"eat that frog."

by Yvette van Niekerk

Mark 1: 35 ESV

Jesus Preaches in Galilee

"And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed."

I hate making my bed, but I have learned when I get out of bed and not yet left my bedroom, I can tackle making my bed. It makes me feel accomplished. I know that sound silly, but I do. My bedroom looks tidy and neat, and I feel I can start my day.

Have you ever read Brian Tracy's book "Eat that frog!"? I have, and it changed my perspective on life.  I read Mark Twain, said: "if you ever have to eat a live frog, it's best done first thing in the morning." Yuck, it must be dreadful, but it is good advice. Because you can go through the rest of your day knowing the most solid task is behind you.

So, if I want God to do the super, I'll need to do the natural. That says I'll need to get started, praying first thing each morning. 

So, how we start our day sets the tone for the rest of it, yet many of us never give the morning a second through beyond getting out the door on time.

We see the Lord Jesus making the most of the early part of each day. Mark 1 give one example: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." On another occasion before appointing his disciples in the morning, he prayed all night. Now, what's that one thing you least like to do, but you feel best about afterwards? That's your frog. It's often the hardest, task to establish, but it pays the biggest dividends.

Prayer

Lord God, we pray for Your supernatural favour in our lives today, please help us take charge of our lives. By first speaking to You each morning, then tackling our day. Bless each of us with Your hand of supernatural favour. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love in Action

by Yvette van Niekerk

"Gracious speech is like clover honey - good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body." Proverbs 16: 24 MSG

"Here is a simple rule of thumb for behaviour: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that." Luke 6: 31 - 34 MSG

"Love is not a feeling, its an act of your will." Do you agree with me when it comes to the meaning of Love? I believe love is all about what we are doing for each other, it involves actions. I am reminded that love costs us something.

Key elements of love

1. Love is a kind of actions.
2. Spending quality time together.
3. Speaking loving words.
4. Being Thoughtful with presents.
5. Physical affection

Does any of the above communicate love more effectively to you? I realise my communication of love is different from the way my husband understands love and receives it.

Love is a kind of action. We express love through serving our partners, through seeking to meet their needs in a specific way. Ask your partner what kinds of actions are most meaningful to them.

Spending quality time together. I love it when my husband just comes and sits with me. We don't have to touch each other or talk but his there with me. Then when we are all alone we are able to talk together, and when he takes me on a date night eating together is so much fun.

We all know that words can kill anything if they aren't used in the right way. Loving words have great power and in building my husband I'm built. Speak kindly to each other. I know my husband loves hearing words of affirmation as it allows him to feel appreciated.

I know my husband loves to eat "biltong" its dried meat and he enjoys the taste and I love buying some for him when he doesn't expect it. Every day is a special occasion to my mind so I try and do this as often as I can. 

I actually never really think about touching my husband, but I have come to realise he needs me to put my hand on his shoulder or just touch his back when I sit with him. I believe he feels loved when I show him affection. As a rule, we always walk around the shopping centre holding hands, I like the security of his strong hands over mine. I love it when he just gives me a kiss out of nowhere. There are other things that show affection such as lovemaking, sexual foreplay and a back massage every now and then are always a good idea.

Marriages are always interesting and we need to build our marriages. The sad part is people are living in a "throwaway society" there is nothing we cannot replace, even our marriages can fall into this category. 

Prayer

Father God, today I want to pray and ask that You will guide each one of us when it comes to our spouses. Give each one of us wisdom and insight and most of all understanding. Remind each one of us that we all are people, we all struggle with emotions, our personalities differ, our desires and frustrations are different. Lord help us to remember out spouses are people we genuinely care for and love that is why we married them in the first place. Bless each marriage today, give us the love we need to share with each other. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Invest 1st in Yourself!

by Yvette van Niekerk

Have you heard Warren Buffet's quote, "The best investment you will ever make is in yourself?"

Psalm 51: 7 - 17 MSG

"Soak me in your laundry, and I'll come out clean, scrub me, and I'll have a snow-white life. Tune me into foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don't look too close for blemishes give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don't throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from grey exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I'll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.  Unbutton my lips, dear God; I'll let loose with your praise."

I was thinking of how counterintuitive and selfish this statement is, but then I realised that the Lord Jesus also first spent time investing in himself before in us. 

Listen to what the Lord Jesus says in Matthew 11 verse 28 to 30 MSG "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me, and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me, and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

The Lord Jesus calls this the "unforced rhythms of grace." "Come to me." 

My priority and main purpose these days is to spend time with the Lord. Looking at what the Lord Jesus has done in one day:  Jesus was always investing in others. He was constantly pouring out. Jesus went from preaching in the synagogue to casting out a demon, healing a sick friend, and at sundown, ministering to the entire city gathered at His door, read Mark 1: 21 - 34. What I realised that He always spent time in the presence of the Father before He poured out to the people. Time praying, listening, and refuelling. Mark 1: 35 "very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolated place and there he prayed."

The Lord Jesus also invited His disciples into His unforced rhythm of grace. We read in Mark 6 verse 31 - 32 ESV "And he said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest awhile.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat."

So I am trying to equip myself so that I can give to others. How can I do this, I need to rest spiritually, physically, and mentally.  If my vessel is empty how can I pour anything out?

I want to check with you, are you investing in yourself daily and are you spending time with the Lord? Investing in your soul is necessary.

Prayer

Father God, today I commit myself into Your hands, O Lord, I hear You singing over me. I am so grateful to spend time in Your presence. I love and worship You, fill me with Your Holy Spirit and cleanse me so that I am acceptable to You Lord. I worship and praise You, You are my provider, my Salvation and my King. Please, Lord, I pray for my family, calling out their names before Your throne, salvation to each person that doesn't have a personal relationship with You. In Jesus Christ's Name, Amen.

Trust - I know it is developed over time.

Isaiah 26: 4 ESV "Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

I have allowed trying situations this past couple of months to come my way, and it frustrated me, and I was so upset. And to top it off, I thought, "I'm believing God. I'm trusting God." When I didn't speak right, worry about everything, grumble and cry.

I honestly believe through my anxiety and my panic-stricken heart, my words didn't match my actions. I realized trusting God has to be more than just words, attitudes and action.

Going forward I know trusting in God is possible it's just I've been off my game, or better yet my mojo was completely off. I have allowed circumstance in my life to cloud my judgement. Of course, my emotional state has a huge part to play when it comes to how I have reacted. To say the least, I realise worry is a waste of time, and I must turn my attention to God.

Prayer

O Heavenly, Father, please forgive me for constantly worrying about things I have no control of. You are always there for me, draw me closer to You today, I am confessing I have turned away from You. Forgive me and please let me draw closer to You, in Jesus Christ name. Amen