The leftovers

Mark 7: 28 - 30

"Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone."

I know I mess up each and every day. Doing worse the day before. I believe I won't make it through today without making an error. But I really try. Why do I keep on failing? I believe because I am a woman, and human.

I think about the faith of a Syrophoenician Woman, she approached the Lord Jesus hoping that He would heal her daughter who was demon-possessed. She spoke to the Lord Jesus and didn't the feeling of "entitlement" no she said that even the dogs eat the crumbs under the table. She didn't believe that she was "entitled" to receive anything from Jesus.

She was happy to receive any leftovers there may be for her. I look at this and I believe we live in a society of "entitled people." It's my right to get this and the other. Seriously?

What happened to be grateful for the things we have. Who are we to think that we are entitled to anything we have?

Lord Jesus Christ, I am a sinful person and I slip up most of the time, You know me better than I know myself.  Lord, please forgive me for being so stiffnecked at times, so stubborn and so full of nonsense.

Please Lord, forgive me the sins I know of and those I am unaware of. I dedicate my life into Your hands today. I am happy Lord to receive the leftovers from Your table. In faith, I believe You are able to give me my hearts desires. In the name of Jesus Christ amen

The Power Of God's Love

Matthew 25: 37 - 40 ESV

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 

"Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, 

or thirsty and give you drink? 

And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, 

or naked and clothe you? 

And when did we see you sick 

or in prison and visit you?" 

And the King will answer them, 

"Truly, I say to you, 

as you di's it to one of the least of these, 

my brothers, you did it to me."

I believe the power of God's love works through you and me. We have the ability to help and serve other people. We can identify a need and help that person. Sometimes we don't have the ability but we do know people who do. Then we should help people. 

I am not working right now and I have started up my own little business, I bake cakes and I was under the impression I won't be that busy. God sure has been faithful and boy have I been busy every week. 

Lord please help me to help Your people, in Jesus Christs name amen

Please Lord, help me to be more forgiving

1 John 2: 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."

Today, Lord I come into Your presence and I want to pray about my own life. Lord I don't want to hate anybody in my life. There are people that irritate me and people that I am angry with today and as I pray about my own life. It is clear to me that I am struggling with hate the root to my unforgiveness right now.

You know the two people I truly despise and cannot stand. Lord, this evening I come humbly before You and I pray to forgive me. I have sinned against YOU Lord and them. Lord, I forgive them and I set them free in Jesus Christ name. Lord, I come asking You to please forgive me. I have been struggling forever with these feelings and I am asking You forgive me. I forgive them and set them free. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Learning how to change the way I see myself.

Someone says something to me and I respond but that's just the way I am.  I want to change my perspective of myself and the best way forward I believe is to improve on my way of thinking. The Word says that we need to renew our minds and I think this renewing has to take place daily. I know I have been referred to as not the "sharpest knife in the draw." The funny thing is I have accepted these comments.

Enough! God has a plan for my life, I cannot stay where I am because people feel they have the right to judge me. I know I am a work in progress, God is changing me each day a little at a time. I feel I want to be flexible and adaptable in God's hands. He is the one forming me right now.

Judgment is something I struggle with, I can see someone and I know what their problem is and I have already made up my mind about them. I actually judged them. O my word. I know and realize the God has begun a good work in me and will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

I am so grateful the Lord has not given up on me He will never throw me out. Jeremiah 18 verses 4 says "The clay was marred, so He made it again." God didn't discard the clay He made it again. Amen.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 verses 10 "I am what I am by the grace of God." So guess what God is making me by His grace, this is who I am. O wow, note this I am a work of art, I am God's work of grace.

Praise the Lord, Jesus Christ He is so patient with me. Amen

When God moves people, for me.

Psalm 9: 1 – 4

“To the Choirmaster: According to Muth-Labben. A Psalm of David.

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence. For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.”

I have come to realize something significant in my own life today. I have seen how people in high positions have been doing what they can to stop me from working. The first person moved and there was the opening for me. Then for the last couple of weeks, I had been told without a doubt that I am going home and the job will not be offered to me again.

