BEFORE THE JUDGE

 

Ever been in a traffic violation? 

We'll, I was... it was in November last year and to be honest, there was definite reason for me to be locked up. We actually drove to the police station and there's no way I was getting away from this one.  

That was one dreadful drive... it was long, it was scary, it was a feeling I had ever felt inside. There was the guilt, the knowledge that I was on the wrong and that I deserved to be punished... But I still prayed, I still asked God to create a way in what was clearly a cul de suc... a dead end. 

I had this feeling that, in as much as I prayed to God, I was still going down, no way I was going to escape this one. 

Then it all changed, I have no idea how it happened... but we drove out of the station without my name even being written in the occurrence book, I do not know how, I do not know what happened... but have you ever got the feeling of going and not even turning back just because things might just turn back to the way they were before?? That was the feeling... run like Usain Bolt's 100 meters dash and do not even look back. 

I do not know how I escaped it, I can not explain it, don't know how it all happened, all I know is that I walked free. 

Question... does it make sense how, in all my guilt, in all my knowledge of my breaking the law, I still walked away without even a warning... and no, I did not give any bribes. It is in the very nature of Kenyans to take the easiest way out, but God told me not to take that route, and I listened to Him. 

I have known the answer... it is God's Grace...

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us." 1 John 1:9

That is grace... going before The Judge, accepting you are guilty, and The Judge forgives you for it... because He bore all the punishment when He died on the cross. It's hard to understand it, I know.

Now the interesting thing about This Judge we'll stand before, He is still a judge in the end... If you accept your guilt, you stand forgiven, if you do not, then His wrath will be unleashed.

For those He will have forgiven, in love and grace, He provides rescue from His just judgement through Jesus Christ, who was slain and yet triumphant.

For those who will continue to turn away from their Savior, will be destruction, bitterness, loss, pain, anguish, fear and death.

Now, the purpose of God's wrath is not that we suffer, but that we will repent and turn back to Him, that men, women and children will turn back to Him, will turn away from their sinful nature. In any case, rebellion against God will ruin spirituality, sexuality and human relations.

Ive' been studying Revelation, and it comes with the reality of this destruction, the reality of judgement coming upon all those who are not yet branded (link to my previous blog post on Christ's seal). Those in sin will continue to be tormented by the devil while those with the seal of the name of Jesus Christ will be free.

This is an earnest cry to you, if you are not saved, if you have not turned to the gracious judge for forgiveness, He is still waiting in mercy to give you the seal that is the source of salvation, He is just, yes, but merciful as well... turn back to Him before His destruction is unleashed.

Remember this, in a world that prefers the degradation of sin, God's people people are safe as God acts on His holiness

ARE YOU BRANDED?

 

Every time you thing about any industry in our economy, you can associate a major brand to go with it; the mobile phone industry has Samsung, Nokia, Huawei, Tecno etc... the telecommunication industry has Safaricom, Airtel, Orange etc... in banking there's the likes of Equity and K.C.B... in household items you have Haco Brands, Unilever... in social network we have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram... think about them all, Nakumatt, Coke, Jumia, Nation Media... just name them, every industry has its big shots. 

The thing about these brands, we all associate with them, we know them, our lives are surrounded by them, we know their slogans and what they are all about. We even know their colors. And every small entity in various industries strives to be like those big brands, to be known as the leader in the industry. 

By the mere fact that this brands are so big, it is so easy to reach out to consumers, it is so easy for us to associate with all these brands because we know they are the best.  Simply put, we know them.

I have been studying the book of Revelation, and that is what got me thinking about all these brands around us, how we know them, we want to associate with them, we want to be a part of these brands, we want to consume their products... we want the best, right? I bet you agree. 

Bottom line is, all these are worldly things... we are leaving them right here on this earth. The one thing that will leave, however, is our lives. 

Question, what is your brand??? Any idea???

Revelation can give you an idea of what brand you are, or should be, or just what you are not...

"Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God" Rev 7:3

The seal... the mark... the brand...

And what exactly is this seal/mark/brand... you might be wondering...

Imagine how the Kings of old used to be... for you to know what was his, there was a seal made with his signet ring, an imprint of a crest, name or image. It showed what was the King's, or what had come from that king. 

