Yvette's Stellar Stories

Thursday 13 September 2018

#entitlement

Galatians 6: 4 AMP “But each one must carefully scrutinize his own work [examining his actions, attitudes, and behavior], and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable without comparing himself to another.”

“Comparing himself to another.” How many times have we not compared ourselves to others in a day? I believe once we start comparing ourselves with our peers we fall into a little trap called “entitlement.”

I see people that have so much and they still feel entitled to much more. They seem to think they are superior to others and act very prideful. In Luke chapter 18 verses 11 we are reminded of the Pharisee who made a great show of thanking God because he was better than you and me. Satan was thrown out of Heaven because he was filled with pride and thought he was better than God.

The flip side of comparing ourselves to others creates in some a sense of invisibility. They struggle with very low self-esteem which keeps them focused on themselves.

A negative thing that comes from entitlement is we want to bring God down to our level. We think we are doing a great job and that God should give us a pat on the back.

"The way [God] works surpasses the way you work, and the way [He] thinks is beyond the way you think." Isaiah 55 verse 9.

Prayer

Humbly Lord, I come into Your presence, what wonderful Name You have, You have no rifle, You have no evil, Yours is the Kingdom, Yours the Glory and Yours is the name above all Names. What a powerful names it is, the Name of Jesus Christ my king. I want to praise Your Name today Lord. If I am acting entitled, I humbly pray forgive me. I am so grateful for each day You have given me. I am so grateful for my job, I can earn money and do all the things I wanted to. Thank You, Lord Jesus Christ nothing compares to You Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

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Tuesday 11 September 2018

#Relationships

2 Peter 3: 18

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen”

My self-worth was diminished as a young girl when one of the teachers told me that I would never amount to anything. According to this man I would be pregnant with a child in my arms and a child in the pram and a child on my brain. I never fell pregnant while I attended school but only after my marriage. Sadly I never thought I would amount to much because I allowed this teacher to speak ill of me.

As I reflect over my life I feel that I had to decide when to allow people into my life and when not. The problem is I never took my Dad seriously when he told me that “Bad company, corrupts good character.” I have been thinking about that and it struck me people can deceive us. In the meantime I have matured and I can sense when someone isn’t what they perceive to be. When it comes to relationships you may invite people into your life that lift you up, bring you down or level you. I don’t know I don’t like people who bring me down and once I realize that I cut them off. I just believe God is going to ask me to give a report of my life and what I have done with it.

Prayer

Humbly Abba Father, I pray that I may receive Your grace new every morning. I am humbly asking for the opportunity to grow spiritually. I love and adore You and I worship at Your feet. Lord Jesus I want to mature and grow each day. Help me to stand firm on Your Word, I am sanctified and draw near to You in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

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Tuesday 4 September 2018

The Turn of Events …

2 Chronicles 10: 15 NIV

So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from God, to fulfil the word the LORD had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.

I am reminded that God has the last say and that is final. It doesn’t matter what we say or do God will let things work according to His good plan.

Looking back on the past year which to my mind had been a truly difficult year with many obstacles and trials and tribulations. I would say God’s hand has been in all this from the beginning. I remember coming into the office and being told it's your last day today. I almost fainted. My word can this be possible? Then something happened and God opened the door for me to carry on working. What an awesome God we serve. I was so grateful that I could return to work.

There were other threats but I don’t want to talk about it I believe God is working on these too. It doesn’t matter how tries what, the turn of events will be as God ordained it. It's very clear to me that God has the last and final say. Sometimes the turn of events may seem to be contrary to what I hope for. I still believe without a doubt that God’s hands in every turn of events.

Prayer

Abba Father about my work You are in control and I don’t know what the turn of events will be next year. I do however want to humbly come to You asking for an open door. You know my needs and You know how I so want to do my best for You. I need Your hand in my life, in the name of Jesus Christ I bring my request publically asking You to work next year too, please. Amen

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Waiting – learning to be patient.

Galatians 5: 22 ESV

‘But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such things there is no law.’

Now I understand why we are referred to as “Patients” when it comes to seeing the Doctor. I made an appointment for 10h00 this morning and made sure that I arrived at least 15 minutes ahead of time. Haha, the doctor is always running late. Sometimes he isn't even in the building, on his way back from the Hospital because someone needs him urgently at the Hospital.