I become tearful and unhappy because I am in need of my job and with my cash, I am able to help someone. So I resided at the thought that well I’m out and that’s that. Well then before the month closes the person who was adamant that I leave was suddenly move away. Out of the position to throw me out of my own job. I was glad to hear they are moving up in life which meant I could possibly keep my job. Then I was asked would I consider staying on.

I don’t believe God opens doors just to allow people to come and shut them in your face. Something is very clear = you cannot close a door the LORD God opens for you. When God wants you to be at a specific place He will make sure you remain there until your job is done.

I am so grateful that I am able to service my God. Lord Jesus thank You once again for opening this door wide. Thank You, so much for my blessings, and I am grateful that You remember me in my heart broken time. Amen

RELATED RESOURCES:
Join in today with a one-minute scripture, and a personal inspirational message, and prayer, with Yvette van Niekerk's book, Daily Devotional Ebenezer. Order your eBook copy here today.

CONNECT:
You can follow along with Yvette van Niekerk at her blog, Google G+

 and on Instagram.

Inspired by today’s devotion? Share it with someone!

Other sites you may want to follow me: 

New Releases

Kellan Publishing

Pinterest

Twitter

LinkedIn

Unwholesome words!

Ephesians 4:29 (AMP)

²⁹ Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak]. 

I find that most people are profane, they don't care what they say and swearing is part of their daily vocabulary. How sad, that we cannot speak to each other with wholesome words. Instead, it's so cool to swear and use vulgar words.

What happened to be civil with each other and what happened to people being kind and understanding, having patience and compassion for each other. Are we so caught up in our own little world that we cannot be kind and civil any longer?

People grumble and moan all the time, on one shows that they are grateful and the best is they have so much to be grateful over.

I listen to people speaking to their spouse or partners and my word there is no civility, being married makes the way we speak to our loved ones even worse.

Lord, please place a guard over my mouth, stop me from being vulgar and stop me from saying profane words. I want to honour You in my way of life. Amen

Pray from your heart!

Matthew 6:5 (AMP)

⁵ “Also, when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to pray [publicly] standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets so that they may be seen by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full."

I have come to realise that lately, I have been reciting a prayer each and every day, I haven't really been praying from my heart.  Sadly this has placed me in a difficult position making me feel inadequate and without direction.

I have been so busy with all kinds of things keeping me from really expressing my hearts feelings and thoughts. 

Preaching to myself this afternoon, humbly coming before the LORD, bring my heartfelt desires and expressing my feelings. I have realised that I have been burning the candle both side and I am facing a burnout.

Exhaustion is creeping up on me and I feel hopeless at times because I have no real source of connection to the LORD. I am reading the Word praying prayers but not heartfelt ones.

O LORD, my LORD, humbly I express my regret of not speaking to You openly and honestly. I have been keeping myself so busy and this has resulted in my becoming overtired and drained. I have lost my passion and missed the point long ago. The best part is LORD, You stay faithful to me, constantly being here for me. How blessed I feel in this knowledge that You have not failed me once. Thank You LORD Jesus Amen

RELATED RESOURCES:
Join in today with a one-minute scripture, and a personal inspirational message, and prayer, with Yvette van Niekerk's book, Daily Devotional Ebenezer. Order your eBook copy here today.

CONNECT:
You can follow along with Yvette van Niekerk at her blog, Google G+

 and on Instagram.

Inspired by today’s devotion? Share it with someone!

Other sites you may want to follow me: 

New Releases

Kellan Publishing

Pinterest

Twitter

LinkedIn

June was a stress filled month for me:

Psalm 37: 5 "Commit your way to the LORD, trust in Him, and he will act."

It's been a difficult month for me, I have committed my way to the LORD, in the hope that I will continue to work. I have so many responsibilities and I would hate to drop the people who are depending on me.

I feel hopeful and believe that nothing is impossible with God and actually if all turns out the way I think it will, I should be continuing with my work.

