A DOOR OF HOPE

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  (Col_1:27)

Having passed through so much in the last three months, with the Easter period still simmering, I sought to remind myself and you of the fact that the holy God still and ever reigns righteously! To me it was by an unusual gentle show and memento of His holiness and ownership through the Cross!

There's hope as I depict in this piece; I hope you enjoy and share it!

A DOOR OF HOPE FLUNG OPEN ONCE,

OPENED TO ALL BUT FOR A TIME

A TIME WHEN ALL LIVE TO DIE,

FOR ALL WHO LIVE IN TIME MAY ONCE DIE TO LIVE!

A DOOR OF HOPE PAINTED WITH THE BLOOD OF LOVE

A DOOR TO ENTER THROUGH TO ETERNAL BLISS

A DOOR BEAMING THE LIGHT THAT BRIGHTLY SHINES,

ATTRACTING BELIEVING SINNERS THROUGH THE WAY OF TRUTH;

MELTING OUR HEARTS AND REMOVING SIN’S CURSE

BY JESUS’ LIFE, DEATH, RESURRECTION AND 2^ND COMING

SHINNING ON US GRACE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS,

OPENING TO US GOD’S BLESSINGS AND GLORY

BEYOND COMPREHENSION

HALLELUJAH!!!

“MYSTERY” OF “UNANSWERED” PRAYER

But I, O LORD, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you.  O LORD, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me? Psalm 88:13-14 

I began thinking about this song on 1^st March upon hearing that Pastor Percy Chisenga had passed away early that morning. Our prayer and desire as a family had been that God would completely heal and give with him the strength so he could get back and labour at the Zomba Mission station. This is what Mrs. Chisenga said they desired when we visited, 2 or so weeks before his death.

However, the humble question when he died was, “Does God give us our hearts’ desires and answer all our prayers (as He has promised)? The truth is that we normally always want a positive answer or favourable response! Well, the other truth is that God also gives negative answers, “NO not…” or plain “NO”! And humanly speaking we take it as though He has not answered. And my, my, we often even forget to say, “Yet not my/our will but yours be done”! May God have mercy on us for such spiritual unhealthiness especially where it is clear that a law in nature, like death is at work. Let us be biblical and spiritually mature lest we become like Pentecostal charismatics as Rev. Joe Simfukwe mentioned in his funeral sermon for Pastor Chisenga.

I hope this hymn, as well as other “more powerful” ones, has some truth, comfort and encouragement that Scripture attests. I am sure some verses will easily come to your mind too. Be blessed and remember to bless others!

To the tune of "Spirit Divine attend our Prayers"

OURS TO HUMBLY MAKE THE PLEAS

MIXED WITH DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS

OUR FATHER KNOWING FEELS AND SEES

SOVEREIGNLY GIVES THE BEST!

HE SAYS OUR PLANS ARE NOT HIS PLANS

REVEALED HIS WILL IN SHARE

UNFOLDING PROVIDENCE EXPLAINS

WHAT SEEMS UNANSWERED PRAYER

WHAT GUSH OF GREAT RELIEF WE FEEL

AND VINDICATE HIS WISDOM REAL

TRUSTING OUR FATHER ALL THINGS KNOWS 

OBEDIENCE IS HIS DUE!

EVEN IN THINGS THAT HURT US MORE

GOD WILL MAKE CLEAR ASHORE

OUR FAITH AND LOVE MADE TO OVERCOME

TRUE WORSHIP PROMPTS THE MORE!

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ZAMBIA’S 2012 AFCON SOCCER CHAMPS!

The Power of the Copper Bullet and Fury of Bees

I’m not a soccer “fan” and not really into speeches. But I sure am spontaneous, patriotic and into asking God to show His power and glory and really believe that He is a wonder! He has done amazing things lately even Zambia’s winning of the 2012 AFCON on 12^th February. He is the sovereign governor of the universe and we should rightly credit this win to Him!

Below is my reflection penned down for this historic continental overture and my experience on Monday the aftermath. The copper bullet “Chipolopolo” brought down the mighty Ivorian Elephants as it were!

CALM AND COLLECTED WITH FOCUS,

DTERMINATION AND DISCIPLINE

AT LAST WE WIN THE DESIRED GOLDEN CUP!

