Mama Pilistina is now 108 years old. She has lived her whole life in rural Tanzania and most of that life she did NOT know her Lord and Saviour!
On March 12, 2017, ACrossMission visited her; she heard Adda sing "Break Every Chain" which was translated into Kiswahili. Pilistina began to ask her son (himself about 85yrs) about Jesus and he led her to Jesus. Pilistina came to confess her belief in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit on July 22, 2017. There is much joy in heaven when God's children return to Him.
A song, sung to her by Adda in Kiswahili broke her heart and she was inspired to seek Jesus. We must never give up hope. Sometimes it takes a few years, sometimes 107. But with prayer and persistent love, every chain can be broken and every child of God brought home. Jesus is the unique Truth, the Life, and the Way. Bwana Baba Asifiwe, Bwana Yesu Asifiwe, Roho Mtakatifu Asifiwe. Mungua awabariki sana.
In July Pilistina accepted Jesus as her LORD and as her Saviour ... so today, for the first time in 107 years of life, she celebrates the incarnation of Jesus Christ and we celebrate with her. It is a very good day indeed.
Advent asks "Who is this Child?" and Christmas asks us to be transformed by the stunning answer.
"For to us a child is born, to us, a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” – Isaiah 9:6
Who is this Christ of Christmas? "He is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in Heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together. And He is the Head of the body, the church. He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be pre-eminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in Heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister." That is the answer given to us by the Apostle Paul in Colossians.
On January 1, 2015, I asked on Facebook what verse we might pray into 2015; what verse would we like to pin to 2015? Colossians 3:14-17 came to the fore; it was a big ask. God seeks a people - and as a people, as God's people let us seek Him. Let us pray that as He walks among us we will not push Him away. Let the Christ of Christmas be the Christ of Christians! 2000 years ago He walked among us (literally the Bible says He pitched His tent among us), yet we refused Him. He is in the world, the world was created by Him, but do we know Him? (click here)
Do you know HIM?
I pray we know Him.
I pray we know the Christ of Christmas. (first published in 2015 ... there is nothing new under the sun, yet all is made new under the Son)
I struggled with this question. I don’t remember ever NOT believing and NOT knowing my need for Jesus – I do however remember the ridicule of my beliefs – "use your common sense! This ridiculous idea of God is dead." Such was the 70’s.
But here is the thing – the proposition “not Jesus,” mathematically and scientifically seems to me, to require no less outright faith than the proposition “Jesus.” That is, both positions need a rather equal measure of gut faith.
So, the mathematical problem persists. Oxford University mathematical physicist Roger Penrose is reported to have calculated that for the universe to have randomly occurred as it is, is a 1 in 10 to the power of 10 to the power of 123 chance. How small a chance is that? Penrose puts it this way. It is a “number which would be impossible to write… even if you were able to put a zero on every particle in the universe, there would not even be enough particles to do the job.” Now, after we have this remote chance of a universe, then we must factor in the chance occurrence of DNA then spontaneously combining to form life, in an environment that supports life, and then that life randomly generating complex organisms, which in turn must simultaneously evolve two complementary sexes capable of procreation. Mathematically, it all just seems... improbable.
God tells us we will not understand His ways; they are simply outside the scope of our experience.
That brings us to today.
Why does God Love us? Why would He? We defy and deny Him. We grasp and clutch to be what only He is. Yet He Loves us. And because of that Love, He put off all He is, and stepped into this world seemingly helpless, powerless, and hopeless. This movement in the symphony of creation would lead to an improbable victory claimed from apparent defeat; a victory that brought life from death. His Love is beyond common, and sacrificial Love is beyond sense.
God is persistent. There is nothing common in the sense that knows the Love that draws the finite to the infinite, and the ordinary to the extraordinary. God never desired we be common; His will for us is quite uncommon. Yes, it is beyond our capacity to comprehend; but how could it be otherwise? How could an awesome intention be made ordinary? How could the indescribable be described? It is certainly beyond a common capacity to accept ... yet, humbled before majesty, some do accept. In that moment, it just makes uncommon sense.
"Where is it? Where is the Candle?" Where is the tall white candle of Christmas - there is no new candle in this picture!
What need do we have of it?!!
In our Advent contemplation candles represent the growing light - but on Christmas we have THE Light the darkness can not overcome. Christ is the “Light of the World” which the darkness of sin cannot overcome. As Christ's Advent, His Coming draws us onward we light more candles and more darkness is dispelled. In this way we are lead to contemplate the Love Story that is God's mission to redeem His people. On Christmas there is no need for the image because we have the original, there is no need for the analogy because we have the authentic, there is no need for the likeness because we have God. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth."
Let us not be too fixated on the candles. There is no need of candles because there is Light and we are witness to the Light on this wonderful day. The Light burns eternal.
22nd day of Advent December 24th, 2017 Luke 1:51-53
"He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty."
The Greatest Gift by Adda Edwards God loves us. “Us” as in He loves me and you and everyone. God loves us. “Us” as in those who don’t love Him. “Us” as in those who we don’t see as worthy of love. “Us” as in those with incredible riches and those in incredible poverty. “Us” as in those who submit themselves to God and those who worship false Gods. “Us” as in all of us; all people, all sinners alike.
