The Harmless Culprit

The Harmless Culprit

Today my desktop’s calendar changed, and it reads 1/1/2018. It’s already 2018 when it was just a week ago I had a Pentatonix Christmas.

I’ve been avoiding writing this piece for a while because it has been somewhere in my head/brain but scattered into snippets and trying to make sense out of it is somewhat tough, but it is about Mary, not Magdalene. Yes, Jesus’ mother and the story where Jesus changed water into wine. And it is mentioned it as Jesus first miracle in public, but my piece is about that awkward moment when Mary told Him, “They have no more wine” just like saying, “Yo, son work your magic. *winks* and Jesus replies “Woman, why do you involve me? My hour has not yet come. Mary could not, in this case, be moved, she went on to tell the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” What made me smile was the fact that although Jesus mentioned His time had not yet come, He still went ahead to tell the servants to fill the water jars. His time had not yet come but Jesus still did it.

It is imperative we wait on the timing of God. He alone knows what is best for us and when we need it but hey, just as Mary, I am sure our heavenly Father looks down upon us and smiles when we still ask Him to do something. In fact, He says we should ask and it will be given to you. I do not think there is anything wrong with asking, besides He knows what to give and when. It is so reassuring to note that we can talk to God about anything and ask Him anything. Sometimes when I look back on my prayer requests made over time, I can't help but to thank God for those that weren’t answered because thinking about it now, I wonder what I was thinking asking for them in the first place. Today, I simply want to say, in 2018 let us talk to God even when we think it is not important and it’s a trivial request and God has bigger problems to deal with. Talk to Him in the bathroom, talk to Him in that Trotro ride, it should be silent, so you don’t disturb passengers, talk to him everywhere!  You matter, and it matters to Him.

Additionally, Jesus listened to His mother. All power belongs to Him, yet He still listened. May we never in our glorified moments, forget authority. Wherever we find ourselves, be it at workplaces, homes, schools, and in the communities, let us obey those in authority. The fact that you are paying the bills today, does not mean you should defy your parents, they raised you. The fact that you are earning more than your husband at a point in your life, does not mean you should disregard the head of the home, he is STILL the head. The fact that you got promoted over your Supervisor, does not mean you should spite them. Learn to listen to the voice of God in all you do and learn to trust the process. Obedience is the true sign of our love for God.

This year remember, Exodus 9:15, “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.” In our own ways, we are harmless culprits in our requests to God, but mind you, He does not mind at all. Afehyiapa! Happy New Year.

My Christmas Story

Hey Cortana,

It’s been a while. Writing has not exactly been my strongest trait and yes, I postpone any bulb that lights up in my head to write about something (a terrible habit) and after typing it out, it sounds shameful so I will strive to be better. So yes, oh la la, Christmas is a few days away I believe and the conventional harmattan hasn’t set in yet, but we will certainly chop the Bronya, Africa winter or not.

About a week ago, my quiet time was centered on Gabriel’s visit to Joseph and how prior to the visit, Joseph had made up his mind to divorce Mary quietly although the law insisted it should be done publicly which was accompanied with stoning. I have always questioned why Mary and Joseph were chosen, why them? Mary was said to be highly favoured when Gabriel visited. What do I have to do to be considered favoured and noticed by God? That must be a Wowza experience but daily in my walk with God, it is my request that as He sits on His throne above, may He consider me favoured. Yes, those are questions I asked and this is where it sunk in with regards to Joseph, “Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and YET (that word won the day for me) did not want to expose her to public disgrace.” (Matthew 1:19)

Everyone needs a companion and a buddy. It is needed and although we have a friend in Jesus, people here on earth help direct our life path and life decisions. Your companion can make or unmake you. They help in your growth or fasten your death process and in our bid to find such a person is very difficult and confusing as we are fenced with individuals who are constantly in a haste to please the world, share in your happy moments and privately loathe your development in whatever path you have chosen to tread. With Joseph, what hit me was his sincere love, respect and, care for Mary. He was a friend. Just put yourself in Joseph’s shoes. The angel had not visited him then and your fiancé tells you a “bogus” story of how she is pregnant when you haven’t slept with her yet. His most valued jewel, the apple of his eyes. Ah, Mary, you are mean! And all I can think of is, not only do you lie to me, but you must think I am stupid as well. What makes this story beautiful for me is the fact that Joseph seemed to know his fiancé.  I am definite Joseph believed Mary. Trust was central in their relationship. He was “faithful to the law” yet he thought of Mary and how the public disgrace of being stoned to death was going to be for her. It was a tough decision for him to do the right thing, choosing between the law and his fiancé. When I was done reading the passage, I felt Joseph was wrong. He should have let Mary pay the price. It was the law after all.

