An inspired morning

A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience. Don’t make that mistake

Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing, that we see too late the one that is open. Bring focus in your vision 
Every moment is a blessing and every opportunity brings a magic along with it. Do the best and make the best. Keep yourself reminding about it

Your talent is God’s gift. What you do with is your gift back to God. Handle your attitude carefully

Replace the word ‘problem ‘with the word ‘opportunity’ in all your thoughts. Be smart and be positive

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase. Keep your head up and straight

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. Don’t be loud but be clear

There is nothing so wasteful as doing with great efficiency that which doesn’t have to be done at all. Never doubt your efficiency  

Choose well…for what you chose might bring a total different unexpected beginning. Carry life with extra care

An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea. Make your ideas work 

There are two kinds of failures: those who thought and never did, and those who did and never thought. Change your mindset

You can simply overcome any kind of pain by practicing every little thing that gives you pleasure. Add some tunes to your life

Borrowed from the F&S scientific ltd 2014 calender

Things i learnt while planning our wedding

There is loads of advice that is offered to couples when planning for the wedding. Many of the advice really do go a long way in helping couples as they plan for the wedding to culminate into a memorable day. 

Here are some things that worked for me, the planning list essentials can be really long from planning for the marriage, so I have picked a few that went a long way in especially making the D-DAY a success.  

Pray: pray over everything, from safe travel for your relatives, for all to keep time including you, your family, you in-laws, relatives, service providers and even the church minister. Pray for green grass so that the pictures can have a natural and beautiful background. Get a prayer group or partner to also intercede on your behalf while planning the wedding, it’s a huge affair!

Get plenty of rest: it’s true many of us tend to run around the last week last week which end up making the bride and groom look tired and fatigued during the wedding while not to mentioning ruining the wedding pictures as the natural smile is crowded with fatigue looks. Rest, rest, rest as the day is normally overloaded with activities and you would want to enjoy every moment and detail of it as well as enjoy your guests as well.

Expectations: tell your parents and family what you expect from them on that day. From roles that they will take during the wedding, to looking good, to keeping the speech sweet and short. Find a nice way of telling them to avoid family disappointments on the wedding day.  

Smile: prepare to smile and smile and smile some more for the cameras without getting tired, pose in funny and weird ways, do funny things while you comply with photographers to create pleasant memories of the day and also through in a few suggestion of what you like.  

Be graceful: be graceful in your walk, actions, how you eat you meals, in how you interact with your guests, in how you dance, all eyes are keenly watching every move that you make!  

Appreciate and encourage those making special performance – did you see how our president Uhuru Kenyatta was dancing, smiling and singing along to the choirs and all those who were making special presentations at the 12 Dec Mashujaa day celebrations? Do the same. 

Love and everything love

It’s been almost a year, well 2 more days to go to mark 1 year since engagement. In my post on that, I signed off with a note of looking forward to the BIG day (down on one knee). Well the day came and passed on Sept 21^st, it was such a lovely and memorable day. I cannot get enough of looking at the pictures. The mystery of how God created us man and woman, and the mystery of love. 

It’s been about 9 months of planning, from planning for our family introduction in January and February, to holding committee meetings and seeing friends and family coming out in large numbers and in so much love to support us while we planned and even in greater numbers to celebrate in our union. 

I can indeed testify that the Lord answers prayers. He perfected all our plans exceedingly and abundantly beyond what we expected and made the D-Day lovely and very joyful. Indeed God’s been faithful throughout the planning journey, now am married, happily married, it took a while to adjust that am not now Miss but Mrs.

Lessons from Michal - Women of the Bible

Excerpts from 'All the Women of the Bible' by Herbert Lockyer ( http://www.biblegateway.com/) 
' What can we learn from this story of Michal and David? Misunderstanding arose in their relationship because of a clash of temperament, outlook and purpose. Had Michal shared David’s faith in God how different life would have been for both of them. But Michal made no effort to understand her husband’s Godward desires and so passed a wrong judgment upon him. How certain we should be of a person’s motive for his acts or attitudes before we condemn him. Further, had Michal loved David enough, she should have sought his forgiveness after he had explained his demeanor before the Lord. “She worshipped him when he was poor and unknown and now that he is King ‘she despised him in her heart’ ... David realized they could never love the same God. Therefore he cut her from his heart.” But being eaten up with pride there was no tolerance in her heart and so harmony was impossible. Love brings harmony and understanding into every human relationship. A fellow-minister confided in Alexander Whyte that he preached and prayed best when his wife stayed at home. This was something of the gulf between David and Michal. How different it is when husbands truly love their wives and wives sincerely reverence their husbands!'

To be a friend of God

In my last Kenya House of Prayer class which i recently joined (2 weeks ago) we were learning about prayer in depth. One phrase caught my ears and has been lingering in my thoughts since Sunday the 27th Jan.

'Does God have friends?' that was the introduction to a section of the course. The answer to that was YES!

