Overcoming our bent toward bitterness and revenge ...

All the days of my life may this be my song and my story.

Oh.My.Goodness !!! It's almost August !!! - that means in a little while Jesus and I get to celebrate our 2nd year anniversary! Wow !!!! Just Wow! This is no small or ordinary news to me and it literally blows me away that this is the reality of my life story !! But I'll get more into that in next month's post, so look out for that!! That said - it hass not been an easy season and if anything, it's been getting harder. I am reminded that our minds need no nudge to think and feel negative - it is our default natural setting. The choice to deliberately choose to be positive no-matter the outcome or situation or season we are in, now that's the real job !! - but thank God for His Word, that helps me nullify every thought that dares me to doubt God's goodness and God's love and God's sovereignty. Thank God for He has already spoken and continues to speak and ultimately He alone has the final say. So like David, I choose to encourage myself in the Word especially in my dark and dry seasons, I choose to oppose and object every negative thought and feeling and counter it with the Word of the Living God. And even when I don't feel too good or too strong, I keep going, one foot after the other, remembering God's mercies are new every morning. "No matter what Rita - you will not fear" I tell myself, 'I will be bold and courageous like God tells me to be' I continue to say, " because in my weakness, God.is.Strong!. Lord I believe, help my unbelief......."

And trust me, I KNOOOOOWW from my own very real and present experience that this is easier said than done - but it is possible!! It is !! Definitely the harder and tougher way but also the much much better way!! Ask the Holy Spirit to help you and then let Him guide you and follow His lead.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. - 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

May "Fred Hammond's - Breathe Into Me Oh Lord"  minister to you like it has me!!
check it out here :).

So last month's blog titled "I tell you 490 times"  was about us learning about forgiveness - and you can read that here to get the foundation of our lesson. Soon after, I came across these on my Desiring God daily devotions and I will share them to further cement our lesson, let's call this a follow up.
So we remember that no-matter what our emotions justify, we have been commanded to forgive.
God will help us, so let us all learn to let it all go....

How Christ Conquered Bitterness

When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. (1 Peter2:23)

No one was more grievously sinned against than Jesus. Every ounce of animosity against him was fully undeserved.

No one has ever lived who was more worthy of honor than Jesus; and no one has been dishonored more.

If anyone had a right to get angry and be bitter and vengeful, it was Jesus. How did he control himself when scoundrels, whose very lives he sustained, spit in his face? 1 Peter 2:23 gives the answer.

What this verse means is that Jesus had faith in the future grace of God’s righteous judgment. He did not need to avenge himself for all the indignities he suffered, because he entrusted his cause to God. He left vengeance in God’s hands and prayed for his enemies’ repentance (Luke23:34).

Peter gives this glimpse into Jesus’ faith so that we would learn how to live this way ourselves. He said, “You have been called [to endure harsh treatment patiently] . . . because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

If Christ conquered bitterness and vengeance by faith in future grace, how much more should we, since we have far less right to murmur for being mistreated than he did?

Give God Your Revenge

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)

Why is this such a crucial promise in overcoming our bent toward bitterness and revenge? The reason is that this promise answers to one of the most powerful impulses behind anger — an impulse that is not entirely wrong.

I can illustrate with an experience I had during my seminary days. I was in a small group for couples that began to relate at a fairly deep personal level. One evening we were discussing forgiveness and anger. One of the young wives said that she could not and would not forgive her mother for something she had done to her as a young girl.

We talked about some of the biblical commands and warnings concerning an unforgiving spirit.

• Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)
• “If you do not forgive others . . . neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:15)

But she would not budge. I warned her that her very soul was in danger if she kept on with such an attitude of unforgiving bitterness. But she was adamant that she would not forgive her mother.

The grace of God’s judgment is promised to us here in Romans 12 as a means of helping us overcome a spirit of revenge and bitterness.

