Holiday is in the air!

And accompanying that, a deep desire to take time off and to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n!

What I am looking forward to most is having two full weeks without TV, gmail, business calls and deadlines. In other words, lots of free time, family time and most importantly, time with my Father. No where in Scripture are we instructed to “take a holiday” from God. Instead, we are encouraged to draw near to Him, and holidays give us plenty of time to do just that! One of the best – and my favourite - way of doing it is by reading God's Word.

While I was studying Psalm 119 for the first time, I was overwhelmed by the intensity of delight that the psalmist was finding in the words of God: “I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statues; I will not forget Your word” (v 15-16). I earnestly started praying that the Lord would do a similar work in me; that He would “open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from His law” (v18). And He was faithful.

So for December, I want to exhort you with Psalm 119 (yes, the whole 176 verses!). My prayer for you during this time is that you would be 'revived and strengthened according to God's Word' (v25b; v28b) - especially as you meditate on God's love for humanity – for me and you. “He did not even spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all” (Romans 9:32). Before that could happen, though, Jesus had to be born as a human; as a baby: “and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

Now that is worth meditating on!

Have a blessed holiday and CHRISTmas season,

Lizna and the LOVE PROJECT TEAM

Our pretty decor flags in action...at a wedding!

Thanks for sending the pics, Kim! ***

The flags are custom made according to your specification. To order one, please contact

lizna@loveproject.co.za.

NEW: fabric bangle-project

We have started to produce beautiful fabric bangles...with a twist!
We use recycled food tins as a base - the 215g (small) All Gold Tomato & Onion Mix-tins in particular.
So support us by buying and recycling the tins, and dropping it off at the Love Project Gift Shop (55 Kloof Street, Cape Town).

It will be much appreciated!

NEW: Pretty Decor Flags

We are now making fabric décor flags to order.

It is an easy and inexpensive way to pretty-up your patio area or the kids' bedrooms!

All we need from you is a creative brief (in terms of colour and look) and a 50% deposit, and your flags will be ready for collection within two weeks.

Cost:

- R15 for plain flags (without lettering).

- R25 for flags with lettering (spelling a word or name) - see the photograph below.

Something to chew on...

It is in our human nature to try to define things. We like knowing what we're doing, when we're doing it, how we are going about to do it and who we are doing it with. It makes us feel in control.

Before the Lord called me to start the Love Project Workshop, I could easily define and answer the all-so-popular question: “So, what do you do for a living?” “I'm a magazine journalist and stylist”. Easy answer. It hasn't been as simple in the past year though! My answers would vary from “I manage a job creation-project” to “The Lord's called me to start a Christian skills training organisation” to “I'm into youth development and Christian counseling” to “We produce good quality craft products from recycled fabric” - which all are true to some degree! Not being able to describe what we're doing 24/7 in a single sentence frustrated me....

During the month of October, a new ministry situation arose. It was not even close to anything we have done in the past. So, through this situation and by His grace, God revealed to me why I'm still lacking a single-sentence definition! I found the answer in Romans 8:14 “For as many are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God”.

As God's children, our daily thoughts, actions and words need to be guided by the Holy Spirit. We are never to “lean on our own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). I could make it applicable to our project by saying, never to “define our functions according to what I think it should be”. What I've now come to understand is that the 'single-sentence definition' I so longed for would have taken away the spiritual and practical “flexibility” that is needed to live in and through the Holy Spirit. So what are we doing daily from now on? Applying Psalm 62:5. David wrote: “My soul, wait silently for God alone for my expectation is from Him”. We'll be praying, watching and waiting for ministry situations to arise! And when it does, with the Helper's help and by His grace, making good use of it.

The next time someone wants to know what exactly it is that we're doing, I'll probably answer something like “Oh, lots of different things! Changes every week! Whatever the Lord has in store for the day!”. And although I may never have a fixed definition, I know now that when I walk in the Spirit and in faith, God is pleased (Hebrews 11:6). And that is all that matters.

Until everyone hears,

Lizna

September 2010 news

The Love Project Workshop celebrated it's first birthday in SEPTEMBER!

The Lord Jesus, as always, has been FAITHFUL! I am so thankful for His provision in all areas of the project. He supplied all that was needed...

• from the vision, which is to use the work place to help make and grow disciples, to His wisdom when important decisions needed to be made – every time we asked (James 1:5).
• He provided for all the physical needs of the project - fabric donations arriving just when it is needed most to always having sufficient finances to pay the bills (Matthew 6:33).
• It was a great blessing to witness the spiritual growth that took place (and still is taking place) in Tanya, and how the joy of the Lord is now present in her life (Romans 15:13). He also made it possible for her to attend school again, and hopefully (or better said, prayerfully!) she will complete matric in 2013.

I've learned heaps about God's character over the past twelve months and besides of loving Him, I love that He is who He is: unchangeable, faithful, able, rich in grace and mercy, wonderful, counselor. I rest in the knowledge that our project rests in the Hands of the One who holds the universe in His hands. What a wonderful God we serve!

Thank you to all who supported us during the year!

Praise report:

1. It didn't went particularly well with the sales at the CY Market... But hey, God knows our needs! And we will join David in “blessing the Lord at all times!' (Psalm 34:1).

Prayer requests:

1. As we depend on good sales to ensure the sustainability and growth of our project, please pray that the Reusable Fabric Gift Wrapping-sets will sell well at the Kamersvol Geskenke market at Lourensford Wine Estate from 27-31 October 2010. Also pray that new marketing opportunities may develop out of the exposure. For more information, visit http://www.kamersvol.com/.

2. For Tandeka, who started with a needlework course in June, completed the course and is now looking for employment.

August 2010 news

AUGUST marked an exciting new beginning for our project as we moved into our new workshop space! Moving the boxes and boxes of donated recycled fabric, two large industrial sewing machines and a large cutting table out of our (small) home, felt wonderful. No more clutter. But then again, I would have worked around our dining room table forever if that was God's will for us!

He has placed a deep love and burden for the underprivileged in my heart. The Greek verb translated 'go' in Matthew 18:19 is actually not a command but a present participle (going). Thus “While you are going, make disciples of all the nations”. And this is how I see my part in the Lord's plan at the Love Project Workshop: that while I'm going about my day, working and doing what I love (being creative!), I'll be our Lord's instrument through whom He can make disciples. Around my dining room table or at our new workshop – wherever.

Please pray for our project.



What happened at the Love Project Workshop during August 2010:

Praise report:

1. We moved into a new (and first) workshop space at the Grootekerk Centre, 55 Kloof Street, Cape Town.

2. Our Reusable Fabric Gift Wrapping Sets have been approved for yet another gift market: the Kamersvol Geskenke market being held at Irene, Pretoria, from 25-28 November 2010.

Prayer requests:

As we depend on good sales to ensure the sustainability and growth of our project, please pray that the Reusable Fabric Gift Wrapping sets will sell well at the CY Market at Alba Guest Farm from 29 September to 3 October 2010. Also pray that new marketing opportunities may develop out of the exposure.

Our needs

Things

1. Fabric remnants, buttons, ribbon and needlecraft tools like scissors, needles, thread etc.

2. An ironing board and a dust bin.

Volunteers

1. To help with new product development and -design.

To ensure that our project grows and that our products stay relevant and up-to-date, we are planning and hoping to launch a new product in the new year. We are in need of creative volunteers to look into specific design ideas for us.

2. To help with the marketing of our products.

This would entail as little or much effort as you wish to put into it!