Wendy Grages, Author at 1Africa

What you say affects what you see

January 26, 2017

There have been so many opinions and comments floating around social media after the past few weeks. People are skeptical and afraid and they are not shy to let you know just how they feel. But do we realise that what we say affects what we see?

Have you ever found yourself oblivious to a situation until someone points it out to you? For example, if you are told that a new co-worker is snobbish and rude, that is probably what you will see when you meet them. The truth is that we see people and situations through the lens of what we say and hear.

If you are saying that your situation is impossible and you are not going to be able to make it through, you are probably right. What you say about a situation will affect how you see it.

I am not advocating that we ignore the truth of what we are facing. I am simply suggesting that we can change the way we speak about it. It could be really powerful.

If you tell yourself you can do it, or if you tell yourself you can’t do it, you are right. Words have creative power. After all, God used words to create the heavens and the earth. Our words can create the lens through which we perceive people and situations.

Proverbs 18:21 says this:

Life and death are in the power of the tongue.

That’s a sobering verse, isn’t it? What we say is powerful.

Here’s 3 ways we get better at this:

Speak life – Don’t jump on the negative train. Speak well of people, well of leaders and well of the future.
Look for solutions – It’s much easier to whine and complain. Instead, how about looking for solutions to the problem?
Be the change you want to see – Play your part and do what you can to improve tough situations. Be the example and stand up for what is right.

Our world is facing many challenges. Personally, we may face many challenges too. I believe that if we speak life into tough situations, we may just begin to see things differently.

If you are feeling overwhelmed and cannot see a way forward, we would love to pray with you. Click on the pop up banner or on the link below.

Back to stress?

Wendy Grages

January 24, 2017

It’s the start of a new year which means many of us are back to school or back to work. But could it be that instead, we are back to stress?

It seems that no matter how relaxing our holiday was, it doesn’t take long to feel stressed and overworked. Why is that?

I think the first thing we must do is change the way we view stress. For many of us, stress is a negative thing. Studies suggest that it’s the way we view stress that is bad for our health. It’s not necessarily stress itself.

What if we viewed stress as pressure? When steam builds up in a pressure cooker, it’s not a bad thing. It’s actually a good thing that will help the food cook. When the steam builds up, we know that adjustments have to be made. In order for the pressure to achieve what it’s meant to, it needs to be managed.

It’s the same with stress. Pressure can help us to do what we need to do. It causes us to focus and not waste time. However, if it is not managed, it can result in us feeling tired and overwhelmed.

How can you beat stress?

Breathe – Do you know that taking long, deep breaths can help de-stress your body and your mind. The extra flow of oxygen can bring clarity to your mind and blood flow into your muscles.
Rest – When I have a lot of work to get done, the temptation is to work on my day off. However, I have learnt that when I am rested, I can get more done. Don’t sacrifice your rest. It will backfire on you.
Exercise – This is probably the last thing on your mind when you are feeling stressed. Ironically, doing even 15 minutes of exercise can help you feel energised and relaxed. Even taking a walk around your office building after a stressful meeting can work wonders.

It’s just the beginning of the year and we need to manage our stress so that we can go through this year strong. 2017 has much in store for us. We can miss the blessings if we are overwhelmed by stress. So don’t forget to breathe, rest and exercise this year.

These tips are short-term solutions to everyday stress. The only way to find true peace and rest for your soul is by knowing Jesus Christ. He is the giver of true and lasting peace. If you would like to know more about this, click on the link below or on the pop up.

When what God gives you is not enough

Wendy Grages

January 18, 2017

Have you ever prayed and believed for something? What was the outcome? Have you always received exactly what you prayed for? What do you do when what God gives you is not enough?

It could be that you prayed to pay off your college tuition but God provided only one semester’s fees. Or perhaps you prayed for a car but instead of someone giving you one, they only lent it to you. When we pray in faith and expect miracles, it can be disheartening when we don’t receive exactly what we prayed for.

It could feel like you are living with a half-miracle. It’s a miracle because God came through for you, but what He gave you feels like not quite enough.

