestyles.So get out of “RESTING FROM WORK MODE” and get into “WORKING FROM REST MODE”. It will energise you, empower you, de-stress you in ways you never thought possible, and add years full of quality and quantity to your life.

Brian AgnewSenior Leader of Kingdom Life City Church, Northern [email protected]

HEART OF THE PASTOR

The Word is saturated with the concept of the Sabbath – sabat in Hebrew, the same word used for

‘seven’ and ‘rest’.

We find the Sabbath mentioned for the first time in Genesis. He rested on the seventh day not because He was tired, but because He made the seventh day holy – the perfect resting place for the Bride of Christ, mankind, to dwell. Adam and Eve were born into the blessing of God – they walked around tending the garden whose verysoilwasblessed.Theydidn’ttoil,theysimply co-laboured with God in fellowship with Him. After Adam and Eve sinned, they

were kicked out of the easy state of Sabbath rest. The ground became cursed and they had to work hard to grow food. Cain toiled to produce the vegetables he offered to God,butGodwasn’tpleased.Hedoesn’tlikeman’ssweat!InsteadHefavouredthesacrifice of Abel – a spotless lamb offered without toil.

All living creatures were blessed with fruitfulness and dominion – they are not the fruit of the cursed earth. From a NewTestamentcontext,Godhascalledus to walk in fruitfulness and dominion effortlessly. We are called to this by resting in the finished work of the Cross – not by the sweat of our brow.


ENTERING Rest

theSabbath

HEART OF THE PASTOR

NOAH’S SABBATHIt took Noah a hundred years to build the ark. People thought he was crazy until it startedraining,andGod’sjudgementfellontheearth.ItwasthefirstdayofNoah’s700thyear(his‘sabat’100years)whenthewater receded and God told Noah to come out of the ark. Then Noah built an altar to God, offering a Sabbath pair of clean animals to Him. God smelled the pleasing aroma – the “odour of rest” or “odorum quietus” – and promised never again to curse the ground because of man’ssin.

From then on, every time people brought the sacrifice of an innocent animal, it was the “odour of rest” to God. Jesus paid for our sins so we can be at peace with God... so that we can walk free from condemnation in the “odorum quietus” He provides for us. In the New Covenant there remains a place for the people of God where we lift the odour of rest to Him, without sweat.

MOSES’ SABBATHBefore the Law was given, God provided manna for His people to eat – and He provided a double portion on thesixthdaysothattheyhadenoughforthe Sabbath. This Sabbath rest is a type and shadowofGod’scommandedblessingforhis people – whatever the covenant. Under the Mosaic Law, the people are instructed to keep the Sabbath to remember and celebrate their freedom from slavery in Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:12). In the New

Covenant, part of our blessing is to be able to sit back and enjoy our freedom in Christ. Exodus31tellsusthattheSabbathwasasign that God had made His people holy – a signofGod’ssanctifyingworkinIsrael.OntheSabbaththeygottocelebrateGod’sredemptive acts and the fact that they were made holy by Him!

Under the law of Moses, not only was every seventh day a Sabbath day, but

every seventh month, every seventh year and every Jubilee year (seven sevens). That meant that you worked forsixdays/months/yearsand God provided food and protection for the seventh one. The Sabbath rest is a call not to trust in the work of your own hands but in His hands.It’snotanexcuseforlaziness – BUT there is a place where God calls us to put our faith in His work, not ours.

JOSHUA’S SABBATHGod cut a binding covenant with Abraham, swearing to him that He would bless him and his descendents. God swore the same oath to Isaac and Jacob. Eventually, 400 years later, the Hebrew people were released from EgyptandallGod’spromises

were about to be fulfilled. God was on the verge of bringing them into the Promised Land, but they keep interfering with His plan. Seeing their unbelief, God swore an oathinanger:‘You’llneverentermyrest,neverentertheSabbath.YousayI’mamurderer,soyou’lldiehereinthedesert.’After that God said He would bring His

All living creatures were

blessed with fruitfulness

and dominion – they are not the fruit of the cursed earth. From a New Testament

context,Godhas called

us to walk in fruitfulness

and dominion effortlessly.


people into every single promise He had made, and that would be their rest.

