Praising God’s never ending faithfulness, His mercies new every morning!

My wife and I are really starting to enjoy retirement. I took a while to adapt to a new chapter in life. Yet looking back upon the last three months, I can see how good it was to ask for early retirement. With the pressures of the active ministry gone now, no longer any deadlines to meet, being more in charge of your own time, I feel that my health slowly starts to improve. At present, it is only small steps, but we thank the LORD for each small step. There are days that I have energy again, no longer feeling tired throughout the entire day. It feels good to do things again, to be active again, even though it is still in small time slots.

So, what have I been doing thus far. In view of the fact that in due time we will be moving to a smaller house I have been cleaning out my study, throwing things away which I no longer need. Going also through all my books, trying to sell almost two-third of them. Thus far, quite a bit has been sold already. Yet there are still lots of books, which I try to get rid of. Feel free to drop in to see if there is anything, you would like.

I also have been preaching again a number of times and I really enjoyed it. I pray that the LORD will continue to give me strength to be active in this wonderful task, if possible even more regularly.  It remains the highlight of the ministry, even in retirement.

Helen and I are also looking forward to go to Cairns for four weeks, where I will be preaching and helping with some pastoral support to the house congregation over there. The trip has been booked and the Lord willing we hope to be there from March 22 – April 17.  If all goes according to plan, I also hope to run a marriage enrichment camp over there. Some have wondered whether I don’t take on too many things too soon. Yet, it’s work I like and it’s better to do things than to sit still and do nothing.

So, retirement really starts to get shape. If the Lord gives health and strength, I hope that I can remain active this way by helping out in some of the vacant churches, perhaps even running the occasional marriage enrichment camp for couples who would like to organise such a camp. After our return from Cairns, I also hope to start writing a daily, a book with meditations. Over the last weeks, people have come up with various suggestions. Yet in view of the many marriage enrichment camps, which I have run, I would like to write a devotional for engaged and married couples. I due time I hope to keep you up to date how this is going. The other book with 26 sermons on "Learning the Alphabet of Faith" will be in the bookshop by the end of September, the Lord willing.

Meanwhile, Helen and I also enjoy it that we have more time now for children and grandchildren. Just recently, we have been a week to Albany to catch up with the children there. Summing it all up, we thank the LORD for this period in our life. How great is His faithfulness and then to realise that we don’t deserve anything of this, is all received by grace alone. Therefore to God alone be thanks and glory for what He gives us each day anew.