TRIBUTE TO STANLEY NKWILIMBA (26 Sep 1973 – 13 Oct 2012)

Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path (Psalm 27:11).

Today marks one week of putting Stanley’s remains into the ground (16^th October) and it is fitting for me to give an accolade. I simply want to thank the Lord God Almighty for the season he gave me to know and camp with Stanley and remember him as a dear brother and friend in this short tribute. This is because his passing has left an indelible memory and a challenge: to hold fast to the Lord Jesus in full obedience! Brethren and friends, we may not fully know and understand the Lord’s way but we should humbly pray that He may teach us that way and help us to live for him. I knew Stanley for about nine years but we only related closely from somewhere 2004 when I joined him to share accommodation. That time we were both courting our beloveds (he courted Beatrice, and I, Mercy) and had several things in common. It is interesting that our weddings were about a month apart, theirs in October and ours in November 2005. We thus shared and collected some wedding songs together.

 I do not claim to have known him very well but of a fact I can say that he was not only accommodating in every conceivable way but also a brother’s keeper, a godly and committed Christian who did not live for this world. He lived a simple, happy and joyful life. Stanley and I did not just eat together, sleep on the same bed and talk about social and economic issues that affected us; we sharpened each other spiritually as reformed evangelicals, challenged ourselves to live relevantly and do the best with what we have. We knew it is not easy and right to belong to big and growing Reformed Baptist Churches in the city and just be on the membership list – Lusaka Baptist and Kabwata Baptist have various and common challenges.

 Stan loved reading and bought Christian books, so did I and we encouraged each other to have a library of mixed sound literature. I remember no sooner did I marry than I bought a bookshelf and filled it! We constantly checked on and prayed for each other as we acknowledge that we had a rough road to travel and our burdens were made lighter. And we would joke and laugh and I hope we did not disturb or offend our neighbours. For Stan, the Lord Jesus shone “through the cloud and rain, through sorrow, toil and pain.” I envied some things about Stanley while he lived and I have envied his going ahead of me to heaven!

To all those who indeed do not have a living and loving relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus yet, I recommend Him and say with the prophet Zechariah, “See your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation”. Receive Him!

GONE IN A BREATH - A TRIBUTE TO DEBRA MITI DAKA

TRIBUTE TO DEBRA MITI DAKA
“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job1:21)

I was almost giving up on writing this tribute because of the time that has elapsed since we buried our beloved Debra, but what she meant could not allow it. Debra has left an indelible mark in my life, my wife’s and I am sure in the lives of many others, this side of eternity! She was privileged, as I, to have been the first one I met in Kafue Estates of the in-laws to be. This was before I proposed to her young sister Mercy, whom she looked after for a while up to the time she completed her first college training. We thank God for the period he gave her to us.

She was quite objective during arrangements for our marriage and insisted on what is biblical, and therefore we got even closer as she knew that I loved the Lord Jesus. I had no doubt that she wanted her sibling I to become a happy couple whatever the circumstance! She got married a year after us to Mr Jethro Daka, a man she held on to and definitely loved till death parted them, as God’s will. It is difficult for me to really describe her but I can simply say she was a nice person and a Christian, always calm and collected; one who you could approach, talk and share your problems with and be sure of being heard. And that alone somehow relieves and lightens the burden!

That depiction Debra demonstrated while she was hospitalized, even to her last breath! Sometimes you can know and tell something about a person especially when they are sick or dying. It reveals what they really believe and/or hold
on to. In her pain and weakness, with the adverse effects of the medicine she was being given for her treatment, Debra would quote Bible verses expressing her trust and hope in God and His preciously sweet promises. This was a challenge to many and envy for some of us! We certainly learnt vital lessons as family and individuals. Remaining are fond memories of her and a vacuum that may not be filled. Debra is deeply missed only on this side, as I and the believing family members and friends hope to meet her in heaven soon!

