On Judgment day

1 Samuel 15: 24 KJV “And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.”

A people pleaser, Saul admitted to Samuel he actually listened to the people. I also do that sometimes. I think it is because I want their approval or I want to please them, I may even be afraid of them and will obey just to keep the peace.

Picture this, I work in an office and we are audited every year. The Auditors will come to the office and ask to see a number of files.  The will go through the files and make copies of all the documents and then they will leave.  They do not say a word.  We wait to hear the outcome of the findings.  A meeting is called and we are asked to attend the meeting. The Auditors will bring their findings and tell us about the mistakes they have found. They will highlight problems they have identified and then they will give their thoughts and findings.

Good Audits are what we want and we don’t want to have to hear about mistakes and problems.  We worked hard to avoid these kinds of findings.  But human error does occur and we make mistakes.

I say God is going to call out your name, ask the angels to bring all your files and place them on the table.  God will go through your file and look at what you did, what you said and how you reacted and treated people. I believe that God will be doing an audit on each of our lives. Then God will give His finding and a judgment will be made.

None of us can escape death; we cannot get away from this appointment.  Reading Hebrews 9 verse 27 KJV “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

On judgment day will you be found worthy to enter into heaven and enjoy a full and eternal life?

Prayer

O LORD, we are people please at the best of times. We try to get the approval of man and we want to impress people we don’t even know. Why we act like that I believe is because we have forgotten who we are in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our identity is blurred and we struggle to maintain our true identity in Jesus Christ. We humble ourselves before You, LORD, forgive us if we have offended You. Forgive us if we haven’t obeyed You. In the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen

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“I love it when a plan comes together!” (A-Team)

Hebrews 10: 36 ESV “for you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”

When I was a young girl I used to love watching the A-Team on television, they were the best to my mind.  Hannibal was awesome and he always had a plan.

Reflecting on my past, I have come to realize that it was under those challenging and difficult times that my fortitude became a part of the fiber in my own being. Every ounce of energy I invested in pursuing my goals helped me grow closer to God. I never counted on ending up in “Witbank” – South Africa but here I am today.  I am writing my blog and daily devotional each and every day something I wished I could do when I was younger but never tried.

I have failed so many times and the difference in my life is that whenever I fell; I picked myself up and tried again.  I still am working hard and I promised myself that I would never quit.  Scripture reminds me that in Hebrews 10 verse 36 “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He promised.”

My daughter reminded me that scripture says that “I was uniquely created for a purpose.” I am still not sure what my purpose in life is but I am confident that God will reveal it to me at the right time.

Each day I am working on my own attitude so that I am not my own worst enemy.  I believe God has a great plan for my life and I am holding fast to His word so that I will succeed in the end. I do fall prey to the devil every once in a while but I am reminded that Jeremiah 29 verse 11 says “For I know the plans I have for you (Yvette),” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

I am perusing my dreams and I am hopeful the Lord will open the right door at the right time. Yes, I do lose heart and I sometimes forget that Isaiah 40 verse 32 says “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

I believe I am motivated by the fact that God is watching over me and I think of last week when I felt that I had not strength to face a difficult.  God reminded me that “I will strengthen you and help you.” You cannot believe how these few words encouraged me and helped me face my problem.

Prayer

O Father God, I am asking You today help me live my fullest life starting today. I want to experience the joy and I want to mean to fill my days. O how I wish my writing could impact the world and bring meaning to the world around me. My dreams are clear and I know that You will open the doors at the right time. Thank You, Abba Father, in Jesus Christ Name. Amen

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#God #celebrates you

Psalm 139: 13-16 MSG “Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God – you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration – what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.”

I wasn’t sure about myself and I couldn’t imagine that anybody let alone God would celebrate me as a person. I got involved with someone that I thought would be the right person for me and made the mistake of dropping my own value system. In doing this I felt devalued and feelings of guilt and emptiness plagued me constantly. Because of my actions, I felt used and betrayed at the same time. Within a year we broke up because the strain on our relationship was too much. I just felt empty and to top it off alone.

I have read that Zig Ziglar said: “What you picture in your mind, your mind will go to work to accomplish.  When you change your pictures, you automatically change your performance.”

