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Yielding the mind

Reflection Friday

I see pink roses in the mirror. Are we seeing the same thing? Green stems? Yes? What does this tell you? That the mirror is reflecting bunch of pink roses that are in its vicinity or better still; are held over the mirror. So we agree that the mirror cannot create what it wants. It cannot decide “Oh I want to show the face of a woman” or “Today I will show the sky,” No. The mirror does not have the power to choose its reflection. It can only flash back the exact image of what is infront of it. Whether you like it or not, if you put pink roses infront of a mirror that’s exactly what you’ll see. You can cry or be angry but it’s the pink roses you’ll still see. It means the mirror reflects the truth not the wishes of your heart. If you wear a black dress, it’s the black dress you’ll see in the mirror not the yellow one you saw at the store and wished to have . The person who comes out in your day to day is a mirror of the person inside of you. If you speak bitter angry words, the inner you is exactly like that.

You don’t “wish” to be a good person, you must become a good person. We live in a world of lies. We want to have friends who lie to us so that we don’t confront the problem. Imagine if I came here and told you , “Those roses are blue” you’d think “She’s crazy!” Why? Because you can see and you know the truth. We live in bubbles of lies, either the ones created by our fear to face the person in the mirror or the ones created by the experiences we’ve had in life. You can run from the mirror but you cannot run from the person. I don’t carry our bathroom mirror everywhere , I leave it at home but what it reflects when I leave the house is what people will see. Running from the reflection doesn’t change the reflection. Running from your trauma won’t change it. Running from facing the weak, tired, broken, inner man will not change him.

I have some black spots on my face sometimes I don’t want to go out with them showing, so I put make up. There’s something called a concealer. What it does is that it hides dark circles, age spots, blemishes and more by hiding pigments and blending these imperfections into the skin. As powerful and effective as that is, you will have to wash your face. And there is that face again Vanessa, the attempt to disguise imperfections , the discolouration and dark circles worked BUT for a few hours. There we go again, time for confrontation.

Mirrors can evoke strong feelings in us – and they can also be incredibly powerful tools for changing our perspective and seeing parts of ourselves that are usually hidden as we look out into the world. Our desire to be seen and reflected is basic and innate and so is our desire to be fake when what we want to see is not necessarily the reality. Self reflection is the key to breaking free from the inner critic and the external world that strokes our fears and anxieties that we are never safe, never good enough, and never have enough. Some of your thoughts about other people are actually your thoughts about yourself.

It’s of uttermost importance to occasionally, look into your own eyes for just a moment and ask – who am I? How am I really feeling? Am I a pink rose or do I run from the truth by creating lies that fuel my confidence? Am l constantly lying to myself because I’m afraid to face the real me? Am I healed? Am I hurting myself and others? Am l kind? Am I proud? Am l too self conscious that I can’t enjoy one moment in the sun? Am l a people pleaser so I work myself to the bone to make others happy while l suffer from not giving myself the attention I need? Am I too emotional so I make impulsive decisions that aren’t thought through just because I want to silence the loud emotions? Am l angry? Am l a good friend? Am I a good lover? Am I a good sibling? How do I know? Do I listen to others when they speak or it’s only my voice that must echo through the room? Am I a 25 year old baby – wanting to run from responsibility by blaming apartheid or slavery for my laziness , immaturity and life of unfruitfulness? What is the truth? When I discover the truth will l make amends or will l just run with the lies because everyone already knows me as “that” person?

You choose the image that is mirrored . If you’re not happy with it , change it. I had to change the angry Vanessa, I didn’t like her. If I did not intentionally change her, even those who love me with their whole being would leave. You cannot blame people for walking away from the nonsense you create – you need to STOP! As long as you keep making excuses, you’ll keep making mistakes and you will be responsible for the consequences. We have the word of God to help us every step of the journey! Away with the lies! Let us face the word of truth so we can live joyful fruitful lives, as beautiful as those pink roses.

“Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬


IF YOU NEED HELP, GET HELP! Stop running from the reflection. You’re headed to a dead-end. Mirror mirror on the wall ; who is this person I see?

Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, “Why stay here until we die?”
‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭7‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV
‬‬

It’s time to make amends.

Categories
Yielding the mind

Chilled Thursday

Hey family!!! It’s Chilled Thursday! Grab your popcorn!

Let me not lie to you, today I’m really going to grab a whole plate of food. I feel like l have not been taking care of myself well – “dietically” . So youse can grab popcorn o BUT as for me and my household L🤣L!

One thing about me ? I will laugh. So today I got some links for us to just laugh. This one that you carry a sad face all week? It won’t change the situation. You deserve to laugh. I promise you that as long as we stay focused on God, all these cares we have will be taken care of. Cheer up! Letssss go!!!!

