Open up!

 August 2

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Unfailing Love!

Psalm 57:10 (AMP) 

10 "For Your faithfulness and lovingkindness are great, reaching to the heavens, And Your truth to the clouds."

People write songs about love, they write stories about love, and they make movies about love. Why is love so important? We are created to love, God created people in His image, and God is love. As I study the word of God, it is clear to me that we are not able to get on with our lives if we don't have love. God reminds us through the Psalms of David that His unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Standing on earth looking up to heaven, I must say it's a long way to go, it feels like it's impossible to reach the sky. God reminds us that His faithfulness reaches the clouds. We want people in our lives that love us, and we want faithful people, we have been put together in such a way that it makes good sense to want such things. Be encouraged and know that God loves you that His faithfulness reaches to the clouds. You are precious in His sight. 

Prayer O Lord God, thank You for the Psalmist David who reminds us of Your unfailing love which reaches the heavens and Your faithfulness that reaches the clouds. Wrap us in Your protective wings of love today. In Jesus Name, Amen

August 3

Open up!

Psalm 24: 9 (NLT) 

9 "Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter."

Digging deeper, finding out more and learning more is part of the culture. As I meditate and think of these words of King David, I remind myself to open up my hearts doors so that I can receive the Lord Jesus Christ into my life as I open the gates to my life lifting all barriers so that God can enter and come live with me. As a spirit being, we need to adhere to the Lord's word, by opening our lives to the Holy Spirit through the Lord Jesus Christ, for our daily tasks. We cannot face our lives daily without someone backing us. I believe the Lord Jesus is standing before the Father every minute of every day speaking on our behalf. Because we allowed Him into our hearts, we have the right to be called Children of God. 

Prayer O Lord God, help me open my hearts doors to You today, allowing You to take residence in my life. Helping me stand on Your word and inspiration. In the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen

See it! Believe it!

 by Yvette van Niekerk

August 1 

See it! Believe it! 

Hebrews 11: 1 (NLT) 

1 "Faith is the confidence that we hope for will happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." 

I always stand amazed when I see something I visualized and wanted right in front of my eyes. When I confidently believed that the Lord would supply according to my personal needs. As a young Christian, I used to visualize the things I wanted. I would go to the shop, touch the items and imagine myself wearing it. Faith in action today, is there something you want? I believe that in seeing it and thinking you can have it, it will be yours. 

Write down what it is you want. See it! Believe it and then accept it. God knows your heart and can see what you need, can you see your needs met? Believing God will open new doors for you.  

Prayer 

O Lord Almighty, God in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, please opens my eyes, ears, and hearts. Give us the faith we need to see it and believe it so that we can receive it. In the Holy Name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen

"The great reward it brings you!"

 by Yvette van Niekerk

July 31 

"The great reward it brings you!" 

Hebrews 10: 35 (NLT) 

35 "So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!"

A series of events can make you forget about the Lord and trust Him for important issues. Perhaps you need to buy tires for your car, and your finances have run out. Or things keep happening at home, and the kettle broke, the washing machine packed up and the geyser burst. You know the feeling; just a couple of household items. You need your car for work and at least a cup of coffee in the morning before work. Washing needs to wash, or you won't have enough clothes. It's time you need to remind yourself, I will trust in the Lord. There is a great reward for me. You know it's happened at the most inopportune time when you don't have the money. Don't fear; the Lord knows and will help you. You will see God will make away for you. Trust in the Lord!  

Prayer Abba Father, Lord, you know how difficult it is when you don't have the necessary money to pay for all the items spoken about. As we trust in You Lord, we receive the amount of money needed to replace and fix the goods we need. Thanking You Lord because You are so true to Your word. In Jesus name, Amen.   

Silhouette Girl Chocolate Cake

 by Yvette van Niekerk

Mbali Happy 10th Birthday!

