Thursday, November 26, 2009

God filled



God-filled

The fullness of Christ is all about the most significant longing any of us can have-a yearning not merely for adventure but for much more than adventure. It is about God's longing for us. He looks at us, knows what he created us for, knows what we are capable of. God wants us to have fullness in our lives, and he brings it about not by filling our schedules but by filling us. But with what does he fill us? The biblical answer, loud and clear, is love. Somehow when God's love is able to flow into our consciousness and experience, it is translated into the muscle tissue of character. And should that surprise us? Are we hungrier for anything more than love?

Listen to the yearning in the words of the apostle Paul as he prayed for fellow believers: "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (Eph. 3: 17-19). We need to have the power to grasp the knowledge of the love of Christ, to really own it-to know how wide it is (reaching all around the world), how long it is (stretching from eternity past to eternity future), how high it is (elevating us to the qualities of heaven) and how deep it is (penetrating down to the darkest pits of our lives).

Our lives may be filled with activity (whether important or trivial, urgent or casual) and with people (from those in our inner orbit to the crowds we just bump into along the way), but fullness has to happen within. A person can go on safaris, hunt U-boats, and meet heads of state and still have an empty heart. Now is the time to do something about our emptiness, not when emptiness leads to desperation and hopelessness. The fullness of Christ is available, but it must be "grasped," and to do that we need "power."

-Mel Lawrenz, Patterns

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God filled

God-filled


The fullness of Christ is all about the most significant longing any of us can have-a yearning not merely for adventure but for much more than adventure. It is about God's longing for us. He looks at us, knows what he created us for, knows what we are capable of. God wants us to have fullness in our lives, and he brings it about not by filling our schedules but by filling us. But with what does he fill us? The biblical answer, loud and clear, is love. Somehow when God's love is able to flow into our consciousness and experience, it is translated into the muscle tissue of character. And should that surprise us? Are we hungrier for anything more than love?

Listen to the yearning in the words of the apostle Paul as he prayed for fellow believers: "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (Eph. 3: 17-19). We need to have the power to grasp the knowledge of the love of Christ, to really own it-to know how wide it is (reaching all around the world), how long it is (stretching from eternity past to eternity future), how high it is (elevating us to the qualities of heaven) and how deep it is (penetrating down to the darkest pits of our lives).

Our lives may be filled with activity (whether important or trivial, urgent or casual) and with people (from those in our inner orbit to the crowds we just bump into along the way), but fullness has to happen within. A person can go on safaris, hunt U-boats, and meet heads of state and still have an empty heart. Now is the time to do something about our emptiness, not when emptiness leads to desperation and hopelessness. The fullness of Christ is available, but it must be "grasped," and to do that we need "power."

-Mel Lawrenz, Patterns

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Friday, October 2, 2009

A GOD OF HIS WORD...


We serve a FAITHFUL GOD and there is none like him, on all the earth in heavens above beneath the seas and oceans and anywhere else you can imagine of! Sharply I recall that during my late primary and early high school education,I received a calling from God to bring a form of societal Christian transformation into the lives of other people.

Over the years this vision had sort of faded, due to growing up, challenges, changes, dozens of failures and mistakes, infidelity, being and feeling distant from God, unworthiness amongst many other things.Which I now take as the devil's way of hindering God's will through our lives

But because of God's faithfulness and love which abides forever, his calling kept troubling me for my own good and equally above all FOR HIS GLORY! every single day since the day I received that word from God, I was never the same both in the inside and on the outside. God was working out his wonderful and faithful plan for me and for the glory of his name!

Today I stand a testimony, revived and re-convicted of what God faithfully initiated in me and how God in His appointed time is still going to faithfully fulfil what he started and promised through my humble life! recently the following mail which I received from a prayer friend of mine brought me to a realization that to God a day can be a thousand years and vice versa. I was reminded of the enduring reality that "THE FAITHFULNESS AND ENDURING TRUTH OF WHO GOD, IS IN MY FINITE AND HUMBLE LIFE is more than I can comprehend but can very much TRUST in"

the letter
hi there how are you doing?

Its was good talking to you the other day.I just realised that whenever you have something you really want to achieve in life and that if the thing is good ,God will always provide friends. Friends whom you might not necessarily meet as in the the normal way, but friends in the way that you will be working towards achieving the same thing to fulfil God's will in life. My prayer is that ,may you find your way to fulfilling that desire you have ,I tell you God recognizes those who have a passion to do what is right and He records that.

I'm just happy to know that there is someone who cares about God's people not only those who are in church but also those who haven't known GOD yet.You know what, people come to God in different ways and be happy to be a vessel that God uses in a special way. I also pray that God will help you do the project in the right way and may you be given the strength to continue even when the going gets tough! 'you are worth what God say you are,and not your circumstances'

You know what God's time is the best for everything in life especially to those who love and obey Christ. Trust God in everything you do.



THE FOLLOWING IS ANOTHER ARTICLE WHICH I RECEIVED, THE SAME DAY,I RECIEVED THE LETTER ABOVE:

Let God's Word Get Inside of You

I no longer say, "If only I had a better position...." Instead, I recite the words of Psalm 119:105: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." I don't need a better position to get where I should go. I don't have to figure out my path and jockey to get ahead. I need God's Word to guide me. Only as I follow Him and honor Him step by step can I be assured that I'm right where He wants me to be, and doing what He wants me to be doing and how he desires for me to be doing so.

Whatever "if only I had" statement you are struggling with, you can replace it with solid truths from Scripture that will never leave you empty. It's a bold statement to make and might even sound a bit trite, but it's true. When God's Word gets inside of us, it becomes the new way we process life. It rearranges our thoughts, our motives, our needs, and our desires. Our soul was tailor-made to be filled with God and His truth; therefore, it seeps into every part of us and fills us completely. It is the only perfect fit. And according to Psalm 119:30-32, being filled with God's Word sets our hearts free!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

.....fallinG Short....



Our GOD is indeed Adequate for us, all we need do is realize it......

(OUR fullness and victory LAYS IN OUR KNOWLEDGE THAT WITHOUT GOD WE ARE INADEQUATE AND THAT WITH HIM WE ADEQUATE)


Wow, wow, wow wow wow...., something incredible struck me today, "sometimes we miss it by thinking that in our trying so hard and in self condemnation lays our satisfaction and solace, to please God"

I surely do not think so at least not anymore! i was going through an article concerning contrasts between psychology and and christian psychological counseling, i realised that humankind is trying so hard to find adequacy in himself, and psychology seems to be playing a significant role in doing efforts to do so. Hence (humanity is a being in constant trial and error..)

I guess what struck me the most is that, 'we' as humanity THINK WE'VE GOT ALL THE ANSWERS for everything, BUT THE TRUTH IS WE DON'T! at least not for all of the things we experience, for some yeah WE MAY HAVE but WE don't have all of them! the war and debate in the article i was reading was that, IN HUMANITY LAYS ALL THE ANSWERS TO ALL OUR PROBLEMS and that IT'S ONLY IN HOW WE SEE OURSELVES THAT WE BEGIN TO RISE OVER THE SURFACE TOWARDS VICTORY. Well i don't know what to say, in a way the strong belief in this view is that HUMANITY IN ITSELF IS ADEQUATE! If that's the case there is therefore now no room for JESUS CHRIST'S SIGNIFICANCE IN OUR LIVES. Which is where i got a whole lot worried about the reconciliation between PSYCHOLOGY AND CHRISTIANITY.

My stand and opinion however remains that, "UNLESS AND UNTIL MANKIND ENCOUNTERS THE REALITY OF GOD'S BEING HE REMAINS AS RESTLESS AS THE WONDERING WIND" meaning in our own selves lays no answer(s) not even for the simplest situation you may think of.

So what then? i am sure you may be wondering, well i quote St.Augustine to conclude my thought when he said, "When anyone realizes that in himself he is nothing and from himself he has no help, the weapons within him are broken, the wars are over. But all the weapons of impiety must be shattered, broken, and burned; you must remain unarmed, you must have no help in yourself. The weaker you are in yourself, the more readily the Lord will receive you." meaning that unless we seek, realize and desire to know, believe and ultimately encounter the BEING of God we remain unsure of who we are, what we are and how and what we ought to commit our whole existence to.

I wish US ALL the best IN OUR faithfully AND BOLDLY acknowledgment of our INADEQUACY and our DEEP NEED to find FULFILLMENT and adequacy in the LIVING GOD.

PSALM 124....

Psalm 124

A song of ascents, by David.

124:1 “If the Lord had not been on our side” –

let Israel say this! –

124:2 if the Lord had not been on our side,

when men attacked us,3

124:3 they would have swallowed us alive,

when their anger raged against us.