Paul’s argument is that we should not take vengeance, because vengeance belongs to the Lord. And to motivate us to lay down our vengeful desires he gives us a promise — which we now know is a promise of future grace — “‘I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

The promise that frees us from an unforgiving, bitter, vengeful spirit is the promise that God will settle our accounts. He will do it more justly and more thoroughly than we ever could. Therefore we can back off and leave room for God to work.

One more thing,  Guess what ??!!! I found out some super exciting news !!! Heather and Cornelius Lindsey of The Gathering Oasis church in Atlanta are coming down February 2017 !! Kenya are you READY!!! ( their trip includes Tanzania and Nigeria) They've both featured on here but more especially for me, their walk and obedience to Christ is one of the ministries God strongly used to point me to Him and lead me to salvation, so you can only imagine my joy !! - I'm having conversations with Jesus like you sure know how to surprise your girl! So I have no details about any of it - but the news is out and that's enough for me to get me praising!! Let's all keep praying about their plans and may God show up in such a mighty mighty strong way !!! Also check out his & her pages !! May they teach you, grow you, bless you and lead you to Jesus !!!

Okay that's all for today, thanks for checking in, don't forget to look out for next months post!!! Aaaaahhhh **scream** - it's almost our Anniversary Jesus !!! Oh yea !!!!!! 

Love, Ree. 

Come over to My Facebook Page to stay in touch with me when I am not on here :)

Ps: If you are ever in Nairobi and are looking for a church family to visit with, during your short or long stay. My church Eagle's Faith Christian Centre ( EFCC) would be privileged to host you! OR if you live in Nairobi and are looking for a church family or if you simply want to visit and send our love back to your home church family, get in touch with me for directions, or Get Directions Here  !

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Be still my soul, God is in control

2 Corinthians 4:17Amplified Bible (AMP)

17 For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]!

 the unknown only is scary when you take your eyes off of the Father. As long as you are focused on Him, you can do anything He asks of you!!! Not by your power, but by His Spirit! - Cierra Cotton.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18The Message (MSG)

16-18 So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.

"Be still my heart and know
You are God alone
Stop thinking so much
and just let go

Be still my soul and rest
Humbly I confess,
in my weakness Your strength is perfect

For You alone are God, there will be no other
And You have won my heart more than any other "

"Be Still" by Steffany Gretzinger & Bethel Music.

2 Corinthians 12:9New Living Translation (NLT)

9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Whether you're having a rough day or a fabulous day - take a deep breath & ask the Lord to give you wisdom. We need to depend on HIM 24-7 & not our own plans.
God loves you like crazy! - Heather Lindsey.

Isaiah 55:8-9New Living Translation (NLT)

8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.

    “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,

    so my ways are higher than your ways

    and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
Through it all, through it all
It is well with me

Far be it from me to not believe
Even when my eyes can't see

And this mountain that's in front of me

Will be thrown into the midst of the sea

So let go my soul and trust in Him
The waves and wind still know His name !

It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul

"It Is Well " by Kristene DiMarco & Bethel Music

Love, Ree.

iamarete : Snapchat

Come over to My Facebook Page to stay in touch with me when I am not on here :)

Ps: If you are ever in Nairobi and are looking for a church family to visit with, during your short or long stay. My church Eagle's Faith Christian Centre ( EFCC) would be privileged to host you! OR if you live in Nairobi and are looking for a church family or if you simply want to visit and send our love back to your home church family, get in touch with me for directions, or Get Directions Here  !

The published information in no way reflects the views and opinion of my employer and represents only my personal viewpoint.

Comments are not moderated but author reserves the right to remove any comment deemed defamatory, inappropriate, or spam. 

Suffering - A Good and An Eternal Purpose

As I begin to write November's post, I am excited to share with you the wonder I am feeling from deep within me courtesy of daily choices to be obedient to God. You see I struggled to write last months post Rejoice in Trials and Problems but the Holy Spirit kept leading me to it and testing me in this area and also providing me with great lessons on it. It wasn't until night of the 31st of October that I finally yielded to his gentle nudging very unsure about how to go about it all and what to do but I settled down to write. See I understood the lesson in my spirit but not how to share it and I didn't want to mislead anybody. To my amazing surprise and delight.. He went and poured out Himself on me and directed my writing and helped me put it together, the post is still speaking to me. All I had to do was finally yield.