So God is saying this, there is harm coming, but hold on till His servants get the mark, till they are branded. Everything else we can destroy. 

Then comes the question of how to get the mark... it is simple, does God know you so that He can give you His mark, dose He count you as His??? Because only that which He knows will get the mark, only that which He associates with counts.

Understand this about God, He is giving us a chance to get branded, He is waiting for us to turn back to Him, to turn away from our sin, to get to know Him and get the Seal of salvation... then we are assured that we are not facing destruction. That seal is the assurance that we are saved. 

Do you have the seal? What are you waiting for, God is gracious and is giving you the time to get the seal... well, that is if you haven't. If on the other hand you do have the seal, then we have assurance (coz I know I'm included there). If you do not, destruction is surely coming your way.

So, got an answer yet... free advice, get to know God, give Him your life, get the seal and get salvation. Hey, it's free advice... I leave the rest to God and the Holy Spirit... think about it. 

TIMOTHY LESSONS; CHRISTIAN LIVING

 

As the year was ending, I got the opportunity to teach on the book of 2 Timothy. It was quite the experience for me, firstly in teaching the word and secondly in the reminder of living as a Christian. 

I realized how important it is for us to understand that at the time Paul was writing the letter to Timothy, his situation was similar to our current generation in so many ways that it feels like Paul is writing to you and I. So out my experience and the lessons I learnt, I thought Id do a summary and share it so that even as we live as Christians, we understand the realities that come with our Faith. 

The image I got when studying the book was an old man (maybe in his late 60s), Paul, getting to the finish line before the much younger guy who is in his early 30s, Timothy, and the old man turns back to get the young guy so that he too can finish the race... and this is the advice the young fellow gets; 

1. GROW IN FAITH

The way Paul puts it, I realized that in as much as we have our faith, it is only likely to grow if we are the ones who put the effort to build it. What God has done is to provide us with the Holy Spirit who creates situations for us to work on our faith. 

"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands." 2 Tim 1:6

2. LIVE UNASHAMED

"So do not be unashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me His prisoner. But join in me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God" 2 Tim 1:8

Are you ashamed of who you are? Would you stand up in all situations and accept your Christianity or would you hide it to favour the situation?? Enough said...

3. ENDURANCE
Now who said Christianity is easy? Ever think of how easy it is to sim, how easy it is to gratify the desires of the flesh? The reverse is true, it takes pain and effort to deny the flesh and live in the Spirit. I can bet you we have all had the experience.

4. WORK FOR GOD
Next thing Paul talks about is being a good workman, approved by God. And it takes 2 things for the apporval;

• be unashamed
• study God's word

Question; any chance you want to get approved by God??

5. FLEE EVIL
Paul takes time to give a list of so many things that will destroy our lives  if we give them the chance to. He talks about the desires of our youth, a situation most of us are in right now. How many times does something feel right just because other people are doing it? How many times do we do things just because we only live once, Y.O.L.O?

"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." 2 Tim 2;22

What do you pursue every single day of your life? And the reason Paul uses the word flee is because if you even give it a second thought, you will surely fall into sin... but he says flee, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!

6. GOD'S WORD
He starts by talking about the false teachers... the lies that have been told to us. However, the only way to know a lie is to understand the truth. So what is the truth??

"All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" 2 Tim 3:16

 What matters is the word of God... if you understand the truth, then you will know a lie and flee from it.

7. FINISH THE RACE
At the end of it, Paul is rejoicing... He has finished the race. In any case, who does not rejoice when they finish a race? There is always a reward.

I do not know about you, but I am certain I want to work for that reward... at the end of it, I just cannot wait for God to look at me and say, "Well done good and faithful Servant"!!!

RESOLUTIONS 2015

 

Happy new year!!!  

We are in 2016 and I have to admit, it is God's doing that we are here. 

Yes, this post is titled Resolutions 2015, it's actually a reflection of the resolutions I made in 2015. 

Question... what was your resolution for 2015? Did you achieve it? No need to answers, these are rhetorical questions.

 

I have heard all sorts of resolutions in the few years I have been alive, made my own as well. I can't say I achieved them all at the end of each year, many at times I have forgotten them by the end of January. I can almost bet I'm not the only only who has gone through that. 