124:4 The water would have overpowered us;

the current4 would have overwhelmed us.

124:5 The raging water

would have overwhelmed us.

124:6 The Lord deserves praise,

for he did not hand us over as prey to their teeth.

124:7 We escaped with our lives,10 like a bird from a hunter’s snare.

The snare broke, and we escaped.

124:8 Our deliverer is the Lord,

the Creator of heaven and earth.

IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE LORD'S ADEQUACY TO US AND IN OUR LIVES; WHERE WOULD WE BE? 'NOWHERE, ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE!'(OUR ADEQUACY LAYS IN OUR KNOWLEDGE THAT WITHOUT GOD WE ARE INADEQUATE AND THAT WITH HIM WE ADEQUATE)

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

where are you RUNNING to?


Did you know?







As Christians we are not only PILGRIMS of this world but more so are we the most wanted FUGITIVES by the Devil. The question therefore is; where and who are you running to for refuge and solace? And furthermore in whose strength are you also running and doing so?



The two probable answers are either to GOD in Jesus’ strength or to man made reasoning through human strength the later however holds more ROOM to fail us than the earlier!

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

121:1 I look up3 toward the hills.

From where4 does my help come?

121:2 My help comes from the Lord,

the Creator of heaven and earth!

121:3 May he not allow your foot to slip!

May your protector not sleep!

121:4 Look! Israel’s protector

does not sleep or slumber!

121:5 The Lord is your protector;

the Lord is the shade at your right hand.

121:6 The sun will not harm you by day,

or the moon by night.

121:7 The Lord will protect you from all harm;

he will protect your life.

121:8 The Lord will protect you in all you do,

now and forevermore.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

getting CLOSER to God......

how far are you........?















The christian walk is often titled 'a journey' signifying a movement from somewhere ultimately to another worthwhile place, hence it has a beginning and ultimately an end!

The question which stands before us then is? have we embarked on this journey and if not yet, when are going to, or if yes, how far and how well are we progressing? Scary and sobering thought, right there when you come to think of it hey?

An observation which jumps out of this question and though is that, Christianity is a process of disciplining oneself and each other till we eventually get home.

An interesting thought which i heard being emphasized earlier today at church was the practical aspect of God's involvement in our lives. I title it GOD THE DEMONSTRATOR...., or THE DEMONSTRATION OF GOD..... either way would do, reflect with me upon Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" God demonstrate His love in response to our greatest need, deep hey when you really ponder on this part of the chapter and further more on the whole chapter, it just blows you away...., i mean hear we are as Christians on a journey home, and where is our starting point? God's practical demonstration of His love for us through Jesus Christ, furthermore where is our ultimate destination? In him (God) through Jesus Christ yet again!

Eish..... hold on; hold on and hold on.. time for a bit of reflection here, okay let's call this part 'A CALL TO REVISIT OUR HEARTS'
THERE is a problem here, 'we divorce worship and our relationship with God from our daily lifestyles' we musk our existence when it comes to worship as if it's just a show and day of event! yet in actual fact worship ought to be at the core of our hearts and the ultimate informer of our daily lives.

By failing to live out this reality we have faceted our lives to different God's instead of only to God!

our failure to APPRECIATE God as he we ought to, degrades and tarnishes our relationship with Him. we claim God is good, but is it His BEING that we love and regard as good or our desired benefits from Him, i mean it's really not fair on God's part what we do, we claim he is good when we want something from him, not really in our RELATIONAL BEING with him. belive you me I am no less guitty culprit when it comes to this sad reality.

but you know what? enough is enough, i am calling for a transformation here, those up for it come on board and join me. My first warning for those with me on this movement including myself is, "MAY WE NEVER FALL VICTIM OF BEING SEASONAL LOVERS OF GOD" THE NEXT QUESTION WOULD THEN BE, HOW CAN WE BETTER AND PRACTICALLY LOVE GOD? SIMPLE GIVE UP ALL OUR LIFE'S PLEASURES FOR HIM, AND FOLLOW HIM,

WO WO WO WO!!!!!!!!!! SLOW DOWN HERE, that's definitely easier said than done, exactly, which means that we need commitment and consistency to this. We need renewed and focused minds set upon and towards God!

Look closely at the PSALMS; they are an outward expression of a sinner's heart laying bare before the Master, desiring pardon as well as giving the Master his due. The question to you and me is; are we equally PREPARED to expose ourselves before our maker as the Psalmist did?

"We have deceived ourselves for too long, why not we consciously take an excursion back home where we belong, and there shall find solace"

we need to go back to the heart and bottom of true worship.........,
"our worship is heart worship, it springs down beneath the core of our hearts, therefore whence does thou heart standth?"

worship.........
"loving God from WITHIN our hearts describes true worship, it enables us to consciously love and live out, without vain; practical and testifying lifestyles before mankind and ultimately before God"

"Proper and 'informed' worship entails the use of our INTELLECT mind, worshiping God also calls upon our strength in that we need commitment, ability and diligence in the royal field of the Father"

TO GOD BE THE TOTAL GLORY NOW AND FOREVER AND EVER AMEN

Saturday, July 11, 2009

who are WE in Christ Jesus?

Mankind's Ultimate destination and achievement is to find CONVICTION in GOD














During this past week, i unfortunately fell ill that i had to go and visit the doctor, it turned out that, i had failed to adequately keep warm, hence it had affected my tender chest resulting in constant evening coughs. Further to that i had overworked myself in the past few weeks and fatigue had triggered in me constant mild headaches and uneasiness within my muscles.

With some tablets i was told sent off by the doctor and encouraged to give myself enough rest and to regularly take in a lot of water. However my fascination through all this came whilst i sat at the clinic bench awaiting my turn to see the doctor, seeing and being surrounded by sick people of all ages, babies crying, sad faces in pain, elderly people being given a hand to walk from point A to point B. Eish i must confess got me wondering of; 'what life really is about and what meaning is it or has whether in sickness or health?'

They say, and we believe that God is the creator, giver, sustainer and ultimately re-possessor of all of life, out of his will and in his appointed time. The question however i shivered at the thought of was, as his creation (humanity) do we really understand the significance he bears upon our every facet of life, either in well-health or ill-health?

With constant reflection upon this thought, i came up with the three following reflective questions, which i desire everyone to honestly reflect upon and personally answer:

1. DO you KNOW GOD?

2. DO you BELIEVE THAT HE EXISTS?

3. ULTIMATELY Are you CONVINCED THAT HE IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN every facet of your WHOLE EXISTENCE?

Along the same thought, i realised also that; "only GOD posses the ability to inform my view/understanding of who He is and that our desire to know and encounter Him facilitates OUR everyday existence and relationship with both HIM and other people around us"

"our love and desire for GOD enables us to live GOD conscious lives!"

Ultimately existence ought to be about GOD through our existence, hence another question, "Is your EXISTENCE a title or testimony to others around you as well as to GOD himself"

Indeed as pilgrims of this here world we are restless and inadequate until and unless we personally encounter the Living God..........

I also found the following hymn of encouragement as it pointed me to focus on GOD as my source and ultimate destination...


Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus


O soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Saviour,
And life more abundant and free:

[Chorus:]

Turn you eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion
For more than conqu'rors we are!

[Chorus]

His word shall not fail you He promised;
Believe Him and all will be well.
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

[Chorus]

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

woRShip..........

who is this GOD whom we bow to?





'if worship does not change us, it is not true worship
true worship should initiate in holy expectancy and end in holy obedience'
Richard Foster








A PENCIL MAKER taught a pencil '5' important lessons:
1. Everything you do you will always leave a mark.
2. The mistakes you make can always be corrected.
3. Most important is what's inside you.
4. In life you will at times undergo painful sharpening(s)which will make you a better pencil.
5. To be the best you must allow to be held and guided by the hand that holds you.

MAY WE LET GOD BE THAT GUIDING HAND EVERYDAY OF LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!

Psalm 124

A song of ascents,2 by David.


124:1 “If the Lord had not been on our side” –

let Israel say this! –

124:2 if the Lord had not been on our side,

when men attacked us,3

124:3 they would have swallowed us alive,

when their anger raged against us.

124:4 The water would have overpowered us;

the current4 would have overwhelmed5 us.6

124:5 The raging water

would have overwhelmed us.7

124:6 The Lord deserves praise,8

for9 he did not hand us over as prey to their teeth.

124:7 We escaped with our lives,10 like a bird from a hunter’s snare.

The snare broke, and we escaped.

124:8 Our deliverer is the Lord,11

the Creator12 of heaven and earth.

freedom in Christ Jesus

arms OPEN wide...........



