BE LIMITLESS

January 5, 2018January 6, 2018 ~ OchiengFamily ~ Leave a comment

Like most new bloggers I am still at that stage where all I have is a desire to write. Some days I’m inspired and some days I am not but I think that’s ok. I’ve already taken the first steps so I can’t quit now!

LUKE 1:37 RSV

“For with God, NOTHING will be impossible.”

There is a boldness and a simplicity to scripture sometimes that makes me ask more questions than being simply content with the answers. I say to myself, “Lord you don’t understand,” “Lord you see this is my situation right now, “Lord if I only had this.”

Instead of accepting it for what it is I start this great debate in my head then I realize all my words are pointless. I’m discouraging myself even before I accept God’s promise all because I want to be in control.

Gabriel told Mary that despite Elizabeth’s old age she will bear a son. Mary would also have a son despite being a virgin. (She had some explaining to do to Joseph). I love this exchange between the Angel and Mary because it shows me God chooses the most ORDINARY people to do EXTRAORDINARY things. My wife and I consider ourselves ordinary, but we also know that with the gifts that God has given us he has given us the responsibility to be able to do extraordinary things. We have a vision to be leaders, mentors, authors and we believe it will happen. What’s the point of having the love of Christ without sharing it with others?

God wants to use you exactly where you are. You don’t need anything fancy, you don’t need to feel like you are inadequate. NO. They’ll call you crazy but so be it because our God says “NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE. “

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?

January 3, 2018January 3, 2018 ~ OchiengFamily ~ Leave a comment

First I’d like to thank the readers of my previous post and the feedback you gave. I don’t take it for granted that you took the time to respond positively to my post and I’ll do my best to keep encouraging you all.

The first chapter of Luke not only sets the stage for the coming of Jesus, but it also gives a detailed background of Elizabeth and Zechariah who were the parents of John the Baptist. They were both in their old age and had no children but the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and told him he would have a son. As lovely as this story is, what stood out to me most was the burst of emotion from Elizabeth when she found out she was pregnant.

LUKE 1: 24-25 NKJV

Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself saying, “Thus the Lord has done to ME, to TAKE AWAY my reproach (disgrace, shame) among men.”

The bible doesn’t explicitly say how long the couple were married but because they were in their old age we can conclude that they’d been married a long time. During this period in history a woman was valued by how many children she had so Elizabeth’s words to God were truly heartfelt. She had been barren for so long that once she realized she was pregnant she had to release all the pent up anguish and frustration that had built up in her spirit. I pictured Elizabeth sitting in her room quietly; tears of joy rolling down her cheeks as she quietly whispered to God. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for answering my prayer.”

She was grateful to God for lifting up that emotional burden off her shoulders. In fact she was so thankful that she isolated herself from the rest of the world for five months. Her miracle didn’t come from man but from God.

Zechariah on the other hand stuck by his wife during what was probably one of the most difficult moments of her life. He didn’t move on and find another wife to give him children because he knew Elizabeth was a woman of God and he CHOSE to SUPPORT her.

So what are some of the things you are thankful for today? Write them down and repeat them to yourself. It may be a difficult moment in your life but I believe there is still a lot to be thankful for because God listens to prayer no matter how impossible your situation may seem. My wife and I are hoping to move into our own home within the next year. We don’t know how it’s going to happen but one thing we know for sure is that God is with us during this process.

RESOLUTIONS

January 2, 2018April 18, 2018 ~ OchiengFamily ~ 2 Comments

Another new year and another opportunity to make countless promises to ourselves that we must be different and do something that will completely alter the course of our lives. As a family we are no different. My wife has vowed to go on a new diet and I have vowed to write more, hence this blog. There is nothing wrong with setting new challenges but I think the biggest desire for my family is that we want to be CONSISTENT. We want to go beyond the point of doing something because of how we feel but rather DISCIPLINING ourselves to do it because we will reap the rewards eventually.

One thing we have all agreed on is to actively study the word of God as a family. Our Pastor gave away free study bibles on New Year’s Eve to encourage the congregation to actively study the word of God and we gladly accepted that challenge. Since we got married we’ve prayed together every night but part of the reason we want to study more is also encourage our daughter to actively participate and become more familiar with the word. Every parent has the desire to instill good values on their children and we are no different.

So I would like to officially welcome you to our blog and feel free to share your hopes, desires and plans for the next year. The world needs a lot more positivity and we want to share our journey with you.

GENESIS 2:7 NKJV

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the BREATH OF LIFE; and man became a living being.