Friends of God are prayerful people, among other qualities. The likes of Daniel (quoted in the book of Daniel), the likes of Moses, among others. These were people who were devoted to prayers - communion with God, listening to Him, taking instructions from God.

This year, i desire to be a friend of God. To walk with Him. To obey and abide by His words. To listen to Him

Down on One Knee: Stepping on Fresh New Waters

10 November, 2012 was such a special and memorable day. I got engaged to the blessing of my life. Whenever i think about the day i have this type of a smile that i can't really explain. It's a smile of mixed effects of that day.

His, actions leading up to the time of the proposal and my re-action after the question was popped, part of it felt like moving a heavy ball that carried our futures from his court to my court. No written words can really define those hours.

My response was 'YES' and the best bit about it was that i was settled and at a peace with my decision. All along our relationship i had been praying about the two of us. I had prayed that God would order my steps, that i would not go where His grace was  not. That He would keep me away from time wasters. That He would give me the grace and the patience to hang in there. That He would enable me to be a good friend and fulfill whichever mission He had for our friendship whether long-term or short-term.

Having come that far, my heart is full of praise to God, i can only say, it took and still continues to take the Hand of God. I have come to learn that, there are somethings that only God can do, and that was one of them. That has been a long prayer item answered!

I am grateful to my family and friends who rejoiced with me and they continue to do so. I look forward to the BIG day :-) :-)

photo credit: www.clker.com

Feeling Like i Need Eyes and Ears Filters

Lately the reality of living in a mixed and corrupt world has just been starring at me on the face or should i say on my eyes and ears.

The environment around me is filled with talk and words that i would consider ungodly. People are cursing, others are plotting things that are just not morally right and sights that are unsightly are on my eyes. 

I do need to replace my ears and eyes filter as it seems as though they have been overworked filtering messages. It is a wonderful and nice thing to be in the presence of people who share your core values and aren't constantly tempting you. People whose talk is filled with language that builds, people who think of things that are right, pure, lovely, just, of a good report...... as indicated in Phil 4:8. But as a christian you cannot seclude yourself, where are all in this world to co-exist.

In such times i remind myself that we are all God's children and that He loves us all. That i am where i am today because of the grace of God and not by my power. In addition i'm in no way perfect, i'm still a work in progress in God's hand and others had to lovingly bear with me while i was living in the world and others still are in my areas of weakness. I can therefore only pray for others, that they also might know Christ, that the holy spirit will get to work in their lives and convict them of sin.

November

Thank you Lord for the new month, the 11th month of the year. You have been faithful and a loving daddy to me, i love you. I pray that this month i will depend on you more. That i will rest the worries of October and the past in your arms. That you will increase me in my spiritual life, that i will be humble in my thoughts and actions. Almighty Lord, that you will give me wisdom to understand my season. That when you speak, i will listen and obey. To be counted among your children is my hearts desire.

A word for my season; That my faith may not fail

We all face different challenges in life, some challenges weigh on us more than others, sometimes when you never expected it, in a manner that you didn't expect, but it happens. Yesterday i was asking God reasons to my current situation, what is the meaning of all that, what do i do. Today i came across a post that has a response to it, when i read it felt some parts of the passage sinking deep into my soul and i trust that it will calm my season. This is among the many reasons that i know God loves me, He talks to me when i call Him, He directs me, He is ever so present.

 A Leader Who Serves or a Servant Who Leads

by Jon Walker

“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32 NIV)

When Jesus tells Peter he’s prayed for him, he explains this specific prayer was because “Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat” (Luke 22:31 NIV).

Now, to me, it begs the question: Lord, did you have to say "yes"?

There may be days when you wonder if God is letting Satan sift you. But, if that is true, we can choose to believe God is still in control and that his presence inside us is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

A sifting brings glory to God, such as when Job still praised his maker, even when everything seemed lost and even his wife was telling him to give up on God.

A sifting also probes your weaknesses, revealing where you’re still thinking, “I can.” A good swift sift will push you to “I can’t, but God can.”

In allowing you to be sifted, God is scraping away all the distraction and things that might hinder you from fulfilling your purpose.

The way that Jesus tells Peter about the sifting has always held a special meaning to me. Jesus didn’t just say, “Get ready for a whirlwind of hurt! I know you’re going to let me down.”

Instead, Jesus points to the future: Peter would survive the sifting. He would return humbled, but stronger, with the purpose of strengthening his brothers. In a sense, “When you turn back from your turning back, you’ll be a servant who leads.”

If you are willing to go out of the norm be willing also to face the consequences

count the rocks before you dive from the 14 falls, swim or walk across the waters

I recently went out for lunch to KFC with a friend of mine, well this KFC visit was long overdue since they opened their shop in Nairobi there has been much pomp and hype about going there so although late, finally i marked my presence there. 

Our time there was great, it was lovely to catch up and find out how things have been for us. As for the lunch i enjoyed the spicy chicken but the fries which are like quite costly were not so nice, reason for the 'hiked' price is because they say the potatoes are imported! And i guess the store has the same standard across the various part of the world where they are located. 

