Building character ….

Hello Darlings you must have been wondering why I have been M.I.A for a couple of days.  My goodness it has been hectic at home.  As a “Home Executive” I rise at 05h00 week days and go to bed at 22h00.  You must say ah, what on earth can keep you busy all day?  I must be honest and tell you there is a lot of work when you have to clean, cook, wash and iron.  The maintenance of our home is hectic and I must be honest the two younger children aren’t very good at keeping to the rules.  

Now this evening is the first time in a couple of weeks that I have been able to come and sit down behind my computer and write something.

As a wife, stepmother, mother and grandmother I have to be on my best behaviour constantly and it is hard work.  My own children believe I am the best mum they will ever have, my stepchildren don’t really like me at the moment as they are learning manners, cleaning house and doing homework.  My grandchildren are still to tiny to understand me.  As a wife I hope and believe that my husband loves me for who I am.  

My own characterises are something like this:

I am stubborn, demanding and very arrogant, working constantly towards my own goals and purposes. I don’t want to compromise or negotiate I want my way.

I love the finer things in life and things that appeal to my sense not forgetting that I can be critical at times.

I hate being manipulated or tricked.

I am constantly analysing my relationship in order to know my next move.

Being honest is something I live by.

I am constantly looking to broaden my horizons and I believe that my dreams and hopes will be realised.

My surrounding must be peaceful and quiet.

Then I was thinking of the Lord my God, looking at God’s character and want to grow spiritually.

Now as far as my knowledge goes I know that God is omnipotent, all-knowing, everlasting and everywhere.

Purity – Holiness, Righteousness and Justice

I know that there is no trace of evil or wickedness within God

Deuteronomy 32: 4 ‘He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.’

Psalms 33: 4, 5 ‘For the word of the LORD is right and all His work is done in truth.  He love righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.’

1 John 1: 5 ‘This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.’

Integrity – Geniuses, Veracity and Faithfulness

John 14: 6 ‘Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.”

Titus 1: 2 ‘This faith and knowledge make us sure that we have eternal life. God promised that life to us before time began—and God does not lie.’

1 Thessalonians 5: 24 ‘The one who chose you will do that for you. You can trust him.’

Love – Benevolence, Grace, Mercy, Persistence

1 John 4: 8 ‘The one who chose you will do that for you. You can trust him.’

John 3: 16 ‘ Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life.’

Exodus 34: 6 ‘That is, the Lord passed in front of Moses and said, “Yahweh, the Lord, is a kind and merciful God. He is slow to become angry. He is full of great love. He can be trusted.’

Psalm 103: 13 ‘The Lord is as kind to his followers as a father is to his children.’

Romans 2: 4 ‘God has been kind to you. He has been very patient, waiting for you to change. But you think nothing of his kindness. Maybe you don’t understand that God is kind to you so that you will decide to change your lives.’

Think about this we must be concerned for one another’s welfare – benevolence.  Do undeserved favours for your neighbour – grace.  Mercy – so tender-heartedness and compassion towards others. Persist and be patient. 

Father God humbly I come before You this evening and I want to pray about my writing, Lord should this be Your will for me to write about Your character please give me the necessary wisdom and understanding to share with my fellow bloggers.  By teaching me and other more about You Lord, I want to say thank you Lord.  Lord bless my blog and help me not to write rubbish but help me to write more to the point and may Your Holy Spirit help me speak the truth.  I ask this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour.

God is turning my Hopeless situations around

Hezekiah’s Illness: 

Old Testament

Isaiah 38: 1 – 5

“In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death.  The prophet Isaiah Son of Amoz went to him and said, ‘this is what the LORD says:  “Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”  Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, “Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.”  And Hezekiah wept bitterly. The word of the LORD came to Isaiah: “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says:  I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.”

Are you facing a hopeless situation?  Well to be honest I feel that I am facing a hopeless situation; the place I live in does not have work for white woman.  I am not playing the race card here but the fact of the matter is that there aren’t many opportunities if you are a white woman in the community.  I have noticed also that should you find a position you have to eat humble pie and take whatever they are offering because they know there are more than a half of dozen women wanting to work.

Looking at this scripture I have come to realise that God is still merciful even though HE had decided that Hezekiah’s end was in sight.  God saw what Hezekiah did.  Hezekiah didn’t ask the Prophet Isaiah to please stand in the gap for him and make atonement for him.  No, Hezekiah turned his back on the prophet and he prayed.  Looking to the wall where he focused his attention solely on the Lord God.

What happened when Hezekiah prayed and wept bitterly?  God saw his prayer and tears.  God said to the prophet go and tell Hezekiah ‘I have heard your prayer and seen your tears, I will add fifteen years to your life.’  My goodness, God changed His mind around Hezekiah.  He gave Hezekiah another fifteen years to live.

With this in mind I know that God has heard my prayers and seen my tears.  I know that He will open opportunities for me and His supernatural favour rest on me this year.  I believe that nothing is impossible with my God.  I don’t have to worry how, where or what.  God is in control and He will open the right doors for me.  