Silhouette girl

Today I baked a chocolate cake, and covered it in purple fondant, placed a black silhouette of a girl holding out her hand. On her hand, I put a ten and loads of different coloured hearts. I also made a pink fondant bow with white dots. 

The little girls will be turning ten years old and I also made six chocolate cupcakes with purple icing sugar and green. Placing a ten on each cupcake with two little hearts. 

It was a painstaking day, and when it's so cold it's difficult to roll out the fondant to the right thickness.

I find the fondant has lost its elasticity because it's been so cold, and the fondant doesn't want to take on the shape I want it to. In the summer I struggle with the fondant as it starts to melt in the heat so there isn't a happy medium presently. HaHa

I enjoyed decorating this cake and I hope my client will love what I have done with the cake. Another masterpiece by myself. Teehee

Blessings and enjoy your cake dearie!...

"a pleasing aroma to God."

 by Yvette van Niekerk

July 30

"A pleasing aroma to God."

Ephesians 5: 1 – 2 

1 "Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ, He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God."

"A pleasing aroma to God" in becoming imitators of God in everything we do; we fill our lives with love and become obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ. By doing this, we will wear the perfume of love and compassion, kindness and friendliness, understanding and self-control as a pleasing aroma. People will be drawn to us because of these beautiful aromas. It's refreshing and pleasing to speak to people that have these qualities. They seem to have a sweetness about them, something that we cannot ignore. In our Christian lives, we want to imitate God, we want to be pleasing, and we want to love people. This creates wonder, and people want to experience the same things we do.  

Prayer Abba Father, as we imitate God today, please let us to becomes a pleasing aroma to God. Clothed in righteousness, we stand to ask, accept us today as we imitate God in Jesus name. Amen  

"why should I be afraid?"

 by Yvette van Niekerk

July 29 

"Why should I be afraid?" 

Psalm 27: 1 (TLB) 

1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation; he protects me from danger—whom shall I fear?"

As I sit here, it struck me that I will not allow fear to drive me today; why should I be afraid? Yes? I cannot control my life, but I do know someone in control over my life and who is there for me. I believe the Lord is my light and my salvation; I have a fortress to run to for protection. Balancing work and family can be difficult, and when your managers tell you that tonight you have to work extra time, fear grips your heart. Your spouse is so jealous and cannot understand that you are working. You may also have debt that has gone out of control, and the phone doesn't stop ringing ~ debtors calling every fourth night asking for payment. I want to encourage you to sit down and speak to the Lord about your problems, He is your protector, and He will be there for you. 

Prayer 

Lord, as we face today, please will you remind us that we are not stumbling around in the dark but that You are our light. We come to You in our hour of need, and You are our fortress and our protector. Please, help us face today in Jesus Holy Name, Amen. 

"a still small voice."

 by Yvette van Niekerk

July 28

 "A still small voice." 

1 Kings 19:11-12 (KJV)

11 "And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice."

Facing difficult times and most definitely under great stress, Elijah was standing before the Lord God Almighty. Elijah was instructed to go out and stand before the Lord God Almighty on the mountain. Then the Lord passed by, which caused a mighty windstorm to hit the mountain, such a terrible blast that rocks came loose, but the Lord wasn't in the wind. Then there was an earthquake, but the Lord wasn't in the earthquake. After that, there was a fire, but the Lord wasn't in the fire. And after that, there was the sound of a gentle whisper. Awesome, Elijah covered his face and then spoke to the Lord God Almighty. God speaks to each one of us in a gentle whisper. You may be facing insurmountable problems and it looks like the situations are getting out of hand. Take a breath, sit down, and become attentive and listen to the "a small still voice." God will guide you and lead you.  

Prayer Lord God Almighty, many times we expect to hear from you in the windstorms, rock blasts and earthquakes not thinking that You speak to us with a gentle whisper. As we stop, relax and pay attention to Your voice, please guide us and lead us in Jesus Name. Amen 

"Open your mouth wide."

 by Yvette van Niekerk

July 27

“Open your mouth wide.” 