We all need that one friend who is not in a rush to hang us to dry (Don’t get me wrong, I am not in any way asking us to compromise on sin and not do the right thing. He was doing the right thing ultimately because he sought to divorce Mary just not with the public ridicule). May we find companions who will not want us to go through extreme pain than we already might be going through because of decisions we made or wrong choices. May we find partners who will carefully examine their options and do the right thing and minimally ease the pain and sentence. Mary was already going through a lot, I believe. Feeling down and ashamed and even confused about what was happening. God, Love, Respect, Trust and, Care are the most important traits I look for in a relationship (at least for me). A man who respects you is vital. He considers all his decisions towards you and how you might be affected. He doesn’t pursue without you in mind and vice versa.

I guess I know why Mary and Joseph were chosen then to bring forth our Saviour. It takes a wise woman to be able to sell that story to her fiancé and an equally wise enduring man to understand it. Jesus is the reason for the season. Let us ALWAYS remember the Christ in Christmas. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. Merry Christmas!

Love this rendition of the carol, Mary did you know? It's Christmas #ChristmasTogether #Christmas #happy #holidays #happyholidays #December #Saviour #Platinum #Diamond

“My secret is that I need God—that I am sick and can no longer make it alone. I need God to help me give, because I no longer seem to be capable of giving; to help me be kind, as I no longer seem capable of kindness; to help me love, as I seem beyond being able to love.”

— Douglas Coupland, Life After God

Looking at The Bigger Picture (Genesis 29:14 – 30)

 Hey Cortana, (I’m still thinking of a name)

And yes Cortana is a virtual assistant created by Microsoft that helps get things done. I consider her as my laptop buddy, hence it’s her I address my daily thoughts and write-ups to. Why Cortana? That is for another write-up.

Today my Quiet Time took me to the well-known Bible story on Jacob’s love for Rachel and how he tolerantly worked in total for 14 years to marry her. Seeing how Laban betrayed him, I trust he was not an easy man to work with. 7 years of labouring plus an added 7 years, now that is a long time and I was here gasping aww. Now, this is love and how disappointed he must have felt. (I’m sure Jacob would be singing Ed Sheeran’s song Perfect if he was in the 21st Century)

But today I saw a different meaning to the story for which I am thankful for. The agony Leah must have gone through. Staying married to a man who you KNOW does not love you. The anguish and the pain of continuously trying to let him notice you so you bear him sons and still to no avail. She must have really been affected by it and it was a difficult time for her. Being the older sister and knowing your husband favours the younger one the most. Leah had weak eyes so I’m guessing she was not exactly beautiful since Rachel is described as having a lovely figure and was beautiful. (If Leah had her way, she would be singing Eminem’s Love the way you lie featuring Rihanna)

Leah bore Jacob four sons. Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. With her first three sons, she focused more on her pain and her effort to still win her husband’s attention. She chose the name Reuben “because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now”. The second born she chose Simeon, “because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too”. And then came Levi, “now, at last, my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons”. I noticed that her sons were an end to win Jacob’s heart but my favourite one among them all and what caught my attention was Judah! Judah means, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Mind you, I burst out laughing when I read that part of the Bible, that Leah had realized, finally it is all about God and Jacob didn’t count.

The story makes me more thrilled that eventually, it was Judah’s lineage (Leah’s son) that Jesus, our Messiah came from and oh one of my unprecedented favourite people in the Bible David also came from. Another part that warms my heart is in verse 41 when God saw that Leah was not loved, He enabled her to conceive. No matter what we go through and the circumstances we face, although it sounds very far fetched, believe me, God knows. We might not feel Him working, but He is. Who would have thought the woman who was not loved, will be the one whose lineage our Saviour will come from? It tarries most times, trust me I know what I am talking about, but His eyes are on the sparrow and He watches us. He knows our misery, where our tongues fail, and we do not know what to say, He knows our hearts.

Whenever it feels tough, praise Him and be thankful. Whenever we feel like giving up, tell Him “Lord I still know the plans you have for me, it is difficult now, but I know your masterplan is the best. In the end, Praise Him.”

PS: In the end, it was Leah who Jacob honoured and buried in the family grave plot with Abraham and Sarah. God will lift us up in the end.

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