Lockdown 598

Lockdown Day 598 - 14 November 2021

Sunday number 85.

With a partial Lunar eclipse on the way this week (more about that tomorrow), the image focus today will be on beautiful and extraordinary moon photography. Enjoy:

#Ggt

Lockdown 597

Lockdown Day 597 - 13 November 2021

Our early long walk along the beach front before 7am was the first blessing of the day. The weather was near perfect with a slight breeze. The sunlight twinkled on the water, making it look like stardust floating on top of the almost glass -like ocean surface.

Jbay was her beautiful self as we approached over the hills, the windless sunshine coast dressed for action. The birthday breakfast was at Infood's bakery, renowned for their artisan baking and culinary mastery, but also for their self roasted coffee.

We were treated with a smooth flat white and a miniature biscotti, followed by their unique benedict for the girls and phyllo burgers for the men. After spending some time together, we took home some of their fresh treats to enjoy at home.

So tonight, with another 'Bok win' in the bag, we retire with the sound of a howling wind, plucking at the doors and windows. I drift off in my thoughts, thinking about being in touch with each other, near and far. How our relationships are blessings as bright as the glassy stardust ocean, shining bright in our hearts.

As I think of all the people in our life, I thank God for all the blessings and answered prayers the past week: a successful operation, a good week of self-discovery, a prayer warrior standing in the gap, a safe return home from abroad and the love we have the privelege of sharing with every single one of you all.

God is good all the time.....

All the time, God is good! ✨ And yes, He most certainly has got this.

Lockdown 596

Lockdown Day 596 - 12 November 2021

With my second batch of treatment underway to stop the last of the vertigo, I have to once again deal with the side effects feeling like vertigo.

In my search for 'oxygen givers', I came across interesting research on the role eyes play in vertigo occurrence. And specifically eye health. This is something very few people stop to think about.

Did you know over 80% of all vision problems are avoidable and even curable?

Our 576 megapixels are truly remarkable and its "fingerprint", the iris, has 256 unique characteristics, as opposed to the real fingerprint which only has 40.

So spare a thought for this second largest muscle to the brain and the fastest muscle in your body. They just keep working and we never give them a moment's thought. Below is an eye massage video you can try out for some much needed eye-TLC.

https://youtu.be/b6nO4aCa2K8

So thank you God for designing my eyes.

#Ggt

Lockdown 595

Lockdown Day 595 - 11 November 2021

Today was cool and cloudy with promise of rain, the smell of rain hanging thick in the air. But only a short drizzle came as the day started.

The smell of rain made me think of the necessity of oxygen for every living thing. Plants use the Carbon dioxide we exhale to make oxygen and water also supplies oxygen to our bodies when we drink it.

Recent research has proved the benefits of oxygen for all kinds of ailments. There are also many minerals and substances to aid maximum oxygen for the body. Also, with age, oxygen saturation in the body decreases because of decreased lung elasticity.

Simple things you can do to ensure good saturation and lung capacity include drinking water, regular exercise, breathing and eating foods rich in iron such as leafy greens, seeds/legumes, beef, oats, quinoa and dark chocolate.

Additionally, you can add plants to your house interior such as lavender and the peace lily. The plants have a high oxygen production pace and also assist in better sleep patterns. If you can't do plants, consider a diffuser to which you can add lavender and other essential oils.

So tonight I offer up a renewed prayer for rain in the district, enough to fill our dams to the brim. I also thank God for the water we have to drink and the air we have to breathe. And I vow to look after my body's oxygen saturation levels. It is after all the temple of the Holy Spirit.

#Ggt

Lockdown 594

Lockdown Day 594 - 10 November 2021

So the loadshedding continues. And this morning they added 5 minutes to the schedule by switching off the power just as I was heating up my first cup of tea.

So I lost it a little, then decided this is the last of it. They can mess with my dinner but NOT with my hot drinks. As if planned, one of my core friends posted a pic of a miniature gas burner for small heating jobs. So the hunt started for the right burner and accessories so I can at least boil water for any kind of hot cuppa.

After trying two retailers and coming up empty handed it became apparent the whole PE had the same idea, especially after a couple of power outtages additional to the loadshedding. Eventually I found what literally seemed to be the last mini burner on the block.

Being without power is one thing. Being powerless is an entirely different thing. We can have all the resources but still be powerless if we aren't tapped into the limitless Power of Heaven.

I was reminded of that today when I lost it a little. Making a plan is using resources, but we should not feel powerless as children of God.

So tonight I thank God for always being "switched on"!

#Ggt

Lockdown 593

Lockdown Day 593 - 9 November 2021

Yesterday was a rainy day in PE and surrounds. We are extremely grateful for the 30mm in our gauge. Our friends in the Langkloof let us know Joubertina received between 18 and 25 mm. Now thát is something to rejoice about!

The local radio station AlgoaFM broadcast a message from the person in charge of the water crisis. This lady said the city is weeks away from "day zero" and went on about how the people are not panicked about it, but are talking about loadshedding and the election.

Although politics isn't my thing, I happen to remember the recently ousted mayor did actually set up a day zero campaign and raise awareness to preserve this threatened resource. But after he left, nothing happened to further this agenda.

Also, I cannot understand why a desalination plant was started a year ago, but sadly fell into disrepair very quickly. About 6 months ago new plans for the Coega Development Corporation to build a plant were given the green light, but will take a long time before becoming fully operational.

That being said, our water comes from God, and if the people of this area can't agree to stand together in fervent repentance and prayer for the ground of this area, believing in God's provision with all their might........ I cannot think of a life worse than one without water.

So please continue to support us in prayer in trusting God for a miracle. The miracle of immediate alleviation of this drought with 100% dam levels. With God all things are possible. So let's call it.

#Ggt

Lockdown 592

Lockdown Day 592 - 8 November 2021

Today I am very aware of humankind struggling with many issues such as fear, anxiety, stress and depression or turmoil (collectively called fast), and various other health challenges brought on by the pandemic. All around me people are talking about how their lives have been impacted in one way or another.

Sitting in church yesterday for the first time since Lockdown started, I had a conversation with God triune. My mind moved from cloudy to clear while my spirit was worshiping just because of the koinonia between believers.

The last words of the song Turn your eyes upon Jesus kept playing in my head, "and the things of the world will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace." Partaking in this koinonia of believers was the single one component of following God we as His children desperately need.

I firmly believe one of the greatest drivers for peace, assurance, love and mirthfulness or "in high spirits and laughter" (collectively called palm) is the human contact ✋factor between believers when collectively offering praises to God.

Sidenote:

Anything fast  (fear, anxiety, stress, turmoil) never feeds the spirit, and always leaves the soul and body wanting.

The Palm  (directly linked with palm: peace, assurance, love and mirthfulness)  is a highly sensitive body part with 17 thousand touch receptors and free nerve endings that 'read' pressure, movement and vibration, feeding the body information for edification and protection.

So tonight I thank God for the highly sensitive mechanisms of palm He has embedded into our spirit. Say yes to God and palm will send fast packing..... fast.

God's definitely got this without a question.