Annual Molting

Annual Molting

The season has come again when we celebrate and calibrate life.  We often do well with the first part of celebrating and not so well with the latter. We calibrate life when we reflect on the outgoing year and preview the next. Interestingly, penguins are birds that use their wings (flippers) for swimming not flying. Their black and white suits give them a classy look that is always new. The feathers should wear out over time but penguins go through a molting process where their old feathers fall off and are replaced by new ones. This process happens every year and takes about twenty-one days. During this period, the penguin does not go into the ocean to find food. It stays on land and does not eat. The very same feathers that keep this bird warm and dry begin to fall off and the penguin loses weight making it vulnerable as well as unattractive. However, when the process is over, brand new feathers adorn its body. This season of molting makes time away from the normal routine of life and becomes a vital time of refreshing.

As the outgoing year closes, Christmas is a reminder that you can renew yourself. It is a time for recreation or renewal. Similar to molting you can re-envision your heart, realign with your goals, restore your anticipation, reinvigorate your strength, and reignite your passion by recommitting your life to Christ. All things can become new[1]. Refresh your love and understanding of Christ. It is a time to revise strategies where things have not worked well.  Ask God what you need to shed off before the New Year[2]. Is it emotional hurts you have picked up? Is it doubts that have kept you wavering? Is it laziness that has left a lot undone? Is it bad habits that have pulled you back? Or bad company that has distracted you? What is it? This season is time to calibrate your life against His standard of love[3].

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[1] 2 Corinthians 5:17

[2] Psalm 139:23-24

[3] John 3:16

Reason for the Season

Reason for the Season

We all have memories about how we have celebrated Christmas. My fondest come from my parents when I was a small child. At Christmas we looked forward to sets of new clothes, purchased or home made.  We were sure to enjoy special meals with more pieces and portions of everything than usual. Of course going to church in our new clothes and cleanly shaven heads was not negotiable. The highlight however, a Christmas tree my mother made sure was in the house. She would tie gifts and love messages for each child on the tree more than a week before the great day. As they say curiosity killed the cat, that said - we only survived by God’s grace. Anticipation would build up so much that the night before you hardly slept wanting to find out what the tree held for you. We were at times not less than ten in the home at a given time. On the day, we would all come together and each selected a song that would be played on a  'record turntable' while each danced to their choice song. One year my song was ‘Amanzi Amakulu’. Only after dancing to your song, would you untie your gift, pull it from the tree and open it in your own style.

Everyone has reason to celebrate Christmas. We celebrate the good memories and successes as well as the prospects for the future. We remember family and friends; celebrate relationships through family reunions and vacations. It is an excuse to communicate and reconnect with friends and acquaintances. It is a time to give and receive gifts. In some respects, it could be a time to forget what has not gone well. We still celebrate to mark its closure in anticipation for a new episode of renewed hope.  No matter what you have been through you can celebrate that things have not been worse. Be encouraged that you may be down but thank God, you are not under. Perhaps the next season is the one for your come back and turn around.

Would you remember two things that mark the essence of Christmas? Foremost, it is a time to celebrate Jesus’ birth by recounting, and reliving not only the events but also the significance of His birth. He is the greatest love and gift.  Resultantly, Christmas is also time to share His love. A time to remember those less privileged and even the undeserving. God so loved that he gave the undeserving[1].

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[1] Romans 5:8. John 3:16

Today And That Day

Today and that Day

Take a moment now. Pause, and check how well you are doing. That is evaluation. Evaluation and control are essential tools to measure as well as direct the progress of a project. The final evaluation at the end of a project gives final account of its performance. The quality of this final evaluation reflects on evaluations and controls during the life of the project. Control is extracting lessons from past endeavors to effect changes or reinforcements that will steer a project towards its objectives. By nature, a willingness to change is paramount in effective control.

Every life is on course towards a day of its final account. Martin Luther (1483-1546) being aware of this declared, “There are two days on my calendar—‘Today’ and ‘That Day.” The Bible often reminds its readers to live with the end in mind. At the end of time, among other things, Christ will return. For we must all appear before His judgment seat; that every one may receive according to what he did, whether it be good or bad[1]. Every man’s work shall be tried to show what sort it is[2]. With each day that comes, ‘that day’ is nearer than before. There will be privileges, rewards and joy for those who acquit themselves well on ‘that day’[3]. That day will expose secrets of the heart as well as things done in private and in public. On that day, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord[4]. Perhaps today is the day to do some life evaluation and control?

