Tag: faith

THE HEAVENS AND EARTH

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Earth is a representation of something grander and greater. Something so beyond our imagination that I believe we live only a small piece of it. Our lives on earth are a mirror image of what happens in the spiritual realm and teach us about our RELATIONSHIP with God.

Like every parent, I’ve witnessed my ups and downs and I try to look at my failures as teaching moments not just for my daughter but for me as well. The bible says that we should see our challenges more like spiritual battles because it focuses our energy on the enemy satan rather than the person. But boy is it hard sometimes!!

2 Corinthians 10:4

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds”

I had a situation with my daughter that really disappointed me. I let her know that I loved her regardless and the grace I extended to her made me realize how much God loves us even though we make serious mistakes. I still needed to challenge the real enemy who was coming in to destroy my bond with my daughter. I caught a glimpse of the picture of God’s love.  I knew it was always there but this experience made me see it in a different light. I was reminded how God feels when the devil messes with his children (us). God is fiercely protective and I was in a similar situation.

The devil hates God and will do all that he can do to get at him by coming at us, knowing that it will upset God. But hold fast. God will never give up on us if we have faith in him. He has given us victory through his son, Jesus so that when we fight for our loved ones we fight from a place of victory.

Rachel Ochieng.

 

GOLD BENEATH THE SURFACE

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Tonight we read a few parables that Jesus told his disciples and my husband asked our daughter whether she understood the one about Jesus telling the people to remove the plank out of their own eye before worrying about the speck in another’s eye. My daughter couldn’t have explained it better. She said “It’s about people minding their own business.”

The Bible calls for deeper thinking, deeper understanding and more importantly an open heart for the Holy Spirit to reveal the things that are hidden.

The Holy Spirit’s invitation for me is to draw deeper into the knowledge of God. 
It is God’s invitation for me to come away from shallow thinking and rise as He desires to take me deeper, to show me more of His plans for my life.
Dear heavenly Father, I ask this day for the grace to answer to this call to go deeper with you, to come away from shallow thinking and dig for the truth.. For there is more in going deeper. Amen 

Rachel Ochieng

PATIENCE AND SPIRITUAL MATURITY

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Late one night on my way to work, there was an unusual amount of traffic and I thought to myself there was no way I was going to get to work in time. I decided to take the next exit until I realized I was only going in circles, unsure of where I was going. I typed my work address on my GPS and it took me right back to where I’d started. It turns out traffic wasn’t that bad and after a few minutes the normal flow of traffic on the highway resumed. I felt a little foolish. I was rash when all I had to do was be a little patient. I eventually got to work even earlier than I feared.

God isn’t a God of short cuts. As wonderful as miracles are we can over rely on them and miss the balance that comes with faith in Jesus Christ. Sometimes faith in Him requires we wait on God’s promise rather than try to rush it on our own. Sometimes we take short cuts or take the easy way because we are worried about being left behind. We feel like the odd ones out and because of peer pressure we succumb to what society is saying rather than finding out the truth for ourselves. We get so impatient we try to convince oursleves that we we are helping God hasten the process when his plans are better than ours.
I learned a long time ago that letting God guide me was a chance to reset my priorities. There is only so much I can handle so when I’m impatient I have to humble myself and allow God to direct me the right way.  If you put your own fears and anxiety in the way it only prolongs the process of getting where you need to be. Just like my experience on the highway.
Rachel

PURPOSE OF PAIN: A HUSBAND’S PERSPECTIVE

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I expected it to be a morning like any other. She comes home from her night shift, takes a shower, has breakfast while she tells me about her day and then she’d go to bed and sleep. But this morning was different. She came home complaining of pain in her belly. Could it be something she ate? She said she had chicken nuggets on her way to work the previous night. Yet every time she moved her stomach tightened up even more to the point where she could barely walk. I hoped it was indigestion but the longer it lasted the worse the pain got. She eventually got some rest but it was’t enough. She was 18 weeks pregnant and against my better judgment I googled some of the symptoms to ease not just my fears but her own. The only possible cause for the discomfort was ligament pain and it was more prevalent in mothers who’d had babies before. I couldn’t breath a sigh of relief just then but I had to assure her that she was fine. The only other home remedy I could think of was to soak a cloth in warm water and gently place it on her belly. She had a brief respite from the pain but it wasn’t enough. Every movement the baby made made her wince in pain.

