ANGELIC IS THY SWEET SOUNDING VOICE....RUTH MOFOKENG

Here is another deserving young woman of God whom I would love to appreciate in the August month for women.

 Dedicated daughter of the most high, one who worships God in spirit and in truth. I am talking about Ruth Mofokeng. A daughter, a sister, an aunt, a wife-to-be and a friend to many. Never in a day since I have ever met and known Ruth have I ever seen a frown on her face.

Ruth and her sister and my namesake Faith

It was a Sunday morning at our Children's Church teachers' Prayer Meeting when I first met Ruth. I was drawn to her by her warm genuine smile of which it is very seldom I meet a person who smiles like I do at strangers. We introduced ourselves to each other. She had just joined to serve and teach in our church's children's ministry where I also serve.

Ruth has been such a blessing in my life and she does not know it. She is one of those people who would just call me unexpectedly and whenever she did I could not hear it is her. She has this small childlike voice when she speaks and would refer to me as "ausi Faith. Which in our culture referring to someone as ausi/sister is out of respect and acknowledging someone is older than you. Yes I am a big sister to Ruth as she is as young as Lebo Ledwaba (see previous blog-post). With that same child-like voice she can sing.

Ruth's singing voice is so sweet and melodic I believe it can turn an unrepentetive heart to Christ because she herself loves Christ wholeheartedly. I appreciate and treasure the voicenotes she records for me and sends to me. She would even record herself in a taxi just for my pleasure. I would play the notes over and over through my phone singing along with her. Even my 6month old son calms down when he hears a song she recorded specially for him. He even smiles and hums with her till he sleeps. My hubby and I had the pleasure of Ruth singing at our wedding. She sang "Golden" by Chrisette Michelle as I walked down the isle.

Taken from her Facebook Pictures

Before Ruth's voice there is a human being, a young woman who is full of true love for God and for people. She is the most wealthiest person I know personally. Wealthy in giving, wealthy in love, joy, peace and happiness. She has so much to give to those in need. Ruth is one of those people who would rather go hungry so that another person can have what she was going to have. She puts others' needs first. She is also a very humble young woman and I see God lifting her up.

Ruth and our Mam- Bishop Gege Sono

I forgot to mention, Ruth is not just beautiful inside. She is a gorgeous dark-skinned beauty with beautiful brown eyes and bright beaming smile. I know she is feeling shy as she reads this. It took a man who is acquainted with God to discover her, hidden in Christ and this young man has truly found God's favour.

Beloved One

Young, beautiful, dedicated woman of God, how sweet is they voice when you sing? How wonderful are thy words you pen down when thou write poems, dedicating thy love to God, bearing thou seeking heart unto Him who is the Lord....
Ruth is also a poet. She does not just right words that rhyme or stanzas that flow but she rights truth, love and words from the heart flowing with her love for God. Young, talented and gifted.

I love this picture

I love this woman and appreciate who she is in my life and other people's lives. I know I'm not the only recipient of her blessed being but many can add and echo their appreciation and experience with her. She is not selfish with the gospel as she spreads it on social networks. Even when I talk to Ruth she speaks nothing feeble but speaks the love of God and lives it as well. May the Lord keep increasing her in Jesus' name.

LOVING THE LIGHT AND LOVE SHE GIVES....LEBOGANG LEDWABA

August being a month women are celebrated in South Africa, today the woman I celebrate a very young, beautiful  and petite woman of God.

They say dynamites come in small packages but I can say this dynamite is a ticking time bomb. I am talking about Lebogang Ledwaba. My little sister I acquired through Facebook though we happened to know each other through mutual friends before Facebook.

Why do I call her a time bomb? Lebo is very shy, soft-spoken and very reserved but she is so full of love and God's word that the day she expresses it to everyone she is going to explode! She is not you typical Facebooker who posts her every thought, what she is eating or what she likes but she does share the word. I have the privilege of knowing her and the power that drives her. Her love for God.

How I knew Lebo?
We met in 2007 at a mutual friend's small party with close friends. I didn't remember her much but she could remember what I was wearing from head to toe, what I was driving and what kind of work I did. She even remembered that I was in a rush to get to where I stayed as I stayed in Midrand then.

