God's recycle material!

I love taking care of trash and getting it out of the house to the dumpster. I am slowly learning that some materials are recyclable while others are not. The recyclable ones go in the blue bin while the other trash goes in the black bin. I know recyclable things are re-used. Compost turns into manure that provides a fertile ground for farming.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if we looked at every human being as God's recycle material? God is in the business of making us new every day. His Grace cleanses our past. Nothing that we go through is a waste of time. Our disappointments may be God’s way of refining us for our next appointments. All our losses turn into wins in the hands of a redeemer. Our strength may fail us halfway to our destination but God is here to sail us through to the end. We are all a work in progress. We all must avail ourselves as His vessels.

God can use whomever he wants in ways that only Him can. God can use even those whom we think are weirdos. Even those that we do not like are God’s beloved. Trash can be a treasure in the hands of the greatest potter and artist ever lived. He is the only hope even when all the other hope is gone.

Friend, no matter what you are going through today, trust in Him. Others may be calling you a ‘trash’. Do not dwell on those negative utterances. Focus onto what the one with a perfect will has in store for you. Enjoy the rest of the week. #trashintotreasure #recycle #reuse #beavessel

Learn and Serve!

Today it is easy for one to claim that he or she is a servant leader. We love to assume that we know it all. We lead from the place of our knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. So often we forget that we ought to comprehend our limitations. Friends, we may not have it all together yet but every day is an opportunity for us to be better.

It takes a great level of humility for one to embrace the desire to learn daily. A few weeks ago, I signed up to serve at a church picnic in Washington. I thought I had all that it could take for me to serve that day. I then found myself in front of a Snow Cone Machine. To be honest with you, I was ready to serve but did not know how to operate the machine. I had to learn how to operate the machine if I was to serve better. My friend Larry was gracious enough to teach me how to operate a snow cone machine. I learned and served that day. We served over 200 snow cones.

I have realized that if I am to be a better servant leader, I have to remain with a teachable spirit. I have to emulate those with the needed expertise that might make me a better servant. I need to model the greatest servant leader of all time-Jesus Christ. I love Jesus’ words “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me”(John 12:26).

To the reader of this post, allow me to request you to share some of the ways that you like to serve. You can also share the possible intended ways of serving God and others this weekend.

God bless.

#bedifferentasyoumakeadifference #haveablessedweekend #snowcones #summer #cooldown #serve #emulate #learn #faithintoaction

What is your response to adversity?

I listen, read biographies and talk to successful people and the more I do that, the more I hear mistakes, screw-up’s, fears and failures. I also hear that those downers and adversities were blessings in disguise. They paved the way for the success they later enjoyed.

I do not know about you but it seems like I am naturally allergic to screw-up’s, mistakes, fears, and failures. As a student of life, if there is anything that I hate, it is hearing my 'professor' tell me that I am not smart enough simply because I did not get to excel in an assignment. Why should smartness be limited to the grade that one gets from an assignment? I know that getting 100%, as a grade for my paper does not guarantee 100% of my future.

Some of the people around us do not do any justice to our souls once we face failures yet failures are inevitable. I remember, in the genesis of my life, some elders in my community would tell me that I would never amount to anything and I believed it. Such messages made me more scared of my future even when the word of God would tell me that the Lord had great plans for me. I have been an employee before working for a boss that did not want anybody to question whatever he did. I cannot forget the day this particular man told me “Your comment questioning my integrity is way beyond your age and position. I think we should part ways”. I knew that the comment that I shared with him was genuine and true but I was not prepared to lose my job at that time. Too much fear dawned on me. I had to apologize or even take back my comment if I was to remain working for him. I resigned a few months later. Is it right for employers to fire their employees simply because of a minor pre-assumed weakness that can be resolved with better communication and a teachable spirit?

I hate insensitive comments with no empathy when I face failures or make mistakes but I know I grow and learn by making mistakes. I have lost privileges before simply because I did not perform to other’s expectations. I have no regrets about the privileges lost because they shaped my attitude and perspective about life. I have no entitlement in this life.

What happened to graceful responses? I think we need to be mindful of the way we communicate especially when interacting with individuals that we assume are weaker than they may even be. If individuals are going through adversities, we should encourage them to stand taller than them instead of causing them to sink deeper into those adversities. Do we still value people even with their weaknesses? On the other hand, is there anyone immune to weaknesses?