Psalm 81: 10 (NLT) 

10 “For it was I, the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.” 

I am reminded of my children when they were still toddlers, and I had to feed them. I would sit next to them at the table and ask them: “baby, open your mouth wide.” You are scooping food into their open mouths. I imagine God is also speaking to you and me today. “Open your mouth wide” receive the good things God has in store for you today. Receive abundance in faith, peace love, and kindness, compassion and understanding, self-control and money, food and friendships. Whatever your needs are, speak to the Lord, meditate on today thoughts. God is able to address each and every need you have. God is inspiring you to “open your mouth wide” so that you are able to receive His good things.  

Prayer 

Lord, O Lord, thank you for this visual of my children where they “open their mouths wide” to receive the good food I prepared for them. I too sit here, and I open my mouth wide to receive the good things You have for me today. Thank You; Lord, in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen 

#coffeecup #mondayblessings

Hi I'm Yvette

Today, I'm enjoying my coffee out of my special cup with the scripture of Romans 12: 12 "Be joyful in hope." I believe God created me with a spirit, soul and body - what I did not realise is that only one of the three components can be in charge of my life.

My soul is currently in charge of my life, I am constantly in a ranging war with my will and feelings and not forgetting all my emotions. I am pessimistic most of the time, it's hard for me to speak positively to people. I seem to lack the power to engage in a positive conversation.

I believe God is patient with me and, I believe my problem begins stubbornly. 

My focus and meditation today; is Romans 10, verses 17 says, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." 

For the last couple of years, I have allowed my soul to rule me. Instead of trusting God and His Word, to renew my mind. I know I am a born again Christian. I see God's hand in my life, it seems I am living in God's permissive will for my life. I want to become alive on the inside and have the spirit of God helping me face my problems with my overbearing soul.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, God, today I am asking You to give me the power and will to want to do good. Allowing my spirit to be in charge of my life. Help me as I place a guard over my mouth right now. Let me meditate on Your Word and please remove the veil from my eyes so that my spirit my see clearly. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

A heart of Holiness

 by Yvette van Niekerk

July 26 

A heart of Holiness.

John 3:30 (TLB) 

30 "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less."

Meditating on God's Word is part of our Christian duty. We need to build our relationship with God, and it needs to take place each day. Find somewhere quiet and wait on the Lord.

Did you know that Holiness has a heart? Well, think about it, yes, it's inside you, your heart. 

To allow the Lord, Jesus, to become greater and greater within our own lives, we need to realize that we have to become less and less, making space for the Lord Jesus. It sounds so easy, but it doesn't happen overnight. As you think about the Lord today, may you be encouraged to give the Lord Jesus more and more of the old you so that His character can become evident in your life? Ask the Holy Spirit to revive you before the Lord. Showing you any iniquities you need to confess so that you can draw near to God. 

Prayer

Lord, may You become greater and greater within our hearts, and help us to become less and less. Give us the necessary wisdom and insight for today, in Jesus Name. Amen 

The power with God and Favor with men.

 by Yvette van Niekerk

July 24 

The Power with God and Favour with Men.

Genesis 32: 28 (NKJV)  

28 "And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed." 

Today I want to encourage you and tell you that Jacob was wrestling God and when the "man saw he could not overpower Jacob, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man." Thinking about this made me realize because Jacob persevered and would not give up he received a blessing he wanted from God. He also asked what your name is. The person didn't say but gave Jacob a new name Israel and also blessed him with the above blessing. Finding favour with God and with man is important to us, we cannot go through life without God's supernatural favour. I want to encourage you today to look for God. Making time to draw near to God and asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what it is you should be asking for. I want God's blessings in my life, and I want to stay healthy, be financially blessed so that I can bless others, and I want to serve the Lord God with all my heart and soul.  

Prayer 

Heavenly Father, as I preserve each day and draw near to You, Lord I pray for Your supernatural favour in my life with You Lord as well as with man, in Jesus Holy Name. Amen