But...those pieces don’t even match!

I am not a fashion blogger and most probably will never be one… But I thought I’d share this interesting experience I had regarding shopping for an outfit for my album cover and web shoot.

Growing up – if it matched – that’s what worked… A yellow top with jeans and yellow shoes, with yellow bangles and yellow hair goodies – and a yellow bag... with yellow socks! My worst was the frilly dresses my ouma always wanted to buy for me – and I she can testify to this… I hardly wore those dresses! I may have looked pretty – but I was about to get ready to set those on fire…

 I think I got left behind in the early 90’s! My mama is one of the most amazing people I know… a godly woman with strong heart and the greatest personality ever… anyone can get on with her… that’s where my brother, Emil, got his “awesomeness” from. But as beautiful as my mama is – inside and out – I was never really brought up to be concerned about fashion. So here I am… stuck in neutral. Jeans, t-shirt, tekkies… and big dreams of hitting the stage!

I am currently starting a personal CD project which requires me to have a certain image… So I called up a friend of mine, MrsRogero, for some assistance. She helped me by sending me pictures and even wrote out what each “look” should be made up of. I was super excited and decided to tackle SANDTON CITY all by my confident self. She had given me what I can totally see myself in and couldn’t wait to look THAT way!

It was most probably the worst shopping experiences of my life. I kept sending pictures back and forth to her and kept getting colours and things wrong… I walked out of there after 6 hours of shopping in Mr. Price, Cotton-on and Jay Jays… 6 HOURS!!!! By the time I got to Trutworths I just burst into tears and made my way back home – absolutely discouraged. I couldn’t even buy clothes looking at pictures and following written instructions… And I am a seriously visually motivated person! (I most probably gained an extra 5kg’s after all the comfort food from Ocean Basket)…

So I decided to get even more help… Along with my 6 page instruction manual and colours from MrsRogero, I borrowed a friend of mine’s 16 year old daughter and took her to the shops with me… It took her 10min to find 3 outfits for me to try on… I don’t know how she did it… NOTHING matched but EVERYTHING worked (not in my mind – but according to fashion rules… yes!)…

I felt hopeful again! It was then that I realized that it won’t be a bad idea to ask someone who has an eye for these things to jump in and help… like their strength is my weakness – so my strength is their weakness.  And this is where I’d like to apologize to every fashion-blogger and well dressed person I have ever looked down on… I may have thought what you had to say was insignificant in the bigger scheme of life. May you all continue to write and blog regarding the things I am ignorant of!

I’d like to give a huge shout-out to my dear friend Arlene August  with whom I seriously enjoyed this past Saturday’s shopping experience at Sandton City (using MrsRogero's instruction manual). We found the cutest outfit for the big photo-shoot that I am doing this coming weekend… and I could never have done that without her… all under 4 hours of shopping with time for lunch included! J My heart is grateful for fashion savvy people… I NEED YOU! And might I add… We managed to walk away from Sandton City with around R3 from the budget to spare!

Thanks to everyone who made the past 3 weeks of image consulting and shopping an educational experience! I will upload photo's of the "look" soon!

Have a fab week!

Understanding the “Server”…

I have been doing a lot of thinking about people who serve. I am surrounded by them and I most certainly am one myself.

I was having a conversation with a friend this week saying how much I admire my brother and a friend of ours, who no matter what the request are always willing to help out with the greatest of attitudes!  At times they even jump up to serve even when you haven’t asked them to – volunteering their services because serving is a part of who they are. They hear you like a certain type of meal – so they prepare it for you to bless you. They hear that you like a certain band, so they download the album and make a copy of it so you can enjoy it. You ask if they can quickly go to the store and get you something to eat and they do it!

But there is a side of the server that people don’t understand – it’s the same side they themselves don't even understand! So for the uneducated, frustrated and confused person who don’t understand their own behavior let’s take a closer look.

Nature of a server:

Someone who serves loves to know you appreciate their service. Not because they want praise or to be noticed – but because they like to know how they are serving you with adds value to your life. Jesus was an amazing server – Phil 2:7 “But (Jesus) made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men”.

When a server feels like you just expect service from them or don’t appreciate their gift of service they will most certainly stop serving you. Serving is a part of who they are and if they don’t feel appreciate they feel rejected. They do after all serve you with things that cost them… such as their time or material things.

For the server:

One thing servers need to perhaps take into consideration is their motive to serve. This will alleviate a lot of funny business and hurt feelings. Always ask yourself important questions like… Why am I serving this person this way? Where are my boundaries for myself and this person?  How will this act of service impact my life and can I afford it? (Financially or time wise) Is Jesus my inspiration for serving or do I serve man for his approval? and if it is something big… Did God really instruct me to do this or am I acting out of an emotional desire to serve? Eph 6:7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.