Then God set aside another day, calling it“today”,wherewecanenterGod’srest(Hebrews 3:7-9). He changed it from every sevendaystoadaycalled“today”.Wedon’thave to wait a week, seven months, seven years or 49 years – you can enter Jubilee today! But not for those who refuse to accept Him! Since the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that noneofusfallshortofit.Ifwedo,we’llbe stuck on cursed ground, harvesting by the sweat of our brow – not reaping the abundant life God offers us who believe. We enter that rest through belief, which is faith – not by obedience, which so easily becomes the works of the flesh.

JESUS ON THE SABBATHJesus started his ministry by declaring Jubilee (Luke 4:14-21). When Jesus was criticised for healing and harvesting on the Sabbath, He replied in John 5:16-19,

“My father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.... Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”He’soperatingfromapositionof permanent rest – as are we if we believe Him.

In Mark 2:27 Jesus points out that the Sabbath is made for man, not the other way around. God created the Sabbath, blessed it, and designed it for effortless fruit and dominion. He made an oath with Noah, promising no more judgement, and removed the curse from the ground. He called us to sacrifice the odour of rest. Hebrews 13:15 says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” The fragrance of rest should be coming off our lives as we constantly proclaim the beauty of what God hasdoneforus.That’stheSabbathrestwe’recalledto.Anditstartstoday.

Greg Haswell Pastor of Northlands Church, Atlanta

This article has been taken from a message that Greg preached in Pinetown in September 2011.

Then God set aside another day, calling it “today”, where we can

enterGod’srest(Hebrews3:7-9). He changed it

from every seven days to a day called “today”. Wedon’thavetowaita week, seven months, seven years or 49 years – you can enter Jubilee

today!


HEART OF THE PASTOR


Crossover Transformation Group officially started on the 31st August 2011 after God took the founders

(husband and wife Patrick and Maude Kuwana) on the most amazing equipping journey. Their journey started in December 2010 and resulted in over five trips (miraculously all provided for) being made to the USA and Europe meeting various Christian and business leaders and attending conferences. That’swherethevisionof‘Transforming the heart of Africa one person, one family, one school, one business, one government, one community, one city, one country at a time’wasbirthed.

Patrick explains...“In a nutshell the message that God gave us during our journey is that His people are being held captive in two areas –

1The man-made religious systems that have been instituted in the Church that

are hindering it (as the true Body of Christ) from performing its role as a ‘saint/believer-equippingandreleasingfactory’(Ephesians

4:11-12).

2Babylon’–theworldeconomic system which is

driven by mammon (greed, selfishness, pride, etc.) Jesus made it very clear that we cannot worship both God and mammon (Matthew 6:24) and yet this continues to be one of the biggest challenges that the Church and every individual believer face. Revelations 18 gives a clear picture of the pending fate of Babylon; and we believe God’svoiceiscryingoutrightnow: ‘Come out of her my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive her plagues’(Revelations18:4).

“These two areas of

As it is in

Crossover is the result of a strong call to help

people ‘cross over’fromthe

bondage of man-made

religion into the realm of

freedom in the Kingdom.

Heaven


Phot

o by

Oei

ldeN

uit


captivity have resulted in an identity crisis in the Church. The enemy is focusing on deceivingGod’speopleintheseareassothat they continue to live below their level of authority and calling. This prevents them from moving into the path of their divine purpose (Ephesians 2:10) so that the purposes of the Kingdom can be furthered.

“The birthing of Crossover Transformation Group is the result of a strong call we received from God tohelppeople‘crossover’from the bondage of man-made religion into the realm of freedom in the Kingdom – and also from the slavery brought about by a mammon-founded mindset, into a fully God-dependent life”.

“The focus for Crossover Transformation Group is:

AWorking with churches so that they can better

equipGod’speopleandreleasethemasChrist’stransformational agents into the main cultural ‘mountains’(mindmoulders)oftheworld, namely family, education, religion, business, government, media, arts and entertainment.

BWorking with believers in the marketplace (business and government)

so that they can understand that they are transformational‘disciplers’whohavebeenplacedinthemarketplacetobringGod’struth and hence transform it from within so that a biblical worldview is established as the standard and norm.

CBringing the glory of God into the world by showing tangible results (personal,

family, business, government, community healing and restoration) through Christ-led transformational engagements.

“Part of the strategy is overt but a big portion will be covert – an under-the-radar/stealth bomber approach to building the Kingdom into the business/government world through consulting engagements and working with the believers (the Josephs, Daniels, Esthers, etc.) that God has already placed in strategic positions in business and government. The aim is to bring cultural

transformation, enhance operational efficiencies and drive bottom-line profitability by the simple application of biblical principles so that the ‘world’canstarttoseetheglory of God in business.

