Only believe: God has a Plan for you

I will tell you what inspires me. I will tell you how I go about certain things. I will tell you how life is lived through.

Look around, what do you see.

You look at your self and you see the ugly duckling. You are the odd one out.

Its okay. I have felt this way for quite some time now. But after a lot of self introspection and turning back to the faith I so trust, I found out there was more to it than meets the eye. There is more to you than you can ever imagine.

I remember the story of Joseph...

Joseph was a chosen one of God and he found favour in the eyes of his father. But this did not go down very well with his brothers.

Genesis Chapter 37 vs 4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

5And Joseph dreamed a dream and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

6And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:

7For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

8And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

9And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

Joseph had a dream, just like you. But he did not allow the comments of everyone else pull him down. He had to face all the schemes. in fact they said

27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

Now, to an ordinary eye like ours, this is the worst kind of conspiracy that can happen to us. We would decide to kill ourselves. If we were good and evil were done unto us, we would turn and become bad, we work hard to prove the people who despise us wrong- You do not have to prove anything to anyone.

However, Joseph might have had these moments of questioning God but he did not lose his focus. He remained good all the same. He trusted and believed in the vision God had given him.

I remember the story of David. David was that shepherd whose entire time was spent in the fields with the sheep. David was that boy, who when Samuel the prophet came was called in after the prophet had insisted.

I Samuel 16 vs 10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

You see, David was the annointed one of god though Jesse his father did not think so. I am inspired by these two young people. They are so in common with me, maybe with you too.

You feel like life has not been treating you well?

David did not begin like a King. He began like a shepherd. He did not walk into the battle field and kill goliath, he killed a lion and a bear as training.

What I am saying is that God does not put you in situations that do not have a meaning in your life.

God does not make you pass through pains that do not add anything to your life.

When you go through certain things in your life, be happy. The Bible says in Phillipians, In all things do without grumbling or murmuring, but in all things give thanks and praise unto the Lord.

We do not take these words and use them in our lives. We think they are mere illustrations of how people in those days lived. But No! God is talking to you right now, wherever you are. God is telling you you have the potential, you have the training and you have the favour.

I even remember the story of Jesus. He was born of a woman and lived through life, not because he could not have fallen from heaven with shining clothes and an army of angels, but so he could live the life that we live.

People argue that even the best preacher is one who went through rough patches in their lives. People say a person who has lived through pains in life is better positioned to advise another. It is generally agreed that 'muzivi wenzira yeparuware ndiye mufambi wayo' (loosely translated, one who knows the way through a thicket is he who has been through it)

Jesus lived life just like all of us. He was even not listened to because he was a child whose father was a carpenter. He was not listened to. People despised him because of the circumstances of his birth. People did not believe who he was because of his background.

But he did not need to shake the heavens for him to prove who he was. He merely lived his humble life and at the end, when he was dying, after fulfilling his mission, did those who despised him believe who he was.

So, you don't need to prove anything to anyone. You owe your life to him who created you. Thus, all honor and glory need to be channeled back to him, and live life in your right way.

Joseph became the most feared man on all earth and just below Pharoah in title. He had been thrown into jail, accused wrongly, his brothers had forgoten about him, BUT..

His God was faithful. His dream came to PASS...

David had to serve under Saul for a while, playing the harp. He was still that shepherd who was not looked at and considered as great. Even his father felt he had to take food to his braver brothers who were in battle, BUT.....

God had another plan. He used this platform to elevate the young man. He was to be the next KING of Israel.

God trains us.

God shows us what we are to be, all we have to do is trust and obey.

A friend of mine once said " partial obedience is disobedience....."

Your Faith in God and your obedience to him is what matters.


Lord, thank you for giving us your word, for your word is binding. Lord you say in your word that if we shall ask anything in your name, you are faithful that you will give us. Lord I want to thank you for your truth, which you continue to show us. Teach us Lord to hold fast to your word and trust that all you have said you will do, shall come to pass. Thank you Lord, In jesus mighty name, Amen...

Y. Mashie

Angry with God?

You see, each time I sit to reflect on my life, I find that there is a huge gap. I will say that I have not been the worst person to live on earth, morally that is.

But my relationship with God has been rather stagant. One of my pastors once told me "You are angry with God".

This was the most shocking statement but one i have had to ponder on for some time.

It is not the statement, but the thought that I could be angry with God.

I have tried to sit down and think why I, a mortal, would be angry with my creator?

You see, it is not about being really 'angry' as in shouting at him and stuff, but it is the behavioural traits.

