Lauren Appolis
Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, "My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." Isaiah 46:9-10 (NIV)
God is Lord over all – that is simply a fact. And if we would allow that truth to be our starting point, our middle, and our end in every season, it would spare us a great deal of exhaustion.
There was a time in my life when I was intent on understanding how prayer works, and why it matters. If God is God – sovereign and all-powerful – how do our prayers make a difference? In that season of questioning, I remembered something my confirmation teacher once said: while God is always watching over us, he is a gentleman. He waits to be invited in; He does not force open doors. Many years later, that image has stayed with me. CS Lewis echoes this truth when he writes, “I pray because I cannot help myself … It doesn’t change God. It changes me.”
How often do we exhaust ourselves trying to solve problems, meet needs, and hold everything together in our own strength – only to grow weary when nothing seems to shift? All the while, the invitation remains simple: let God be God.
We serve a God who parted seas, moved mountains, and turned water into wine. Which one of us can do such things? Is it not pride, at times, that keeps us from surrendering and inviting him fully into our circumstances? The glory has always belonged to him – let him have the stage.
This is not a call to passive living. Rather, it is an invitation to alignment. God has the plan; he knows the beginning from the end. When we strive without him, we place ourselves above his wisdom and inevitably fall short.
If there is something you are holding onto too tightly, I invite you to release it. Through prayer, welcome God into that space. He waits – lovingly – to reveal his majesty.
Let God be God and let us bear witness to his greatness.
To him be the glory, in all things, for ever.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times I try to do life without you. Help me to surrender what I hold too tightly, and to trust you as Lord over every part of my life. Amen.
Lauren Appolis
Dink aan wat vroeër gebeur het, lank gelede; Ek is God, daar is geen ander nie; Ek is God, daar is niemand soos Ek nie. Ek kondig vantevore aan wat later sal kom, lank tevore al wat nog nie gebeur het nie. Ek sê wat Ek besluit het en dit gebeur, wat Ek wil, doen Ek. Jesaja 46:9-10, 1983-vertaling
God is Here van alles – dit is eenvoudig 'n feit. Indien ons hierdie waarheid as die vertrek- middel- en eindpunt vir elke lewenseisoen beskou, kan dit baie uitputting voorkom.
Daar was 'n tyd in my lewe toe ek van voorneme was om presies te verstaan hoe gebed werk, en hoekom dit belangrik is. Indien God God is – soewerein en almagtig – watter verskil kan ons gebede maak? In daardie tyd vol vrae het ek iets onthou wat my katkisasieonderwyser op 'n keer gesê het: "Terwyl God altyd oor ons waak, doen Hy dit as 'n volkome heer. Hy wag om ingenooi te word; Hy dwing nie deure oop nie." Daardie beeld het my baie jare bygebly. CS Lewis beaam hierdie waarheid wanneer hy skryf: "I pray because I cannot help myself … It doesn’t change God. It changes me.”
Hoe dikwels vermoei ons onsself nie deur probleme te probeer oplos, in behoeftes te voorsien en in ons eie krag alles te probeer bymekaar hou nie – net om moeg te word wanneer niks blyk te verander nie? Die uitnodiging is egter heel eenvoudig: laat God toe om God te wees.
Ons dien 'n God wat die see oopgekloof het, berge beweeg en water in wyn verander het. Wie van ons kan dit doen? Is dit nie soms trots wat ons verhoed om volkome oor te gee en Hom ten volle in ons omstandighede binne te nooi nie? Die eer behoort nog altyd aan Hom – laat Hom die verhoog oorneem.
Hierdie is nie 'n oproep tot 'n passiewe lewe nie. Dit is eerder 'n uitnodiging om in ooreenstemming met God se wil te leef. God het die plan. Hy ken die begin en die einde. Wanneer ons probeer om sonder Hom te leef, plaas ons onsself bo sy wysheid en gaan onvermydelik tekort skiet.
Indien daar iets is waaraan jy te stewig vashou, wil ek jou uinooi om dit te laat gaan. Verwelkom God deur gebed in daardie spasie. Hy wag – liefdevol – om sy majesteit aan jou te openbaar.
Laat God toe om God te wees en laat ons van sy grootheid getuig.
Aan Hom behoort die heerlikheid tot in ewigheid!
Gebed: Here, vergewe my asseblief al die kere wat ek probeer om sonder U te leef. Help my om dit waaraan ek vasklou oor te gee en U as Heer van my lewe volkome te vertrou. Amen
Lauren Appolis
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20, ESV
There are many things I love about the school at which I teach. One of them is the strong emphasis on discipline. It allows the school to function well and shapes character. One of the ways this discipline is expressed is through our uniform policy.
