Marriage? How is yours?

Daily Devotional Ebenezer

Ecclesiastes 9: 9 (TLB)

9 "Live happily with the woman you love through the fleeting days of life, for the wife God gives you is your best reward down here for all your earthly toil."

I was 18 years old when I first got married, and I didn't think it was strange as many of my school friends also got married at that age. When I was 21, I already had two small kids. Then divorces were comment, but realistically today, its even worse. I wonder why our marriages don't last. I was married for 21 years before I decided enough. I wanted to change my environment and feel safer.

How can I ensure that my current marriage doesn't fail? I think the most important thing is to learn to show my love. I still struggle with showing respect, and it's almost foreign to me. I know I crave appreciation, and I believe we all seek that in our lives. I try and show gratitude towards my husband and all my children. 

Something I have become accustomed to is my husband paying attention. I do admire him for the tentative listening of what I say. I know my husband loves me, and he shows it. Buying me a flower and just listening to what my needs are. He always asks if there isn't something he can do for me.

We enjoy taking a bath together, and I feel that is the only real-time we spend alone. Just my husband and myself, then I feel free to speak to him about my problems and how I think. Sometimes it's not a good thing because we cannot get away from each other, and the conversations hot up. I believe Proverbs 18 verses 22 "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord." I am grateful for my husband, and I respect him for who he is.

In my marriage, I have come to know who I am. I feel I can grow in my marriage as the person I am. I don't have to put on airs and graces. My character changes every day. I see how I have matured over the last ten years, and I also know that I am more compassionate. 

One thing that is very important to me, we are safe. I don't have to worry something terrible is going to happen to us.

Prayer

Lord, Almighty God, thank You for a marriage that You are here. I am grateful for the knowledge that I am safe and that my husband loves me. I am also thankful that he considers my feelings and cares for my wellbeing. You are lovely, Lord, I worship You today. Blessing is over my family; thank You, Lord. Amen

Yvette van Niekerk

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Just a closer walk with Thee

James 4: 8 "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you."

How can I draw near to God? I believe God wants us to want Him. That would be my first step, and I want to draw near to God. The next step would be spending time with God. I need to take the time to grow my relationship with God. How can I build my relationship with God? I need to pray about my relationship, spend time alone with God, and nurture my time with God. Luke 12, verses 32, says, "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

I realized that I could not build my relationship with God if I do not get to know Him well. I want to develop the kind of intimate relationship with Him, and I can only do that when I am alone with God.
When I am alone with God, I find that during these special moments, I feel refreshed, strengthened, and rejuvenated. Drawing away from my busy schedule, taking a moment in seclusion with God, I find peace with Him.

Praying is something we have to commit to each day, taking time to speak to God. If you do not pray often, it is difficult to get started. I believe it's like this large ship docked in the harbor. It has many controls to get it moving, and we are almost the same. So repositioning my life with God is going to take some time. I will have to make time and speak to God directly. John 16 verses 24 "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive that your joy may be full."

Prayer

Please, Abba, Father, help me in my quest to draw near to You. I believe when I draw near to You, You automatically draw near to me. Humbly I pray for a more in-depth and intimate relationship with You. I long to dwell in Your presence. Humbly I ask, to teach me to get to know You better and show me how I can grow closer to You, in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

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A repented life

Daily Devotional Ebenezer

 Reading Psalm 34, verses 5, "They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed."  I feel that when I have done something wrong, especially towards someone, I cannot face them. I think I am too embarrassed and feel very uncomfortable in their presence. Guilt chases me, and I want to steer clear of them. When it comes to the LORD, it's even harder for me. I need to pray and confess my sins, or it eats away at me.

I believe that if I do not confess my sins to the LORD, there is a barrier, and I cannot come into the presence of God. When we read Ezekiel 20, verse 43, "You shall remember your ways and all your doings with which you were defiled, and you shall loathe yourselves in your sight because of all the evils that you have committed." Here the Israelites disobeyed the LORD, and they did not repent.

