Unadorned…

Today i simply want to talk to the bestfriend that will never leave me.

I know He is waiting,i’ll boldly come into His presence and look upon His seat of mercy.
I am fully aware that even before i have opened my heart to Him, He knows what ever is laid on it,heavy with guilt,shame and despair, still He beckons me to come forward and lay it all at His feet,

He wants it all. 

Today i come to Him who knows my every thought, my every need and all that I in my carnal mind think i’m going through alone. 

He knows it all.

So i’ll not hold back,i’ll say it all,i’ll cry it out. i’ll speak,mumble if i must. All i want is to lay this pain,this hurt,shame and guilt at His feet. 

 Today in simple words and with honesty,  i’ll  talk to my best friend.

 He is waiting….

He knows better…

I looked at that image and it suddenly got me thinking of the countless times I’ve held onto things when the Lord was simply holding out His hand, asking me to exchange it for something bigger and better. 

So many times God knows what we don’t know. He is always waiting on us to hand over our bad choices, poor decisions and unhealthy aspirations so that He gives us his very best. 

He says in Jeremiah 29:11 ” For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord,  thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you an expected end.” 

I will repeat this God knows what we don‘t know. His plans and thoughts towards us have always been good. He sees everything, so much so that He knows the beginning from the end. Wow.  He wants us to trust Him. His plan for our lives has never been for evil, but for good. He always has wonderful plans for us, to bring us to an expected end BUT somehow we allow the devil deceive us into thinking what he has for us is better. He tends to deceive us with so little that we end up settling for less. The devil’s wish and plan is that whatever God has planned for us will not be fulfilled or made manifest in our lives, he will put mistrust in us, frustrate our faith and feed us with lie after lie just so we end up settling. 

But isn’t it amazing that God knows better? That He always has the best for us. And what He provides in His goodness is always more exciting, bigger and gloriously stunning than what we expect or are holding onto. Doesn’t that amaze you!!

Let’s renew our faith and trust in God and put our mind at rest because God will never fail us. 

If you would like to do just that…. right now…. please say this simple prayer with me…

My Lord, I surrender my all to your beautiful plan for me. Let your will be done in my life as it is done in Heaven. Renew my faith and trust in you. I want the best you have got for me. Help me not to settle for less. In Jesus mighty name. 

Amen. 

No longer slaves…

It’s a few hours before dawn where I am and I just can’t go back to sleep. I kind of have this thing of waking up at night and for some reason i can’t put my self to sleep again…at least not till it’s a little over 2-3 hours. So as I wait “for sleep” I usually read my Bible on the phone, check my social media, or read one of those books my friends have sent me online (PDF versions). All this as I listen to my music in the background. Tonight i am listening to a new favourite. It has been around (on my playlist) for awhile but it’s really recent that I began to really listen to it and let the words sink in. No longer slaves by Bethel Music is one song that speakers directly to me and all my fears. I’m not a musical genius or whatever but I think before any syllable of that song was written, the composers and Holy Spirit behind this song intended it for a person just like me. I literally speak those words over me! “I’m no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God.”  And on that note here are the lyrics, go download it and listen to it if you haven’t done so yet. You’ll love it, I promise. 

 
[Verse 1: Jonathan David]

You unravel me, with a melod

You surround me with a song

Of deliverance, from my enemies

Till all my fears are gone

[Chorus: Jonathan David]

I’m no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

I’m no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

[Verse 2: Jonathan David]

From my mothers womb

You have chosen me

Love has called my name

I’ve been born again, into a family

Your blood flows through my veins

[Chorus: Jonathan David]

I’m no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

I’m no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

I’m no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

I’m no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

[Interlude: Jonathan David]

I am surrounded

By the arms of the father

I am surrounded

By songs of deliverance

We’ve been liberated

From our bondage

We’re the sons and the daughters

Let us sing our freedom

[Bridge: Jonathan David & Melissa Helser]

You split the sea So I could walk right through it

My fears were drowned in perfect love

You rescued me

And I will stand and sing

I am the child of God

You split the sea

So I could walk right through it

You drowned my fears in perfect love

You rescued me

And I will stand and sing

I am the child of God (yes I am)

I am a Child of GodI am a Child of God (yes I am)

I am a Child of God (full of faith yes)

I am a Child of GodI am a Child of God

[Chorus: Jonathan David]

I’m no longer a slave to fearI am a child of GodI’m no longer a slave to fearI am a child of God

God’s perfect timing…

I found this on the world wide web and was amazed at how beautifully it spoke to me. 

I’d like to believe someone out there needs to read these very words too. That’s why I’m sharing.

Cheers! 

*Google Image 

Nails in the Wall…

There was once a little boy who had a bad temper.
His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper,he must hammer a nail into the back of the wall.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the wall.

Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down.

He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the wall.

Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the wall.

He said, ‘You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the wall.

The wall will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.

Once you hurt ur loved ones, It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound will still be there.’

A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.