I have learned that setbacks, failures, and mistakes do not need me to turn back, or give up or quit. Well, I might have given up on a few things in my life but I call them learning experiences. I know that for me to succeed I may try so many times but my resolve is to confidently face my fears repeatedly. I sometimes wonder what I got myself into but I have to keep moving in order to increase my chances of success and happiness.

Key Lesson for you and me today: Life continues whether we lose, win or even draw. Therefore, let us stay focused even when nobody else believes in our end goal. Sometime in the near future, our grit and determination will pay off and we will make the world a better place. Have a fruitful day. #bedifferentasyoumakeadifference

What is the right pace of life’s journey?

We all love to think that life is a Journey. Oliver Goldsmith is quoted asserting “Life is a journey that has to be traveled no matter how bad the roads and accommodation”. We may like or dislike our current pace but we need to keep moving. We may fly, run, walk or crawl but we have to keep going. If you have ever set off for a road trip, you would love to check how long it takes to get to your destination and then find or set the right pace.

A pace can mean an established rate of locomotion. Webster dictionary defines pace as “the rate of movement or rate of progress”. We may measure the rate of movement in terms of miles per hour as the case may be in America or Kilometers per hour for countries that use a different metric system like my motherland Uganda. For those that drive, driving on a highway may be preferred to driving on a parkway because the speed limit may be higher. Highway driving may get us to our intended destination in the shortest time possible. On the journey of life, we may not have any speed limit posted anywhere. So how can we know how fast we can move?

Just like speed bumps on the road, life has so many speed bumps. Life has so many setbacks that we might have to overcome if we are to be successful. If we get so focused on the future, we may hit the speed bumps of today so hard that we may end up being depressed. If on our own life’s journeys, we desire to self-drive, the journey may be rougher than it is supposed to be. However, if we allow God to journey life with us, he will help us figure out the right pace to move on. God is the best pacesetter that we can ever have. With the pacesetter, not even the sky is the speed limit.

The good news is that God even knows the end from the beginning. Our frustrations of today do not change God’s intended plan for us. It is my desire that we fix our eyes onto God throughout our life’s Journey. God’s pace will get us out of the bumpy roads. His perfect plan will help us to stay in our lanes if when life gets so bumpy. Even when we get to drive our physical bodies through the tunnels of the shadow of death, his presence will be right there with us. Our right pace for you and me is one set by the pacesetter himself. Let us be in tune with his pace for our lives. #HappyValentine’s #day

What are your personal priorities for 2019?

Today is officially the 15th day of 2019. So much has already happened. My New Year resolutions and goals are already set. I guess your goals are all set as well. As I reflect on the past 15 days, I realize that it is easier to set goals and resolutions than to follow through with them. I need to be intentional at pursuing my goals rest I will fall behind on some of them. I need to continuously shape my resolutions and ensure that they align with the Lord’s will for my life. This means that I have to learn how to silence the noise around me and perhaps the noise that is inside my mind.

There are so many things out there that I should be seeking for. As I searched and sought for what is in 2019 for me, God brought to mind Mathew 6:33 as my 2019 verse of the year. The word of the Lord says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mathew 6:33). Seeking God’s Kingdom and his righteousness should be my daily longing yet at times, my personal drive seems to want to take control. Lord, I want you to be my one desire.

This year I would like to grow in my personal walk with Jesus. I want righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit to be my daily portion. I desire to let go of enslavement by my own goals and vision. I want to conform to the image of God and follow his perfect will.

Friends, when I do something that you do not like, please let me know about it in a gracefully way. I promise to manage my responses. I will continue to learn to communicate with love and listen with grace as well. I need to access more of God’s grace and Joy on a daily basis. #Happy2019

How can you and I be agents of Love in a world full of hate?

We live in a world that sometimes looks like having much hate than love. There is hate in our families, organizations, communities and individual nations. Yesterday I read an article shared by a local radio station from my hometown in Uganda that talked of how a 15-year-old boy killed his 17-year-old brother because of a simple misunderstanding. I do not think this 15-year-old boy intended to kill his brother; he just could not control his anger. How many times do you and I act out of anger? For people in authority, one act of anger can be a big toll to handle. You see, anger can make you do something that you might live to regret the rest of your life if Jesus does not help you to be over it. This 15-year old is still on the run. The police and family members are still searching for him. Meanwhile, the burial of his 17-year old brother was yesterday.