I was just going through the paces and thinking exactly how I could have been angry.

This is what I figured;

I had a great relationship with God that not talking to him was torturous. I could actually feel weak. It is like when you love someone, you just want to keep in constant touch with them so that you know how they are doing, what they have eaten, down to the littlest thing they did. And this was not happening.

I was miles and miles away from God and this was making me scared.

God has laid foundations for you. He has built the walls for you. He has done everything, but you are not stepping in.

I want that relationship back. I want to walk with God. I want God to guide my feet, just as he did, Joseph before me. Just as he did David before me. Just as he did Elija, before me. I want God to take the first step.

I want to feel his closeness.

When i look back, i feel i have indeed taken for granted his love and my closeness to him. I took it as a normal thing to be that close.

It is.

But the devil is watching, and he would like you to be that close to him as well. It is in these times when we relax that the devil moves in.

I am convinced that thats what happened. A lot of things began to happen. I became weary. I lost touch and eventually, I lost interest even in praising God.

This is the worst thing that happens in a christian's life. You should never allow yourself to be led into such.

It is important for one to take stock of where you are at.

This moment, take a look into your life and take stock of were you are. The more you reflect, the more you learn.

Heavenly father, thank you for giving me an opportunity to look into my life. thank you for exposing me to your love, for nothing can surpas this love. Thank you for your guidance. Thank you for your word, for it is by this that we live. Father continue to guide us through your holy spirit and your son. In Jesus name, Amen.

Y Mashie

I hate hate, bitterness and resentfulness, so help me Lord.

I have gone through sad chapters in my life
I have done things I should not have done.
I have said words I shouldn't have said
I have played games i should never have played.
And I have made compromises i should not have made
But I have done these things and they are a part of me.

When I look into my future,
I see happiness, peace, joy and laughter.
I see love, love profound.
I see light....

I know i have to pass through dark phases.
But these won't stop me from going forward.
The dark I have passed is better than that which awaits me.
But by the same confidence, I shall face that darkness.

I know the light of the Lord shines over me.
I am going through paces that should see me through what i shall face tomorrow.

The Lord is my source of hope.
I dont want to live with bitterness.
There is no way i will heap whats been heaped on me.
Onto my children, Lord help me....

I will not live in pain and bitterness, in hatred and resentment
For Jesus Christ went through even worse situations, just for me to be free.

I have gone through all that i have, so that i may face the future with confidence.

The Lord tells me to be of good cheer
For he overcame the world.

All these that i see, are to expose me to know that which is in the world.
For tomorrow, i have to live through it all
Only difference is, i will be doing it right.

Should i be bitter? Should I be angry?
By no means!!
For the word of God tells me, if my brother sins against me, i should forgive him seven times seventeen times.
This merely means, each and every time.

If I forgive them, I forgive myself too.
And i take responsibility for my action.
If God be for me, who can be against me???

Oh Lord. thank you for this exposure for by the exposure comes knowledge.
Being forwarned, is to be forearmed.
it is only you that can save me from the wretchedness of the world.
Help me not to develop bitterness in my heart.
Instead, allow love to grow inside of me, just as you have taught us through your son Jesus Christ.
In Jesus name, Amen....

Y. Mashie

Things aren't always what they seem!!!!

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.

When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, 'Things aren't always what they seem.'

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest.

When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears.

Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen?

The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused.

The second family had little but was willing to; share everything, and you let the cow die.

'Things aren't always what they seem,' the older angel replied.

'When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, Inoticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it. '

'Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem.'

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You just might not know it until some time later..

Some people come into our lives and quickly go..

Some people become friends and stay awhile... leaving beautiful footprints on our hearts and we are never quite the same because we have made a good friend!!

Yesterday is history.

Tomorrow a mystery.

Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present!

I think this is special...live and savor every moment... This is not a dress rehearsal!

Anonymous.

GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD

Lk 17:15-16 (NKJV)And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.The story of ten lepers who were healed by the Lord Jesus demonstrates the impotence of giving thanks unto the Lord. Ten lepers were healed but only one came back to give thanks to Jesus in appreciation if his healing. The others did not find it necessary to come and thank the Lord.One very important duty of a Christian is to give thanks to God for what he does for us.

1Chr 16:8 (NKJV)Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!

There are four elements of true thanksgiving:
(1) remembering what God has done, (2) telling others about it, (3) showing God’s glory to others, and (4) offering gifts of self, time, and resources.