 

We then met just 3years later on Facebook. Lebo asked me to pray with her and we were spiritually hooked up in prayer and faith just like that. So she became my spiritual daughter though I call her my baby sister. Lebo and I shared the word on a daily basis. She would ask me questions about faith and prayer and we would discuss that via email. Coincidentally we even happened to be from the same church which strengthens our family ties more.

ForeverFaith Couture

ForeverFaith Couture

I got to learn that Lebo has been long walking in the word through Christ. She is a young mother to a one year old super-blessed boy with her equally-yoked man who is also born and bred through the word. They named their son Lebone which means "light" (derived from "Your word is a light unto my feet.") and together they raise him on the word and prayer.

ForeverFaith Couture

Lebo, is not just my spiritual daughter or baby sister. She is my biggest cheerleader and supporter. My business financier, marketer and client. When I was in a financial dilemma Lebo came and withdrew from her savings to help me out before we were even close. She loves ForeverFaith Couture and always reminds me that the work of my hands is blessed. She even brings clients for the business and does what she can to promote it.

ForeverFaith Couture

Lebo and I don't only share the word in common but also share the love for beautiful dresses. We are even repentetive KimKdressesaholics (Zita Ceza is one too). We don't follow Kim and her lifestyle but we love her style of dressing. Even after hearing about her beliefs, we tried getting over her but her style cannot be ignored. All we do is "Google images -Kim Kardashian dresses). LOL!

ForeverFaith Couture Dress

ForeverFaith Couture

Why I love Lebo?
She seeks God first, she loves and applies the word in everything and she is not judgemental of others. With a sister like her and all my previously-mentioned sisters I am protected spiritually for life. And so I thank God for her.

I pray for her and all the women who make a difference in my life and for other people through their faith, their prayers and willingness to spread the gospel without any worry of loosing popularity. I also pray for her and the others that they continue to run this raise till they receive their price.

Lebo wearing a ForeverFaith Couture dress at her friend's wedding.

 

A SUPPORTIVE SPIRITUAL SISTER WHO CAN FIND...ZITA CEZA

Here is to another sister and friend I found in Christ. as August is Women's Month in South Africa I am taking this year to appreciate women I love an appreciate.

A Virtuous Woman Who Can Find?

She is a well of knowledge of the word of God. She is not shy or scared to declare her love for God on her social profile. She posts the word 99.99% of the time on her profile. Her name is Zimkhita Ceza. Better known is Zita Ceza.

I first met Zita in a virtual world called Facebook in 2010. She actually got to know me just when I started posting the word and no longer my random worldly thoughts. I don't remember who requested whose friendship but anyway its the best thing that happened.

                                       
Zita became like this angel who was sent to encourage me in sharing the word because whenever I checked her posts it was as if we were spiritually co-joined twins. We even called each other soul twins. We both shared the word and if felt good. I remember how she occupied her gates and fulfilled her God-given mandate by sharing the gospel at her work (which she still does after taking a leap of faith running her own business). Even her boss knew her business benefited from Zita's fervent prayers.

This young woman who loves God like herself is so full of love for people. She once wrote a note for me on Facebook and tagged her friends who asked her: "Who is Faith." She is loved by many because of her genuine love, appreciation and her willingness to support as much as she can. She goes by many nicknames given by those who love her: Zimmee, Zee and so on.

A beautiful woman and a God-fearing mother who will never let a day pass without reading and sharing the word(Joish 1:8). Zita is a girl originally from the Eastern Cape. She has made so many friends all over the world via Facebook because of her love and kindness.

She is a comforter to her friends when they loose their loved ones. Though she herself needs to be comforted and supported at times by having someone hold her hand, she still appreciates the love and support given in words on her Facebook wall.

Zita is a rock, a survivor through Christ who strengthens her. If there was no Jesus in her life we would not know her. She has survived loosing her dad and this year she survived a deadly car crash just a few months after getting a car which she lost in the crash. After that terrible accident, this lady was back inspiring, motivating and lifting others through the word.

Zita in ForeverFaith Couture

I have not mentioned that her beauty is not just in a heart but she is stunningly beautiful. Gorgeous brown-skinned woman. She is not just beautiful she loves beautiful clothes, shoes and hair as well.