The media tends to fill our minds with hateful information all over the world. People end up living lives that are different from whom they truly are for fear of dislike from those around them. Selfishness and egocentrism seem to be the engine that drives the world today. Many people have written about leadership and every leader can point on who a bad leader is. Not even the world’s best toxic leaders think they are toxic. They still think of themselves as the greatest leaders. So often, we do not create time to reflect on our leadership. Do we ever realize that we may not be walking our talk? As an immigrant on the American soil, I feel like the immigration policies can be better. I do not think that separating children from their parents in a bid of making America great again is a good idea. Do not get me wrong, it is okay to apprehend illegal people. Certainly, not all immigrants are bad. I assume, some can be good people and can have a contribution to make towards making America great again. I bet I could be wrong on this since I am not an immigration expert!

Competition does not do any justice to Love either. What ought to be a common purpose becomes a point of driving tense relationships. Should people that are in the same business of fighting a similar social issue like hunger have time to blame each other for what the other is doing wrong? Why should one’s advert be all about the wrong things that the other company does with a justification that their company is the only legit one in the field? Why don’t we conduct benchmarks or our individual and organization’s performance? I think that an advert just for your unique products and services with value propositions well stipulated serves the purpose. My marketing experience tells me that one can still make a sale without tarnishing the name of his/her competitors. It pains my heart when I see fundraising appeals from organizations claiming to do God’s work painting the name of similar organizations dark.

You and I may not have the capacity of preventing others to commit acts of hate but we can love in a way that makes love outweigh hate. The different factions in which we were born should not be a divisive factor. It should instead be a reason to celebrate diversity. Somehow, someway, we should not let hate continue to drive away the love that we share as humans.

Here are four ways of being agents of love in a world full of hate.

1. Value the opinions of others and respect them as individuals. Maybe you think you are right all the time and do not like it when people tell you that you go wrong sometimes. Maybe you need to be a little more empathetic in your code of conduct.

2. Be generous by sharing what you have. You and I might be having different beliefs but what is common to us is that we all have what to share. I am a firm believer in sharing the little that I have right here, right now. You and I can be intentional at giving back to the world irrespective of whether we believe in God or good luck or karma.

3. As the need arises, compliment others. Good should be good no matter the person who does it. We can all begin from the point of appreciating the contributions that others’ make before discrediting their intentions.

4. Aim at the big picture. If you and I are in the business of feeding people, we should realize that any child fed is a reduction on the 10 billion children that are dying of hunger in the world today.

At least every key player in the world wants to make the world a better place. Does making the world a better place necessitate us to build our own kingdoms at the expense of destroying other people’s kingdoms? As humanity, making the world a better place should be what makes you and I out of bed every day. Making self-centered decisions can lead to poor implementation strategies if our decisions are not checked. I love to think that I am not in the business of building my own kingdom but in the business of building God’s kingdom. Therefore, friends, be different as you make a difference today. Have a blessed day. #love #fruitsofthespirit

Collecting firewood as a home chore!

One of the domestic chores that I had to do, as a young boy growing up from deep in the village in South Western Uganda was to collect firewood. I had to look at every dead branch of a tree with a keen eye. Firewood was, and still is a great resource in my community. During those days, I considered a dead tree as a big catch. Using firewood was the only way of cooking that I knew how to use. I did not even know that gas cookers existed. If you told me that you cooked on a gas stove or oven, I would not help it. I would have called you a liar. How could I fathom that one can cook using electricity yet we did not have electricity in our house? The closest I ever came to a modern way of cooking was by use of a charcoal stove. My Elder brother Edward made donuts and bread using a charcoal stove. My brother used a charcoal stove for business purposes only. This was because; we would have to buy charcoal. As for firewood, all that we needed to do was to walk in the hunt for dead trees and dead branches. If they were dead and dry, that was a lucky day. If they fell down before drying up, we would still take them home and give them an opportunity to dry. My brother Edward allowed me to be his salesperson for the bread and donuts whenever I had some free time. I loved it. I can credit the little sales knowledge that I have today to my brother who gave me a firm foundation. My brother also taught me how to do local baking. Perhaps, I need to start baking with an oven since I am staying in a house with an oven for this season.

As I write this post, I cannot stop thinking about the amount of firewood put to waste here in America. In fact, I picked a few dead branches this morning. For some reason, every time I walk by a dead branch of a tree, I am tempted to pick it up for firewood. Then a little voice whispers to me, reminding me that I am not staying in a village. Maybe I should start thinking of ways of channeling this firewood to places that could use it. I know a friend who could let me pick the firewood in their yard, free of charge. I perhaps need to look into transport logistics and export/import tariffs. So many schools including my very own Love Restoration School and many families could use the firewood that is redundant here. Besides, I have some experience in selling firewood from my high school vacation. So how best can we utilize the firewood around us? Perhaps, you can help my creative juice to flow farther. #Memories #business #thinkingalound #villagelife #townlife

Bring out your salt and Light!