This is what I picture in my mind right now, “I am marvelously made! God called me by my name, I belong to Him. I am the apple of His eyes, and I am His beloved daughter in whom He is well pleased!”  These are reminders my daughter sent me to encourage me today and today I also want to encourage you with the same words.

What an awesome God we serve. He loves us unconditionally and He is celebrating both you and me.  Do you think you are able to celebrate your own life? Of course, you can and must especially today!

You are a blessing in my life!  God bless you!

Prayer

Baruch Haba B’shem Yeshua hamashia. Abba Father thank You for celebrating me as a person someone You created and formed in the womb of my mom. I feel so blessed in knowing that You have called me by name and that I belong to You. I am the apple of Your eye and You wrote my name in the palm of Your hands. I want to celebrate today with happiness and know that You love and care for me each and every day. Bless each person who is reading my blog today.  In the Holy name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  Amen

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“Act on what you heart!”

James 1: 22 “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!”

What drives you? Where is your passion? What are you passionate about? These questions have been plaguing me for some time.  I feel driven by doing the best I can every day. I feel passionate about the Lord and His word. I feel that I need to write my short devotionals and let people see what is happening in my own life. I want to be instrumental in spreading God’s Word across the World. I feel passionate about people. My passion is to help elderly people, I think of my mom and her plight.

I wonder if you are scared to ask God “What do You want me to do for YOU?”  Thinking about it most people try not to ask this question in case there is an answer and they need to really do something they don’t want to. We are misled, God’s will is good and acceptable and perfect check out Romans 12:2.

Don’t just listen to the Word but act on it. Do something about it.

Prayer

Lord thank You for the passion You placed in my heart for my mom and people that suffer. Please Lord touch the lives of the people reading my blog today bless them and keep watch over them in Jesus Christ name. Amen

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Why don’t Christians have an impact on the World today?

Sometimes we miss the crux of the matter but I was wondering why Christian doesn’t really have an impact on the World today? What is missing? Let me show you something I saw in Acts Chapter 14 verse 8 to 18. I read that Paul and Barnabas were in the city Lystra and they were teaching the Word of God to the people. Paul noticed a crippled man and it was said the man had been lame from birth and he hadn’t been able to walk.

The cripple man sat there listening to Pauls words. Paul saw that the man believed and knew he could be healed.  Paul looked straight at the man and said to him in a loud voice: “Stand up straight on your feet!” The man jumped up and started walking around.  It is said when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they started shouting in their own Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us!” They gave Barnabas the name Zeus and Paul the name Hermes because he was the chief speaker.

Then I read that the priest of the god Zeus, whose temple stood just outside the town, brought bulls and flowers to the gate, for him and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice to the apostles.  Both Barnabas and Paul heard what they were about to do, they tore their clothes and ran into the middle of the crowds, shouting, “Why are you doing this? We ourselves are only human beings like you! We are here to announce the Good News, to turn you away from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven, earth, sea and all that is in them. In the past he allowed all people to go their own way. But he has always given evidence of his existence by the good things he does: he gives you rain from heaven and crops at the right times; he gives you food and fills your hearts with happiness.” Even with these words, the apostles could hardly keep the crowd from offering a sacrifice to them.

It is clear the people in Lystra believed that both Barnabas and Paul where gods.  They saw Paul speak a word and the cripple man was healed. It moved them in such a way they gave Barnabas and Paul new names “Zeus and Hermes.”

We don’t want to be seen as a god but we do want to bring the Word of God to the people the same way Paul and Barnabas did. Paul told the people they weren’t god’s but mere people exactly the same as everybody else the only difference was that they were serving a living God.

Prayer

Lord as mere people we pray that the Holy Spirit will fill our lives and help us in bold when speaking about You. You are our Creator, You are the lover of our souls, You are in control of each and everything we do. Lord bless this word today and let it open the eyes of the people. Guide us and teach us in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth I pray. Amen

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#”God-Wrestler” are you a “Jacob?”

Genesis 32: 25 NOG “When the man saw that he could not win against Jacob, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that it was dislocated as they wrestled.”

Can you imagine wrestling with God?  I think it was something amazing to experience.  Jacob seemed to be a strong man and he was very determined not to give up.

I wonder what God thinks of us when we step into His wrestling ring.  As you place your foot on that mat and grab hold of God.  Are you willing to wrestle with God for something you need in your life this very minute?  Do you think it’s just not the right thing to do?