What do you do when what God gives you is not enough?

Keep believing

Don’t allow a half-miracle to discourage you. The Bible says that we walk by faith and not by sight. If we could see the outcome, that wouldn’t be faith. Keep believing that God is good and that you will see His promises come to pass in your life.

Trust in God’s ability

We must trust in God’s ability to provide for us. We must trust that He will give us what we need, when we need it. We must keep trusting that God knows what is best for us. There is nothing He cannot do so we must trust in His plan for our lives.

Keep Believing

Even if you are sitting with a half-miracle, keep believing that what you are praying for will come to pass. Keep believing that God will grant you the desires of your heart. Keep believing that at the right time, God will do immeasurably more than you can ask, think or imagine.

If you are feeling discouraged, you need a faith burst to keep you going. I often get a faith burst from reading Scriptures about God’s faithfulness, spending time worshipping God and attending church.

God is good and He does good. You will see His promises come to pass in your life, even if you are sitting with half a miracle.

If you feel far from God and need to connect with Him, we would love to help you do that. Simply click on the banner below or on the pop up for more details.

Stop asking for easy

Wendy Grages

January 17, 2017

I recently saw a post online that said we should stop asking for easy. It intrigued me because 2016 was a particularly challenging year for me.

Here is an excerpt of it:

Everybody wants the prize but nobody is willing to pay the price. Nobody is willing to put in the work. Nobody is willing to make the sacrifice. Everybody expects it to be easy. Nobody said it would be easy. We don’t want it to be easy. If it was easy, then everybody would be doing it. Everybody would be an entrepreneur, everybody would be a millionaire. Everybody would be a successful athlete, or artist, or businessman, or salesperson, or scientist. If you have a dream, if you have a mission, if you have a passion, it’s not going to be easy. Easy shouldn’t even be in the conversation or in your vocabulary. This is supposed to be hard. You should want it to be hard because then no-one can replicate what you create. Anything of value and of meaning is not going to be easy. And that’s how it’s supposed to be.

That is super challenging, isn’t it? I think it’s perfectly natural to want things to be easy. It’s our initial response to want to choose the easier option and to shy away from things that are difficult.

But as you can see from the excerpt of the post, we shouldn’t want it to be easy. As we go back to work or school, let’s keep this at the forefront of our minds. Here’s a few things to consider:

Worthwhile is never easy – Anything worth having or achieving will not come easily. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.
You are limitless – The truth is, God chose you to accomplish great things and with His help, the sky’s the limit on what you can achieve.

Just because it isn’t easy, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.

The next time you feel like it’s too difficult, push through that. After all, you can accomplish anything with God’s help. So stop asking for easy.

We all need God’s help to accomplish what He has called us to do. to find out more about a real relationship with Him, click on the link below or on the pop up banner.

How to stay inspired

Wendy Grages

January 12, 2017

Many of us need to be creative and stay creative. But what do you do when inspiration eludes you? Here’s a few thoughts on how to stay inspired.

Whether you’re writing or working on a project, fresh ideas are always necessary. However, if you’ve been doing something for some time, things can begin to feel stale. Perhaps inspiration that was once came easily is becoming more elusive.

Inspiration is a tricky thing. It cannot be manufactured or duplicated. It only takes a few minutes of staring at a blank page, a blank screen or blank canvas to realise you need inspiration and you need it now.

So how can you stay inspired? Here are a few things that help me:

Read – I know this may sound elementary but it’s true. Read books, magazines and articles. You never know what may jump out at you and spark inspiration.
Write – Jot thoughts down whenever they come to you. Often this is at 3am for me. If I don’t jot the thought down, I will inevitably forget it. You always think you’ll remember, but you won’t. Write it down.
Breathe – I find that when I am in quiet and stillness, my brain can breathe. Many times, our brains are so busy trying to process the sensory overload, it has no capacity to think of something new.
Wait – I always stress out when I need an idea but nothing is coming to my mind. However, without fail, when I need it, it comes. Trust that if you need an idea, it will come to you at the right time.

