What a beautiful name

You were the Word at the beginning
One With God the Lord Most High
Your hidden glory in creation
Now revealed in You our Christ

What a beautiful Name it is
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King

What a beautiful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

You didn't want heaven without us
So Jesus, You brought heaven down
My sin was great, Your love was greater
What could separate us now

What a wonderful Name it is
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King

What a wonderful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

How sweet is your name, Lord, how good You are
Love to sing in the name of the Lord, love to sing for you all?
Death could not hold You, the veil tore before You
You silenced the boast, of sin and grave
The heavens are roaring, the praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again

You have no rival, You have no equal
Now and forever, Our God reigns
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name, above all names

What a powerful Name it is
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King

What a powerful Name it is
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

You have no rival, You have no equal
Now and forever, Our God reigns
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name, above all names

What a powerful Name it is
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King

What a powerful Name it is
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

GAINING WISDOM FOR LIFE

"God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore."
1Kings 4:29

Solomon has been for ages the epitome of human wisdom and understanding, he spoke according to scripture 3000 proverbs and 1005 songs. People came practically from all around the world to listen to the unparalleled wisdom given to him by God.

I am glad to say God is still in the business of granting his humble children, wisdom overflowing and beyond measure. The Bible says "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives generously without reproach, and it will be given him" James 1:5

Which area do you feel you lack wisdom in life; in your academics, business, relationships etc. Name your lack and ask the author of Wisdom, wiser than even Solomon - Jesus Christ our Lord (Matthew 12:42).

Jesus said these words "The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here." Matt 12:42 The wisdom of Christ is all surpassing for in him "..are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Col 2:3

If in humble faith we ask for heavenly wisdom we shall receive it (Matt 7:7), if we seek it for his glory we shall find it and if we knock confidently the door will be opened and we shall enter a realm of unparalleled Wisdom that will make our world a better place. Amen

However for us to gain access to this celestial vault of Wisdom we must have an access code obtainable only at an individual level, it cannot be shared but must be claimed for oneself. Jesus put it in this way "I am the way, the truth and the life no man cometh to the Father except through me" John 14:6. Jesus is our bridge to wisdom and many great blessings but we can only access them when we have accepted him as our Lord and personal savior.

If you would like to dedicate or rededicate your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, here's a special prayer I wrote just for you, read it and claim it as your own. Amen
Special Prayer PDF

Lessons from Absalom's Rebellion Subtheme: Finding True Happiness Part Two.

Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Pride swelled up in the heart of Absalom and he fell, may it be our prayer that such an attitude of self glory does not reign in our lives. A church elder I greatly respect Elder Tenson Kaliza once mentioned something quite moving to me that has never faded from memory since. He taught me of the three things that can cause a preacher's downfall: 1) Glory 2) Gain 3) Girls these he termed as G to the power three (G³), quite fascinating isn't it. Let me elaborate a little bit more:

Glory-When you are praised greatly by the sons of men, flattered and admired it can be a grave concoction for disaster. Beware of the desperate wickedness of the human heart it can take you by surprise; render all praise and glory to the one alone who truly deserves and can handle it - Jesus Christ.

Gain-Accolades and riches often follow the successful and excellent. God may have very well called you to greatness and power but if you're not careful and prayerful the silver and gold will get to your head and sabotage your faith in God. As you gain wealth always remember it doesn't Define you, it doesn't Save you and it doesn't bring true Happiness. To live a truly satisfying life we must connect ourselves to the Lord of life, the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Girls/Guys-This one according to scripture rings especially true for guys but can equally apply to ladies too, a beautiful maiden has many a time led to the down fall of many great men. Beginning from Adam to Abraham to Samson to David and even his son Solomon. A great weakness has been succumbing to the unrighteous suggestions of the opposite sex.

If you desire to stand firm in this life pray that God gives you the spiritual strength and stamina to love Him supremely above all else period. Let us NEVER give in to wickedness in an attempt to please a fair maiden or a sweet spoken knight in shining armor. Be careful It could be your girlfriend, boyfriend or spouse who you idolize, take heed lest you fall. Love them genuinely and fully this is God's ideal but at the same time regard the Lord God Almighty as your ultimate guide and standard in life.