Link 1 : Watch now

Link 2 : Watch now

Link 3 : Watch now

Link 4 : Watch now

Link 5 : Watch now

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Yielding the mind

Worship Wednesday

“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

One of the things I’ve learnt about praise and worship is that true worshippers are yielded worshippers. Worshippers who do not do it because they’re forced to “lift up their hands” or “bow with me”. Worshippers who do not wait to “feel like” worshipping. True worshippers who will yield to the prompt to worship any day at any time. Many of us only hear the prompt to do warfare then we leave praise and worship for the worship team on Sunday. 

David says do not forget His benefits. This means there are people who forget His benefits. They suffer from spiritual amnesia and think they’re where they are because of their efforts. Do not forget that you fasted for this job that you’re going to celebrate at the bar. Do not be so quick to forget that the husband/wife was given by God . How could you forget that Samuel came from the altar? The people of old caught the drift! The power of praise ! The power of worship!

I had a powerful session of praise last night and the human in me was asking “Why’re you praising at this time of the night? What is the testimony?” My answer was, HE IS GOOD! I praise because He is good. We should never have conditions to our praise and worship. Always praise! Always worship!

I know of people who cried so much to receive what they have now but the moment they got the breakthrough they did not even have a minute to testify ; stopped going to church; it is shocking! Moses warned Israel about this ;

be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

On this Worship Wednesday- remember. On any other day – remember. Do not forget that your eyes see and you didn’t have to beg for it. Your ears hear and you didn’t have to fast for it. Remember that you have a home, you have shoes, you have water to drink, you have GOD!!! Spiritual amnesia is demonic! It seeks to take Gods glory and places it on the abilities of man. May you never be a part of those who forget Him!

Would you like us to have live worship sessions on YouTube for yielded? 😆

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Yielding the mind

When you leave …

“When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Your value is known when you are gone? Yes. That’s it. That’s probably why your past keeps knocking on your door. You left. When you leave your value leaves with you. When you leave , your gifts leave with you. When you pack up, your skills, your laughter, your aura, your charisma, your services, pack up with you. When you leave…

The same Pharoah who mistreated Israel, enslaved them for many years, treated them lower than animals realises when they leave that “Oh no! These people are needed!” Your oppressor knows that you have that gift, they just hope you don’t see it so they can keep mistreating you. “He didn’t treat me right , he didn’t know l was a good woman,” Sweetheart, he knew. The system of oppression is built in such a way that the oppressed doesn’t know it , that way they can keep feeling worthless while the system makes use of the “worthiness”. Was Pharoah going to change his treatment to Israel, oh no!

”What have we done? We have let them go and lost their services!” When I read this I was wowed at the fact that there was no regret about how he wickedly treated them, he only regretted letting them go because their absence meant some needs couldn’t be met. I am speaking to you who is sticking around in abuse thinking it will get better. Pharoah is not like that. It will get worse. I am writing to you who thinks maltreatment will end when you work harder, Israel did it and all they were to Pharoah was “a people of service.”

The emigration left Eastern Egypt a solitude, suspended all the royal works that were in progress, threw the whole course of economy and business into disorder. Beforehand, neither the king nor the people had understood what the loss of six hundred thousand labourers—some of them highly skilled—would be. When Israel was gone they realised it; consequently both king and people regretted what they had done. They were repenting only for their sake. “Lord forgive me” only for the sake of your conscience not because you really want to change.

When you leave the place of abuse , trauma, anger, bitterness, the devil will come after you. What’s his stance? “Vanessa can’t leave, I will lose her services of beating people” (I don’t though it’s just an example)? “Oh I can’t let Paul go , I will lose his services of persecuting the church!” The past can refuse to let you go because in so doing, the kingdom of darkness loses one of its broken soldiers whose services help build the kingdom of darkness. When you leave you’ll hear the knock. Pharoah and his officials will come seeking because they did not let you go willingly, it was by God that you’ve been set free. Pharoah will surely say “How can l let this young man go, his lust is a service to my kingdom, no!”

What am l saying? The world and its people know your value. You being blind to it is to your disadvantage. People know how they treat you, they continue because you allow it. When you leave they will wish you stayed not because they think you’re cute but because there are services you rendered that they can’t do. You’re a unique person! You’re special! Your absence is felt in the palace. Your absence is a hit to the kingdom of Satan, a huge blow. When you leave the past, leave forever. Do not stay where you’re “needed” only, stay where you’re “valued” where you’re “celebrated” where you’re “loved”. Any other place is a system built by the devil to enslave you and use you like you mean nothing.

