Siyabonga Jesu: Thankyou Jesus

Pretty much the whole day, and the whole of yesterday, I have had the Siyabonga song on replay the entire time. Well, this is not a new song and I have heard it many times before but suddenly I cant get enough of it.
There is just something about giving thanks to God. And this song is right about that: Giving thanks.

You can listen to it below.

                

So today, as am singing along this siyabonga I was thinking about so many opportunities I had to give thanks to God but instead I complain.

• The long drives from Meru to Nairobi : I should have given thanks for the quiet time it gives me to pray and meditate on God's word or read a book. Instead, I complained of nausea.

• A lot of office work: I should be thankful because this job provides a livelihood instead, I complain for keeping me in the office after working hours.

• Neighborhood dogs that bark so loud in the night: I should be thankful that they provide security and companionship when I walk the stretch home. Instead, I complain that they are too loud.

• My alarm clock in the morning: I should be thankful for another day instead of complaining how short the night is.

You get the drift...

See, good people. We are supposed to be thankful. We are COMMANDED by God to be thankful. Its not an option. God hates complainers. And to see just how much the Lord hates it when we complain, see his wrath on Israelites when they used their mouths to mumble Numbers 14.

Let us have the attitude of Christ Phil 2:5. Even unto death, he was thankful and did not complain.

Phil 2:14 Do everything without complaining and arguing.'
If you needed proof, there it is. Its sin to complain. Period.

Being thankful opens doors.
Being thankful draws beautiful things to us.
Being thankful causes showers of blessings to fall on us like rain.

And it doesnt matter what the cirsumstance is. Be it be in good times or in bad. Be it we are overwhelmed or underwhelmed. Our song should be 'thank you'.

Siyabonga Jesu!!!

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1st Thes 5:18

Dressing to Please my Parents and an Epiphany

I attended a wedding this weekend for my friend. The wedding was at my home town in Nakuru so that means I had to travel home. My parents were also attending the wedding. As I was packing on Thursday, I noticed, like every other time when I am going home, that I had to wade through many clothes until I find those that are 'Parents appropriate'. This time it really hit me!

I realized that the clothes I was looking for were 'more modest' than the other ones I was ruling out. Just to qualify, I don't usually dress immodestly but lets just say I have some 'grey area clothes' :-). You know, those that are a little tighter and a little shorter. Suddenly I had an epiphany moment, I don't really have to be doing this every time I am visiting home. God's word says that my parents are my authority here on earth and they prefer me in my more modest dressing. So actually, God has been speaking to me all along to maintain the 'parents friendly' bar of modesty in and out of season (read at my home town or otherwise).

I ended up dressing like this...well, minus the top (obviously) minus the hat (because it was hot). I had a more covered up top. So lets just say I had the skirt :-)

So here I am extending the same challenge to all of us.
To purpose to be modest in our dressing. Someone told me a very interesting quote.

"Dress like you would like other women to dress near your husband".

I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety... 1st Tim 2:9

Love - God's dictionary

 

Hello dear readers. I have missed you all so much and missed writing.

Lots have been happening in my life which maybe I will share some day but its been exciting and ...'working out for my good because I love the Lord :-)

Today's topic is about Love. I don't know of a more talked about topic.

Think about this scripture today:

1st Corinthians 13:4-8a
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

When I read this verse, I feel like I ALWAYS fall short in this love department. I mean, really think about it. Have you ever been rude to someone you claim to love? I know I have. Have I ever kept a record of wrongs? YES sir!

Let this verse speak to us today. Let us really meditate on this word of our Lord and let us learn from the best example of love how to really love.

God is love. 1st John 4:16b

Book Review: A Young Woman's Call to Prayer

I am an avid reader, so you are going to find a lot of book reviews.

I LOVE Elizabeth George. Her style of wring is so soft, encouraging and graceful. You actually feel like she's speaking to you face to face.
A young woman's call to prayer explores the impact of prayer in ones daily life. What catches me about the book unlike other prayer book is how normal Elizabeth puts a prayerful life across. She addresses prayer as a jewel. She encourages her readers to pray about everything. Their worries, their joys, all decisions...both big and small, Imean, EVERYTHING. Also, to prayerise our lives, like the Lord says, to 'pray without ceasing'.

Without a doubt, this is the BEST prayer themed book I have ever read. I encourage all women of all ages to get it. It is addressed to a young woman, but I personally feel that every woman can benefit.

 Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Beautiful Christian

I will be starting a new series about a beautiful Christian. I believe that just like me, you want to be beautiful in God's eyes. Lets see what God's idea of beauty is.
A beautiful Christian can be compared to a beautiful tree described in Psalms 1:3. Hence a beautiful christian is like a tree planted by the river. It bears fruit in and out of season.

So what exactly are these fruits that Christians should bear in and out of season. The bible tells us about the fruits of the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:22. These are qualities that us Christians reveal when the Spirit of God dwells in us.

We shall be going through each and everyone of them to see how we can radiate the beauty of Christ.

Disclaimer: Beauty in God's eyes is the inward beauty. Not how much make up we have on, not how beautiful our dresses are, not how much jewelry we have on. That is only beautiful in the eyes of men. The bible describes this in 1st Peter3:3-4.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law. 

Galatians 5:22

Media Enticement - Its just a movie

As I write this, I want to emphasis I am not writing from a point of holiness or know it all, but from a point of grace. God is teaching me and I am sharing what I am learning with you.

Christianity nowadays is not easy. Especially not with all the negative media surrounding us. You want to see pornography, someone naked, someone stealing, someone engaging in sexual immorality, vulgar language? All you need is to turn on your television and there it is. No wonder so many people are addicted to pornography today. No wonder so many married men and women and committing adultery with advertisements promoting 'mpango wa kando', no wonder so many of us young people are involved in casual sex before marriage, no wonder so many people are becoming homosexuals.

The Lord clearly says in his word, out of the abundance of your heart, the mouth speaks. Now, this may seem very far fetched and far from our reality but take a closer look. How do children learn to abuse and call other people vulgar names? I personally noticed this specific time when I was watching the season Revenge. I was thrilled about how sweet revenge is that i almost forgot God's command that revenge is wrong. Another time I was watching the series Scandal and oh my!!! I cannot tell you how uncomfortable I was with the glorified adulterous relationship between Olivia and the married President.This other time I was watching brothers and sisters ( a show I very much enjoyed). My heart softened towards homosexuality. I even started thinking it should be accepted in our society which is clearly wrong because the Lord rejects homosexuality in his word.

The Lord says we guard our hearts for it is the wellspring of life. My christian friends, lets guard our hearts. Lets test everything we see and pass it through the fire of God's word. God says, 'Test everything, hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil'. Thes 5: 21.

For those with young children, I don't know how much to emphasize this. Its appalling the way parents are letting TV's to act as babysitter as they do other chores! Carefully scrutinize everything your child watches. Their young minds soak up a lot more, and I imagine no parent wants a vulgar, rude, alcoholic, sexually immoral child. Instead, fill them with Gods word and virtuous movies. The Lord requires us to bring up Godly offspring.

It maybe just a movie, but if it promotes sin, it will harden our hearts towards the sinful action. I am speaking this to myself as well as to you. There are some movies I definitely have to throw out.
I will start praying the Lord to bring my way decent movies to watch. Movies that will promote the fruits of the spirit. In the meantime, before I find good movies, no one ever died of TV starvation :-)

Test everything, hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. Thessalonians 5: 21

Spirutual Growth

Spiritual growth is INTENTIONAL. There, I said it. It does not depend on anything else but you, of course with God's help but you are the major determinant. Most of us Christians have refused to grow spiritually. The bible refers to them as infants. Imagine a baby who refuses to grow! Oh my, what a cause of stress it is! 

You must set apart time to pray in your busy schedule. You must sit down, open the bible and read it. You must listen to Godly music and stop listening to trashy songs. You must seek out company of Godly friends to fellowship with. We must Flee from temptation (as in, run away very fast and far).

For all of us who sit around wishing that spiritual maturity will just find you, I know this post has bust your bubble. Ain't no other way sisters! Get up today and do something. Start moving. God is waiting. He does not leave us or forsake us, it is us who move away from him.

Let us stop being baby Christians who are still suckling milk even after being born again for years! Make a conscious decision today and intentionally (putting effort and being discipline) draw closer to God. Feed on God's word and grow!

Like new born babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it, you may grow up in your salvation 1st Peter 2:2

I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it....For since there is jelousy and quarelling among you, are you not worldly? 1st Corinthians 3: 2-3

Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. Hebrews 5:13