Small Things Are Great

Thinking about this word BLESSING. What do we mean when we say "God bless you, I'm blessed, they're blessed..." Etcetera? Many times, we associate it with things. A house, good grade, a car, a job, a spouse, children... Occasionally, we associate it with feelings of joy, contentment, satisfaction... etcetera. Other times it's to situations; health, the return of a lost relative restoration/reconciliation of a home... among others. In my reading today and following a conversation I had yesterday with a Burji from Marsabit I see this... Psalm 29:11 The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. This affirms to me that the real blessing is the PEACE of God over a mans life. Looking back at how the priests were instructed to bless the Israelites, there's no mention of things, feelings or situations. It's like the blessing was all about God been happy when He looks at them and Him transferring His peace to them. It reads in Numbe...

Echoes of war, na bado mnacheka kwa viti vya serikali? Bridges burnt while babies beg for bread, U DA ndio wazito wanakula nyama, sisi tukimeza mate, T ears of youth flood the cracked streets of Kenya, E very promise tossed like trash on election day, R uto aka Kasongo, mkono wako sio msafi,   E choes of war, na bado mnacheka kwa viti vya serikali. Bila aibu mnauza ndoto za watoto wetu,  U kweli mnaubandika kwa propaganda za magazeti, T umechoka kupiga kelele hewani, E neo baada ya eneo linaungua kwa njaa na hasira, R isasi za bei rahisi, maisha kwa bei ya raisi,  E choes of war, na bado mnacheka kwa viti vya serikali. Bendera zinapeperusha uongo hewani,   U ma-skini umetundikwa kama bango za siasa, T umebaki kushangilia kwa miguu iliyofungwa pingu, E mbelezwa na ndoto zisizoamka, R udini nyuma mje muone mliyoharibu, E choes of war, na bado mnacheka kwa viti vya serikali.

Upon a hill where three trees stood,   Two thieves hung near what goodness could.   One mocked the Light, with hardened breath,   The other bowed, and found life in death.   Both near the Savior , arms outspread,   One turned his back, one bowed his head.   One clung to pride, to scorn, to loss,   The other clung to mercy's cross.   Both heard the words , both saw His face,   One chose despair, one chose grace.   Distance, you see, is not of miles,   But of a heart that dares or smiles.   We're all as near, we're all as far ,   From heaven’s gate or falling star.   The difference is not time or place—   It’s what we do with offered grace.

Ile season ya kukumbusha teenagers waoge imefika.🚿 (Yes, dear guardians—brace yourselves. The ‘Bathe-or-Perish’ season has landed.) I never used to get it—why Mum would walk in from work, bypass everyone, and go straight to fling open the windows like she’s chasing out demons. Then she’d leave the door open too, like she was giving " something " a chance to escape. 🏃 Kumbe kumbe, tulikua tunanuka. Not just ordinary nuktance— the kind that shifts atmospheres. That room had presence, my friends. Not Holy Spirit kind of presence. This one was... holy stench that can only be detected by adults. Sisi hatukua na house help BTW. You see, she was raising a small army—four boys, born back-to-back like a bad election cycle. My three elder brothers were born in consecutive years. Then came me, the lastborn, with a one-year breather. So yes, we hit teenagehood like a synchronized team—sweaty, smelly, and stubborn. Hapa ata mzazi anaanza kushuku if any of her children are born-again. W...

I'm thinking of something—let me know what you think. There are three men in the Bible who, let's just say, had a very unusual relationship with death. They didn’t exactly go the way of the grave like the rest of us expect to. You know them: Enoch, Elijah, and Yeshua . And when you think about it, these three aren’t just cool stories; they’re blueprints for how we ought to live. First, we have Enoch , whose name means dedicated  or consecrated . Genesis 5:24 drops a simple but profound truth: “Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” No chariots of fire, no dramatic goodbyes—just a man who walked so closely with God that one day, God must have said, “ You know what, just come home with Me .” If that’s not life goals, I don’t know what is! Enoch shows us that a life fully dedicated to God makes death an afterthought. Then there's Elijah , the fiery prophet whose name means Yahweh is God.  You remember his exit—chariots of fire, whirlwind, the full cinematic ...

