10 Weeks – All is going well
20 Weeks – Green light (it was around this time that I lost my second child Thayu, so I was holding my breath)
From there I relax and take it easy. I even continue with short walks and stretches afterwards; to the great displeasure of my friend Nana who could watch me stretch outside our fourplex from her kitchen window.
28 Weeks – ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE
“The King is Naked!”
That is the shout from a little boy in a parade who was the only person in a kingdom able to speak truthfully to the king.
This story is titled ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ written by a Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.
If you have never heard this story, be my guest for a short summary.
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.
Be hospitable to one another without complaining. (1 Peter 4:9)
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2)
Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that thou wouldst bless me and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldst keep me from harm so that it might not hurt me!” And God granted what he asked. (1Ch 4:10 RSV)
Plenty is a result of blessing. And God is the author of blessing. Jabez was a man born in pain, a man named pain. But one day he arose and called on the God of Israel, he called on the God of all creation; the only one who could turn around his situation, change his name and bless him.
We pray to the God of all creation every time we sing the Kenya National Anthem (consciously or unconsciously). And one of the things we ask of Him and from Him just like Jabez is a very specific blessing: may plenty be found within our borders. Plenty of food, plenty of peace, plenty of unity, plenty of love, plenty of liberty, plenty of justice, plenty of the fear of God, plenty of opportunities to make wealth, plenty of health: May plenty be found within our borders. In the same breathe we ask that He removes away from us harm, that it might not hurt us. We ask for plenty because in one way or another we have known lack, and we did not like it. We ask for plenty from the God of all creation because when we knew/faced lack, He alone came through and brought abundance our way. So we ask Him in confidence and boldness: Plenty be found within our borders.
Prayer:
O God of all creation, may plenty be found within our borders. And God, we ask not just of the physical plenty that ensures we our stomachs are satisfied, we live in peace and prosperity but most important eternal plenty. May the knowledge of God be plenty in our land, may the fear of God be plenty in our land, may the children of God – those called by His Name – be plenty in our land. In Jesus Name, Amen!
Father, I surrender to you this morning. Use me to speak to us. Teach us Father, encourage us, rebuke us, correct us and guide us in your way. In Jesus Name, Amen
Our theme this morning is ‘Living in the Fear of the Lord’. The scripture readings we heard earlier will guide our lesson this morning.
Let us start off with some definitions so that we are clear on what exactly it is we are talking about this morning.
To live in the fear of the Lord therefore implies living under the Lordship of Jesus Christ; walking in obedience to His Word. Just like the old hymn reminds us trusting and obeying moment by moment day by day. It means that every area of our lives, including what we use our data bundles on the phone for is under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Our money, our time, the friends we hang out with, our talks (public and private) our actions are pleasing unto the Lord.
Now that we have a glimpse of what it means to ‘live in the fear of the Lord’ let us turn to our scripture readings and see what the Lord would teach us this morning on the theme.
I see four lessons for us one from each reading.
Two things that keep/can keep us from living in the fear of the Lord
