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Bigger Bags are Back

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Girls, I’m not gonna lie, I'm so happy that bigger handbags have made a comeback. The crossbody bags were starting to hurt my shoulders and I never got round to purchasing the perfect moon bag (fanny pack). The smaller handbags are also quite limited for space even for the mere essentials – lip-products, cellphone, wallet and keys. Like with everything, there are pro’s and con’s…a bigger handbag means a whole lot more room to carry stuff but when you’re a mom and a wife, your bag becomes the family bag – the good old “I don’t have space in my bag” excuse no longer works!   It is convenient not having to lug around more than one bag which was the case when mini-bags were on trend, I remember taking a mini-bag to the office but keeping my wallet and keys in my laptop bag because the mini was not practical but rather cute and fashionable. Keeping a bigger bag neat can also be challenging and many smaller essentials, like lipsticks or keys ending up at the bottom of it, making them d...
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DEVOTIONAL: Philippians 1:6

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  "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ". This Bible verse is special to me, specifically the last part of it but lets start at the beginning.  "He who has begun a good work in you" - God knew us before we entered this world. He had a plan for us from our inception. He has always wanted us to be more like Him and will put challenges and achievements on our path so that we may see His hand and ultimately use it to glorify Him. We were born into purpose and each day we are on this beautiful Earth God is using our life experiences to shape us into the people He has called us to be from the minute He thought the world needed us.  Although God wants us to be like Him, He knows our human nature, that we are fallible and sinful. Despite this, He does not give up on us - how thankful we should be! Even when we fall short of the people God has called us to be, He continues to work on us, moulding us into the people we are s...
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Location: Cape Town, South Africa
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DEVOTIONAL: Ephesians 4:32

  "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." Sometimes Christianity is hard. God calls us to do difficult things such as forgiving those who have hurt us and to be kind to even those who are unkind to us. It's so much easier to write people off but then we are reminded that God forgives us daily and so if He can do that, who are we to not do the same for others? We need to allow ourselves some grace.  I don't think we should be hard on ourselves when we find these things difficult to do, it doesn't make us bad people or bad Christians but rather it proves that we are human. I think if we pause and think about it we will find that there are circumstances where we have forgiven and been tenderhearted and kind and so we must trust that we are capable of doing that again.  It is harder to forgive some people, for example family who have disappointed us, whereas on the flip side, forgiving someone who has forced t...
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Location: Cape Town, South Africa
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DEVOTIONAL: John 16:33

 "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on Earth you will have many trials and sorrows but take heart because I have overcome the world." We worry so much, too much it would seem when reading The Word. I would say, it's hard not to worry when we see the condition of the world. In this passage God acknowledges that we will face many trials and sorrows but then He goes on to encourage us not to worry because He has overcome the world. This passage reminds us to tap into our faith even when it feels difficult to do.  If were honest with ourselves, it is hard to be a Christian. God expects a lot from us , He sent Jesus to set the bar very very high and then calls us to be like Him! So often, we naturally fail at what He tells us to do - it's hard to love thy neighbour as we love ourselves especially if the neighbour isn't very nice, sometimes it's hard to honour thy mother and father because their ways seem archaic and it feels like they ...
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Location: Cape Town, South Africa
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DEVOTIONAL: Proverbs 11:13

 "A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter." Gossip. I don't think anyone can honestly say they have never engaged in gossip. In an unhealthy way, it brings people together. People unite in their dislike for a certain individual but it is never without harm. Nothing good really comes from it as its often slander of another. Yes, sometimes, especially as women, we need to vent to a friend, to get what is bothering us off our chests, it feels theraputic but the danger in it lies when untruths are spoken, when harm is wished upon the other person - when our thoughts and words become ugly. This is the risk and we should take steps to avoid it. The best is to talk to God - vent to Him. He is a safe space and will not repeat what's been said to another.  This morning let us ask God to keep us out of the presence of those who gossip. Help us to separate ourselves from the conversation when gossip rears its ugly head. Let us no...
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Location: Cape Town, South Africa
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DEVOTIONAL: Colossians 3:23

  "Whatever you do, do it with all Your heart as doing it for the Lord not for man." The sayings "always do your best" and "put your best foot forward" come to mind when I read this Bible verse. Everyday by the grace of God, we get up and go about doing all the things that need to be done, be it at home or at work. I don't think anyone gets up in the morning and thinks about how they're going to half ass what they need to do for the day. We get up and step out with the intention of giving our best.  There are also times when we feel that what we do is not appreciated or recognised and so we tend to become despondent. For example, our children may seem ungrateful for the things we do for them or sacrifices made for them, or the hard work and extra time put in at work may go unrecognised or you may have been overlooked for a workplace promotion even though you and everyone else knows you are the best person for the job. Situations like these can leav...
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Location: South Africa
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DEVOTIONAL: 1 Peter 5:7

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." We are living in a time where mental health is a real concern. Anxiety and depression are but a few mental health challenges confronting so many people today. We carry so much, we worry too much, we often over extend ourselves because life is demanding.  So much is expected from us. Babies are expected to reach milestones at prescribed timelines. Children are expected to perform well academically and at sport throughout their schooling years and even at university level. Once we reach the working world performance is monitored and reviewed. It's constant worry about our children, our spouses, our parents and our livelihoods. It can feel and often is overwhelming.  And yet God's word tells us not to worry...He says that He wants to carry all our burdens (fear and anxieties). Far too often we forget that we are not alone, that He is with us and wants to help us. Sometimes it's hard to imagine someone really ...
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