CAM-Kids

DEAD FIRE
By Johan Terblanche

Once a fire has died, it no longer produces light or heat. There is no sense sitting at a dead fire hoping to get warm.

Just like a boy sitting next to a dead fire will still be cold, many believers are sitting next to dead fires thinking that they will grow spiritually. In this lesson I want to point out what the Bible say about the fellowship we choose or the friends we keep.

In the Bible we are warned against spending time with bad or spiritually dead people. In 1 Corinthians 15:33 we read that bad company (bad friends) will corrupt (damage) good character.

There are some other verses too that tell us not to become friends with the world or the things of the world. In James 4:4 we read that when we become friends with the world, we become enemies of God. 1 John 2:15 also tells us that the love of the Father (God) is not in us when we love world or the things that are in the world.

Now allow me to explain one thing; The Word does not tell us not to mix with unbelievers. In fact, the Word tells us that we must go and tell them of Jesus Christ. (See Mark 16:15 and Matthew 28:19) We are called to reach lost sinners but not to become like them. Though we are in the world we should not behave like those in the world.

Let us see what we must do.

We should rather walk with the wise (those who walk with the Lord) and become wise than to be with the foolish who rejects the Lord and suffer harm. (Proverbs 13:20)

According to 2 Corinthians 6:14, we should not team up with unbelievers for light and darkness cannot have fellowship or be together.

We must team up with likeminded people or other believers. It is also written that two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls, one can help the other up. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

Let us not stick around dead fires or people that will cause harm to us but let us come out and separate ourselves from those who have no desire to serve the Lord so that we too may be acceptable to the Lord. (See 2 Corinthians 6:17)

Should you need prayer or guidance, you are welcome to send an email to [email protected] .

Regards and God bless

Johan Terblanche
Christ Alone Ministries

GUARD YOUR HEART
By Johan Terblanche


Few weeks ago, we went to a local mall. While there, I needed to use the restroom. On entering the cubicle, I saw this big lock on the toilet roll holder and I thought, “We go to this extent to prevent people from stealing toilet paper, yet we do not guard our hearts as instructed in God’s Word.”

The Bible warns us that the devil wants to kill and destroy us. (John 10:10) He will do anything to remove us from God’s presence, from doing God’s will or to distract us from our life purpose namely to glorify God in all we are and all we do. Like a toilet roll thief, he too will try at any time and in any way to enter our lives.

In Proverbs 4:23 we are instructed to guard our hearts, for everything we do flows from the heart. It is important to guard our hearts for our hearts represent who we are. Everything we do is determined by our hearts. A heart filled with hatred will hate. A heart filled with love will love. Our heart is also under attack by the devil who wants to sow anger, hatred and all other bad things into our heart.

Now you may ask: “How do I guard my heart? How do we lock out the devil, who is a thief?”

We must place a lock on our hearts and decide who holds the key. Remember that the key holder decides what goes into our hearts. To make Jesus the keyholder, we need to entrust our heart or give our hearts to God. Secondly, we need to ask God to protect our heart.

Let it not be said that we placed thought it more important to keep a toilet roll safe than to protect our hearts. Let us keep a lock on our hearts and only trust Jesus Christ with the key. That way, the devil will not be able to gain access to destroy us.

Should you need prayer or guidance, you are welcome to send an email to [email protected] .

Regards and God bless

Johan Terblanche
Christ Alone Ministries

GRAIN SILOS
By Johan Terblanche

Grain silos can be seen all over South Africa and in many other countries. They are tall, round structures made from strong concrete. Farmers use them to store wheat, maize, rice and other grains.

Though the main purpose of silos is storage of grains, it also protects the grain against pests and rodents. It also keeps the grains dry which in turns prevent the grain from rotting. However, grain cannot be stored for extended periods. The grain must regularly be discharged and used in the production of food.

In Genesis 41, we read how Joseph built massive grain storehouses in Egypt. He then used these to store grain while grain was plentiful. Later, he discharged the grain during the famine they faced. The storehouses, like modern day silos only showed their worth, when the grain could be used to feed others.

You and I can also be likened to silos. We gather wisdom, love, peace, joy and a whole lot more when while we are enjoying God’s
presence. But what we gather is not ours only. It is not given to us to enjoy by ourselves but to share with others.

