Isn't It Amazing How God Works?

Isn't it amazing how God works!

So yesterday I reached home very late. I had traveled out of town for few days and deep down I was so glad how my family had missed me!Of course I had missed them too,but seemed like they missed me more. I know I'm special to them but this time round I felt even more special.

Now my princess is very funny. So she refused to hug me because I was gone for too long. And when she finally hugged me she started crying...hehehe I loved that :) 

Now this is what amazed me. My husband told her to give thanks to God for bringing me home safely. She made a powerful prayer I had to open my eyes and just look at her for a while. Oh God how sincere she was!And she was smiling all through :) aaaaaaaaaw:)

She said, "Father in the name of Jesus, thank You for bringing my mom home safely. Thank you for mom who is now with us. Father bless mom and be with mom. Father bless our night.In Jesus name I pray. AMEN" 

Wow! We only tell her to pray for food, which she has several funny ways of doing it, but now I'm thinking we need to ask her to pray more often. Let me say my heart was overwhelmed! Whatever Jesus is doing, I don't know but I love it!

So later on after dinner she started asking us questions; She asked my husband and I what our dreams were. I decided to cook a dream of how we were together, and we decided to go out the three of us. We had so much fun playing and running around the park. Calvince told her how he dreamt that  we had gone to church and Zenhat was reciting scriptures. Then Calvince would mention some scriptures and she would try reciting them.She got so excited. Then we decided to ask her what her dream was. What she said shocked my husband and I.I just wish I had time to record because I know it wasn't her speaking but the Holy Spirit through her. 

She said, "Mom I dreamt of worshiping God and praying to Him and I was happy. I dreamt that I was with my family and the people I love and we were so happy.We were one happy family.

 I also dreamt that I had gone to Sunday school and God talked to me. He said, "Zenhat, you are worshiping me well. You love me and I love you". 

My princess is 6 years but she is so mature I. My husband and I had our eyes almost popping out because we knew this girl is being ministered to by the Lord.The Holy Spirit is teaching her how to pray and He is pursuing her at her age.Wow! amazing!

Then she said, "mom, please tell me about God. Tell me a story of God". I began to narrate to her the story of Joseph. Wow! The girl knows the story! She was completing my sentences and even telling me what happened after every scene. I loved her attitude!I loved her zeal. She is already craving for the Word of God at her tender age! Again Jesus I don't know what You are doing, but I love it!

I am blessed to have my princess with me! Watching the Lord minister to her at her tender age is just amazing! My prayer at this point is "Lord, please don't let the zeal that Zenhat's has for You die. Keep her away from anything that may distract her from Your presence. Grant her the joy of Your presence dear Lord.Teach me on ways I can be there for Zenhat and help her during her encounters with You. Thank You for the gift that she is to me.Amen"

With Blessings,

Brenda Calvince

TRUSTING GOD IN EVERYTHING

I have been debating whether to share this testimony or not, but then I have realized since it has nothing to do with my doing and nothing to do with my glory, I will share it for the glory of the Lord Jesus! I am not ashamed of Who He is in my life and what He has done. Receive Glory Jesus!

I've just listened to some YouTube teaching about 'Trusting God through the Process'by Heather Lindsey and I am reminded of how faithful and true God is to those who trust Him.For this reason,
I'm going to share a short testimony of what happened to me some few weeks ago just to encourage anyone out there who is struggling to trust in the Lord. This is all for the glory and honor of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Three weeks ago I really was in need of money to cater for some important needs one of them being my hair. I know someone may be wondering, if I'm even serious, but only God and my husband can understand.It was an important need but judging it based on other needs, it wasn't as urgent at that particular time. And so I just made a prayer to the Lord about it I said, "Dear Lord Jesus, you are faithful. I need to make my hair, please provide for me. AMEN"

Then surprisingly, a funny thing just happened. That week I was going through Facebook updates and then I came across a post by Dark n Lovely. They were requesting their customers to answer a few questions about their products and they would stand a chance of winning Dark n Lovely hampers. I decided to give it a try. I went ahead and answered all the questions to the best of my knowledge and I rested.I even forgot about it:)

That same week I was somewhat broke. I really couldn't have waited for the salary but the month was not coming to an end soon. That's how bad the situation was.  However, I didn't loose hope. Early the following morning during my devotion time, I talked with God and told Him, "Father, you are our provider. Remember me Lord"

When I reported to the office that day, one of my bosses called me and asked me if I could attend a particular meeting in town on her behalf.I quickly said yes especially because she said I wont need to come back to work after the meeting and that I could take the rest of the day off. The surprising thing is this( and I really see the hand of the Lord in it) my boss mentioned as a by the way that I would be given some allowance just by attending the meeting and she insisted, "Make sure you make some good meal for your husband tonight!" I felt like crying. Tears were at the corners of my eyes. "I just began to thank God there and then.