If you continue reading Genesis chapter 32 you will see that in the end “the man said, “But no longer, your name is no longer Jacob.  From now on it’s Israel (God-Wrestler); you’ve wrestled with God and you’ve come through.”  Oh my goodness, Jacob persevered and won.

We have many battles and we should choose them and not step into every fight we encounter.  The war is still to come and while we are still preparing for that great day we need to say focused.

Every time something happens in your life and you seem to be struggling and just cannot move forward, wouldn’t you say this is “wrestling with God?”

Think about it, sometimes everything is a struggle, you just cannot find the right job.  You just cannot say the right thing, then there is a fight.  You just cannot do the right thing then you are in trouble.  You just seem to be struggling with your finances and you seem to be struggling with life as a matter of fact.  Think about it are you in God’s arena right now? Is this your WWE smack down?

Prayer

What a privilege it is to come into Your presence today Abba Father.  If we have been selected to come into your arena right now we pray for the necessary wisdom and insight that You want us to learn.  Our struggles seem so hard and difficult at times and we don’t always seem to understand everything but today, we pray help us understand what You want us to learn.  Teach us in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen

You are covered by day and by night

Exodus 13: 21 AMP “The [presence of the] LORD was going before them by day in a pillar (column) of the cloud to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they would travel by day and by night.”

Reading the Hebrew words and their means for some the words today I want to tell you about the word “Ananei HaKavod which means the Cloud of Glory.”  I was so impressed by the meaning I really wanted to share my thinking.  It is said that the Jewish Rabbis called this cloud the “Ananei HaKavod.”  They teach that in this cloud God provides for His people and that God keeps them safe.  Now that is inside the cloud.  I also realized that without the cloud the people would have been fearful but the knew God was with them during their travels because of the cloud, they saw His presence with them.  God sustained them during their travel through the desert for 40 years.

Life can come at you from all angles and you might just be facing a trial right now.  In my own life, I am also going through situations, things that I just cannot control and I do not have any control over them.  It isn’t fun and I do get frustrated but today as I sit here thinking about the Cloud of Glory I feel confident that I too may approach the LORD and ask Him to cover me.

I believe that God is still the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  I believe that He will keep me and that He will sustain my life.  I may feel that I am in the desert right now, but I also believe that His cloud is covering me by day and the Fire column at night.  I believe that I am covered day and night.  So are you.

Prayer

I stand here in absolute awe of You LORD God Almighty.  My life is in Your hands and I believe that Your Cloud of Glory is covering me this very minute.  I cannot go anywhere without You.  You are with me now and always.  In awe and adoration I praise and worship You for the knowledge and I thank You, Lord, that You are with me.  Each and every day in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  Amen

pEople pLeasers?

Galatians 1: 10 NLT “I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God.”

It’s easy to fall into that trap of trying to please everybody and trying to keep everybody happy because you want some peace and quiet at home.  The problem with that is that you are constantly walking on eggs.

Then there are times when you are supposed to be doing things that are pleasing to the Lord but you also have to keep everybody around you happy.  Causing you to slip up with your quiet time and bible reading.

If you are anything like me, you need to stand up for what you believe in, I am supposedly a freak because I can only speak about the LORD.  I have other interests but to be honest I love to talk about God.

I found when I was working that people couldn’t really get along with me because they felt uncomfortable in my company.  I was told that I acted “holy than thou” which to my way of thinking wasn’t the case.  I was just trying to be friendly and kind, listening to what people said and if I thought of something that they were doing I would say where it could be found in the Bible.  This made a number of people mad.  Do not tell them stories in the Bible that reflect on their lives.  I never thought it was a bad thing but apparently, it was.

I haven’t changed much I still enjoy talking about the LORD and I still remind people of what they are doing may or may not resonate with the LORD.

Who are you pleasing, God or people?

Prayer

Lord, it is difficult to be different and stand out from the crowd, I always feel like a square being pushed into a round whole.  I never seem to fit in and I don’t always understand people’s point of view.  Lord, help me to never disappoint You.  I don’t want to be a people pleaser I want to be on Your side all the time.  Show me the way forward and lead me in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ.  Amen

tHe Darkest hOur oF the Night comes Just bEfore the dAwn.

