The Year of Change

Change has been the dominant word in my mind ever since the year 2010 went into labour to bring forth this New Year and up to today. Every year I like to set the theme for myself and review my goals and priorities, speaking of which I still have to re-work my mission statement.

The Lord has many ways of grabbing ones attention. On my first Sunday service at my church on the 7th of January I was unusually early, since previously I had been in the habit of running inside church after the praise and worship session had long began and it was the norm for me to try and look for space to squeeze myself in way after most of the people had settled, I used to say its praise and worship in the matatu and the sermon in church. So this Sunday I was particularly early as I was looking for a Bible study group to join and the groups meet one hour prior to the service.

After I failed to spot a group I found myself wondering inside the church about 10minutes to the start of the service, Praise God! I selected a nice comfortable place to sit and made myself comfortable, I then took my brochure and started reading the pastor’s word and theme for the year, in big caps there it was ‘The Year of Re-Creation’.

I couldn’t believe what I was reading, was I not declaring mine as the year of change, how did the two seem like they were coinciding? What was happening to me? What was God trying to say to me? As I pondered over all those, and what had been happening in my life of late I found myself crying, feeling totally broken and beaten and soon as I was struggling to dry my tears as people had started streaming inside church.

Change is one of the hardest thing to go through and most of the time I find myself falling back to where I had purposed not to go back to. There numerous areas of my life that I would like to see a change in, places that I would love for God to come and occupy but I now know better. For anything to change in me I have to completely obey what He says in His word and I have to surrender to him for God to do his work.

The 2010 Highlights

The lights are out for the year 2010, I sit back today and analyse the year that has been and see how to shape up the new year to be even better than this one.

Today I would like to list down some of the things that made year 2010 memorable before getting down to put down the vision for 2011. Of course there some things that I would wish to see in my list of highlights but unfortunately things didn’t work out as I anticipated but I have hope that I will realise them this with God’s favour at His appointed time.

Not in any order, some are:
1. Travelling and the maiden trip out of Africa
2. The accident that I and my family survived – never felt God so much in control as I did then
3. Great achievement and success at work
4. Being featured in the 'Growing talent: youth in agriculture' blog series
5. Better working terms
6. Moving to a bigger house
7. Watching the Lord restore what the devil stole
8. Maintaining good friends and establishing new friendships
9. Finishing my course work
10. My birthday party and sharing cake with my friends
11. Being baptised again
12. Becoming a member of Parklands Baptist Church

Many more random ones...

I will forge on with the hope of a better tomorrow and a gracious heart because I believe that each and every new day is a miracle and a blessing from God in itself.

Love comes when you least exist it

For the couple of times that that I have been in love it has normally been happening in the strangest of ways, meeting someone that you absolutely never imagined you would and when you least expect. Well, much as those relationships due to one reason or another had to end they had been some real memorable moments and of course the moments of hurting and pain.

From my years of experience I can surely attest to the fact that love comes when you least expect it and it’s when am not out searching that's when it found me. I believe that to everyman there is a woman to all the people who are still seeking for love my word for the year and from the lessons gathered is to be patient so that one doesn’t have to settle for less, be the best that you can, give it all you can while you’re in it, above all commit your desires to the Lord so that He can really show you if that is where you should be and wait while He works in you. Forgive the ones that have hurt you and free them so that you can free, associate with people who have the same beliefs and faith so that you can speak in one language and encourage each other along the way.

'when you lose the feeling to love someone, move forward with the action of loving them and that will help you reclaim your feelings of love' Tom Holladay

In the presence of the Lord miracles do happen

A couple of weeks down while we were driving down from Eldoret for what was a great family function our car had a terrible accident. It was hit by another car and totally lost control, the memories are still so fresh in my mind, I can see my brother in law who was driving the car holding the steering wheel and trying hard to control the car. Anyone who has been in an accident will tell you that once a vehicle loses control, there is very little if at all anything one can humanly possible do to control it.

We were at the mercy of the heavens while this machine circled around the road and then right and then left again and soon it was flying out of the road to start rolling, my mind had seen us being pulled out of the over turned car. This was one of the scariest things I have been involved in and it was all happening so fast. I had been talking to my friend over the phone at the same time and we got cut off in the commotion.

Just when we were out of the road to start rolling over, suddenly the car came to a standstill. It was at this point I felt the mighty hand of God, He had taken over and made the car come to a complete stop.

