Motivational Gifts Test

I have always been a fan of finding out more about myself… Perhaps it’s because I started a bit late with that… I had done some research and I found this awesome online test about 2 years ago… Visiting Legacy Bible Training Centre www.legacytc.co.za for their open day on Monday and listening to Pastor Laurel teach on two of my strongest motivational gifts kind of stirred it up in my heart again… So here’s the deal (being a teacher and server) I thought it would be great for you to learn a bit more about yourself…

Here is the link: http://www.gifttest.org/index.html

These were the results from my test… would love to hear from some of you what your test results came to:

Jan xxx

Laverne Coetzee - Never Underestimate Small Beginnings...

Since I was young I've always wanted to get involved in music - in fact, I believe it is in my blood since everyone of my family members can either sing or play an instrument.But growing up we were in the unfortunate position where we did not have money to spend on anything other than the necessities, which also meant no extra-curricular activities. 

I must confess that I never made my need to play the piano vocal (as far as I can remember), so I thought I'd go for the next best thing and join any free classes that were offered at school. So, among the many classes that I joined was the choir, the orchestra and recorder classes. Many people see the recorder as an irritating instrument, I see it as God's first step for my life. On the one hand I was realizing my singing dream by singing in one of Gauteng's top school choirs and on the other hand I was making music by playing instruments (the recorder and the xylophone).

We then ended up moving to Cape Town where I decided not to join the choir, but I continued doing my recorder classes/exams until the end of my primary school. Starting High School all the musical dreams seemed to fade as everything else around me became more important.

Then, in 2007 God drew me into His family when I got saved and in the winter of 2008 I did a song item with my recorder at the church's talent show. That September month I asked my cell leader, also music director and keyboard player, to teach me how to play. Here my recorder skills came in handy as I could read music already. God prepared me for this moment!

By January 2009 I started out in the worship team and after 2 months I was put on the synthesizer and by 2010 I was the keyboard player for one of the 2 music teams.

After not wanting to open my mouth to sing in front of other people or even when I had my keyboard lessons, God gave me the confidence to volunteer to sing when we started our Young Adults Band. The doors were opened and I was now singing in the band which went "live" only 3 weeks ago - although my legs were shaky and I couldn't play properly, I knew that this is where God wanted me to be and to know that He was the one who had opened the door for me to be where I am.

Now, I do know that God isn't finished with me yet - it is just something that you feel inside and I know that He is leading me in a specific direction.

As encouragement - don't give up on the dream that God has put in your heart. It took me 16 years to get to the point where I started playing the keyboard and even longer to start singing for Him again, but it was all worth the wait - it was all in His perfect timing.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

My Beautiful Sister... Ruth

We have some seriously interesting family dynamics, but I love each and every single one of my 7 brothers and sisters... Today is about a very special young lady, one of my dearest sisters who have a very special place in my heart. Ruth. It will be her 14^th Birthday on Monday… I almost cannot believe it… it was just the other day that I was carrying her around the house singing her to sleep or sitting on my bed drawing pictures with her… I am so proud of her - to see how she has grown into a lovely young lady...

She has so many amazing gifts and a beautiful heart that absolutely adores God!

When I was visiting my family in London earlier this year my mom was telling me about how my sister went on a school trip to Spain and how she was singing to the kids on the bus from her song-book filled with all her own compositions… the kids were crying as they were listening to her and had no idea she was so talented. She reminds me so much of me – she loves to write songs that have a message in it about the Love of God… I hope that someday we can write songs together that will touch thousands of hearts around the world!

Here’s a little info on the sweetest and wisest sister… and as you read you may even see a mini-me…

Nickname: Ruthtoothy

Grade: Year 9

Favourite Colour: Purple

Favourite Sweeties: Multizers

Who are your best friends: Eliza, Charlotte and Siobhan

Favourite Programme on TV: Farscape

Favourite Movie: The Proposal

Hobbies: Writing Songs and Writing Stories

Talents: Singing, Acting, Story Writing & Art

Favourite Outfit or Clothing: Shorts and a short sleeve t-shirt

What would you like to become one day: A Professional Singer

Advice for any young girls your age: Keep our heart and mind on God and nothing will go wrong

One thing you think every single person on earth must have: Trust in and Love for God

Here are two links to some of Ruth’s songs that she wrote herself:

http://www.sethjeffery.com/muz/Don'tGo.mp3

(A song she wrote that Hillsong Kids may be doing soon)

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JRHM_LiSFE 

(Singing a song she wrote at her school awards evening)

1 Timothy 4:12 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

Capturing Lightening & Applying Special Effects

I am no genius photographer or anything but I love capturing lightening as most of you would have seen by now… So here is a step by step and a special link to a photo-editing programme you can all download for free…

You’ll need a camera that shoots HD Movies, Quick Time Player (best for pausing on frames) and a programme called: Photoscape (which you can download free here: http://www.photoscape.org/ps/main/download.php)

I use a NIKON S8000 – It’s has an HD Movie feature which I totally love to use for stills… Your pictures will come out best with HD quality…

1.       Firstly – you’ll record your movie

2.       After Importing the movie – play it through Quick Time Player… the nice thing about Quick time player is you can toggle frame by frame and stop on the shot you like best.

3.       Hit the Ctrl + Print Screen Button

4.       In photoscape open up – Editor and paste your image… you’ll see that your entire screen has been captured so you will have to “crop” the image.

5.       Once you have cropped the image you may apply filters that will bring out the look you are going for…

        Applying a FILM FILTER:

             Applying VIGNETTE:

Applying ANTIQUE PHOTO FILTER:

Hope you enjoy filming and editing away at your stills :)