Nothing Lasts Forever: Strategies to Cope with the Pressures of Life

By Dr Anniekie Ravhudzulo

When night comes, look at the sky. If you see a falling star, dont wonder why, just make a wish. Trust me, it will come true, because I did and found Jesus Christ. Sometimes we think that things will never change in life. I dont know anyone who has not yet experienced pressure of one kind or another in life. It may raise its head swiftly and unexpectedly. Or we may see and feel it coming slowly but surely, like a slight crack in the wall of a building going up or down. You might arrive late for some event and miss something special. This is a minor pressure, and it usually does not last long; its an everyday occurrence that does not really matter very much. There are many such pressures. On the other hand, the pressure of realising that the dream you had has failed to come true may overcome you. You may feel depressed because of the loss of your spouse, the chaos in the workplace, the loss of friends, or the insincerity of those you considered friends, a lack of understanding on the part of your family, heartache that never seems to end, or feeling that God does not hear your prayer.
There are more types of pressure than there is grass growing on the plains of the Highveld. Do not give up when you still have something to give. I know that through Christ I am strong enough to make all my dreams come true. I know love, therefore I give love. I recognise that my love has great value and must be reciprocated. If my unconditional love is taken for granted, it doesnt disappear. I am quite capable of articulating my needs. I know that with God the world is my playground, but without God I will just be played with. I understand that my life experiences are merely lessons meant to bring me closer to self-knowledge and unconditional self-love. I know that I will at times have to inspire others to reach the potential God gave them. I know my past, understand my present and face my future. I am not afraid of tomorrow for I have seen yesterday and I love today. Jim Rohn says that happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Nov 18, 2010
• ISBN: 9781456815943

Dr Anniekie Ravhudzulo

Author Bio Coming Soon

Book preview

Copyright © 2010 by Dr Anniekie Ravhudzulo. All rights reserved

ISBN:          Softcover                                 978-1-4568-1593-6

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4568-1594-3

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in by any means without the written permission of the author.

First Published by Muanza-Zwivhuya Publishing House in South Africa in 2004

Second Published by Xlibris Corporation in the United States of America in 2010

This book was printed in the United States of America.

The Bible text in this publication, unless otherwise noted is from the New King James Version of the Bible. Copyright ©1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

0-800-644-6988

www.xlibrispublishing.co.uk

[e-mail]

301202

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Response to The Book

Nothing Lasts Forever

Introduction

Nothing Lasts Forever

Chapter 1

Don’t Allow the Pressure to Enter

Into Your Life

Chapter 2

Talk to the Pressure

Because When You Can’t, God Can!

Chapter 3

Move Out From the Valley Of

Spiritual Strongholds

Chapter 4

Don’t Dismiss your Dreams

Chapter 5

Forget the Past and Master Rejection

Chapter 6

Be Realistic and Rejoice in

The Midst of Pressure

Chapter 7

Don’t Give Up When You Still Have Something to Give

Chapter 8

Don’t Be Afraid To Take Risks

Chapter 9

Be Rightly Positioned and

Don’t Limit God

Chapter 10

The Power To Change Your Life

Chapter 11

Refuse to Be Silenced about

What God Has Done

Chapter 12

Ask God for His Wisdom

Chapter 13

Believe in God for a Breakthrough

Chapter 14

God Will Turn Your Mistakes

into Miracles

Chapter 15

Recover All What The Enemy

Has Stolen From You

Chapter 16

All Things Work Together For Good

Chapter 17

After Having Done All,

Stand On The Word

Postscript

About the Author

Publications

DVD’s and CD’s

Services Offered

Dedication

This timely and inspiring book is dedicated with love to all children of God, Believers, Non-believers and Preachers of the Word of God who, at one time or another, have suffered or are currently going through one form of crisis or the other. This book brings you God’s blessed assurance that, no matter what you may be going through, it shall come to pass.

