#Muzzled_Mouth

Dear Diary,

#Bottled_Up_Issues

Ahem, this is one of the scribbles I would've preferred to keep in the private pages of my diary but! So, yesterday opened up a can of worms. Scathing accusations and blistering attack. Should I nurse it? Rehearse it? Curse it? Or reverse it?

So, I have been hurting a dear friend with a tyranny of dos and don'ts and a myriad of other issues! Ouch, I really don't know how many years I have hurt this person. Am afraid! But finally the bottle had to give way in a five-paged letter. On this, I wont get into details. Am scribbling this experience hoping I will help someone who has been hurting silently. .... I dedicate it to all my introvert friends (Melancholy and Phlegmatic).

Well, am an expressive person, a talker; I have a sincere heart, always a child, and spontaneous. Did I mention that I have frenzied fluctuation of moods! Atimes as a typical sanguine I say/do things oblivious of other people's feelings. Let me say that we Sanguines: live very much in the here-and-now. Sometimes, our mouths never stop moving. By externalizing our feelings and thoughts is the best way we process them. We think, feel and speak at the same time. Our emotional life is abit shallow. The moment we are wounded or are uncomfortable about something, we are quick to let it be known. We ain't good in reading other people's minds or in between the lines. But we are well-meaning bunch. When we hurt you, please speak up. Help us know how we are saying things to you isn't acceptable. Don't wait until the worms are fully grown. That does more damage than good.

What's the big deal? Having in mind how I process life as a sanguine, I have been hurting a dear friend! Dear Phlegmatic and/or Melancholy friend, you see, bottling up things inside makes the heart hot within, while you muse and have air fights, the fire burns! It helps when you make your thoughts known rather than bottling up issues. Lessons learned!

In Psalm 39, David had decided to muzzle his mouth. He remained utterly silent, not even saying anything good. But his anguish increased; his heart grew hot within him, while musing, the fire burned; then he spoke with his tongue, v.1-3. Thankfully, when he finally spoke he didn't vent on someone but God! He acknowledge the brevity and burdens of life and opened up to God. He recognized his sin as the source of his trouble and misery.

My prayer as transformed Christian is that God would teach me to be sensitive to people's feelings and needs. I pray I will have discernment when dealing with people because I have realized I can be well-meaning in my expressiveness and end up hurting people. I pray that behind my actions and words, I will have even a little intention and forethought.

#MyWorld

Yours faithful scribbler,
NzakuNashipae

KACHELBELA: The Rock and the Living Stones

KACHELBELA: The Rock and the Living Stones: Dear Diary, 1 Peter 2:4-10 In the OT and NT Jesus Christ is identified as the Rock/Stone. In Isa 8:14, He's the Stone and Rock t...

The Rock and the Living Stones

Dear Diary,

1 Peter 2:4-10

In the OT and NT Jesus Christ is identified as the Rock/Stone. In Isa 8:14, He's the Stone and Rock that causes men to stumble and fall. Isa 28:16, He's a tested Stone, precious Cornerstone and the one who trusts will not be dismayed. Ps 118:22, He's the rejected capstone. Dan 2:34, He's the supernatural Stone.

As you come to Jesus, you must come with an understanding that He's the Rock, the stable/firm foundation God is building His people and the perfect finish of the church, 1 Peter 2:4.

#The_Priority_of_the_Cornerstone

According to Wikipedia, "Capstone refers to one of the finishing or protective stones that form the top of an exterior masonry wall/building," and "Cornerstone/foundation/setting stone is defined as the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure."

• A cornerstone is a foundational stone that is placed first. By contrast, a capstone is usually the last stone placed in a masonry wall. It holds the completed walls in place. Jesus is both the Cornerstone and the Capstone, the foundation and the perfect finish that holds the building in place.
• Jesus promised to build His church on the Rock (Himself, Christ the Son of the Living God), Matt 16:18.
• Jesus the Cornerstone, is God's firm foundation, carefully chosen, precious, immovable, placed in a position. Whoever builds on this foundation will be established forever and will never be ashamed, 1 Pt 2:6; 1 Cor 3:20; Eph. 2:20.
• When anyone comes to Christ the Living Stone, he becomes a living stone too, and is added into the spiritual house to be a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 2:5.
• The honor for Christians is linked to their union with Christ, v.7.
• Those who refuse to believe in the Living Stone, stumble nd fall, v. 8.

#The_Dignity_of_the_Church_Because_of_Her_Union_With_Christ, v. 5, 9-10.

• Chosen people: God Himself made the intiative to choose the church
• A royal priesthood: the church (you and I) have direct access to God, under obligation to live holy, to offer spiritual sacrifices, and to minister to others. 
• Holy Nation: God's set apart people
• People belonging to God: God owns you and I.
• To declare the praises of God/to make Him known: this is the purpose/goal of God's grace upon our lives

Yours faithful scribbler,

NzakuNashipae

KACHELBELA: Faith-Myopia/Near-Sightedness

KACHELBELA: Faith-Myopia/Near-Sightedness: Dear Diary, #Near-Sightedness #Far-Sightedness Hey diary, you remember sometime early 2015, April to be precise it was quite a sunn...