O Lord, please let the Holy Spirit reveal to me whatever I am doing wrong so that I can repent of my sin before You.

I know the more I sin the strong the possibility that I can end up falling away from the Lord, I believe it is imperative to repent of my sins. Repentance is my way to life through Jesus Christ.

Yvette van Niekerk

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Keep me in the center Your Will, Lord

Daily Devotional Ebenezer

I have been questioning my life and the decisions I have taken these past couple of weeks. I want to know that God is keeping me in the center of His Will. I believe facing difficult times does not mean I am out of God's will. Testing is part of growing my spiritual life, and I know that, but it sure isn't fun.

Let me put it to you this way, Jesus was doing God's will by going to the cross. Jesus states in John 6, verses 38, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent me." Now I am at this point in my own life where I want to know which way to go. I want direction in my personal experience, and I want God to direct my footsteps. I know that God is enabling me to follow Him because I have someone to follow - Jesus Christ.

When I was younger, I used to say the LORD thinks I am an elastic, and He is continuously stretching me. We only grow in our spiritual life when we are being pulled or very uncomfortable.

I know that it's about my decision whether I want to follow the LORD or not. I find that the LORD is a real gentleman; He never forces His will on me. I also believe that this isn't an automatic thing to do. In Ephesian 5, verses 17, "Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Am I going to seek the LORD, today? Am I asking Him for wisdom and insight? Am I asking Him to guide me? These are fundamental questions only I can answer.

I believe God doesn't want me to live in the lust of my flesh, and He wants me to ask Him for direction. In Hebrews 13, verses 21, "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."

Where do I start? I think the very first thing is to pray early in the morning. Seeking God, then while I am still in prayer, remembering to give Him thanks. Being grateful is critical; otherwise, we lose sight of how great our God is.

Yvette van Niekerk

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The revolutionary intimacy of address God as "Our Father."

Matthew 7:11 (ESV)

11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Hallowing the Father's name is perhaps one of the most essential and celebrated dimensions of prayer. It is the revolutionary intimacy of addressing God as Our Father.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Jesus was teaching His disciples to address God in the manner. I believe they would never have addressed God as their Father; if the Lord Jesus didn't teach them this, it would have been wrong in their upbringing.

I want to pause and pray to my Father in heaven. What do you think God's expression looks is?

Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV)

9 Pray then like this:

"Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

10 Your kingdom come,

you will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread,

12 and forgive us our debts,

    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

    but deliver us from evil.

What a beautiful symmetry in the opening of the Lord's prayer see it in Matthew 6 verse 9. Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name. Jesus invites us into intimacy and awe of his holiness.

Let's start thanking God's evidence of his goodness in our lives an awaking in our souls. 

We are praying the Word, looking to the Psalms and praying it into our situation. 

We are using music to stir our souls for more powerful prayer.

Father God, in heaven, I want to pray and come into Your presence today. Lord, thank You for today. All the fascinating insights and learning I receive. Guide me and set my feet on the right path. Build me and teach me in the way You want me to go.

Praise to Your Holy Name, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

I surrender LORD!

Psalm 5: 1 - 3 MSG
"Listen, GOD! Please, pay attention! Can you make sense of these ramblings, my groans, and cries? King-God, I need your help. Every morning you'll hear me at it again. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend."

Paying attention probably is one of my problems. I get sidetracked and I miss out when my attention is drawn away. I struggle with mundane things. I am also very in a rush and feel people drag their feet when I want something done. Have you felt any of these things, frustration and then impatience? I find myself in this part of my garden, I am of course trying to rid my garden of these two weeds. So it's difficult for me at the moment.

So here's something to meditate about, "how can I become  intentional about how I approach my life and frustration?" It is my desire to focus on praise and adoration to the LORD on a daily basis. I seem to fall short in this area, shamefully I need to work on this.

