Thanksgiving

“In His time God makes everything beautiful” I don’t seem to remember where that verse is from in the Bible but all I know is that for a long time now it has really uplifted me. Most times especially when my faith has failed me, I have used it as a steering wheel because the fact is that God’s word stands true whether we believe it or not. Today, with exactly 60 days to go to the end of the year, I am looking at that verse with delight because things are indeed beautiful. I am not where I want to be but when I look back to the far God has brought me, I am grateful. At the start of this year, many preachers in Uganda especially of the born-again faith declared it as the year of God’s favor. This was based on the biblical principle of the jubilee celebration when debts were cancelled and people given a new start, for you see this year Uganda celebrated 50 years of independence. I embraced the catch words “the year of God’s favor” diligently and I was surprised with the power of the tongue especially as after a dismay start I seemed to be getting higher and higher and saw doors of opportunities open all at once that I was at crossroads at which was the best way to go. However half way into the year and my positive attitude that had inevitably equaled to blessings, one Sunday morning in July I received the news that my father had passed on. Without getting into the emotions that come with the passing of a parent all I can say is I struggled on with using my tongue to confess the truth I had started the year with, by proclaiming it was still the year of God’s favor. Other things have happened since then that for a minute have made me question this year of favor, really dark things but the light is stronger. This month the United States of America will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day, I wish we had one of those every day cause each day is something to be thankful for. I take now to say thank you Lord for all the blessings small and big, they have complimented me and made my life beautiful. I thank you that the future is in your hands, and above all that you have plans to prosper me and not to harm me. Above all I thank you that you are bigger than us and can make a way where there seems to be no way. I look forward to thanking you for everything but more so for where you have made the impossible possible and enabled people in our world to see that we serve a living mighty God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Family

How healthy are our families these days? How do they promote tolerance and harmony? The family is the pinnacle of society. Families are the main teachers of culture; each generation passes along what it has learned, what worked, what didn’t and what makes them that unique family, that unique people and nation. Over time, family values may undergo many changes, in keeping with changes in work and other spheres. However, there are some aspects of culture that may never change. For instance despite the fact that economic situations may dictate that the father spends considerable time away from the family, culture still recognizes him as the head of that family. In Uganda, it is a known fact that families have changed. Circumstances such as education, religion and HIV/AIDs among other factors have resulted in a shift of roles which challenges the traditional family setting. Intentional and unintentional forces worldwide continue to introduce important changes in family roles and cultural practices. This, however, shouldn’t take away the importance of family, for belonging to a family or a culture offers people a sense of identity, feelings of connectedness, shared values and support when faced with the challenges of life. Instilling of values, old and new often takes place within a family setting where they are translated into the daily lives of children. Cultural values, beliefs and traditions significantly affect family life. They dictate family members' roles and responsibilities toward one another, how family members relate to one another, how decisions are made within families, how resources are distributed and how problems are defined. Naturally most people tend to seek out a culture that is most present in their lives and that provides the most rewards. This is where today’s family comes in to preserve the ways of our people and ensure that they are reflected in the lives of our children rather than popular culture that has proved detrimental by eroding family values.

Less is More!

Imagine living with 3 wives in one compound and never leaving the house for 5 years. Osama Bin Laden must have called the US Navy Seals himself. Forget about Osama and instead focus on the 3 women. At university one of the women’s halls of residences had a catch phrase, “Train a woman, a nation trained” It is also a common cliché that women are the Mothers of the nation for after all everyone on the face of the earth in one way or another found themselves here with the aid of a woman. So why then would someone assume that living in the presence of 3 women would drive one to death? After all a woman is that creation that God in his wisdom remembered to add to make his creation not only complete but perfect. Perhaps Osama’s wives like most women talked without seizing and demanded continuous attention but then again weren’t they the source of laughter and pleasure as well.

Or could the problem have been having 3 of the same type as opposed to one. Either way I choose to belief that this guy made his bed and had to lie in it. It all goes back to men, half of the time they just don’t know what they want and haven’t comprehended the fact that less is more especially when it comes to the number of women you are going to call wives.