The Bible calls us to be the salt and light of the world (Mathew 5:13-16). How can we be the salt to the world that is void of a good taste? How are we supposed to be the light in a place that seems to have so many dark spots? I will explain how in the proceeding paragraphs.

As the light, whoever see us should see how bright we are. Do we need to tell others, that hey I am ‘light’? I guess not. As far as I know, a little spark of light brightens an entire room. When a room gets bright, even the darkest spots get to be visible. Light never tells darkness that now that I have come you should flee. Simply put, light can not be hidden. If we were to be the light of the world, our titles would not mean anything much. All that would matter would be shining for Christ. I do not care about the title that you hold, Bishop or Apostle or Evangelist or simply Christian, I care if your light shines in all that you say or do.

Salt never boosts of being in the food.  Its taste is subject to the tester of food. We can boost speaking God’s word but if we utter it in a way that contradicts his loving kindness and mercy, we need to check ourselves.  I do not know how spiritual you may be or how much theological knowledge you claim to have. It is sad if you hold your opinions as gospel truth and demonize those with divergent opinions. The only truth that will always be is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we eloquently preach other gospels, we need to divert our energy back to the right paths.

As Christians, I think that instead of condemning the sinner, we should be condemning sin. We should treat the sinners with Love and Grace. We ought to pray for the lost so that they may hear the word, know the Lord and accept him as their savior. Our conduct ought to show those in the darkness that they can enter into the bright light of the Lord. Our lives ought to be a testimony of the Lord’s goodness in our lives. As we enter this day, I pray that the Holy Spirit helps us to discern what he wants us to hear from all the information that we will see and share. It is my prayer that we get to be able to differentiate God’s Spirit from the enemy’s spirit? In Jesus’ name, I pray. Will you shine for Jesus today?

Turn your fear into faith

Have you ever wondered why it is easy to live in fear? Employees live in fear of their bosses especially if they threaten to fire them anytime. Some bosses may want their superiors to comply with their instructions even when they may be logically incorrect. When intimidation and threats become tools of ‘effective’ leadership, fear takes a firm grip. For organizations especially nonprofits, it is easy to feel threatened by the donors’ inclinations to not give. Fear makes one feel like there is nothing left of his/her inner resources. Have you had moments when you seem not to have the physical and emotional strength to move on? That may be an indication of fear.

I would like to let you know that the greatest discovery that you and I can make is to realize that our strength is not enough. It does not matter the milestones you claim to have achieved. Even bush war heroes can fail to STOP those whom they call ‘pigs/hooligans’ as the case may be in Uganda. 'The Hooligans have so far assassinated over ten influential people which have left the country visibly shaken. The Political tension in the country has caused many Ugandans to worry and fear especially as they think of transitions. We need to see our weakness of fear and worry as an opportunity to tap into the assurance of God’s presence.

My question is who is safe from fear? The Bible answers this question in a more profound way than any human being can. 1 Corinthians 16:13, for example, says “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong”. One can only get rid of fear if he/she stands firm in faith. How I love this, “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). Does this mean that our genuine love can only be possible if we do not live in fear? In whom should we put our trust then? The Bible asks us to “Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, for there is no help in them” (Psalm 146:2). Earthly leaders can only do so much but God never fails.

Friends, would you write down all your worries and fears today and surrender them to God. I do not know what you may be going through today but God knows. Take to the Lord in Prayer #fear #faith #hope #Love #Iamnolongerastravetofear #IamachildofGod.

The room that you and I need!!

I have come to know of a room that I think everybody alive needs. This room is not concerned about one’s net worth. This room fits everyone’s budget. This room does not care about how long you have been doing what you claim to know or be doing the best way known to you. To this room, the level of experience that one claims to have does not count. Even people with the worst resumes need it.  It does not take into account the number of people who report to you or how many people you manage. With this room, not even the very learned with Ph.D.'s can claim mastery of it. This room still holds even when you make a great contribution to this world. This room is universal to everyone, young or old, rich or poor. This room does not pay attention to your origin or color of your skin. To this room, your religious affiliation is not a big deal. It works for all people irrespective of their position of authority. This room is the biggest room available for all people irrespective of their lifestyles. You do not need to have any rewards to get this room. This room is the room for improvement. Friends, I do not care who you are, where you are from or what you do, but I care if you have this wonderful room. Would you spare some time to nurture this room today? It can be in your relationships or work. You need this room in your daily life either at work or at home.