Zita in ForeverFaith Couture

If I would tell you who has more of ForeverFaith Couture dresses, Zita is that friend and client. If she could, I know she would have a ForeverFaith Couture dress for every shoe she has. She would just transfer money into my account every second month and say: "Girl I need two dresses." and because of her support for my business I never minded driving to her to deliver her garments before she moved further north.

I love this woman God has created. I have never had an opportunity to sit for hours and get to know her better. But I know she is a great woman of faith who some man of faith somewhere needs to have her in his life forever. We as her friends might fail to give her back what she gives to us but I know the Lord has her rewards lined up for her. I thank God for women like her. Mothers who are raising kings and priests. May the Lord's favour continue to surround her in everything.

Zita in ForeverFaith Couture

Zita in ForeverFaith Couture

SWEET STUNNING SISTER THROUGH CHRIST... MASEGO MOKGORO

Here is to honouring another friend and sister I am blessed to have in my life. As per my previous article, in this month of August (woman's month in SA) I am thanking my friends and sisters I know and thanking God.

We are taught to count our blessings and amongst the ones I count in my life is Masego Mokgoro. A soft-spoken sister who still speaks her Setswana like she is freshly from home in the Northwest where the language is still spoken as clean and sweet as it is meant to be. Not the Setswana we get to hear in soapies or in Soweto.

I met Masego in 1999 in Technikon Witwatersrand. I met her through our mutual friend Tumie Mapena (see previous post). My friendship with Masego actually began almost 10 years post-tertiary. We happened to bump into each other in the streets of Soweto in 2006 and exchanged numbers since we last saw each other at Tumie's house in 2003. Masego came to see me daily at home after I survived a deadly car crash in 2008. She drove all the way from Randburg just to keep me company and listen to me going on about my life. I found a friend and comforter in her.

Masego and I were both born-again but at that moment I have no idea why we never talked about God. It's like we were still blindly following each other yet seeking God. I guess everything has time and reason just like the book of Ecclesiastes 3 says:"For everything there's time." If I could think of anyone else who had all the time for me, I can only think of her. She became friends with me in my darkest times when I was still confused. We still remained friends until we realized our other connection that is God and that brought us even closer to each other. Masego does not talk too much but she is a good listener. I think she is a perfect match for me as I am the total opposite. Well the bad thing about being the chatter-box friend I am, my friend does not talk much about herself. But what I know is that she is a God-fearing mother, daughter, sister and friend.

Masego would literally drive to me with her last petrol and even risk driving on reserve just to see me when I was at my weakest times in life. She has never done anything with any expectation of a return on investment or favour. If time and attention given was in monetary value Masego made me rich by giving me hers in thousands. If I could I would give her the stars to shine in her life forever. All I can do for now is pray for her always. She is even a ForeverFaith Couture client and has referred a couple of her friends to my business.

Masego in ForeverFaith Couture

Masego and Teekay(coral dress) in ForverFaith Couture

When I had to choose my spiritual sisters (bridesmaids) I first had to pray about whom to choose amongst my many childhood till adulthood friends. Four of my friends were all chosen for different but also similar reasons. I needed prayer warriors, brides-in-waiting whose lamps are never out of oil. I chose ladies who have gotten to know me through Christ and loved me before, after and always will. Masego was one of those ladies.

Masego(right corner), Florina, Karabo and Lerato (check my blog about Lerato)

Masego happy to hear my hubby's vows

My friend is gorgeous and beneath those good looks is a heart that hungers for God continuously. She is a woman hidden in Christ and I look forward to meeting the favoured man (Prov 18:22) who will give the her the honor to take care of his heart and life. Her son is blessed because having a mother that fears the Lord is a guaranteed prosperity in life. I thank God for the strength He has given her. This is a tough cookie that can never crumble. She is actually a rock.(Mat 16:18) I declare blessings and all her God-given desires in her life.

A Woman After God's Heart

I thank God for her friend Teekay (Onkemetse) because I do not know any of Masego's friends who can love her like she does. Well I am not undermining her other friends' love for her as we are all different as peopl in showing our love. I do not know much of their history as friends but this lady has been in Masego's life through thick and thin.May the Lord bless her too.