The next thing I saw was people running all over to where we were to see the extent of the damage and soon a mammoth crowd of people had surrounded the car. My two sisters, niece, our friend and I all sat still in the mangled up position, all to shocked to move and not really knowing what to do, I believe everyone was making silent prayers thanking God for saving us.

It took the effort a lady who came to my side of the door and asked me to come out of the car, she politely asked if we were hurt and I said no and then she assured me that it was okay to come out. When we were out is when we got to see what had stopped, the car was held by a molehill which stopped it from rolling and crashing in the bushes.

My friend called back and I fuzzily explained what happened, he tried to ask for the details which I couldn’t make out at that time because of the shock. I wanted and I guess what we all want to hear in such a situation is some assuring words and when he said he was coming to help us out the adrenaline levels came down an inch, he was my knight in shining armour at that moment!

When he did arrive and a few minutes later my brother and mother who were in another car ahead of us came back things began to look up. We were able to make some decisions on how to proceed with the journey and what help to call for.

It was a miraculous event, sometimes this year I set out to memorise Psalm 91, the prayer of protection and indeed as it’s written in the chapters His Angels took charge over us and we did not dash our foot against a stone. My little nice has been singing praise kiddies song in the car all along the journey and indeed her kiddies praises anointed the car.

There is power in prayer and there is power in the name of Jesus and this is my testimony.

Immersed in the Pool of Water: My Baptism

On Saturday 4th December I was baptized by immersion at Parkland Baptist Church where I have been fellowshipping for almost two and half years now. How did all this come to be? For a very long time I have been meaning to become a member of the church, this calls for attending membership classes. For the times when i have attended the service and every Sunday when I see the announcement for the membership classes I have always found reason for not attending. Where some of those reasons were valid, many are the ones that could have been avoided I was a victim of the procrastination, shamefully!

So this time round when I finally saw the announcement I knew my chance was here and now and I decided to go for the Thursday class. The classes run for 5 weeks and as part of being a member of the Baptist church one of the requirements was that one should be baptized by immersion, after the acceptance of Christ. After signing up for baptism and talking to my small sister she reminded me that I had been baptized by immersion years back when I was a teenage, can’t quite recall the exact age in Catholic church and this was after being baptized by sprinkling in the Anglican church when I was about 5 or 6 years, its only through the pictures that I was aware such an event happened!

After much thinking about it I decided that I still wanted to be baptized, yes for the 3rd time in my life. Why? Because this time I felt that the decision was being made by a fully grown woman. It was not a decision influenced by my parents, it’s a decision being influence by me, meaning that I am more responsible for it.
So as I walked to meet the deacon inside the cold water for the immersion and he held my hand, I felt like I was experiencing a new rebirth. God’s timing is perfect and that was my time and I felt peace and calmness in my heart.

“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised through dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in the newness of life.” Roman 6: 4 And the same was significant of my life and my sins and as I walked out of the water my prayer was that I will walk in the newness of Christ thanking Him for cleansing and washing my sins away.

I feel free, happy, healed and so proud for making that move, I am looking forward to being a member of the Church on Sunday the 12th. I am even happier of the friends that I have made because it creates some form of accountability to each other and my greatest prayer is that I may continue to obey God’s word and live a life that is pleasing to Him.

I wouldn’t have thought of a better way for marking the year 2010 than this!
For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14

Memories from Rome

my dashboard in italian!

My first trip out of Africa is in Rome, yesterday i was welcomed by a sunny and lovely day contrary to what i expected, thank heavens for that. Today it has been cold and raining, am worried for my black African hair since i forgot my hair drier something most people here don't seem to be worried about, i mean they can simply dry their hairs in the sun and it will look as good as.

Quick run down of my day yesterday
9.00am - arrived in Rome
10.00am - welcoming, grand and yummy breakfast at my colleagues house
11.30-2.30pm - power nap (too long!)
3.00pm - trip to see our shared apartment
4.00pm - small tour and walk around the city, first stop was icecream at Piazza or something, then went to Pantheon and saw some stature and a spot where they filmed angels and demons, this was the highlight of the walk! another interesting thing was being entered by the lovely music at the many open areas.
6.00pm - back to the apartment
7.30pm - dinner with the house mates, had a bit of an over expectation on the food didnt like as much, i simply love Kenyan cuisines. Eat the famous artichoke (deep fried)
9.30pm - hitting the pillow, for an early sleep

My collection of favourite scriptures

1. Prayer of protection. Psalms 91.

2. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11

3. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Phil 4:8

4. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance. Psalms 16:6 did i mention i was born on 16th June!