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[1] 2 Corinthians  5:7-10

[2] 1 Corinthians 3:11-13)

[3] Matthew 25

[4] Philippians 2:11

What You Worship Matters

What You Worship Matters

The elements of your faith life that are of eternal value as you step into heaven, are what you must live for today. Heaven is a place where worship is the focus[1]. Worship expresses humanity’s essential purpose that is why no one can worship on behalf of another. It is an act every person does for him or herself to accomplish something the "worshipped" cannot do for themselves.

If you do not worship God, you will worship something else. This is dangerous because you eventually become more like the object of your worship. That is why who you worship matters. In fact, at the heart of worship knowingly or unknowingly, is the desire to be like your object of worship. Worship is by nature an overriding obsession. What you worship becomes something that dominates your life’s passion and behavior. Often we depend on and hold nothing from what we worship, including our very lives. Even when done privately, it always publicly shows one way or another. If the thing you worship is wise, so are you. If it is powerful, so will you be. If loving so are you. However, if you worship something lacking and insufficient you risk becoming exactly that. If it is dead, you will die with it.

What if you discovered someone to worship who is all knowing, all able, all present, all sufficient, all wise and all just, triple holy and ALL LOVING? The Bible presents such a person. We owe to Him all praise and worship. He deserves it so much that when you deny Him your worship even the stones and nature cry out in your place[2]. Worship in its highest form focuses on God the person not just His gifts. When you adore Him and seek Him for who He is not what He can give you, you begin to worship authentically. True worship has God’s pleasure at the center even if it means laying down your all on the altar. When Abraham was going to sacrifice his only son, he said that he was going to worship[3]. Even more, worship is a form of dying so He can live through you. Worship requires humility. Acknowledging that you cannot live without God and ultimately allowing Him reign over everything that you are.

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[1] Revelation 7:10,11

[2] Luke 19:40

[3] Genesis 22:5; Mathew 22:38

New Solutions

New Solutions

Because our Father is the creator of the universe, we should lead in coming up with innovative solutions to problems humanity faces . To the contrary, many have given credence to the notion that church dishes out opium that inoculates from thinking. When the Bible says be transformed by the renewing of your mind[1] the intention was never to mean by the removal of your mind. As you prayerfully plan for your future allocate time to the generation of ideas. Include in your associates people who stretch your thinking, shake your complacency, and inspire your energy. Expose yourself to something challenging enough to bring out your creative potential.

 Solutions are often resident in the fringes not the main stream, in the exception and not the rule, with the prophetic and not the politically correct, in those different from you, and in the unpopular. Think outside the box by asking questions. Before you can provide the right answers, you must ask the right questions. Questions such as:  What is being ignored? What is not being done? What needs are not being met? What is not being done well? What does God want? What must change? What must continue and why? What new strategies must be introduced?  What would it be like if a change is introduced? What family, church and community do I want? What is standing in the way? How can I make a difference? Do not be found among prophets of doom and merchants of panic. When everyone else is discussing, problems provide solutions[2].

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[1] Romans 8:2
[2] Genesis 26:22

Change with Integrity

Change with Integrity

Change is inevitable, whether you like it or not. It's up to you to drive it  or it will drive you crazy! Not changing with the times will soon render you irrelevant. Change is intricately linked to your dream and how you get there. Consequently, between you and your dream is not only a chronological gap but also a transformation gap. What you experience in this gap, transforms you to fit the dream. Further, the more you learn, the more you change. If you are taking life lessons to heart, there is no way you will not change for the better.

However, one thing to remember: not all change is beneficial. Not all new ideas are good ideas. In the Bible, Abraham  was told by God to go to a place He would show him[1]. This made the leadership of God inseparable to the change in his life- as it does in yours. Before you effect change, identify the things that must remain unchanged. These core values will serve as anchors and campuses for navigating the maze of multiple change possibilities. When choices are complex and the climate foggy, you need the unchanging to turn to. God's timeless values and principles provide this kind of consistency. Just as  water remains water when poured into containers of varied shapes, change should happen without the danger of compromising your identity.

Change for the better always happens when we are obedient to God. Abraham obeyed God therefore his station and mission in life radically changed[2].  If you are hearing from God, something will change. God is a God of constant change and transformation. So don't despise change. In fact, the difference you want to make that has been elusive in the past, can be achieved if you add something new to what you do.

