“Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.”

September 2016

DO WE KNOW WHEN GOD IS CALLING US?

It is not an overnight event;  God reveals it to those chosen gradually over the years.
BUT  talents and gifts to serve others is a major sign of God’s calling,
God’s Calling  brings us a deep sense of fulfillment and happiness.

As one writer once wrote that: "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."

Because of our human nature “it is easy to dismiss the voice of God when He speaks to us. We may even turn it away and think we are just confusing it with something else. It is so easy to pass it off as being something other than what it really is that we delay hearing what God has to say to us and we delay God’s blessings on our lives”

When we read In First Samuel 3:7, “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.”

What is this to our understanding?  Does it mean that Samuel did not know the Lord? Knowing the Lord is a very basic and fundamental part of serving Him. Listening to God is not always easy, but it is always rewarding. Listening means taking time to seek His will and focusing on what He has to say. We will never find peace of heart until we take the time to attune our attention on Him.

We will never know what God is trying to tell us if we do not listen. There are those out there who never listen to Him simply because they don’t want to. Let us develop this a habit of saying “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.”

Assumption one:

For example Suppose Samuel had not listened to God when he heard Him calling his name.

Assumption two:

Suppose he had just rolled over and gone back to sleep. He could just as easily have chosen to ignore the calling of God, but he didn’t.

In John 10, the Lord Jesus Christ said, “My sheep know my voice, and they follow me.”

We need to be ready because “God may be calling your name today, but for whatever reason, you have not responded: continue to search God’s calling like Samuel.

For some reason, you have chosen to tune Him out”  remember what happened to Jonah;

We need to remember that, God does this by calling each of us by name.  It might not be an audible voice in the night as it was for Samuel, but God does call out our names to come and follow Him and make a difference in the world.  To bring hope where there is no hope.  To bring light to where there is darkness.  To build a better world

The questions which we need to ask ourselves are:

 Do I seek to find God’s voice in the voices of those who know me and who love me?

 Do I take any criticism or concern as an opportunity to examine my motivations and find myself strengthened rather than weakened in accepting Gods calling?

WE NEED TO BE READY TO HEAR GOD'S CALLING;

Emmanuel Turuka

BE PROUD, JESUS SPEAKS FOR YOU EVERY TIME

June 12

One of the greatest blessings each member of the New Creation enjoys is that we have Jesus as our Advocate with the Father. Jesus is our way through salvation He is the one who comes to our aid when we sin, to stand by us and plead our case before God, interceding for us upon the throne of God, as we confess our sins

It is true that No preacher, no priest, can be a mediator between man and God. JESUS CHRIST IS OUR ADVOCATE. As the book of Heb.7:26 “the only priest that Christians need, as their advocate, is the high priest JESUS CHRIS”T

If you think that you are holly you don’t need a mediator between ourselves and God but, because of our sinful human condition, we do still need an advocate. We still need one to plead our cause when unintentional sin enters our lives, when inherited human tendencies begin to soil our robe. And this is the role of advocate that Jesus plays in our lives.

When we read Mark 11 24-25 Jesus said “I tell you therefore everything you ask and pray for, believe that you have it already, and it will be yours. And when you stand in prayer, forgive whatever you have against anybody, so that your father in haven may forgive your failings too”

2 Timothy 3:12 caution us that “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted; 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. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” 2 Cor. 12:9 – 10

Acts 14:22 gives us assurance that. “It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God” The advocate understands you and your case better than you do. Jesus, as our advocate, stands in our place and speaks on our behalf, able to shed his light on us and revealing the truth about us in him.

He is not a slick lawyer trying to get us off, stretching or giving no heed to justice or having to manipulate or cheat the justice system. Our advocate with the Father is the one who is righteous or in right relationship with the Father and with us. What a great advocate to have then, one who knows already what it is to be righteous and one who can make us righteous. 

It is important, too, to remember here that a crucial part of obeying God is trusting Him, counting on Him. Trust is the foundation and command so that all of our obedience is to flow out of a trust that He is active and good and present. And, as we trust Him and act on that trust, we see that He is trustworthy, we come to know Him better. As we all know it is difficult if not impossible to have an intimate friendship when there is no trust. Trust between us and God generates happiness, hope, confidence, and security. The more children trust their father, the more confidence they have in trusting God.

Have a wonderful Sunday and God Bless us as we acknowledge that Jesus is the only advocate towards our salvation and joy life after this life Amen

Emmanuel Turuka

CRYING IS ESSENTIAL PHENOMENON IN OUR LIFE

APRIL 17

It is true that Crying is a more complicated process than one would at first imagine;

Is crying accepted in our society?

There are many culturally acceptable reasons to cry in society .The first accepted reason to cry is probably death. Grieving includes crying and often times it was believed that if someone did not cry is such event is looked as a witch; and at the same time women are visualized crying more than men traditionally, this implies that some culture defines where and when it is acceptable to cry and even determine the length of crying and mourning in the event of death of a love one;.