Remember that friends are very rare jewels indeed….
They make you smile and encourage you to succeed; 

They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us. 

Show your friends how much you care.

TO ALL THE PEOPLE I AM HONORED TO CALL MY FRIENDS…Please forgive me if I have ever left a hole in your life.

My shepherd…

I love how the first part of Psalm 23 is about God and what He does by His grace for me…

HE makes me to lay down in green pastures.

HE leads me besides the still waters.

HE restores my soul.

HE leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake.

Then it switches over to me…

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

I will fear no evil…

This simple prayer, that I learnt back in sunday school encourages me to-date.

My shepherd, My Lord is with me and will never leave me. I will never be in want! How amazing.

I truly and with all honesty love this Psalm. I love my GOD much more.

Happy birthday to us…

*Breaks into a song*

“Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!’

Heee I bet you’re wondering, “US?” Yes! You read that right …

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!”

I and my twin sister were born on this day. I am a twin and very proud of it.

Well, today, I and Babs celebrate God’s faithfulness. Looking back on our lives, we have every reason to be thankful that we are still here today. I won’t go into the nitty-gritty of things but believe me when I say, it hasn’t been all good. Mehhhhnn, the devil tried, he really tried, but failed (tremendously)….we are still here.

It still amazes me how far our God has brought us. The ups and downs, health issues, heart aches, disappointments, rejection from (some) family and friends. We have endured all….TOGETHER. I couldn’t have asked for another. God knew you would fit this part so well.

We have seen God’s provision, protection, guidance, strength, favor. He has tested us but still we stand.

Boy, we have testimonies!

Today we celebrate another year, a milestone infact.

Today we celebrate Abba, our heavenly Father. He has been with us through the darkness, through the tunnels of life and guiding us to the light.

Today we celebrate a new day and year with the people we love while excited about what’s to come. I know HE is going to do new amazing things this year in both our lives…I am sure we ain’t seen nothing yet!

“Forget about what happened :
dont keep going over old history,
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand new.
Its bursting out! Don’t you see it”
-Isaiah 43:18-19

*Babs, you’ll probably not read this…or maybe you will….i donno know…but still…thank you for being an amazing friend and sister. Here is to a new year, with new exciting things in store for us. Love you sis.*

Cheers to US!

Extend Compassion: #SaveCarol

3 years ago what seemed like a bad cold and which I thought would eventually clear out turned into a full blown bacterial infection. I went to the doctor’s and I was told i’d developed an inflammatory condition which later on affected my vocal cords so I couldn’t speak and eating was painful and nearly impossible. I lost my voice for close to 6months. It was a trying time for me and the physical pain was unbearable  Thankfully, with intensive treatment and care, I got better and though my voice is now permanently ‘hoarse’ (those who knew me before think I sound funny) I’m extremely grateful that I got my speaking voice back.

(Disclaimer: my story up there isn’t in any way a solicition for sympathy…please read on below)

Fast forward…. Carol Atuhirwe is a beautiful 25year old (with the cutest smile) battling throat cancer for the last 5years and lung cancer for the last 3years. So, altogether Carol has had cancer for 8 long years. She can’t talk and also feeds through a tube but her resilience is amazing, her smile radiates through her pain.  I won’t claim to know the extent of physical pain Carol is experiencing…I could not even dare to. When I saw her plight headlining on social media,  I was compelled to be “her voice” by joining the many people on the #savecarol campaign trending to raise 270 million shillings for her operation in the USA.
Incase you want to send in any financial contribution, you can deposit or wire the money to her bank account: ATUHIRWE CAROL, Equity Bank, Ac No 1036100855574 or you can send mobile money contributions to Carol’s personal number MTN mobile money +256 784 168178 AIRTEL +256 701 930150

Please reach out. Be generous. Save carol.

Even if you can’t give financially, atleast offer a prayer for her and everyone battling cancer.

1 John 3:18 resonates so deeply inside me as I write this… “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and truth.”

God bless you as you give.

Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

I am weak.
My strength is ONLY in Him.
And with Him, there is NOTHING I cannot do.

Those tiny cracks…

“A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. “Why?” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of?” “I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.” Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it somewhat. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

What are those ‘cracks’ you’re sad about?

Do you always feel like you’re not “good enough”?

I know. Most of us do. I’ve felt alot like that most times and if I told you that this post was more of a #NoteToSelf you’d probably not believe me.

We all have flaws, i have no idea what yours could be but what I know is, what seems like a flaw to you could be an incredible gift to someone else.
There is a way God will use those cracks or flaws to change someone around you. I’ve seen individuals who were once abused sexually, emotionally, physically, jump out of their bubble of hurt and reach out to others, talk about their experiences and helping those who are in similar situations. I’ve seen people use their flaws for a greater good.

So, don’t let that “cracked bucket” let you down. Embrace who you are, flaws and all because at the end of the day, there is someone who loves that authentic version of you and are counting on you.

“Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let the light in.”

*google image.