Faith-Myopia/Near-Sightedness

Dear Diary,

#Near-Sightedness #Far-Sightedness

Hey diary, you remember sometime early 2015, April to be precise it was quite a sunny afternoon- my eyes hurt! For some weeks, objects in the distant appeared blurry! I decided to check in at Optica to buy sun glasses so as to protect my eyes from the extreme sun. I spoke to the attendant and she suggested I first see an opthalmologist to be sure I don’t have any eye complications. I indulged and went through the usual eye examination then she pronounced me to be mildly near-sighted. I asked her to explain what that meant and the implications. She told me that short/near-sighted is a condition of the eye where light focuses in front of the retina causing causes distant objects to be blurry while close objects appear normal. Hehe, I sort of panicked and asked her some petty questions-I was particularly worried about going blind or something! She prescribed I wear glasses. April 2015 to today I have worn glasses Fast-forward, on December date twenty something I lost my glasses for the first time and I was depressed! I want to see far! I told myself I can do without them. Sure, I can! But I still visited Baus and go another pair!

What’s my point? Hellen Keller is quoted to have said/written, ‘The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” I add to her sentiments, the only thing worse than being blind is having sight but #Faith-Myopia! Recently, I have been involved with some people who don’t seem to see past their immediate surroundings. They don’t see the bigger picture; rather, they focus almost exclusively on the immediate. Spiritually, #Faith-Myopia victims tend to view God's truth through the lens of their own circumstances as opposed to viewing their circumstances through the lens of God's truth. Faith-myopia tends to view God’s truth through the tinted, blue or pink-colored lenses, they lack spiritual discernment. They walk in darkness, rather than in God's light.

If you are a Christians as I, we ought to be farsighted i.e., focused on the distant goal that lies before us, Philippians 3:13-14; 2 Cor 4:16-18. On the flip-side, we also ought to be focused on today, i.e., by not being excessively worried about tomorrow’s vanities. Allow God to take care of your immediate circumstances without losing focus on the main goal. Refuse #Faith-Myopia. See the distant future through faith lenses.

Yours faithful scribbler,

Nzaku Nashipae

KACHELBELA: #The_Privileges_and_Responsibilities_of_Salvation

KACHELBELA: #The_Privileges_and_Responsibilities_of_Salvation: Dear Diary, I am a born again believer. What about you? As the year began I found myself contemplating the privileges of salvation and ...

KACHELBELA: #The_Privileges_and_Responsibilities_of_Salvation

KACHELBELA: #The_Privileges_and_Responsibilities_of_Salvation: Dear Diary, I am a born again believer. What about you? As the year began I found myself contemplating the privileges of salvation and ...

#The_Privileges_and_Responsibilities_of_Salvation

Dear Diary,

I am a born again believer. What about you? As the year began I found myself contemplating the privileges of salvation and the responsibilities that come with it as gleaned from 1Peter 1:3-2:10.

1. God's plan of salvation

First, the nature of this salvation is according to God's mercy; Second, the source of salvation is God the Father; Third, this salvation is certain. It gives a living hope especially because Jesus resurrected from the dead. This living hope is an inheritance that cannot fade away/spoil/perish and it is preserved in heaven for God's people, v.3-4. Fourth, salvation has both present and future dimension, v.5, 9. Sixth, the nature of this salvation evokes praise to God the Father, v.3. Seventh, it was the subject of OT prophesies. Note, the content of the prophesies included the suffering and the glories of the risen Messiah, v. 10-11.

2. The imperative lifestyle of salvation, v. 13-25

A. A life of hope and holiness, v. 13-16
As a born again Christian, do not conform to the evil desires of the old nature, v. 14. The goal of our calling is to be holy as the One who called us is holy, v. 15-16.

B. Reverence fear before God
We are called to live in reverence fear remembering that the God who called us is both a Judge and a Father, v.17. In addition, as a born again live aware of the redemption price that Christ paid, v. 18-19

C. A life of love, v. 22-25,
In addition to living a life of holiness and hope and reverence fear before God, we are called to live a lifestyle of love, especially genuine/sincere love for fellow believers.

3. Growth in salvation, 2:1-10
As born again Christians, we are to strip off habits that do not conform to the lifestyle of salvation and be intentional about our spiritual growth. Like new born babies, we are to crave/yearn for pure milk, the an unadulterated word of God whose nutritious value makes us to grow in salvation.

Wow! You're reading this scribble and am wondering if you have received this privilege of salvation! If not, do so asap. If you have, do you know the responsibilities that come with this privilege? Do you live a lifestyle of hope and holiness? Do you reverence God? Do you love God? Are you growing in the lifestyle of salvation?

Yours faithful scribbler,
NzakuNashipae
© Jesus loves you

KACHELBELA: Man's Most Prized Object

KACHELBELA: #Mans_Most_Prized_Object: Dear Diary, # Mans_Most_Prized_Object Gold vs. Faith! If you want to know, walk around with unadulterated gold bling  # utajua_hujui...

#Mans_Most_Prized_Object

Dear Diary,

#Mans_Most_Prized_Object

Gold vs. Faith!

If you want to know, walk around with unadulterated gold bling #utajua_hujui! Through a fiery process, gold is purified. It is highly valued. I have heard countless stories about street thugs almost tearing (wo)men's fingers, ears, wrists and necks trying to take their golden ornaments. Why? The value placed on the golden ornament! Do we believers value FAITH more than we value other most prized perishable objects? Come with me to 1 Peter 1:7-9

Though extremely durable and valued, gold belongs to a temporal and perishable world-order compared to FAITH which is of greater worth than gold. Firstly, FAITH is purified in the tests of life, lasts longer and God puts a stamp of approval on the FAITH that's been tested and proved genuine. Tested and proved FAITH results in praise, glory and honor of God.

Secondly, genuine FAITH is directed toward Jesus Christ. Though we do not see Him now in person, we love Him and, believe in Him.

Thirdly, genuine FAITH *produces* inexpressible joy.

Ultimately the goal/consummation of FAITH is the SALVATION OF THE SOUL (whole person) in the future dimension.

Have a faith-filled year.

Yours faithful scribbler,
NzakuNashipae