You must be willing to lose a congregation for the sake of having a Church fellowship. Jesus never begged the crowds to stay when they were DISTRACTED from the mission. Instead, He often spoke hard truths that filtered out those who weren’t truly committed.   In John 6:60-66, after teaching that He was the Bread of Life and that His followers must eat His flesh and drink His blood, many disciples said, " This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it? " And just like that, they packed their bags and left. Did Jesus run after them, apologizing for sounding too deep? Nope. He didn’t soften His message or chase after the crowd—He let them go. In Luke 14:25-33, when large crowds followed Him, He didn’t hand out free fish and bread to keep them hooked. Instead, He turned around and dropped a bombshell: " If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. " Translati...

Today happens to be a day worth writing about. After 2 years of visiting schools, meeting with CU Patrons and students, we finally managed to host our own sub county leaders training. I am overjoyed and tired. My lesson in this journey, is that quick-fixes do not work. All lasting change requires time and effort. Persistence is the mother of personal change. "It's like that classic story of the young boy who travelled far from his home to study under a great teacher. When he met the wise old man, his first question was, 'How long will it take me before I am as wise as you?' The response came swiftly, 'Five years.' 'This is a very long time,' the boy replied. 'How about if I work twice as hard?' 'Then it will take ten,' said the master. 'Ten! That's far too long. How about if I studied all day and well into the night, every night?' 'Fifteen years,' said the sage. 'I don't understand,' replied the boy. '...

I’ve noticed something interesting—most books I’ve read that have close to 0% doctrinal error tend to be written by believers who were or are in their 70s and 80s. You know, people who’ve actually had enough time to marinate in scripture and let the Word beat their opinions into shape.   The more I study scripture, the more I get why this is the case. Understanding the full depth of the text TAKES TIME. It’s a process, not an overnight revelation. Honestly, I keep finding errors in my own past understanding. I look at some of the things I once thought were profound, and I want to sue myself for THEOLOGICAL MALPRACTICE.   That’s why, if you’re about to pick up a religious book, I have some advice: check the author’s spiritual mileage. If they have less than 50 years in the faith, PROCEED WITH CAUTION. A lot of these books are just denominational cheerleading, emotional hype, or sneaky ways to fatten pockets. The “hot takes” fade; the truth doesn’t. Young folks? Write ...

We are in the book of Samuel. Initially, this book was one. But due to it's enormous length and the fact that one single scroll would be too heavy, it was split into two. In this writings we get to see the beginnings of democracy among the Israelites and the pros and cons of the same. We will also have an opportunity to see TWO LEADERS who started very well and ended things in a very bad way through the eyes of Samuel. Having Psalm 3, 16, 32, 51, 106 and a few others at the back of your mind as you read this portion will really help in bringing more understanding to the story we're about to delve in. The author or authors of Samuel are not known. The write-up however helps in telling the story of Eli-Samuel and Saul-David. Eli was a good leader who had to step down or fall down because he honored his household above God and because of this, Samuel was appointed by God. Saul on the other hand was a bad leader. Handpicked by God to lead, but later on leadership went to his head a...

It’s fascinating to see that Genesis to Deuteronomy could essentially be God introducing Himself to mankind. And how does He do it? Through His names—each one revealing a new aspect of who He is. Here’s the order in which we encounter them in the Torah or instructions according to the Jews:   1. Elohim (God, the Creator) – Genesis 1:1 2. YHWH (Yahweh/Jehovah) (The LORD, the Self-Existent One) – Genesis 2:4 3. El Elyon (God Most High) – Genesis 14:18-20 4. Adonai (Lord/Master) – Genesis 15:2 5. El Shaddai (God Almighty) – Genesis 17:1 6. YHWH-Yireh (The LORD Will Provide) – Genesis 22:14 7. El Olam (Everlasting God) – Genesis 21:33 8. YHWH-Rapha (The LORD Who Heals) – Exodus 15:26 9. YHWH-Nissi (The LORD Our Banner) – Exodus 17:15 10. YHWH-M’Kaddesh (The LORD Who Sanctifies) – Leviticus 20:8  11. YHWH-Shalom (The LORD Our Peace) – Judges 6:24 (Technically in Judges, but continuing the revelation).   This grand introduction culminates through a man named Moshe (Mo...

We looked into the book of Ruth and I couldn't help but think of it as the story of the 3 widows - Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth; When Women Loose MEN But Not MEANS. We live in a time where women have apparently been so "empowered" that we sometimes fail to see the place and role of men in their lives. In this book, we see women who had leadership, presence and the guidance of men. It also appears that this men were not lazy men. They provided, protected and participated in their homes. When they returned to Bethlehem, there was land and a house waiting for them and while in Moab, it seems that they never lacked. Naomi needed men in her life, and she had that through her husband and sons. The death of Elimelech comes 10+ years before his sons but Naomi was never worried until her sons died too. Her sons were her men and she was not worried even in a foreign land. The sons later get married and die and this is when the women ask themselves, " WHAT DO WE DO NOW? " When t...

