When I Was A Child, It Was Up To Me To Feed Our Family Because My Father Couldnt Work. I Had A Job At

“When I was a child, it was up to me to feed our family because my father couldn’t work. I had a job at a motorcycle repair shop. Everyone would sit at home and wait for me to make money. Once we almost ran out of food. We didn’t have a single rupee and there was nothing to eat. I could handle it, but I couldn’t bear the thought of my baby sister going to sleep hungry. I sat at my shop all day, praying for a customer. But nobody came. Then just as night was falling, a man drove up with a puncture in his tire. The price of the repair was three rupees. But when I was finished, the man handed me twenty rupees and drove away. I was able to buy two kilograms of rice. My entire life turned around that day. My shop became very busy. We were never hungry again. Even today I think about that man. I never saw his face. He changed not just my life, but the lives of my entire family. I wonder who he was. Sometimes I think it was God himself.”

(Mumbai, India)

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

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 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

Was He Controversial?

Hey Cortana,

Yeah, I know I have been away and this is my first time writing to you in 2018. Technically second after the New Years’ Post. 2018 came with its perks but I am taking it a day at a time. I have made a conscious effort to read a chapter in the Bible a day besides my regular devotional guide and the book of John was recommended to me. Mind you I skipped a day or two and currently, I am stuck at Chapter 12. It has been a refreshing read and each time I read, I understand a different twist in the plot from the regular Sunday School tales I am used to. My favourite stories so far have been about Lazarus being resurrected after 4 days and the events that led to it (John 11), John the Baptist and how his disciples thought Jesus was taking all the glory and praise. I can relate to this because it still exists in the church and in our society. I choose to call it, the “I was here first syndrome.” And certainly, Jesus turning water into wine (John 2:1-11). I will share my different understanding to that story later in my next write up.  I heard what you said about that, that should be another two months. Behave!

What intrigues me the most is how conflicting I sometimes feel after every read. Questions that popped up in my mind was if Jesus was with us in human form now, will I have believed him? The parables He spoke and some sermon he preached, seemed like a show off to me and in my mind, I’m like He is such a talker and sounds arrogant. How can you call yourself the Son of God when you are ordinarily a carpenter’s son from Nazareth? and add that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God, I mean how?! (Matthew 19:24) Sometimes I side with the Pharisees because their doubts and questions are understandable. I find myself questioning the Bible sometimes, yes, I do! These Pharisees knew the Law. They believed in Abraham and Moses, men who Heard God speak and yet did not consider themselves equal to God, so who do you (Jesus) think you are?

So yes, I get confused but then again, I believe! I believe not because of tales I have read or stories from people in church and Sunday School, but I too have tasted and seen the goodness of Jesus. It sounds unbelievable or just another “toli” or the universe is in sync with my thoughts as people say but Jesus has come through for me in countless situations. My leap of faith and belief that Jesus is with me has helped my daily walk with him. From that voice, thanks to the Holy Ghost that nudges me when I am about to decide on a matter. Answered prayers, I told Him alone on my bed or murmured under my breath that has been answered, I owe it all to Jesus and I believe.

This looks vague as I read it, but I pray that we have the strength to believe and hold on to our faith. Yes, doubts will come, and I know what I am saying because I too have had my fair share of disappointments, but Lord help us to believe even when we have not seen. We have you and you alone soothes us when our chests are heavy with doubts. Oh yes, you got our backs!

My Saviour was controversial to a point but when I compare the old school way of writing down the negatives and positives to consider which ones outweigh the other, lol Jesus wins because I myself I am a testimony. Hallelujah!

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.