When you leave…

Israel, when you leave Egypt, stay gone.

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Yielding the mind

Happy Mother’s Day

Her children show their appreciation, and her husband praises her.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31‬:‭28‬ ‭GNT‬‬

Happy belated Mother’s Day to all the beautiful mothers. I honour you. You guys are special. I have been privileged to have been raised by one of the most amazing women in the world. Honestly, my mother is awesome. Growing up there was a time I disliked her – I’m being for real rn. You know when you’re at the age where you think your parents are the worst even though they’re not? [I’m sorry if this triggers those who grew up in abusive environments] I thought “Oh this lady hates me. Why is she forcing me to go to church? Why did she hit me yesterday? Why is she making me sweep the yard so early in the morning?” It all felt like hate but it takes growth, when you face this life, you realise oh that was love. Many people still treat their mothers like nothing because they haven’t had even a day in the world without the support of their moms. My friend, get your life in order, love and honour that woman before it’s too late.

So today I celebrate every woman who plays the role of mother to me from my sisters to my spiritual mother to the mothers in the church who have shown me love, to my friend’s mothers who have taken me in. Ooh happy Mother’s Day to my future mother-in-law, you’re blessed Ma LOL ! (I must celebrate her guys it’s important 🫠😂)

Anyhoo! I just wanted to show up and love on you beautiful ladies! May every sacrifice you’ve made for your children never be in vain. May the Lord reward you for being good stewards of the gifts God gave you! May He keep you! May He heal every wound that was never healed because you were too busy taking care of children to feel. May God stitch your brokenness. Every arrow that was sent against your health shall surely return to sender! No disease, no sickness, no virus, no infection shall be found in your bodies! May The Lord give you peace. May your children not forget you , may they remember your birthday as you remember theirs, May they replace those old shoes you’ve been wearing for years, May your children bring you good gifts and laughter! You have done well moms! Well done beautiful! Well done hot girl ! Well done darling! First of all , Labour did a number on you but you pushed through, you’re a star! ❤️

To all those who lost their moms , hugs. To those who lost their children, hugs . To the woman who keeps miscarrying, hugs, you’ll surely carry your child this year. To the young lady who made a bad choice of abortion because of whatever reason, receive His forgiveness, hugs. To the mothers separated from their children, hugs. To the mothers in Zion who never get a thank you for all their intercession, hugs. To the mothers who feel forgotten and neglected by their children, hugs. You’re all loved. 💜

Shall l show you my mom?

May God bless you mommies! Live long to see your children’s children’s children. 💞
Categories
Yielding the mind

Reflection Friday

Don’t be afraid to correct your young ones; a spanking won’t kill them. A good spanking, in fact, might save them from something worse than death.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭23‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Hey my loves. What comes to your mind when you read this scripture? I bet you thought of a naughty child being spanked by their parent. I bet you thought of how your parents used to spank you in your childhood. My Dad only hit me once and that was it but my mom? My mom read that scripture and soaked in it LOL! It was her rhema. I was a stubborn child. Strong willed. Always fighting with Valerie. My mom just knew the way with me was the highway. She’s a sweet lady but you fold on her, you get the belt. Now the bible clearly tells us that God is Our Father, has He given you a spank this week?

I have had a couple of spanks and correction from God this week – well at least it felt like God was rebuking me for somethings. It was hard but I accepted it because it is proof of His love for His princess ( me) . I had to sit down and selah. I realised, the correction God brought to me through a friend was actually right. A need. My darlings, if you refuse correction, you literally refuse life. Are you the kind of person that hates being told you’re wrong? It bruises our pride but it is necessary. There are certain things I liked but had to let go of because with growth comes decisions or vice versa. A little spanking to get you in order does not kill you, it builds you.

I believe that God is both a gentle parent and a strict one. “Do not steal” is a commandment not a suggestion. The devil will make you feel like you are being bullied but that is not true. As we reflect on our week, what decisions did you make that you need to correct? What needs a fix? Is it your attitude? Your words? Your character? Pride? Is it impoliteness to yourself and to others? Is it laziness? Procrastination? A child that repeats the same mistake 20 times is an abnormal child. His/her growth is stunted. Do we have stunted growth , only growing physically but mentally and emotionally still on milk? If your boss says “Please redo this document it’s not done correctly,” do not say “They don’t even pay me much. I won’t do it.” You are stunting your own growth. Go back and check if really you did well and work on it.