Just like a hotel room, here are four hacks about your room of improvement:

1.     It is an opportunity to make every day a memorable adventure. Each day is an opportunity to learn from our mistakes and improve on our strengths.

2.     It needs appropriate safety measures. Make it your priority and do safety checks before you conduct yourself in a particular way. Developing a teachable spirit and being empathetic may be good safety measures.  Set your room up for the safety of yourself and those that need to benefit from your learning.

3.     It needs you to inspect all the neglected areas and corners of your life. Some of those neglected areas may be your perception of self or others. If you are the kind of person that thinks is always right and the rest of the world is wrong, check yourself. Make sure that everything is tip-top before you get comfortable in your room.

4.     It requires you to check those annoying guests. Those people who always think less of you should not be in any of your worries. Learn from their utterances but do not dwell on them.  

May the Lord’s will be done as you enter into this room of daily improvement. Be different as you make a difference.

Do not make assumptions

Why is it easy to assume that you know someone yet you actually do not? Every day presents to us a gift of 24 hours for us to understand the people and situations around us. In most cases, we blow our 24 hours up. We find ourselves trapped in our own imaginations and the one-sided way (Self-centered way) of seeing things.

We find ourselves doing similar things repeatedly and expect different results yet we do not want to challenge our imaginations. Believe me; nothing will change unless your assumptions have circumstantial evidence. We have let our wrong assumptions guide our actions. We end up being toxic to ourselves and inflicting those around us. There are comments I have heard people say about me that really show that these people do not know me. Maybe I should request them to spend more time with me for them to have a better perception of me. Today’s technologically advanced and fast-paced world gives us great opportunities to understand each other. When you see a situation or perceive another person out of bias and selfishness, you will always go wrong on your assumptions. We should always find a way to prove our data. If it means investing time and resources into research, we should better do that than make wrong assumptions that often lead to wrong decisions. 

James gives us a caution on how to avoid being polluted by the world. The Bible tells us that “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. A religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world”(James 1:26-27). Friends, what will your tongue say today?

Before you concoct your assumptions, can you please dig deeper. It helps when one makes evidence-based decisions other than using self-inflicted evidence to jot a course of action.

Here are six action items for you and me to reflect on today:

1.       Ask questions before making un-informed decisions

2.      Discern people’s perceptions

3.      Test your assumptions without a selfish bias

4.      Admit that your perception of things and situations can be wrong at times

5.      Develop a zeal to change perception once your assumptions get challenged

6.     Maybe it is time for you and me to put on new ‘Perception Lenses’. Pay attention to such promptings.

Maybe you and I should stop taking things for granted.

On April 28^th, 2018,  I got the pleasure of visiting San Diego Zoo in California. It was a great way to spend a portion of my day walking around the zoo. The nature and the many species of animals in this habitat caught my eye. When I got to the Gorillas section, my heart skipped a bit to my homeland Kisoro Uganda. I remembered that my town is a home to many Mountain Gorillas. I still cannot believe that I have never gone to Mghinga National park in my town to check on my neighbors (Mountain Gorillas). Why is it easy to think of the beauty that is at a distance? I grew up in this beautiful place with wonderful features but I never paid a close look at them. I saw them but I guess they did not mean anything much to me yet many tourists from all over the world travel to come see them. Calderas like Sagitwe surround my place.  I wonder why it took me all this long to know that I had to visit them, hike around them or even take pictures. Do you think of traveling so far away as the only way to appreciate beauty? If you your answer to this question is a yes then you and I are in the same boat. 

Here are three things we need to do to stop taking things for granted,

1.      Pay a closer look at where we are. God has placed us where we are and each of the places we get to be in has a beauty to embrace. We just need to notice it.

2.      Explore our surroundings: You do not need to wait for that air ticket to travel to a distant place. Appreciate what is around you and enjoy each moment of being around them. If that opportunity to go to a distant place comes, it will be an added advantage.

3.      Be content: Do you have a place to visit on your wish list? If yes, that is perfect. You, however, need to be content where you are until that time comes for you to visit your dream place. 

My eyes are now open to seeing the beauty in Kisoro Uganda. I cannot wait going back home to explore the beauty that I have taken for granted for over twenty years.  Uganda is gifted with flora and fauna. I am looking forward to exploring my motherland than ever before. I am looking forward to exploring the world around me than ever before. Blessings as you enjoy the beauty around you.