Freedom a word with a deeply desired meaning, however how i wonder how many are willing to pay the cost which goes along with true freedom. All of humanity is bound in one way or another with something, whether it be a 'bad habit', crave, desire or you name it.

because of our sinful nature we are now under a bondage from the consequences of sins, hence every human beings longs for FREEDOM. RUSUNUNGUKO, NKULULEKO! but the question is can it be found, and if so where, where or where can it be found?

A gaze into the open lands of Matopos recently impacted me, as i felt and experienced the stillness and beauty in the natural creation made by God. For some minutes i forgot of all my fears, worries and burdens as i was stolen by the stillness of God's marvelous general revelation through nature

I was also reminded of the freedom we adopt and posses from being in Christ Jesus,
"JOHN 8:36 So if the son sets you free, you will be really free"

'HOW I PRAY THAT WE MAY DEEPLY BECOME A PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSTANTLY SEEKING TO FIND FREEDOM IN GOD' a. muchaka

ONE renown author once said freedom yes freedom indeed he however questioned freedom from what and for what? may our answer be, from our sinful nature, for the GLORY of GOD our FATHER through JESUS CHRIST!!!

Psalm 120

A song of ascents.2


120:1 In my distress I cried out

to the Lord and he answered me.

120:2 I said,3 “O Lord, rescue me4

from those who lie with their lips5

and those who deceive with their tongue.6

120:3 How will he severely punish you,

you deceptive talker?7

120:4 Here’s how!8 With the sharp arrows of warriors,

with arrowheads forged over the hot coals.9

120:5 How miserable I am!10

For I have lived temporarily11 in Meshech;

I have resided among the tents of Kedar.12

120:6 For too long I have had to reside

with those who hate13 peace.

120:7 I am committed to peace,14

but when I speak, they want to make war

Monday, June 29, 2009

just some reflections ....

StEdFaSt.............




Over the weekend i went out on a camp to a place in Matopos called STEDFAST, what an experience it was indeed. whilst there i realized something special about existence and the gift of life. [that life is nothing but simply a gift from God to us]

The theme of this camp was entitled 'simply worship' we went through the in depth study of the Psalms of Accent thus from chapters 120-134, it was amazing i tell you. Of essence was the background of how the children of Israel used the Psalms of accents, 'they used them when herding to Jerusalem to worship' Jerusalem was literary reached through ascending up a hill, the fascinating thing also was that there were other shrines along the way of false gods, which other people worshiped. So it literary meant that the children of Israel had to focus on the HILL in Jerusalem where they worshiped the true God

Going through the PSALMS OF ASCENT ENLIGHTENED AND INFORMED ME of what true worship entails, i realized that, 'worship is actually a process we constantly practice in our relationship with God; it is closely associated with how we view our Quiet Time/ Devotional time with God. Worship is a relationship based our knowledge and relationship with God'

"In God rests our adequacy , our understanding and comprehension of WHO God is, under normal circumstances should inform and deepen our quiet time" a muchaka

"our day to day life experiences sets the scene for our quiet time with God, hence our every moment counts" a muchaka

"may we forever diligently seek not to be found guilty of the crime of failing to give God his worth-ship 'worship' so long as we are in existence" a muchaka

"may we continually strive to be men and women who are lovers of God" a muchaka


Psalm 1211

A song of ascents.2


121:1 I look up3 toward the hills.

From where4 does my help come?

121:2 My help comes from the Lord,5

the Creator6 of heaven and earth!

121:3 May he not allow your foot to slip!

May your protector7 not sleep!8

121:4 Look! Israel’s protector9

does not sleep or slumber!

121:5 The Lord is your protector;

the Lord is the shade at your right hand.

121:6 The sun will not harm you by day,

or the moon by night.10

121:7 The Lord will protect you from all harm;

he will protect your life.

121:8 The Lord will protect you in all you do,11

now and forevermore.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

cOnvictION in AcTioN......

Freedom of Conscience

“Unless I am convinced by Scripture or by clear reasoning that I am in error – for popes and councils have often erred and contradicted themselves – I cannot recant, for I am subject to the Scriptures I have quoted; my conscience is captive to the Word of God. It is unsafe and dangerous to do anything against one’s conscience. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. So help me God. Amen.”


Martin Luther

in hearing from GOD, rests our totality


rest.......

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1









A friend of mine always retorts of how she constantly hears from God, through nearly everything she encounters, from music, nature, other people and much more from the BIBLE. Just recently i deliberately took time to sit down and talk with her about the idea of hearing from God.

It's easy really to always find ourselves saying saying that i talked to God through prayer today and so fourth, but rarely do we take time to really say, i have heard from God with conviction. It's as if our hearing from God is more of a gamble that of certainty.

One important factor which my friend pointed out during our chart, was the issue of [wanting and being open to hearing from God]in other words the idea of being sensitive to God as we go through our day, not only that but the need for truthfulness. God is a holy and pure God hence there is no way we can attempt or even imagine of hearing from God if we are constantly living in sin!

Imagine it this way, think of someone you deeply, love adore, respect and believe in, how do you imagine and plan to encounter them, with all honesty, respect and senses wide alert!

During my reflection to this hearing from God business, i discovered that many a times we don't view our encounter with God as a practical relationship, we are fooled by some influence to relate with God as a mystical being somewhere, instead of personalizing our relationship with Him as someone real.

Another danger we easily get fooled by is that of seeing God as a responsive creature open to our needs and suggestions, who ought to fit into our plans. Instead of being in a relationship with Him and us desiring to fit into his plan for our lives. God is in constant communication with us, if only we would slow down and start heeding to his word, all will be well.

what got me excited to put this idea down really was the above word which i quoted from PSALM 91:1, which i felt strongly to be a word given to me by God today, i just received word earlier today that my close friend's relative had passed on, In this world we are constantly being hit by surprises i mean life is packed with uncertainties, hence my conclusion to all this is that we need to be people in constant hearing from God......

......for though we know not the future, we can be be sure of who holds the futures; OUR GOD


'LIFE is an unpredictable game, always unfolding what we may not exactly be expecting, hence we need to be open to whatever reality holds for us'

'life even in it's unpredictability; is still our gift from GOD'

'LORD help us live and face each day as you would have do, for ONLY in YOU lays certainty'

'life is not defined by the breath we take, but rather by the decisions we MAKE!'

"OUR EFFECTIVENESS in life lays not in our being sophisticated; but rather in our DEPENDENCE UPON GOD"

'NO MATTER what our circumstances may be, the REALITY of the matter still remains, GOD is love!


.........in the ALMIGHTY alone.....

Saturday, June 20, 2009

on OUR way to a BETTER plAce.......












not always WILL we understand............

"If you are a preacher of mercy, do not preach an imaginary but the true mercy. If the mercy is true, you must therefore bear the true, not an imaginary sin. God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides. We, however, says peter (2. peter 3:13) are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where justice will reign." [letter 99.13, to Philipp Melanchthon, 1 august 1521.]

Martin Luther


existence

true existence commences when we start looking away from ourselves and start looking constantly to God.

A. Muchaka

dependence
though i daily depend on my mind for daily reasoning and judgment, yet it holds the greatest capability to fail me..., hence in God alone will i depend

A. Muchaka


Purity and Relationship………


"Gods' word is a treasure worth laying up, and there is no laying it up safely but in our hearts. If we have it only in our houses and hands enemies may take it from us. If only in our heads our memories may fail us. But if our hearts are delivered into the mold of it, and the impressions of it remain in our souls, it is safe."

By Matthew Henry

Just a philosophy of thought

“Each day as pilgrims of this world; is a place we have never been, hence we are beings in constant pursuit for answers…..

By Archie Muchaka

the REALITY of the maTTEr...........

Everyone Needs a Special Place



Everyone needs a special place all their own, even if they do not own it. Everyone needs friends who are always there, even if they are not there with us. What makes a place special for a person does not depend upon the place, but upon the person. What makes a person special is not so much the person, but the people who think they are special: their friends.

While the places where we live and work do not define us or determine who and what we will become, they do form the context in which we flourish, wither, or merely subsist. The places of our lives either nourish us or drain us. Places do not make us, but they provide the physical space in which we relate to the people who play such an important role, for good or ill, in shaping who we

From The Inklings of Oxford: C. S. Lewis,
J. R. R. Tolkien, and
Their Friends
by Harry Lee Poe and
James Ray Veneman

Thursday, June 18, 2009

THIS is WHAT it IS all ABOUT..........

Prayer of Archbishop Oscar Romero

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.


















Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying that the
Kingdom always lies beyond us...a step along the way, this enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.