To sum it all up I can simply say to live a meaningful and happy life stay focused not on yourself, your riches, your supporters, your companions or anything else; rather stay focussed on the Lord, the giver of your life. Wealth has it's proper place, appreciation too and not forgetting the loving relationships that God desires us to have. But ultimately in all these blessings keep Christ Jesus at the center of your life and you'll find true happiness. Storms may arise but with Jesus in the vessel you can smile at the storm. Amen.

Lessons from Absalom's Rebellion Subtheme: Finding True Happiness. Part One

INTO THE STORY

How sad it must have been for David when his son Absalom championed a civil war against him that led to his own death. Absalom's beauty and public popularity drove him to incite a rebellion against his Father, a scenario mirroring the fall of Lucifer who coveted God's throne in heaven. (Isaiah 14:12-14)

Here is a warning to us all to be careful when we are praised because of our beauty, wisdom or prestige. In this life we may become Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants, Engineers etc all these being prestigious professions thus the temptation to be high minded and proud is very real rather than being carried away. Let's remain humble and God will exalt us.

When Absalom perished
David cried "O my son Absalom, my son Absalom! I Would have preferred to die instead of you, O my son Absalom my son my son!" It was surprising how David reacted when Absalom and many of his enemies perished, he often wept bitterly.

Inspite of conspiring against his Father to kill him and take over his Kingdom David still loved Absalom his son and proudly called him so. An important lesson here is the undying Love of God for even his most wayward children, no matter how far we think we have gone in sin God is still yearning in love that we come back home to him.

All through Chapter 18 of 2nd Samuel David was so careful in seeking the security and welfare of his rebellious son, and so it is with us; God is looking for us as he did Adam "Where are you my son, my daughter? Come home is God's persistent cry.

You & I know best our faults and failures, sometimes we feel unworthy of coming back to our Fathers house. Without a moment of delay let's hearken to God's call journey back to Him, his Church and our family of faith.

Interesting to note; there's a famous Adventist song in Zambia called 'Chikondwelelo' talking about David weeping and mourning for his son; this story in 2Samuel 18 is the background to those loved stanzas countrywide 😊.

To be continued...
Part 2 Coming Soon

A LADDER TO PARADISE

A Ladder to Paradise
By Matiya Ndengi

The world we live in today barely comes close to a Paradise; everyday the wails of mourning greet our ears, the unveiling of another horrific murder like the recent Colorado shootings.Terror, trouble and trial are the order of the day. Sickness, suffering and sorrow breaks the hearts of millions around the world.

What's our consolation and hope? Do we have any hope of escaping the inevitable trials of this life? The sad news is that in one way or another we shall feel the pangs of a broken world but there's hope; Jesus said "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33.

'weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning' Psalms 30:5 The bitterness of this world is known by our God and he too grieves with us as we mourn, he is deeply pained by the suffering in a world he created to be perfect and pure. "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalms 34:18

Many are hurt in thinking God has not been fair in allowing so much pain, we blame God for the terror and confusion in our world. Where is God? Is the question on people's minds when tragedy strikes and why has he allowed this calamity to befall me? "Jesus Wept" John 11:35 is a short yet potent scripture to help us; we can appreciate the fact that Jesus who is God manifest in the flesh (John 1:1,14) felt the cruelty of this world first hand and wept even for us in his day and identifies even with our feeling of abandonment when bad things happen.

The cry of Christ on the cross reveals our first lead on uncovering the mystery of suffering in our world, Jesus cried 'with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Matt 27:46. God will never leave us nor forsake us but for Christ it was a different story; in order to save us Christ had to face the pain of separation from God because of our Sin both physically and intellectually. He felt truly forsaken so that we shouldn't, "he was bruised for our transgressions and the punishment that brings us peace was upon him".

'Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.' Isaiah 59:1,2

"Upon Christ as our substitute and surety was laid the iniquity of us all. He was counted a transgressor, that He might redeem us from the condemnation of the law. The guilt of every descendant of Adam was pressing upon His heart" Desire of Ages pg 753

Thus the common quagmire of suffering is solved and can be understood in Christ; the presence of Sin in our world is the cause of the terror and pain we see and experience. God however has made a Ladder of Escape to Paradise through the death of his Son who sealed our redemption with his blood and suffered in our stead. Oh what great hope we have then, we need not live in fear and helplessness; in times of sickness we can proclaim "by his stripes we are healed", in times of grief he reminds us "I am the resurrection and the life" in times of financial stress we can exclaim "But my God shall supply all my needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus"

Why is there suffering in this world, it's because of sin which we can trace back to eden "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23. One day soon Jesus will return and make things right again, ushering us into an indescribable Paradise of joy and peace, it's my prayer that we shall make our lives right with him by accepting him as our Lord and saviour, come as you are, lay your burdens at the foot of the cross and He will lift you up. Amen

HOME WORK:
1. 1st John 1:9
2. Matthew 11:28
3. John 11:25
4. Isaiah 53:5
5. Phillipians 4:19

GIANTS MUST FALL

Joshua 14:14 "So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly."

Caleb was a man of great faith and trust in God. He had brought forward a good report to the children of Israel concerning Canaan that they were able to overcome while the others thought themselves to be as powerless as grasshoppers (Num 13:34).

Later on when finally the 40years of wandering in the wilderness was over, Caleb as courageous as ever though 85years old declared to Joshua "Give me this mountain" (Joshua 14:12) this mountain had three Giants according to Joshua 15:14 but he cared less because he knew the capacity of his God was comparable to non and hence no Giant could defeat him if the Lord was with him.

We too maybe facing Giants in our lives, Giants of unemployment, Financial difficulty, sickness, death, academic pressure...name your giant I will name my God: *The Lord God Almighty* before whom no Giant can stand. Things may be seemingly hopeless but remember with God "nothing shall be impossible" Luke 1:37 TRUST in God. Here's an Acronym I thought of regarding Trust in God:

T-Take Him at His Word
R-Rest in faith that God's in control
U-Understand God's ways are best
S-Surrender your life & will to Him
T-Tap into his Grace through prayer

Here's a verse I want you never to forget whenever fearful Giants arise to scare & frighten you in life:

Eph 3:20 "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" AMEN

Have a blessed week, trusting in God alone to help you overcome every obstacle or Giant by his unchanging, unfailing grace.

COUNSELS FOR THIS LIFE

Reading Joshua 13 as part of this week's daily Bible reading was quite thrilling, as God led me through his Word I've uncovered precious bounty for living a better Christian Life. Read for instance the first verse below:

Joshua 13:1 "When Joshua was old and well advanced in years, the LORD said to him, "You are very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.

Here I see a man who has served the Lord all his life, I recall the time he was sent as a spy to the land of Canaan and with his comrade Caleb they presented a good report encouraging Israel to be brave & take over the land by God's strength. Joshua though now advanced in years stayed faithful to God, may we by the Grace of God resolve to be strong and steadfast in the way of the Lord till the very end, "true to duty like the needle to the pole standing up for the right though the heavens fall"

Investigating further with the Holy Spirit as my guide I scrutinized verse 8 of ch 13:

Joshua 13:8 "The other half of Manasseh, the Reubenites and the Gadites had received the inheritance that Moses had given them east of the Jordan, as he, the servant of the LORD, had assigned it to them."

Here's the thought that struck me Moses Joshua's predecessor had done his part in serving the Lord & passed on the button of Leadership to Joshua, my comment to us all being current & future leaders let's always make preparations for Leadership transition, we shall not be leaders perpetually hence lay a good foundation, leave a legacy to be remembered that you were a faithful "servant of the Lord" and pass the mantle of leadership gladly to those you have mentored or who God appoints that they must take over the leadership of the organised body you led.

Final thoughts I have can be derived from Joshua 13:22 kindly read below:

Joshua 13:22 "In addition to those slain in battle, the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam son of Beor, who practiced divination."

Here is a lesson too important to overlook, we are told as Israel conquered Canaan Balaam the prophet who earlier practiced divination in attempt to curse Israel (Num 22:5,6) was slain. In this life no matter how hard things become financially, marital matters, academically NEVER NEVER EVER meddle with spiritualism & sorcery it brings more harm than good and may very well cost you your inheritance into the kingdom of heaven (Revelation 22:15). Rather trust in the Lord to meet all your needs & in his grace he may fulfill the desires of your heart as well "Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

Have a blessed day, meditating upon the Words of the Lord.

If you would like to join in reading God's Word daily you're welcome. Upon request I can send you a PDF copy of the bible reading guide am using it's awesome.