Whom do you serve or glorify?

In a society that is result driven and performance oriented, it is easy to think that ministry is all about numbers. Some organizations today would rather have many branches opened than actually changing anybody, one person at a time. Should ministry be all about numbers? Why is it easy to pride in one’s achievements without acknowledging God- the giver of it all?

No matter where we are placed, we have that inbuilt selfishness attitude. There is a tendency of looking at ourselves as better than those around us. Since when did ministry become a competition? Why should greed and selfishness drive what we do every day? If we are serving one master, should we compete with each other in the search for prominence or favors? I believe that the Lord created each one of us for a purpose. Our aim should be to serve diligently as we follow our calling. It does not matter how much yield we make but it matters if we make a yield. Our yield is still valuable in God’s Kingdom no matter how insignificant it may seem to be especially in comparison with other people’s yields.

Today I am reflecting on Paul’s words, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). It is my prayer that whatever I do will be to Glorify God. I calm down all the moments when my selfishness wants to take the show. May my life manifest the Lord’s presence. Oh, how I want his living image on my face. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen

#WhateveryoudodoitforthegloryofGod #Always

Three Truths from the Faith of the Centurion (Mathew 8:5-13)

Early this week, a friend shared the centurion’s story in a morning devotion. I must confess that I have read and heard this story several times. However, reflecting on it this week has brought to mind three truths that I wanted to share with you.

1.      Understand authority: It takes great humility for a great leader like the centurion to admit that he does not have it all. He commanded soldiers under his charge but also knew that Jesus would command diseases. Instead of figuring out how to heal diseases, he approached the one who had the specialty in doing that.  Asking Jesus to heal his servant signifies that the Centurion understood who had the ultimate authority. He accepted that his own authority had limitations. No matter how easy it can be to claim of how we can do almost everything, we have to admit that we cannot really do it all. We have to let others and God do what we cannot do (Mathew 8:5-7).

2.      Words are powerful and carry weight: Oh, what a profound statement that the Centurion said to Jesus “...But only speak a word and my servant will be healed” (Mathew 8:8). Why would a powerful leader like the centurion even say that he was not worthy to have Jesus come under his roof? Was his house so dirty? Did he think that Jesus would not accept the invitation to go to his house? It is so fascinating to see that the centurion did not have extreme pride that his authority could have brought to him. Maybe as individuals today, we should ponder on the kind of words we say to those around us. We should stop claiming how we are better than the rest. We should use our words to build and encourage each other. We should speak from humility not from pride. The centurion used his position of authority to express his belief that Jesus did not have to go to his house to heal the servant. All he needed was Jesus’ word (verses 8-9). Friends, what word do you need today? What word will you say today? Is it going to build or break those around you? Will it make those around you do what they can do best with utmost confidence? Will we remain humble even when we have influence or get to be in authority?

3.      True faith is about believing: The Bible tells us of what Jesus said in response to the Centurion, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mathew 8:10-12). As far as I know, the Centurion was an army commander. He was not a minister in the church and neither did he serve with a faith-based organization, yet Jesus is telling us that his faith superseded anyone else’s. Is Jesus telling us that even the faith of the Levites was lacking? What of the faith of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenes, and Zealots? Does that mean that we can claim to be people of faith, yet Jesus does not count us among the people of great faith? I think what Jesus thinks of our faith should supersede our personal elevation of how faithful we are. Today it is easy to boast of being faithful because people get to know Christ when we share about him. Should we even boast about that? Should one say that I led say I led this number of people to Christ? Who even transforms people? Is it us or the work of the Holy Spirit? I am not saying that the Lord does not or cannot use us. All that I am saying is that all that we do should be to give Glory back to him not to boost our own egos. We should acknowledge the Holy Spirit’s work in and through us. Ours is to only believe and let God do the rest.  Jesus asserts, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would” (Mathew 8:13). 

What is your plan?

 This week, I have been reflecting on a few highlights of what is happening in Uganda and the USA. Security is of a big concern in both countries where kidnapping and shooting of people have been (Still are) talking points. What happened to strategic planning and thinking? Why does it look like systems are failing? Why is it easy to brush off the president’s messages and the messages of those in authority? What do the government and the police plan to do to prevent such from happening again? Is there anybody who can bring a lasting plan? Like many of you, I must say that I am not happy with the status quo in our countries and the world at large. All things and plans, no matter how good they are or sound, seem to be slowly dying.

