First Impressions

FOCUS TEXT

1 John 5:14-15 (CEV)

We are certain that God will hear our prayers when we ask for what pleases him. And if we know that God listens when we pray, we are sure that our prayers have already been answered.

DAILY BYTE

(Today’s devotion is written by Sarah Vermeer).

On reflecting on my moving experiences at Clouds of Hope in Underberg, in the Southern Drakensberg, this past weekend, it is only fitting that I share about one very precious child who has definitely tugged at my heart strings and taught me a lot about the mighty God that we serve. This four year old child, Qothela (the spelling of his name is a mystery!), became well known and loved by our group due to a number of reasons. People say that first impressions count and often become lasting impressions. Well, the first time we met Qothela on Friday afternoon we all quickly labelled him “the naughty one,” as it was hard to contain him during the activities and a couple of the leaders spent the three hour session trying to catch him. Qothela delighted in the chase and had a mischievous spark in his eyes that one could not help but notice. That night we sat around the fire place sharing stories of Qothela’s escapades that had left us somewhat tired.

During Saturday’s programme Qothela revealed a whole other side to himself that left us amazed and even more besotted with him. The mischievous spark was still there but through him God’s voice and actions were revealed to us all. That night we all swapped stories about the ways in which Qothela surprised us during the day! I spent quite a lot of time with Qothela on Saturday. In each embrace, sitting on my lap, kisses on the cheek, holding of hands, chasing him around the family cottages I felt God’s presence within him. This feeling was heightened during the closing prayer when all the leaders and children held hands in a circle to pray praises to God. One by one a number of leaders prayed and a couple of children lifted their praises to God. I was next to Qothela and in a brief moment of silence I heard him quietly speak the words “thank you.” At four years old, this was his prayer, and it was beautiful! He even said it a little while later when there was another gap in the prayer. Even though the others did not hear his prayer I know with confidence that God did, and He was well pleased by it. How reassuring it is that God hears our prayers – the silent ones and the prayers we pray out loud. God knows each and every one of us and cares for us deeply.

A last special memory of Qothela is from Sunday morning’s worship session that we held in the newly built hall at Clouds of Hope. It really was a beautiful worship service that all the children, their house mothers and our MRMC group participated in. Rev. Anna Layman Knox led us in a time of communion. The children watched in fascination as Anna broke the bread, which represents the body of Christ and lifted up the red grape juice, which represents the blood of Christ. All were welcome at the table of the Lord, and the children rushed forward to receive communion. Qothela who was sitting on my lap made his way to the front to join the others for his first communion. We had two rounds of communion as during the first round not everyone felt comfortable to participate. Anna and Nozuko encouraged everyone to be a part of this sacrament and round two began. I was busy taking photos and watched Qothela receive communion for a second and third time! When I asked him about it, he told me he was hungry! This weekend I definitely witnessed how the children hungered for God. We need to do the same in our individual lives. Are you hungry for God? We need to keep coming back to the table of the Lord for more so that our whole lives are about loving, serving, and living a life that Christ would be well pleased by.

PRAY AS YOU GO

Dear Lord. You have created us all in your wonderful image and knew us before we were even born. You love and care for us deeply. We are humbled by your unconditional love and are reassured that you hear our innermost prayers. Lord, we thank you for your omnipresence in our lives. Today, we pray for your continued love and provision to be showered over the children, mothers and staff of Clouds of Hope. May they be reassured that their prayers are heard by You. The people of Clouds of Hope are not alone but are held carefully in Your hands. Lord, we ask that You give us eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts that respond to the needs of those around us, particularly the needs of Clouds of Hope. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.