Niqui's Blog: February 2012

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

My Pink Tree

I do love my pink tree, it makes my heart so very happy (^^,)

Lotsa love

Niqui xx

Friday, February 24, 2012

Oh! Fun Times Mommy

Yesterday we spent some time at Kenzie's most favourite place, Bambino's in Honeydew

'Oh My Fun Time Place!' she squealed as we entered!

Happy Day (^^,)

Lotsa love

Niqui xx

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Wating in the Wings

I am so grateful to have been raised in the home that I was. Very early in my life both my folks gave their hearts to Jesus, and made the decision to faithfully and whole heartily follow Him.

My Momma was a Jazz pianist at the time. A good one (^^,). She, Dad and a a group of other, radically on fire for Jesus, people started the Rhema band. Eventually they joined up with the Rhema Church and became their worship team.

My earliest memories of church, was band practice. I loved going. I loved to lie on the floor and listen, and watch the muso's.

As a result I love to Praise and Worship my Jesus.

As as youth I was involved in the children's ministry. Did all sorts of stuff from looking after babies, singing in the band at times to heading up the drama dept. for the children's ministry.

Then I got married, and my focus changed. Church was still super important, but Ian was from a smaller church and he battled to fit in to the massive church I was from. We then decided to move Churches. We've moved a couple of times, but now we have found our home.

Ahhh The Barn. We've been fellowshipping at this church for the past 4 years. I love my church.

And I have longed to join the Worship team. BUT something has been holding me back....

You see my Momma is an awesome woman, with the most amazing call on her life. She is a true worship leader, and has the anointing on her life. And my Janni is also anointed with this beautiful gift. She also plays the piano and writes the most beautiful songs, just like Momma.

ME? Well the only instrument I can play is the fool! LOL

But I know that I can sing.

Every time I would pluck up the courage to approach the team, I would have this voice in my head, saying to me, "What if you're compared to your Mom and Sister, you won't measure up you know..."

But the desire to sing has never gone away. I have learned that when you have a persistent desire in your heart 9 times out of 10 it's the Holy Spirit prompting you!

So in January this year, I joined the Worship team.

I want to slap myself upside the head! Why on earth has it taken me so long?! Joining the team, was like coming home in a sense. A beautiful peace has settled into my heart

The first time I took to the stage, I said to Jesus this is for you, and so not about me. I want to sing your praises.

Coming home from band practice last night, I was so aware of the absolute privilege and honour it is for us to be able to praise and worship our God so freely.

Praise and Worship is so much more than singing a few feel good songs, it's all about total and utter surrender to our Saviour and Father.

I have been waiting in the wings for the longest time, all because of my own insecurities. And the thing that has astounded me so much is that, when our Daddy asks us to do something, He alone gives us the Grace and the courage to do it! Our obedience is our sacrifice to our Almighty Father.

What has He laid on your heart to do?

Go on, stop hovering in the wings, take that step!

Lotsa love

Niqui xx

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Just for Fun

Meet the African Hoopoe

(shame about the name...)

I had such a good giggle, while I was photographing this little guy,

I mean, when you look at him, you can see that God really does have a sense of humour!

Thank you Jesus that I was created a person, and not some funny looking birdie, with such an unfortunate name... poor thing must have a complex. Having to say 'parden me' all day! Come to think of it, the other birdies kept quite I wide berth, LOL

Scrounging for food, can be exhausting! Good thing he knows birdie yoga!!

Hope that you have a smile on your face (^^,)

Lotsa love

Niqui xx

Happy Valentines Day

This is a Double Delight rose, from my garden. Look at the heart in the centre (^^,)

Know that today you are our Daddy's delight!! He loves you so!

Lotsa love

Niqui xx

Thursday, February 9, 2012

He Loves You

John 3.16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

"My friend, God wants you to live each day knowing that you are His beloved child, in whom He is well pleased. That is your daily nourishment from Him - to know, believe and confess that you are His beloved and that you are well-pleasing to Him all the time" (Joseph Prince)

It is a good thing to get back down to basics, and remind ourselves that we are truly loved! Jesus gave His live for us, so that we can have a close and meaningful relationship with Him. I dunno about you, but knowing that He loves me with such intensity, makes it a whole lot easier to spend time with Him.

Bask in his love today!!

Don't you just love the smile on this gecko's face? It's a good thing to bask (^^,)

Lotsa love

Niqui xx

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Volksrust

Well hello there, after a very long time (^^,)

I have had a busy few weeks. This year has certainly started off at full blast! I cannot believe that we are in February already! Where does the time go?!

Well on Thursday this week I had a day out of the ordinary. I accompanied Dawn to a farm in Volksrust, which is on the border of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal...

Why on earth would I be going there? Well I am so glad you asked {big grin on my face}

Dawn is in the process of starting to study for her Master' s Degree and in order to do your Master's you have to research something. So Dawn is going to research the confirmation of the Boerperd. This is a South African breed of horse. The Boerperd Society is run by a close knit group of very traditional Afrikaans men. And Dawn had been invited to pitch her idea of her research at their first meeting of the year. Which happened to be on this farm just outside of Volksrust.

I can hear you thinking, so sweet Niqui where do you come into the picture? Well I am to be Dawn's research assistant, more importantly the photographer, 'coz what I know about horses is dangerous LOL

So we hit the road at 4 am in the morning,

When we travel, I am usually the driver. I really love to drive and explore new places. Being Dawn's assistant will take me to places that I would not ordinarily have the opportunity to go to.

It was about a 4 hour drive, the last 30 kilometers were rough going...

Even the road less travelled needs maintenance (I guess there is a Spiritual principle in there somewhere...)

I am very grateful for my little car!! Ashies calls it the tractor, because of it's diesel engine, and boy did it live up to it's name :)

We arrived, yeehaww!!

This is a very old and established farm. It has been in this particular family for 150 years! They are the decendants of the original family who came over with the German missionaries. Shew talk about a bit of history!

It is a breathtakingly beautiful farm nestled in the mountains.

So while Dawn and the men got down to business, I was free to roam... and the best part of all I was able to 'play' with my Dad's (Bill) new camera...

He's lovely, and the most unusual colour, a blue roan, with softest, most velvety nose.

I have been an avid bird watched since I was a young lady, early teens I think. Bill and I share this love, so this next pic is so special. It was my shot of the day! In fact I was so excited when I down loaded it for the first time that I phoned my Dad, and asked him to come over and have a look at it too...

He is an Amethyst Sunbird. And what's so cool is, that the amethyst gem stone is the stone for February!

And this is his mate. (^^,)

Well after a long meeting it was time for Dawn to show the men what she is proposing to do...

So with everyone seated, she gave them a dem, on how she is going to capture the data of the horse's skeletal structure,

They were fascinated with the sticky dots! (too funny)

This was my proudest moment, there is Dawn right in the thick of it. These men have been evaluating these horses, the way that their forefathers did. And for then to open up their doors to an English woman is astounding. This just shows me what the favor of Jesus does. They have invited Dawn to their own farms, to collect data there. Awesome!

After all that excitement, it was time to head on home... but first...