When the Lord fills a silo with wisdom, He wants us to give wise advice. (Proverbs 15:7) When He fills us with love, He wants us to love others. (John 13:34) When He fills us with peace, He wants us to be live in peace with others. (2 Corinthians 13:11) When the Lord gives us joy, He wants us to share our joy with one another.
We are not meant to keep what the Lord has given us for ourselves. The Word tells us that what we have received freely from the Lord, we should also give freely. (Matthew 10:18)

But when we do not let go or do not give away what the Lord gave us, we run the risk of becoming so full that we may burst, or what was given to us may be eaten by rodents, or that it may rot.
Let us not keep Jesus to ourselves but let us share the news of Him coming to save us all. Let us also stay away of not sharing the love of Christ or anything else He has given us.

Remember, when we allow the silo to be emptied, the Lord will refill us, and we shall not lack in any good thing from above.

Should you need prayer or guidance, you are welcome to send an email to [email protected] .

Regards and God bless
Johan Terblanche

GET OF By Johan Terblanche

There is a saying, “Get of your high horse!” The saying is often used to tell people to stop pretending that they are better, smarter or more important than everyone else.

It is said that back in the day, even before cars were made, influential people will buy expensive taller horses so that they can sit higher and look down on others. Later, ordinary people will look up to these bragging proud people and say, “Get of your high horse!”

Nowadays, when we say, “Get of your high horse!” we are not talking about people sitting on high horses but rather about those who think they are better than everyone else or those who are filled with pride. We use it to encourage them to be humble or to be kind to those they think are inferior or less important than them.

Though not using the same phrase the Bible also warns us against pride or thinking that we are better than others. A verse that
immediately comes to mind is Proverbs 16:18 that states; “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."

We also see in Proverbs 16:5 that the Lord detests (does not like) the proud of heart and that the proud will not go unpunished. James 4:6 tells us that God opposes the proud but favours the humble.

When we look at Jesus, we see that He set the example. According to Philippians 2:8, Jesus humbled himself. Even though Jesus was God, he humbled Himself by becoming a man. Then He even took our sins upon Him and died on a cross like a criminal so that we may be saved.

But what are we to do?

In 1 Peter 5:6, we are instructed to "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" The Bible also tells us that we must become less so that the Lord can become greater. (John 3:30)

Philippians 2:3 instructs us to do nothing out of selfish ambition (to become higher than everybody else) or vain conceit (thinking we are better than everybody else) but to value others above ourselves. And, when we are willing to get of our high horse and humble ourselves, the Lord will lift us up according to James 4:10)

Should you need prayer or guidance, you are welcome to send an email to [email protected] .

Regards and God bless

Johan Terblanche
Christ Alone Ministries

BROKEN GLASSES By Johan Terblanche


Last weekend I was cutting down a large tree. While I was up in the tree with the chainsaw, a branch broke off and cut my head open. It also damaged my glasses, which had fallen off. After my daughter stopped the bleeding, I looked at my glasses and realized that they couldn’t be fixed. I would have to get new glasses.

Sometimes we look at life and circumstances through broken glasses.

The first broken glasses we look through are the glasses of unbelief. This happens when we don’t believe that Jesus is for us or that He cannot provide for us. Hebrews 11:6 says that it is impossible to do or experience God’s will if we don’t believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.

The second broken glasses we look through are the glasses of wrong faith. This happens when our faith in ourselves or in other people is greater than our faith in Jesus. Wrong faith says I can do it on my own or that someone else, other than Jesus, will help. According to John 15:5, we can do

nothing on our own. Jeremiah 17:5 says that the man who trusts in other people is cursed.

Another broken pair of glasses that we sometimes look through is the glasses of false faith. False faith is faith that does not consider what the Lord expects of us. An example of this is recorded in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Many times we mistakenly believe that the Lord will heal our land, but we do not take into account that we must first humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and repent before the Lord will give the healing.

How do we fix this? Just as I need to get new glasses, we also need to get and put on glasses of faith. Our faith must be in Jesus Christ.
The Bible says that we are saved by faith. (See John 3:16 and Ephesians 2:8-9) According to 2 Corinthians 5:7 and Romans 1:17 we live by faith in Jesus Christ. It is Jesus who sustains us in life.

Because we look through the lens of faith, we can approach the Lord in prayer, and He will provide for our needs according to Mark 11:22-24.

Therefore, let us look through the lens of faith in Jesus. Then the Lord will not only save us, but He will restore our peace and joy by hearing and answering our prayers.

Should you need prayer or guidance, you are welcome to send an email to [email protected] .