A GOOD FRIEND AND DEAR SISTER

OPEN, SERENE AND STRONG

QUIETLY WILLING TO DEPART, A THING NOT SINISTER

SIGHING NOT YET TEACHING MUCH

DEEPLY BREATHING, HEARKENING TO GOD’S CALL

DEAD BUT TRANSPORTED AND RESTING

EMBRACED WHAT IS BETTER AND EVERLASTING

SHE WAS GONE IN A BREATH!

CELEBRATING WITH THE IDEALS 3

THE FRAGRANCE OF THANKSGIVING (Thanks/ Thankfulness)

1Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (ESV); In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (KJV)

This blog post is short because it is long overdue and also due to the fact that I don’t have much to write, as it is a pretty straight forward one. But let me nip some juice, if I can call it that, from the two earlier posts. The Celebrated Secrete of Contentment (1Tim 6:6-8; Phil 4:11-13) should at least bolster a closer, peaceful and sweeter walk with the Lord. God commands us to be content. In The Distinguished vessel of Usefulness based on 2Tim 2:21, I concluded with the fact that one cannot miss the value and beauty of usefulness as it distinguishes and reveals God’s people and His saving grace upon them. We honour Jesus and God our Father as we bear fruit, and he makes us (by pruning) to be even more fruitful. I deduced that assurance of salvation is also enjoyed through this fruit and that it is and will be rewarded!

Now, if celebrating can be in different forms, so does thanksgiving have many expressions. However difficult giving thanks might be in some circumstance, we are exhorted to offer it as a moral obligation to God in all things at all times. And thankfully, we are considering the time of rejoicing and gladness when thanksgiving seems or should be so obvious and fitting. The rejoicing which should be always in the Lord!

Yet how much and very often are we self-focused and self-pleasing in those celebrations that there’s not even  a thought of, or an ounce of thanks to the God whose air we breathe and goodness we enjoy! It is about us with loved ones and friends, our achievements and feelings of being fortunate and blessed without a real view of and relationship with God, the one who blesses. The thought-focus during the celebrations is often about what was left out or how best we will celebrate next time, and perhaps what is left to accomplish and how we need God’s help but not needing to give him thanks or acknowledge him.

Sometimes we are grumbling, scrutinizing and asking why and how some “nice” things did not happen as expected or requested, and how and why bad things have spoilt almost everything! Ungratefully, instead of giving thanks, some people arrogantly even give instructions to God during their celebrations. With brute instinct and sometimes glorying in shame, most people are blinded by selfishness and sheer love for pleasure. Such people should not simply claim ignorance or oversight what God demands. It reminds me of a critical question the Lord our God asked in the days of the prophets and still asks today, ‘And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves?’ Zechariah 7:6.  Those of us who profess to be Christians should not behave like this.

I have recommended that reflecting on our lives, meditation on God’s word and obeying or putting it into practice is the rational thing to do and the underlying or over-aching anti-dote if we are to celebrate whatever occasion so that it is not in a cunning manner mere indulgence. Here are some more petty simple reasons why we should give thanks to God as we celebrate:

1.       We owe our all to the Almighty and gracious God;

2.      It is for our good (it is God’s Will as seen in 1 Thes)

3.      God knows best, we give the glory to him when we are thankful

This is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us, that we give thanks, seeing God is reconciled to us in Christ Jesus; in him, through him, and for his sake, he allows us to rejoice evermore, and appoints us in every thing to give thanks. It is plainly pleasing to God!

For this reason, that all things work together for good to them that love God; therefore, every occasion may be a subject of gratitude and thankfulness. Beloved, gratitude (thankfulness) and obedience are inseparably connected, be thankful always!

WHEN IN GLORY PERFECTED, I SEE YOU AS YOU ARE

PRIVILEGED TO HALLOW YOUR HOLY NAME

O let me be, God of my soul

Wholly to thee, full of praise!

ETERNALLY GRATEFUL, A BLESSED SOUL

AMID GREAT MULTITUDES, BOUGHT BY CHRIST!

(Words from God of My Soul, the song)