“Crossover’sstrongbeliefis that the global economic meltdown and increasing social problems we are seeing will never be permanently solved by the greatest human minds. The solutions rest with those who have the mind of Christ and apply the truth of God’sWordcombinedwithHoly Spirit-led revelation – ‘because the foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s

weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength’(1Corinthians1:25).

“The Bible is very clear that everything that is not built upon the foundation of God will collapse (Hebrews 12:27). Therefore, part of the mandate that Crossover carries is to help people, families, businesses, governments, cities and countries rebuild ontheunshakeablefoundationofGod’sWord.”

Maude adds...“We are praying that we will see more doors opening so that we can start to engage with the different service delivery agencies at government, city council and municipality levelwith‘undertheradar’transformationaldiscussions. These discussions will

The solutions rest with

those who have the

mind of Christ and apply

the truth of God’sWordcombined with Holy Spirit-led

revelation.



bring in biblical models/solutions to the challenges that our cities are facing. We will also use the same approach in the business/corporateworld(forexampledoing company turnarounds using biblical principles). Through this we will see the earth being filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord (Habakkuk 2:14). The foundation of what we do is based on Romans 12:2 – helping people through the transformation journey to become non-conformists in this world by the renewing of their minds.

“Part of the focus of mobilising believers into transformational activity in our cities is the www.transformourcity.co.za initiative which Crossover started as a platform to call the body of Christ into action.

“Crossover Transformation Group believes that God is calling every believer to stand up and take up

their divine assignment so that we can starttoseeGod’swillbeingdoneinourfamilies, schools, businesses, governments, communities, cities, countries and continent as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10). You and I are equally called to bring the heavenly invasion upon the earth so that the Kingdom of God will be established.”

Listen – can you hear God calling your name right now?

YoucouldverywellbethenextGideon,or Joseph, or Esther, or Daniel....

Patrick KuwanaTransformational [email protected]

We believe that God is calling every believer

to stand up and take up their divine assignment so that we can start to

seeGod’swillbeingdonein our families, schools,

businesses, governments, communities, cities,

countries and continent as it in in Heaven. You and I are equally called to bring the heavenly

invasion upon the earth so that the Kingdom of God will be established.


Get real!AUTHENTICITY is crucial in long-term personal and business relationships. We often wear masks because we think we know what people want us to say, do and be – but people actually want someone who is authentic!Authenticity refers to two main things as I see it: 1) being who you really are and 2) being good at whatyoudo(notafraud).Achievingthisallstartsbybeinghonestwithyourself.Inordertobe‘real’,you first need to know yourself and be comfortable with who you are as an individual. Then, in order to be truly good at what you do – professionally or personally – you need to be honest with yourself about your abilities. If you are not the best at what you do, do a course that will empower you with the skills you lack. Constant self-inspection and self-improvement allow us to stay at the top of our game. Authenticity is the starting block to a fulfilling life that allows us to be absolutely great in our ‘realness’and‘real’inourgreatness.

WH

ERE

HA

S YO

UR

BEE

N?

Helen Scholtz, Nelson Mandela StadiumGary Olivier, Katse

Dam, Lesotho

Isabell Botha in Shenzhen, China

OUR WINNERS!The Furthest

The HighestThe Proudest

Kindly contact us to claim your prizes.

The heights a husband will go to...

Thank you to Gowrie Farm for the prize of a mid-week stay at

their beautiful Golf Lodge! Peace & quiet in the fresh country air.Ideal for Strat Planning & Teambuilding

Think Tanks! 033 266 6294 or gowriegolfclub@

telkomsa.net or www.gowrie.co.za


The Proverbs 31 PageA ca p ab l e , i n te l l i ge n t , a n d [b]vi rtu o u s woman--who i s h e who c a n fi n d h e r? Sh e i s fa r mo re p re c i o u s th a n j ewe l s a n d h e r va l u e i s fa r a b o ve ru b i e s o r p e a rl s .Th e h e a rt o f h e r h u sb a n d tru sts i n h e r c o n fi d e n tl y a n d re l i e s o n a n d b e l i e ve s i n h e r se c u re l y, so th a t h e h a s n o l a ck o f [ho n e st] ga i n o r n e e d o f [d i sh o n e st] sp o i l .Sh e c omfo rts, e n c o u ra ge s, a n d d o e s h im o n l y go o d a s l o n g a s th e re i s l i fe wi th i n h e r.Sh e se e k s o u t wo o l a n d fl a x a n d wo rk s wi th wi l l i n g h a n d s [to d e ve l o p i t] .S h e i s l i k e th e m e rc h a n t sh i p s l o a d e d wi th fo o d stu f fs; sh e b ri n gs h e r h o u se h o l d ’ s fo o d fro m a fa r [c o u n try]