LET'S TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK DEEP DOWN INTO THE HEART OF GOD, AND FIND THE REALITY AND PURPOSE WE OUGHT TO PURSUE..............

whO is this God that we worSHip?


the reality of the MATTER!!!!!!!!!!


ISN'T it easy for people in this world to grow into the habit of taking things for granted, and being redundant so to say? yesterday we do this and yesteryear we did that...., we simply start doing things because we have done it before or because we always did it that way

sadly as believers of Christ Jesus, we are guilty also of taking our relationship and view of God for granted that we, ponder not on the HOLINESS and GREATNESS of GOD. Who is this GOD whom we kneel to? do we understand what it means to constantly go before him, is it like any other one of our to do list, even one of those things which we think of when we have nothing 'better to do' so to say?

i don't know what it means to you to enter into the presence of God daily, but i strongly feel it should be one of the significant things which we ought not take for granted EVER!!!!!



I FOUND THE BELOW IDEAS OF FASCINATION IN RELATION TO OUR INTERACTION WITH GOD...

The first petition is that God's name be hallowed. Though all ungodly men should break out with their sacrilegious license, the holiness of God's name still shines. We should wish God to have the honor he deserves; men should never speak or think of him without the highest reverence. To this is opposed the profanity that has always been too common and even today is abroad in the world. Hence the need of this petition, which ought to have been superfluous if even a little godliness existed among us. — John Calvin

When we say hallowed be Thy name, we do not mean that God's name is not holy, but we ask that men may treat it as a holy thing. — St. Augustine

'I PRAY THAT WE NEVER BE FOUND IN FAULT OF BEING ONE OF THOSE WHO TAKE THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD FOR GRANTED OR AS INSIGNIFICANT'

A. muchaka

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

wORd...................


The Only Life Worth Living…………………..














INCARNATIONAL SPIRITUALITY — THE LIVING, REIGNING, AND ASCENDED JESUS LIVING THROUGH US AND TRANSFORMING US INTO DIFFERENT PEOPLE — DOES NOT EXIST TO UPHOLD A FEW RULES BUT RATHER SPEAKS OF A PROCESS THAT CREATES AN ENTIRELY NEW PERSON WHO SEES WITH NEW EYES, FEELS WITH A NEW HEART, HEARS WITH RENEWED EARS, AND LIVES WITH A NEW PASSION. IT IS, I BELIEVE, THE ONLY LIFE WORTH LIVING.

I PRAY THAT YOU WILL VIEW YOUR EYES AS GOD'S SERVANTS. YOU WILL LOOK AT YOUR HANDS AND FEET AS HOLY INSTRUMENTS OF THE MIGHTY CREATOR. YOU WILL OFFER YOUR EARS TO BE CONSTANTLY IN TUNE WITH GOD'S INSTRUCTION. YOUR HEART WILL BEAT WITH GOD'S PASSION, AND YOUR MIND WILL BEGIN THE JOURNEY OF THINKING GOD'S THOUGHTS. YOUR BODY WILL BE A LIVING, BREATHING CENTER OF PURPOSEFUL PASSION, POINTING TOWARD THE RISEN AND REIGNING CHRIST, WHO WORKS SO POWERFULLY WITHIN US. YOU WILL BECOME "HOLY AVAILABLE" TO HIM.

By Gary Thomas


Purity and Relationship……………

"GODS' WORD IS A TREASURE WORTH LAYING UP, AND THERE IS NO LAYING IT UP SAFELY BUT IN OUR HEARTS. IF WE HAVE IT ONLY IN OUR HOUSES AND HANDS ENEMIES MAY TAKE IT FROM US. IF ONLY IN OUR HEADS OUR MEMORIES MAY FAIL US. BUT IS OUR HEARTS ARE DELIVERED INTO THE MOULD OF IT, AND THE IMPRESSIONS OF IT REMAIN IN OUR SOULS, IT IS SAFE."

By Matthew Henry


Just a philosophy of thought ……….

“IN SEEKING TO EFFECTIVELY SERVE GOD IN THIS WORLD, WE CANNOT DO WITHOUT DARING TO BE DIFFERENT AS WELL AS BEING OURSELVES”

By Archie Muchaka

Friday, June 12, 2009

eXistencE......................



In Christ ALoNe










"may we never be found guilty with the crime of getting in God's way, as he seeks to accomplish his purposes and will through our lives" a. muchaka

each new day as it presents and unfolds of late in my life, i see a new facet of God in my life, i just can't get enough of him, he is too awesome i cannot, comprehend or begin to explain. Just earlier today i had this thought come over me, "at times we are too obsessed about changing the world that we forget that it's rally about God changing others lives through his changing of our lives" the thing is it all starts and ends with God and really isn't about us at the end of the day

so my delight and hunger these days isn't so much what Archie has done, achieved, is planning but rather "God what next, and where to from here?" that way my focus is more on God and him fulfilling his plans and purposes through me, more than anything else

Just another great word which struck me this week was John 17:17 "Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth" they are Jesus' prayer for us

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

at tiMes wE-e-e.............










Missing the mark!


Life is about choices, decisions and all that which goes along with it, but it's not always that we hit the MARK many a times we find ourselves stumbling and missing the mark. Just recently i realized one important thing for nothing!


Proverbs 14:15 A naive person40 believes everything, but the shrewd person discerns his steps.41 14:16 A wise person is cautious42 and turns from evil, but a fool throws off restraint43 and is overconfident.44


It's easy to want to be known as the dude who changed the world! or someone who has made it or has finally made or something of that sort, but funny isn't it that not many or should i say any want to be known as someone who missed the mark or someone trying to getting it altogether.

I mean if life is about choices, positive and negative, it's only normal that we not only pretend to be the macho's but equally be the humble who accept error as a way to learn, re-define themselves and become better people.

Solomon one of the wisest persons, ever to live, if not the wisest of them all is not only remembered for his wisdom, anyway people only want to know him for that but i believe there was also a flip side to his life, i don't mean to be negative or anything but a reflection upon his errors also serve as wisdom and instruction to us all if we are humble enough to reflect upon it

I am struck by the way he wrote towards the end of his life, because he reflected upon the important things concerning life! by also highlighting that from our error should we as people learn to be better people, he didn't hide his miseries which were brought about by life and his wrong choices, but reflected on them as a lesson of life to both himself and to others! wow, wow and wow!!!!

My reflective question would be, of all of us, me included how many of us can use their lives as an open testimony for others to better themselves and moreover better OTHERS! TALK OF WANTING TO CHANGE THE WORLD, that's some noble way to hey! After all LIFE really isn't about us but about him who is the GIVER OF LIFE, at the end of the day little is DEPENDENT UPON what we can achieve and do OR UPON our own strength, I MEAN even the wisest man ever to live ADMITTED IT!

In closing i quote from a HUMBLE confession made by a great and noble friend of mine whom i am greatly thankful to, for her inspiration and support, which says

"i am totally convinced that, if it were not for God i wouldn't have made it" Yvonne

Also i have this confession to say, " life's worth isn't so much in our changing the world as it is in God changing ours" friends and fellow human beings i am also deeply convinced that true and noble existence is never about us but about God in heaven above!!!!!!!!

adopted from a. muchaka's life diary titled my confessions from where i stand

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

me, me, mee.... what? mEEKnesS.....














mEEknes the wAy to FLY.......
s

Did you know that in the beatitudes, lie great and deep truths, today i focus only on Matthew. 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth"

which highlights the blessedness of the meek by inheriting the KINGDOM OF GOD!

BUT the meaning and understanding portrayed in the word MEEK possess a different facet than that which we sadly tag to it! meekness in today's context is identified with weakness and feebleness, whereas in ancient times (Biblical times) because the kings of that time ruled with pride and arrogance, the Bible differentiated the godly leaders as meek! (not weak, but rather humble, even despised yet with good intent in their doing of things)

hence the meaning being expressed in both Psalm 37:11 "But the oppressed will possess the land and enjoy great prosperity" and Mathew 5:5. The word meek posses the element of humble pride in-comparison to the element of weak which many weigh it down with!

"meekness IN Biblical times possessed a totally different facet than that which we tend to picture it with today, that of weak as compared to that of humble pride"

a. muchaka

my desire is for many if Not ALL to see reality and Biblical concepts from the view and perspective of God, our creator!

Monday, June 8, 2009

MANY are THE voices WHICH are conSTAntly WhispERing to us, "Which one are you listeniNG to?"


Voice Of Truth lyrics
CASTING CROWNS







Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
To the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out his hand

But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. 'Boy, you'll never win!'
"You'll never win"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
and the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a Sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again "boy, you'll never win!
"You'll never win"

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them looking down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me


I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

in Christ We aRe intergrated and wE LIVE!!!