“What’s wrong honey? I’m fine. The baby is just trying to get comfortable that’s all.”

“I know but I hate to see you like this. I wish I could take away some of your pain.”

We had to see the doctor that evening and after a routine checkup the nurse said the baby was fine and her explanation for the pain was the chicken nuggets my wife ate and that she should stay away from fatty foods.

How we managed to get through that night was a mystery.  The pain was even worse and we had no choice but to go to the emergency room.  As I drove there I remember thinking to myself, “At least I’ll know the exact route to take to the hospital when my wife is in labor.” As  cautious as I drove, every minor bump on the road felt like a tornado to her so I was glad when we finally got there.

They did all the tests that were necessary and reassured us at least from all they saw that the baby was fine and we could make an appointment with a specialist to make sure everything was fine. Maybe it was the news that the baby was fine that made a diffference to my wife or maybe it was the constant activity throughout the day but my wife was visible better after we left the emergency room.

That evening, the pain wasn’t as severe but she had to sleep in our daughter’s bed because it was more comfortable. Steadily she has improved since then and in 3 days when we went for a walk  she was walking as fast as all of us. All I can say is God is good. Challenges will be there in every relationship and even though the future is uncertain, faith is what must always guide us.

PARENTING STYLES

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Most people know the definition of the word authoritative as being commanding, assertive or assured and it often has a negative connotation. However, the other definition means reliable, dependable, trustworthy and I would like to talk specifically about the authoritative parenting style.

In the late 60s, a psychologist called Diana Baumrind introduced the authoritative parenting style which is widely seen as the most effective style of parenting. An authoritative parent listens to their children, encourages their independence, makes them understand the consequences of their behavior and expects them to learn from their mistakes. They express warmth and nurturance, allow them to express their opinions, encourage them to discuss options, and they administer fair and consistent discipline.

In other words as a parent you have to be well balanced in how you treat your children. You do not want to punish them to the point that they can’t approach you when they need advice and neither can you back off to the point you become negligent and they run wild.

This is what I learned from a biblical point of view.

1 John 5:14
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.”

As an authoritative parent God hears us, He is attentive to our every need, regardless of how small they are. He pays attention to everything about us, and to every word that comes out of our mouth. Therefore, as his children we must be brave enough to ask Him for what we need.

John 15:5
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

As children of God we are very special in His eyes. We have not only been called to Him but chosen by Him and He encourages us to be dependent on the Holy Spirit and not dependent on man. God’s expectation of us is to trust and believe in him. He expects that if we trust in him then we will be successful in every venture we undertake. The same way a parent extends forgiveness, God does the same, as long as you are truly repentant.

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.“

God extends an invitation to us to come and express our opinion and discuss options with him. He wants us to draw near to him with everything that we’ve got and let him work in and through us. God is a loving and nurturing parent. He wants to express his love for us in lots of ways. He wants us to come and rest in his presence, basking in his unfailing love.

My mother died when I was too young to get to know her and because I had to go to school far away I didn’t live with my father for a very long period of time so was raised by my sister. My father was one of the kindest men I ever knew and even though I did not live in the traditional two parent home, God gave me comfort during difficult moments and courage in times I felt afraid.

Therfore, if you are one of those people who feel “left out” because you did not have a parent or guardian to raise you then give God a chance because He knows what is best for you.

Sosasmama

Reference

Review of authoritative parenting style was retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-authoritative-parenting-2794956