Book Reviews

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Thank you - Yvette

Who is Christ?

Firstly Jesus Christ is called the Son of God - Ben Elohim.  So then how are we going to answer this question?  Let us look at some facts, we know that “son of man” depicts a person born of a human.  Then “son of God” depicts a person born of God.

When we look at Job 2 verse 1 “Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.”

It is clear that Satan in a sense must be a son of God, otherwise, he would not have presented himself to God.  Would you agree? 

The Lord Jesus Christ then must have had some kind of consciousness of being a Son of God.  This must have happened sometime during His youth.  This must have taken place around the age of 12 years when he told Mary and Joseph that He was doing the work of His Father in the temple and also that He was doing His Father business.

To confirm that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God lets take a look at Matthew 3 verse 17 “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

And when Jesus was in the desert and Satan tried to test Him we know that the Lord Jesus resisted him.  Matthew 4 verse 3 “Now when the tempter came to Him, he said:  “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

Taking this a little further when Peter was asked who he though the Lord Jesus was he responded:  “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16 verse 15 to 17 “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”  Simon Peter answered and said:  “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Jesus answered and said to him:  “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood have not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

Then looking at Matthew 26 verse 63 to 65 “But Jesus kept silent.  And the high priest answered and said to Him:  “I put You under oath by the living God.  Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”  Jesus said to him:  “It is as you said.  Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”  Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying:  “He has spoken blasphemy!  What further need do we have of witnesses?  Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!”

We see that Jesus doesn’t say that He is the Son of the living God but agrees with the High Priest statement.  He could have defended Himself by saying that He was a son of God in the sense that all men are.  Then He was put under oath and then He declared His Deity, resulting in a death sentence.

Hello World, this Yvette’s Inspirations

Today, as I study the word of God, let's take a look at the following Romans chapter 8 verse 11 “And I the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then He who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through His Spirit who lives in you.”   Sometimes I forget that God is living right inside of me and then I worry about all kind of things.  This scripture just affirmed to me today that I don’t have to fear and that I can focus on God because He is within me.

1 John 4: 18 “There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment.  So then one who fears has not reached perfection in love.”  I am not fearful, really I believe God is with me and that He has given me wisdom, insight, and creativity to carry out my daily tasks.  Praise the Lord my God for being here with me right now.

I am trusting in God to help me with my creativity especially in my writing and my radio program.  Psalms 45 verse 1 “My heart is moved by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.”

Praise be to the Lord God.  Amen

You owe it to your children

Proverbs 29:17 (AMPC)

¹⁷ Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your heart.

When it comes to children we are burned with the responsibility to take care of our children, teach them right from wrong.  Set the example they should be following.  The thing we don’t realize is that each day we set an example.  You swear and curse people when you driving, and when the children follow your example.  You are enraged.  Where did you learn to speak like that?  (From you mom or dad). 

Children I believe are like sponges, they take up everything.  What you say, how you say it, what you do and how you do it.  A splitting image of you dad or mom. 

You need to correct your children, teach them proper manners.  You have heard this “manners make the child.”  I have seen some children act really badly and the parents just nod and wave.  Why?  Have you lost your backbone? 

As a parent take heed and teach your children well.  It will be a good reflection of you one day.  God is watching you and we all will be standing in the throne room giving an account of our works and deeds.  

Directed and established

Psalm 37:23 (AMPC)

²³ The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].

While I sit here reading this scripture I appreciate having my family and friends all around me.  It feels like people actually care about me, the most important part of my life is do I feel the same way when I am with God in my quiet time? 

I believe that I am a compassionate soul and that I do care about people in general, the one thing that is most important to me is that the Lord God is “directing and establishing my ways”.  I want to be part of God’s plan and it is important that I know I am in His will, that He is delighted with the way I conduct myself and keep myself busy.

May I encourage you today, let the Lord God direct and establish your steps, trust in Him.

You are a blessing, thank you for reading my post, in Jesus Christ of Nazareth Name, Amen.

Thank you for viewing my Blog !!