THE MEANING OF UNITY IN CHRIST POSSES AN AWESOME FACET WHICH AT FIRST GLANCE MAY APPEAR QUEER, WEIRD AND OUT OF THIS WORLD. WHY?
WELL BECAUSE IT IS, INDEED WE ARE OF CHOSEN PEOPLE, IN CHRIST JESUS.

YOU TOO ARE WELCOME TO HOPE ON BOARD!!!!

Peter’s Address on the Day of Pentecost

2:14 But Peter stood up25 with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: “You men of Judea26 and all you who live in Jerusalem,27 know this28 and listen carefully to what I say. 2:15 In spite of what you think, these men are not drunk,29 for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.30 2:16 But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel:31

2:17 ‘And in the last days32 it will be,’ God says,

‘that I will pour out my Spirit on all people,33

and your sons and your daughters will prophesy,

and your young men will see visions,

and your old men will dream dreams.

2:18 Even on my servants,34 both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.35

2:19 And I will perform wonders in the sky36 above

and miraculous signs37 on the earth below,

blood and fire and clouds of smoke.

2:20 The sun will be changed to darkness

and the moon to blood

before the great and glorious38 day of the Lord comes.

2:21 And then39 everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’40

2:22 “Men of Israel,41 listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds,42 wonders, and miraculous signs43 that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know – 2:23 this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed44 by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles.45 2:24 But God raised him up,46 having released47 him from the pains48 of death, because it was not possible for him to be held in its power.49 2:25 For David says about him,

‘I saw the Lord always in front of me,50

for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.

2:26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced;

my body51 also will live in hope,

2:27 because you will not leave my soul in Hades,52

nor permit your Holy One to experience53 decay.

2:28 You have made known to me the paths of life;

you will make me full of joy with your presence.’54

2:29 “Brothers,55 I can speak confidently56 to you about our forefather57 David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 2:30 So then, because58 he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants59 on his throne,60 2:31 David by foreseeing this61 spoke about the resurrection of the Christ,62 that he was neither abandoned to Hades,63 nor did his body64 experience65 decay.66 2:32 This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it.67 2:33 So then, exalted68 to the right hand69 of God, and having received70 the promise of the Holy Spirit71 from the Father, he has poured out72 what you both see and hear. 2:34 For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says,

‘The Lord said to my lord,

“Sit73 at my right hand

2:35 until I make your enemies a footstool74 for your feet.”’75

2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt76 that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified77 both Lord78 and Christ.”79

The Response to Peter’s Address

2:37 Now when they heard this,80 they were acutely distressed81 and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “What should we do, brothers?” 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized82 in the name of Jesus Christ83 for84 the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.85 2:39 For the promise86 is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” 2:40 With many other words he testified87 and exhorted them saying, “Save yourselves from this perverse88 generation!” 2:41 So those who accepted89 his message90 were baptized, and that day about three thousand people91 were added.92

The Fellowship of the Early Believers

2:42 They were devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship,93 to the breaking of bread and to prayer.94 2:43 Reverential awe95 came over everyone,96 and many wonders and miraculous signs97 came about by the apostles. 2:44 All who believed were together and held98 everything in common, 2:45 and they began selling99 their property100 and possessions and distributing the proceeds101 to everyone, as anyone had need. 2:46 Every day102 they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts,103 breaking bread from104 house to house, sharing their food with glad105 and humble hearts,106 2:47 praising God and having the good will107 of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number every day108 those who were being saved.

not of this WOrld yet in this wORld......





"The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” Habakkuk 3:19

Sunday, June 7, 2009

We ArE but juSt finiTe bEings...........

all is well which starts and ends well, indeed is a true statement but many a times isn't what always happens, it got me pondering today that even if we are there for other (our friends and families) at times we can never really feel what they are feeling and moreover experience what they may be experiencing!!!!!! hence the show of our finiteness.

sad as it may be it's actually great on the flip side, WHY? well i guess it can only lead us to go before the feet of him who is infinite in his being and adequate for all our needs

I am struck by Jesus' answer to Martha over what she had chosen over that which Mary had chosen.

LUKE 10:38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus128 entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him as a guest.129 10:39 She130 had a sister named Mary, who sat131 at the Lord’s feet132 and listened to what he said. 10:40 But Martha was distracted133 with all the preparations she had to make,134 so135 she came up to him and said, “Lord, don’t you care136 that my sister has left me to do all the work137 alone? Tell138 her to help me.” 10:41 But the Lord139 answered her,140 “Martha, Martha,141 you are worried and troubled142 about many things, 10:42 but one thing143 is needed. Mary has chosen the best144 part; it will not be taken away from her.”

"my question is to us all, how are we prepared to react when we realise that at times we are just inadequate and don't always have the answers to our situations and to those which our close and loved ones are going through?"

i pray we turn in humility to God acknowledging his SUFFICIENCY to our every situation and just LEARN TO WILLINGLY TRUST UPON HIS INFINITENESS!!!!

PROVERBS 3:5 Trust12 in the Lord with all your heart,13

and do not rely14 on your own understanding.15

3:6 Acknowledge16 him in all your ways,17

and he will make your paths straight.18

3:7 Do not be wise in your own estimation;19

fear the Lord and turn away from evil.20

MAY WE FIND ADEQUECY IN HIS BEING WHATEVER OUR CIRCUMSTANCE

Saturday, June 6, 2009

do you haVE a HuNgeR foR God???????????????

Hungry (Falling On My Knees)

C Am7 G F
Hungry, I come to you for I know you satisfy
C Am7 G F
I am empty, but I know Your love does not run dry
G F/A G/B F
And so I wait for You so I wait for You

C Fmaj7
I'm falling on my knees
C Fmaj7
Offering all of me
C Fmaj7 C
Jesus, You're all this heart is living for

C Am7 G F
Broken, I run to You for Your arms are open wide
C Am7 G F
I am weary, but I know Your touch restores my life
G F/A G/B F
And so I wait for You so I wait for You

©1999 Vineyard Songs (UK/Eire)
Words and Music by Kathryn Scott

Friday, June 5, 2009

Dig in for the Long Run

God isn't in the business of killing a good thing. As Isaiah notes, he "gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak" (Isaiah 40:29). Even in marriage? Especially in marriage, since God thought that one up in the first place. Still, how do we find the grace to run the race of relationship and not trip along the way?

Isaiah 40 isn't about magic. Its opening verses recall the stumbling and sinfulness of God's people. They speak also about the warm and compassionate heart of God. The rest of the chapter breathes a reminder to seek God's care. Marriages, like careers or characters, aren't made overnight. They happen when folks dig in for the long run and keep their eyes on the prize. —Wayne Brouwer

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

wiSdom a DaILY.... requirement

A. Proverbs Bible Study Questions

1. In general what main idea do we derive from proverb(s)

• Instruction, truth, wisdom, thought through ideas in brief

2. In your own words what do you think or understand is the main theme or purpose of the book of proverbs?

• Verses 2-6 explain the purpose of the book of Proverbs [to give a course of instruction in wisdom, preparation for life and the way of life God’s way. Israel’s contribution to wisdom literature was to place all wisdom in the context of faith in the LORD i.e. proverbs 1 v 7 is the central idea of the book]

3. What similarities do we notice in the way the ideas are connected and are flowing in verses 2-4? And what implication and role are they serving?

• The joining conjunctions to in the KJV and for in the NIV i.e. for attaining wisdom and discipline, for understanding words of insights etc

• They Join the idea, purpose and reason brought about, by proverbs

4. What idea do we vividly see as the result of proverbs verse 2 and what further idea again do we see as a result of the second element verse 3-4

• Proverbs----wisdom------discretion/judgment/understanding/prudence

5. What people or age group is referred to in verse 4b and what is your comment to this idea?

• Young man, the simple (inexperienced) because they are trial and error people without experience back up. [ Everyone is doing it syndrome]

6. What change in flow do we notice in verse 5?

• Wisdom is a perpetual thing which we can never exhaust which even the wise ought to continue seeking! It is that important [it is like a skill which we attain and keep perfecting]

7. What idea can we derive from the words “hear”/ “listen”? in verse 5

• Wisdom is attainable more through listening that much talking (therefore we need to be constantly engaged in listening)

8. What idea do you see and understand in from verse 6 in relation to verse 5?

• It explains and identifies some of the things which a person who would have attained wisdom would be able to comprehend and discern [ i.e. proverb, parable, riddles and sayings]

9. What can you say about verse 7? And what implication does it have to the idea of wisdom and the process of attaining it?

