My story...

Here is my story…  

At the age of 13, I went on a church camp. One night, as an altar call was made, my eyes and ears were opened and I suddenly understood the gospel message for the first time. I did not respond to the altar call, because I felt that this was a very personal moment between me and Jesus. That night, while everybody was asleep, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. The next morning I just knew, without any doubt, that I was born again.

All the familiar Christian songs suddenly had new meaning and I couldn’t stop reading the Bible. I’m talking hours into the night here!  I had an insight in scripture and an ability to explain it that surprised me. The reverent of our church took note of this and later, as a young adult, asked me to be a youth leader. I was encouraged to complete courses in evangelism and was actively involved in missionary outreaches to Mozambique.

Years later my husband and I joined a Pentecostal church and made some radical life changes in order for Jesus to be the center of our lives. We have completed several Bible College courses, I have completed an Associate Degree in Pastoral Counselling, and am currently busy with my Bachelor Degree in Ministry.

After school, I received my Higher Diploma in Education and taught Primary school for seventeen years before making the decision to resign and home school our daughter. This move freed me up to follow my biggest passion. Writing. I seriously cannot remember a time in my life when I did not want to write. From telling stories to my younger siblings, to typing away on my dad’s computer during school holidays, the writer in me has been there for as long as I can remember.

I was still very young when one evening, during my quiet time with the Lord, the Spirit spoke to my heart and told me that I will be God’s writer one day.

In 2001, on my twenty fifth birthday, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is an auto immune disease where your immune system attacks joint tissue. Without treatment it will damage and deform your joints to a great extent.  My journey with RA has not been an easy one. Chronic pain and fatigue, expensive visits to specialists, painful injections and surgery, harsh medication with serious side effects. Needless to say, it’s a very challenging wilderness to walk through. Chronic disease is a constant roller coaster ride of up and downs, hope and despair and joy and depression.

During a tour to Israel in 2014, our pastor prophesied over me and my husband. There he mentioned something that changed everything. He said that I must stop focusing on this disease because the enemy is using it to distract me from spiritual growth. So, I started praying about it, asking the Lord to reveal the truth to me. And He did. He made me see that whenever I prayed, I prayed for healing. Whenever I read my Bible I mostly looked for scriptures on healing. I read books on healing and watched testimonies on healing. During church services I waited for a word on healing. I was obsessed with being healed.

In my heart I knew about my calling, but I kept on pushing it to the background for until my miraculous healing takes place. You see, my first priority was not God’s Kingdom, but being healed. I never allowed the Holy Spirit to teach and equip me for the job He wanted me to do. Without knowing it, I’ve allowed the enemy to keep me from living my life to the full, by focusing on my disease. This revelation changed my life. I’ve made the decision that RA will not define me. I am who God says I am and I will live my life being the new person He has created me to be in Christ. I still pray for healing, but now I am seeking the Kingdom of God first. I gave every part of my life to Him.

This blog are only one of the ways in which I am using my passion for His glory. I only write what the Holy Spirit prompts me to write and I will not make a statement that is not solidly based on God’s Word.  

I am not that perfect Christian. Believe me, I’m still under construction. I don’t have a doctor’s degree in Theology and I haven’t written any bestsellers yet. But I’m giving my best and my everything to Him. My prayer is that you will be blessed through this blog and that God’s name will be honoured and glorified. My mission is to spread the Gospel and to plant seeds that will germinate and grow into fruit bearing trees for His Kingdom. 

Thank you for joining me.

May God bless you!

Madeleine