If you are truly thankful, your life will show it.God warns us that in the last days people will be unthankful, boastful, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. This describes the prevailing attitude among Christians today.

2Ti 3:2 (NKJV)For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.

Do you take time to thank God always in your life? Do you appreciate Him for his blessings in your life? Being thankful is an attitude of the heart- it comes from deep inside a person. Change your mind set and attitude of your heart to become a thankful person. Never forget to thank Him.

If you find you cannot be thankful, you are taking too many things for granted. You have made a wrong assumption that you deserved everything you have. Refuse to take the Lord for granted or His name in vain. Reject this perverse ungrateful spirit in the world today where people make demands for a welfare state where everything is provided free to every citizen.

Have you noticed that when you thank someone for what they have done you encourage them to do more -for you. When you thank God you are preparing yourself for more blessings. There is so much to thank God for your life, your health, family, husband, wife, children, your job, etc.

Thank God for even things people take for granted such as clothing, food, shelter, loved ones. When you see a blind man you will begin to appreciate God’s gift of sight, when you see a cripple in a wheelchair, you learn to appreciate God for the gift of legs.

Thanksgiving is the beginning of praise and worship, which in turn brings the presence of God in your life. Do not be fooled God hears every word thanking Him for His mighty deeds. If you have had the experience of helping someone and they did not thank you then you will know what I mean. You will be less inclined to give them anything else again in future.

When you are unthankful you stop God blessing your life. You deny yourself future blessings. Failure to give thanks is a sign that you despise your gifts. You are saying my gift is not good enough. Don’t discourage God by your unthankfulness. Change your attitude today start to be thankful even for the small mundane things in life. You will begin to see God doing bigger things in your life.

You will notice a big change in year life. God is not mocked even in the area of thanksgiving.

GIVE THANKS UNTO TO THE LORD ALWAYS AND YOU WILL SEE BLESSINGS COMING TO YOU!

Stanley Zengeya.

Story of her life

I have noticed that some people are negative- minded. If they make a comment, they choose to see the negative rather than the positive. I have discovered that such people either grew up in an environment where they were told they will never make it or they were made to believe they would never make it.

It is a phsychological fight that takes place.

I remember a story i was once told. A woman with so much bitterness, that even after the tormenting years, she has failed to accept the change. She is so engrossed in her past that even when she sits down, one notices the pain in her eyes and even the strain in her body language. Given an opportunity to speak, she says she is only here physically, but the inner her has gone far away.


This is her story......

Mary, she got married at eighteen- she was pregnant already in 1984. Her boyfriend married her, but did not manage to pay all the dowry.

She has lived a lifetime of struggle from her narrations.

She told me one of the days of how terrible her years into marriage were.

"I was made to watch the fields 24/7 in case baboons eat the mealies. I was given the outer field so that i am watching the fields. I was married into this home, but even those who wanted to rent some of the fields, were given inner ones. I was pregnant, but all the time i was at the fields. I had to be herding the cattle, i had to be watching the fields, but i was still a wife. My husband was in the city trying to get a job, which he did".

She is all tears all the while. She continues...

"When my husband brought back groceries, my mother-in-law would take them and give me a meagre share. She never gave me soap, so i had to wash my baby's napkins in the river with the sand. Nobody ever felt pity for me".

She tells me she used to go to be woken up as early as 2am to go to the vlei. During those days, she said, there were no boreholes and the vlei usually took time to fill with water. In fact, many people went there earlier for them to get water earlier too. Unfortunately for her, her in-laws did not appreciate this. Despite the fact that the vlei was a good distance away from her home, the in-laws did not assist her in any way. In fact, the water she would bring, they used it for bathing. Each one would take a 20 pitre container for their bath, and yet she needed to carry a single 20 litre container each time. Not just that, they did not want to help her with the child. If she left the baby at home, if the baby cries, it will eventually quieten down with no attention given to it. She said, on many occasions, she has had to make those trips with the baby strapped on her back.

" No one wanted anything to do with me. I was abused by every one. No one regarded me as anything. I was a mere slave".

She wipes a tear...

I can see she is in deep pain. She now has four children two of whom have families of their own. She keeps saying "if this man had told me he doesnt love me, i would have moved on with my life".

You see, she has not been able to forgive this man. She lives in a four roomed cottage, built of durawall material, and she feels betrayed. If the man had dedicated his energy to his family alone, they would have built a house. She complains that she stays "muchikwere" and yet her husband could have afforded to build a home.

