Inspired to inspire: Father-Daughter Relationship in My Lenses

Inspired to inspire: Father-Daughter Relationship in My Lenses: What's the color of my  lenses ?  On Father’s Day 2015, I woke up feeling empty and lonely. What a manner to start off the day! As ...

Father-Daughter Relationship in My Lenses

What's the color of my lenses? 

On Father’s Day 2015, I woke up feeling empty and lonely. What a manner to start off the day! As I flipped through facebook, reading through some posts for and about fathers, I noted that some of the posts were very sad while others very inspiring and worth of envy. Personally, I didn’t have anything to write about my own biological father, I felt lonely and sad! Yes, I have a father of course. I believe he is still alive somewhere and I sense he has a great family. I don’t know if he was excited about my arrival especially because there is a difference of almost 10 years between me and my elder sister. Well, I do not have those childhood memories of my relationship with him. I can’t remember if he is the one who taught me how to walk or something. I’m not sure if he ever kissed my forehead or stroked my tender cheeks. I’d wish to know if he bought me dolls, dresses and shoes. I can’t figure out if he was keen on my formative years bla bla bla.

Honestly, I was envious reading some of those facebook posts and the family photos with fathers holding their children. For once I really wanted to be with my daddy that Father’s Day morning and share some father-daughter stories and laughter...but if wishes were horses that day I’d have rode mine! However, I have a man who loves mommy and loves me too, he is such a great man, and I honor him. I sent him a happy Father’s Day message and also sent him a gift. Later in the day he called to say, “Thank you my daughter.” Aww!  That felt awesome, I had this warm glow in my heart that brightened my faceJ. Yea, I have a dad!

Where am leading at?

Recently I read some journals “The Case for Grace” by Lee Strobel and this statement caught my attention, “A young person’s relationship with his/her earthly father can greatly color his/her attitude toward God.” He further explains that some of the well-known atheists through history had felt abandoned or deeply disappointed with their fathers, making it less likely they would want to know a heavenly Father. They grew up believing that father’s hurt. Although more than enough times they have been told that they have a heavenly Father who loves them that doesn’t bring joy to them instead it brings pain because they are not able to discern the difference between a heavenly Father and an earthly father. I guess I understand and feel their pain. I remember some years back while in my primary school kids would share amazing stories about their family experiences over the weekend and those were my hardest seasons of life because a times I’d cry myself to sleep because I didn’t have a daddy to talk about with my schoolmates.

So do I have issues relating with my heavenly Father just because I didn’t have an earthly father great experiences?

Well, for many years have recited the Lord’s Prayer words, “Our Father who is in heaven...” Countless times consciously or unconsciously I pray, “Father, in Jesus name....” but really, is it mechanical-just because my Sunday school teachers taught me that I have to pray, “Father in the name of Jesus...” Did I have that intimate relationship with my heavenly Father to a point I understand what it is like to relate with Him? Is He really my Father? Does He really love me? Can I really sense His love all around me? Well, let’s just say I am beginning to understand what it is like to be an adopted daughter of the most high loving and caring Father...

This will be a story for another day, follow through. I will keep you in the loop about my ADOPTION into the Family.

With Love,

Kachel

Inspired to inspire: The Urgency of the Master’s Commission

Inspired to inspire: The Urgency of the Master’s Commission: Do you long for the second coming of Jesus? When will the end come? Matthew 24:14, “ And this gospel of the kingdom  will be preached in ...

The Urgency of the Master’s Commission

Do you long for the second coming of Jesus? When will the end come?

Matthew 24:14, ^“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Is there a soul in the world that has not received the good news of Christ? Mark 13:10 says: And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 

A Malaysian young man converted to Christianity and was eager to see his family saved. As he talked to the missionary about his family, he asked, "What can I do for my Buddhist grandmother who died last year? She never heard of Jesus Christ. Is she lost and in hell?" What would you have said to the young man?

Are there people in the world today who have not heard about the saving faith in Jesus? The author of Romans says that no man has excuse because everything that can be known about God is already revealed! Furthermore, Romans 10:14-15 says, "How can they call on the One they've not believed in? How can they believe in One whom they've not heard about? How can they hear without someone preaching to them? How can someone preach unless they are sent? How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news?”

