Why Pray?

Today as I walked along Moi Avenue, Mombasa, I happened to meet an old friend of mine, whom I have always known as Baba Carol. As we savoured (or is it endured?) a cup of hot tea, in a hot cafe, in hot Mombasa, our talk inevitably turned to Kingdom matters and in the course of it, he asked me, "Baba Deno (my son's name), if God knows what we are going to ask Him in prayer, why then pray?" My answer was via an example. "Baba Carol, how would you feel if little Carol were to come to you after school and tell you, 'Daddy, I am so glad you are my dad. Thanks for that nice dress you bought for me during Christmas. Can I please have another dress for Easter, please Daddy?' He thought for a minute and said, "I would feel honoured by the recognition and affection shown by my daughter. May be this Easter I will get her a pair of shoes because the last pair looks worn out and the Christmas dress still looks good". That my friend is how God looks at us, HIS CHILDREN........

Go Forward

Rest in Me, quiet in My Love, strong in My Power. Think what it is to possess a Power greater than any earthly force. A sway greater and more far-reaching than that of any earthly king. No invention, no electricity, no magnetism, no gold, could achieve one millionth part of all that you can achieve by the Power of My Spirit. Just think for one moment all that means. Go forward. You are only beginning the new Life together. Joy, joy, joy. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:13

Road of Life (Author Unknown)

At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there, sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn't know Him. But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike. and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal. I don't know just when it was that He suggested we changed places, but life has not been the same since. When I had control. I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable...It was the shortest distance between two points. But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds, it was all I could do to hang on!! Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!" I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I'd say, "I'm scared," He'd lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, my Lord's and mine. And we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light. I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck it; but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jumps to clear high rocks, fly to shorten scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Christ. And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore, He just smiles and says..."Pedal."

Today I Stood! (Author Unknown)

Today I stood at my window and cursed the pouring rain, Today a desperate farmer prayed for his fields of grain. My weekend plans are ruined, it almost makes me cry While the farmer lifts his arms and blesses the clouded sky. The alarm went off on Monday and I cursed my work routine, Next door a laid off mechanic feels the empty pockets of his jeans. I can't wait for my vacation, some time to take for me, He doesn't know tonight how he'll feed his family. I cursed my leaky roof and the grass I need to mow, A homeless man downtown checks for change in the telephone. I need a new car, mine is getting really old, He huddles in a doorway, seeking shelter from the cold. With blessings I'm surrounded, the rain, a job, a home, Though my eyes are often blinded by the things I think I own. 1 Thes. 5:18: "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." O holy God, we praise you for who you are and thank you for your blessings. May our lives be an expression of gratitude to you today. Amen.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

The way Jesus befriends us is nicely reflected in one of the world's most popular hymns, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." Out of Christendom's some 400,000 hymns, it is considered to be one of the top ten. This incredible popularity comes for a hymn that was never intended to be published. Joseph Scriven wrote the hymn in 1855 to send from his home in Ontario, Canada, to his mother in Ireland. His goal was simply to comfort his mother during a difficult time in her life. It wasn't until 30 years later that the hymn was discovered by a friend who was caring for Scriven in his final illness. Once put in circulation, the hymn quickly became a favorite.

Why God Would Not Want You (Author Unknown)

There are many reasons why God would not want you. But don't worry. You're in good company. - Moses stuttered. -- David's armor didn't fit. --- John Mark was rejected by Paul. ---- Hosea's wife was a prostitute. ----- Amos' only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning. ------ Jacob was a liar. ------- David had an affair. -------- Solomon was too rich. --------- Abraham was too old. ---------- David was too young. ----------- Timothy had ulcers. ------------ Peter was afraid of death. ------------- Lazarus was dead. -------------- John was self-righteous. --------------- Jesus was too poor. -------------- Naomi was a widow. ------------- Paul was a murderer. So was Moses. ------------ Jonah ran from God. ----------- Miriam was a gossip. ---------- Gideon and Thomas both doubted. --------- Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal. -------- Elijah was burned out. ------- John the Baptist was a loudmouth. ------ Martha was a worry-wart. ----- Mary was lazy. ---- Samson had long hair. --- Noah got drunk. -- Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse? - So did Peter, Paul - well, lots of folks did. -- But God doesn't require a job interview. -- He doesn't hire and fire like most bosses, -- Because He's more our Dad than our Boss. -- He doesn't look at financial gain or loss. -- He's not prejudiced or partial, -- Not sassy, or brassy, -- Not deaf to our cry, -- Not blind to our need.