Galatians 6: 9AMP “Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap if we do not give in.”

I am thinking of a specific person in my personal life, this lady is hard working and really goes the extra mile.  I just feel sorry that she has been influenced by someone in her own personal life.  This lady has the ability to be friendly, stay kind and is normally very generous.

The funny thing is this person was always doing good deeds and never trying to receive accolades and cheers of greatness until the person she knows started pointed out that she is not getting these important accolades.

My dear friend doesn’t lose heart and do not grow weary and do not become discouraged in doing good, for you will receive at the proper time and you will reap if you do not give in.  Life can be trying at times and it isn’t easy but I think God wants each and every one of us to get up and dust ourselves off.  Do the good we can and never stop being kind and loving.

Time moves fast and before we know it, the time has run out for all of us.  The thing is we are all growing older and older each and every day.  We have to do what we can and it is expected that we do our best all the time and if not our best we should strive to do our best.  This business of giving up isn’t allowed in our lives.  We have to continue and never ever give up, these words must not come out of our mouths.

We all are God’s precious jewels, He bought each one of us with a price, the Life Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Come on people, lets us never give up on God or people!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give us the strength to stay focused and never grow weary or become discouraged in doing good.  Lord, we need Your strength and we need You to help us face each day.  We cannot do this on our own we love and worship You with all our heart, body and mind and soul in the lovely name of the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  Amen

 

Prayer of Thanks

 

Daniel 2: 23 “I thank You and praise You, O God of my Fathers, For You have given me wisdom and power; even now You have made known to me what we requested of You, for You have made known to us [the solution to] the king’s matter.”

Some battle can be intense I mean really intense you feel that if you don’t win this battle your whole life is going to fall apart.  Then you find on the other hand that in the midst of the battle you actually should have been praying about this particular problem but the carnal you thought better.  Are you able to relate?

My battles are intense for me but in fact, they probably aren’t that big of a problem, I think they are more focused on relationship issues and to be honest I have to work hard at it.

Daniel was faced with a problem and it would have affected all of them Daniel and the rest of the Kings wise men.  Daniel was a Godfearing man and spoke to God all the time.  What I like about Daniel is that he brings praise and worships the LORD God his Father for the wisdom and power that Daniel received.  Daniel didn’t believe he was this know it all, we asked the LORD to help him and then God answered Daniel.

As you know I have been going through a number of battles and my mood and attitude was also affected by these circumstances.  I have had to deal with family issues, relationship issue and other issues that I just can’t talk about.  The thing is I always want to see if I can sort the problems out first before I actually bring it to the Lord.  So carnal wouldn’t you agree, but that is exactly what I do.

As of late I have decided enough is enough, I am not able to deal with all of this nonsense and I cannot do this anymore.  Losing weight and feeling stressed because I lost my appetite and feel miserable and stiff-necked all the time isn’t doing me any good.

I sat on my bed one morning pouring out all my problems before the Lord, crying and fighting and crying.  After all the praying, murmuring and moaning, I asked the LORD humbly to forgive me.  To forgive my family and my forefathers and anybody that may have been instrumental in making God angry.  I also was thinking of Nehemiah and thought let me also ask for God’s promises to be realized in my own life.

With that said and done, I reminded God of His promises and I left it at that.  Confessing of sin and walking away from them is important and getting right with God is even more important.  This is where I need to come in with the Praising now.

Everything said and done, I believe that God is faithful and that He listens to our heartfelt cries, He can see the pain and hurt we are enduring.

Praise You, ABBA Father for being there when I needed You most.  Praise YOU. LORD for answered prayers.  Praise You for the time that I can spend in Your presence.  Praise You for the loving kindness and mercy You have towards me.  Praise You for answered prayers.  Praise You for being kind and merciful.  Forgiving me and helping me face a new day.  For gifts undeserved.  For supernatural favor in my life.

Lord, You are awesome and wonderful and I love YOU with all of my heart.

Prayer

Abba Father, In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I want to bring praise to Your Holy Name, I want to say thank You for answered prayers.  Thank You for hearing my cries, thank You for being there for me.  Showing me Your mercy and loving-kindness, thank You also for keeping me still under Your wings.  I take shelter with You and praise You with all my body, heart and soul and mind.  In the Lovely name of the Lord Jesus Christ Amen