The Bible tells us that we have the mind of Christ. That means that I am not bound by my natural mind’s limitations. I can pray and trust that God will impart ideas and creativity to me in a supernatural way. Afterall, He is a creator God. In fact, He is the most creative being of all.

Cultivating your relationship with God keeps your soul healthy which facilitates inspiration. To know more about how to cultivate this relationship for yourself, click on the link below or on the pop up.

Fitness – getting back on track

Wendy Grages

January 10, 2017

How are you going in keeping your New Year’s resolutions? Was fitness one of them? Here’s some inspiration for getting your fitness back on track.

I am sure I don’t have to give you the lecture on how important fitness is to your health. There are gyms on every corner and you may even have a membership. However, unless we commit to improving our fitness by exercising, having a gym membership won’t do us much good.

Perhaps the busyness of last year caused your fitness to take a back seat. That happens to all of us. It doesn’t matter what has happened in the past. It’s a new year, full of new possibilities and opportunities. Don’t let other factors determine your fitness. You determine how you will exercise and look after yourself.

The key to getting your fitness back on track is planning ahead. You don’t exercise by accident. And if you think you’ll somehow squeeze it into your day, you are mistaken. Treat fitness like an appointment in your week. Schedule it, plan for it and commit to it.

When it comes to health and exercise, it’s important to know what works best for you. Some people love the gym, others hate it. Maybe sports appeal to you or outdoor activities. If you hate running, don’t force yourself to do it. Find what you enjoy doing and exercise that way.

For me, personally, I love to walk in nature or along the beach. I can walk for hours with a good view and it not feel like tedious exercise. I now know that is the form of exercise best suited to me. So instead of wasting my money on a gym membership, I drive down to the beach and go for a brisk, long walk.

Exercise helps you feel better and keeps you healthy. Let’s schedule at least 30-minutes of exercise three times per week to keep us healthy and fit in 2017.

Although a healthy body is important, a healthy soul is even more so. If you would like to chat to someone about improving the condition of your soul, click on the pop up or link below.

How to nap properly

Wendy Grages

January 5, 2017

With Christmas around the corner, we may all be in need of a midday nap. Do you know that there is an optimal way of napping so that you get the most benefit from it? Here’s all you need to know about how to nap properly.

People may experience a lack of sleep for many reasons. Whether it’s a noisy neighbour, dog barking or a small child keeping you up, getting enough sleep is vital. However, if you find yourself short on sleep, a daytime nap can go a long way to helping your body recover. On the other hand, if you are on holiday and have some time on your hands, a few good naps can help your body relax and unwind.

First of all, let’s look at the benefits of napping. Taking a nap or a short daytime snooze helps your brain reboot. In addition to this, it refreshes your body. There is however, a right and wrong way to nap. Here are some guidelines:

Power nap – This is a 10-to-20 minute snooze that will give you a boost of alertness. You can even try this in your car at work if you’ve had a rough day.

Memory nap – This 60-minute nap will help your cognitive memory processing. In addition, this nap helps you to remember places, facts and faces.

Ultimate nap – This 90-minute sleep ensures you get a full cycle of sleep. Getting a full cycle of sleep is paramount. It will help improve creativity and long-term memory.

Sleeping for longer than 90-minutes during the day will cause you to feel groggy upon waking. So before you lay down to take a little nap, set your alarm for either a power nap, memory nap or my personal favourite, the ultimate nap.

Napping ensures your body gets rest but that may not be all you need. You need rest for your soul also. This can only be found in a personal relationship with God, through His Son, Jesus. To find out more about this, click on the pop up or on the link below.

Realign – How to start the year off right

Wendy Grages

December 29, 2016

Realign – How to start the year off right

This year is drawing to a close and the new year is on the horizon. Was this year tough for you? Or was it a great year? There is a way to ensure you start 2017 on the right foot. It’s time to realign.

We start every year out with the best intentions. But then life happens and when we get to the end of the year, we can find ourselves off track. Unfinished projects, unmet goals and unfulfilled expectations can leave us weary and disheartened.