LORD, I am asking You please forgive me, I repent of my lack of focus, hear my cry and see my heart. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

LORD, teach me to pray.

One thing I truly desire is to speak to God openly and honestly. I know the Lord Jesus, teaches the disciples to pray:

Jesus said: "When you pray, say:

Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
Give us each day our daily bread,
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins
against us.
And lead us not into temptation.

I do not consider myself an expert prayer warrior, so I feel I need lots of guidance on this part of my walk with the LORD.

Today lets start our prayer life with the Lord's prayer and keep on praying this until we feel we can move forward. Let's open our hearts to God and wait on the Holy Spirit for guidance.

Amen

God's Promises to me today (Thursday)

Philippians 4: 6 - 7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Psalm 107: 13 - 14
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of the darkness and the shadow of death and broke their chains in pieces.

Matthew 11: 28 - 30
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Psalm 34: 17 - 18
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Isaiah 40: 31
Those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

As we start our day I want to encourage you to take the time and meditate on the Word of God, should you be feeling anxious or afraid. We serve a great and mighty God, that we can call out to in our hour of need.

If you are struggling with fear and worry, bring it to the Lord and let Him help you, start seeking the Lord and He will be found.

God is waiting for you to approach Him, speak freely to Him, He is listening.

Lord God what an awesome God You are, we can come to You with our small problems and You hear it, I am happy and grateful that You have been and still are here with me. Bless each person today with supernatural favor who is reading this message, with You LORD and with people. In the Holy Name of Jesus Christ amen

God, please give me Your dream for my life?

Mark 8: 35

“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.”

I wonder if I am living my dream or the dream God has for my life? Have you ever thought about that, are we here just to get up every morning, go to work, come home cook and clean, go to bed, work until we have to retire. Sit at home and wonder what comes next?

I believe God is looking for people willing to take up the next thing, which starts going to church. Connecting with God’s people.  Working towards the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the church we grow and become established.

My husband said something to me this morning if a person truly studied God’s Word and applied His principles in their lives, God would surely prosper them.

I believe God is working in my husband’s life, God is drawing him closer to him.

Before the Lord Jesus went back to Heaven after his resurrection, he said “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the ages. Matt 28: 19 – 20

Lord, humbly I want to pray to ask You what is Your dream for my life, I want to fulfill this dream and be in Your family. I dedicate each and every member of my family into Your hands, I draw a hedge of the blood of Jesus Christ around all of them. Lord, each person reading my blood, bless them and give them the thirst to seek You. I pray for supernatural favor in my own life with You Lord as well as with people. Blessings from above, I pray this in the precious name of Jesus Christ.

Help me to be a forgiving person, Lord.

Luke 6: 37
Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

My previous marriage was something I could describe as disastrous.  I was constantly on my guard and always worried about the fate of my children. My ex-husband was involved in drugs and he just never seemed to be worried about anybody but himself.

I never talk about the anger, rage and hurt I felt toward him because it makes me sick to the pit of my stomach. He put so much pressure on myself and our children. Constantly fighting, stealing and telling lies. Money was the biggest problem in our life. He constantly wanted more and more and we fell behind on our mortgage and cars and finally, I decided enough.

We are divorced and I honestly don't regret this one minute.  I have decided to forgive him and set him free, I don't want the sin of unforgiveness in my life. I rebuke the feelings of self-pity and I pray the Lord will help me to be a forgiving person.

And according to 1 John 2 verse 11 "He who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."

I am still dealing with forgiving people and it seems to be a process, I cannot say that has been easy because believe me it has not. The problem is the person you do not want to forgive isn't even aware that you are struggling with unforgiveness.

It is my prayer Lord that I forgive these people that have made me angry, turned my anger into a rage and I repent humbly for these thoughts. Lord, Please forgive me I forgive them in the holy name of Jesus Christ amen

How grateful are you?

Psalm 100

A Psalm of thanksgiving and for the thank-offering.

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands!

