Tag: Bible

Daily Ponder: What it means to have have family as priority.

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2024 brought the incredible joy of our first child, but also a series of health and home challenges. This year has been transformative and has solidified one powerful truth. Family will always be my first priority. Here’s how I put it into practice.

Family will always come first. It means that my wife and my child are my utmost priority, while all others come second. I have learned to protect precious time for my family. When a family member was ill, I had to drop whatever I was doing. The same happened during an urgent house situation. I had to move my family to a safer place. I then delegated tasks if possible. This allowed me to go home. I can be with my family or take care of the house situation.

Protect my family time. Never feel guilty with putting off events, meetings and gatherings that crosses with your valuable time with family. This means I have to say no to activities. These activities take my quality time with family, especially in the evening. If there is anything that needs consideration, we have to schedule it ahead. I need to talk to my wife about it.

My family is my first ministry. As a minister, I have been taught repeatedly not to sacrifice my family for success or ministry. The strength of my ministry life, starts at home. I have the divine privilege to have family and lead this family.

I am grateful and blessed. I have a wonderful community and fellow workers. They have extended so much grace and help in this season. They have been our extended family in a country not our own. They made this season easier for us. When my wife gave birth, our friends organized a food train. Our friends and community sent us food for 3 weeks. We were so touched by the love we received. Other friends came and helped take care of the baby. They also helped my wife when she was sick and I was sleepless. A workmate help me with my workload so that I can take care more of my family.

Putting my family first hasn’t diminished other areas of my life; it’s strengthened them. By prioritizing my family, I’ve found greater clarity, focus, and purpose in everything I do.

Daily Ponder: #017

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But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Jude 20–21 NIV

The best antidote to the lies of this world is by building up our most holy faith. Build is the key word. This entails labor on our end, the discipline and effort, the humility and a hear that desires God more than anything else.

Build the faith, not out of obligation but rather out of the revelation of the underserved grace, mercy and love. Build the faith because we cherish it the most.

Praying in the Holy Spirit does not mean talking to God about our agendas but rather in a sense praying in harmony with the leading of the Holy Spirit.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Romans 8:26-27 NIV

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Ephesians 6:18 NIV

Daily Ponder: #016 The leader who cared

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I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

3 JOHN 4 NIV

The past few days I took time ponder in the book of John ( 1-3 John). Theologians say that it is more likely the apostle John who wrote it. But definitely the author of this book in a an elder of the church.

Going through the pages the past few days, I felt it was a father and a friend communicating. It is evident with how the author addresses the recipients. “My dear children, or My Friend.”

It made me appreciate His leadership, He was loving and blunt about the truth that the believers may walk in truth that honors God. He gave practical advise in living out the faith, in showing love and how to Honor God.

He reminded the people to go back to the beginning ( the Gospel ) and never fails to mention about the truth. ( Jesus ) John 3:14 Jesus is the way, the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except through Him. He was never silent about these things.

As he mentions these lines. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” John see the believers as sons and daughters, as his children and family. It reminds me as well of the joy of seeing the students I have help before to walk in the way of Christ. Is is indeed a joy to see.

What an awesome leader John is, We need leaders like him. Thank God for His life and being use by God.

Daily Ponder: #014 Who is it that overcomes?

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One of the message taught in the book of 1 John is the love of God and loving His people. And that loving in action shows obedience to God. Imagine if indeed every Christian actually do that, Christians are walking vessels of love, grace, mercy, healing, restoration and a lot more.

I continue to ponder on 1 John and let me share this below. I believe it is very clear and the message is enough.

 For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

1 John 5:4 NIV

Genuine Christians are not defeated by the world’s hostility or compelled by it to turn from Christ.

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5:5 NIV

My friend, if you are reading this It is my hope that you will come to know Christ and anchor your life on Him. He loves you and care for you. He is gentle and kind, He will not disappoint you as your trust in Him.

Daily Ponder: We love because

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#013 May these words speaks loudly in your life.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

1 John 4:9 NIV

 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins

1 John 4:10 NIV

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

1 John 4:12 NIV

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 

1 John 4:15 NIV

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18 NIV

We love because he first loved us. – 1 John 4:19

Daily Ponder: Coming into light

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#010

In the next five days I am giving attention to 1 John in the New Testament. One chapter a day.

Today I am taking on 1 John 1, Here are my key highligth’s and take ons.

God is light and in Him there is no darkness.

1 John 1:5 ESV

Light exposes the imperfections, the dirts, the filthiness, it exposes everything that comes its path revealing what is impure. God is Light, When we invite him over our lives, His light to rule and take over us we make Him supreme leaving no room for darkness.

The darkness of sins in our lives, hinders us from walking in the freedom in the light of Christ. The markers for such brings us shame, anger, unforgiveness, pride, lust and a lot more. Remaining in the dark, is choosing to remain in bondage from the powers of darkness.

The sinful human nature is filled with darkness, unimaginable. We are in need of saving, we are in need of power against this nature. It comes in understanding that God is light and has the power to set us free. We need to desire this deeply in humility as we pray for liberation.

What can cleanse us? What can move us into these light?

The Blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:7 ESV

It requires death, a blood of an innocent and purity, free from sins. However it is none existent within the humans. So Jesus took our place, He died and rose again offering salvation and forgiveness of sins to all believe and accept him as Lord in Savior.

If we confessed our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us all from unrighteousness.

1 John 1: 9 ESV

The confession of sins is acknowledgement on our end, an act of humility bringing things to light. A promise of forgiveness and cleansing from all unrighteousness.

God’s character is faithfulness. He forgives as promise when we enter confession. Jesus is central towards forgiveness and walking into the light.

What can be my actions steps selecting on these:

  1. What are areas in my life I potentially nurture darkness?
  2. In a time of prayer, come to light acknowledging this before the Lord and hold on to the promise of forgiveness.
  3. Find a spiritually mature and confident you can come and a safe place of confession and ministering.
  4. How can you walk more in the Light? Are you part of a community that helps one another to walk in the light?