My son Gilbert was eight years old and had been in Cub Scouts only a short time. During one of his meetings, he was handed a sheet of paper, a block of wood and four tires and told to return home and give all to "dad".
That was not an easy task for Gilbert to do. Dad was not receptive to doing things with his son. But Gilbert tried. Dad read the paper and scoffed at the idea of making a pine wood derby car with his young, eager son. The block of wood remained untouched as the weeks passed.
Finally, mom stepped in to see if I could figure this all out. The project began.
Having no carpentry skills, I decided it would be best if I simply read the directions and le Gilbert do the work. And he did. I read aloud the measurements, the rules of what we could do and what we couldn't do.
Within days his block of wood was turning into a pinewood derby car. A little lopsided, but looking great (at least through the eyes of mom). Gilbert had not seen any of the other kids cars and was feeling pretty proud of his "Blue Lightning", the pride that comes with knowing you did something on your own.
Then the big night came.
With his blue pinewood derby in his hand and pride in his heart we headed to the big race. Once there my little one's pride turned to humility. Gilbert's car was obviously the only car made entirely on his own. All the other cars were a father-son partnership, with cool paint jobs and sleek body styles made for speed.
A few of the boys giggled as they looked at Gilbert's, lopsided, wobbly, unattractive vehicle. To add to the humility, Gilbert was the only boy without a man at his side. A couple of the boys who were from single parent homes at least had an uncle or grandfather by their side. Gilbert had "mom".
As the race began, it was done in elimination fashion. You kept racing as long as you were the winner. One by one, the cars raced down the finely sanded ramp. Finally, it was between Gilbert and the sleekest, fastest
looking car there.
As the last race was about to begin, my wide eyed, shy eight year old ask if they could stop the race for a minute, because he wanted to pray. The race stopped.
Gilbert hit his knees clutching his funny looking block of wood between his hands. With a wrinkled brow he set to converse with his Father. He prayed in earnest for a very long minute and a half.
Then he stood, smile on his face and announced, 'Okay, I am ready."
As the crowd cheered, a boy named Tommy stood with his father as their car sped down the ramp. Gilbert stood with his Father within his heart and watched his block of wood wobble down the ramp with surprisingly great speed and rushed over the finish line a fraction of a second before Tommy's car.
Gilbert leaped into the air with a loud "Thank you" as the crowd roared in approval. The Scout Master came up to Gilbert with microphone in hand and asked the obvious question, "So you prayed to win, huh, Gilbert?"
To which my young son answered, "Oh, no sir. That wouldn't be fair to ask God to help you beat someone else. I just asked Him to make it so I don't cry when I lose."
Children seem to have a wisdom far beyond us. Gilbert didn't ask God to win the race, he didn't ask God to fix the outcome.
Gilbert asked God to give him strength in the outcome. When Gilbert first saw the other cars he didn't cry out to God, "No fair, they had a fathers help".
No, he went to his Father for strength. Perhaps we spend too much of our prayer time asking God to rig the race, to make us number one, or too much time asking God to remove us from the struggle, when we should be seeking God's strength to get through the struggle. "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
Gilbert's simple prayer spoke volumes to those present that night. He never doubted that God would indeed answer his request. He didn't pray to win, thus hurt someone else. He prayed that God supply the grace to lose with dignity. Gilbert, by his stopping the race to speak to his Father, also showed the crowd that he wasn't there without a "dad", but His Father was most definitely there with him.
Yes, Gilbert walked away a winner that night, with his Father at his side.
Courtesy - All Worship
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Parenting
Discipline in growing up children!! Many a parent will bear me witness tht discipline is not easily achievable especially without consistency by the parent. But this is not more of a challenge as it is when as a parent you do all that it takes - all that you know, and yet according to you, you do not achieve your objective.
This last week, I have been struggling with an aspect of discipline with one of my boys. One week ago, I sat down with him and talked, counselled, prayed, laughed and cried together!!! And after that, I was so elated, deep settled in my heart that, that talk was trully penetrating to his heart and whatever he had done, he could not repeat. That he understood the consequences and besides, with Christ, he would have the strength, not to conform to the world, but be transformed by the word of God.
My excitement didnt last for two days. On the second day, not only did he repeate exactly what he had done, but also did something else different which was not completely acceptable. You can start imagining what I felt - down, almost broken, and I was wondering - my God, what and how do you want to deal with this young man. I felt like I could give him a thorough beat, and I resolved that would not do. I sat down with him and after another talk, forgave him. In two more days, something else was done, this time round, I denied him his best programme on tv - no anything thing could he watch and he could also not go out to play. After sometime, he cooled down and with his hyperactivity, I could see that he was struggling between obedience and throwing the towel.
