Matthew 15:21-28 – the account of the Syro-Phoenician woman interacting with Jesus
In my mother tongue we have a proverb – “a child is its mother”. I just wish I could translate it better to communicate the depth of this saying. Bottom line the child belongs to the mother in life and in death, in good times and in bad times, through thick and thin; a mother would debase herself, do anything so long as her child benefits as a result.
Identity.
Who are you?
Why are you here?
I have found that one’s identity and one’s purpose are closely intertwined.
Since writing my first book, I have had the privilege of being interviewed severally. The question, ‘Who is Joyce Mwangi?’ is always the first question on set. I have previously fumbled over this question despite knowing very well it will be asked, for some reason it always gets me off guard.
To the best of my memory the very first time I was ever asked to speak without notes on a subject was in high school during the inter-house music and drama festival. The scheduled speaker grew cold feet and I was asked to speak, I forget the subject but am pretty sure I still have the certificate because guess what, I won in that category.
As life has progressed I have had numerous opportunities to speak in public. And sadly along the way I lost the art of speaking impromptu on any subject. I now prefer to research, to study, to write down my speaking notes and follow them through on d-day. That has become my comfort zone, the place I have been flourishing in for most of my adult life.
We turned one yesterday!
As I look back to the one year since I started blogging, I can only stand and say EBENEZER – thus far the Lord has brought me, has brought ‘His Creation’.
One year ago yesterday, I wrote my first article on this blog. Since then, I have written a couple of series and by the grace of God one of those is already published as a book. Available on Amazon Kindle as well as in print; hallelujah! To God be the glory great things He has done.
My dear friend Babatomiwa Moses Owojaiye is the one that gave me the final push into blogging. Being the wiseman he is, he added an interesting bit “aim for publishing books in the long run”. I thank God for him, and for using him to push me into this space where I must confess I am thriving. James Kisinga is the man behind the scenes, he does all the technical work of keeping this blog running, updated and secure. I am glad to have met this exceptionally gifted young man, and to have him walk with me in my blogging journey has been an immeasurable gift. A shout out to Madam, Santinah Nyagah. An encourager per excellence. A woman willing to share her shine and her wisdom and knowledge with me as I started out into the blogging world. You are a gem sister, and I am so glad to call you my friend.
Yesterday, by God’s grace I had a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the birthday of His Creation surrounded by an amazing army of women. Thanks to Dadasphere and Valentine Njoroge, I got a platform to ‘be seen and be heard’ talking about the Kenya National Anthem and its potency to turn around the destiny of our country. The blog has borne a published book, that published book has borne a speaking and teaching space; I am in awe of God’s kindness.
Through the articles I have written on this blog, I have also had opportunity to minister to many people and meet some of those in person. I am grateful for the meaningful friendships that have been borne out of this blog. Most importantly, I am grateful for the lives God has touched through my writing.
In the beginning of 2017, the Lord spoke very clearly to me and said:
GoogleAnd He did that and continues to as concerns ‘His Creation’ and my own life.
Happy birthday His Creation.
Here is to many more by God’s grace and for His glory alone!
34 years ago today, I was born!
A year ago on a day like this, I was not as excited as I am today. I was feeling lost, feeling like I was just existing and flowing through life without any impact. Well, what do you know God my Father my friend came in and gave me reassurance that slowly wiped any doubt I had about my existence and purpose: Isn’t He kind? He spoke to me very clearly and let me know that He was doing something new in my life; I have a testimony that He has done and continues to do exactly that.
Today, I am excited! I am happy to be alive. I am content with what I am and where I am at: Contentment
16 Thus says the Lord,
who makes a way in the sea,
a path in the mighty waters,
17 who brings out chariot and horse,
army and warrior;
they lie down, they cannot rise,
they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
18 Do not remember the former things,
or consider the things of old.
19 I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:16-19)
2017 didn’t begin so bright for me but it did get brighter and brighter as the year progressed. And the promise of God doing a new thing was one that I saw fulfilled over and over throughout the year.
I started blogging. Wrote my first series on the blog. The series turned into a book. First launched on Amazon Kindle then as a hardcopy. Met some wonderful people in the process of my writing and publishing. Did a couple of TV and Radio Interviews, got my story published in a newspaper and a leading magazine. A year of very many, many firsts for me – “I am doing a new thing . . .”
During the year 2017, I also learnt alot. Learnt on the job quite literally and made my share of mistakes as well. One of the mistakes I made is aptly summarized by the image below:
GoogleI spent a lot of time running around like a headless chicken, trying to take all the new things in. Trying to fit in and follow what everyone who I though was successful in blogging and publishing was doing. Lot of time and energy was wasted. Lots of lessons as well learned along the way. All leading back to the path the Lord would desire that I walk in.
So at the end of the year, I took stock and prayerfully made a few decisions that I am excited about for the new year 2018.
When I envisioned this series ‘A-Z Praying For Your Children’ I was very excited. My main aim was to work on my children’s faith and Christian walk. 😁😁😁😁 Little did I know, it was to be a double journey.
His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
(John 2:17)
O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1)
Where there is no vision, people perish,
but happy are those who keep the law (Proverbs 29:18)