• It is the central focus of verses 1-7 and the basic ingredient in acquiring practical wisdom for life. Even though some form of wisdom can be acquired without God, TRUE wisdom depends on knowledge, submission and reverence of God,

“To know something but not to know God OVERTURNS the VALUE of acquiring and having knowledge in the first place”

B. Reflection and Application
• Do I see the significance of attaining wisdom based in God as a young person living in a world filled with various sorts of APPEALING AND MISLEADING advices such as the media and peer influence?

• If so how can I do so consistently and faithfully?

Is there anyone free to briefly share? Now or first thing next week


C. Quote
“In seeking to make a difference in this world and to effectively serve god in this world, we cannot do without daring to be different as well as being ourselves” a. muchaka






We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an Act, but a habit. - Aristotle

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

not aBout us.......

did you ever stop to think and realise that our existence as belivers in Christ Jesus isn't about us but about God's purposes being achieved and put through, through us for the glory of God, for HE IS WORTHY!!!!!

"OUR EXISTENCE IS ABOUT A LIVING GOD THROUGH A LIVING WORD FOR HIS LIVING PEOPLE"
G. Chikari

sometimes we miSS out on God's voiCE because we are too busy to notice and to LIsteN to God through all our sense.... becareful you might just be walking past HIm as He speaks to yOu.....

remember it's noT abouT uS... but abOUt GoD.....

Monday, June 1, 2009

WHErever yoU FinD yourself..................

In every season

In everything try not to see the difficulties that you face but try to see the Grace that has made you go through and past your trial

Don’t think of the pain you feel or felt, but think of the goodness of the Spirit that has comforted you. This will help you see God’s goodness and live closer to him do not take any good thing or day that passes as a right because you won’t be able to humble yourself

Seek to see God’s goodness even in your problem, see through the eyes of the Spirit, and learn to comprehend through the mind of Christ


In every season

In everything try not to see the difficulties that you face but try to see the Grace that has made you go through and past your trial

Don’t think of the pain you feel or felt, but think of the goodness of the Spirit that has comforted you. This will help you see God’s goodness and live closer to him do not take any good thing or day that passes as a right because you won’t be able to humble yourself

Seek to see God’s goodness even in your problem, see through the eyes of the Spirit, and learn to comprehend through the mind of Christ

In every season

In everything try not to see the difficulties that you face but try to see the Grace that has made you go through and past your trial

Don’t think of the pain you feel or felt, but think of the goodness of the Spirit that has comforted you. This will help you see God’s goodness and live closer to him do not take any good thing or day that passes as a right because you won’t be able to humble yourself

Seek to see God’s goodness even in your problem, see through the eyes of the Spirit, and learn to comprehend through the mind of Christ

rise. everyday.

JUST SOME WORDS OF LIFE FROM THE GIVER OF LIFE.........

"Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your guard.”
Isaiah 58:8

Don't Give Up on Your Calling........... NEVER!!!!

William Carey came to India to save millions, but he actually led only a handful to Christ with his words. When he lost the support of his friends in England, when his family suffered tragedy, when he failed to gain converts, he did not give up on his calling.

Rather than admit failure, he sought a new way to reach the lost of India. Using his language skills, he translated the Bible into scores of Indian languages and dialects. It was this behind-the-scenes effort that opened India to missionary work. It also set the pattern for the Bible to become the most translated and published book in the world.

A historian once noted this about the man who personally led so very few to Christ: "Taking his life as a whole, it is not too much to say that he was the greatest and most versatile Christian missionary sent out in modern times."

From Stories behind Men of Faith
by Ace Collins

CHrist's sUffiCiency our hope and reFuge...........

Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh

2 CORINTHIANS 12:1 It is necessary to go on boasting.1 Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven. 12:3 And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows) 12:4 was caught up into paradise2 and heard things too sacred to be put into words,3 things that a person4 is not permitted to speak. 12:5 On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. 12:6 For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling5 the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard6 me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me, 12:7 even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore,7 so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble8 me – so that I would not become arrogant.9 12:8 I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. 12:9 But10 he said to me, “My grace is enough11 for you, for my12 power is made perfect13 in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly14 about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in15 me. 12:10 Therefore I am content with16 weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties17 for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

In life sometime it's not always when we have it all FIGURED out, i mean yeah we able to make decisions and all because of the brains which God gave us but sometimes we just have to lay back and understand that our knowledge and comprehension capacity is JUST limited.

.....But we worry and despair not though, because we are rest assured that in HIM WHOM we trust is AND RESTS OUR full and unlimited REFUGE AND UNLIMITED COMPREHENSION!!!!!!!!

I FIND INSPIRATION AND AM FULLY STRUCK AND TAKEN AFAR BY PAUL'S ENCOUNTER WITH GOD AND HOW AT THE END HE (PAUL) LEARNT TO COMPREHEND THROUGH A THEOLOGICAL EYE "FROM GOD'S PERSPECTIVE!"

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GIANT MAY BE TODAY BUT I CAN SURELY ASSURE YOU THAT, IT AIN'T BIGGER THAT THE GOD I HAVE COME TO KNOW AND SERVE!!!!!!!!!!!!

convicted, conciled and convinced
archie

Sunday, May 31, 2009

wHat keeps Us going in CHrist is our deeP coNviCtiON.....

PhIloSopHY of Ministry:

A person’s internal convictions and passions (rooted and informed by a deep comprehension of Jesus Christ’s death upon the cross) should inform his personal standard of living, his being and his ministry which ought to result in the exaltation of his creator

A called person carries liability for being chosen, hence his need to consciously exist for the glory and delight of his Master!


“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit” Aristotle

true ThAt.....

PhiLOsoPHy from the OLD sKOol.......

Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence.

ALBERT EINSTEIN:

iNSpiration from Little SiSter... the Jokster....

Great stuff from my little Sis.........

Num 6:24 The LORD bless you and keep you;
Num 6:25 the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
Num 6:26 the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Isa 30:15 For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." But you were unwilling,
Isa 30:16 and you said, "No! We will flee upon horses"; therefore you shall flee away; and, "We will ride upon swift steeds"; therefore your pursuers shall be swift.
Isa 30:17 A thousand shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill.

THE SeedCampaign....

The seed Campaign

“Discovering, establishing and maintaining mankind’s true identity.”

THE SEED CAMPAIGN
Getting and keeping you connected with God!

PROBLEM STATEMENT

MANNKIND IS PERISHING MORE THAN ANY OTHER CREATURE ON EARTH BOTH YOUNG AND OLD; MANY ARE LEAVING UNFULFILLED PURPOSES AND UNTRODDEN PATHS DUE TO ONE IMPORTANT BUT MISSING ELEMENT IN ALL OF MANKIND’S LIFE. (SELF IDENTITY, ITS BASIS AND ROOT) i.e. LOVE and Realization!

OBJECTIVES:

REDUCE ANY CONSEQUENCES RELATED TO WRONG BEHAVOIUR AND LIFESTYLES like (HIV/AIDS)

SEND OUT THE MESSAGE AND GOODNESS OF THE LORD (MATTHEW 28V18-20) AND (JOHN 3V16) RESPECTIVELY

IMPART SELF WORTH AND VALUE IN ALL OF MANKIND AND HELP EVERYONE KNOW THAT HE/SHE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN HIS LIFE AND TO THOSE AROUND HIM/ HER (2 TIMOTHY 2V15)

GROW INTO WHO WE ARE DESTINED TO BE

HELP BUILD A BETTER FUTURE GENERATION WITH SELF RESPECT, FEAR OF JEHOVAH AND ABOVE ALL LOVE AND CONCERN FOR ONE ANOTHER (ROMANS 12V17-21)

FIND VALUE AND MEANING TO ONESELF AND TO OTHERS IN THIS HERE WORLD AS WELL IN THE FUTURE TO COME, (HEAVEN)

REACH THE BROKEN HEARTED (JOHN 14V1-3) AND (MATTHEW 11V28)

INTRODUCTION
REALISATION IN ANY ASPECT REQUIRES UNDERSTANDING AND ENTANGLES REFLECTION IN WHATEVER WAY THE AIRED INFORMATION WOULD HAVE STRICKEN YOU.

FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE ACQUIRED INFORMATION DEFINES THE WHOLE ASPECT OF REALISATION, IN MANY BUT RARE PRACTICAL SITUATIONS (CASES) MUST AND SHOULD RESULT IN OVERT OR COVERT CHANGES IN A CERTAIN HABIT OR MAINTANANCE OF WHATEVER HABIT OR PRACTICE.