Last year, as I was reading through the Bible, the Lord reminded me of the importance of slowing down and seeing the scriptures for what they truly are. I wrote about it in this article: [Pressing Into God, Not Just MOG](https://mapstage.blogspot.com/2024/11/pressing-into-god-not-just-mog.html).   This year, as I continue applying that principle, something else is becoming clear—something that might just be my focus for the year. I’m beginning to see, in a deeper way, that the scriptures are not about me. They are all about Him.   Now, I’ve said the phrase " history is His story " before, but I’m realizing I hadn’t fully grasped its weight. It's easy to read the Bible as if it's just a record of the patriarchs, the priests, the prophets, and the people in between. You go through Bereishit (Genesis), and it feels like it’s the story of Adam, Chava (Eve), Qayin (Cain), Hevel (Abel), Noach (Noah), Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov, and the rest. But it’s not.   Think ...

You’ve probably seen it before. A minister starts off on fire, preaching the gospel, making disciples, and then—boom!—they’re running a food program, a relief fund, or a rescue mission. Before long, teachings are replaced with sermons on supply chain logistics, and their prayer time is spent writing proposals for donations.  They even write a book about it and market it to raise funds for the charity work. Don’t get me wrong—charity is good. But when charity becomes the ministry, that's off and we then have a problem. A problem that the early church faced and overcame. In Acts 6:2-7, the apostles had a real issue. The church was growing, widows needed food, and complaints were flying in. But when faced with this crisis, the apostles made a shocking statement:   " It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. " (Acts 6:2) Wait—did they just say it’s not right to serve tables? Is charity now bad? Not at all! But it’s not...

We're currently reading the book of Joshua, and my thoughts keep circling back to the meaning of his name—and the striking picture it paints of Jesus (Yeshua). It’s unfortunate that Bible translators chose to translate names. Nouns should have remained in their original form to preserve their meaning and place. Take Joshua, for instance. His Hebrew name is Yehoshua , a combination of Yeho (Yahweh) and Shua (salvation), meaning “Jehovah saves.” And that was his mission—to lead a people who had been under the law, across a barrier, into the promise of God (Joshua 1:2-3). But this promise wasn’t new. It had been spoken long before, when God revealed Himself as Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:14). Notice the wording:   " So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, 'On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided .’"   Did you catch that? "Will provide" —not "has provided." This wasn’t about the ram caught in a thicket. I...

Reading through Leviticus, I can't help but think: " This was a lot of work !" Too many guidelines, too many rules—one had to be smart even in worship, lest you mess up and suddenly find yourself offering a mandatory guilt offering for an accidental sin (Leviticus 5:15). And let’s be honest, some of these laws required serious mental gymnastics to remember. Imagine living in fear that touching the wrong lizard (Leviticus 11:29-30) could make you unclean!   After reading Leviticus 27, where even dedication and redemption had price tags, my brain whispered, " This is exhausting !" No wonder Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30 must have sounded like a breath of fresh air to the Jews:   > “ Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. ”   At this point, I imagine a tired Jew...

I find myself constantly, or at least occasionally, thinking about how so many who claim to be "Christians" are not Christlike—and what’s worse, they’re not even trying to be. It’s heartbreaking how many people faithfully walk into denominational compounds every week but have never walked into the Kingdom of God. Simply put: they are not born-again. You see, unless a child is  born , they will never meet their  Father . A child, while in the womb, is entirely dependent on the mother. They draw all their life from her, and as long as they remain unborn, their world is confined to her and will eventually lead to their death. But the moment they are born, they enter a new reality—one where they can now see, hear, and know their father. They start living.  It’s the same with spiritual matters . Unless you are born again, your dependence remains on mother earth —on natural things, on human strength, on what you can see and touch physically. But when you are born of the Spirit,...