Father God, humbly I pray about my own hopeless situation, I ask Lord that You will open the right doors for me, Lord giving me the supernatural favour I need to face each day, blessing me with Your grace and mercy and I ask Lord for the necessary wisdom and insight.  I am preparing to go onto a course and I need to learn the material beforehand.  I pray Lord for the wisdom and understanding and I ask You Lord to give me the ability I need to pass this.

Thank you Father God, in the Holy Name of Your Son Jesus Christ.  Amen

Goals for my life 2013

2013 Goals for Yvette van Niekerk's life
1)      Draw near to the Lord Jesus Christ – Lord create within me an appetite of spending time in Your presence.
2)      Spend at least 15 minutes each day in the presence of the Lord.
3)      Take 15 minutes each day and organise stuff I cannot get time for.
4)      Build my relationship with my Husband and stepchildren.
5)      I want to become a Freelance Content writer.
6)      A permanent job.
7)      Be an extravagant giver and bless the people in need around me.

Monsters

Proverbs 4: 33 ‘The LORD’S curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.’

Darlings today is Christmas and there are monsters around us, monsters of loneliness, of heartache and pain.  Come into the Lord’s presence and pray with me that the Holy Spirit will fill your hearts and minds, draw near to the Lord and see how He will lift you up today.  May you enjoy a day filled with love, peace, happiness and most of all fellowship with people close to you.  May you enjoy the company of someone special in your life today. 

Lord Jesus, in humbleness I pray for the blessings on my home, I pray Lord for Your Holy Spirit to come and live in my heart.  Lord I dedicate my husband and children into Your hands and I dedicate my own life into Your hands.  Lord praying for the people who are facing monsters of loneliness, monsters of heartache and monsters of pain.  Take these monsters away and fill them with Your Love today, giving them peace and happiness, kindness and love.  In the Holy Name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen

Christmas day, 25 December 2012 07h30 RSA

Yvette van Niekerk - 3 September 2010

Micah 5: 2 - 5a ‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.  Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labour gives birth and the rest of his brothers’ return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his GOD.  And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth, and he will be their peace.’

Shalom my darlings, its Christmas morning and the house is quiet the kids are asleep, my husband is asleep.  Birdie is signing in her little cage, the dogs are still sleeping.  I have been up since 5h00 this morning, I wanted to make the potato salad for today, wash the dishes of last night and tidy up the house before we leave for the day to see my own children and family.  Outside the winds is blowing through the trees, I see the branches moving up and down and I can hear the rustling of the wind through the leaves.  I opened the doors so that fresh air can come into the house, it a refreshing morning.

Reading this morning’s devotion I have come to realise that this time of year is very, very sad for many people.  I had a job last week and yesterday I was told ‘sorry your contract has expired and we will let you know if something comes up in the new year’.  I was devastated it seemed my whole world crashed in around me.  I called Andus and was really crying my heart out; we have bills to pay and all kinds of things.  But this morning in humble prayer I came into the presence of the LORD my God.  I don’t know what my future holds for me and yes I don’t have a job and I am not sure how I will meet all my payments.  This is difficult but I have hope, and I believe in God, I believe the Lord Jesus Christ will lead me in the path I should take.  I stand on the word of God and I take hold of it this morning. 

 

With a firm belief in my heart I entrust my life and finances into the hands of my Lord Jesus Christ.  I will stand on God’s word this morning as He is my income, He said that He would provide according to my needs.

Darlings take heart and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, as we face each day there will be difficult times and it will seem there is no way out.  As I come to you with nothing and I know I cannot help you I do want to encourage you to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.  We have the opportunity to go to Him in humble prayer and wait at His feet.  The Lord loves you and me, God sent His only begotten son to die on a cross for our sins so that we may join Him in heaven.  

Father God in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ Your Son I submit my life into Your hands today.  I want to dedicate my life and the lives of all the people around the world who are facing a difficult time.  A child whose mother is drunk and has not taken care of them, an abuse father who comes home angry and frustrated and beats everybody.  A young girl pregnant and not sure how she will make it going forward.  A lost child someone who cannot go home because life is too difficult to face with the family.  A dying spouse not sure if they made the grade and will be going to heaven.  A person who lost their jobs and aren’t sure if they will make ends meet.  Father the list is endless but in humility Lord I want to bring each heartache and pain into Your presence this morning.  Lord I want to ask You to please lift us up.  Help each one of us as we face today.  Give us the peace, love, kindness, humbleness and charity we need to face today.  Lord gives all of us the assurance that no matter what happens You are there with us.  In Proverbs 3: 6 I come to You Lord and in all my ways I want to acknowledge You, and because I believe in You Lord Jesus I know You will make all my paths straight.

May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ fill your hearts and minds, may your Christmas be joyful and happy and may the supernatural favour of our Lord Jesus Christ sit on You today and the rest of this year.  May an abundant bless come to You with these supernatural favours, with hearts changed and love to follow you all the days of Your life.  God Bless You today, merry Christmas!  Amen