Masego and Teekay

BLESSED BEYOND BEAUTY AND BRAINS...TUMIE MAPENA

August 2014 is Woman's Month in South Africa so I decided that I will give tribute to women I know closely, my beautiful and blessed friends and sisters.

Tumie Mapena is one of those women I am blessed to have as friends. She is not just beautiful facially but her beauty exudes from within because of her love for God. I knew Tumie since 1999 when we went to the same tertiary institution, Technikon Witwatersrand. I have always loved the peace that surrounded her. And seemingly I was not the only one drawn to that peace as her apartment which she shared with her equally-loving friend Salvation (I adored these two ladies), always had visitors.

Tumie and Salvation

Tumie was not a typical technikon student who loved partying, hanging out at the canteen or in the streets or having too many boyfriends. She was cool, calm, reserved and always in her room listening to music and singing along with her favourite songs if she was not studying.

Fast-forward post tertiary days
This young woman who hails from Kuruman made an effort to come all the way from the nothern Johannesburg to come ans support me and be an MC for one of my fashion shows in 2003. Without sounding like I am complaining, my friends who lived nearby could not make it. She also came to see me after I had survived a deadly car accident. I even acquired another friend Masego through her who has been one of my closest friends until today. I will write about Masego soon.

Thanks to Facebook my friendship with Tumie was maintained and it is on Facebook where I got to learn her true heart.I do not know if it is times that have changed or it is the both of us who have grown to know and love God deeper. I say this because in our tertiary days we never got to hear anyone declare their faith or love for God. We all just sort of knew most people go to church. Now that we have social stages where people speak their minds and heart I got to learn about Tumie's love of her life who is God.

Tumie is loved by many and quite an inspiration to young women as well. I see that love on her Facebook profile. Whatever my friend posts on her wall creates a conversation and other people's display of their love for her. I also enoy the Setswana revision for me from their posts as Setswana is my father's language. She a role model and motivational speaker. She is also a sister who comes from a loving family of brothers and a younger sister. A  God-dependant mother of three and godly wife.

Tumie and younger sister Lebo

It is just so funny how God works in people's lives. Tumie and I have our separate odd experiences in relationships and it is in the Lord and through the Lord we both coincedentally met God's own princes almost around the same time. This illustrates what I always tell my single friends and sisters (taken from Woman Thou Art Loosed: "Serve God as you would your husband so that He can trust you to have one of His own princes to marry you." Tumie was not looking but was found by a loving and God-fearing man.  Her love story is the kind you would read about from the Bible not a fairytale book. I am not the one to tell her story though. We once again God-incedentally fell pregnant at the same time so we became spiritual doulas, aunts and advisers. We prayed for each other during pregnancy, delivery and till today. I thank God for her willingness to chat to me as and when we both get time.

This is one of the women I thank God for. She is a blessing beyond beauty and her brains. The kind of woman praised in Proverbs 31. Whoever knows her or connected to her is blessed. As the end of Proverbs 31 says: "Charm is deceptive, beauty is fleetin, but a woman who fears the Lord must be praised." I praise Tumie Mapena. I love her for who she is and not what she is. What does she do for a living? She prays, serves and loves the Lord and loves people. For me a friend who prays for me is much more a blessing than a friend I meet up with for coffee every week. I have grown to learn that friendship is more than that. Amos 3:3 says: "How can two walk together if they are not in agreement?" We walk closer and deeper in prayer than in seeing each other regularly. Thanks to God for social media as it has helped rekindle and cement necessary friendships for His glory. I highly appreciate the moments we meet again and share the wisdom we have acquired from the experiences we go through.

This is indeed a woman of valour. Blessed is her husband because through her prayers he is strengthened. Blessed are her children because she not only raises her with educated knowledge or experience but through the power of God. Blessed are her siblings because they are immediate receivers of her God-given outpouring. Blessed is her mom whose womb was blessed to bring forth such fruit. And blessed are her friends because they are touched by her love, supported by her prayers and inspired by her.