Regards and God bless

Johan Terblanche
Christ Alone Ministries

HOUSE TO LET
By Johan Terblanche

Many years ago, I rented out a house. After a while, and after evicting many tenants, I sold the house. Unfortunately, the tenants I had, would either not pay, damage the property or do both.
Today, I want to compare our hearts to a house to let. We too, can decide who stays in our hearts, just like a houseowner can rent out his house to whom he chooses.

Let us firstly look at a bad tenant. Normally they appear to be descent people. Often, they will pay a deposit and the first month’s rental. Sadly, once they move in, they will stop paying rent and start destroying the property. They do not care to keep the place tidy, and they break the cupboards, doors and other fixtures. In many cases I had to repaint the house after the tenants left and spend money on replacing plumbing, electrical, and carpentry fittings.

The devil is also a bad tenant. According to John 10:10 the devil comes to steal and to destroy. Unfortunately, the devil does not look like a destroyer when he first comes looking for a heart to stay in. In 2 Corinthians 11:14 we read that the devil disguises himself as an angel of light. We also read that the devil is walking around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8)

But you do get good tenants. Not only do they pay their rent each month, but they also look after the property. Some of these good tenants will make sure the property is in a good state by fixing small problems themselves or even offering to assist with bigger projects around the property.

Jesus Christ can be likened to a good tenant. When we allow Him into our hearts, He will bless us and keep us, He will mend a broken heart and Spirit. He will supply in our every need and give in abundance. (John 10:10)

Which tenant do you want in your heart, the destroyer who is the devil, or Jesus Christ, the fixer of all things? Let us allow the Lord Jesus into our lives and we will reap the benefits of Him living inside of us.

Regards and God bless


Johan Terblanche
Christ Alone Ministries

MESSAGE FROM ABOVE
By Johan Terblanche

Someone I know has been going through a tough time since his wife passed away. And though he reads his Bible and pray daily, there are days that he feels all alone and forsaken.

On Sunday he opened a pocket of potatoes and found a heart-shaped potato inside the pocket. He sent me a picture of it and a thought came to my mind. Maybe God had a message for him. Maybe God just wanted him to know that He still loves Him.

I know that we do not need to seek for signs to prove that God exists or that God loves us or that God still sees us and wants to take care of us. I know that the Christian life is based on faith and we just need to believe but there are times that we doubt. Then we may need to look around us and see what the Lord has done. Not only will this proof the existence of God and His love for us but it will also motivate us to serve

Him. Let us take a quick look at what creation tells us about the Lord our God.

Amos 4:13 tells us that He, who formed the mountains, created the winds and makes day and night is the Lord our God.

Psalm 8:3-4 tells us that the Lord, our God set the moon and stars in their places with His fingers.

In Job 12:7-9: we see that even the animals roaming the earth, the birds flying in the skies and the fish swimming in the sea tells of God’s power to create.

In Isaiah 40:26 we are instructed to look at the heavens and see the Lord our Creator. We also see in Psalm 19:1 that the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Acts 14:17 tells us that even the rain He gives us and the fruitful seasons, testify of the goodness of God.

Should you need some encouragement about the existence of God or want proof of His love for you, why don’t you take a step outside and see what the Lord has given you. Though you may not receive a heart-shaped potato, you may experience the Lord’s presence in a soft breeze, or in the rain. You may also become aware of God’s greatness while looking at the mountains, the sea, the stars or even the animals surrounding you.

If you need prayer or guidance, I wish to invite you to send an email to [email protected]

Regards and God bless

Johan Terblanche
Christ Alone Ministries

BROKEN CHAIR
By Johan Terblanche

Maybe you have tried to sit on a chair of which one leg is broken? It is highly uncomfortable and even dangerous for the chair may fall over and in doing so cause injury to the person who is sitting on it.

We all have heard of the importance of prayer in a Christians’ life. Unfortunately, there are times that our prayers are like chairs with broken legs.

Just like a chair needs four legs, so does our prayers. The four legs (or elements) of prayer is praise, repentance, asking, and yielding. Let us look at these elements.

Firstly, we are called to praise the Lord in prayer. To praise the Lord means to acknowledge or to give thanks to the Lord for all He is and all He did. In Psalm 103:1-2 David says, "Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me."