Well to cut the long testimony short, the following week I received a call from Dark n Lovely  and was told I had won a gift hamper from them glory to God! The hamper was brought to the office and I made my hair. Again, the allowance was able to take me past my salary days glory to God!

God really wants us to trust Him with the whole of our hearts.The scripture that comes to mind at this particular time is Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."

What I have learnt from this testimony is that God wants me and you to undoubtedly rely upon Him to meet my needs. He is the God who says that even before we open our mouths to speak, He already knows what we want according to Mathew 6:8.

I pray you have been encouraged to Trust in the Lord today. What is it that you need? Trust Him He knows best. I am speaking to you as I speak to myself. I am not yet there when it comes to undoubtedly trusting in God. I sometimes fail this test. But one thing is I know, is that I desire to trust the Lord in everything. Let us journey together.

Brenda Calvince

BEHIND EVERY GLORY, THERE IS A STORY

This article is dedicated to everyone who was once like me;who once suffered low self- esteem, or anyone who is currently in that situation or someone who has just been healed.

I will share a little bit of my story just to encourage somebody.
When I was growing up, I used to imagine I was not good looking. Infact whenever somebody (Including my own mother) would tell me I'm beautiful, I would feel like they are lying to me. I hated my hair(which was brown and scanty), I hated my tall legs and slender body, I hated most of all my eyes( because some of my classmates from lower primary used to make fun of my eyes that they were big) And so as young girl growing up to teenage hood, beauty was not anything for me. Something weird, because I dint like my eyes, I started getting regular eye infections. I even sat for my standard 8 KCPE(final exams) with a very bad eye infection called 'mbatata'

During my time in High School,  I struggled  accepting myself. I was always looking for appreciation from others.My eyes were still a bother and sometimes I would try to make them look smaller (which was impossible haha!)
I remember very closely one of my dear friend's infact best friend (Rose) took note and kept on telling me I had beautiful eyes. To be honest, whenever I looked at ,myself in the mirror I saw big/bad eyes( just like the small boys back in primary would tease me)

Rose kept on affirming me that,'Brenda one unique aspect about you are your eyes. They are well shaped' .I didn't see that. At first i thought Rose was saying that to me because she wanted me to feel good about myself.After sometime, I decided to look at myself through her eyes and for once I noticed for sure those eyes were not just big...they were beautiful! You can imagine what was happening to my inner being. I didn't like my hair still, neither my body(I had added weight then) but I began to love my eyes.

Well someone may be wondering why I'm sharing all these. Its because I know many people are  suffering under their own skin and have believed a lie like I once did. The lie is "You are not beautiful! You need to change your skin tone to be accepted" That's far from the truth of God! Truth is you are fearfully and wonderfully made"

Flash forward, the moment i stopped believing the ugly lie form the devil, I began to see myself in the eyes of God. I began appreciating myself for who I am. I began to appreciate other people genuinely without being jealous of who they are.

Then something outstanding that happened and the best lesson  ever. God taught me what real beauty is all about. He taught me about inner beauty that reflects outside. He taught me about spiritual beauty that comes by spending time with Him, in His presence and with His word. Then He taught me about a quiet spirit that is precious in His sight. Slowly by slowly I began to realize that the more I spend time with Him, the more I began to realize that I am made in His image and likeness and every other lie was dispelled away. But He didn't leave at that, He made me understand that I am precious in His sight. Friends this is real. I actually began to see this reflected on my outside.God helped me loose weight. He did and He continually beautifies me! Infact I depend upon Him for beauty just like I do in everything, silly as it may sound.

Its just the other day my husband and I were going through a library of some photos and I was looking at myself and  saying, "Wow! is this me!" Is this the girl who was once suffering low self- esteem" And he told me,'You are very beautiful Brenda, inside out!'
I knew its the story behind the glory.Its God.