She is a hardworking woman, but she has haboured a lot of bitterness in her, she works for her upkeep. She is no longer concerned about building the house. All she waits is for the man to tell her its over and then she can start all over again.

"He can do what he wants, but not to do what he wants with me!" she said.

She has given up on her life.


I dont blame her. She has grown up to develop so much resentfulness on the family that was supposed to protect her.

She continued to get heaps of insults even from her husband's brothers when she now lived in the city. She says they used to get to her house and demand anything that was in the house saying it was their brother's. They would tell her it was their brother who was working so everything was his and theirs.

She was not regarded as anything. Even up to now, she says....

I looked at her as she looked down. Her physical appearance has moulded itself to portray the self pity she has felt all these years. she regretts everything- well probably except her children, but she regrets having lived her entire life with a man bent on betraying her.

She looked up "Ndarwadziwa vasikana" (I am in so much pain).

"I never thought things would turn up like this. Even my body aches because of the abuse I went through in my early marriage years, I am a nobody. I am nothing. Nobody sees me as anybody".

She looks into a distance and the eyes penetrate deep into thought as she does self retrospection.

"My children had to go through rough times because my husband's brothers had to go to school, but not once have they respected me. If I were another woman, i would have refused to allow my children to suffer for my husband's relatives. But I understood family and the need to assist a family member. I allowed myself and my children to suffer for ungrateful people. If only i knew...."

She looked at me. I could feel her pain. I could see the feel of deceipt all over her face. That is what she has been able to exude this whole while I sat down with her.

Sometimes we don't know what we are getting ourselves into unless we are in it.

But it is not about what you go through. It is about how you handle it that matters at the end of the day.

This is the story of a woman whose pains have affected her so much she refuse to hear of God.

She told me "God has forgoten about me. In fact, he has left me to make my own decisions"

This is how bad she feels. She feels betrayed by her husband that even God has 'betrayed her'

I pray that this woman finds it in her heart to forgive her husband and everyone who did anything to hurt her. I call out to my christian friends to please hold hands together and remember this woman in your prayers. Even the word of God does not make any sense to her anymore.

Pray for her to remember that God is still with her. She only need to strecth her hands forth, and he is there. Help pray for her so that her heart might slowly open up and GiVE GOD A CHANCE....

I know there are many of you who feel overwhelmed because of situations in your lives, but do take heart, for God is faithful.

Remember that woman who bled for more than 12 years? she was now tired of her situation but she believed when she heard of Jesus. She believed so much that she felt if only she 'could touch the hem of his garment', she would be healed.

Such is her situation, and yours too, but do take heart and above all believe. If you believe, you will receive.

Hebrews 11 vs 1 "Now faith is the assuarance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen".

Nomatter the situation, God is watcing. Call to him and he will answer.

Dear God, thank you for giving us your son as a sign of your love to us. Thank you for giving us your word as a book of promise. Lord you have given us promises, which promises you have always kept. Please give us a forgiving heart so that when the winds of the devil come, we are able to withstand. Lord help us run away from the vulnerability the devil exposes us to. Thank you for your love for it gives us the strength to face life. Father, nourish us in Jesus mighty name, Amen...,.

Y. Mashie

The Humble shall be Exalted

It is important for people to realise were their potential lie in. Who can stand on a mountain and claim to own everything? Who can stand on a podium and claim to know everything?

Even Jesus refused to be called good.

The problem we have is we want to own everything, we want to know everything and we want to be called 'the great'. We want to get praises all the time. We want to be given a pat in the back always. For so long we have given ourselves an elevated position and we have felt 'great' about it.

Should people point fingers at us, we flount and show off what we have. Should people look like they have interest in you, we act as though we were immortal.

Somebody once said "but even the rich die and get buried just like poor people do". But who care about what happens when one is dead. Its amazing how we have taken our lives to be bigger than anything else.

But...

Have we ever thought of how much difference we would make into just one life by giving? Imagine you stop boasting about all that you have, and just give a part of what you have. Some wise words say "there is greater Joy in giving than in receiving"

Its amazing how we mistake God's grace to our 'wisdom'. We have all that we have, not that we are wise but because we are God's children.

Well, others give, but they want to act like angels in the sight of many. They want to publicise what they give to people. They want everyone to know what they have given and to whom. They want to be given 'glory'.

But greater joy comes when one gives from the heart. Greater joy comes when one does things and knows all things belong to God. We are just mortal beings with no power. Our lives lie in the hands of a supreme leader.

Let us humble ourselves before the Lord and he will lift us up......

Y. Mashie