Praying to keep silent !!!

Colossians 1:11 - 12 (AMP)

¹¹ [We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy, ¹² Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.

As Christians we are reminded by Paul and Timothy in Colossians to pray for the Holy Spirit to invigorate and strengthen us with all power according to the might of God’s glory.  To exercise forbearance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of God’s holy people in the Light.

Prayer  Today Lord help me through the Holy Spirit to show and teach me how to become invigorated and strengthened with all the power according to the might of God’s glory.  Teach me to make this part of our daily prayer so that we see how the Father will qualify and equip us for today, in Jesus Name, Amen!

Which way LORD?

 

Psalm 32:8 (AMP)

⁸ I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

In life we need guidance and we want to sort of know that we are on the right ‘track’.  So now we read in scripture ‘The Lord will instruct us and teach us’. 

How do we know we are getting in line with what God wants from us?  Firstly I believe we need to get down to basics, we need to spend time in God’s word.  The only way to know what God wants of us is to keep our quiet time with God.  Reading our Bibles, keep a journal and praying and mediating on the Word of God.

We know that we can speak to God any time of the day or night the thing is; are we prepared to put in the time to spend in HIS presence?  In spending time in the Word we learn more of God and it gives us the opportunity to hear the Holy Spirit.  We start to open the line between us and God.  The Holy Spirit moves over our lives and we just come into line with what God wants for us.

Prayer Lord please bear with us and please instruct us and teach each one of us the way You want us to go.  We are asking YOU Lord Jesus for Your counsel and please keep Your eyes upon each one of us.  Amen!

Attitude

Colossians 4:6Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁶ Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you].

            These days it’s very clear people say and do as they please, never keeping in mind that what they say might offend or hurt others.

            We are reminded to be pleasant and winsome, our words should be seasoned with salt.  We also need to keep in mind that when we are asked a question that we would know how to answer it.

            As you step into your Managers office this morning with your excellent idea, think of what you want him or her to hear.  Keeping a good attitude will help you ‘ace’ the deal.

            People are fickle and you and I know that, so when someone makes you angry remember Colossians 4: 6 today.

Prayer   Lord Jesus help me be gracious in my speech today, let it be seasoned with salt and help me to know how to answer people that ask me any questions.  Thank You Lord, Amen! 

Mini Me

As a mom I must be honest in telling you that I have thought about my children on a daily basis, they all are grown up and have moved out of the house.  They live their own lives and work and look after themselves and their families.

Now I have always been a ‘fanatic’ when it comes to the Lord, my passion and my love is always been for the Lord.  What I did not realise is that what I was doing would rub off on my children and it did too onto my daughter.

I can see how passionately she loves the Lord God.  I see how she goes out of her way to serve the Lord and she has her husband right by her side.  They both are following the Lord. 

I am proud of her and what she has accomplished in her life.  My heart is grateful to the Lord for a ‘mini me’.

I believe both my sons also love the Lord but serve the Lord in their own special way.  To my mind the children will be mighty in the land and they will enjoy the legacy God has in mind for them from me.

My heart is grateful and my love for the Lord is still strong and I love and worship You Lord Jesus, thank You for what You have done in my life.

In the little things – God helps me

You probably won’t understand or even care but I do want to tell you that God helps me even in the little things in life.

Now I have been out of a job for a very long time, I need the work and I was offered a job at a really busy Occupational Health Clinic.  Patience arrive I check their bookings in a file and make copies of their identity documents.  Hand the copies with a flow chart to the Data captures and then the process begins.  The Patients are referred to the next room where they wait.

In the meantime the Patients information is captured and files are drawn accordingly.  Because this is a very pressured environment and time is of the essence we need to work accurately but also efficiently.

Well this is where I have seen how the Lord my God has been helping me, many times we need to find a file that has been drawn or the patient has ‘exited’ from a company.  I see how the Lord leads me to the right box or stack of files and I am not lying when I say the numbers stand out between the rests of the files.  Today was no different, again I needed to find a file and it wasn’t in the filing cabinet and then walked to the filing room and found the file I needed.  The number literally jumped out at me.  It made me feel so good, that I just had to laugh as I took the file and handed it over to the nurse.

Being blessed by God is important and yes filing seems insignificant but when you need information to be handed over to a nurse or doctor then it is important.  I must be honest and tell you that God is truly in control over my life, I see it in the tiniest of things.

To God all the Glory and Honor and praise to His Holy Name, for always coming to my aid.  Thank You Lord, You always bless me.

2 Corinthians 4:7 (Living Bible)
'We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.'

Be Positive

It sounds so easy 'be positive'.  Well I am probably one of the people that can speak negatively more often than speaking positively.

I have decided speak words of wisdom and positively into my own life.  You will not believe it but my self-esteem is really low.  

So today I have decided to say things like, I am beautiful, I am strong and I have courage to face any situation.  I am successful and God will turn my mourning into laughter, I am prosperous and I have the supernatural favour of God in my own life.  I love what I am doing, I am a nice person to be around, people love and like me.  I am a fun person.