Quoted from The CBN.com,  (Christian Broadcasting Network) "Did you know that 2/3rds of the world's population is still unsaved? And it is estimated that 1.6 billion people have never heard the Gospel -- not even one time." 

According to a recent study (based on the 2010 world population of 6.9 billion) by The Pew Forum, there are:

• 2,173,180,000 Christians (31% of world population), of which 50% are Catholic, 37% Protestant, 12% Orthodox, and 1% other.
• 1,598,510,000 Muslims (23%), of which 87-90% are Sunnis, 10-13% Shia.
• 1,126,500,000 No Religion affiliation (16%): atheists, agnostics and people who do not identify with any particular religion. One-in-five people (20%) in the United States are religiously unaffiliated.
• 1,033,080,000 Hindus (15%), the overwhelming majority (94%) of which live in India.
•    487,540,000 Buddhists (7%), of which half live in China.
•    405,120,000 Folk Religionists (6%): faiths that are closely associated with a particular group of people, ethnicity or tribe.
•       58,110,000 Other Religions (1%): Baha’i faith, Taoism, Jainism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Tenrikyo, Wicca, Zoroastrianism and many others.
•       13,850,000 Jews (0.2%), four-fifths of which live in two countries: United States (41%) and Israel (41%).

If the above research is anything to go by then, there is a sense of urgency to take evangelism seriously!

Who is responsible? Jesus commissioned every BELIEVER. Look at these verses:

Matthew 28:18-20, Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” In that power and authority He commanded, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,.... And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Marks 16:15-18, He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.... And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Luke 24: 46-48, The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” John 20:21-23, Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Acts 1:8, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

If you are a believer in Jesus, you must acknowledge the urgency of preaching the good news. You must do something, that is, you MUST share the good news of salvation through faith in the blood of Jesus. Start in Jerusalem, right where you are, in your home/family, in your neighbourhood, in your college/school, in the city and be willing and ready to cross the borders to the uttermost/remote parts of the earth till every ear hears and every soul calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus for salvation.

This is very urgent!

Kachel

The Blood of the Lamb

After the Garisa university attack a few months ago, News papers& Social media ran two very interesting stories. One of th stories was about a student who drank body lotion for two days to survive. Another story was about the one student who smeared herself with blood of dead student in order to survive. 

The second story is very paramount.... This student smeared herself with her dead friend's blood and played dead for hours if not days! Thank God she was saved to tell the story! Now,this is what am trying to illustrate: In Exodus 12, the blood of the Passover Lamb was smeared on the door frames to save the firstborn son of each Hebrew family from death. The blood of Christ has accomplished everything for me and you. Firstly and above all else, without the shedding of Jesus blood there's no remission of sins. Secondly, smeared with and immersed in the blood of Jesus you and I are safe and blessed. His blood speaks better things. Are you washed in the soul cleansing blood of Jesus? Are you soaked, immersed in, covered and smeared with the blood of the Lamb? 

There's power in the blood of Jesus. This name Jesus is a bloody name, call on this name and be saved. 

With love,
Kachel

Inspired to inspire: The Sovereign God

Inspired to inspire: The Sovereign God: 1 Samuel 1:5b-6,"... Hannah had no children because the LORD had closed her womb. And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival ...

The Sovereign God

1 Samuel 1:5b-6,"... Hannah had no children because the LORD had closed her womb. And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.... Vs. 10-11, She prayed & made a vow to the LORD. Vs19-20 ....Elkanah lay with his wife & the LORD remembered her. So in the course of time, Hannah conceived & gave birth to a son. Vs.24, after the boy was weaned, she took the boy with her...& brought him to the house of the LORD."

Simply put, Yahweh (the Covenant Keeper) is sovereign. He closed Hannah's womb & in due time opened it enabling her to conceive. In Lam 3:38, the bible says, "Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?"

Yes, Yahweh is sovereign! In your situation always remember He is still God! He is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

‪#‎GreatIsThyFaithfulnessLord‬

Kachel

Inspired to inspire: How do we prepare for worship and/or access to God...

Inspired to inspire: How do we prepare for worship and/or access to God...: In Moses’ days it was dangerous to encounter God’s holy presence without appropriate cleansing and preparation. The preparation was detaile...

How do we prepare for worship and/or access to God’s presence?