This page serves to honour the women who choose to work from home to answer the noble call of full-time homemaker. Just like the mothers who have answered the call into the marketplace, many of these women have micro-businesses which allow them to use their talents and giftingsandearnextramoney. For as little as R175 per month you could be CONNECTED to a market that will support your product and service. Call Sherrene on 082 456 0348 to find out more.

Oct

avio

Oca

mpo

I have a vivid recollection of sitting in the leather lounge chair with my feet up on the footrest, just staring out of

the window, watching the royal palm fronds swaying in the gentle breeze, cars whooshing down the dip in Abrey Road, and then up again, people walking along the pavement yacking and laughing, a weed eater droning in the background… all so surreal… and me not moving at all, just staring at the same spot out of the same window for hours on end.

My daughter Gabrielle has just arrived homefromschool.“Dad,you’restillinexactlythesamechair,lookingoutatexactlythesamespotasyouwerewhenIleftforschoolthismorning.What’swrongPa?You’redefinitelynotalright,thisjustisn’tlikeyouatall!”JustthenmywifeJoleenwalks into the lounge and Gabi immediately seizesthemoment.“Maaa,I’msogladyou’rehere,haveyounoticedthatDadjustsits in one place for hours on end and just staresoutthewindowatonespot?It’sfreaky,what’swrongwithhim?”Joretorts,“Have you only noticed this now Gabi? This has been going on for months on end. I think that all the Business problems are overwhelming Dad right now and he just can’tcopewithitall…it’scausinghimtobecome depressed and frustrated.”

TearsbegintowellupinGabi’seyes.“PappaIjustcan’thandleseeingyoulike

this. There must be something we can do to help you Pappa?”

Ireplyinamonotone,“Ireallydon’tknow,I feel totally trapped in this situation and have no idea what to do. The best thing is just to pray for me Angel. Pray that God will show me the way to come through this mess’causeIdon’thaveaclue!”

Does this sound all too familiar to you?Eight months earlier, around mid-

September 2008, I had watched the news speechlesslyastheentirewesternworld’scapitalist system took the biggest knock ever. Banks and other huge institutions came tumbling down, bringing with them a worldwide recession in the residential property market. Why this was so hugely significant to me was because residential property development was my mainstay business at the time and we had poured everything into it. Hitherto it had always performed so well! Well, that was all about tochange,wasn’tit?

At the time that the market crashed, we had just completed twelve large upmarket homes which we put on the market in the first week of September 2008 (brilliant timing!). Besides this we had numerous vacant undeveloped stands as well. Needlesstosay,wemarketedextensivelyyet only managed to sell a few houses – mainlyduetothebanks’reluctancetogrant bonds to many credible prospective


PERMISSION TO DREAM

buyers. Early in 2008 we had taken out a development bond with one of the banks to construct the twelve spec units and now found ourselves in default of the loan repayment terms and also unable to meet the monthly interest on the outstanding loan. To make matters worse, the bank, rather than assisting us and making suggestions as to how we could best come out of this situation together, began to hound us relentlessly – believing falsely that if they rattled and shook the cage hard enough, some golden nuggets would fall out.

All that this served to do was put further pressure on me and consign me to protracted periods sitting in my leather chair, staring out of the window at nothing in particular for hours and months on end.

Myfamily’sprayersand concern for me, and the debilitating experienceofsittinginthat chair day after day, ultimately brought me to the end of myself and to the point of crying and shouting out to God, “Lord help me, for goodness sake. Absolutely nothingishappeninginmylife.I’mnotgoinganywhere,notevenincircles.What’shappening God? Please, please answer me, help me!”