And 2015 was not any different for me, the year started and I was meant to make my resolution. But for the first time, I did it differently... I asked God what He wanted for my 2015, and that was the beginning of the most amazing year I have ever had. You see, at the point I asked God what He wants from me is the point where everything started. One huge lesson that I learn is that our resolutions are always based on our desires, forgetting that the most important desire is God's. 

God's desires for us are not always easy, that I came to know. But, they are always good desires. In as much as we have what we want to achieve, in as much as we have goals set in our lives, ever think of asking God what goal He has for you? Ever think of making it about God and not about what we (selfishly) desire?

"... Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." Matthew 6:8

 We are human; our desires, our wants, our directions... they all tend to take the human aspect of us. But, how often do you remember that God knows all that even before we ask of it? And how many times do we rely on doing things our own way even when we realize that we just can not do it? Maybe that is how we end up not achieving our resolutions. 

And that was my 2015. I asked God what he wanted of me, He told me, I (very reluctantly) took it, bore all that the decision came with and I can assure you, it did not come easy. But as the year was coming to an end, I had my testimony of the great and wonderful things God can do in our lives if we let Him take the wheel.

It occurs to me that most of the time I get the direction wrong. I start downstream with my own concerns and bring them to God. I inform God, as if God did not already know. I plead with God, as if hoping to change God’s mind and overcome divine reluctance. Instead, I should start upstream where the flow begins; with God. 

And just like a river flows from its source, so it is with God... there is the source, He is the source. 

In my resolutions and commitments for this year, I am still going back to the source. From my 2015 experience, I know God may lead me through tough times, I may have to go through fire, but eventually I know God's plan for my life is a good one and my testimony at the end of it will be one of victory. 

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you a hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11

So before you forget the resolutions you made 6 days ago, before you make all that a memory... ask God what He wants from you in 2016, make that your resolution and He that we serve and believe in is able, He is faithful to bring it to completion. I can assure you, it might mean that you let go of certain comforts in your life, or that you take a direction you never expected... all in all, whatever He will tell you to do, it is all good. 

Happy new year once again and may you have God guided resolutions in 2016!!!

FROM THE SLOPES OF KILIMANJARO

You ever do things that just bring a chill down your spine, things that cause your blood to rush and you get that kind of excitement that you just cannot find the right vocabulary to explain... well, for me, that is how it is when I am at high altitude; Mt. Kenya, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Meru, name it. 

And that is exactly where I started this month... on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. 

People always ask me why I do it, was my fifth climb this time and many never understand why once was not enough. My answer is always the same; I do not do it for me anymore, I do it to help someone else achieve that dream, I let others use my experience up there to be a stepping stone to them achieving their dreams of getting to the top. It is something I missed when I did my first climb so I know how hard it can be without it. 

But I also do it in many ways to be closer to God. When on that long, tiring and treacherous journey, you get so many points when your mind is closed to all the perils of life that you have left at the foot of the mountain, which you have left in the workplaces, which you have left at home; and the focus shifts to God.

I understood the meaning of the word giving up on my many journeys to the mountains. It is tiring, it is draining, not just physically but emotionally, psychologically, spiritually. 

But at that point where I am at the end of my limit, there is where I find the start of God, there is where he carries me in His arms and I no longer need to rely on myself to continue the journey. I have learnt to rely on God. 

Many times in my Christian walk, I have come to a point where it seems to end, and I think that my experience, my wealth, my human understanding etc... can be the solution, I have thought that I am able, I am strong, I am rich, I am wise, I am all that. 

But on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, I have been reminded a major lesson... I AM WEAK!!

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

So beyond those slopes, it always rings in my head, I am weak, I am blind, I am nothing. And at that point when I have it in my mind that I am all that, then I am reminded of who created me; He is my strength, He is my sight, He is my all.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29

As I take my Christian walk, I am reminded every day that when I am in Christ and when I put my trust in Him, then I find my strength, I find my direction and I know what He has in store for me.He has made that promise in His word, that only when my hope is in Him, then there is assurance of His strength, there is assurance that I am no longer blind, that I have Him on my side. 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12:9-10

So where is your strength; is it in your wealth, is it in your abilities, is it in thinking you can, is it in your position in life??? Do not get it twisted, all that is bound to fail. If it is not in our God who is all that, then you need to get your priorities straight.Get into Christ and get assured that you are in the Almighty God. 

