Appreciation Is Not Demanded For

I have often been accused of being unappreciative by some people very close to me. The reason for this accusation is that I don't say thank you for everything someone does for for me. Those who say this tell me often when we are trying to sort out some differences in our relationship or working and some have told other people who come and tell me why our friendship or relationship is not going well.
    Since we live in a world where we need to encourage one another, I would like to encourage those of you who have been accused of the same "crime". Do not worry about what others say because if you look closely into the word of God, you will discover that thankfulness which is defined as "warm friendly feelings of gratitude thankfulness - appreciativeness and also gratefulness is actually an attitude which is wrought in us by the Holy Spirit who lives in us. If the Holy Spirit lives in a person, He makes the person live and conform to a Christlike life. So if a friend does something that pleases you, you automatically show feelings of appreciation through many other ways of expression. You really do not need to verbalize it. Some people cry, some just keep quiet and others speak it out.   So if you are being accused of being unappreciative, may be the mistake is not yours but the person who is accusing you of the same. May be he or she does not understand these other ways of appreciation that are varied and personal. They may have wanted us to do things their own way.
     Among the married people, I would like to say that appreciation is not demanded for. God never demands. Most of those who give to others and then feel that the others should have said a BIG THANK YOU and gone ahead to write it on their forehead, may be termed selfish because we are encouraged to give without expecting anything in return and this includes appreciation. DON'T GIVE  FOR THE SAKE OF BEING APPRECIATED! It is selfish. Thankfulness is an attitude and is formed in us from childhood. I speak from an African perspective here. Husbands in African cultures have a very different way of showing appreciation to their wives.
       Appreciation among African couples in marriage could be seen in the way a husband provides, protects, and cares for the wives. From among the people I come from, there is not one word that can be given to the English word THANK YOU. The Kiswahili word Ahsante and its synonym Arabic word Shukrani are now used by the Luhya dialect speakers especially Asante. The words that are used among the Luhyas are Embwo, orio muno, urio munno, and the variants which directly translated,literally mean   "like that" or "in the same way" "likewise" etc. Which actually may be intended to encourage the giver to continue doing good or giving in the same way. The English equivalence would be Well done, good job,   or bravo which are used as a way of praising someone and saying that you are pleased about and approve of something they have done. That is to mean, in the African context, you do good for your good. You give to others for your own good. When you buy food for a needy child, a widow, or a staving family, you are doing that for your own good as someone pointed out that... thankfulness improves our physical and emotional health. Holding on to feelings of thankfulness boosts our immune system and increases blood supply to our heart. So do not expect your wife to say thank you when you pay fees for the children or when you do your part in marriage do it as unto God. God never shouts THANK YOU from the heavens but He really appreciates what we do.
    In other words here, I mean to say, if you help others expecting them to say "thank you" is being selfish. In Kiswahili, we say tenda wema wende zako. ( do good or show kindness and go your way) Therefore lets us not get tired of doing good. The Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. God is Good and God is Great!.

Swimming in Ill-gotten Wealth

Sometimes I read the Bible and just marvel at how God is gracious to us His children. 'His children' here refers exclusively to those who know Him as Lord and saviour through Jesus Christ because the scripture I am sharing today was written by one of Jesus' apostle called John and therefore addressed to the bornagains.

The issues OF CORRUPTION in my country now show a manifestation of high screaming hypocrisy of the greatest magnitude ever! This Pharisaic leaven has spread even in the church and pastors, bishops, and other church leaders are swimming in wealth that is ill-gotten. It has been argued that The expected number of years of life most of us in Kenya are expected to live is 54.1  on average, 53.0 for the males and 55.2 for the females. Kenya is ranked 167 in the world where 20% of us are regarded by the world standards to be below world average(disabled-world.com). The speed at which both political and religious leaders are grabbing public land, property and money is as if they will live forever in Kenya.   There was controversy in Kenya where our Deputy President was mentioned as the owner of a hotel built on a grabbed land pictured below. He first of all denied that he owned the hotel and a certain Patrick Osero  claimed to own the hotel with two others, but denied that his friend, Mr Ruto, was one of them.