HIM

Of late all I have been doing is analyzing my life, fretting about it especially as I don’t like where I am now.
So with a lot of planning read as worrying taking over my life I had quickly forgotten that God has it in control and no amount of analyzing, fretting or so called planning can change what it is to be. I know so many self help gurus will disagree with me but since I believe in the Lord of lords ,there fore the master of the so called gurus I think will justify this statement by saying somehow whatever the situation it does work out for good as promised for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.(Romans 8:28)
I was reminded of the above beautiful fact today and I have never been so happy in the realisation that it isn’t about me but Him. Yes, there is me with all my shortcomings, dreams and desires but then there is Him the all knowing one, the great King eternal, the great I am, Jehovah Jireh my provider, Jehovah Rapha my healer forever faithful. And as if that is not enough His son is the greatest advocate, the bread of life, the chief cornerstone, the high priest ,the lamb of God, the Morning star.
He dutifully feeds the birds who do not sow or reap or store away barns and clothes the lilies of the valleys ever so beautifully so surely how much more will He be there for me.
After all is said and done I am human and I know in some moments the flesh is bound to get the better of me, get me on that wrong train of thoughts where things don’t seem to add up. The good news though is my weakness does not take away God’s strength. His ways are not our ways and are as the heavens are higher than the earth.
He is the only constant in life and we can’t be independent of Him. By His grace we live and by His grace still we know Him and by His grace yet still He lives on the inside of us and helps us live for His glory.
He is the master programmer, the only one who can add or subtract the days of our lives and knew us even before we were formed. Our lives are in His hand and the divine moment I had today is the invitation to yield to Him as opposed to taking matters in my own hands.
His hand changes circumstances and this same hand takes us places. It is this hand that gives us a new song and fulfills the number of our days. He is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.
It is He who dried the waters of the Jordan as he did to the Red sea until His people had passed over so that all the peoples of the earth may know that His hand is mighty and may fear Him the Lord our God forever.
Let not the world separate you from His love; the love of Christ. The Love of He, three in one, Father Son and Holy Spirit.

HOPE

New Year, new beginnings, February here already and yet somehow I feel like am in the same rut. The only thing that seems to have changed is am more alert of the situation.
I have already waited and believe God must be applauding me for waiting faithfully. And am eagerly awaiting for the reward, yes waiting actively especially as I learnt recently that waiting is a verb, a doing word uh.
Does everyone have to wait? Forget waiting for the birthdays and the dates like Christmas that come each year; I mean waiting for their dreams to get fulfilled.
Not locked up, not locked down, simply working so hard to get there and not seeming to get there. It comes out as mediocre not a bad place at all only it is lukewarm and shouting “barely making it” hence the pursuit for more.
Carrying on with the thought that waiting is a doing word, I continue doing right trying not to get consumed with what is going wrong and instead focus on what is right.
Good things come to those who wait and am holding on to that hope.

GADDAFI

The media has successfully painted Gaddafi as a hard-core dictator, tyrant whatever you want to call him. However, the media as usual has also failed to show the kind, giving Gaddafi we never heard of. Gaddafi unlike most dictators I will refrain from naming them has managed to show his humane side, the very side we dream of seeing in other dictators who just talk.

I consider Libyans lucky to a certain extent and one wonders with the new democratic rule they cry for will it improve or worsen life for them. Yes, Gaddafi has spent millions of Libya`s money on personal ventures but is the average Libyan poor? We know others who take a country and destroy it until you feel like there is no hope of restoring this country… looting some prefer to call it. Did Gaddafi loot Libya in any way?

Now let us get to the unknown facts about the Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi:



1.There is no electricity bill in Libya; electricity is free for all its citizens.

2. There is no interest on loans, banks in Libya are state-owned and loans given to all its citizens at 0% interest by law.

3. Home considered a human right in Libya – Gaddafi vowed that his parents would not get a house until everyone in Libya had a home. Gaddafi’s father died while him, his wife and his mother were still living in a tent.

4. All newlyweds in Libya receive $60,000 Dinar (US$50,000) by the government to buy their first apartment so to help start up the family

5. Education and medical treatments are free in Libya. Before Gaddafi only 25% of Libyans are literate. Today the figure is 83%.

6. Should Libyans want to take up farming career, they would receive farming land, a farming house, equipments, seeds and livestock to kick-start their farms – all for free.

7. If Libyans cannot find the education or medical facilities they need in Libya, the government funds them to go abroad for it – not only free but they get US$2,300/mth accommodation and car allowance.

8. In Libyan, if a Libyan buys a car, the government subsidized 50% of the price.

9. The price of petrol in Libya is $0.14 per liter.

10. Libya has no external debt and its reserves amount to $150 billion – now frozen globally.

Great Man-Made River project in Libya… $27 billion

11. If a Libyan is unable to get employment after graduation the state would pay the average salary of the profession as if he or she is employed until employment is found.

12. A portion of Libyan oil sale is, credited directly to the bank accounts of all Libyan citizens.

13. A mother who gave birth to a child receive US$5,000

14. 40 loaves of bread in Libya costs $ 0.15

15. 25% of Libyans have a university degree

16. Gaddafi carried out the world’s largest irrigation project, known as the Great Man-Made River project, to make water readily available throughout the desert country.

Which other dictator has done much good to his people besides Gaddafi?

JESUS

Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, Jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ’s 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers of all time.

Jesus painted no pictures; yet some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from Him. Jesus wrote no poetry; but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world’s greatest poets were inspired by Him. Jesus composed no music; still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and
Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the
hymns, symphonies, and oratorios they composed in His praise.

Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble
Carpenter of Nazareth.
His unique contribution to the human race is the salvation of
the soul! Philosophy could not accomplish that. Nor art. Nor literature. Nor music. Only Jesus Christ can break the enslaving chains of sin and Satan. He alone can speak peace to the human heart,
Strengthen the weak, and give life to those who are spiritually dead.

Jesus Christ is the true Messiah, the Son of God, and Savior of the
world!