2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing!

3 Know (perceive, recognize, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!

5 For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations.

It's Sunday and I'm grateful that I was able to go to church and bring praise to the LORD and say thank You for my life, my husband and all my children.

God blessed my life and I feel so happy that I can spend time in His presence.

Great and mighty is the Lord!

Praise His name

How can my life be a living memorial to Christ?

Mark: 1 - 26

Jesus Anointed at BethanyThe Last Supper

14 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.” 3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. 6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you,[b] and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” 10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over. 12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.” 19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?” 20 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

24 “This is my blood of the[c] covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

I am wondering how can my life be a living memorial to Christ? I don't feel that I am this wonderful person. I know God says "Be holy because I Am Holy." But honestly, I am not feeling holy. I am a normal person and I do go through the motions. I want to be a memorial to Christ but many times I fail. I can say the same things as the Apostel Paul, I want to do the right thing, but I keep on doing the wrong thing, I just cannot do it right.

The only way I feel I can be a living memorial to Christ is to persevere and do my best right now. But doing what I can and believing God will do the rest for me.

I want to pray that in all humility in all my brokenness and while I can live to my best ability in honoring God.

Yvette's Cakes

Praying for a discouraged heart and despair

Psalm 3: 3 You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

Psalm 30: 11 - 12 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.

John 10: 10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. But Jesus came that I may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

Today, humbly Lord, I want to come before Your throne this morning, Lord You know my heart and understand the discouragement in my life, I sometimes feel despair and without strength but today Lord You are my shield and my glory and the lifter of my head.

Lord today I know You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.

As I face today Lord I want to stand up against the devil who has come to steal and kill and destroy.  But Jesus came that I may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

Please, Lord, bless each person who reads my blog today, fills them with Your Holy Spirit let no harm come to them, bless their lives with supernatural favour let no harm come to them, in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Praying Scripture

Ephesians 1: 15 - 19

"For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.  I keep asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,"

This is my prayer for each of you today, that the Lord will open the eyes of your heart in order to know the hopes to which he has called you.

I cannot add or take away the words of the apostle Paul, how well he has put it for our understanding. It is my heart's desire that when you start reading the word of our Lord, that the Holy Spirit will touch your hearts and minds, and that you may get to your Damascus road and have your personal encounter with the Lord.

Thank you for reading my blog and it is my heartfelt prayer that the Lord Jesus becomes a reality in your life today. Amen

Hello and how are you?

I've been away for 6 weeks and only now starting to recover. I was so fortunate in being treated to a lifetime holiday I could not obtain in my own strength.

I remember in 2018 I prayed to ask the Lord if it would be possible for me to go overseas to Australia to visit my brother. I was very upset and thought I would never leave South Africa never mind going overseas.

But God hears all our prayers, I realize that today and when I was in Australia I realized God answers prayers.

So some background in 2019 my brother who lives in Australia actually came to visit all of us here in South Africa. It was such a lovely time and I expressed my desire to visit him but I didn't have the means.  I am unemployed and I don't have two cents to rub together.

Well, my brother bought me a ticket to visit him in December 2019 and my husband was gracious in allowing me to travel overseas. My daughter gave me cash to go over and to pay for my visa and other important documents. I went overseas with a lot of cash in my pocket and also had such a great time.  My brother is such a great guy, he spent all of this time with me.  We went everywhere with my sister in law Carla and little Jadyn, I saw all of Adelaide and had the most wonderful time of my life.

If you truly pray and God knows your heart I believe He is able to answer every prayer. God is so wonderful and He answered my prayers. I am still amazed at this great vacation,

my thanks and gratefulness is towards the Lord my God, my brother and sister in law and my daughter.  All of you made this possible for me to take a lifetime vacation, one that I can never ever do on my own.

Lord you are more than I can explain and You are wonderful, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty I am the most grateful person that lives.

Praise and honor to the name of the LORD, Amen

Praise the Lord