WE HOWEVER NEED TO UNDERSTAND AND TAKE INTO ACCOUNT AND CONSIDERATION THAT THE WHOLE ASPECT OF REALISATION IS INFACT A PROCESS THAN WHAT MANY MAY TEND TO CONFUSE IT FOR, AN EVENT, WHICH IS GREATLY INFLUENCED BY ONE’S INNER DESIRE TO REFLECT, ACCEPT AND OR DENY.

THOUGH IN MANY INSTANCES THE GREAT REALITY OF REALISATION OFTENLY STRIKES, OR MAY HAVE STRICKEN MANY, ONE CONSTANT THING IF IT LACKS, THE WHOLE seed OF REALISATION WOULD UNFORTUNATELY DIE OFF WITHOUT EVEN GERMINATING OR MOREOVER BUDDING INTO ANYTHING!

i.e. THE MAIN ISSUE THAT OF REMINDING, CULTIVATING AND MAINTAINING OF A STABLE AND CONSTANT MINDSET ALL THIS IS OF IMPORTANCE IF THE WHOLE PROCESS IS TO BECOME MEANINGFUL AND RESULT IN FRUIT YIELDING. A CONSTANT RELATION OF THE ISSUES SORROUNDING THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF THE REALISED THING OR IDEA IS VERY VITAL, AND IN A GREAT WAY THE LIFE PUMPING ASPECT OF THE WHOLE IDEA AND PROCESS OF THIS GREAT AND NEW DISCOVERY.

IDENTITY
IN LIFE ONE OF THE KEY REALITIES of all of mankind is the ability and sense to have a form of IDENTITY, i.e. a name, home, family, profession and a meaningful background. This not only serves a purpose for current situations but also allows an important and meaningful relation of one’s past, present and a creation of a clear and meaningful insight of the FUTURE.

Therefore if it is important for a person to understand one’s identity in a “time spanned”, corruptible and ending life (world) what more the importance of an identity in one’s to be and destined life? (PHILIPPIANS 3V20)

PRECONTEMPLATION
In all of creation, though some with a strong conviction that they do not fit within that category; all was created with a sense of VOID within, which only fills and satisfies when one allows adoration and worship, i.e. of GOD the creator. In addition it should be all of mankind’s desire in order to allow finding of his true and purposed identity, (PSALM 27v4-7, Philippians 3v18-19)

However due to the element of sin and the current nature of this world which resulted from mans’ disobedience, our true initial identity of which the rightful element we ought to fill our hearts and (void) with, is completely distorted. (Thus the current crisis prevailing in the entire world) John 8 verses 42-47, therefore a form of rediscovering of our identity is key to amending and correcting all of mankind’s sinful actions which have greatly and negatively impacted on his day to day lifestyle, both in this first world and that which is to come, which only await the awarded ones, (Revelation 22verses12-17)

If man is true to his sixth sense “the conscience” in all he does a true light is always on for the practice of the rightful thing and decision. But due to the need however to opt, wrongly prioritize and fill the VOID of GOD, with selfish and earthly desires one allows the inhabiting of other gods and then allows them to take over. Resulting in a devastating torment of mankind in many aspects e.g. alcohol, drug, sexual, physical, emotional and psychological abuse, i.e. fleshly desires (gods) rather than the expected and true Living GOD, and his HOLY SPIRIT. (Galatians 5v1-26, Mark5 v1-20) (Legion).

Our body is termed the temple of God for a significant reason which we need perfectly understand and comprehend, i.e. that is what and who man is, his true forgotten identity, who ought to fill himself with the presence and WILL of God at all times not periodically or partially but FULLY. (Philippians 1v21-29, Jeremiah 29v11, Romans 8v28 and 1Corinthians 6verse12-20)

If one knows who he is and what comprises him, it then makes much better sense and meaning for him to practically venture into developing and achieving one’s desired and expected goals and allows a clear destiny attainment. So man to be able to overcome the torment of various lifestyles needs to grasp this concept of identity, for it holds all of our hindering circumstances to achieving our destiny of heaven entry, ( due to our evil desires) (Luke 15v11-31, prodigal son, and Galatians 5v19-21)

Though man is embraced by the sinful nature of this world which blindfolds his (our) vision to our true identity, we need to equally understand that a great plan was mastered and put into place for the preservation of our IDENTITY and is ours for the taking that is the CROSS (our source of salvation) {Romans 3v23, Romans 6v23, Ephesians 1v4, 2 Samuel 9v8} we are worthy to him!

God maintained the need to allow man to progress through this harsh world to an expected end; knowing so much that there is an enemy out there, the devil to hinder that attainment entry into our final home, heaven, (John 10v10 and John16v33)

We need not lose sight and embrace sin and its desires at the expense of the initial well-expected and permanent end. The need to maintain the rightful element in our inner void is what safe guards us from all that which is longing to destroy us, including the deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS and their related consequences (James 4v8) and (1Peter5v6-11)

There is no way whatsoever these weapons purposed for our downfall can prosper as long as we remain and retain our identity by allowing the indwelling of God’s true Spirit within us as he initiated and desires, for His being intact and conquers all as he identified himself as a selfless being to all of us, LOVE. (1 John 4v16-18) and practically in John 3v16). (John 15v4, 7 and 13)

Dear friends and fellow brethren what more proof and evidence do we need to read between the lines, that is either the reality of God’s love or the fake and illusive offers of the devil in this passing and fading world. To them who will and desire, there is a way out for them to take, despite the pushing and nagging by the devil, (Philippians 4v13, Matthew 4v1-11and 1 Corinthians 10v13)


THE IMPORTANCE and RELEVENCE OF THE IDENTITY CONCEPT IN RELATION TO A PERSON’S LIFESTYLE
To worship is to give FULL and TOTAL acknowledgement and priority to someone or something with your whole being in praise, honor, gratitude and respect from within going all the way out..

Worship is expresses through the time priority, invested and focus given to the particular thing or person in question

If one tends to commit and give much of their time upon something or something adoring it over and over again, one would have automatically entered into worship. If one tends to sit glued to the television set more often and tend to forget to prioritize other things like working or going to church on Sundays due to a desire to watch a match or any other Programme on TV. One would have chosen to worship the earlier over the later, of which true and expected worship is due to GOD the creator of the entire universe and his whole being and Spirit should dwell within and amongst us always emanating, protecting and retaining our true self nature and identity. (John 4v9-26) * 21-24

The important and crucial thing to be remembered and practiced is the ART of prioritizing, of which if we fail to, we automatically stray off the road to finding and reaching our destiny and full selves. For instance if one is called to be a watch man over a fruit orchard by carrying out duties such as chasing away monkeys and or any thieves who may want to bring destruction upon the orchard, one then would be putting on the responsibility of doing everything and whatever it demands in his power to safeguard the orchard and his personality as well as a noble representative and minder. If he is to be seen in any behavior or activity that endangers or compromises the nature and safety of the orchard (like stealing or facilitating any crime within the orchard, even without being caught), he would have given away his true identity and nature as a responsible and noble watchman at the expense of his personal, selfish gains and desires.

The watchman is therefore expected to abide by the personality and actions that resembles who he is and how the nature of the orchard ought to be found or seen like, note also that the whole aspect of the WATCHMAN’S LIFESTYLE. As long as he remains within the environment surrounding the orchard, he is greatly influenced by how he conducts his activities, duties as well as how he VIEWS and VALUES his purpose, responsibilities and master (Romans 6 verses1-14)

CONTEMPLATION
If one hears and understands it is only natural and expected of him to respond, however note that not all responses are positive some would be equally negative and may have been driven by negative influences such as denial, which one had thought and grown to be. (Malachi 3verse16-18)

Taking into account and consideration all the things which one hears, if it is well brainstormed should either prompt one to reflect and act with an honest and open or to brush it off and ignore it. However deep and honest consideration with a true heart is quite relevant and essential, (Acts 8 verses 26-40). One key aspect to master on how or what decision to make or take in such situations would be to allow oneself into a deep involvement in things which will make you develop a deeper and firm understanding and comprehension on what you would have discovered or realized, e.g. further reading or references to any positively related materials. (Jeremiah 33v3, Psalm 1v1-6 and Ephesians 3v14-21)

Two fascinating and exciting biblical examples of how the similar aspect is practical are found in the book of Acts in (Acts 2 verses 14-40 and Acts 8 verses 26-40), when the information of salvation was presented to these people it appealed to them and resulted in their need to relate, comprehend and act. Peter was preaching to a huge crowd of people, no doubt there were of different natures but a sense of response is greatly observed by what some of them asked, “...brethren what then shall we do?” verse 37. During this situation I would like to believe that the message preached by Peter that day was both positively and negatively responded to, as some were baptized and received the Holy Spirit but others chose equally not to, a behavior characterized by most of us today (ignorance) The question which was raised by those positively impacted was then followed by a practical answer, which also expected a practical action; no doubt it led them into discovering their true nature, purpose and identity, verses 38.

