Month: June 2020

SEE A BETTER TOMORROW!

Another baby is coming…unbelievable! How are we supposed to cope with the finances required to take care of a new baby when both of us were barely making ends meet in a foreign country we were in with our toddler and a continuous 12 hours work day each? That was the problem we faced 23 years ago when we found out we were going to have our second baby. It was a time where we had a crisis of faith and needed God’s help to navigate that season of our life.

The news, as great as it might have been for many and beautiful as it turned out to be for us was a very difficult one at the time. I personally couldn’t see anything beyond the impossibility of the moment as well as the fear of how to deal with the new addition coming into our small family. Well, God stepped in as usual, took us through the nine months and we had our little girl who turns 23 today!

The days prior to the delivery of our daughter saw a relocation, change of job, change of circumstances as we knew it. Some quite tough looking days which led to us experiencing God’s hand of provision repeatedly. We were severely tested, but equally had so many testimonies we could trace to that time. We developed quite a few spiritual muscles as we journeyed with God; trusting Him daily and every step of the way for divine provision.

Today, I celebrate God’s faithfulness for the gift of our daughter Bethel. I definitely couldn’t have imagined this family without her and truly thankful to God for not looking at our limited vision and limitations of the moment.

I can only thank God for being almighty in our lives and I will love to refer back to one of the scriptures that I’ve settled on over the years

‘Blessed be the Lord,who daily loads us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.’ Psalm 68:19

We trusted God for His daily benefits and He came through for us. If you are trusting God for anything, or if you are in a tough place; always remember that God can and will take you through. He is able and capable, even when you think you are not capable. Tomorrow will surely be better.

Once more, I give praise to my God for my daughter who turns 23 today.

God is on your side!

WHOSE HAND IS IT?

I read a story I found quite inspiring, here it is

‘Thanksgiving Day was near in America and a first grade teacher gave her class a fun assignment — to draw a picture of something for which they were thankful. Most of the class might be considered economically disadvantaged, but still many would celebrate the holiday with turkey and other traditional goodies of the season. These, the teacher thought, would be the subject of most of her student’s art. And they were.

But a young boy called Douglas made a different kind of picture. He was the teacher’s true child of misery, frail and unhappy. As other children played at lunch hour, Douglas was likely to stand close by her side. Yes, his picture was different. When asked to draw a picture of something for which he was thankful, he drew a hand. Nothing else. Just an empty hand.

His abstract image captured the imagination of his peers. Whose hand could it be? One child guessed it was the hand of a farmer, because farmers raise turkeys. Another guessed it was the hand of God, for God feeds us. And so the discussion went — until the teacher almost forgot the young artist himself. When the children had gone on to other assignments, she paused at Douglas’ desk, bent down, and asked him whose hand it was.

The little boy looked away and muttered, ‘It’s yours, teacher.’ She recalled the times she had taken his hand and walked with him here or there, as she had the other students. How often had she said, ‘Take my hand, Douglas, we’ll go outside.’ Or, ‘Let me show you how to hold your pencil.’ Or, ‘Let’s do this together.’ Douglas was most thankful for his teacher’s hand. Brushing aside a tear, she went on with her work in continuing to help Douglas and other children.’

God’s word shows us that God equally helps us with His hands. His word says;

‘It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.’ Psalm 44:3

As children of God, we should always stretch our hands to help the people around us daily, so they can be thankful for you and I as well.

Do not forget, keep reaching out because you may help pull someone out of darkness and guide them into the light.

God is on your side!

PB

WE ARE CHEERING YOU ON!

While running earlier this week, I decided to keep tab of a particular event that reoccurs on a regular basis. Seeing people walking their dogs, resting on the benches, walking as couples, riding their bicycles  and or running are all common observations. What I however hadn’t kept good account of was the number as well as content of the comments I get while on the runs.

As I looked to give attention to the comments I get, I realised that the bulk of it were around ‘keep going’, ‘well done’ and similar phrases, all showing the fact that I am being cheered on as I take the next step and then the next. I realised that though I could be quite exhausted sometimes, the fact that someone just cheered me on just creates that extra adrenaline that seems to push me further and faster (I sometimes think) 

If the cheering of the people I meet while running could be pretty encouraging as well as motivational to me, how much more if we have someone cheering us on for the important things of life that also have eternal value.

Some comments like.. ‘you are nearly there, so do not give up!’ Or ‘don’t stop now!’ Or ‘just keep going’ or ‘you’re doing great, well done!’ – were the phrases I didn’t give attention to in the past, but kept coming and were very helpful. I therefore will like to cheer you on today by saying ‘well done and keep going!’  

God’s word in Hebrews also says 

‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.’ Hebrews 12:1

You and I are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, who are constantly cheering us on as we run our race of faith and life. And I’ll like to join them in encouraging you to run the race ahead of you with all endurance, taking off all things that may slow you down but being focused on achieving a heavenly reward for every purpose you pursue in line with what God has planned for you.

Remember, I am cheering you on, people are cheering you on and heaven is cheering you on…so do not give up!

God is on your side!

PB 

PICK A RABBIT!

This week I’ll be sharing with you, a lesson my son, Asher, mentioned he learnt from his dad and I. I recently asked him to tell me some of the things he has learnt from home that has defined his life; outside the obvious of being saved and living for Jesus . Today, I’ll like to share one of the lessons he mentioned; which is FOCUS.

Asher mentioned that in a fast paced environment where he works, things can easily get overwhelming due to all the different deadlines and information flow. The lesson learnt from home on focus, he said has been of huge help to him because he realised that lack of focus leads him to being busy yet not delivering on anything satisfactorily or timely. Lack of focus, like chasing two rabbits leads to less productivity or missed deadlines.

Chasing rabbits……what’s that? The principle of picking a rabbit is found on the story of a man seeing two rabbits and wanting to chase them both so as to ensure he catches at least one. After much trial without success, a wise observer advised the man to focus on one of the rabbits so he can have a higher chance of catching one. Chase two rabbits and he is likely to never catch either due to divided attention, but if he picks one rabbit, the chaser has a higher chance of success.

Today, I will like to share with you that you can achieve more and do more if you choose to pick a rabbit, focus on it and chase it. Since what you focus on, expands and grows; I will advise you to focus right at this time as you move forward in your year, month and life.

God’s word in the book of Proverbs says;

‘Let your eyes look directly ahead. And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.’ Proverbs 4:25

Whenever your eyes are direct, your gaze straight; you will focus right and achieve more. There is so much you can do and deliver on, but it all hinges on how you pick your rabbit, focus your attention and then go to work in achieving your objective.

God still has so much planned for you this year, so lean on Him and sharpen your focus today.

God is on your side!