PATRIOTIC AND USING WHAT WE HAVE, IN HISTORY WE GO PROUD;

HUMBLED THOUGH AT THE PROSPECT AS IT GLORIOUSLY COMES TO US.

STRENGTHENED, SPIRITED AND UNITED;

SO TRULY HONOURED, AMAZED AND FAVOURED.

JOYFULLY EXALTING OUR GREAT AND AWESOME GOD

WHO MAGNIFICENTLY AND FAITHFULLY WORKED THINGS FOR OUR GOOD

AS BEST AS HE DETERMINED

FULFILLER OF DREAMS AND REWARDER OF HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE

GIVER TO THOSE WHO ASK AND SEEK

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!

 

   M-L 12022012

Then around mid-morning I experienced the fury of bees: I got stung by a swam of bees right outside our gate while wearing shorts and vest. The celebration of Zambia’s win got sour as I went scampering for cover in panic when two boys came running in my direction from the bees! I thought the boy trailing behind was drunk!

 I ran, leaving doors to the vehicle open with keys in the ignition while trying to fight them on my way into the yard, falling in the process. I sprinted back to get the keys and close the car doors. Of course I found my way into the bathtub pouring cold water on myself. Alas, they followed in the house! We had to use insect killer to kill them and restrain more from entering.

Eventually we went to the University Teaching Hospital with my wife where I developed a running tummy and excruciating stomachache and throwing up. Well, it’s amazing I survived the fury of those bees and while thanking and praising God for saving me from such a deadly peril I’ve been left wondering the peculiarity of this occurrence!

TEARS OF PASSION FOR A HEAVENLY CALL

My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day,

Where is your God? Psalm 42:3

 

(To the tune of Spirit Divine attend our prayers..)

GLORIOUS AND AWESOME IT APPEARS

NOT OFTEN AS OUR PRAYERS

AND TREMBLING, ME I LOOK AND PAUSE

IN WITNESS OF GOD’S CAUSE

KNOWING LORD THIS IS YOUR BUSINESS

JOY MIXED WITH HEAVINESS

BEGS ME TO ASK, LORD WHO AM I?

MELTING MY HEART ONCE MORE

BECAUSE I AM INADEQUATE

TO THEE I GRAVITATE

SUBMISSIVELY MY TEARS FLOW

VICTORY CHRIST AVOW

THE CHARGE IS PLEASANTLY IMMENSE

FAITH TAKES ON ITS DEFENSE

GOD IN THE HEARTS WILL CARRY ME

OF ALL HIS TRUSTING ONES

WE ASK THE SOVEREIGN LORD HIMSELF

TO BLESS HIS WORK WITH FRUIT

MANIFOLD BLESSINGS GIVE IN BLISS

GLORY IN ALL BE HIS!

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Penned by God’s grace after our own Kasango Kayombo’s ordination as Missionary Pastor of Ibex Hill Baptist Church, arising from a sense of the awesome seriousness of God’s charge to a pastor, nonetheless to me in regard to the heavenly call.  This call must necessarily be expressed in God’s purpose for our lives while on earth mainly through active evangelism and missions.

To make the matter heavier, uncle George Sitali (elder) conducting the ordination also squeezed out the sense of inadequacy and failure in my support, and a fresh huge and solemn responsibility towards missionaries and missions by the charge given to the church. I shed tears way before our brother Kasango said those moving words with befitting meekly tears.

Dear brethren, it was a glorious Sunday with triple blessings; from the ordination into the Word, through to the “grand announcement” of our support to missions. God visibly manifested His glory, power, gracious goodness and blessing to KBC! The Lord is indeed amazing and miraculous!!! I was simply and still am blown away. It does not happen always.

The song by Andrea Crouch, “This is the Lord’s doing and it’s marvelous in our eyes” came to my mind after the announcement. And my heart kept agonizing with the rhythm of keeping up unflinching support to missions by God’s help. I am not sure if “Tears of” should be part of the title of the hymn. Well, whether this hymn should crown that glorious day or not, God’s Name must be praised from the rising of the sun to its going down. May we never indeed limit Him who is able to do far more abundantly than we are able to ask or imagine, to whom alone be praise glory, honour and dominion and power forever and ever amen!