Posted on February 15, 2020
Two New Books on Prayer and Meditation
A week ago, I received my box of books from Sela and opened it with great excitement. Amongst the books I was expecting to receive, was a surprise … in addition to the Colouring Book I had been waiting for with great anticipation, I was delighted to discover a book on Prayer, also by the same author, Estell Brink.
MEDITATING GOD’S HEBREW NAMES – Colouring Book Volume I by Estell Brink
Estell Introduces herself at the beginning of her book with these words:
Available from Sela for R120 each.
“It was during the early hours one morning, that I was contemplating to honour God’s names through my art. I asked Him to clearly show me whether it was His will for me to publish these art designs in a colouring book …”
Estell’s heart’s desire was to publish a book to honour God’s names, His promises and His character in the Hebrew script.
“For many in the world, prayer is meditation, mundane and mystical. For Christians, however, prayer is a conversation with our Creator. Use this creative colouring opportunity to memorise both Scripture and God’s Names, as well as contemplatively pray through each.” Estell Brink
THE PRAYER ENCOUNTERS OF JESUS by Estell Brink
NOTE: ALL PRICES EXCLUDE POSTAGE.
SELA HAS REPRESENTATIVES IN CAPE TOWN, GEORGE, PORT ELIZABETH AND TULBAGH.
PHONE NUMBER: 082 563 4407
E-MAIL ADDRESS: sela@netactive.co.za
The book is written in short chapters, each ending with a meditation (contemplation of the Word and message) and is perfect to use as a Daily Reading tool for your Quiet Time with the Lord.“This book looks at the way Jesus prayed, how He prayed, where He prayed, why He prayed, the value He placed on prayer, and the tremendous results born from His prayers to His Father in heaven. It touches not only on His physical prayer habits, but also the spiritual encounters He had during those prayer times. It is absolutely possible for us also to have an equally rewarding and powerful prayer life. That is what the Cross is all about!”
Updated on January 9, 2020
CHARIOT-TAXI
Written by Anneline de Hout SELA®
CHILDREN’S BOOK AND COMPLEMENTARY UNIT STUDY
Also available in Afrikaans VUURWA-TAXI
CHARIOT-TAXI STORY BOOK
This is a true story of events that took place a few years ago. Anneline invites you to travel with her to Cairo, Egypt. She tells about how she experienced the city and its people. When Anneline and her friend were kidnapped, she prayed that God would send His angels to help them, and He answered her prayer.
CHARIOT-TAXI WORKBOOK
The Workbook is ideal for Grades 4 and up and can be used as a UNIT STUDY on Egypt.
The Workbook includes some mapwork, cultural studies, historical facts, biblical studies and other fascinating information about this ancient land.
CHARIOT-TAXI is available for R40 and the Workbook costs R25, however, if you buy the two together as a set, you only pay R60 (excluding postage).
If you are interested in purchasing the story book or the entire unit study, you can leave a message and we will get back to you, or you can contact Anneline at sela@netactive.co.za.
Published by SELA®
Updated on September 10, 2021
A Garden for Little Seed
Written and Illustrated by Emma Nomvula Povey
Book Review
| Little Seed needs a home, a garden of his very own. As a tiny seedling, he is left to be found by someone who will care for him. After being found and taken to a nursery, he is adopted into a family garden where he finds his loving forever home. |
This little book is a beautifully written and illustrated parable about adoption. It is a lovely tool for anyone wishing to explain adoption either to an adopted child or to other children about adoption.
Co-Published by SELA®
To order a copy of this book, visit sela-books.co.za or send an e-mail to info@sela-books.co.za .
Posted on June 24, 2019
Overcome Depression by Reinette van Heerden
Also available in Afrikaans: Oorwin Depressie
Reinette knew the deep, dark pit of depression and found healing. She shares with you treasures collected on her way to healing.
This booklet is very well put together, with little gems that help those who are sufferers of depression to see the light. It is also an excellent resource for those who are supporting family members or friends struggling with depression.
In short, easy to read chapters, Reinette takes you through her journey of healing and explains the Symptoms, Causes, Coping Mechanisms and Struggles of Depression Sufferers. The beauty of this book is that Reinette takes you to the crux of the truth behind depression and points you to the One Who knows and loves you most, the Healer of your soul.
I would encourage you to purchase a copy and share it with anyone you know who suffers or knows a suffer depression.
Reinette’s message is one HOPE for those who may feel there is no hope.
[Distributed by Sela Books]
sela@netactive.co.za
If you would like a copy of this book, you can contact Sela at the above e-mail address or leave a message below.