I don't know your story. But I can assure you there is glory. God wants you to know that you are beautiful. He is much more interested in your character; molding you to the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. For me, that is true beauty that reflects outside. That's your glory! You are beautiful child of God! You are His masterpiece! unique in every way and precious in His sight. Focus on Him and He will reveal to you what your beauty is all about.Its not for boasting but for purpose:) Think about Esther of the Bible. That's a story for another day.

Be blessed child of God.
Brenda Calvince

THE CAPTIVATING BAIT OF COMPLAINING

Sometimes infact many times life gives us reasons to complain, curse, murmur or be dissatisfied. In such moments we find ourselves venting out and nursing our anger.

I have been in this mountain for a while. I always seemed to have a reason to complain. I mean things were not going my way( they still don't at times). I needed change which wasn't coming. For a moment its like my eyes were suddenly opened to see all the negative things that could go wrong and eventually went wrong.You can imagine my reaction to such situations.

Suddenly i began to attract negativity around me. I would sulk and everyone around me would jump to this sulking tune except for my husband who always saw the light at the end of the tunnel.

But wait? For how long will I walk around this mountain? I needed help but didn't know how, where and when to get help. Its when I realized the truth of the matter; I had allowed myself to be conformed to a pattern. That pattern knew not anything about thanksgiving. It only knew murmuring and complaining which became like a 'lifestyle'.I had forgotten what it meant to trust in my Savior and to be vulnerable in His presence. I knew something was a miss with regard to my asking without unwavering faith.

There is a rhetoric question I would like to pose now, When we complain, whom do we complain to? 

I became fed up with my complaining and i realized it was time to get help. I decided to look for sermons  on Complaining and if this be true, I must say the Lord has caught my attention through this man John MacArthur. His writings are quite profound. Listen to this;

"Remember Lamentations 3:39, “Why should any mortal being or anyone offer complaint in view of his sins?”  What do we have to complain about?  So, Paul gives us a general principle in verse 14( Philippians 2: 14-16).  And it really speaks to us at a time when we live in a culture of complaint.  “Do all things without grumbling or disputing.  Do all things without grumbling or disputing.”  What do the “all things” refer to?  The living out of your inward salvation, the working out of your salvation.  Here is the pervasive attitude for the Christians’ experience.  As we work out our salvation, as we live our godly life, we are to do it without ever complaining about the circumstances which God has put around us.  We are to live a life without complaint.  We are to rejoice always, to use Paul’s later terminology, and again I say rejoice.  We are to be content whether we are based or whether we abound, whether we have much or whether we have little, whether we like the circumstances or don’t like them.  There is no place for complaining"

John Mac Aurthor

Imagine if you and I lived our lives in thanksgiving rather than complaining, how would we be? I don't know about you but i feel complaining is a trap/BAIT set to divert our attention from God's purposes in our lives.

Truth is we are living in a crooked and perverse generation. A generation of murmurers and complainers.If we are to be differentiated, then it would be by the way we do our things: WITHOUT COMPLAINING As Philippians 2: 14-16 puts it. 

Be encouraged child of God. I pray this will be helpful as we become thanks givers and shun complaining.

TERINA I WISH YOU REMEMBERED WHO YOU ARE

Terina (fiction name) was very hard working. She was the kind of person who would get to work before the rest of her workmates and set- up her work schedule. She would work even extra hours and leave the office after her workmates. She wasn’t married; hence her work was technically her ‘husband’. Jedidah (fiction name) was the direct opposite of Terina, yet they were best of friends. Jedidah did not see the need of coming to work early, after all, she was good at her work and it didn’t matter how late she arrived because she would always do her part, after all it was her father’s company.

But the sad part to Terina was this; Jedidah earned more than her, she was married and blessed with two beautiful children and as if not enough, her husband was a multi-billionaire. These things never made sense to Terina. Despite her hard-work, her boss never missed an opportunity to lash at her. She would spend her lunch hours sobbing in great anguish. 

Slowly by slowly something happened to Terina. She began to despise her friendship with Jedidah and even ganged up against her. Whenever they were together, Terina would call her other friends and ignore Jedidah, or rather treat her with a lot of contempt. This continued for a while until finally, Jedidah kissed their friendship goodbye. She loved Terina, but couldn’t stay in a jeopardizing friendship.

The question I would like to ask at this point is; why would Terina feel this way? Did Jedidah wrong her? Well we may not be able to answer fully but something was planted in someone’s heart for sure. We can call it Jealousy

I came across a blog that made me realize somehow the truth behind these emotions as explained by Kayla Albert.

