Thorns - The Great Equaliser

“There but for the grace of God go I!” - John  Bradford -


Today at the Veritas Bible Conference, the full weight of this expression dawned on me anew.  As part of a fallen humanity, we are all broken and ailing to some degree. There exist thorns (issues/intentional Manufacturer defects) that piercingly refuse to be ignored.

It is my observation that:
Some thorns are more difficult to bear than others.
Some are glaringly obvious,
Still,  others pierce deep and lingeringly, with untold irritation.
Deceptively, some seem 'inconsequential' to the casual observer.
But, those in the know disagree.
Thorns are true to their nature: they hurt.
Whether it seems like it or not!

This talk begs the question: why would a loving God, perfectly capable of yanking out these thorns, passively watch his wretched creation writhe in agony and not put the poor soul out of his misery?

Thing is, our lives are not our own.  Ours is to gracefully live each day in the quiet assurance that the cards we've been dealt are a Deliberate Hand. 

This thorn-in-the-flesh reality fills me with compassion for my fellow travellers, who take hits and blows on their journey through life.  In many ways, I realize that I cannot even begin to wrap my head around the thorns that others bear, never-mind walking a mile in their shoes.  Among us live people whose burdens could break a camel's back.

Old saying is true: Be nice to everyone you meet, people are fighting tough battles!

... and what a shift this calls for in my empathy and compassion levels!

P.S: Interestingly, God not only enables me to navigate my way around my own thorns, but, wounded and all, He expects me to count my blessings and thrive where He plants me.

Affectionately His

After the church service last weekend, a congregant found her way to the Prayer Tent in the company of her friend, who, in her own words, was sorted and had no issues that required prayers. However, friendship is a great thing.  The ‘issue-less’ friend agreed to sit in and comfort her friend as she prayerfully plodded through her issues in the presence of a Prayer Counsellor.

Well, some 15 minutes into the session, conviction had checked in and we were all locked in multiple group-hugs, celebrating the Lord’s doing.  The lady without ‘the issues’ had resolved the greatest issue in all of life – Christ-lessness.  She had accepted Christ into her life.

...  If God has an organizational structure, the church would have to be  Heaven's Connect department - linking the Father's Heart with those of His beloved children - object of His affection.  The church is in the business of ushering people from the Kingdom of darkness into God’s marvelous light.  We are entrusted with the awesome privilege and responsibility of shedding Christ's love and light in His beautiful, and in many ways, clueless world.

In His Footsteps

If I never hear another sermon, this first installment of the 'Unafraid' series - on Alignment, by Pst. Muriithi is enough to enable me live a bountiful and purposeful life! 

Enough said.... check out the link: http://www.youtube.com/user/mavunochurchorg/featured

 

A Heart-and-Hammer Assignment

Our “Hammer on one hand and Bible on the other”, Mission yielded more than a roof and spiritual cover for the people of Perani, in Kwale.  

We made friends.
The Peranites showed us what it means to love with total abandonment, in the name of the Lord. 

With needs so dire and hearts eager to receive visitors from beyond their shores,

We were received in a kingly fashion.

What we witnessed once we got our spiritual feet past the door, were mixed feelings.... hope and helplessness boiling in the same pot.

Here, spirituality is alive and kicking!

Charms are worn around their wrists, necks and waists for protection.

Ignorance, Disease and Witchcraft abound:

These remain Satan's choice weapons of mass oppression.

He speaks his native language, lies, (John 8:44), with unmatched eloquence.

In his consistence, the deceitful one never plays fair.

You give in an inch, or indulge him for one weary second,

And he throws everything and anything your way.

Talk of disproportionate force!

… unfair occupation by the master engulfer.

He takes and takes and takes.

After he has taken, he takes some more still!

Our mission, beyond securing a roof over the Amani Baptist School, pointed the Peranites to the only One who could secure their hearts and lives from the relentless on-slaught by the tireless terrorist.