This morning, I am concerned. Not the “where’s my phone?” kind of concern, but the “are we actually doing what God intended?” kind of concern.   You see, we’re currently jogging (not walking, jogging) through Deuteronomy—a book I like to call “When God Repeats Himself.” And let’s be honest, when someone repeats themselves, it’s either for emphasis or because the listener wasn’t paying attention the first time. Spoiler alert: the Israelites weren’t paying attention.   Then I get to Deuteronomy 11:2-7, where God specifically highlights that He is addressing the parents, not the children. Later on, He gives them a clear job description:   - Teach my laws to your children. - Talk about them while sitting, walking, lying down, and rising up. - Tag my words on your clothes, walls, and gates. ^JNM Now, let’s slow down before we miss something important. The Israelites had three generations at play in Deuteronomy:   1. The generation that came out of E...

Let’s circle back to our inheritance conversation (previously on this thoughtline... https://mapstage.blogspot.com/2025/01/inheritance-wasters.html) before I get too deep into Ramadan prayers for our Muslim friends.   This year, I’ve been doing an in-depth study of a few books of the Bible, and Genesis has been quite the eye-opener. One thing stands out—God was working in a family and through a family. The covenant He made with Abraham wasn’t a solo project; it carried through to his son Isaac, then to Jacob, and eventually, many generations later, brought forth the Messiah. Clearly, family matters to God.   Now, today I was reading Genesis 24 and noticed something striking—it contains the last recorded words of Abraham. And guess what? His final words were not about himself, his wealth, or his retirement plan. Instead, he was giving instructions about something that would shape his son's future— MARRIAGE . He called his most trusted servant and made him swear (yes...

In our Bible reading marathon 2025, we have arrived at the book of Deuteronomy.   Have you ever noticed how high school or college reunions, old photo albums, familiar songs, and visits to childhood neighborhoods stir up memories and emotions? Some memories bring joy, while others carry pain we would rather forget. As the years pass, the sharpness of unpleasant events tends to fade into our subconscious. Yet, there are moments when remembering is necessary. Mistakes must not be repeated, commitments must be honored, and recalling key events can inspire us to move forward with purpose.   Deuteronomy is a book of remembrance. It calls Israel to reflect on who God is and what He has done. The generation that God brought out of Egypt—those aged 20 and above at the time—was now nearly gone. They had left Egypt, but they never saw the Promised Land. Why? Their constant murmuring, lack of faith, and public disobedience led to 40 years of wandering in the wilderness until th...

In the last two weeks, I have been engaged in conversations around the topic of " church hurt ." I put that phrase in quotation marks, and I intentionally spell church with a small c. Why? Because there’s a distinction we often fail to make. When we look at Jesus' recorded conversations, the word Church appears only twice in His teachings. In Matthew 16:18, He declares, “I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Here, Jesus establishes the Church as an unstoppable force under His leadership. The second mention is in Matthew 18:17, where He speaks of Church discipline, reinforcing its authority in dealing with disputes. But when people speak of church hurt, they are rarely referring to this divinely established entity. Instead, they are talking about pain caused by a church —a congregation , a denomination , or even individuals within an organization . The Bible defines the Church in two primary ways: the Body of Christ(organ not organization)...

Parenting is not just physical care—it is spiritual warfare. The story of Abraham and Lot (Genesis 18-19) teaches us that we cannot assume our children will follow God simply because we raised them in the faith. We must intercede  for them as well. Below is a structured prayer guide based on this biblical account to help guardians stand in the gap for their children.   1. A Prayer of Surrender: Acknowledging God’s Authority. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25) Prayer : Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that You alone are the righteous Judge. You see the hearts of my children better than I do. I surrender them to You, knowing that only Your wisdom, mercy, and love can truly transform them. Help me trust Your ways even when I don’t understand them. Declaration : I release my children(insert names) into Your hands, Lord. You created them, and You know their future. I will not live in fear but in faith that You are working in their lives.  ...

On February 18th, 2024, a small but significant movement began—a home fellowship. Unlike a typical church service in a formal compound, this gathering happens in someone’s home, creating a family atmosphere of intimacy and spiritual growth.   To be honest, this was not part of my grand plan. When I moved here, my focus was on school ministry as I prepared for the next mission station. But you know how God is—He loves plot twists: throw that guy in a fish's mouth, spit him out and plant a tree for him. 😂 He used a neighboring family to reorder my steps as I continue with the initial plan. One day, they approached me and asked: "Sasa kwa sababu wewe ni mchungaji, na sisi hatujakuwa tukienda kanisani kwa muda, unaweza kuwa mchungaji wetu?" I wanted to say no. But their request carried a certain spiritual weight—a prompting of the Spirit. I prayed and sought counsel from my brothers in the faith. Their response? Do it! So, one year ago, this fellowship was born. Happy annive...