 

BLESSED BECAUSE OF HIS BIRTHDAY

He did not need his lips to touch mine so that he can find out if I am the princess with a magic kiss or his sleeping beauty. He did not need to wake up a couple of times next to me so that he can know if he can stand spending the rest of his life seeing my face with or without make up next to me. He did not even need to know my financial capabilities for him to figure out if he can afford to plan a life with me. He did not have to peel off my clothes to see if I my body can merge with his own. This is a man who trusted in God and had faith that Faith is the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with.

This is a man who quoted scriptures for me to speak his heart concerning his love for me. As cliched as it sounds he called me bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh. His love and fear of the Lord is what made me connect with him. His willingness to run this spiritual race with me is what made me believe I can live every day of my live with him. His courage to carry me in prayer is what made me trust this man with my life.

This is a man who did not need to flash any of his possessions in my face to win my heart. He did not need to take me for a ride in a top of the range sports car to entice me. He did not have to take me out for a meal I cannot pronounce for me to fall for his taste. Neither did he have to show me off to his friends by adorning me with expensive clothes and hairdo so that I can look like a trophy girlfriend. He did not even have to be known by the whose whos, or be featured in the top financial magazines, or be known in some circles for me to want a part of his fame.

He is the man who did not have to tell me about his failed relationships, neither foolish unappreciative exes, nor ex-girlfriends who have achieved such and such for me to try and win his heart and become the best girlfriend or woman he has ever known and fall in love with.

This is the man I fell in love with because he was genuine about his LOVE. Not love for me but love for life, love for God, love for people, love for children, love for humanity, love for respect, love for PRAYER and love for me. He also loves what I love, what I dream about, what I aspire to do or become. He is the man who loves the taste of the food I cook even if I decide to totally cut of salt and introduce him to the bland taste of food in its natural form. He loves my creativity, my crazy dances and character voices. He loves me when I am happy and even if I would be in a not-so-jolly mood. He makes me feel like the sexiest woman alive even after my post-baby developments. He is my cheerleader when I do my work outs. My enabler when I need to get the right food or diet stuff. He is my supporter whether I want to eat bland vegetables or chocolate cake yet still remind me of my goals. He is never too busy to take obver mommy duties with our 5month old son.

When I am down, he holds my hand, opens scripture and reminds me of who I am to God and what I am in his own life. He reminds me of what I do daily and what I have thus far achieved. When I feel lazy he does not judge me but rather does all my responsibilities for me. No matter what I was to say or do to start an argument, which I thank God I never do he will always remain calm, humble, understanding and forgiving.

He is the best friend any woman can have but sorry ladies he is married now, I can rather be your new friend instead (smiles). His respect for God is what makes me trust him with everything I am. His willingness to give ear to others and comfort them with the word of God is what makes me love him even more. His love for family, his family's unity and support for each other and his God-fearing mom's love of calling us almost daily to check on us is what makes believe I have found a lifetime friend and lover.

He is the man God told me about. The one I prayed for while he was praying for me. Our love story was not written in fairy tales but was written in the spirit world before we even met. Even before we both became committed to the Lord we were already walking together before we even knew each other. Coincidentally we were in the same places, same industries but we never met. I was best friends with his late cousin many years ago and I went to school with another cousin only to become part of their family now. He saw me and knew I was the one suited to carry his family name.

Today is the day I get to celebrate the day the man of my life breathed his first breath. The man whose blood became one with mine to produce a super intelligent, God-loving, God-fearing, respectul, people-loving, prayerful and funny young man who is our first son and first fruit unto God. I am blessed because of his birthday. It is on this day over three decades ago the man who would wake up early to pray for me daily, kiss me goodbye while I'm sleeping, kiss me hello and make me feel good was born. This is a man who will never compete with God in my heart but will take his rightful place as my husband, my priest, my protector, my provider and father of my children all through the help of God.

I love you Paul Tshepo Nthoba. I am blessed because of this day. And for that I pray for you a happy birthday. I might not afford the most expensive perfume or watch but I would really love for this day to be special. May the Lord grant you all your heart's desires, renew your strength daily, surround and clothe you with His favour without end, keep you inspired and determined to serve him, increase your anointing, add long life to you and keep you young at heart, body, mind and spirit.