“Jealousy is a sneaky bugger—a pot-stirrer who likes to aid the ego in pointing out flaws you’d rather just sweep under the rug. It serves as a reminder of all the success you don’t have, the experiences you haven’t had, the relationships you’d like to have—basically everything that makes you feel “less than.”

The truth is we need not compare ourselves with others.

“Why compare yourself with others? No one in the entire world can do a better job of being you than you.” ~Unknown

Tai Goodwin, the Speaker, Coach and Brilliance catalyst has this to say regarding jealousy

“Clearly, being a "hater" is not a good thing. And how we handle other people's success, especially when things may not be going so well for us, is an indicator of our maturity and belief in ourselves.

So what do you do when you see someone thriving with the opportunities, recognition, clients and wins all that you want for your life or business? You learn to celebrate other people's success.

If you master generating genuine happiness for other people, not only will you find a cure for the envy, which can sabotage your success.

For us children of God, we need to understand what the Word of God says concerning our lives. Many times jealousy and envy find way in our hearts because we are emptied off the Word of God. A scripture that most if not all of us can recite is Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (NIV)

Imagine this is how much our God thinks of us. He is actually working something great for all us. Be encouraged child of God. As a matter of fact, let this be a reason to celebrate the blessings of others! Rejoice with them because the Lord Jehovah, who remembered them, has not forgotten about you.

Listen again to what God says to you and me in Isaiah 43:1-4.NIV (Put your name where Jacob or Israel is mentioned)

But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. 

So anytime when jealousy rises its ugly ahead towards you, rebuke it and instead encourage yourself in the Word of God. Make a deliberate choice to honestly celebrate the successes of others! Your testimony is on the way! I wish you remembered who you are in the Lord Terina.

I'M GLAD MOMY YOU NEVER GAVE UP

This one i dedicate  to the woman who would have chosen to get rid of me while in her womb but she did not. The woman who carried me for nine months, raised me up,fed me, educated me beat me up thoroughly; IL say it again, beat me up THOROUGHLY! But still walked me down the aisle to the man i love:)

Straight from my heart to yours mother. With all my love despite all
This is for you mommy!
 ...
I wonder momy, i really wonder
How you have managed to raise six children on your own
Was it easy?
Was it hard for you?
Are there times you've cried?
What of a smile?

I cant really remember the affluent life you remind us of
Especially when you are sad
But the absence of basic needs lingers on my mind at times
The struggle for meals,
The countless days without knowing peace
As the landlord appears
But momy you never gave up!

Even though the small room couldn't love us all
Yet your love comforted us to and fro
I remember the sad nights of leaking roof
And the sad days
of your sick children with flu
But momy you never gave up!

Now flash forward momy,just recently
You and i, hand in hand
Walking down that aisle
As you squeezed my hand so tight
I couldn't face your smiling face
Because i knew with tears you'd break
But one thing I'm glad,
Is momy you never gave up!

You may not be where you want to be now
But because of your perseverance and persistence,i know you will
Your Maker loves you, that i know
And because of you momy,
For sure i will never give up too!

love you mother; Caroline Martha Olenja:)

GRACE at CALVARY

How many times do we feel insufficient of the Grace of God? Sometimes we feel like we wanna do more to receive that Grace. I have been reading the book of Galatians and I've seen light slowly dawning to my former "works-filled" conscience. To be honest, i feel like i am going back to the basics of Knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection.Its all about the Grace of God.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is amazing! I mean its what makes a former thief,liar, fornicator,murderer name it , stand before a Holy Perfect God with confidence; not because of anything else, BUT because Jesus Christ paid for these sins at the cross of Calvary.

Imagine this too: that the Grace of God abounds more in sin? I know it sound fishy and cultist. But that's what the Word of God says.That where sin abounds, grace abounds the more. And why? So that you and me can be drawn closer to God by His grace. How amazing is that? That even when you sin, there is grace to draw you back to righteousness.

It is God's will for us to enjoy His presence. It is His will to prosper us. But more so, it is God's will to make His grace known to us through our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

There is this song that i have come to love; its called BURDENS ARE LIFTED AT CALVARY. Truly they are. At Calvary we find Grace and Mercy. At Calvary we find Jesus Christ.
This is straight from my heart.There is Grace and Mercy to help us in our time of need.
I hope you are encouraged child of God.