Secondly, we should repent of our sins and ask the Lord to forgive us. According to Luke 13:5 we will perish if we do not repent. However, if we confess our sins, God will forgive us and purify us. (1 John 1:9)

Thirdly, in prayer we can ask the Lord to supply in our needs, whether we need a place to sleep, something to eat, or help with our chores. In Philippians 4:6, we are instructed not to be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests be made known to God. We can also pray for others, asking the Lord to supply in all their needs. (See James 5:16)

Lastly, and this is where we often fail, we need to yield before the Lord. This means that we need to spend times where we are simply silent, and allow the Lord to fill us with peace, joy and love. In Psalm 46:10, the Lord said, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Normally, when we are still before the Lord, we can sense His presence and be encouraged by Him.

While reciting a prayer is easy, real prayer is not. We need to practice praying correctly, always praising the Lord, repenting of our sin, asking the Lord to supply in our needs and making time to listen and experience the presence of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Regards and God bless

Johan Terblanche
Christ Alone Ministries

COFFEE OR TEA
By Johan Terblanche

Some time ago we visited some friends. After a while, the lady asked us whether we would like something to drink and followed up the question with “coffee or tea?” Since I don’t like coffee, I said that I would rather have tea. A bit later she returned from the kitchen with a few mugs. On all the mugs were written “coffee.” For a moment I thought that either she did not hear me or she forgot that I wanted tea.

I took the mug from her, and then saw that the content was not coffee, but tea. I got tea in a coffee mug. Immediately the thought came to mind, “Are we how we seem to be?”

Today I want to raise a question, “Do you look like you are doing well but, on the inside, you are hurt?”

Many times, and for various reasons we do not want others to see when we’re suffering, or when we are hurt. It could be that we are being bullied, that we are being rejected, that we are being used, or even abused.

Sometimes we do not want to share what is going on inside of us because we feel ashamed or embarrassed. It can even be that we feel that we deserve to be treated badly.

The problem is that while people are reading coffee on the outside, or seeing a child doing well, that we may be filled with tea, or brokenness. Today I want to encourage you to break free from the pain and the hurt. I want you to know that the Lord is close to the broken-hearted. (Psalm 34:14)

When in pain, pray to the Lord and cast your cares (burdens) onto the Lord. He will take care of you and will not let you be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22)

Ask the Lord to teach you on how to handle every situation. In James 1:5 we read that God will generously give wisdom to those who ask Him for it.

Lastly, ask others like your parents, preacher or teacher for advice. Proverbs 11:14 tells us that we can win the battle with the help of advisors.

Let us not pretend to be coffee when we’re tea or pretend to be fine when we’re not but let us seek help from the Lord and others, so that we may be able to overcome lives’ challenges.

Should you need prayer or guidance, you are welcome to send an email to [email protected] .

Regards and God bless

Johan Terblanche
Christ Alone Ministries

ENGINE NEEDED
By Johan Terblanche


Yesterday I was browsing the internet looking at cars for sale. I came a across an advertisement in which the seller stated, “Vehicle is in perfect condition. Only needs an engine and gearbox.”

Now, even the smallest child knows that a car needs an engine and without an engine, a car cannot be driven. Not having an engine does not mean that the car cannot move for a car without an engine can still be pushed or pulled. It does however take a lot of effort and places huge strain on the ones pushing or pulling.

Unfortunately, there are many people who think they are in perfect condition, but they do not have an engine. Often, these people that must be pushed or pulled to serve the Lord. The biggest problem however is that they do not have Jesus in their lives.

Let me try to explain. There are many people (both young and old) who looks good from the outside. They do the right things like attending church or Sunday school and being at their best behaviour. Some of them even read and know the Bible by heart and knows almost everything there is to know about the Lord, but they never had an encounter with the Lord. They have never allowed Jesus to become the centre of their lives.

Sadly, a life without Christ can often become unbearable or impossible. Just imagine having to solve all your problems carrying every heavy load by yourself.

The Bible tells us that that it is the Lord who strengthens us to do all things. (Philippians 4:13) We also see that the Lord gives power to the faint. (Isaiah 40:29) And when we acknowledge that we are weak and can no longer keep on pulling or pushing, Jesus will become our strength (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Let us not try to go forward without the Lord Jesus Christ for then we are like one pushing or pulling a car without an engine. Let us allow the Lord into our everyday life by accepting Jesus Christ’s gift of salvation so that we too may say, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me." (Psalm 28:7)

Should you need prayer or guidance, you are welcome to send an email to [email protected] .

Regards and God bless

Johan Terblanche
Christ Alone Ministries