Tag: faith

THE PURSUIT OF GOD

~ OchiengFamily ~ Leave a comment

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My daughter is the most precious person to me. She has witnessed my ups and downs more than anyone else and even though she is ten she has the maturity of an adult. Last summer I went to Colorado for a week to complete my residency and even though I spoke to my husband (then boy friend)) frequently, I longed to get a call from my daughter without being the one to always call and check up on her. Anyway, after a week I got back and went to pick her up from her friend’s house and on the ride back home I told her how I missed her and I was upset that she didn’t even acknowledge that she missed me and it hurt me. Here I was trying to guilt trip my own daughter. Shame! Shame! Instead of ignoring me or pretending like she had missed me to make it up, she sat up straight in her chair and said, “Mom I’m sorry I didn’t miss you as much as you wanted me to.” There was that maturity once more kicking in at the most unexpected time and I had to stay silent and ponder her words all the way home.

There will come a time when she will have to leave home and when that time comes I will be sad but confident that she can take care of herself.  But am I not just like my little girl in the presence of God? I am guilty of becoming too familiar with God that I do not seek him daily. I only do it when I feel ike it. I’m so comfortable with God that I do not pursue him anymore. We only approach God when we need him to do something for us because after all he is the great supplier of what we want!

Children will be children, it’s my responsibility as a parent to take care of my daughter but on that day, I feel God was communicating something very important to me about my relationship with him. I needed to search my heart and not become so complacent. Was I just reaching out to God for the blessings or seeking him to have a relationship with him. God delights in our presence in all that we do no matter how small it may seem. It doesn’t have to be so grand but simply acknowledging that “God. I know you love me. I know you want what is best for me. Guide me through this day.”

Psalm 14:2

“The Lord looks down from Heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.”

I pray that as you go about your week may God fill you with the desire to Pursue him and all that he is in Jesus name.

Sosasmama

THIS MEANS WAR!

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DENZEL MEME

I know I’m not the only one but there are times that the pastor’s message on Sunday cuts deeper and is more relatable than other times. I have learned that these are the times God is communicating something specific about my life and I need to value that message even more. To continue the theme from last night, as believers we are constantly at war and fighting unseen battles. Jesus certainly doesn’t mean that we should be nervous or on edge constantly, but that we should be aware and not ignorant of real spiritual threats that have serious consequences if we do not heed his advice.

1 Peter 5:8-9 RSV

“Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 RESISIT him, firm in your FAITH…

We are not prey but the predators. We are not the hunted but the hunter. We are mighty warriors, fully equipped with all that we need to take down the enemy who is constantly at war with us to steal our joy make us feel miserable, hate ourselves and question or doubt God’s promises for us.

I am constantly reminded that my fight is not against what I see but against the unseen.

So dear Lord, today as I am reminded about my fight, I thank you that the battle has already been won. I thank you for your grace that enables me to keep keeping on when I feel like giving up. I ask that your word will continue to be a constant reminder for me that anything happening in the present or future will not be surprise but part of your will.

I pray also for my friends who will read this today and that they too will come to find solace in your word, knowing that you are holding us all up. We have all been equipped for the battle before us. We thank you dear Lord that victory is ours in Jesus name.

Rachel aka Sosasmama.

…Let me formally introduce myself!

~ OchiengFamily ~ 6 Comments

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Hi. My name is Rachel Ochieng. My husband, Steve has posted a few times on the blog but I think it’s time for me to take over!

No, but seriously. It’s been hectic and I just hope you have been encouraged by those words.

Since the fall of last year I’ve been working as a counselling intern at a nearby counselling center. My experience there over the last few months has been invaluable even though there were nights I came home with tons of paper work to complete but all in all it’s been great.

I consider it a privilege to have worked with some amazing people especially my clients who do their best to cope even under the most stressful and difficult times. There are times my heart would just go out to them and I wish I could give them a hug but policy dictates no touching so I have to do my best to stay composed and professional.

Before I understood what it meant to have depression and anxiety, I was the type of person to dismiss it and say, “Get over it!” I didn’t consider it as a “real problem” and that people just couldn’t handle a dose of real life. However, like most things in the world, you begin to see and experience the reasons why some people are driven into depression and I slowly began to empathize with their condition. If I think about it most of us, without realizing it are just one step away from losing their minds, but for the Grace of God. But I digress.

While some of my clients are just in need of medication to help with their depression, other take the bold step to find other means of coping and eventually overcoming their depression and one method I used with them was to help them find something to be grateful for in life. These clients, for the first time would see their lives from a positive perspective and find instances to encourage themselves and focus their energy on better things. There is power in finding something to be grateful for in life. It’s a chance to take your life back. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 17:22 that,

“A merry heart doeth good like medicine…”

I help my clients see that it is a process. It’s not something that will happen overnight but they are taking the right steps towards full recovery.

This is to encourage someone out there today to dare to be grateful for the little things. God bless you, and hope you have an awesome night.

Rachel aka Sosasmama.

A FRIEND IN NEED…

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Unexpected friendships are the best.

I once had a friend called Brian. He joined my school in sixth grade and like any new student he did his best to adapt to his new surroundings. The only thing Brian struggled with most was reading aloud infront of the class. You see Brian would stutter. He’d pause silently for about 5 seconds before he spoke and in his mind that five seconds was probably an eternity. He was teased relentlessly for this and I did not find it funny at all. I’m not sure how our friendship exactly started but we became quite close. We would hang out often and I noticed something very interesting about Brian over the next few weeks. He would not stutter whenever he spoke to me. He would stutter in the company of other people but it would never happen when it was just the two of us. Around me he felt most comfortable. He cherished my advice and he knew I would not make fun of him either.

He is one person in my life I would definitely call a best friend because we shared a kinship that no one else could come between.

After Angel Gabriel spoke to Mary, she went to visit Elizabeth for three months and during that period their shared experience made their friendship stronger. They were both mothers to miracle babies and they had to advise each other, encourage each other and help each other emotionally.

LUKE 1:41 RSV

‘And when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.’

Their bond was so strong, so deep that even Elizabeth’s unborn child leaped for joy. It is the spirit of God that connects and directs friendships. My wife and I have a supporting church family and our prayer is that as our marriage grows beyond that circle we will find friends we can connect with on a deeper spiritual level.

The term ‘best friend’ is said quite loosely today but who in your life would you consider a true best friend? Would you look out for them as much as they look out for you?

God bless you all and have a good night.

LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER. 

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Abraham went out of his way to protect his nephew Lot. When their workers didn’t get along he spoke with Lot directly to resolve the problem. When Lot was kidnapped, he was ready to sacrifice his life to save him. And when God was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham interceded for him so that the righteous could at least be saved in the city. These are three instances where Abraham stood up for his family.

A valuable lesson I want to teach my daughter is the importance of FAMILY. As her parents we will go above and beyond our duty to help her. She needs to be honest, respectful and responsible so that we can defend her if anything happens. If her character is consistent at home, we won’t have to worry about defending her in the world.

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Who are some of the people you care about in your life? Are you willing to sacrifice anything for them? If not, have a conversation with God to search your heart and give you the wisdom to make peace with them.
Thank you for your support readers and have a restful good night. God bless you.