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Cristian, I know I am copying you today, I started to blog in 2010.  My goodness, I received two (2) views and I was over the moon.  I am super impressed with the United States, people living in the USA are my best viewers.  Thank you guys, then my native South Africa, thank you guys, Germany, Russia, and France, wow this is so awesome.  UK, India, Poland, Latvia and Canada, thank you, guys. 

I am a Christian and I like to write daily devotionals, my topics are picking up and I feel confident one of these days I will receive some more comments.

To all my fellow bloggers and especially to the people viewing my blogs, thank you so much, you have made me so confident I actually wrote my first book.  Praise the Lord, you inspire me!

Book Review                    :             Hosting the Supernatural

Author                              :             Nicky van der Westhuizen (Apostle)

Personal Quality Rating   :             5

Reviewer                          :             Yvette van Niekerk

Summary:

Are you looking to grow spiritually?  Do you feel that you have hit “rock bottom?”  Then you should do yourself a favor and purchase this book.  It not only is insightful but teaches you truths from the Word of God.  The author’s personal experiences are portrayed in this book and there are many golden nuggets to be collected in the reading of this book.

The author has the ability to take a scripture and show you the relevance of the scripture and helps you connect the dots. 

Once you start reading this book it will encourage you to study the Word of God (Bible), and I believe it will create a thirst and hunger and craving for a Supernatural encounter in your own life.  As I read the book I realized that I started to crave this awesome and wonderful hunger to grow spiritually.

Social / Historical Context:

The author's message to the World is to reveal a supernatural encounter with the Lord God.  We all know and realize that there are many people interested in the “supernatural” sphere in this world.  What they and we do not realize is that our God is a “Supernatural Being” and we all are connected to God.  

The difference is that when you are born again, you have an added benefit.  You are now able to contact God through the Holy Spirit (who lives within you).  The author wants to guide and give you the necessary keys to unlock the heavenly sphere to empower you as a Christian.  I believe that when I read this book I have taken so much from it, which enables me to understand God’s word and His purpose for my own life.  I feel more empowered and I feel that the author has inspired me to go deeper into the Word (Bible). 

Writing Style:

The author enjoyed writing this book which comes across as being “inspired by the Holy Spirit” to my thinking.  “Hosting the Supernatural” I believe was written in the first person.  The writing style is evocation as well as common place.  As I read the book I felt the author narrates his own personal experiences.

This was to my thinking a well-written book and I also must say very insightful.  As a teaching tool, I would think a person will definitely grow spiritually.  This book is an easy read and the scripture is used in backing up the authors believes.

The aim of this book is to help Christian and Christian Leaders to rise up through the challenges of the day and take their place in this world with great truths and knowledge which will make them a force to be reckoned with.

My Thoughts:

This book was a great investment and I must be honest I enjoyed the read.  I also took the time to do a little Bible study around the topics that were highlighted and I feel confident in that it helped me grow spiritually.

The message in the book is of a positive nature and it will inspire a person positively.  In the course of a couple of weeks, I have come to a conclusion that I am able to see many circumstances in a positive light and my experience are positively charged.

To say the least, I believe the book has inspired me to look at my personal relationship with the Lord and to actually draw closer to the Lord.  It also made me realize that the Lord does want more for me and that I can come to Him with my hearts desires and hopes and dreams.

On purchasing this book, be warned, you may grow spiritually!  Yes, I absolutely enjoyed this book and it is on my bedside table for a referral.

Keep an eye out: 21 May 2017 Daily Devotional Ebenezer will be available.

Yvette van Niekerk is a “stay at home mom” who lives in Emalahleni, South Africa.  She has a Diploma in Ministry and Leadership; Christian Life Training.  She is a committed Christian and always gives. Yvette van Niekerk is a “stay at home mom” who lives in Emalahleni, South Africa.  She has a Diploma in Ministry and Leadership; Christian Life Training.  She is a committed Christian and always gives of her very best.  She is married to Andus and lives with him and his two children.   She has three of her own children and three granddaughters. 

She published with Carpe Diem Media’ “Women who believe (Vroue wat glo)” an article in the publication 2014 and published a number of articles for an Insurance Company on their blog site.  She is an active member in her church teaching Sunday school.  She was a secretary and enjoyed writing reports and taking minutes. 

