LOVING GOD

 I do not want to start defining what love is because I know we all have the same concept, the very basic definition. Let's go straight to what the bible says about loving God. In fact, the bible urges us to love God, and it is termed as the greatest commandment. Mathew 22:37-40 says that " Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." NIV
The issue of loving God is a commandment not an option, I can say it is a decision that you have to make, whether to love God or not But you have to know that since it is not an option, there are critical consequences in what you choose to do.

Why do I say that loving God is a choice you have to make? The bible says that "If you love me, you will obey my commandments." John 14:15. Loving God will demand some things from you, will refrain you from some issues and that is why not everyone really loves God even though they may claim to love him. When Jesus said if we love Him we will obey His commands, it means obeying His commands is a result of loving Him. 
The issue is, let it show that you love God, both your words and deeds should reflect your love for God.

Let us look into these other verses from the book of Deuteronomy 30:19-20
 "I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live. And may love the Lord your God, obey His voice, and cling to Him. For He is your life and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." AMP
God wants us to choose life and in so doing, we will be able to love God, to obey His voice and cling to Him!
Loving God is about following His commands, it is about self denial, the thing I love about the issue of self denial is what we read from Matthew 10:39 "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" NIV. It is about losing your life for God! Many people are afraid to live for God, they think it is some kind of a burden, but the truth is, what you think you will lose when you decide to live a fully God led life can not be compared to what you will gain when you decide to love and follow God.
Most of the times we go before God in need of something, let us learn to go before God just to gaze upon His beauty, to love Him, to feel His love for us. In everything you do, do it in God's presence, and that is what the bible tells us in Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." NIV
If I have to summarize all these, I can say that loving God is living for God. This is because, if you live for God, you will want to get closer to Him, to know more about me, to please Him.
It is my prayer that we get to start living for God and follow His commands, loving Him with all that we are and with all that we have! God bless you so much in Jesus name!!!

TALENTS AND GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.....(5)

Today we are winding up a series of sermons concerning talents and gifts of the Holy Spirit. So far, we have covered the meaning, the differences  and the similarities of the two. Today we are going to look at three things:

1. Where do they come from?
2. For what purpose? and
3. How do I discover them in me?

These are the last questions that I promised to answer in this lesson and a promise is a promise. I pray that the Spirit of God takes us through and help us understand what ever He is intending to teach us today!

Where do gifts and talents come from?

 It is an obvious truth that the gifts and talents come from God Himself. Even though we have see in the previous lesson that they come in different ways i.e. the talents are inherited through natural birth meaning talents are inherited, it is God who releases the talents in that particular family line. And the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given by the Spirit of God to who ever He pleases.

Talents and gifts are from God. In the book of 1 Corinthians 14:1 the bible says "...eagerly desire spiritual gifts,..." NIV. While talents are inherited, spiritual gifts are given to us through the Holy Spirit. And the bible tells us to desire them.

For what purpose?

This is very important. It is  not enough just to have gifts and talents and sit back at home admiring yourself! God gives for a reason. He has a purpose for your life and these are important for you to accomplish whatever purpose God wants you to.

The bible says, in 1 Corinthians 12:11 "All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines." NIV The Holy Spirits determines how to give, and he says to each one of us meaning, if you are a believer, the Spirit of God has gifted you with something, as He determines and so, there is a reason to why you are gifted or talented with something!

Moreover, the bible says in " Ephesians 4:12-13 "... to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." NIV

What I came to know is that, when God gives you something, He wants you to be a blessing to others. Use it to glorify God. Use it for the body of Christ! Lift Him up.

How do I discover them in me?

It is a very important as well as most common question in many people. Sometimes it happens you do something for the first time or several times and you discover that it is something that you wish to do every night, everyday!

You might want to try a number of things to see what suits you best concerning talents let's say different sports or any other activity that you feel might be something for you.

The very important thing is, ask God to guide you through every step you take and to lead you to where you belong.

I would love to share with you some few tips I learnt somewhere during a seminar on how to confirm whether now this is it or not.

1. Peace and joy: If what you are doing is really for you, you will feel the fulfillment and the contentment and that will give you peace and joy.
2. You will love what you do: There is no way you will not love what you do without extra effort. Effort is needed in many things but doing what you love will not torture you.
3. You will spend much of your time doing that: If what you do really suites you, you will enjoy and spend much of your time there.
4. Good results:  If what you do is really for you, you will get good results. A point to note, even though at first things might not go well, you will still see the light ahead and have the energy to continue.
5. People will appreciate what you do: Here I do not mean everyone but most people will respond well on what you are doing. You will be a good testimony and people will want to learn from you.

This is what I have for today, I hope you have enjoyed the lesson and most of all, you were able to get something that will take you to another level in Christ Jesus.

I have a principle of appreciating whatever small thing I have and use it for God's glory. I know that God will bless it and it will multiply. I encourage you to do the same. Remember the story of the man who gave talents to his servants (You can read it from the gospel of Mathew 25:14-28). Use whatever God has entrusted you, however small it may be, God will multiply it! And remember in the last lesson, we said they both grow as you use them. The more you use your gifts or talents, the more they grow.

God bless you and thank you so much!!!

MEET the amazing LINDA LUSAJO

I have been interested in meeting young people who do great things especially the ones in Tanzania, whether they are famous or not so as to make their stories heard as an inspiration and encouragement to others who are still thinking of taking off to pursue their dreams in fulfilling God's purpose.

Here is a fine lady with character and talent.  She is simply, gifted! What she does really impressed me. Her name is Linda Lusajo, a second year student at the University of Dodoma.

Being in the same university, I saw her a couple of times before actually the day when I met her at one of the album inauguration concerts where she was in-charge of the decoration issues! Trust me, she is very good!!! I admired what she had done that day and we had a long conversation of what she does apart from the studying.

With her own words, here this from her

"Cooking is my heart BEAT, find your own rhythm...

To me cooking is something I have grown to love and enjoy doing and everyday that passes by, I fall in love with it even more. Well, it's as if I was born to do only this if you know what I'm saying...

It all began as I was around my 4-8 years, I had a pretty wood made doll named Katelina, little me couldn't pronounce the name so to me Katelina was "keki" and so that's how the name "mama keki" came to be. Up to this day, my close relatives and  friends tease me with that name, as for me I find it to be a blessing which was spoken upon me and finally I came through.

Starting from the age of 12 years it is when I began to seriously practice my passion, putting staff together and creating a funny meal or desert started being my hobby though I lacked some skills but through the years I have grown to be pretty good at this, as the say "practice makes perfect."

Well, with time I have developed more passion for making pastries than savory foods and so baking has been a big part of my life for sometime now. And through the years, I have made birthday cakes, I miss you, I love you, send-off, graduation, I'm sorry as well as get well soon cakes which come in different sizes, shapes and flavors of your liking.

 And so it is a pleasure to share with you all my wonderful creations and would also love to hear your ideas and suggestions."

All these were made by Linda, with the experience and the passion she has concerning cooking, specifically, baking. It is an inspiration for real and it is amazing. You can contact her, as she has said if you have any idea or suggestions. You can also press some orders... The cakes delicious!!!

Here are her contacts: 

Mail: lindalusajo@yahoo.com

Mobile: 0712076350

Facebook name: Linda Lusajo

Thanks for sharing my dear Linda, God bless the works of your hands. You are amazing. Keep shinning bright!!!