Acts 8 verses 26-40 records yet another inspiring example, of an inquisitive Ethiopian eunuch who after hearing about Christ in a passage during an event in Jerusalem, moved on to seek for clarity and answers from Philip which later awesomely led to his new birth and a discovery of many blessings, all due to positive response to aired and presented information!

PREPERATION FOR ACTION
Major hindrances which may however haunt or extinguish the growth of a new seed which seeks to grow may be that of past condemnation and certain occurrences which illusively paint a picture of self pity or unworthiness, or situations which may seem unchangeable, unmanageable or uncorrectable. However one needs to understand that man is a fallible creature as noted in Romans 3verse23, and that ones past sins can be pardoned and forgotten regardless of ones former lifestyle only if one accepts Christ and finds and move on to understand his true identity. (1John 1v9, John 8v1-11, John 4v1-11), (adulterous woman)

We need to know that God sent Jesus Christ for all of us regardless of race, gender or nature because of our one great problem, sin as a result of (disobedience) so Jesus knows and understands all about us and our sins and is here for that purpose and reason, (John 10v10, Matthew 10v28, John3V16, Luke 19v1-10) *10


He said it himself that he came to seek/find that which is lost and all of us are in God’s sight lost due to our falling from his grace, Romans 3v23b. We need however be willing to lay aside all our shadows of the past and take up a new life in Christ Jesus, and receive him with truth and conviction and he will certainly move on to redeem us. John 3v16, John 1v11-14, John 8v12-20, (Romans chapters 5, 6 and 8)

Comprehend that we have a winner on our side and we need only take up and claim our rightful position as God’s heirs and believe within and practically act, (John 16v33, 2 Timothy 1v7)

ACTION
Bearing a form of change and fruits is one of the things expected to be observed in someone who would have experienced and received a form of awareness, word, discovery or realization. The same is equally expected, even in receiving and understanding the word of God just as in every arena of life, for example when Jesus had to curse the fig tree, which was green and leafy yet without any form of FRUITS at all.
(Matthew 21verses18-22, Mark 11verse12-14)

We are referred to as soil in to Bible when Jesus teaches of the seeds and good soil, where the seeds landed on various soil types, one ought to then wonder and ask himself which soil type he is, judging from what Christ said, (Matthew 13v1-23, Psalm 127v1-3).

Regardless of where we have been calling and heeding the word of God and our calling to our identity is always far WORTHY than anything we may have encountered, e.g. the hemorrhage woman for 12 years she had suffered with the flowing of blood but one day and moment she met Jesus and all that changed she instantly got healed. Even your situation today whatever it is or that habit you have or may be struggling to overcome today can be history if you understand your origin in Jesus Christ “our author and finisher of our faith” and move on to exercise your God given right.(John1v12-13) We need all the determination and courage we have to positively adopt a rightful mindset that who and what we are is a nature of REDEEMED VICTORS, yes we were once bound by sin but God has a made a new way for us for GOOD! (2 Timothy 1v7, Mark 5v1-43, Romans 6v1-22, Romans 7v1-25)

We need to start relating, focusing and uniting our SIGHT, HEART and MIND together so that we with one accord GROP on forward to our true and expected destiny, we need also comprehend that taking PRACTICAL ACTION, has its own merits which are only covert when we practically act with our being (John 3v1-12, Mark 6v5-6)

Zacheous contemplated and boldly laid aside all that he once was, swallowed his pride and allowed Jesus to practically minister to his life and to fill his inner VOID within his heart which he once filled with earthly riches, desires and greed, he practically combined his faith and word, what wonder and awesome delight he must have discovered and experienced that very day. (Luke19verse1-8)


We have God’s support throughout, only if we listen, comprehend, accept and practically move on to act upon our longing Godly principles. (1John 4v16-18, John1v11-13)

God made us with an identity and purpose and the slightest moment we forget that and we move on to take up any other form of lifestyles or so called exciting events of earthly life we RISK putting our WHOLE being, nature and identity at stake! So, we are to be careful how we conduct ourselves in this deceptive world for we are in this world but definitely not of this world!


God has put in place many deliberate commandments and counsels for our welfare and he greatly desires and expects us to MEDITATE upon then to allow us focus and destiny attainment. (Psalm 1v1-6, and because they allow us to clearly understand our true and rightful identity though the nature of this world may strongly think otherwise. So if we decide to take up this earthly nature we automatically put aside the sense of our true identity. Contrast John 8v31-41 and 42-47, Galatians 5v16-21 and 22-26, Philippians 3v20, Matthew 6v33 and 7v21)

The whole aspect which either model one to be a true sample of the true lifestyle and identity or not is all summed up in (Galatians 5verses16-26) either being led by the Holy Spirit or the Devil, people who decide to turn their back on their identity should understand and its expect it to be hostile and painful, these consequences should not come as a surprise for God has allowed us to understand and the freedom to CHOOSE our end. Today’s anguish experienced by man is because of his continual denial of himself and identity initially put forth by God. (Proverbs 1v7) for one becomes how he thinks (Jeremiah 1v5)

If you choose to obey and be who you are meant to be, it makes the relation of yourself with God and even with the outside world more meaningful and purposed, as well as easy for you to divorce yourself from the earthly snares of this here world including the acts which may lead one to attaining HIV/AIDS. (Matthew 6verse,s 19-24, Ephesians 3v1-13, John 15v1-17).

MAINTANANCE
When we begin bearing fruits, we need not get over excited and move on to forget our need to MULCH and facilitate its keeping on and on. One striking example is that of Jesus Christ himself Son of God, (John1v1-3) he knew that even though he was God himself in nature required a constant fueling from God the father as long as he was on this earth due to its nature and demands. (Ephesians 6v1-20) *12 So, he prayed and fasted for his ministry, which was awaiting him. (Matthew 4v1-11), though he was tried his positioning tactic made him a victor.

He also managed to make it through to the end for our sake by constant prayer and meditation (Matthew 26v36-46), so if Christ thought it necessary and relevant to engage in prayer and fasting more often during his days on this sin fabricated earth what more us his followers today on this here earth. (Ephesians 3v14-18)

Paul knew the very challenge of this world without prayer and constant meditation of the word, and he greatly emphasized the need for prayer as we walk towards home (heaven), so he often encouraged the saints to live in the word and in constant prayer, he wrote the need for an amour to the Ephesians, in (Ephesians 6verses10-18). All that also greatly applies to ourselves even today!

On many accounts Jesus found himself in solitude praying and in communion with God the father for the drawing of strength, wisdom and courage, for he knew that he was in a spiritual and invisible warfare, and we too should understand that, by allowing ourselves to identify and view ourselves in perspective with God. (John 17v1-24)

Paul also knew that salvation was only the beginning of much to come and that the need to exhort and encourage the newly born and saved saints was important and essential in anyone’s true nature of Christianity. So, he spent a great deal of his time on his knees for the saints so that they would remain in their true and initial faith. He knew so much of their vulnerability to temptations and to the schemes of the evil one. (Ephesians 3v1-24/25-31, Acts 20v17-32)

He also affirmed them that the devil was only but an illusion and defeated individual, when he said that “the devil is walking around like a roaring lion, resist him and he will flee”. So, we need not fear or worry but pray more and abide in his faith and love. (James 2v4-8, Ephesians 4v17-24 and 25-31),

Certain characteristics are expected to be of manifest so that we attain the awaiting goals and crown of victory pending for us in heaven above, most importantly fruits of the Holy Spirit and of love (1 Corinthians 9v24-27, 1 Corinthians 13v1-13, Romans 8v1-17). Allow me to conclusively say to you my fellow friends and brethren that God greatly cares and loves us all despite who we are and is willing to give us new life if we choose to follow him, (Matthew 11v28-30, Romans 12v1-8 and 9-21)

Our key to overcoming this world, HIV/AIDS and all its related consequences lies in the word of God which purifies and identifies us and allows us to remain in our full potential and nature, that of being God’s precious creation, friends, children and heirs, loved ones (Romans 13verses8-10)

We need however understand and bear in mind how God views us as, (John 15verse13), precious friends that he was willing to lay his life for us. (Psalm 63v3), understand that your identity lies in knowing God fully and will enable you to initiate all of your life on a new and guaranteed platform and note, (Matthew 6verse33).


Remember God is good all the time and all the time God is good!