IimmediatelyfeltGodsaying,“You’renotgoinganywherebecauseyouhaven’tpurposedtogoanywhere,becauseyou’rewallowing in self-pity. I gave you vision butyou’renotusingitatallrightnow.Novision – no victory. Now this will take lots of courage but I want you to begin to Dream Big Dreams again and start writing them

down, because when you dream, it pulls life back to the surface and brings hope into a seemingly hopeless situation”.

“But Father,” I protested, “how can I even begintodreamnewandexcitingdreamsand have fresh vision for things that I really desire for the future when I feel so trapped with this present, crushing situation? I feel likeI’vefailedandcanonlymoveononcethis mess is sorted out and cleaned up. I hate not being able to meet all my debts

and obligations and feel utterly disqualified from dreaming big, new dreams in the midst of this chaos.”

“IamGodandI’myourloving Dad. I GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO DREAM AGAIN, my Son, because it’syourdreamsthatwillaim you through all the chaos and confusion and begin to reshape and enlarge the life youlive.Idon’twantyou to be controlled by hopelessness or despair, I want you to take control of your own life. Have a good look at yourself – you are my biggest dream ever,

wrappedupinabody.Youwouldn’tevenbe here if I never dreamed big!

“So, I want you to go and grab a pen and begin to write down the biggest, most exciting,seeminglyimpossibledreamsandcommit them to me. Hold them up to me and trust me for I will empower your dreams with Grace and partner with you to see the most impossible dream become a reality. I love you so much and I want your life to be relevant,excitingandfulfilled.”

Wow! So I went and grabbed a pen and began thinking and writing… and these are but a few of the many dreams I penned down:


I want you to begin to Dream Big

Dreams again and start writing them

down, because when you dream, it pulls life back to

the surface and brings hope into

a seemingly hopeless situation.

SOME BIG DREAMSI want to preach the Gospel with such power and anointing that over 1,000 people get saved at once.

• Iwanttostandonthehighestpeakinthe world and shout “Jesus is Lord of all”.

• Iwantmybusinessestobesosuccessfulthat I have a team of 50 people just administering the outflow of resources where God wants them to go.

SOME SLIGHTLY TAMER DREAMS• IwanttogohotairballooningovertheDrakensburg with my wife Jo.

• IwanttoseemyMom(98yearsold)live to at least 100 and to hold my first grandchild in her arms.

• Iwanttobegintradinginconsumercommoditiesagainandstartanexcitingnew Importing and Distribution company thatwillgrowexponentially.

From the time that I began to write my dreams down and hold them up to the Lord, afreshpassionandexcitementbegantorise up in me – a renewed zest and zeal for life, new beginnings and new ventures.Youwon’tfindmelollingaroundinthe leather chair anymore. And as for the difficulties that we are facing in the residential property business, not only have theyfadedintothebackgroundbutwe’vealso seen some major recent breakthroughs in the sale of a number of our houses. God is bringing us through!

So, have you got your pen and paper ready? You have PERMISSION TO DREAM!

I want to challenge you to begin to write your dreams down, meditate over them, hold them up to the Lord… and watch your life begin to change.

Here are some things that encouraged me:Hope deferred makes the heart sick but when dreams come true it is a tree of life. – Proverbs 13:12

When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed,Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.

Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them. – Psalms 126:1-2

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but rather in rising every time we fall. - Nelson Mandela

Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in theworldthey’vebeengiventhantoexplorethepowertheyhavetochangeit.Impossibleisnotafact,it’sanopinion,Impossibleisnotadeclaration,it’sadare.Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing! – Adidas.

Recommended books:The Dream Manager – Matthew KellyDream Culture – Andy and Janine Mason

Terry [email protected] has been married to Joleen

for 33 years, and they have four children.


10is one of the perfect numbers, and signifies the perfection of Divine

order, commencing an altogether new series of numbers. The first decade is the representative of the whole numeral system, and originates the system of calculation called “decimals,” because the whole system of numeration consists of so many tens, of which the first is a type of the whole.

Completeness of order, marking the entire round of anything, is, therefore, the ever-present signification of the number ten. It implies that nothing is wanting; that the number and order are perfect; that the whole cycle is complete.

The number 10 is used 242 times in scripture and “10th” is used 79 times. A historically significant number, 10 signifies testimony, law and responsibility. Ten is also viewed as a complete number, as is 3, 7 and 12. Ten is made up of 4, the number of the physical creation, and 6, the number of man.