On the other hand crying is the outcome of our normal life style when someone is embarrassed or threatened, laughter can defuse the situation by deflecting the anger and accepting humiliation.  

All in all we need both laughter and tears to help us function in society. Crying relieves stress, reduces hormone and chemical levels in the body, and helps us return to a calm state. Laughter relieves stress, stimulates healing, exercises certain parts of the body, and helps in human bonding. That is why crying and laughing is beneficial to us both emotionally and physically.

CRYING AND BIBLE TEACHINGS?

The Bible through John 16:20-22: reminds us that “Verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.”

Jesus, speaking here to his disciples, leaves them with a beautiful promise. He tells them He is going away, but He is not going to leave them comfortless as He plans to send the Holy Spirit. They later will cry at His departure, yet when they experience the new birth and the infilling of the Holy Spirit, they will rejoice.

The bible here teaches us that when we have a burden for others and become sorrowful over them, it is usually the Holy Spirit crying through us over the situation.

When we read 2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

What we can learn here is that if we cry in self-pity it brings depression and fear; but crying in the Spirit brings life and joy after it is finished. Just as a woman cries to bring forth a child during labor, yet she is rejoicing as soon as the child is born.

Also Psalm 126:5-6, tells us that “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” "In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me." Psalm 120:1,

The Bible helps us to understand that no matter a road you will take in looking in this matter  crying is the first step towards salvation, Jesus cried before our salvation, (his death) therefore ''Crying is a natural emotional response to certain feelings, usually sadness and hurt. BUT it opens deep inside ourselves and we think positively about creating a bridge of humiliation and Grace."

EMMANUEL TURUKA

A BRIADGE TO SUCCESS REQUIRES AN AGGRESSIVENESS ATTITUDE

April 16

“You need to be aggressive to succeed. Not in a literal sense but aggressive in ideas, by aiming high and getting people to follow you”.

Aggressiveness is discussed with these behaviors:

Accomplishing your mission without fear or Manding what people around you are saying

Pursuing one’s aims and interests forcefully

The habit of taking positive action which leads to a successful mission.

Some intellectuals relate aggressiveness with connectivity to  the vision and mission that can make a big difference in someones life.

In our daily life aggression is always viewed as a negative quality when we think the behaviors like bullying; killings, and etc.

Is aggressive practical in the bible? The bible teaches us that we must learn to have aggressive faith in order to receive anything from God. Even in the bible the majority of the people that received a miracle from God were never passive. Most of the time, they did not sit back and wait for anything to happen or come to them, but they were rather direct and forward, looking for what they are looking for.

If you read the Bible the most observant and most aggressive person present would be the most likely one that got healed.

Did you know that your aggressive desire was a factor for your receiving anything from God?

Are you beginning to learn that your passive attitude is probably why you are not healed or receiving what you asked God for?

This lesson of aggressive faith is definitely still true for us today. For example, in Matthew 7:7 Jesus implied that if you were not seeking that you were not finding anything.

Seeking is never sitting and doing nothing. Therefore seeking is an act of aggression and effort to search. Certainly the one that got healed at the pool made extraordinary effort to be the first one in the water. Therefore, God taught the people that being passive is never a good quality to possess for receiving from God by faith.

For example,” the woman with the issue of blood did this by physically touching the hem of the garment of Jesus. Her physical touch of His garment was her pre-established contact point and the exact moment in time where she stopped being aggressive in her faith, having believed that she had now received what she desired. Therefore this woman was totally aggressive to receive right she said was If I touch His garment I will be healed”.

Did you see how aggressively she fought her way through the crowd of the other people that were also trying to touch Him but because only she had faith attached with her extreme aggression did she receive her healing when they did not. The entire crowd was aggressively touching Jesus but the others only had aggression lacking any faith.

Therefore as we prepare ourselves in in fulfilling our day to day routine we need to aggressive in pursuiting our  goals or desires with firmness in seeking the Almighty God. Always we need to remember that an aggressive faith is a receiving faith and a receiving faith is always an aggressive faith. God always what us to be aggressive to receive what we are praying for.

Emmanuel Turuka

Always watch where you are going. Otherwise, you may step on a piece of the Forest that was left out by mistake

April 15

Every day, many people are prevented from accomplishing their dreams due to these imaginary obstacles. Looking around, there are numerous instances of fears that keep people from getting what they want every day. Because of the fear they fail to watch where they are going why because  the world is the way it is because it's the world that we, in a sense, have asked for.

We are reminded that God doesn't change things right now  but he told us to be careful in whatever we are doing;  his main job for us is to give us what we asked for:

When we tried to make life work without God.  It is easy to step on a piece of the forest that was left by mistake. Why do we do that? Probably because we've all bought the notion that there's something more valuable, more important, than God. For different people it's different things, but the mindset is the same: God isn't what's most important in our  life.