In Moses’ days it was dangerous to encounter God’s holy presence without appropriate cleansing and preparation. The preparation was detailed and meticulous. How about in the 21^st century? How do we prepare to access God’s presence?

First, I must mention that in Moses’ days, God’s presence was no always available for every person. The priests were the ones who had access to God’s presence, and their preparation to meet with God was literally a matter of life and death.

How was it? 1 Chronicles 15:

¹¹ Then David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. ¹² He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. ¹³ It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of Him about how to do it in the prescribed way.” ¹⁴ So the priests and levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. ¹⁵ And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord.

Here are some things to note from the above passage: a place was prepared for the Ark of Covenant/God’s presence, (vs. 1); they had to seek the Lord (Prayer, vs 13); the levites and the priests were to consecrate (make holy) themselves vs.14. Barry Hall, “A technical definition of consecration means that you are to set yourself apart from evil, turn to the Lord, and be prepared to be used by God.” The Bible says, "You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 20:7).  2 Chron. 29:31, “Then Hezekiah said, ‘Now you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord; come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord....’”

To approach God’s presence the priests were required to be consecrated in a specific manner (Ex. 29:1-46; Lev 8:1-36); wear sacred garments (Ex. 30:7-8); burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning & evening (Ex. 30:7-8); wash their hands and feet with water from the sacred basin (Ex 30: 19-21); and make atonement annually with the blood of the sin offering for atonement (Ex. 30:10). There was stiff penalty for the priests if they did not comply with these regulations (eg. Aaron’s sons missed the mark, and God literally sent fire to consume them-Lev 10).

There are many times I have approached God’s presence with presumption. The holiness of God can be so familiar to us that we lose the respect of where we are and how we got there. There are times I have rushed into the throne room instead of waiting for His guidance.

In the 21^st century, every person has access to the throne room. God’s presence is available to every person. God expects us to approach His throne of grace with confidence (Heb 4:16) and at the same time in humility.

In his sermon no. 1024 delivered on November 19th, 1871, C. H. Spurgeon states that God is to be viewed in prayer as our Father; that is the aspect which is dearest to us; but still we are not to regard Him as though he were such as we are; He is infinitely greater than ourselves and is to be regarded as King, and in prayer we come, not only to our Father's feet, but we come also to the throne of the Great Monarch of the universe. The mercy-seat is a throne, and we must not forget this. He then suggests the following:  prayer should always be regarded by us as an entrance into the courts of the royalty of heaven; our spirit should, in the first place, be one of lowly reverence. It is expected that the subject in approaching to the king should pay him homage and honour. The king before whom we come is the highest of all monarchs, the King of kings, the Lord of lords. Emperors are but the shadows of His imperial power. “My soul be thou sure that when thou drawest nigh to the Omnipotent, who is as a consuming fire, thou put thy shoes from off thy feet, and worship Him with lowliest humility.” Secondly, the throne is to be approached with devout joyfulness. Whenever we approach the throne of grace, it should be with complete submission. We are called to the throne of grace, not to the throne of law. Rocky Sinai once was the throne of law, when God came to Paran with ten thousand of his holy ones. Who desired to draw near to that throne? Let us ask the Spirit of God to put us in a right frame, that every one of our prayers may be a reverential approach to the Infinite Majesty above.

The Missed Call & Faulty Phone Number!

Today I made two calls that went unanswered. I made another but the number was not in use. Later in the day, someone called me but I deliberately ignored his call because I new what he wanted and I didn't have a relevant answer at that moment; I said to myself, "I'll call him later" 

Now, how do u feel when you make a call or send a text message that goes unanswered for minutes,hours,days,weeks or months? Many times we feel ignored,frustrated,desperate or even we burn with anger & probably develop an attitude. I have been there...i felt ignored, bitter...etc. 

As I scribbled this experience on my journal God placed Jeremiah 33:3 in my heart "With God it's never a missed call or a faulty line." Jeremiah 33:3 says, "call to Me & I'll answer you & tell you great & unsearchable things you do not know." 

So friends keep calling... It's never a missed/ignored call or a faulty line with our God. Thank God for the answered prayer and even for theunanswered one. You don't have to be bitter with Him if He delayed returning your call.. Keep calling Him,He will hear and answer

Kachel