Yvette's Stellar Stories

Wednesday 4 July 2018

God's appointed time with my friends mom

Today I was listening to my friend tell me her story. We all have a story to tell. Her's was about her dear old Mom.

Mom discovered that she had cervical cancer. She described the constant pain she felt in her back just above her kidneys. These pains were occurring now and then. One day her mom called her and told her that her periods returned. She went to the clinic and they told her it was normal for old ladies to experience such things. The scary part was when it lasted over a month. She finally went to see a doctor at the hospital. Some tests were run and they discovered that she had cancer of the cervical.

Tears running down her faces as she explained what happened next. The doctors adviced her mom to go to the Hospital and they performed a hysterectomy. She stayed on for a week and then they started her treatment. She went for chemotherapy and this lasted 6 months. Everybody was under the impression that mom was healed.

It wasn't a month later when mom retained water and her feet started to swell. Returning to the doctor they performed more tests and it was revealed that cancer spread and that her time was running out.

Holding her head in her hands she looked over her hands and took a deep breath. The illness is taking its toll on her mom.

The doctors explained to my friend that she would have to take care of her mom. She had to buy pampers and look after her mom as she did her baby girl. Everday her mom's health failed. The doctor explained to my friend when death was imminent she would see a change in her mom's feet.

Still, in denial, she kept nursing her mom and doing the best she could for her dying mother. Her mom's health was failing, she stopped talking to her. She would only look at her daughter. She couldn't go to the toilet and she couldn't sit up and eat anymore. Her body became heavy and my friend told me she couldn't lift her body anymore. Still caring for her mother she knew the time was running out. Her mom called out to her sister and my friend phoned her to come and see her sister. They decide to take her to the hospital and at the time her mother's body was bloated. Her stomach was so swollen it seemed unnatural. The doctor took something and punctured her mother's stomach and water poured out of her. Everybody felt relieved believing she was going to get up from her sick bed.

In the evening the hospital phoned my friend telling her "your mom passed away." My friend said she knew she saw the signs. The doctor explained that it would start with her feet.

Our appointed time with God isn't known to us but we do know we cannot escape this meeting.

My thoughts are with my friend and I pray the Lord will help her through her grief.

Bless my job, LORD

Deuteronomy 28: 8 ESV

“The LORD commands the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”

I know in the past I used to view my job as a means to earning money. It never occurred to me that I had a calling and God placed me in a position for a reason. I believe until you reach that point of understanding you may not see your job as a calling.

I don’t mind serving other people, it’s a pleasure and I enjoy it. In 1 Peter 4 verse 11, I see that “… whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies.” I have the strength from God to serve others.

It is important to equip yourself with your job. We are reminded in Proverbs 1 verse 5 “Let the wise hear and increase in learning and the one who understands obtain guidance.” Learn as much as you can about your job. In doing that you are equipping yourself.

I realized when I was doing my job in the past it would be for a Manager. I wanted his favour but lately, it struck me that I actually am working for the Lord. Ephesians 6: 7 – 8 “rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.”

My contract job is a gift from God and I never view my job as punishment. Ecclesiastes 5 verse 19 “Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil – this is the gift of God.” I have been out of work for a very long time, God allowed me to get this job and I will praise Him for it. Thank You, so much Lord.

In the past, I struggled with criticism but lately, I thought about it and I realized I can make this work for me. I am not perfect and remember I am still learning, I decided to try harder and work towards improving myself. Proverbs 13 verse 18 “Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honoured.”

There are times that you need to actually go the extra mile in your job. I am reminded of Matthew 5 verse 41 “and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” In the long run, I believe this pays off. My husband constantly reminds me that give them more than what they expect. Abundance is something he constantly is preaching.

Prayer

Lord, O my God, thank You, so much for my job. You know that I am so blessed and that without You, I would not have been here. I am giving 100% of my attention to my work. I go the extra mile and do my best for all concerned. Thank You, for blessing me today and the rest of my life. I am so blessed with You in my life in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

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Happy Independence Day!! God Bless You!

Are you positioning yourself to receive?

Proverbs 12: 15 NIV “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.”

How many gifts have you received this week? Are you open to receiving anything good each day?

The past couple of weeks I have been monitoring the gifts I receive each day. What a great surprise. Taking note of each gift however small I must tell you it creates expectancy as well as the feeling of gratefulness.

I am positioning myself to receive from God. I want His gifts in my own life and if I don’t position myself to receive from God I won’t.

The past couple of weeks I have been taking note of all the gifts I receive each and every day. I know you may think an orange is something simple but I didn’t have one at the time and received it. A pair of sandals I loved and I received it. Sweeties, oh my goodness packets of sweeties I received them too. Unexpected lunch I received it.

I am learning to position my lap so that God is able to bless me to receive from Him. If I don’t position myself how will God give me the desires of my heart? What if He wants to send me on vacation to Israel or Mauritius? My lap is open and I want to receive His gifts.

I won’t lock my mind and shut the small gifts out because I am expecting something great from my God. I believe when the time is right opportunities will “drop into my lap.”

Position yourself to receive from God. Don’t miss the opportunities that are coming your way, be open to what God has for you.

Prayer

Today Lord please help me to react on what You show me. I am positioning myself to receive opportunities from You. Please take my thoughts captive and help me to stay open to You. In the holy name of Christ Jesus of Nazareth. Amen

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Happy Independence Day!

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Tuesday 3 July 2018

Lord, Search my Heart when I Fast

Matthew 6:16-18 (MSG)

^16-18“When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don’t make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won’t make you a saint. If you ‘go into training’ inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. God doesn’t require attention-getting devices. He won’t overlook what you are doing; he’ll reward you well.”

The Lord Jesus teaches us to find a quiet place and pray openly before God. In our prayer, we are reminded to speak simply and honest with the Lord. In our prayers we will move our focus off ourselves and focus on the LORD, that is when we will sense God’s grace.

In our prayers, we want to draw near to the LORD and reestablish our relationship with the Lord our God. Our fast is about God and we want to ask Him to assist us going forward.

I find the days when I fast I seem to attract a lot of attention and people seem to be on my case. It would be petty stuff but they would have their guns blazing and ready to fire when I am in my fast. They don’t even know I am fasting and that I am fragile.

I believe it is important to draw near to the Lord God in humble prayer and then continue with our fast.

Dress up and look the part, you are at work and it isn’t necessary to tell people you are fasting. When someone invites you to lunch you could say “thanks but I don’t feel like anything right now” and not “o, no I’m fasting today.” You lost the blessings God has for you.

Take heart, I believe God knows the motives of our hearts.

Prayer

Abba Father, Lord You know the motives of my heart and You know that I want to draw near to You. Please accept my fast as an offering to You, my sincere thoughts and I pray please cleans my heart and create in me a pure spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Amen

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Monday 2 July 2018

Learn The Truth About Discipline Children In The Next 60 Seconds.

Proverbs 22: 6 AMP

“Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

I can remember my dad always saying this to me “this is going to hurting me more than it hurts you” and then he would spank me. I would cry and cry and stay in my bedroom. I was embarrassed and angry all at the same time. But I can tell you I would not do that thing again.

Today I see people have a conversation with their children warning them and that’s as far as it goes. I actually believe a good spanking changes the child's bad attitude and gets them tuned in again. I don’t believe you should spank them more than 3 times.

Spare the rod and spoil the child doesn’t work for me. I never spoke to my children but I would spank them and get the nonsense out of the way.

Prayer

Lor,d please guide us as parents when it comes to our children. Let us act fairly