Pic from about a month ago :)

Come November 1st and the daily on-line devotion that I get from John Piper is titled -  The Seminary of Suffering!! And then the message, oh my... I was like what!! .. and every day after that until November 4th, it was all in synch with the blog He had just helped me write. *Mind Blown!!!* The devotions have really reassured me on the lesson I have been learning from God in a very special way with all these amazing angles in it.

This month I'd like celebrate some of the spiritual authorities who speak into my life! God brought them into my life even before I gave my life to Christ, and He greatly used them to turn my heart back to Him! They continue to speak the true and living word of God into my life and right to my spirit, my core.. These would be my Pastor George Mathu, senior pastor Eagles Faith Christian Centre, Heather Lindsey founder of Pinky Promise and John Piper of Desiring God . Today I will mostly be sharing excerpts from John Piper on this subject of pain and suffering in a Christian's life. May they be a blessing to you as they have been to me!!!

Ps : Obedience to God... is everything! Like EVERYTHING!! What is it that God has told you to do? That the Holy Spirit leading you to do? When will you obey? How about today ...how about right now...

The Seminary of Suffering - John Piper

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

This is God’s universal purpose for all Christian suffering: more contentment in God and less satisfaction in self and the world. I have never heard anyone say, “The really deep lessons of life have come through times of ease and comfort.”

But I have heard strong saints say, “Every significant advance I have ever made in grasping the depths of God’s love and growing deep with him has come through suffering.”

The pearl of greatest price is the glory of Christ.

Thus, Paul stresses that in our sufferings the glory of Christ’s all-sufficient grace is magnified. If we rely on him in our calamity and he sustains our “rejoicing in hope,” then he is shown to be the all-satisfying God of grace and strength that he is.

If we hold fast to him “when all around our soul gives way,” then we show that he is more to be desired than all we have lost.

Christ said to the suffering apostle, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul responded to this: “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10).

So suffering clearly is designed by God not only as a way to wean Christians off of self and onto grace, but also as a way to spotlight that grace and make it shine. That is precisely what faith does; it magnifies Christ’s future grace.

The deep things of life in God are discovered in suffering.

Christ’s Sufferings in Us - John Piper

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.(Colossians 1:24)

Christ has prepared a love offering for the world by suffering and dying for sinners. It is full and lacking in nothing — except one thing, a personal presentation by Christ himself to the nations of the world.

God’s answer to this lack is to call the people of Christ (people like Paul) to make a personal presentation of the afflictions of Christ to the world. In doing this, we “fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.” We finish what they were designed for, namely, a personal presentation to the people who do not know about their infinite worth.

But the most amazing thing about Colossians 1:24 is how Paul fills up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.

He says that it is his own sufferings that fill up Christ’s afflictions. This means, then, that Paul exhibits the sufferings of Christ by suffering himself for those he is trying to win. In his sufferings they see Christ’s sufferings.

Here is the astounding upshot: God intends for the afflictions of Christ to be presented to the world through the afflictions of his people.

God really means for the body of Christ, the church, to experience some of the suffering he experienced so that when we proclaim the Cross as the way to life, people will see the marks of the Cross in us and feel the love of the Cross from us.