After a number of observations, I decided (and since this is something I have learnt of him over a time now), that the best measure of discipline is to deny him a trip which was forthcoming. He did not seem to mind this, but the only question was, are you also doing this to bro? He however later one came and apologized, though I had made up my mind that he would not take up the trip.
As I write this piece, I know many parents out there have faced something like it or close. Where you feel you have varied all forms of discipline you know of. You even know the temperaments of your child and how he responds to different situations and circumstance and yet, you are trully caught off guard by the turn out of events.
It is upon this that I conclude that, besides all the measures we take, lets learn to surrender our children fully to God. Dedicate and re-dedicate them to God. God knows them better than we do. He has a good plan for them. As a parent, do the best you can and leave the rest in the arms of God. It can be discouraging but do not give up especially because children can very easily be used of the devil to torment you and bring you down. They use the spirit of manipulation and as a parent you might feel worn out. Do not give up. Discipline (character and virtues) are not acquaired in a day. This is a process. Be patient and ask the Lord for his divine guidance. Let me have your thoughts and experiences on the same.
Bless you.
Rose Kainda
This last week, I have been struggling with an aspect of discipline with one of my boys. One week ago, I sat down with him and talked, counselled, prayed, laughed and cried together!!! And after that, I was so elated, deep settled in my heart that, that talk was trully penetrating to his heart and whatever he had done, he could not repeat. That he understood the consequences and besides, with Christ, he would have the strength, not to conform to the world, but be transformed by the word of God.
My excitement didnt last for two days. On the second day, not only did he repeate exactly what he had done, but also did something else different which was not completely acceptable. You can start imagining what I felt - down, almost broken, and I was wondering - my God, what and how do you want to deal with this young man. I felt like I could give him a thorough beat, and I resolved that would not do. I sat down with him and after another talk, forgave him. In two more days, something else was done, this time round, I denied him his best programme on tv - no anything thing could he watch and he could also not go out to play. After sometime, he cooled down and with his hyperactivity, I could see that he was struggling between obedience and throwing the towel.
After a number of observations, I decided (and since this is something I have learnt of him over a time now), that the best measure of discipline is to deny him a trip which was forthcoming. He did not seem to mind this, but the only question was, are you also doing this to bro? He however later one came and apologized, though I had made up my mind that he would not take up the trip.
As I write this piece, I know many parents out there have faced something like it or close. Where you feel you have varied all forms of discipline you know of. You even know the temperaments of your child and how he responds to different situations and circumstance and yet, you are trully caught off guard by the turn out of events.
It is upon this that I conclude that, besides all the measures we take, lets learn to surrender our children fully to God. Dedicate and re-dedicate them to God. God knows them better than we do. He has a good plan for them. As a parent, do the best you can and leave the rest in the arms of God. It can be discouraging but do not give up especially because children can very easily be used of the devil to torment you and bring you down. They use the spirit of manipulation and as a parent you might feel worn out. Do not give up. Discipline (character and virtues) are not acquaired in a day. This is a process. Be patient and ask the Lord for his divine guidance. Let me have your thoughts and experiences on the same.
Bless you.
Rose Kainda
I HAVE VICTORY IN CHRIST
Bless the Lord for the weekend that is gone! And beyond his love endures for ever and Yes!!! His mercies are new today - for the week they are new, for the remaining part of the month and the year, they will be new too! You can hold on firmly to the new mercies of the Lord, and do not forget his faithfulness! Its your rampart and Protection. Wont you proclaim with me today of the faithfulness of God! Of the victory that lies ahead this day, week, month and year, and all the days of our lives.
Might there be anything that happened over the wkend and you feel discouraged and down trodden, lift up your eyes and your heart unto the Lord for he trully cares for you. Cast all your cares and burdens unto Him. Let him be the soother and lover of your soul. I am blessed for I am triumphant through the precious blood of Christ Jesus at Calvary. Amen.
Might there be anything that happened over the wkend and you feel discouraged and down trodden, lift up your eyes and your heart unto the Lord for he trully cares for you. Cast all your cares and burdens unto Him. Let him be the soother and lover of your soul. I am blessed for I am triumphant through the precious blood of Christ Jesus at Calvary. Amen.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Fish in a Flood
Where do fish go in a flood?
Are they swept away to sure destruction? How do they survive?
One conservation specialist says that many fish go deep into the river to sit on the bottom where the current is least strong--the muddy, opaque water concealing them.