If God told you what you’re doing is wrong would you change it or would you try to run from it by creating excuses or reasons why you’re right. I have done that a lot of times and it kept me on one level for many years. Nobody could correct me. You try it you become an enemy. What do l do now? l want to finish the race which I am running, l reflect, I accept the correction, have it bruise my ego because the process is not to kill me but to make me. If we reject correction we must accept the consequences. Face it now or it will destroy you later. The world is a mess now because nobody wants to be corrected, not the government, not students; our greatest enemy is our pride. Let’s work on that today . I assure you we will never go wrong . There are things I can’t ever dream of doing now because my Mom has already fixed that problem 🤣😬 hallelujah!

The Lord said to Cain, watch out! If you do not, sin is crouching at your door. Did he listen to correction? No. We all know how that story ended. [Gen 4;6-7]

I love you 💞

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Yielding the mind

Chilled Thursday

Hey family. Sending you hugs and love today. I hope you are doing okay. It’s been such a hectic week for me but I’m still shucking! My best friend and l have had conversations where we are like “Why’re we this strong though?” What is strength and what is response to trauma? What is the difference? Are you strong because you’re resilient – strong in the Lord or strong in your muscles that were built to fight even the good things? I actually don’t have the answer too my loves. When the Lord gives it to you, share it with me. Ooo I’ve got something for you!!! Not too big of a gift but if nobody have given it to you today – you can get it from me. A likkle scroll down and you got it!

Don’t get me wrong though, I have good manners. I just wanted the place to smell like love. Just a cheer up for our chilled Thursday. I am not suggesting a movie today, please put the popcorn away before you get a six pack on those cheeks. I want you to do something different. A solo date? Paint your nails? Write on your journal? Get yourself some icecream and read a book? Play worship instrumental and meditate on scripture? I don’t know, just be kinder to yourself. I’m learning in 2024 that all my life I’ve never been intentional about being kind to me. I can go from pillar to post for others but give the bare minimum to myself. I’m changing that bit by bit. I will face even the inner child that didn’t get ice-cream as often as she wanted and give her. Now that my tummy is stronger there’s no telling to how many I can have in a day. Even more so, there’s as balm in Gilead!!

If you feel like reaching out and you’ve a lot on your plate, scroll to the bottom of the page and send me an email. Soon our website will be updated, with features and easy navigation for you, l am excited about that. Now stop scrolling and get chilling!

Remember, we chill wisely over here . Everything is done in wisdom and godliness. If you’re fasting put ice-cream aside and chill with Holy Spirit.

Let me know on the comments what you did on this Thursday.

Bye💞

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Yielding the mind

Worship Wednesday

I beg you to reaffirm your deep love for him.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Praise

Today I want us to get understanding on what happens when we praise, why we praise , etcetera. A Christian who does not know why they do what they do is a Christian that will be easily manipulated by the world. Quick questions, Why do you give? Why do you pray? Why do you go to church? The short message below will give you an understanding on the power of praise!

Worship

If you can’t worship for 5mins what will be your story in heaven? Do you know that there is continuous worship in heaven? This one that we come late to church only to hear the word shows that we aren’t even ready for heaven. It’s like missing the whole wedding ceremony only to come for food. Many people underestimate the power of worship and that is why they crave worship from other people. I linked something for you below, go back to the heart of worship. You used to be a worshipper – go back ..

I beg you to reaffirm your deep love for Him.

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Yielding the mind

Separation

Over the years I’ve had to separate myself from certain people, places and things. It wasn’t always easy but very necessary. “Abraham leave your country!” Sounds like a painful thing to do yes? Abraham had family there, friends, neighbours whom he probably loved , a lot of things going on for him where he was. God knowing all this still calls him out. “Leave!” I somehow understand Lot’s wife. Leaving people isn’t always easy, breaking the relationship, resigning from the company, leaving the city, coming out of an addiction, these are hard things! New things are desirable but they are hard to adapt to. I’ve heard people say “Oh I’ll meet someone new and they’ll ask what my favourite colour is, that’s so boring!” Because doing it all over again Is exhausting. Abraham building a home all over again can be exhausting, Sarah getting some new dinner plates can be tiring because you had a cute set that you had to leave in the Ur of the Chaldeans but that cannot stop you from living out your destiny – so get out of that place!

My daughters go back to your people in Moab!” You can almost feel the emotions they felt in that moment. How can you tell them to go back to a place they left as brides only to come back widowed? A place they left with hopes for a great future. How do they go and leave you knowing you’re in pain? Sometimes you have to separate with people even in their pain. It doesn’t mean you’re insensitive but there’s no balm in your hands to help them. Orpah had to separate. Separation does not only mean they’re bad people, cos some of you were cut off and you started thinking “oh I must be a bad person” and the truth is you are not! They just got to go darling!