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[1] Genesis 12:1

[2] Genesis 12:1-2

The Tills Have Rung

The Tills Have Rung

The renowned Psalmist declares, ‘forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven[1]’ - nothing is still owing, or remaining. In other words, when God spoke, the tills in heaven rang to signal payment in full. Now receive what He has already spoken of you in His word so it becomes a reality on earth. That is why Jesus said we should pray, ‘thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven[2]’.

You see, Jesus came to grant you title, a right, and permit to all that God has already settled[3]. When buying at a drive through restaurant, your first stop requires you to choose your meal and pay. Here you receive a collection voucher, which you will hand over at the next stop in exchange for your order. In God, you are already at the collection point, freely able to present your voucher of faith in His word. Always remember that faith is your collection voucher for all your needs and benefits. Thankfully, God’s kingdom has no need for currency - only collection vouchers because Christ paid it all. However, you have to present every faith voucher for yourself by obedience and expectation.

Faith is action that translates potential to power, heavenly title to earthly possession, divinely ordinary to humanly extraordinary, spiritually natural to humanly supernatural, furthest to nearest, and hope to reality or experience. It is the coming to pass of God’s promise. To fully enjoy and experience God, we long to go beyond mere words to seeing Him come through in tangible ways. Our part is to daily, meet the condition of presenting collection vouchers. The tills have rung.

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[1] Psalm 119:89

[2] Mathew 6:10

[3] John 1:12

Giants Lived There

Giants Lived There

Obstacles. They stand between you and your dreams like hostile giants that hold everything you want in their hands. Overcoming these giants is the only way to your dream.

Whatever threatens your ability to reach your destiny is a giant that must be defeated. It may take the form of exams you must pass.  The hard work you must do. The difficult circumstances you are in that discourage you. The negative attitudes of people you must work with. The waiting time you must patiently endure. The capital you must raise. Whatever the case, you will have to dispossess some giant.  Fulfilled goals are in places where giants used to live.

In Bible-time, giants would not let the people of God pass through easily . You will also face stiff resistance. The Bible also records an old generation that did not see the promised land because they failed to trust God. However, as a new generation of God's people, you can displace the giants you face by faith, through prayer and appropriate action.

Remember this when you see the achievements of others - they had to contend with similar giants. They conquered even though they are just as human as you are. Look at the achievements you already hold. If you overcame in the past, you can overcome again. Please note, your most threatening obstacles are not external giants but those on the inside. These internal giants often require great perseverance and courage to slay. They come in the form of laziness, fear, doubt and sin - to name a few.

You might be asking... "Why does God not remove giants before I face or even see them?" Well, as proven time and time again, overcoming giants helps you to depend on God and know Him better. He wants to make you a giant killer - an over comer, just as He is . You cannot be one without ever killing some giants.  Victory is more valuable when you have participated in obtaining it.

Rescue Your Future - Forgive

Rescue Your Future – Forgive

In the journey of life, someone will offend you - deliberately or unknowingly. You will be let down, taken advantage of and even sabotaged or something worse! In the process, you will be hurt and often experience pain that goes deep into your soul.  That is why it is of paramount importance that you guard your heart against bitterness.

Bitterness grows from unforgiven offense and hurt.  The hurt finds root when you entertain and harbor resentment against your offenders.  Before long, the root germinates and buds into bitterness. This heavy emotion is such a dominating force. When it grabs your heart, your thoughts and energy revolve around what happened and the pain it has caused. It robs you of joy and hope resulting in health problems and depression. In trying to imprison offenders in your heart, you effectively imprison yourself in the past. Harboring bitterness is like keeping a snake in your heart, it will only bite the one carrying it.

Unforgiveness not only creates trouble for you and those around you, it ultimately creates problems with God. It hinders prayer and provides a landing pad for evil in your life. Therefore, to avoid suffering double jeopardy of being offended as well as being condemned to a life of carrying offense. Rescue your future by finding grace to forgive.  Remember that your offender is free and may not even be aware you are hurting that much. Let go and move on. The cross of Christ readily teaches and avails sufficient grace for us to forgive.