You don’t have to stay that way though. You can set yourself up for a win in 2017 by realigning your life. The word means the following:

realign – verb
1. change or restore to a different or former position or state

To realign your life means to adjust your thinking and your beliefs and line them back up again with the word of God. I believe that realigning these three areas will go a long way in ensuring a fantastic 2017.

Vision – Perhaps you’ve forgotten what you are working towards. What is the vision for your life and for your family? Write it out afresh and keep it visible. It will inspire you to keep going.

Purpose – After a tough year, it can be challenging to remember what our purpose is. The storms we experienced throughout the year can wear down our sense of identity and purpose. Spend time in God’s presence and in His word. Remind your soul again what you were created for.

Heart – Realign your heart to a soft and malleable state. The Bible says in Proverbs 4:23, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Therefore, it is imperative that we guard our heart and take stock of its condition. Our hearts should remain soft, free from offense and free from bitterness. Do a heart check and realign where necessary.

I know that 2016 was a tough year for many people but I am believing that 2017 will be our best year yet.

If you need to realign your heart and come back into right relationship with Jesus, please click on the link below or on the pop up.

Unwanted gifts

Wendy Grages

December 27, 2016

There is so much to love about Christmas. Family meals and gifts under the tree are my favourite. Inevitably we will all receive at least one unwanted gift. Likely from our sweet great-aunt who thinks crocheted bed socks were top on our gift wish list.

May I remind us all that the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas is very significant. Giving gifts is a reminder of the great gift that God gave us all in sending Jesus. As it says in the well-known Bible verse,

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

We should be grateful for whatever gifts we receive. In addition to this, we must remember the purpose of gifts at Christmas time. Nevertheless, we are bound to receive at least one unwanted gift.

I always feel bad when I receive a gift that I’m not particularly fond of or have no use for. The reason for this is because I am aware that the gift giver spent time and money on it.

But if I can’t use it, what should I do with it?

I have one word for you: REGIFT. This word means an unwanted gift used by its original recipient as a gift for someone else.

Instead of leaving that gift in the cupboard where it will just collect dust, how about regifting it to someone else? As they say, “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure”. What may be an unwanted gift to you may turn out to be a delight to someone else.

Amidst all the giving and receiving of gifts this time of year, let’s always stay mindful on the true meaning of Christmas.

To learn more about God’s gift of sending His Son, click on the link below or on the pop up.

How to find a church home

Wendy Grages

December 22, 2016

This time of year sees many people visiting churches. It can be difficult to find a great church you can call home. And sometimes it can be even more difficult to stay there. But today’s post is all about how to find a great church home.

I find being part of a church is much like being in a relationship. At first, everything is awesome. You just love everything about it. The worship leader is so anointed, the messages are inspiring and everyone is so friendly.

But after some time passes, things begin to change. Suddenly the worship leader irritates you, you’re not getting as much out of the preaching anymore and someone took your parking spot. The church that once brought you so much joy is now a source of contention. So what do you do? Find another church of course, and start all over again.

Sounds a bit like dating, doesn’t it? That’s why so many Christians are doing the “church hop” these days. When people begin to feel unhappy in a church, I’m not so sure it’s always the church that has changed. I think familiarity can creep in. What we used to love about the church has now become common place to us and we begin to see the flaws. And every church will have flaws because it is made of people like you and me.

Although there is no perfect church, I do believe it is possible to find a great church home.

How to find one?

The vision must move you – don’t join a church because of people. Join because you believe in and want to be a part of its vision.
Jesus must be at the center – don’t join a church where people worship the pastor. Join a church where Jesus is worshipped and exalted.
You must be inspired to get involved – Churches are not built on the gifts and talents of a few individuals. Instead, they are built on the sacrifice of many. Find a church that inspires you to get involved in serving. Spectating and attending is for sports games. Serving and being involved is what makes churches great.

Check back soon for part 2 of this blog – How to stay in a great church.

Jesus is the center of all that we believe. If you would like to find out more about what it means to be a true Christian, click on the pop up or on the link below.

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