Posted on June 15, 2019
22 Days through My Garden
A Daily Walk
by Annelie Oosthuizen
Written in a conversational style, so authentic to who she is, Annelie invites you to share in her process and her story to wholeness, and in embracing who she is in Christ, and who He is to her.
The book is written in a way that allows the reader time for prayer and reflection as you consider the Gardener and the work that He desires to do in your garden, just as He has done in Annelie’s garden.
I would highly recommend this book to use as a Devotional, for reflection and meditation on your own journey with the Lord.
About the author:
Annelie Oosthuizen is passionate about life and desires to motivate and encourage others. She is a wife and mother of three children, currently staying in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. (Co-Published by SELA®)
| Life started in a Garden, the perfect garden created for our and God’s pleasure. Now the Gardener is inviting Annelie (and you) to visit her Garden of Life. As you join her on this daily walk, you might find yourself walking through your own Garden. Along the way you will meet the Gardener, who reveals Himself to us as one who wants to tend, care for and love our gardens. Let’s walk… Anneline de Hout, Author – SELA® |
If you would like to purchase a copy of this book, contact SELA:
sela@netactive.co.za
Posted on May 4, 2019
Nature for Children
“If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it. Perhaps this is what Thoreau had in mind when he said, “the more slowly trees grow at first, the sounder they are at the core, and I think the same is true of human beings.”
-David Sobel, Beyond Ecophobia
Updated on May 4, 2019
Book Review
Dancin’ Feet
“Dancin’ Feet” is a testimony of the incredible love God has for us. It tells the story of the writer on her journey from a young child, who loved to dance, to an adult who pursued her passion to dance. It tells of how the Lord caught the author up in His arms to teach her the dance of Life, of Worship and Praise. Her passion for Jesus, the Lover of her soul, radiates from her, and as she moves, He moves through her.
Belinda ministers either on her own or with her husband.
The book ends with some Biblical and practical guidelines for dance ministry.
I would highly recommend this book as a book for anyone who is in dance ministry.
“Dancin’ Feet” is available for R100 (excluding postage) from Sela Books in George or from the Sela hubs in Tulbagh, Fish Hoek and Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Posted on January 22, 2019
Saving our Teens
I remember as a mother of young children dreading the teenage phase, yet knowing deep within that we as parents hold the keys to help our children through the sometimes tumultuous path that their lives inevitably must take.
I had a deep sense of knowing that family time is what would make the difference to these teens. I am an observer and I had observed many of the families of children that I taught and seen that the families who maintained quality time with their teens, were the families who continued growing together.
I have also observed how the modern approach of completely loosening the reigns and allowing teenagers to be their own person apart from the family, results in tremendous pain as the emotional part of a teenager’s brain is still developing. They need to know that they are part of the family and that they are an important part of the family.
In our home, we have a special Blessing Ceremony for our children when they turn 13 years old. We, along with family and close friends speak blessing over the child and we then make a declaration that no longer do we walk ahead of the child, but now we walk alongside him/her to coach them in life.
In his book, The Five Love Languages of Teenagers, Gary Chapman speaks about “The Connecting Power of Communication”.
Emotional Connectedness is so important in our lives. Dr Chapman maintains that “the family mealtime is one of the best places to build emotional connectedness with teens”. This needs to be a time free of TV, phones, tablets, ipads, books and any other distraction. It is a time to talk to one another, look one another in the eye, listen to one another and, yes, pray for one another.
This should be an opportunity to hear and be heard, to practise listening without adding your two cents to each person’s story and to not give advice unless you are asked to give it.
This is also an opportunity for families to have Family Bible Time and prayer time, which our teens so desperately need.
(The Five Love Languages of Teenagers: Gary Chapman, Ph.D – Northfield Publishing)
Posted on January 16, 2019
Isaiah 54:13
All your children shall be taught by the Lord, And great shall be the peace of your children.
Posted on May 13, 2018
Transformation – Spirit, Soul and Body
1 Thessalonians 5:23; Romans 12:1-2
“Man is a spirit, he has a soul and he lives in a body.”
I heard my father preach this sermon when I was 13 years old and I will never forget it.
A very simple explanation of this is as follows:
- My body is the “tent” I live in to be part of this world, when my body dies, I no longer have a part in this world.
- My soul is the part of me that connects me in relationship with this world – it consists of the mind, the will, the emotions and the conscience.
- My spirit is the part of me that connects me to God and the spirit realm.
(In his book, SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY , Andrew Wommack, gives a more indepth study of the relationship between the spirit, soul and body.)
The Bible tells us that before we turned to God, we were dead in our sinful ways. Dead to what? Dead to God and the things of God.