I have been in relationships where the other person left. I hope you know people can be physically present but they left a long time ago. I would wonder what’s wrong with me? But when you understand the word you realise there was nothing wrong with Orpah. Joseph needed to go to Egypt. Yes he went in the most painful way but at his age he was called to separate from his family. Joseph and Abraham are not the same! Abraham can obey immediately, Joseph must be forced out! That’s how some of us do not separate from things until we are forced out! You won’t leave the man even if he threatens to kill you so the man will leave you! You won’t resign even if they made you work 24hr so they’ll fire you! If you have a turn in destiny that cannot be missed , God Himself will force you out!

God says to Israel, it’s time to leave Egypt! They do so but in them is a print of Egypt. Separation means emotionally detach as much as you physically detach. If you leave the job , emotionally detach from it too. Stop writing on Facebook daily about your colleagues! Stop banking pictures of the relationship. Stop wishing you could take one more glass. Imagine if Abraham was still emotionally attached, he’d be going back there every month. Why are we still hung up on the past? Where you are right now – Is it because you were led or you are at a place you were told you leave?

So Abram said to Lot, Let there be no strife, I beg of you, between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself, I beg of you, from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you choose the right hand, then I will go to the left.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

Separate business from pleasure. Separate play time from time to be serious. At some point Abraham separated from Lot. Sometimes God Will have you separate from your own family! Don’t let anyone guilt trip you! God can tell you to stop hanging out with the cousin. You don’t hate them but ehh it’s time to separate. Separation can be an overwhelming time of intense mixed emotions, including sadness, guilt, denial, relief, anger, and fear, to name only a few. I want to say to you , you may separate for a while like Joseph and his brothers but you may separate forever like Ruth and Orpah.

I agree that it’s hard. It’s uncomfortable. It feels unfair. But hear what the word of God says;

“So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Do not panic , there is a plan working out for your good! ❤️
 

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Yielding the mind

Preparation

Increase is coming, so enlarge your tent and add extensions to your dwelling. Hold nothing back! Make the tent ropes longer and the pegs stronger. You will increase and spread out in every direction. Your sons and daughters will conquer nations and revitalize desolate cities. Do not fear, for your shame is no more. Do not be embarrassed, for you will not be disgraced. You will forget the inadequacy you felt in your youth and will no longer remember the shame of your widowhood.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭54‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Are you ready? Are you prepared? If you were to be called for the position are you ready? If the woman showed up now are you prepared for her? If the man you’ve been praying for pursues you this day are you ready to be the wife? I bet you said yes! We all say yes because it seems too far to demand our readiness for the now. Many of us are praying for what we are not ready to receive NOW! The bible says increase is coming!!! You better get ready!!! Isaac is coming! Samuel Is coming! Boaz is coming! Esther is coming! Pharaoh is about to call for Joseph! How ready are you for what you’ve been praying for?

My darling, this may seem insignificant but, you should never underestimate the power of preparation. Increase of resources must meet with increase of ability/skills to manage the resources. Many Christians just pray and go for the interview, know nothing about the company, they look like they were shooting for Jeepers Creepers movie, no care in the world about anything , just “I prayed.” Would you marry you? Would you hire you? Would you trust you with a million? With how careless and unprepared we are? No! I’m not talking science, I’m talking my own life experience! I have missed out on opportunities because I was not ready. People have cheated themselves out of good relationships because they still wanted to play around. Hey, increase is coming, wake up! Why is your lamp without oil?!

The 5 foolish virgins are like some of us. We have last minute strategies. Survival plans. They had no idea that it would flop – that too- in the middle of the night – at a crucial time. You need the matric, don’t say il study when they promise me the job! You need to learn the skill! You need to learn how to submit, to love, character development because you may get the crown Vashti but you’ll soon be back home, why? Because there’s always a replacement for Vashti. There is always another candidate who has applied! Of course God qualifies the unqualified, He works miracles BUT It does not mean He encourages laziness and foolishness! My friend, increase is coming, you better be ready!

Preparation is not always fun and many of us do not look forward to doing it.  It can often appear to be boring and uninteresting – particularly to those who love to just chill and relax. Preparation may mean study, be transformed, save, fix, correct, think, for Esther it meant beauty treatment, for you, it may mean character development. For Sarah it means wait, for Ruth it means follow Naomi. For the foolish virgins it meant have enough oil.

For the earth it means , receive Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Prepare for the coming of the King!

“My Father’s house has many dwelling places. If it were otherwise, I would tell you plainly, because I go to prepare a place for you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭2‬ ‭TPT‬‬

If Jesus Himself prepares, how could you just relax?