Relationship With God (By Andrew Wommack)

One of the most important things about relationship is to understand the person with whom you're going to have relationship, and that also applies to God. You need to understand the basic nature and character of God in order to have a healthy relationship with Him. Misunderstanding His character and nature is one of the reasons many people don't have a positive relationship with Him. This is exactly what happened in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were tempted by the serpent. They entered into temptation, ultimately disobeyed God, and plunged the whole human race into sin. Their lack of understanding God's nature was actually a part of the temptation. The story in Genesis 3:1-5 is familiar to most people: "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree in the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods [God], knowing good and evil" (brackets mine). There is a subtle statement by Satan here that God is really not a good God... that He was trying to withhold something from Adam and Eve...that He didn't want them to reach their full potential...that He didn't want them to be like Himself...and that the reason He made the rule about not eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was to hinder or hurt them. In a sense, Satan came against the very nature and character of God when he maligned Him by saying God did not want the best for them. The same thing is exactly what's happening to people today. Satan tells them, "If you follow God and don't experiment with all these things that are contrary to His Word, you'll never experience true happiness. Life will be boring...dead." The sad fact is that people experience after the fact that the drugs, alcohol, sex, rebellion, indulgence of self, success in jobs, and all the other things they tried didn't satisfy them. By the time they realize it, they've already destroyed their lives, their families, and their health. The truth is that God is a good God, and His will for us is only good. But Satan uses the same temptations on us today that came against Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, basically implying that God is not a good God. Those who have only a little understanding of the Bible could get that impression because there are instances in the Word where He treated people in harsh, cruel ways. In Numbers 15:32-36, a man picked up sticks on the Sabbath Day and was stoned to death for failing to observe the Sabbath. That sounds harsh, but there was a purpose behind such punishments, though it's not obvious to most people in a casual reading of Scripture. Careful study reveals that Old Testament Law was given to make the sin that we've committed become exceedingly sinful, as Paul says in Romans 7:13. The purpose was that people didn't realize how deadly their transgressions were and that they were an offense against God. They made the mistake of comparing among themselves and measuring their actions by what other people were doing. If someone committed a sin and wasn't struck dead, they thought sin must not be so bad, and they lowered their standards. They had lost the true perspective on what right and wrong was. God had to bring mankind back to a plumb line, a proper standard of what right living was, so they would reject the devil and his temptations and recognize what the end result of wrong choices would be. Then when He did that, He had to enforce the Law He gave. God did not give the Old Testament commandments for the purpose of saying, "Until you do all these things, I can't accept you or love you." That is not His nature or character. Rather, He gave them to make our sense of right and wrong more acute and to bring us back to the fact that we need a Savior. The problem has been that people thought God was demanding perfection before He could love them, which led to the attitude many have that His love for them is directly proportional to their performance. They feel that until they try to do everything exactly right, they will not be accepted by God, and that is not the message of the Bible. God's heart is to reconcile mankind to Himself not to judge them...not to impute their sins...not to hold their sins against them. That's the heart of God for people in the Bible and also His heart for you today. You need to understand His real heart, that "God is love" (1 John 4:8). He seeks to take away your sins and anything that would separate you from Him. He's already done it through Jesus, and He's offering you relationship today, not based on your performance but on your faith and acceptance of Jesus bearing your sins. You can have relationship with God today regardless of the failures in your life. All He asks is that you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

If God Should Go on Strike (Adapted slightly from a poem by Walt Huntley, "Canada's homespun poet")

How is it that God above Has never gone on strike Because He was not treated fair In things He didn't like. If only once He'd given up, And said, "That's it, I'm through! I've had enough of those on Earth, So this is what I'll do; "I'll give my orders to the Sun - 'Cut off the heat supply!' And to the moon - 'Give no more light - And run the ocean dry.' "Then just to make things really tough And put the pressures on, 'Turn off the vital oxygen Till every breath is gone!'" You know, He would be justified If fairness was the game. For no one has been more abused Or met with more disdain . . . Than God, and yet He carries on. Supplying you and me With all the favors of His grace And everything for free. Men say they want a better deal And so on strike they go. But what a deal we've been given From God, to whom all things we owe. Yet we complain so very much and gripe all we like, But what a mess we'd all be in, If God should go on strike!

Growing Up Spiritually

We all want to grow up spiritually, but often we do not know how this happens and so we fail to co-operate with God in this and as a result we stay in spiritual babyhood or childhood. Remember God wants you to GROW UP, so He has provided all you need for your spiritual life and growth: “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2,3). God’s grace is freely available to us to grow strong, but we can only tap into it and receive it through the knowledge of God in His Word. So let us study God’s Word together to see the things that are needful for our growth so that we fulfil our potential and destiny. God’s heart is revealed in 1 Timothy 2:4: “God wills all men (1) to be saved and (2) to come to the knowledge of the truth (the Word).”