From a sinner saved by His grace, seeking to live His will.

TIME

Time- a thing that is measured as seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years etc. Also defined as the measured or measurable period during which an action, process or condition exists or continues. 

Enough of dictionary explanations of what time is. Time dictates how we live each and every day of our lives; wake up every morning and have to leave the house in good time to beat traffic, could not have breakfast because you would get late, office hours are 8am to 5 pm with one hour lunch break, traffic heading back home, some time to spend with the wife and kids in the evening, dinner time and its off to bed; typical day. 

Somewhere between there you squeeze in some time to have a social life, hang out with friends, attend your weekly Bible Study, see a sick friend/relative in the hospital... you name it. 

Our life revolves on the limit of 24 hours in a day and that is a universal factor... no one has 23 and another 25, we all live 24 hours in a day. 

They say death and taxes are the only things that are inevitable. Truth is, you can avoid to pay taxes, my taxation lecturer in college taught me that there is tax avoidance which is completely legal, tax avoidance on the other hand... you will end up in big trouble. 

Hence the only thing we can be certain of, the only thing that is inevitable in our lives... DEATH. Our lives will come to an end that is for sure. Death you are not going to get out of, and you kind of got to deal with it. Big question is; what quality of life will you have lived to be assured of eternity.

... "Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last. I am the living one: I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." Revelations 1:17-18

I have been studying the book of Revelation, something that I have to admit I have never done in my life, and this verse caught my eye. Being written to 7 churches that were being persecuted for their faith, it meant that God was just telling them that through all they were going through, God was never going to change. 

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8

Unlike us God is not limited by time and space. His being remains the same way before I was born, throughout my entire life, and way after my passing from this life. 

This reassurance is that when I am with this God who never changes, then I know that Death is certain, but beyond there is eternity in the God I am in. 

So today I choose to anchor my life in eternity, beyond timelines that come with my life, and focus on what comes after my death... eternity with my Lord and Saviour, with my Father in Heaven. Same choice we all have today, I do hope yours is also focused on Eternity with God. 

It is up to you, you know...

FRIENDS

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

It's been ages!!! But today, I'm making it about friends... and thank God for Michael W. Smith for the words in his song Friends. 

I have recently come to learn the value of friends, the simple things they do in our lives that end up amounting to greatness; a simple phone call, a one word answer, a smile, a shoulder to lean on... you name it. 

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Having a friend means there is someone looking out for me, who can be a support at that point when I am weak and a way by which I can get back up again. So many times I know I have missed it and I have assumed there is no point of having a friend, it is hard at times and I just want to be alone. But in the words of one wise King Solomon, pity me when I fall and there is no one to pick me up. 

Being a friend means I am there for a friend when he too is down because I know, that's exactly what they would do for me; you never think twice about it. We all have those people in our lives that we would do anything for, not really expecting it paid back... that is a friend. 

So today, this goes out to so many people that have helped me up on the many times I have fallen. I have picked up a lot of brothers and sisters along the way and I may have missed many opportunities to recognize and appreciate you. But today, it is all about you.

In my opinion, I have the best friends anyone would ever ask for and maybe I have taken that for granted. So today and every other day, I am taking the opportunity to appreciate my friend. 

I hope this will remind you of the friends that complete your life and appreciate them. My words may not be sufficient enough, but take a moment to share this with the, take a moment to send a thank you note, take a moment to reflect on the times that have made you a friend to someone and bask in knowing that you can be counted as a friend. 

For me, friendship goes beyond all boundaries; it spreads right from where I am, across the city to Umoja, Thika, Dandora, to Machakos, Homa Bay, South Sudan, South Africa, Leeds (I hope people are taking a hint)... It is hard to find the right words to appreciate each and every one of you for the difference you have made in my life, but in short, I love you all and Ill make it a point to appreciate you whenever I can. 

Wherever this life may take you, it may be miles from here, just know that you will never be forgotten, you are part of my life. And Michael W. Smith just had the right words... " and a lifetime is not too long to live as friends!"

With lots of love
Grey.