If there is something I seemed to struggle with is “being patient” o, my goodness. I just cannot wait, I am always in such a hurry. I am always rushing off to the next thing. Now I travel from work to my house in a taxi and I am collected first and dropped off last. This can be trying but in the meantime, I have learned to become patient. I now enjoy this hour on my way to work and back. I sleep or I listen to the Word of God. I read and I have time to just sit and relax. If you know me you will know that I don’t sit down and do nothing, I am always very busy, rushing all over the place, there isn't time to waist.

I believe God is busy working on me as a person, I am learning to be patient, I so want this and that and I want all kinds of things but it isn't coming as fast as I want it. God works in His own time and I have come to realise I need to wait, It will be released at the right time.

I am learning to follow Galatians 5 verses 22, I am hunkering after love, joy, peace and patience. I am working hard to be kind, to be good and faithful, I am learning to be gentle and self-control is on my list.

Today I want to encourage you to be patient in all the trials and situations when you overcome it, it makes you stronger and you become resilient.

Prayer

O Lord, I am so grateful that I am able to come to You today, Lord I want to bless Your Holy Name and say thank You for Your loving kindness. I want to praise You and bring You glory, You are above the earth, You are the creator of heaven and earth, the whole world cannot exist without You. We bring You honour and bend down before Your throne, in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ. Amen

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Monday 3 September 2018

Worship Him Jesus Christ

Psalm 100: 3 AMP “Know and fully recognize with gratitude that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”

In my learning and craving after You Lord, I want to worship You, in the eye of the storm, I sometimes feel I am losing it but not when I turn my eyes to You. I love and adore You, Lord, my life is in Your hands. I want to worship and praise You for being there for me each and every day. Thank You for my sight, thank you for my health and thank you for my husband, my family and my children and grandchildren and my stepchildren. Thank You also for my job, my transport to work. Thank You for my colleagues and thank You for Your supernatural favour in my life.

Thank you for the church You have placed me in, thank You for the friends I have. Thank you for publishing my book, thank you for the sale of my book. Thank you for Your loving kindness and thank You Lord that I can still trust in You.

I believe in You Lord God, You protect me always.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, in the eye of the storm I want to worship You, I draw near to You, I love You. Lord, I am standing on Your Word. I am so grateful for my hope in You. You are my refuge and I know that You still stand in control over each and every one of us. Your love surrounds me in the eye of the storm and I believe You alone are my anchor I love You Lord Jesus Amen

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Ask God for Help

Psalm 103: 1-2 AMP

Praise for the LORD’s Mercies.

A Psalm of David.

“Bless and affectionately praise the LORD, O my soul, and all that is [deep] within me, bless His holy name. Bless and Affectionaly praise the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget any of His benefits;”

I don’t know about you, but sometime I feel so far away from God. I seem to be distracted and not hearing anything around me. Why?

Sometimes I allow my everyday life, things that frustrate and irritate me to come into play forgetting who is my God. Sometimes I am so preoccupied that I forget all the good things God has given me.

Lord I need Your help today, pour out into my memories all the good things You have done for me. Only YOU LORD know my hearts desires and today I want to pray Psalm 51 verse 17 “My [only] sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.” I come to You humbly Lord God, I am asking You to remind me of the good things in my life and ignite a fire within me to be a servant to You. I love and adore You, I am asking You for help today.”

In my brokenness I pray for Your mercy and grace and ask for common sense and guidance.

Prayer

Abba Father, Lord over heaven and the earth, I am humbly standing before You today in the Name of Jesus Christ. Please may I ask to receive your mercy new every day. Great is thy faithfulness today, tomorrow and forever. I worship and adore You, help me draw near and create in me a clean heart and a pure spirit in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ my Saviour Amen

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#Monday “Thank you”

Luke 17: 17 – 19 NIV Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” The He said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

As you know I am on the topic of say thank you, praising God. Today I want to remind you to keep saying “thank you.” We lose sight of the good things in life and take everything for granted.

Someone makes you a nice cup of tea, say “thank you.” You are standing in the queue to pay for your goods and when leaving the till remember to say “thank you.”

Showing some gratitude will bring a smile to the other persons face. It’s important to be grateful. We are so blessed, and praising God is so important each day not just now and then.

Looking at Luke I remember seeing 10 people asking for healing and guess what only one chap came back to say thank you.

Prayer

Lord I want to sing praises to You, I am so grateful for all the good things in my life. You are the most Holy, the Lord my King, I love and honor You, I want to say thank You for my job, my marriage, my children, grandchildren and stepchildren. For You are God and You are worthy of all my praise, I want to sing to You my most Holy God and Holy King. I praise You Lord, Amen.

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