Rejoicing in Pain - John Piper “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven” (Matthew 5:11–12) Christian Hedonism says that there are different ways to rejoice in suffering as a Christian. All of them are to be pursued as an expression of the all-sufficient, all-satisfying grace of God. One way of rejoicing in suffering comes from fixing our minds firmly on the greatness of the reward that will come to us in the resurrection. The effect of this kind of focus is to make our present pain seem small in comparison to what is coming: “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans8:18; cf. 2 Corinthians 4:16–18). In making the suffering tolerable, rejoicing over our reward will also make love possible. “Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great” (Luke 6:35). Be generous with the poor “and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:14) Another way of rejoicing in suffering comes from the effects of suffering on our assurance of hope. Joy in affliction is rooted in the hope of resurrection, but our experience of suffering also deepens the root of that hope. For example, Paul says, “We exult in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces proven genuineness, and genuineness produces hope” (Romans 5:3–4). Here, Paul’s joy is not merely rooted in his great reward, but in the effect of suffering to solidify his hope in that reward. Afflictions produce endurance, and endurance produces a sense that our faith is real and genuine, and that strengthens our hope that we will indeed gain Christ.

The Meaning of Suffering - John Piper

He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. (Hebrews 11:26)

We do not choose suffering simply because we are told to, but because the One who tells us to describes it as the path to everlasting joy.

He beckons us into the obedience of suffering not to demonstrate the strength of our devotion to duty or to reveal the vigor of our moral resolve or to prove the heights of our tolerance for pain, but rather to manifest, in childlike faith, the infinite preciousness of his all-satisfying promises.

Moses “[chose] rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin . . . for he was looking to the reward” (Hebrews 11:25–26). Therefore, his obedience glorified the God of grace, not the resolve to suffer.

This is the essence of Christian Hedonism. In the pursuit of joy through suffering, we magnify the all-satisfying worth of the Source of our joy. God himself shines as the brightness at the end of our tunnel of pain.

If we do not communicate that he is the goal and the ground of our joy in suffering, then the very meaning of our suffering will be lost.

The meaning is this: God is gain. God is gain. God is gain.

The chief end of man is to glorify God. And it is truer in suffering than anywhere else that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.

And even suffering has an eternal, good purpose: “This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen, ” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18). - John Knight ....since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Every person and every season carries its own set of hard time, beautiful times, tests and struggles. - Heather Lindsey

And to close, here is something for you to meditate on....

"There is no book that is more relevant to human existence other than the word of God- the Bible. There is no book that speaks to who we are and where we are going like the word of God.

Are you relating to a historic God or a now God? Learn to stop and ask God ' what is Your rhema word? ' For we live by every word that comes from the mouth of God..we live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. God is a now God. He lives in the timezone of now. " 

Pastor George Mathu.

God bless you.

Love Ree.

Come over to My Facebook Page to stay in touch with me when I am not on here :)

Ps: If you are ever in Nairobi and are looking for a church family to visit with, during your short or long stay. My church Eagle's Faith Christian Centre ( EFCC) would be privileged to host you! OR if you live in Nairobi and are looking for a church family or if you simply want to visit and send our love back to your home church family, get in touch with me for directions, or Get Directions Here  !

The published information in no way reflects the views and opinion of my employer and represents only my personal viewpoint.

Comments are not moderated but author reserves the right to remove any comment deemed defamatory, inappropriate, or spam. 

Rejoice in Trials and Problems

Hey there. My goodness I have so much to share as I write today and it's my prayer that I can streamline my thoughts and bring what I can across in the best way I possibly can.

A few months ago I wrote a post I called For when it is hard remember this. This was about the time I truly began to understand letting God have his way in our lives whatever way He chooses, for all His plans are good. It is so amazing how interested God is in our character development. There is always room for improvement in us in each and every area so He doesn't stop with the lessons. As you pass one test, the levels get upgraded and He reveals more that you need to learn in whatever area He sees lacking in you.

Unfortunately a lot of us sometimes misunderstand or misinterpret some fundamentals of what coming to Christ is all about. I see, hear, notice people expecting life to become 'easy', them getting what they want because they have prayed for it, a trouble free problem free life, that they have done what God wanted now He should do what they want or ask for.... but is this what God promises when one comes to Him? A trouble free problem free life? On the contratry! And  the bible is loaded with examples of people having to go through crazy unimaginable things because they chose Him.