It’s always easier to serve someone when your heart is to please God and not man because you know He is the rewarder and that He appreciates your service. As servers we can sometimes expect as much from people as we are willing to give them – but it would be unwise to. Remember that not everyone is the same or even as willing to serve you in return. All our giftings are different.

One thing I have seen lacking in myself as a server has been boundaries. I’ll give and share and do things for people until I am empty and realize it’s unappreciated and then all of a sudden set a tight boundary that puzzles the other person and makes them feel rejected. Setting boundaries earlier will definitely help you to not give out more than you can. It’s up to you as a server to teach people what they can and cannot expect from you. They will respect you more if you have healthy boundaries.

I most certainly do not have all the answers, but I do know this – appreciate the person who always serves you and let them know what they contribute is appreciated because they do take inventory to see if the price is worth it… and as for the server, always check your motive – you can never get hurt when your heart is in the right place! TD Jakes once said that a server cannot be abused unless he/she allows someone to abuse them.

Hope that helps!

What’s that you have in your hand...?

I love to give… it’s not my first nor strongest motivational gift. But giving is great and doesn’t have to be a motivational gift to be able to flow from your heart. It’s an attitude towards God and the people around you. It’s an expression of Love…

I haven’t always been a giver – in fact, I have spent majority of my life being very selfish, stingy and greedy… but meeting a need or the desperate cry of someone’s heart gives me great pleasure. I have learned that when I give I am being a good steward – especially when I am instructed to do something out of the ordinary by God. It increases my faith and boosts my joy… I have also seen how God has increased what He gives me… Some of His blessings came my way – not for my pocket – but as the next seed.

There have been so many times that I have given of my last but have never doubted God to meet any of my needs – or wait no… That’s not the truth (AT ALL)… I have spent plenty days and nights wondering where to next… Questioning whether I just did the right thing by giving THAT away... But in the end I had to force my mind to stay on God’s promises and on the 1000’s of testimonies I already have of what He has brought me through.

God works in ways we truly cannot see – when I have been stuck opportunities have popped up for me to sing at an event or SARS decides to reward me with some cash-back… Often times SAMRO pays money into my account for a song or two of mine playing on the radio… and the list is endless.

May I encourage you – perhaps you holding on too tight to a seed that will touch someone’s heart and bring you a greater harvest when you need it most… allow God to grow and develop your faith to a new level. He knows it’s costing you and that sacrifice is worship unto Him.

Remember this – and this is the hardest test of all – once you’ve given – it’s a gift – it’s not your concern what that person does with what you’ve given them – that’s between them and God – and God see’s their good or bad stewardship – don’t allow your heart to get involved in the business that belongs to God… your seed is sown with joy – water it with the LOVE of GOD… and see the AMAZING things that happen – to your faith and to the people around you.

Remember that really ancient but totally legend song by ALVIN SLAUGHTER – THAT’s WHEN? Writing this post reminds me of the words of that song… take a listen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOXtM0maBuk

Janet

Hungry for Love

Whenever we hear about a “testimony” we always think big things, obvious things, life changing things… but today’s testimony is about something very simple – a prayer answered by God.

Years ago I was sitting in my office feeling lonely (it was shortly after my family moved to live in the UK so I was struggling a little) – at that point emotions dictated everything in my life – and I thank God for helping me grow stronger in Him. I was so hungry for God’s love – but didn’t realize that that was what I needed until He was the only one I could turn to…

I reckon that sometimes we are so quick to turn to people instead of God to meet our needs or to be our problem solver – even in the smallest things. Someone makes us angry and the first thing we do is pick up the phone to off-load on a friend… or we cry out, “Lord how am “I” gonna clean up this mess”? But God knows just what to do to make everything work out for our good.

… That particular day I just prayed silently but with sincerity in my heart. “Lord I need your Love so much… I need to know you are still real and still there and that you LOVE me and desire for me to KNOW your love personally, Please wont you organize me some lunch… that will make me feel so loved”…

Not even 5 minutes later I got a call from Kathy saying that she really just had it on my heart to get me some lunch…

My heart just burst and I couldn’t hold back the tears... I was filled with such awe and gratitude – that the God who is so BIG can take care of things so small… just because He loves us… He heard my prayer and met my need right there where I was at…

I am so grateful to God for His Love… and I am so glad that I have that open door to ask him to share it with me in a special way.



Still taken from: The Visual Bible - Matthew - my favourite scene where Jesus becons us to come follow Him :)



I know He’ll do the same for you too!

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."