Ephesians 2:2-3 ”As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.”
Our bodies were alive and our souls were alive as we could interact with people on this earth and we could follow the desires of our “flesh” or our souls, our spirits were dormant. When we gave our hearts to the Lord, or became born again, as Jesus explained to the rich young ruler, our spirits are born into God’s family.
John 3:1-21 (NIV) “Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.””
Made Alive in Christ
Ephesians 2:4-10 “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Have you ever wondered why it is that you become born again, give your heart and life to Jesus, but still struggle with issues in your life? – Things such as anger, fear, depression, lack of self-worth, etc.
At the age of 39, as I was approaching my 40th birthday, I began to experience some deep, searching and overwhelming issues in myself. It was a time of letting go of the things of the past that don’t really matter, forgiving people for past hurts and asking God to forgive me and release me from things of the past where I had messed up in relationships with others.
I asked the Lord the question: “Why, if I gave my heart to Jesus as a young child, do I still struggle with issues in my life? I have lived as a Christian, serving You, worshipping You and even being in full-time ministry, but I still have these issues. Why didn’t You just take them away when I gave my heart to you?”
He told me this: “You struggle with issues because your spirit was instantly made alive and transformed when you were born again, but your soul has to deal with the things of this world and it takes a longer time for your soul to catch up with your spirit. It needs to be renewed, to go through a total transformation. There are relationships and incidences that have wounded your soul and you need to be healed of those wounds.”
Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
How do I present my body to God and how do I renew my mind?
Over the past few years, the Lord has been taking me back, dealing with my past, with things passed down in my family tree (bloodline) and with mind sets that I had believed to be true concerning myself and life that were contrary to the truth found in His word.
He has been transforming my soul to line up with His truth and His calling for my life. He has changed me from a fear-filled, discouraged, frustrated, impatient, intimidated, lacking in self-worth person to a person who is on a journey to embracing faith, courage, peace, patience, boldness, and understanding that I am a person of value to God, not for what I do, but simply because I am His child, His son or daughter.
THE KEY TO THIS TRANSFORMATION IS TO SATURATE YOURSELF IN THE WORD OF GOD. THE MORE YOU READ, THE MORE HE WILL REVEAL TO YOU. THE MORE HE REVEALS TO YOU, THE MORE YOU WILL UNDERSTAND. THE MORE YOU UNDERSTAND, THE MORE YOU WILL CHANGE. THE MORE YOU CHANGE, THE MORE YOU WILL BE TRANFORMED INTO THE PERSON HE CREATED YOU TO BE – VICTORIOUS, AN HEIR AND SON OR DAUGHTER OF THE KING.
What is God’s part in this process as I renew my mind?
I have always known that God has a purpose for my life and always imagined what that purpose would be as a victorious Christian. However, the process to becoming that person, requires sacrifice as I let go and let God do His refining work in my life.
Malachi 3:2-4 (NIV) “But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.”
There is a process of cleansing that we go through as Christians and the process is worked in our lives as God leads. I have tried so hard to cleanse myself, or to try to fix myself based on sermons or books I have read as others have received revelation from God. However, until we arrive at God’s timing for dealing with things in our lives, we will merely be operating from the flesh/soul.
Gold does not jump into the fire to purify itself, rather, the goldsmith is responsible for purifying the gold. He has the eye for it and the knowledge to know how hot the furnace must be, how long the gold must be in the fire and to which degree he needs to purify the gold.
Job 23:10 “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
God is the Refiner and He knows the exact process needed to purify each of our lives.
The Refining Process is one of bringing out that which is within the rock – gold or silver. The rock itself looks like any other rock, unless you know what you are looking for in the rock.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NIV) ”May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
There it is again, the word SANCTIFY – purify or set apart. Let’s take a look at this verse in the Amplified Version:
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [that is, separate you from profane and vulgar things, make you pure and whole and undamaged—consecrated to Him—set apart for His purpose]; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete and [be found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
God does not leave us to get on with transformation on our own. He meets us in the middle and helps us by His Holy Spirit within us.
The way of the seed:
An apple seed has within in it the potential to become an apple tree. However, if we don’t plant the seed in soil, place it in the sun and water it, it will never become an apple tree.
When we are born again, everything God has for us has been placed within us, our spirit was instantly changed. We have within us the potential to do mighty exploits for God. However, if we don’t nurture our spirits, the potential will always remain potential and we will never become the world-changers that God has called us to be on this earth.
We don’t spend our Christian lives trying to receive, but rather we spend it learning to release that which is within us, which has been placed in our spirits.
The change begins with us as individuals as we spend time in the word, in prayer and in relationship with the King, the Creator of us all.