We we don’t care about him we end up in bad experience which includes  the painful results due to the fact that we refused to give God access and influence over our lives.

Revelation 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Therefore every day is a day of preparation in a Christian's life: preparing for the return of the Lord.  This is the great hope of every Christian's heart -  to be found fully prepared when the sudden, unannounced return of the Lord Jesus takes place.  Like the maidens who watched over their lamps, or the servants who watched for their master's return, we are reminded today to keep our lamps burning likewise. Let us prepare ourselves in watchful teaching and obedience, in suffering and in our love for each other in the Lord; otherwise we may step  on step on a piece of the forest that was left out by mistake by devil

Emmanuel Turuka

MIND IS EVERYTHING;

APRIL 15

God has created us in such a way that our actions follow our thoughts; a man's life is determined by the nature, or character of the man. A man's nature and life are determined by the contents of his heart.

From this context it is easy to met people who are dominated by their passions.  Or you’re meeting a person who is full of a lot of pride are controlled by beauty. Others are controlled by lust. Same are controlled by wealth; while others are controlled by materialism.

The mind is like a farmer’s field. If a farmer plants corn he will get corn. If he plants wheat he will get wheat. It would be stupid for the farmer to plant corn and then expect to harvest wheat. It is simple; whatever you plant is what you get. If you sow to the flesh you will reap corruption. It is impossible for any person to sow to flesh and get a spiritual harvest. God has given you the ability to control what you sow and thereby control what you harvest.

As Romans 8:5-8 "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set our minds on the flesh leads to death, but to set our minds on the Spirit leads to life and peace. That is why the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile toward God. “Indeed, those who are under the control of the flesh cannot please God."

You need to apply the law of your mind what you put in is what you get out. It is IMPOSSIBLE to put worldly things in your mind and get spiritual results out.

We know human beings can change their lives by changing the thoughts of their mind. That's how you change your life. If an unrighteous man wants to abandon his sinful ways he has to abandon his sinful thoughts. It's just that simple. Isaiah 55:7, 8. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. 

If you want the way to be right then your thought ought to be right. It starts with the brain. One reason God’s ways are different than our ways is because His thoughts are different than our thoughts. Well, you can think with the mind of Christ. We need and we can have the mind of Christ.

What goes on in our heads is very, very important. You can control your actions by controlling your thoughts. How we respond to those thoughts determines our eternal destiny. Watch your thoughts, they will become words THEREFORE:

• Watch your words, they will become actions
• Watch your actions, they will become habits
• Watch your habits, they will become character
• Watch your character; it will become your destiny!

You see, your future is in your mind. You are becoming what you think about in your private moments. If it isn't good, ask God for a New Heart! Ask forgiveness for the past wallowing in muck. Invite the Holy Spirit to take charge of your mind.

Emmanuel Turuka

LIFE IS LIKE A CAMERA

APRIL 14

You know why God wants us to focus? Because Life really is like a camera; it is all about focus. Life is more about choice in every step which we make. Our choice leads us to focus on the positive or the negative issues; as a human being we know that life is short.

The bible reminds us that however we see and do we are advised to  Focus on what the bible teaches us to  control especially good things  which add  positive value to our lives; Good things will increase our good memories and positive experiences.  Focus on what is important is what bible wants  us to when we use  our camera.

As the book of James 3:13-18 tells us that Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

The question is that why God wants us to focus because He is focused on us too.  As Psalm 139 1-3 “You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and You know all about me.  You know when I am resting or when I am working”

How God is always focusing on us? It is through his attention on us.  Attention is an incredible expression of love from God. We are so blessed because God’s attention is constantly with us. 

Focus as we know it is one of the most difficult issues in taking a picture when you use a camera. The focus needs concentration and commitment  and it is so easy when we take bad picture the answer is the the focus was not quite correct. As the bible says Colossians 3:2    Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners,     nor sits in the seat of scoffers;  but his delight is in the law of the Lord,     and on his law he meditates day and night.

Our minds tell us what we think, our wills tell us what we want, and our emotions tell us how we feel. The Bible refers to our minds, wills, and emotions

1 Corinthians 15:51-53, but we must wage a daily battle against our "flesh nature." For example, how often do we say or hear things like, "I know I shouldn't say this, BUT" or "I know I shouldn't do this, BUT" or "I know I probably shouldn't eat this, but I'm going to eat it anyway"? Our "flesh nature" pushes us to do what it wants to do, and we often obey our "flesh" even when we know better!

Focus reminds us that we should not  run our life based on what someone's opinions. In our fast-paced world, it is easy to get caught up in the daily grind and lose sight of our true purpose in life

 As Romans 12:1 tells us that : "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?" 

Luke 9:23: "Then he said to the crowd, 'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.'’

Romans 6:13: "Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God."

Therefore the best way to stay focused as we take our pictures  is to commit our self to our creator.

EMMANUEL TURUKA