Yvette has a friendly disposition and loves Daily Devotionals.  She is constantly looking for something challenging and inspiring.  She is very passionate about the Word (Bible) and has been referred to as a Fanatic.  She constantly speaks of the Lord and will bring this into her conversations timely and untimely.  She is passionate about people and is constantly trying to improve her own life.  She struggles with dyslexia and has to constantly check her written articles.  Nothing is too great or too small from her point of view.  She dreams of being famous and traveling the world, winning souls for the Lord Jesus.f her very best.  She is married to Andus and lives with him and his two children.   She has three of her own children and three granddaughters. 

She published with Carpe Diem Media’ “Women who believe (Vroue wat glo)” an article in the publication 2014 and published a number of articles for an Insurance Company on their blog site.  She is an active member in her church teaching Sunday school.  She was a secretary and enjoyed writing reports and taking minutes. 

Yvette has a friendly disposition and loves Daily Devotionals.  She is constantly looking for something challenging and inspiring.  She is very passionate about the Word (Bible) and has been referred to as a Fanatic.  She constantly speaks of the Lord and will bring this into her conversations timely and untimely.  She is passionate about people and is constantly trying to improve her own life.  She struggles with dyslexia and has to constantly check her written articles.  Nothing is too great or too small from her point of view.  She dreams of being famous and traveling the world, winning souls for the Lord Jesus.

Book Review: A Most Peculiar Circumstance

Book Review                          :           A Most Peculiar Circumstance

Author                                     :           Jen Turano

Personal Quality Rating         :           5

[The “Personal Quality Rating” is a score that I give to the book on a scale of 0 to 5 based on my personal liking/disliking of the book.  0 is bad and 5 is great!]

Reviewer                                 :           Yvette van Niekerk

Summary:

This Historical Romance Novel is written using the setting of the New York City.  The story starts with a beautiful young woman who finds herself in a peculiar position.  Arabella Beckett is in jail in Gilman with a young lady she rescued from precarious men.  A private detective comes to her and Miss James rescue.  The private detective and Miss Beckett don’t agree on anything and sparks fly at the onset of their meeting.

Miss Beckett who stands up for the Suffrage movement considers Mr. Theodore Wilder a bit of old-fashioned and set in his ways.  From the beginning of the story the two of them are at loggerheads and don’t find any common ground.  The reason for the private investor was to bring Miss Beckett back to New York City.

The characters in the story are so funny the author really knows how to get you laughing out load, I truly enjoyed the read.  The plot thickens and the story gets truly interesting with the ladies of the night and evil human traffickers.

Social / Historical Context:

As we have established this is a Historical-Christian romance.  The writer wants to narrate the struggle of women in 1800’s.  Focusing on women rights and this, of course, causes great trouble.  The woman is influenced by her and their husbands blame Arabella for the change in their wives.

The writer's imagination is wonderful and I like the chivalry that she brings into play.  The gentlemen crack me up, their naughty antics and mannerisms.  Even the prostitutes are hilariously funny.

I feel that I have learned so much from this storytelling, the time was when women didn’t have much of a say.  Still, the men respected them and treated them properly, the good nature of the people are evident in how they wanted to help each other and stand up for each other.

Writing Style:

I believe the writing style is commonplace and a little evocation.  The writer is narrating the 1800 and the progress the women were making.  There is a plot to the story which uncovers some doggy happenings, and even uncovers a gang of people involved in human trafficking.  The plot thickens and the two main characters Theodor and Arabella are so interesting and funny and adorable all at the same time.  Once you start reading the story, you just cannot put the book down. 

My Own thoughts:

I fell in love with Arabella from the very beginning, she is spontaneous, funny and a real live wire.  Her life is interesting and she is such an outgoing personality.  Once you get into the story you just cannot wait to see what she gets up to next.  Her vivacious and exciting personality is so catching and inspiring.  I admire the way the write, writes and her vocabulary is absolutely fantastic.  Creating a desire within myself to learn how to speak such beautifully in English.

For the romantic and people interested in reading the 1800’s stories this is a definite yes, you will truly enjoy it.  I must say this was such a beautiful story.

How do I know that I am one of the elect?