While the model might sound good or is working in various parts of the world i think no one size fits all, in Kenya we have quite some nice and tasty fries from our local potato growers farmers and i would rather be eating fries from such shops anytime. So while i might go back to KFC it will just be for the chicken.

Back to the title, the spirit of adventure can bring our ways different and unexpected things as was my KFC adventure. Many times, the initial curiosity and the joy of doing something new, something different can really get to someone such that you overlook exactly what your getting yourself into, you fail to fully count the cost before beginning something and start counting the cost in the process and sometimes after investing quite a bit. Among the lessons of the season is, COUNT, COUNT and COUNT again the cost before adventuring!

Our Father is the Lord of the Covenant – Gen 22:14

Central Himalayan scene from Kothera Village, Gangolihat, in India's northern state of Uttarakhand (photo credit: ILRI/Susan MacMillan).

I call You this and more..............

Jehovah Jireh – The Covenant of Provision

Jehovah Shalom - The Covenant of Peace

Jehovah Makadesh - The Covenant of Holiness

Jehovah Tsidkenu - The Covenant of Righteousness

Jehovah Rapha - The Covenant of Healing

Jehovah Yeshua - The Covenant of Salvation

Jehovah Rohi - The Covenant of a Shepherd

Jehovah Nissi - The Covenant of Victory

Jehovah Sabaoth - The Covenant of Security

Jehovah Shammah - The Covenant of His Presence

In need of sheding off excess weight

It's been really long since i posted something on my blog and today i feel like updating it, though i don't know what to say. The latest and current updates of my life are neither here nor there, i am in between the stretch to reaching some 'peak of some mountain' the mountain symbolizing some outputs to projects, some short and long term achievements.

I can see the progress but i have forces that are pulling me down and others which are pulling me up. Good news is, no situation is permanent and i soon hope to be climbing up my mountain with lesser baggage and lesser forces pulling me down.

He was and still will be one of my hero’s!

He has been truly blessed and loved by God, he was an old man who fulfilled his days, as many as the days of a tree, he has lived to over 100 years, seen up to his 4th generation, just as it is prophesied in Isaiah 65:20-22, a life many of us would wish for! Now he has rested peacefully and all we can say is, it is well. Thank you God for my grandfather and the wonderful time you enable us to share. We celebrate his life!

For a couple of years now he has been feeling like he is dying, he used to say that the angels are near to taking him home, i guess its the feeling you get when you feel that you have lived your full potential and every other day is a gift, a real bonus day from God. Maybe we have had that so many times before and now that it has happened for real it sounds like it shouldn't, i still thought there would be more and more bonus days! Wednesday January 11, marked the end of Mzee John Mwangima.

An amazing guy,my hero! This is how it was being around him sometimes after visiting the village

What if you knocked down a dog?

Driving is one very interesting activity. While it's convenient, comfortable and fun it carries such a huge responsibility with it. Today i ran down a dog, it's quite sad since i heard the dog crying with pain while i was driving over it. It was an accident i wish i could have avoided, but i saw one dog crossing the road and i braked for it to cross, i quickly thought phew how lucky and then out of nowhere two other dogs came after it, i don't think those two dogs were checking to see if there were cars on the road, i think they were just following the first dog and opps they just crossed right in front of my wheels. It was too late for me to stop and i think i knocked one down and the other one escaped luckily so i believe since i heard only one crying with pain while i was driving over it. I didn't have the courage to look back or slow down after the incidence.

Am wondering what would be the best thing to do in such a situation, a friend of mine told me that i should have reversed and killed it quickly instead of leaving it to die a slow and painful death but i think that is too harsh and ruthless. Stop and take it to the vet? but where would i get the courage to do that?

Best thing to do it to try and avoid as much as possible such an incidence and of course pray that obstacles are eliminated as much as possible along your driving lane.

Blogging live from Addis

It’s been a while (read about 12 months) since i was last in this country, Ethiopia. The place brings to me some very fond memories and particularly since the first time i ever entered a plane to take a real trip and not for some primary school learning session brought me to Ethiopia and that was quite something! All the procedures in the airport, the check-in and i remember i had my belt, earrings, bangles and many other things beeping at the security checks, finding out what the food tastes like on the plan and it also took me an entire week packing my suitcase, talk of doing something for the first time!

Well, it’s interesting how this time round i packed on Sunday night and i left on Monday and i was only interested in attending the workshop, doing my information management work, offer support to the logistics team and take the 1st flight back to Nairobi no chance to greet my friends from here, or probably it is because i have so many other things going on parallel back home. Nevertheless, besides the extreme cold and nursing a wet nose, i am enjoying eating my injera and am wondering will i really get sometime off to go and shop, for some reason i always find clothes that fit me better here than when am at home, where i find them an inch bigger.

My plane leaves tomorrow (Thursday) night and then I hop off to Eldoret to join the rest of my family to saying goodbye to my brother-in-law’s mum. Quite a week for someone who doesn't quite like operating from the suitcase but i still appreciate the change of weather! c'est la vie