Yvette's Whispers of Faith

by Yvette van Niekerk Joshua 1: 9 (GNT) 9 "Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for I, the LORD your God, am with you wherever you go." For many years I have allowed people to influence me, making me feel inadequate and not worthy. I didn't have confidence in my own life. I worried that I couldn't do much and felt very discouraged. I divorced when I was in my late thirties and remarried in my late forties. My husband allowed me to expand my horizons, and I began to feel confident. I am learning new things and exploring new avenues. I started focusing on my strengths, and I saw that when I baked a cake, I would rate myself as a 3 (under average), but as I progressed I realised, I am learning more about the art of baking I feel confident that I have now reached level 7 (better than average). I am aspiring to become a 10 (excellent) with baking cakes. God created me to excel at wha...

by Yvette van Niekerk 80% of the married couple are separating or divorces because of emotional unhealth in their marriage. I think it's because we all have pasts and are both bringing some baggage into a new relationship. Some sound advice found in the Bible that we may follow when seeking a life partner. I must tell you that I agree with this one in Proverbs. I used to be married to a furious man. It turns out I have adopted his anger and can lash out in seconds. Of course, I am working on my attitude and my temper, but yes, I agree with this Proverbs. Number One:   Don't marry someone who nurses an uncontrolled temper. Proverbs 22 verse 24 (NIV) says, "Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person; do not associate with one easily angered." I know I struggle with deep insecurities, and I suffer from low self-worth. Number Two: Don't marry someone who is struggling with an addiction. Proverbs 23 verse 20 (TEV) says "Don't associa...

by Yvette van Niekerk Mommy, Odette and Didi and Carla and Dante and Zelda and all my friends, I want to wish you all a wonderfully blessed day, filled with love and laughter. This year is the first time we could not celebrate Mother's Day together; it sure is terrible. It is difficult and hard not to get together and visit. May you all have a lovely Blessed day, enjoying the people around with you. Love you to the moon and back, may the Lord bless you, richly. Y vette van Niekerk Get your copy of Daily Devotional Ebenezer Follow me on my Kellan Publishing author page, my blog at Yvette van Niekerk   or Kellan Publishing ; Facebook ; Twitter ; LinkedIn ; Instagram ; Pinterest ; Stumble Upon ; God’s Orchid

by Yvette van Niekerk We know that the Church is a living organism, not a building. I believe for the Church to function correctly, it needs all the organism, we need to meet at least once or twice a week. We must stay connected, think of your own body, if you chop off your toe it will shrivel up and die. I believe we are all created for a specific reason, our roles may differ, but they are a necessary component of the body of Christ. Romans 12 verse 4 to 5 says: "For just as we have many parts in one body, and not all parts have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and all are parts of one another." If any organ removed off from the body, then it will certainly die.   It is not possible to live because the body sustains it. There is no lifeblood flowing to it and keeping it alive. Do you know the first signs of spiritual death is inconsistent when you supposed to be diligently attending Church or other member meets? We aren...

by Yvette van Niekerk When the Lord Jesus was teaching the disciples, He told them the parable of the talents. I believe we too can take a valuable lesson away from this parable. Two guys invested their money and multiplied their investments the third guy hid the money. He didn't want to lose the money, and he wasn't thinking clearly. His prejudice towards the manager made him fearful. The master said to this guy 'you wicked and lazy servant, you ought to have deposited my money, and I would have received back with interest.' This guy was thinking 'what if I fail?' Matthew 25: 21 (TLB) "His master praised him for good work. 'You have been faithful in handling this small amount,' he told him, 'so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Begin the joyous tasks I have assigned to you.'" Is failure a bad thing? What do we learn from failure? Well, I don't think it is terrible. The first time I baked a cake, ...

by Yvette van Niekerk Ephesians 4: 23 - 25 TLB "Now, your attitudes and thoughts must all be constantly changing for the better. Yes, you must be a new and different person, holy and good. Clothe yourself with this new nature. Stop lying to each other; tell the truth, for we are parts of each other, and when we lie to each other, we are hurting ourselves." I believe personal battles are connected to past hurts and thing or attitudes we want to change within ourselves. My husband said something interesting to me. He believes we all carry a little black box in the back of mind, heart or soul. It's locked away so no one, not even you can see it.  How to win a personal battle? It's going to be a very tough battle. I believe if it is hidden away, we don't actually want to expose it. The best way to deal with such a situation or circumstance is to call on the Holy Spirit. It's like poverty, and it smells musty - acidic, it burns your eyes when ...

by Yvette van Niekerk I believe when we pray that we are in communication with the Lord Jesus. We want to build our relationship with Him, and we need to speak to Him. Even when we don't know what we want to say we still just come into His presence and be still. There are so many formulas and so many prayer guidelines available to us, which can help us, but from my point of view, just being honest, and speaking to God from my heart. I believe God hears these prayers. We need to praise the Lord when we come into His presence. Giving Him praise, saying thank You, and blessing the Lord is good for our soul and helps us go into right standing with God. Then because we are fallible and have sins present in our hearts and lives, I believe we should be confessing our transgressions. Then we need to repent of our sins.   Reading the Word, we know that in Isaiah 59 verses two says "Your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face f...

by Yvette van Niekerk My husband said that the Coronavirus and social distancing is the leading cause of peoples suffering from depression and is stressed out, and very anxious. Scripture is the best way to renew our minds and change our mind-set. Helping us focus and meditate on the Lord. Deuteronomy 31: 6 "I am strong, courageous, and firm; I fear not and am not in terror, for it is the Lord my God Who goes with me; He will not fail me or forsake me." Psalm 86: 7 "In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me." Psalm 139: 23 - 24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Proverbs 15: 15 "All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but I have a glad heart and a continual feast [regardless of circumstances]." Matthew 6: 27 "My wor...

by Yvette van Niekerk https://www.dreamstime.com/ Deuteronomy 6: 5 MSG “Love GOD, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got!” Albert Einstein said, 'There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.' Matthew 7: 13 - 14 MSG Being and Doing "Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practised in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to Life - to God! - is vigorous and requires total attention." I have reached a place in my life that I want to be in the right place at the right time; I want to manoeuvre through all the difficulties with success. I have decided to place myself under the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I am learning what He wants me to do right now. ...