Matthew 5:45 says  He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

I learn from this that it is even or uneven playing ground depending on how you look at it to both the believer and non believer. Both can experience immense wealth or poverty, great working conditions or otherwise, tragic conditions, sickness or health, loss of loved ones... But why would He have it this way you might wonder? Shouldn't good be repayed with good and bad with bad on the spot. He tells us that His ways and this thoughts are not yours and mine, they are higher ways and higher thoughts. (Isaiah 55 :8-9).

He makes accessible and known to us some of His higher thinking. And where suffering ( in whatever form you consider it or however you may describe it) as a believer in life is concerned, these are a few of my thoughts from the lessons I've been learning on this matter....

1. It is to help us grow! It is to build our character! And I am reminded in an older post I shared that " We truly don't grow and become better when things are easy. There is no challenge when it's easy, hence no room for growth. I am learning that pain is not a trial, it is an initiation, it is not meant to be a battle, it is supposed to define us. It moulds us, it betters us. Do not pray for an easy life, do not ask God to make the hardships go away, pray instead that He gives you strength and wisdom and guides and walks with you through it all. What you are going through may not feel good to you, but it is good for you."

2. To be able to go through the same things those who don't know Jesus are going through but have a different way of handling it all, that reflects Christ and brings God glory! Your life begins to reflect that your identity is in Christ, not in what you have or what you don't have. Everything about how you handle everything is simply different. Because you have the distinguishing factor - the J factor *wink wink*... and are you using it? You have Jesus!! Your hope ought not to be in the things of this world. You are set apart! Are you reflecting the hope you say you have to others? Is your life truly living out that Christ is enough for you? Do others look at you and wonder how you have abcd but they are simply resources sent your way to use for God's work OR how you don't have abcd but you are alive and thriving even better than those who have 'lifes essentials' ?

3. Christ is concerned about our eternity. Our life on earth is the foundation and the tempo setter of our forever life and all we are going through is all reflecting and being credited into our eternal accounts. We are foreigners, strangers, aliens, pilgrims here on this earth ( 1 Peter 2:11, Hebrews 11:8-10 ). We need to keep reminding ourselves that we ought to be living our daily lives in light of eternity, in light of a billion years from now, in light of 100 years from now. Eternity and heaven are so very much real.

Matthew 6:19-20 remind us which account we ought to be crediting “ Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

There is so much more to share on this but I'll close with this today.

Faith that perseveres through suffering is the kind of faith that reveals Jesus to a broken world.

God is calling us to a place where we begin to understand that He is not interested in deleting the struggle, but rather to empower our endurance.

He wants to develop our character. He wants our faith to grow and not be shaken no matter the circumstance. He wants our faith to be in Him and not in man or stature or property or family or anything else that is not Him.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He has given us an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you. Though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:3-9)

Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:3)

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in as much as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13)

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:16-17)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

For your faith to grow, you have got to go through the processes set out for your journey, you can't microwave genuine faith. And many times while we are still on this earth, we are all going to go through some very unpleasant, very uncomfortable times... but the beauty of it is that through it all our faith will grow and soar and take us deeper into the things God wants to share and reveal to each one of us.

I really love the Romans 5: 3-5 reminder... It tells us to also rejoice when you run into problems and trials ( in the same way we rejoice when things are good) for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. Also because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope ! 

It is my prayer that we may go to and sit before God with whatever part of us that is still struggling to understand this and ask Him to have His way with us and open our eyes to see life through His eyes.

Help us Jesus.

Love Ree.

Photo:officialnotw

Come over to My Facebook Page to stay in touch with me when I am not on here :)


Ps: If you are ever in Nairobi and are looking for a church family to visit with, during your short or long stay. My church Eagle's Faith Christian Centre ( EFCC) would be privileged to host you! OR if you live in Nairobi and are looking for a church family or if you simply want to visit and send our love back to your home church family, get in touch with me for directions, or Get Directions Here  !

The published information in no way reflects the views and opinion of my employer and represents only my personal viewpoint.

Comments are not moderated but author reserves the right to remove any comment deemed defamatory, inappropriate, or spam.