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.

COULD IT BE THAT GOD IS SPEAKING?

COULD IT BE THAT GOD IS SPEAKING?

I have come to realize that stories speak. Personally they do, and I like sharing people stories as well this being one of them. Listen to thisJ

Anna was an orator. She loved speaking, and she was skillful in the art of Public speaking. Public Speaking was my favorite subject in campus and; I bet it was to Anna too. But another thing about Anna is the fact that she loved the Lord. She was keen to listen to the voice of the Lord and would always ask herself this question, “Is the Lord speaking. What is He saying?”

A very well-known organization where Anna was working discovered this key ability that she had. In that case every time there were inspirational seminars or any other ventures requiring speech giving, Anna would be called forth as she did exemplary well.

One time Anna was called to speak to a certain congregation. One thing she would always do before speaking to anyone was seeking the Lord. She would ask God, “What are you saying Dear Lord, Please speak” The Lord would give her a message and Anna would tell it as it is. This time it wasn't different. God indeed spoke, and the congregation was amazed!

Of course the organization invited Anna again and surprisingly enough, Anna spoke the same message. Fortunately, there were some who had not heard Anna’s message prior and they were amazed at how Anna was gifted and at the same time how the Lord used her.

One time the organization had a very special function with dignitaries and Anna was again called forth to speak. However, most of the invited guests present were not even the congregation Anna was well familiarized with. To their surprise, Anna spoke the same message without altering any word, not even the conjunctions therein. To add on to that, part of the congregation could actually help Anna speak and others walked out because they felt they were tired of hearing the same message. But Anna continued. She did not lose heart.

After the function, an agitated section of the invited guests felt it was time to approach Anna and inquire if she valued speaking and whether she had any form of originality and continuity in her speeches. To their surprise, Anna responded and this is what she said,

“You may think I am mad. But this is the truth. Every time before I deliver a speech of any kind, I usually seek the Lord for his advice and leading. It will surprise you that for other congregation, God gives different messages but for this particular one, the Lord has been leading me to deliver this same message. The reason being, there are hearers and no doers. Once His word is acted upon, He will give us the next message.”

Could it be that the reason why you and I are hearing the message over and over is because we have done nothing about it? Is God speaking to you today? Have you acted to His call? If not, then this is the time to act.

James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

THE POT WITH HOLES

THE POT WITH HOLES

This is a story I heard today and I thought it would be encouraging to share it.

Once there was a woman who used to go to the river early every morning to fetch water from the well. Though her pot had holes, the woman would still journey to the river with other ladies to fetch water. But by the time she reached her home, the pot would be half full.

The pot with time became weary especially after seeing how other pots would carry water while full and reach their destination while still full, something that had never happened to it. This made the pot to be very sad.

One day the pot decided to ask the owner,

“Mama, why do you still bother with me and yet I don’t benefit you much. If at all, I make you travel for more trips to fetch water unlike other women. Why don’t you get rid of me and get yourself a whole pot mama. I won’t feel bad.”

The woman, sad by the words of the pot looked at the pot and carried it to the well and told the pot to be very keen and observe every detail of their journey. So they went and the woman as usual, drew water with the pot and carried it. But as they were walking back, the pot observed that the path they always used had very beautiful flowers planted on it, and its water would fall on all the flowers .But something special happened such that every time a single drop of water would fall on the flowers, they would dazzle and sprout. Again the pot observed another wonder; that the path other women used had no flowers. Infact it was dry and dusty.

Once they reached home, the pot asked the woman,

“Mama, I noticed something today. That where we usually pass, there are flowers on the ground and every time water pours on them, they dazzle and sprout unlike the other ground where whole pots pass”

The woman with a smile on her face said,

“Yes! Exactly so my pot. I bought you with holes because I knew only you were unique to water my flowers but at the same time carry some water for me to use. The beauty of my flowers is as a result of your work. Never despise yourself my pot and never compare yourself with other pots. Only you can do what other whole pots can’t. You are unique and I love just as you are!”

Well, I think many times we are like the pot with holes. We spend time thinking and battling with our weaknesses, failures and misfortunes that we forget to whom we belong. This is what 2corinthians 12:9 tells us

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me”

There is no-one who is useless in this life. We may be weak yes, but even in our weaknesses, Christ’s power is made PERFECT in us! What an assurance!

Be encouraged today Child of God. You are unique. You may be broken but Lord Jesus Christ loves you to death! Literally He died so that you may live and your life is precious to Him. Hallelujah to King Jesus!

Victory is assured with Jesus Christ!