LINK:  http://wordoers.blogspot.com/2012/10/grace-to-forgive.html

A New Life Script

A New Life Script

When Christians in Damascus heard he was coming, many probably began praying[1] their last prayers.  Saul was coming armed with letters from the high priest in Jerusalem to arrest believers and hand them over to authorities in Jerusalem. Profoundly so, it was in fact the risen King who ambushed and arrested him as he neared Damascus, handing him over to the believers in Damascus. The people he had intended to destroy became his door of hope. God rewrote his mandate and gave him new letters which were in line with his calling from birth[2].  As Saul became Paul, his life and mission were positively transformed making the outstanding apostle who took the gospel everywhere and wrote letters that still inspire us today. From breathing murderous threats, Paul began to preach life and peace. From carrying letters of self-destruction[3], he received letters of life. Which letters are you carrying? Are they letters of life or destruction? What script is guiding your life and driving your motivations? God can rewrite the script of your life.

It is important to know and remember that these new letters came at a price for Paul. Christ paid for all blessings at the cross. Nevertheless, to enjoy the blessings you need to let go of something. Exchange something of no value and temporal worth for something of immeasurably greater value.  The moment you let go what you are holding on to, you make room for God's best.  Saul let go of his sinful ambition, 'the familiar', the old letters, and his old name[4].   How much are you willing to let go to obtain better things God has for you[5].  Pay the ashes to gain the beauty[6].

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[1] Acts 9:1-9

[2] Galatians 1:15

[3] Acts 9:4,6

[4] Acts 9:5

[5] Jeremiah 29:11

[6] Isaiah 61:1

Break Through in Your Hands

Break Through in Your Hands

17-23 October 2012

A school boy clasped a small bird between his two hands. The bird was alive but held in a way that it could be squeezed to death at any moment. To test the village Wiseman, he asked him to tell if the bird was alive or dead. True to his reputation as a Wiseman he did not rush to give an answer. He then smiled and said to the young man, ‘the answer is in your hands’. Your status quo is a product of choices you have made or failed to make in the past. If your future projections are bleak, they can be different, but not without you doing something differently. The choices you start making today, will be the difference.Take the necessary steps and create a better story for your life. Wisdom is deliberately making choices that propel your God given dreams and abilities.

In the Bible book of Judges, all the mighty men were helplessly timid before their oppressors.  They wished for better days because their livelihood was disrupted and things were not getting any better. Everything continued on a downward spiral until Deborah the prophetess arose[1]. What made Deborah, a woman, arise where everyone else was in hiding? Courageously, she did not despise her gender and was not discouraged by circumstances. Deborah knew something about God others were not seeing[2]. Such knowledge comes from being full of God’s word- the source of wisdom and courage. Wisdom from above plus courage is what  faith is made of. Where there is faith, God will use the least expected people and unlikely things, as instruments to accomplish his purpose. During the war even the stars and river were used to fight.[3] Not only did God use women, but also milk and a tent peg to seal victory.[4]

When you arise, things cannot remain the same. It does not matter how bad the situation has become. Is it sin, witchcraft, poverty, misfortune, curses, etc? The time to arise in Jesus’ name for your family, your church and yourself has come. Your victory has long waited for you to arise. Your break through lies in your hands. Instead of mourning about the undesirable state of your life, challenge it. Begin to believe that things can be positively better. Begin to pray, store God’s word in your heart, explore, learn and consult. Do not disqualify yourself. It is time to dream again.

 ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men [and women] to do nothing.’ – Edmund Burke.

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[1] Judges 5:6-7

[2] Ephesians 1:17

[3] Judges 5:20-21

[4] Judges 4:18-2; 5:25, 26

No Turning Back

No Turning Back

10 - 16 October 2012

Beginning something has excitement but the test lies in being able to continue until you finish. Finishing gives the ultimate joy and reward. The book of Numbers gives an account of how the children of Israel wandered for forty years and lost a whole generation in the wilderness. They oscillated between spiritual highs and lows because of failure to sustain the revelation of God which inspired them at the beginning. 

God's revelation comes with a promise. The challenge is maintaining focus and patience when migrating from the place of revelation to the fulfillment of its promise.  The people of Israel did not find this easy to achieve. They murmured and spoke against Moses and against God (Numbers 21:5, 6). They accused both, of bringing them to a place with no water and no meat in order to kill them. They remembered the garlic and food of Egypt but forgot the slavery and hard labor. They spoke discontentedly of what God had done for them, and distrustfully of what he would do. In short, they forgot both the goodness of God and the hardships of the past. 

For you today, the truth is there is nothing to go back to in a godless past. God grant you grace not to look back negatively until you cross the finish line. Like a friend said, the future is so bright you need eye shades.