 It is good to have a zeal for changing things, of wanting to make the world a better place but can the problems in the world end? It is hard to comprehend that indeed all-human knowledge and plans end. If all is ending, then what should be our ultimate plan? To answer the question one can say, “There is no plan except God’s plan. Jesus came to provide an answer to the problems of sin and death.  We could not solve them by ourselves. Instead of relying on our leaders to solve our current problems, can we turn our focus to Jesus the ultimate solution? Jesus overcame it all and helps us trump over the problems of sin and death.

The only thing that we possess right now is our soul. We should know that our soul will spend eternity somewhere. The main question that should throb into our minds should be about what the outcome of our personal lives is, or will be. Ezekiel 33:1-6 stipulates that leaders are stewards of God’s resources. In verse 4, Ezekiel says”Then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head”. How many warnings do we still need? We ought to think about how our lives will end. God’s plan is to have us live for him eternally. Ours is to grow in our walk with him, live eternal lives and focus on spending eternity with him.  My prayer is that whoever does not know God shall come to know of his ultimate plan and have his conduct transformed.

Stop figuring your life out

Today is the 7^th day of 2018 and yet I am still trying to figure out how my year will be. I have often found myself spending much of my mental time figuring out how things are going, how they went or how things will go. No matter how hard I think, there is always that unknown thing that surpasses my own understanding. Yes, I desire to know and understand many things but I have found myself needing more knowledge, wisdom and understating. Actually, there are times when I wonder what I got for myself.

Are you like me and have moments when you wish you knew what you could not know? Do you have moments when you begin to think that you are not good enough? Life may bring situations to us that are beyond our control. Some of these happenings may even be hard to bare. We try to look for solutions to our problems but instead sink farther into the very problems we want to solve. We end up blaming others or ourselves for every bad thing that happens to us. It becomes hard to let go and move on with life. This is perhaps why there are many problems in the world. The more we try to figure things out without involving God the more we escalate the situations. Our personal rest turns into anxiety and depression.

Biblical characters like David also faced difficult situations. They also had those moments when they failed to have their lives figured out. Lets us ponder on the Psalmist’s words “Yes, my soul, finds rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly, he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge “(Psalm 62:5-7). David acknowledged that he could not figure things out. He, however, knew someone who had it all figured out. He was in a perfect relationship with this guy that figures it all for us. His name is Jesus. His trust in the Lord no matter what life brought to him (Good or bad) earned him the title of a man after God’s own heart.

Friends, I do not know what you are going through but I know the one who knows it all. He is willing to Journey 2018 with you and he will figure out every detail in your favor. There is no need of being overwhelmed by things beyond our potentials. There is, however, a need to surrender it all to God. We have to trust in the one who has it all figured out for our good and his Glory.

Who do you condemn?The sinner or sin?

As Christians, we should not judge or condemn people based on their actions. We should acknowledge sin and let the Holy Spirit do the conviction and conversion. The problem we have these days is that some Christians play as God. Manipulating scriptures to suite a few people’s interests at the expense of others is wrong. Discriminating people based on church traditions may draw the discriminated even further from the truth. As Christians, we ought to go back to the truth and ask ourselves of what Jesus would do whenever making decisions. Can one fight sin without fighting the sinner? Yes, with effective communication. Let us ponder on Jesus’ reaction when they brought an adulterous woman to him. The rest of the people accused the adulterous woman but Jesus’ approach was a different one. His response was one that condemns none but one that is compelling to stop someone from sinning anymore (John 8: 2-11).

Stop panicking and wondering

I love starting my day with quiet time and devotion. In today’s devotion, the word of God encouraged me to stop panicking when in difficult situations. Have you gone into situations where you fail to see God through it? When nights seem to be longer than they actually are?  When are you anxious and panicking? If you are in such a situation right now, I would like to let you know that God stays true to his sovereign plan and knows the end from the very beginning. I may not know what you are going through but God knows. Philippians 4:19-20 tells of the way God will supply all our needs according to his riches in Glory. Glory will always be to him forever and ever.

I have been following the political climate in my mother country Uganda and to be honest, am not so happy with what is going on. I have often been wondering whether God is even working things out for the good of the country. Been asking myself several questions like why do people react the way they do? How does the president feel when such is going on in the country that he claims to be leading so well? Why do honest souls die from gunshots? What happened to freedom of expression?