My future is bright and happy, my children are mighty in the land and my legacy will live on to inspire future generations.  I run with purpose every step of the way, because God is blessing me, I am victorious and I am a child of the Most High God.

I want to encourage you today, be positive, look to the Lord our God and know you are of value and God loves You.

Be blessed and know you are a blessing to me.

Proverbs 19: 21 Many plans are in a man's mind, but is is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand.

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit

                  This morning in the shower I stood before the Lord my God and prayed that He would please forgive me, I felt that I have been abandoned and that I have disappointed Him so dearly.  I then went to wake my husband and step children.  Got dressed and prayed “Please Lord God I pray that I may be clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ.”  We drove off to church and as I walked into the church I was quiet and waiting for something to happen.  I sat next to my husband and we looked at the messages that were popping up on the screen, someone passed away, someone is sick etc.  The preacher came into the church and greeted the congregation.  A couple of songs were sang and then, I felt this breaking in my spirit, tears rolling down my cheeks I could not stop it.  I felt so desperately alone and as though I was abandoned.

John 14:1-17Living Bible (TLB)

            ¹⁴ “Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in me. ^2-3 There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me where I am. If this weren’t so, I would tell you plainly. ⁴ And you know where I am going and how to get there.”

⁵ “No, we don’t,” Thomas said. “We haven’t any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus told him, “I am the Way—yes, and the truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me. ⁷ If you had known who I am, then you would have known who my Father is. From now on you know him—and have seen him!” ⁸ Philip said, “Sir, show us the Father and we will be satisfied.”⁹ Jesus replied “Don’t you even yet know who I am, Philip, even after all this time I have been with you? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking to see him? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say are not my own but are from my Father who lives in me. And he does his work through me. ¹¹ Just believe it—that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or else believe it because of the mighty miracles you have seen me do. ^12-13 “In solemn truth I tell you, anyone believing in me shall do the same miracles I have done, and even greater ones, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask him for anything, using my name, and I will do it, for this will bring praise to the Father because of what I, the Son, will do for you. ¹⁴ Yes, ask anything, using my name, and I will do it! ^15-16 “If you love me, obey me; and I will ask the Father and he will give you another Comforter, and he will never leave you. ¹⁷ He is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, for it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, for he lives with you now and someday shall be in you.

            The Lord had heard my prayers this morning while I was showering, I could feel the Holy Spirit moving over me today in Church.  I knew without a doubt that the Lord my God loves me, and then the most amazing of all ~ the preacher decided to show us a You tube video of “Falling Plates”.  I was so touched I could not contain my tears.  God is still God, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  Awesome.  My God lives.  Praise the Lord my God.

Pray like Hannah

 1 Samuel 1:11Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹¹ She vowed, saying, O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid and [earnestly] remember, and not forget Your handmaid but will give me a son, I will give him to the Lord all his life; no razor shall touch his head.

How serious are your prayers?  How desperately do you want the Father God Almighty to answer your prayers?  We who are blessed with children would not know the anguish and pain that Hannah had when she prayed for a child.  It was her heart’s desire to have a child; a son of her own.  She was prepared to give her child back to the Lord to serve Him so sincere and desperately she wanted a son.

The real truth I believe is that the Lord God sees each and every persons heart and intention, He knows what your motives are.  Are you able to pray sincerely and believe that God answers prayers?  Will you pray for the things you desperately want?  I pray that the Lord God will give you the wisdom and understanding and knowledge to pray earnestly for your needs in the Holy Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

You are a Blessing!

Winter is here!

Imagine getting out of bed as usual and feeling a little chilly but actually not really cold.  Imagine you can walk around in your T-shirt and shorts the whole of May and not be bothered with the weather.  I was thinking that winter is late this year and that June is going to be a breeze.

Think and imagine again, that is not going to happen.  It was one early morning, to be precise 8 June, we got out of bed and my husband said   “Please bring more blankets, I am cold at night.”  I walked out of the house with him to his car parked next to the house.  The car is covered in ice; he gets into the car and lowers the drives side window, ice sitting in the window.  As we say goodbye; I can feel the ice chilling factor of cold air creeping up my legs into my warm pyjamas.  Brr, its cold this morning, I think “Elsa” from Frozen has let her hand move over our little town.

The kids are ready and as we drive to school we watch how the temperatures start too plummeted as I drive into the school yard the temperature is sitting on *0.5-.  Poor little might’s they are going to freeze their little buts off today.

The verdict is out it is officially winter; you can go to your cupboards and take out your warm jackets, gloves, hats and scarfs.  This is going to be a cold winter. 

As we celebrate winter, we start our evenings with lovely soups, thick chunky vegetables and chunks of meat and toast.  Somehow I feel that winter isn’t winter if you aren’t enjoying something warm like soup with white bread.  Sitting around the TV with a nice warm blanket covering our legs, yip its official winter is here!