I want to say to you, we probably all know what it is to go through "life’s pressures or times of trouble and hardship. But it is possible to get out of these pressures. God wants us to continually live on the mountaintop of His victory in Jesus Christ! I can do all through Him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). So I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me. God wants us to be overcomers. To enable us to overcome, He gives us strength. God wants to empower you. As a result we have the strength to cope!

Acknowledgments

I would like to express my love and gratitude to the following: My beloved husband, Aaron and my children, Hangwani, Hulisani, Thendo and Ndamulelo for inspiring me to accomplish my vision. Their emotional and spiritual support made the writing of this book possible. Without them standing beside me and encouraging me during these eventful years, this book—and the message it proclaims—would not have been possible. I say to you: "Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, and it is yours".

Professor Dovhani Thakhathi, Chaplain Reverend Mzuxolile Ngwanya and Mrs Ntombizodwa Madima, who are my closest in faith and pillars of my strength, for always telling me to be positive and giving me words of encouragement. I say to you: "Mistakes, obviously, show us what needs improving. Without mistakes, how would we know what we had to work on? Pray as if everything depended upon God and work as if everything depended upon man. May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields, God Bless you".

God the Almighty, without whose Love and Grace neither I nor this book would’ve been conceived. To Him I say submissively: "If it had not been the Lord who was on my side, then the raging waters would have gone over me" (Psalm 124:1, 5).

Foreword

When night comes, look at the sky. If you see a falling star, don’t wonder why, just make a wish. Trust me, it will come true, because I did and found Jesus Christ. Sometimes we think that things will never change in life. I don’t know anyone who has not yet experienced pressure of one kind or another in life. It may raise its head swiftly and unexpectedly. Or we may see and feel it coming slowly but surely, like a slight crack in the wall of a building going up or down. You might arrive late for some event and miss something special. This is a minor pressure, and it usually does not last long; it’s an everyday occurrence that does not really matter very much. There are many such pressures. On the other hand, the pressure of realising that the dream you had has failed to come true may overcome you. You may feel depressed because of the loss of your spouse, the chaos in the workplace, the loss of friends, or the insincerity of those you considered friends, a lack of understanding on the part of your family, heartache that never seems to end, or feeling that God does not hear your prayer.

There are more types of pressure than there is grass growing on the plains of the Highveld. Do not give up when you still have something to give. I know that through Christ I am strong enough to make all my dreams come true. I know love, therefore I give love. I recognise that my love has great value and must be reciprocated. If my unconditional love is taken for granted, it doesn’t disappear. I am quite capable of articulating my needs. I know that with God the world is my playground, but without God I will just be played with. I understand that my life experiences are merely lessons meant to bring me closer to self-knowledge and unconditional self-love. I know that I will at times have to inspire others to reach the potential God gave them. I know my past, understand my present and face my future. I am not afraid of tomorrow for I have seen yesterday and I love today. Jim Rohn says that happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.

~ Dr Anniekie Ravhudzulo ~

Response to The Book

Nothing Lasts Forever

Original Sms’s

Dr Anniekie Ravhudzulo, thank you so much for your kind words in your book Nothing Lasts Forever. It means so much to me. It’s a great feeling to know that I can make a difference with my experiences in life. My life has been full of great pain and losses. But the blessing is the lessons learned. It’s very rewarding to know that my pain can help another. I will take your advice and dream big! Thank you very much and I wish you all the blessings that life can bring. Your book has helped me through many years of self discovery and hardships. It’s a blessing to many and the world thanks you for what you do for us. Mr Paul Mahada—South Africa

Thank you so much for the book Nothing Lasts Forever. I have found the book being a wonderful resource providing me with some powerful strategies to cope with situations and pressures of life, as well as assisting me in developing fresh ways of thinking. This is a must—read for everyone who wants to make small changes in their everyday life, for big improvements, Mrs Eevelyn Modikoe—South Africa