In Genesis 1 we find “God said” 10 times — the testimony of God concerning His creative power. God gave the 10 Commandments to man. Ten is the number for law andman’sresponsibilitytokeepthe commandments of God. A tithe is a 10th of our earnings and is a testimony of our faith in the Lord.

Source: http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/10.html

What were the 10 times the people shouted for JOY?

1. Leviticus 9:24, when the fire from heaven consumed the first sacrifices.

2. Joshua 6:20, at the taking of Jericho.

3. 1 Samuel 4:5, when the Ark was brought into the camp.

4. 1 Samuel 10:24, when Saul was chosen king.

5. 1 Samuel 17:20, when Israel went to fight the Philistines.

6. 1 Samuel 17:52, when pursuing them.

7. 2 Samuel 6:15 (1 Chronicles 15:28), when the Ark was brought back from the house of Obed-edom.

8. 2 Chronicles 13:15, when God smote Jeroboam before Abijah.

9. 2 Chronicles 15:14, when Asa and the peopleheardOded’sprophecy.

10. Ezra 3:11, when the foundation of the second Temple was laid.

What are the 10 ‘I AM’s’ of Jesus found in the book of John?

‘I am the Bread of Life’ (6:35)

‘I am the Bread of Life which came down from heaven’ (6:41)

‘I am the Living Bread’ (6:51)

‘I am the Light of the world’ (8:12)

‘I am One that bears witness of Myself’ (8:18)

‘I am the Door of the sheep’ (10:7,9)

‘I am the Good Shepherd’ (10:14)

‘I am the Resurrection and the Life’ (14:6)

‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life’ (14:6)

‘I am the True Vine’ (15:1,5)

The Biblical Meaning of the Number Ten


Publication Feb/Mar Apr/May June/Jul Aug/Sept Oct/Nov Dec/Jan

Deadlines 13 Jan 2012 9 Mar 2012 11 May 2012 6 July 2012 7 Sept 2012 9 Nov 2012

DID YOU KNOW?The Connect

advertising team offers FREE ADvERT

DESIGN

Connect Magazine is currently available at 30 OUTLETS IN KZN

(FROM TOTI TO EMPANGENI AND UP TO PMB)

Connect Magazine will soon be available

in other parts of the country. Keep

an eye on Facebook for updates

and advertising opportunities.

Advert Size Dimensions* CostOutside Back Cover A5-220x158mm R3200Inside Covers A5-220x158mm R3000Full Page A5-220x158mm R2800Half Page 110x158mm R14001/4 Page 110x79mm R7001/8 Page 55x79mm R350

To book your advert please fax us the form overleaf or you can download one from our website then fax it to 086 562 1444. For more information on how

advertising in Connect can best serve your product/business contact Sherrene on 082 456 0348

Advertise in

Christian business magazine

Prices are quoted per advert layout and include two proofs. Any further alternations will be charged at R250 per hour. Please note that the page size is A5 portrait. *Artwork dimensions include 5mm bleed.

By advertising in Connect Magazine you will have the opportunity to support and be supported by other Christian businesses in the greater Durban area.

There will be an increase in the cost of the adverts in the new year, so this is your last chance to book your adverts at the 2011 prices below, contact us to find out how: [email protected]

DON’T

Miss OuT:

DO THis NOW!


ADVERTISEMENT BOOKING FORM

Advertiser(Name of Business)

Contact Person

Telephone

Fax

Email

Postal Address

Feb/Mar Apr/May Jun/July Aug/Sept Oct/Nov Dec/Jan

Full Page

Half Page

1/4 Page

1/8 Page

Please include all details requested in the form below to book your advertisement, in order for us to invoice you for the advertisement and make arrangements to get the artwork completed and approved.

ADVERTISEMENT SPECIFICATIONS

KBN Member Yes No

Church where you fellowship

AUTHORISED CONFIRMATION

Authorised Signature of Advertiser

Designation

Date

Thebookingformmustbecompletedandfaxedto0865621444.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS• 30daysnoticeofcancellationrequired.Acancellationfeeof30%ofthetotalvaluewillbecharged.Cancellationsare

not acceptable after the First of the month prior to the publication.• Anychangestotheorderaretobeconfirmedinwriting.• Payments for advertisements to be made strictly before print date.• Thiscontractisconcludedonacceptanceandsignaturebythedulyauthorisedrepresentativeofyourcompany.

Debit Order Yes No

Documents

Issue 10 Entering the Rest