Attitudes

One’s attitude is probably the most important thing that we as human beings have to deal with.  Just walking into a shop or any venue you can pick up on the people’s attitudes.  As you start talking to people you will find that they either have a good and happy attitude or a really heartbroken, self-pity attitude. 

Most people struggle with the negative side of their attitudes and it takes hard work to being one’s attitude under control.  I for one struggle with fault-find, grumbling, complaining, nagging and stuff like that.  I have to check myself for not going down that road.  Once the door is open I just bulldozer forward and become a real wrecking ball. 

Thinking about my problem I believe the only way forward for me is to realize who I am in Jesus Christ.  I should start making a point of not finding fault with everything that irritates me.  I should pay attention to what I say and do.  I feel that I should start mediating more on the Word of God and take my focus off what is taking place around me.

I have so much baggage that needs to be cut off and thrown away, that I wander when I will do this and start stretching myself forward and grabbing onto the Lord Jesus.

As I face tomorrow I want to remind you and me that ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’

Father God humbly I pray for a new lease on life, give me the discipline to work hard and get to where You want me to be.  Lord as I face my problems with my own attitude I pray for a guard over my mouth, sealing my ears to gossip and breaking the bad attitudes that I carry around within me.  Help me Lord to lighten up and to start enjoying life and making the best of every situation I find myself in.  Lord thank You for hearing my prayers and thank Your for being there for me.

How I cope with my fear

Emotions such as fear and anxiety are to my mind a helpless feeling which is blown out of proportion.  The person dealing with these emotions have been under tremendous stress and have not been coping well with live in general.

To my mind and from my own experience I believe that one should first identify what it is that is making you fearful.  After you have identified your problem, speak to someone about that specific issue.  By doing this you find that other person has a different take on the specific issue.  Now go and look at the problem and see what can be done to alleviate it.  Ask yourself what can you do about it; is there a way through the problem?  Write down the pro’s and con’s and look at it from a different point of view.  By analyzing the problem you are able to see the issue as it is.  Then ask yourself the question, am I in the position to change this issue?  Yes or No, if it’s a Yes, think about a logical way to deal with the issue.  What can you do to make the changes, is there another way to approach the matter.  If it’s No, why is it no?  Are you able to make any changes?  Is there a higher power at work?  When there’s a higher power at work I suggest you pray about it and let it go.  It obviously isn’t up to you to solve it.

Fear and anxiety are emotions that we are able to control.   The thing with these emotions is that it gets to you when you are tired.  When you are at your lowest and when you are not focused.  You may need to sleep a little more and relax a little.  My advice to me and you, speak to someone you trust.

Praying to keep silent

Colossians 1:11 - 12Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹¹ [We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy,  ¹² Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.

A

s Christians we are reminded by Paul and Timothy in Colossians to pray for the Holy Spirit to invigorate and strengthen us with all power according to the might of God’s glory.  To exercise forbearance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of God’s holy people in the Light.

Today when you take 5 minutes to pray ask the Holy Spirit to show and teach you how to become invigorated and strengthened with all the power according to the might of God’s glory.  Make this a part of your daily prayer and see how the Father will qualify and equip you for the day ahead of you.

You are a Blessing!

Father’s day

Today is Father’s Day and to be honest it was a lovely day, this morning it was a little chili I think around 6^o degrees.  It is traditionally a day when my husband needs to prepare and cook for us as a family.  This morning we stayed in bed a little later than usual, we got up around 09h30 and just sat in the warm sin.  Around 12h30 we started with the preparation of cooking lunch or late early evening dinner.

The ingredients we are using and the recipe my husband like is as follows:

1 kg chicken pieces
30ml oil
2 onions diced
1 garlic clove
500g Brussel sprouts
500g eggplant
500g mushrooms
250 ml dry red wine
350ml coconut milk
6 large potatoes
salt
Chicken spices and aromat
1 packet of chicken soup
1.2 litres of water

Rice for the side dish and tomato salad

The fire was prepared and nice and warm when my husband put his black pot onto the fire, warming the oil and frying the onions and garlic.  It must be nice and brown then he added the chicken piece and started to brown the chicken, adding chicken spice and aromat.  It must simmer approximately 30  minutes while the chicken is starting to cook in its juices my husband added the potatoes, eggplant and mixed it in the pot adding some water.  Leaving this to cook on the fire for another 30 minutes.  Checking it every now and then, making sure it doesn’t burn or stick to the bottom of the pot.  The rest of the ingredients are added to the pot, mushrooms, Brussels sprouts and water with chicken soup mix.  Letting it cook slowly for approximately another 30 minutes.  Stirring every now and then.

To make sure the potatoes are cooked stick a fork in and see if it is soft and breaks easily.  Add the wine and close the lid for 10 minutes.

Remove from fire and set aside to stand a few minutes before dishing this up with some white rice and tomato salad.

Hmmm yummy this is so tasty, you won’t believe, this is a lovely dinner and we enjoyed this tremendously.  Hmmmmm