Dr Anniekie, your book Nothing Lasts Forever has always inspired me! It brings a new levels of clarity and understanding to challenges of life and most important it teaches the ‘How’ not just the what. These simple yet practical strategies enabled me to change my thinking and instantly translate it into action. I highly recommend this book to all my colleagues and friends. Ms Florance Moloko—South Africa

Dr Anniekie Ravhudzulo, after reading Nothing Lasts Forever, I am convinced that I should talk to the pressure because when I can’t God can. This book changed my attitude completely. Simanga Moyo—Zambia

I have been challenged and convicted by your book Nothing Lasts Forever and I believe that Jesus Christ is offering me another chance to believe in God for my breakthrough. Mr Charles Merope—South Africa

Dr Anniekie, my wife and I read your book Nothing Lasts Forever and we were very moved to change part of our lifestyle by being realistic and rejoice in the Lord. Ms Thandi Merope—South Africa

I saw my life too many times in your book Nothing Lasts Forever. Although I am going through financial trial right now, I can see how much blessed I am because nothing lasts forever except the kingdom of God.

Mr Simon Searole—Swaziland

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Original Emails

From: Angelina

Sent: 08 January 2008 12:07 PM

To: Ravhudzulo, Anniekie

Subject: NOTHING LASTS FOREVER, COPING WITH PRESSURES OF LIFE

Good morning Dr Anniekie

How are you, Dr Anniekkie, I am so impressed to find your book in my bad situation of depression as a result I am better now after reading that book, I hope, God will assist me to cope this year, there were so many things that happened in my life, I did not enjoy life but after reading your book I have that power, that I will stand up and fight that stress away from me.

What I want to know from you, is there any second one that I can get and where can I get it?, because I cannot get it in Bloemfontein, even that one I borrowed by someone who saw my situation. Please tell me what are the procedures to get another one.

Regards

Angelina

From: faith

Sent: 18 July 2007 11:07 AM

To: Ravhudzulo, Nndowiseni

Subject: well done!

Good morning mam.

Hello.my name is Tshilidzi Faith Mutavhatsindi,a born again christian who loves and serves God.I’m doing my second year at the University of Pretoria.I was reading your book NOTHING LASTS FOREVER,and i am very inspired by your message.Thank you so much for such an upliftment, i don’t even have words to describe how i feel.I am currently searching for more of your books and i can’t wait to read them!I pray that God continues to bless you and your family and annoint you to write more and more books.You are such an inspiration!

—

faith

From: Abigail

Sent: 29 January 2008 04:25 AM

To: Ravhudzulo, Anniekie

Subject: Nothing Lasts Forever, Thank You

Hi Mrs Ravhudzulo,

My name is Abigail,

What a remarkable woman you are. Let me narate my story to you my mother. It was in 1998 when i did my first year at Pretoria Technikon, everything was hunky dorry, life was good, no worries but only the freedom i got from being away from home. It was a life of partying, clubbing and drinking. Then i met my boyfriend, very polite, God fearing & focused boy (he studied at TUKS). Evrything was lovely between us. Then around April i fell pregnant and he actually told me i was pregnant before i knew because he told me God told him that i was carrying his child and that he was going to be a boy. He accepted the child and gave him a name Jesse (Son of Obed) ( Father to King David). Baby was born January the 20th 1999 and he was a boy, he grew up so fast. Then early 2000 one night, my boyfriend started crying and expressing and telling me how much he loved me and doesn’t want to loose me and how he wants to do everything for me when he starts working. He once used his tuition fees to buy me an engagement ring and i refused, told him we should focus on getting our qualifications and then we can get married.

Then the next day he disappeared, that was the last time i saw or heard from him. I accepted and moved on with my life. Then i met another young handsome, very polite guy again. We were in a relationship for about three years and had a very beautiful relationship, our families knew about our relationship, and they were already preparing to marry me, he already lay-byed a ring for me. Then came end 2003 and i fell sick and