Let us look what the scripture says about this John 6 verses 37 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition “All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me].”   Also looking at John 6 verses 44 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition “No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.”  Still in John 6 going to verses 65 “And He said:  “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted him [unless he is enabled to do so] by the Father.” 

Don’t loose heart carry on reading John 10 verses 6 to 29 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition “Jesus used this parable (illustration) with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about.  So Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that I Myself am the Door for the sheep.  All others who came [as such] before Me are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not listen to and obey them.  I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live).  He will come in and he will go out [freely] and will find pasture.  The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).  I am the Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep.  But the hired servant (he who merely serves for wages) who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away.  And the wolf chases and snatches them and scatters [the flock].  Now the hireling flees because he merely serves for wages and is not himself concerned about the sheep [cares nothing for them].  I am the Good Shepherd, and I know and recognize My own, and My own know and recognize Me – Even as [truly as] the Father owes Me and I also know the Father – and I am giving My [very own] life and laying it down on behalf of the sheep.  And I have other sheep [besides these] that are not of this fold.  I must bring and impel those also, and they will listen to My voice and heed My call, and so there will be [they will become] one flock under one Shepherd.  For this [reason] the Father loves Me because I lay down My [own] life – to take it back again.  No one takes it away from Me.  On the contrary, I lay it down voluntarily.  [I put if from Myself].  I am authorized and have the power to lay it down (to resign it) and I am authorized and have the power to take it back again.  These are the instructions (orders) which I have received [as My charge] from My Father.  Then a fresh division of opinion arose among the Jews because of His saying these things.  And many of them said, He has a demon and He is mad (insane – He raves, He rambles).  Why do you listen to Him?  Others argued, these are not the thoughts and the language of one possessed.  Can a demon-possessed person open blind eyes?  After this, the Feast of Dedication [of the reconsecration of the temple] was taking place in Jerusalem.  It was winter, and Jesus was walking in Solomon’s Porch in the temple area.  So the Jews surrounded Him and began asking Him, How long are You going to keep us in doubt and suspense?  If You are really the Christ (the Messiah), tell us so plainly and openly.  Jesus answered them: I have told you so, yet you do not believe Me [you do not trust Me and rely on Me].  The very works that I do by the power of My Father and in My Father’s name bear witness concerning Me [they are My credentials and evidence in support of Me].  But you do not believe and trust and rely on Me because you do not belong to My fold [you are no sheep of Mine].  The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages.  [To all eternity they shall never by any means e destroyed].  And on one is able to snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all[else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father’s hand.”

The chosen are the men and women and children that have accepted the Lord Jesus as their savior who follows Him.  They know His voice and want to please Him.  If you were not chosen you would not be reading God’s Word, and you also wouldn’t be concerned about your salvation.  Remember the people that call onto Jesus for salvation will be saved – He receives them and He doesn’t turn them away.  Our salvation is eternal and secure (1 Peter 1: 3-5).

Proclaim the Good News, you are saved.

A burning issue … to spank or not to spank your child?

Proverbs 3:12 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

¹² For whom the Lord loves He corrects, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

I see that in our society that we “do not spank” our children because they have rights.  The sad thing I believe is that we are cultivating a society of undisciplined spoilt brats.  I have attended a couple of school meetings and it is obvious that the children have more say than the adults or teachers.  

They become rioters when they do not get their way.  

Hmm, something is very wrong with this picture.  What happens to our respect for the people in authority?  What happened to the respect for our elders and parents?  The teacher doesn't even get the necessary respect.

We are failing our children dismally, it is such a sad story but they have no consequences.  Tell me why don’t we step up to the plate and act righteously with our children?  Are we afraid of them?  Why do we let them get away with murder?

Shamefully, we allow these things, we actually don’t care about them.  We say that its part of growing up and they will mature and get over it.  My question to you Mom and Dad, will they really get over it?  You set the example and your standards have they dropped?  Why? 

Being mediocre and living a mediocre life is okay, what happen to my best every day?  What happens to been proud of my work?  What happened to been the best I can be wherever I go?

Shame, shame, shame on you mom and dad.  Shame.  We should stop and take a look at who we have become and start setting the record straight.  Be that example your children look up to and make them proud.