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)

CELEBRATING WITH THE IDEALS 2

 THE DISTINGUISHED VESSEL OF USEFULNESS

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 2Ti 2:21

“O lord, I was born to serve thee, to be thine and to be thy instrument. I ask not to see; I ask not to know; I ask simply to be used”.

I believe there is reasonably enough work at “home” and “abroad” for every healthy person and Christian in particular. The world is replete with opportunities to be useful as there is really need for so much good!

In my previous writing on celebrating with the ideals, the gist was and still is how we can celebrate whatever occasion such that it is not in a cunning manner mere indulgence. Essentially, it is through reflecting on our lives, meditation on God’s Word and using a variety of opportunities to be useful. The latter is my answer and focus for this writing. You do not need to be a genius to gather this from the Bible, our manual – I sincerely hope I’m not being dogmatic – nor do I mean we should be unresponsive to the ecstasy and aura which these occasions may afford us.

I had once sensed myself slowly sliding into inertia especially after we shifted houses twice and when I stopped leading a home group.  My traveling contributed such that I refused being an absentee leader when I was proposed and almost voted to be chairperson for Hope ministry. This ministry I perceived was and I think is slowly dying.  Very few members are useful or committed. I feel there is something else or more we as Hope can do to reach the unsaved with the Gospel. That, we do not seem to see; Lord help! 

The fact of the matter is that it is easy to be entirely or partially unconcerned or slothful in many things and ways and to later come and feel bad or regret that we never did anything when we (perhaps) could have. But that does not help and it is as destructive as a lie! We have no excuse. Could it be that people have become accustomed to wicked vices, poor and deplorable conditions and have forgotten this distinguishing and time-tested tool for earthly good? Be not reduced to busybodies (2Thessalonians3:11) or busy yourself with iniquity (Isaiah 32:6). See David’s prayer (Psalm 141:4 ESV).

Well, the Bible has numerous examples of ordinary men, women and young people who were, not withstanding, vessels for honourable use in every way. Some of them even became bi-vocational missionaries, a clear call that’s still there in our day! Our aim should be to so conduct ourselves with wisdom and honour that even in our celebrations the world is evangelized to God’s glory. I single out Apollos because he was said to have been A GREAT HELP to those who by grace had believed (Acts 18:27b) and in view of what he accomplished in 1 Corinthians 3:5-8.

Seemingly an implied imperative, one cannot miss value and beauty of usefulness as it distinguishes and reveals God’s people and His saving grace upon them. We honour Jesus and our Father as we bear fruit, and he makes (by pruning) us to be even more fruitful. I believe I am not forcing the camel through a needle’s eye by boldly stating that assurance of salvation is enjoyed also through this fruit – usefulness. Finally, it is or will be rewarded. Be encouraged, be faithful!

DRIVE ME ON, DRIVE ME HOME!

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 

“The Devil doesn’t know what to use against God’s children”

We are sometimes overwhelmed by responsibility, blinded by passion and driven by reason and “need”. Struggling, we develop (a bit of) cold feet towards serving the Lord and became self-absorbed. We may even slumber not realizing that the holy God still and ever reigns righteously! We are often awakened not by His anger but by an unusual gentle show and memento of His holiness, ownership and universal sovereign rule. May we therefore not run or repine but be still and experience whatever “tool(s)” God uses to make us what and put us where He wills. Thanks to Pastor Chipita Sibale’s lessons from the life of David and glory to God!

 

WHATEVER I DO,

WHAT OTHERS DO AND

WHATEVER HAPPENS TO ME

DRIVES ME ON, DRIVES ME HOME TO GOD!

THIS, GOD HAS DESIGNED FOR ME.

SINCE ALL THINGS

WORK FOR MY GOOD

AND GOD IS MY ULTIMATE GOOD,

THEN ALL WILL DRIVE ME ON,

HOME TO HEAVEN!

NOTHING SHALL NOT

DRIVE ME ON, HOME TO GOD.

NOTHING SHALL MOVE ME,

NOTHING SHALL STOP ME

SINCE GOD COMMANDS WHAT HE WILLS

AND WILLS WHAT HE COMMANDS

TO DRIVE ME ON, DRIVE ME HOME TO HEAVEN IN CHRIST!

© Mwango Lupupa

      13012009/21052012