May the Lord reign supreme in all of Kwale!

... for the least of these

Our Father who art in Heaven,

Who will be Your hands?

Will You ever send help our way?

Though our palm-thatched house is a stone throw away from the well of knowledge that is Baraka Baptist Academy,

We thirst in ignorance.

Our earthly step-father will have no part in our education,

... and so we wallow in innumeracy.

“Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink,”

For my brother Tembe and me, education remains a mirage,

… forever within our view, but eternally out of reach.

Will we continue to wither in ignorance?

Who will water our dream of a basic education?

Where will our help come from?

Inspired by  Mkala (6) and his brother Tembe (8), who live in Manda village, Kwale district.  Mkala's dream is that one day, in his words, he “will become a human being!” L

The chain of goodness has come full circle

Last Sunday we went to Riara School for their Sunday service, and memories of my own High School days came flooding back…   

Anyway, beyond the nostalgia, an age-old truth dawned on me. As was the case then, the harvest is still bountiful in many a High school today.  As if to nod in agreement, the Lord gave us over 60 sign-ups for Mizizi and SIMAMA (discipleship tools designed to generate growth, depth and motion).  Cherry on the cake: over 10 students made THE decision for Christ.

  

Now, one of the Form Ones who signed up for Mizizi was a girl whose mother had walked with me through the fog of my spiritual adolescence.

Flashback: Back in the 1900’s, I made my decision for the Lord.  Back then, I could not have been more clueless about matters spiritual.  God in His wisdom, brought my way an older, wiser and spiritually grounded woman, whose assignment, I think, was to open my eyes to the possibilities of living an authentic Christian life.  She was solid for Christ.  She helped me stand!

Could it be that God has brought this beautiful adolescent girl into my life for a reason?  Is this my opportunity to pay forward for all the goodness that had been lavished on me eons ago? Is this proof that we reap what we sow?

It is my time and privilege to love on her and a cool sixty others as they navigate their way through adolescence, somehow.

I went to give to the girls, but in reality, I was the greatest beneficiary! 

blissfully naive

This week, 13.03.13, we, the Discovery team of twelve plus one intern's spouse by extension, (13), were commissioned to. “Go ye therefore and make disciples in Athi River, Kitengela, Syokimau and their environs!”

Call me blissfully naïve, but I can hardly wait to step out and bring in the harvest.

Yes, I have heard horror stories from and about those who have travelled down this road before me, but still!

I have heard about the difficulty of the terrain, but still!

Rumours of the number of still-birth and miscarried projects that litter this neighbourhood have not escaped my ears, but still!

I have experienced the bare heat and dust that scorches both body and soul, but still!

I’ll go!

I’ll go because I have heard the Master’s Great Commission to go into all the world and make disciples.  

I’ll go because I'm wired for this.  It’s that dare-devil streak in me, that part of me that loves adventure and conquest (believe it or not, dear heart, you is like that!). It is that part of me that can nurture and endure (again, I dare-say, traces of these elements, however miniscule, exist.  I have seen them a time or two). 

I’ll go because I know who sends me.
I'll go because this assignment will delight my Master to no end.

I’ll go and be counted among those that God used to bring about transformation: one life, one county, one country, one continent at a time!

So, I’ll go… holding nothing back, I'm abandoning myself to the task!

Woop, woop!

A Prayer for 2013

Lord, please open my eyes...

This prayer is borrowed from Hagar’s story:
(Genesis 21:19) Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. 

It is unacceptable that I (& those in my sphere of influence) should suffer thirst while the whole time, unbeknownst to me, I sit in quiet desperation atop my well.

 Let’s drink up y’all, divine provision abounds!

Again:

2Kings 6:17 Elisha prayed: “… ‘O LORD, open his (servant’s) eyes that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes and he looked and saw.   

Divine presence surrounds!

In 2013, I will see the One who sees me (Genesis 16:13b).

... that I may look and see!