God has never let me down in the past I don't think He will be doing this going forward.

I have a number of projects running and I believe God is working on my behalf.

Prayer

Humbly O, LORD my God I take refuge in You, I know there are people standing against me and is pushing with all their might to get rid of me. LORD as King David prayed in Psalm 7 I come humbly in prayer asking that YOU LORD, will help me. O LORD my GOD, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands, if I have repaid my friends with evil or plundered my enemy without cause, let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah

But in humility LORD, arise, in Your anger, lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.

The LORD judges the peoples, judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.

In the Name of the LORD Jesus Christ, I cry out to YOU. Amen

RELATED RESOURCES:
Join in today with a one-minute scripture, and a personal inspirational message, and prayer, with Yvette van Niekerk's book, Daily Devotional Ebenezer. Order you eBook copy here today.

CONNECT:
You can follow along with Yvette van Niekerk at her blog, Google G+

 and on Instagram.

Inspired by today’s devotion? Share it with someone!

Other sites you may want to follow me: 

New Releases

Kellan Publishing

Pinterest

Twitter

LinkedIn

Scripture for Friday

Psalm 37:3 (AMP)

3 

Trust [rely on and have confidence] in the Lord and do good;

Dwell in the land and feed [securely] on His faithfulness.

Lord, You know how I feel about people who act like hooligans, they just cannot stop themselves and think its quite all right.

I know Your word says we should pray for them. I also know that we all will give a report on what we have done in our lives. Please, Lord, help me get over this and move forward in Jesus Christ's name. Amen

Are you expecting to be disappointed?

Zechariah 9: 12

"Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double."

Are you expecting to be disappointed? I think that we should not think in terms of disappointment. I am expecting God to give me hope and a future. I am expecting good things to follow me all the days of my life. I am putting my hope in the Lord.

When I think of the Lord Jesus I expect only good things to follow me because He died on the cross for my sins. I believe that Jesus is in control over my life and He came to save me. He called me by my name and I belong to Him.

You know the devil comes with lies and he whispers them in your ear all day long. Telling you that you won't make it and nothing good can ever come your way. All lies I tell you, we should turn our focus to the Lord Jesus, He loves us and will answer all our prayers.

Lord Jesus, thank You for today, for my friends and family. I am expecting double for my trouble and Lord I am grateful that You hear my prayers. Lord, I think of my family and friends and I dedicate each person into Your hands today. Bless each one of us with a double for our trouble, Lord You know our coming and our going. Lord when we lay down and when we get up. We cannot work without You, guide each one of us and take this expectation of disappointment away and replace it Lord with an expectation of double for my trouble in Jesus Christ name Amen

Order your eBook copy here today.

RELATED RESOURCES:
Join in today with a one-minute scripture, and a personal inspirational message, and prayer, with Yvette van Niekerk's book, Daily Devotional Ebenezer. Order your eBook copy here today.

CONNECT:
You can follow along with Yvette van Niekerk at her blog, Google G+

 and on Instagram.

Inspired by today’s devotion? Share it with someone!

Other sites you may want to follow me: 

New Releases

Kellan Publishing

Pinterest

Twitter

LinkedIn

Scripture for Sunday - advancing on to maturity and perfection and spiritual completeness

Hebrews 6:1 (AMP)

The Peril of Falling Away

6 Therefore let us get past the elementary stage in the teachings about the Christ, advancing on to maturity and perfection and spiritual completeness, [doing this] without laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 

RELATED RESOURCES:
Join in today with a one-minute scripture, and a personal inspirational message, and prayer, with Yvette van Niekerk's book, Daily Devotional Ebenezer. Order your eBook copy here today.

CONNECT:
You can follow along with Yvette van Niekerk at her blog, Google G+

 and on Instagram.

Inspired by today’s devotion? Share it with someone!

Other sites you may want to follow me: 

New Releases

Kellan Publishing

Pinterest

Twitter

LinkedIn