The more I ask myself these questions, the more my mind goes into a wonderland! I am reminded that God is never anxious and never gets confused. I thus trust in all that he is doing even in situations that seem hopeless. The solution to today’s political situations does not rely on people with political might; it relies on the sovereign God. I would like to request you to join me in praying for politics of not only my motherland but also for the whole world. It is my prayer that God will do what only he can do.

I know that leadership comes from God and I am well assured that he can transform the hearts of the bad leaders into the leaders he wants them to be. God predestined us for adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ, according to the purposes of his will, to the praise of his Glorious Grace.

For further reading and encouragement please consider reading my main devotional text today; Ephesians 1:3-12. Wishing you a blessed day and a fruitful week.

Good Bye Colorado

If my life was a book, today would be the end of my chapter in Colorado Springs.  God has immensely Blessed me and always opens doors for me whenever I need one open!!. To note is that the doors he opens always have more to offer and most of them come through the people he brings along my paths. When I look back to where he has brought me from I feel like trusting his leading even more. He knows the way and mine is to only follow.  Meeting you (Reader of this post) might have been a portion of the chapter that needed to be written in the past 1.5 years and am thankful for all your input.  Based from the many conversations held over work and meals shared together; a number of you may be co-authors in my next chapter of life.  From Wednesday last week till today I have been going out for breakfast, Lunch and dinner as a way of saying bye to my friends.  I have had a limited time to say bye to all of my great friends and that’s why I have decided to draft a good bye message to whoever might be interested in one. 

 

I trust that the Lord will reveal the many other pieces of my next chapter and perhaps one of you would be the person that the Lord uses to do that. 

In as much as I don’t feel like leaving Colorado I feel like the Lord chooses me to leave and I must say good bye to you in love.  To all the people that I have met; just know that you have been a divine appointment to me and I will miss you so dearly. I look forward to seeing you again either in this side of the earth or in heaven. I will be heading to Pennsylvania tomorrow morning where I will eventually set off from to go back to my homeland Uganda at a time that is not yet determined. Who knows, maybe I will write another Colorado Chapter. Stay Tuned!!!!!!

Embracing Diversity

Uniqueness among us leads to diversity which can sometimes be a form of Entertainment. In the time I have been in the USA, my lack of knowledge on some American basic things has been a source of Entertainment to me and those around me, especially as I asked or was asked questions that seemed to be comic in nature. When I visited an American restaurant during the “Genesis” of my stay here, I got asked about the kind of dressing that I wanted. I thought to myself, do men here put on dresses? Do I have a wound that has to be dressed? Little did I know that all that I had to say was that I needed Italian dressing or a thousand Island. My culture is simply different from US culture and can often be distinguished by my accent.  Maybe that’s why people ask me about where my accent is from. Surprisingly those who call my way of speaking an “accent” also have an accent. Who does not have an accent??As I reflect on my stay in the “dream land” I realize that I have learned a lot about this culture and hope those who get to interact with me learn somethings about my culture.  God in his wisdom allowed us to be born where we were born. It’s not a mistake that we have so many cultural affiliations today. Our uniqueness is something that has to be embraced with open hands because of the following truths.

1.  Nobody will be you: God in his own wisdom made us so unique that even those with the same DNA have distinct values. So why waste time wanting somebody else to be like you simply because you think you are more perfect than him. We all have strengths and weaknesses and have to learn to bear with each other if we are to live harmoniously. No human is perfect, and just like no human is perfect no culture, ethnicity, tribe or clan is perfect. Being different from others does not justify that you are right and they are wrong. All that we should care about is building human relationships and reaching a mutual understanding.
2. We are here to serve:  God made us the way we are for a purpose, to serve him and those around us. Have you wondered about why you do what you do? Like it or not, what you do affects others, either directly or indirectly. We all work on products or services that are used by others. Not even those who claim to be self-employed are self-employed in the real sense because they will at least need clients. Instead of being obsessed with personal ego, power, prominence or position we should endeavor to do onto others what we would love them do onto us since we get things from others anyway.
3.  Value what we can do together: I have realized that nothing can defeat a united team and believe that every person has a something to bring on the table. I’m always amazed by the way our different gifting’s compliments each other. I know that my worth is not based on what I have (Talk of education, skill sets, resume, authority, net worth to mention but a few) but rather on how ready and willing I’m to let God use me wherever he leads me. Reminds me about the boy who had what the disciples considered little (only had five small barley loaves and two small fish John 6:9) and how God used that for his Glory.  I know that a team that has Jesus at the center can be unstoppable. If the world is to be a better place we have to let go of what divides us and cling on what unites us.