Some simply adjust to go with the flow, enduring the stress but with only short-term storm effects.
While not everyone experiences a watery flood in his or her lifetime, similar devastation comes into the lives of everyone.
A previously healthy, active child is suddenly diagnosed with cancer. The well-planned career is snatched away without warning. An executive found helpless against a stroke attack. Divorce unexpectedly shatters a family.
Where does the Christian go in a flood?
Many of us have learned to go "deep into the river to sit on the bottom."
We cannot avoid the swirling tempest, but we get into the quiet space with God where we can hear His whispers.
Life demands that in one respect we "go with the flow," tending to the demands of everyday responsibilities, but because of that deep place with God, the storm only alters us, but does not destroy.
--author unknown
Courtesy - All Worship
__________________________
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
PARENTING IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Have you considered and wondered what the focus and direction of your child is?
What are your thoughts and plans for him/her as he grows up?
In a society that morality (values and virtues) erosion is the order of the day, what steps as a parent, have you taken to lay a firm foundation as well as safeguard it in your child?
So, “when the foundations of law and order have collapsed, what can the righteous do?” Ps 11:3.
This is an eye-opening and empowering parenting class aimed at cementing your parenting skills and ability.
For more details, please contact us on:
Blog: http://rokaja.blogspot.com
Email: fbm011@gmail.com
Tel. +254 723 710 552
+254 720 907 225
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
MOTIVATION/PASSION
"Recent surveys indicate unprecedented dissatisfaction with work. As many as 80 percent of employees at any given time are looking for a new job. Why? Maybe they need more money, or perhaps they don't like the location, their coworkers, or their bosses. For most, however, the discontent isn't a matter of location or benefits. It is a matter of meaning. If we don't find meaning in our jobs, we find motivation difficult. Lack of motivation gets us behind in our work, which leads to stress, which leads to less motivation. It's a vicious cycle.
God created work.
Somehow, we got the impression that it's a result of Adam and Eve's sin, but God has the couple tending the Garden of Eden long before they were tempted and cast out. Work became more difficult, but work had already been ordained. God means for his people to be productive and to enjoy the fruits of their labor. He wants us to be content in what we do, whether it's at home with children, in an office with coworkers, or elsewhere. Even when we know God's plan, we often miss out on His ultimate purposes.
The surveys that indicate massive job dissatisfaction invariably have Christians among their respondents. Believers can be as dissatisfied as the secular world.
How can we be more content in our work? There are two simple steps to meaningful labor.
(1) Ephesians tells us to work "as if you were serving the Lord, not men" (6:7). If we who love Jesus have it firmly fixed in our minds that our labor somehow honors Him, we will be more interested in our labor.
(2) We can pray. It's acceptable to pray for a new job or role, but it's even better to ask God to build meaning into your current work until His timing for something new is right. He can show you how your work relationships honor Him, or how your godly service reflects His character. That sort of satisfaction is a gift God longs to give". Courtesy: All Worship Mail.
God created work.
Somehow, we got the impression that it's a result of Adam and Eve's sin, but God has the couple tending the Garden of Eden long before they were tempted and cast out. Work became more difficult, but work had already been ordained. God means for his people to be productive and to enjoy the fruits of their labor. He wants us to be content in what we do, whether it's at home with children, in an office with coworkers, or elsewhere. Even when we know God's plan, we often miss out on His ultimate purposes.
The surveys that indicate massive job dissatisfaction invariably have Christians among their respondents. Believers can be as dissatisfied as the secular world.
How can we be more content in our work? There are two simple steps to meaningful labor.
(1) Ephesians tells us to work "as if you were serving the Lord, not men" (6:7). If we who love Jesus have it firmly fixed in our minds that our labor somehow honors Him, we will be more interested in our labor.
(2) We can pray. It's acceptable to pray for a new job or role, but it's even better to ask God to build meaning into your current work until His timing for something new is right. He can show you how your work relationships honor Him, or how your godly service reflects His character. That sort of satisfaction is a gift God longs to give". Courtesy: All Worship Mail.
In addition to the above, it is important to note that each individual is wired with a certain and very specific purpose in life. Unless in life one finds what this purpose is, all our toiling and moiling will never bring satisfaction. But by the grace of God, if you get to trully understand your purpose and concentrate all your efforts in this, you will not need to look for motivation anywhere, it will automatically be there. Internal motivation is what I am talking about - the drive "the inner gratification, not for success or winning, but for the fulfilment that comes from having accomplished your purpose" - your work. It is a lasting motivation.
To be continued.
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