There are clear guidelines about how the uniform is to be worn, and items that don’t form part of it are strictly prohibited. Many students often voice their frustration about this. As teenagers, self-expression is important to them, and they don’t always understand why certain things are not allowed.
When those conversations arise, I usually explain that the uniform isn’t only about neatness or appearance. It identifies them. Whether they are inside the school gates or out in public, when they wear the uniform, they represent the school. How they carry themselves matters. Their behaviour, their words, their posture toward others – it all tells a story about where they belong.
And somewhere in those conversations, I am often reminded that this lesson isn’t only for them.
As children of God, we too wear an identity that represents our Father and his Kingdom wherever we go. We are ambassadors – not just in word, but in posture, attitude, and love. How are we representing him?
When we move through our days – at work, in our homes, in our conversations – do our lives make others curious about the God we belong to? Or do we sometimes wear this identity carelessly, mixing it with attitudes and responses that don’t reflect his heart?
Scripture invites us to examine ourselves, to be attentive to how we walk and live. It reminds us that our character matters more than outward appearance, that our words carry power, and that love, humility, and gentleness should mark how we treat others. We are called to help those in need, to carry one another’s burdens, and to pursue peace.
We are not of this world – and we were never meant to look like it. With God’s help, may we represent his Kingdom well. Not perfectly, but faithfully.
It is, after all, a privilege – the greatest honour – to bear his name.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege of being called yours. Shape my heart, my words, and my conduct so that I may represent you well. May my life quietly point others to you, and may everything I do bring glory to your name. Amen.
Lauren Appolis
Ons tree dan op as gesante ter wille van Christus, asof God self deur ons 'n beroep op julle doen. Ons pleit by julle, om Christus ontwil: Laat julle met God versoen! 2 Korinthiërs 5:20, 2020-vertaling
Daar is baie dinge by die skool waar ek skoolhou waarvan ek hou. Een daarvan is 'n sterk klem op dissipline. Dit laat die skool goed funksioneer en dit vorm karakters. Een van die maniere waarop hierdie dissipline uitgedruk word, is deur ons uniformbeleid.
Daar is duidelike riglyne oor hoe die uniform gedra moet word en items wat nie daarvan deel is nie, word streng verbied. Baie leerders kla dikwels hieroor. As tieners is selfuitdrukking vir hulle belangrik en hulle begryp nie altyd hoekom sekere dinge nie toegelaat word nie.
Wanneer sulke klagtes en frustrasies voorkom, probeer ek altyd verduidelik dat die uniform nie net oor netheid gaan nie. Dit identifiseer hulle. Of hulle nou by die skool is of daarbuite, wanneer hulle die uniform dra verteenwoordig hulle die skool. Hoe hulle hulle gedra, is belangrik. Hulle gedrag, woorde en houding teenoor ander, vertel 'n storie oor waar hulle hoort.
En dikwels tydens hierdie gesprekke besef ek opnuut dat hierdie les nie net vir hulle is nie.
As kinders van God beskik ons ook oor 'n identiteit wat, waar ons ookal gaan, ons Vader en sy koninkryk verteenwoordig. Ons is ambassadeurs – nie net in woord nie, maar ook deur ons dade, houding en liefde. Hoe verteenwoordig ons Hom?
Maak ons daaglikse lewe – by die werk, by die huis, in ons gesprekke – mense nuuskierig oor die God aan wie ons behoort? Of gaan ons soms onverskillig om met hierdie identiteit? Meng ons dit met 'n houding en reaksies wat nie God se hart weerspieël nie?
Die Bybel nooi ons uit om onsself te ondersoek en aandag te gee aan hoe ons leef. Dit herinner ons dat ons karakter belangriker is as uiterlike voorkoms, dat ons woorde kragtig is, en dat liefde, nederigheid en goedheid die kenmerke moet wees van hoe ons ander behandel. Ons is geroep om diegene in nood te help, om mekaar se laste te dra en om vrede na te jaag.
Ons is nie van hierdie wêreld nie – en dit was nooit die bedoeling dat ons soos die wêreld moet lyk nie. Mag ons met die hulp van God sy koninkryk goed verteenwoordig. Miskien nie volmaak nie, maar getrou.
Dit is immers 'n voorreg – die grootste eer – om draers van sy Naam te wees.
Gebed: Hemelse Vader, dankie vir die voorreg om aan U te behoort. Vorm my hart, my woorde en gedrag sodat ek U ten beste kan verteenwoordig. Gee dat my lewe vir ander die pad na U sal aanwys, en dat alles wat ek doen tot eer van u Naam sal wees. Amen