     What does it mean when a leader who is a Christian denies to own what he owns and even hires a lawyer like  Ahmednasir Abdullahi to help him dismiss his ownership claims?  This hotel is built to last for many years. Why do Christian leaders strive to gather as much wealth as they can when they have opportunity? Do they read the Bible? As Christians we are admonished in 1 John 2:15-16 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. I support the Deputy President because he is a leader who has risen to where he is because of hard work but it takes a friend or an admirer to tell you the truth. The bible warns us against not rebuking your friends in the following words as recoded in Proverbs 27: 5-6 An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. It is therefore our duty as Christians to pray fo0r our leaders and openly tell them when they are wrong or hypocritical. We should however not forget that there could be danger too for us who warn others. In 1Corinthians 10:11-12 Paul Wrote ; Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 

Cesaria Evora Mix by JaBig - A Cape Verde Music Playlist (Morna

The True Origin of Aids and Ebola

The Truth from the horse's mouth - AIDS and Ebola Viruses Man-Made

God does not listen to Satan's language.

God is impressing on my heart to share with you a few nuggets I got from Psalm 17. The sin that drives us away from the presence of God is LYING. A lie comes from deep down a man's heart and it is directly related to our personality and our spirituality. Just as adultery affects our spiritual life, a lie does that a dozen times. It is THE SIN in the book of Hebrews 12: 1 which admonishes us thus: Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,.

According to me the SIN that easily entangles is LYING. LYING is so grievous because it is a LANGUAGE and as such, it gives the person lying identity. If I speak the language of a certain people, I identify with them. Most of us in Africa and Asia can speak English, French and Arabic as second or foreign language and therefore, we identify with the first speakers of those languages. When you speak someone's language, the person whose language you are speaking moves closer to you and finds a sense of belonging. Since any language attaches us to a culture of a people, LYING as a language, attaches us and I identifies us with the first speakers of that language.Who are the speakers of this language called LYING?

While Jesus walked on this Earth, He taught His disciples by word and deed. There was a time when religious Jews claimed to be Abraham's sons and Jesus told them that if indeed they were what they claimed to be then they would not be thinking and planing to kill him. A lie is murder. It is hatched in the same place- the depth of man's heart.Satan is a murderer and a liar. 43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

Therefore as Christians, if indeed we want God to listen to our prayers, we have to purge LYING from our hearts like David in Psalm 17. Repent and speak the truth in love because God does not listen to Satan's language. Pray with David through Psalm 17

Hear a just cause, O Lord,

Attend to my cry;

Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.

2 Let my vindication come from Your presence;

Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.

3 You have tested my heart;

You have visited me in the night;

You have tried me and have found nothing;

I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

4 Concerning the works of men,

By the word of Your lips,

I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.

5 Uphold my steps in Your paths,

That my footsteps may not slip.

6 I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;

Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.

7 Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,

O You who save those who trust in You

From those who rise up against them.

8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye;

Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,

9 From the wicked who oppress me,

From my deadly enemies who surround me.

In Jesus Name we pray AMEN!

DailyScripture Reading and Paryer Builds Confidence.

As a boy in primary school I loved being in the school choir not because I was good at singing but because there was assurance that on the day of competition I would have a bottle of Pepsi or Coca-cola with a half loaf of bread from Paul's Bakery. Bread then used to taste nice that we could even devour it plain. To participate in the choir competitions, we practiced everyday to master the set piece and build confidence to stand before people and sing.

On the dress rehearsal day, each of us was required to stand alone and sing through the whole English song.In 1977 the set piece was Donkey Ridding (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSsyc). I was asked to sing it alone. I was panicking. I was not sure of some lines and because my voice was breaking, I couldn't hit the high notes. The rest of the students were looking at me and my body became hot. I went quiet as my fellow students laughed and giggled. It was clear that day that my 1/2 loaf and soda would be no more. Although I was disappointed that day,several years later I ended up becoming the choir master as a student in High school by default and had the mandate of singing on stage and also conducting the choir up to the national level.

In High school I could sing well because I had built up confidence. Confidence came from spending long hours practicing and rehearsing and after mastering the skill, I could sing and win. The same applies to our spiritual life. We need to constantly keep in step with the Holy Spirit by daily reading of scripture, prayer and fellowship.Where opportunity arises we need to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. These four pillars of a Christian life builds Confidence in us as we live in this troubled world.

Confidence is defined in various ways by different lexicographers. One says that confidence is full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing: The Bible speaks of this same confidence not just as belief in oneself and one's powers or abilities which is self-confidence; but assurance of salvation. If one is born again and walks with the Lord everywhere,reads the bible everyday, prays everyday without ceasing and fellowships, confidence grows in the person. That is why Hebrews 10:35-36 encourages us in these words: Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love of God and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more, AMEN.