5. You have heard that it was said, “You should love your neighbor and hate your enemy! But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. Matt 5:43-44

6. There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Prov 18:24b

7. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths. Prov 3:6

8. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. Ecc 10:6

9. ..But one thing i do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. Phil 3:12

10. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:8

11. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. Jame 1:17

12. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things and revive me in your way. Psalms 119: 36-37

I am not struggling over it

Yesterday was a day spent worrying, worrying, worrying and i achieved nothing, only an emotional day with very little job production. It is hard to plan when the future doesn't seem quite clear but life is all but a series of phases, a time to start and a time to complete, a time to receive, a time to spend and a time to look for more. Looks like its coming to a time a completion and being the good planner that i am i am trying to see beyond the completion however that part is out of my control for now.

My pastor's word for Sunday is really coming to play today. I realise better than yesterday that the battle is already won whether i am up or down the battle is already won, God knows the outcome so why should i trouble my little head! He knows what is best.

Today i choose to do my best and do all that i can without trying to imagine what will happen in the months to come, the rest will figure itself out..

Being unique

I have been thinking of the social networking sites that exist. I must confess I love face book: it’s fun, user friendly, quick and easy to learn the functionality, gives you the option of selecting what you want, kids use it even my grandpa am sure he can learn how to use if he was technologically advantaged.

Many other social networking sites have come up since and many try to work on the same principle, on the move status updates, connecting with people and many more. But none really works for me like face book does and many of my friends seem to concur with me. I have a twitter account, which I update here and there, I don’t see anything quite spectacular about it, there is also an official in the office communication group, it is a good way of getting to know what people are working on and also sharing information but not many people use it and also being an official communicating tool and the cordial relationship that we want to maintain and also the fact that it limits one’s imagination on their extent of sharing information, makes it a bit restrictive. Needless to say am sure there are people who like other tools as much as I like face book.

Many other social networking sites are being invented but I think there needs to be something different and something special about them. Any innovator should try and see what is unique to their product and capitalize on it, I was told in my research class that there is nothing new that my future (few months to come) research work will uncover since most of the research has already been done and what I should try and do is look for where the gaps are to fill them, while this might be true, I also think that there could be something new for me to unearth, I mean we are all unique creatures, the brains that invented something years ago are not mine so I can still do something new. The most successful companies I know have made a niche in the market, what yours? what’s mine?

Firing up the adrenaline levels

I have just discovered that I need some form of excitement in my life. Something to build up my adrenalin levels. I believe in constantly redefining my north. Life should not be a boring plateau of same old same old routine and procedures – as they said variety is the spice of life and I need to add in some flavor.

I recall that when I was a fair swimmer I used to go to the pool with great enthusiasm, hoping that that was the day when I would swim all the way to the deep end and back and not be scared or the day when I would float on my back. Now I still love to swim but it’s more of a fitness regime. I want to start learning tennis, I want to start hitting the ball and I hope that this can bring some thrill and flavor in my life.

Investment – I want to start up some business or some investment venture. Renew the zeal that I had when I was carrying out my t-shirt business.

To me life should not be the same old procedure. It should be about encountering new experiences, new challenges, trying new and different things and aren’t all the options available in the world for us to explore them?

I could scream of joy

the best advice i was once given by a former boss who played a keen role in mentoring my career upto this stage and i wish to share with other young guys is to work hard (smart) and money will follow in due time. It has followed me, Hallelujah!

It's a happy day, a happy day, a happy day. I link this to my first post this year. Whatever one confesses with her/his mouth and believes in their heart surely comes to pass. one is really what they say there are, the power of the tongue and confessing good things upon your life...



jumbled up post, but its all in the spirit of capturing and sharing the moments right ;-). Tomorrow God willing i will have intrinsic lessons to share.

...the point

It is important to be accountable to others, yes, but in addition you will need to
remain true to you. So you have a goal or a plan and you have friends to check on you; That's all good! But more importantly look at the mirror, and right there you will see the one person you should be accountable to... the one person on whom the success of the goal depends. By Rose Ndegwa

...another straight from heart post

Tough morning, tough start of the week been in the office for more than 2 hours and i have achieved negligible - saddening! Its one of those sad days, some low moments in life, beating my head up over some wrong moves. I need to find a balance, i need to hold on to the hand of God and keep the faith. God look down on me, thank you!

Journey to Burkina Faso