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.
Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—
not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” (Romans 8:38)
We can ponder the love of God, but we will never fully understand it. God, who created the northern lights, four-leaf clovers, sound frequencies, and all of Australia's wonderfully odd creatures loves us so deeply that He would rather die than be without us. And how do we respond to the Love of our awesome God? It seems we take more time to study the love that’s shown in Disney Pixar movies than the love that’s unceasingly poured out all over the pages of God’s Word.
Do we dare open the Bible and read about the kind of Love talked about in Luke 1:51-53? A Love that would strip us of every idol and every distraction from God. Do we dare read about a God that convicts us in what we regard as our highest worldly success? Do we dare seek a God who will empty me of "me" after I have worked so hard at becoming "me"?
God, I pray we will open the Bible, because in there we will see the One who emptied Himself of everything for our sake. The One who left heaven and was born in a stable. The One who Loved and was murdered because of it. The One who by emptying us of mortal idols fills us with eternal life.
God’s love isn’t the same kind of love we see in movies. It forces us to get our hands dirty and dig deeper into what it means to be His disciple. It creates discipline, strength, and perseverance within us while teaching us how to truly love others in the same way. His Way challenges us, but it is the Way of perfect Love.
“... My son, do not make light of the Lords discipline,
and do not lose heart when He rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines those He loves,
and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son.” (Hebrews 12:5-6)
From God's throne in Heaven to a manger in Bethlehem to the Cross at Golgotha, we witness the emptying of the self because of Love. This is how Jesus, the living Son of God, showed us Love and taught us, Love. Jesus turned the way we think upside down. Wisdom became foolishness; suffering, joy; wealth, poverty and death, life. Everything Jesus said and did challenges us to see, hear and love as He does.
Tomorrow is Christmas. The best gift ever given or received is Love - Love God and Love each other as He Loves us.
Μαραναθα, be blessed Krismasi Njema! Mungu awabariki sana (Merry Christmas! God bless you)
Guest Blogger: Adda Edwards Adda is a missionary and worship leader, a singer-songwriter and a dearly loved member of the ACrossMission family. Adda has traveled to East Africa with ACrossMission where she has taught and lead worship. Adda is also a founding member of Compass North. Follow them on FaceBook and YouTube. Adda - thank you for this wonderful reminder of God's unfailing love. Follow us on Facebook:ACrossMisson Check out our Website:ACrossMission
As Advent 4 begins, we light the candle of Joy. We thank God that because of all that He is, we know true Joy - the Joy of the certainty of Hope, the Joy of His peace and the Joy of being Loved.
(together in Christ we light the candle of Joy)
O LORD, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
Isaiah 42:16 "And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them." If you are interested in other missional opportunities visit ACrossMission - we would love to share this ministry with you.
21st day of Advent December 23rd, 2017 John 7:40-52
“Surely you have not been deceived too, have you?"
We are drawing to the end of Advent - this season of seeking Jesus, the Light of God in the World.
Christmas is soon upon us. After sunset, the Church global in the dark of this Holy Night will praise God, awestruck and amazed at the awesome love of God who humbled Himself, took on human form and was born into human history.
What Child is this? Who is this Jesus?
We are not the first ones to ask these questions!
The Gospel is not shy about relating stories of real people struggling with this very question. Who is Jesus? The Gospel is not shy about challenging us, asking who we are? Where do you, Gospel reader, place yourself in this story?
The cast of characters in John 7 are from a far off time ... yet they are recognizable even today.
The uncertain and divided crowd - seeing and hearing Jesus; sensing reality and truth, their spirit is pulled toward God, yet they do "not know the law" and so stand accursed distanced from their God. These are the unprepared - unable to understand who this Jesus who stands before them is.
The Temple police - they are the ones who hear the word, but the cares of this world, the concerns for career, the desire for riches, the comfort in status quo and the pride in position choke the Word. They know enough to know truth when they hear it - yet other things enter in and deaden them. These are the unwilling - afraid of the transforming Jesus.
“The chief priests and Pharisees” - these are blinded and deaf to the facts before them. They are powerful and consumed by their lives of privilege. These are those who work away at worship, yet fail to recognize God when He stands before them. These are leaders, lost in leading; unable to read and respond to the signs of the times. These are the understanding - refusing the reality of Jesus.
Nicodemus. He knows Jesus. Yet he is paralyzed by peer pressure and ridicule. Nicodemus pretends morality, yet is unwilling to commit to truth. He seeks to be reasonable and rational and to rely on religious processes to reveal the reality of Christ, rather than risk himself. This is each of us - we who go-along-to-get-along; we who refuse to defend Christ because religion is a private personal matter; we who are unknown to our Lord.
Where do you, Gospel reader, place yourself in this story?
Let us pray that as the sun sets, and we ask what Child is this, we will truly seek something more. Let us pray that we will be known by the King as His follower.
20th day of Advent December 22nd, 2017 Hebrews 1:1-14
“the Name He has inherited is more excellent” What is our relationship with Jesus? What does it mean to say "I am Christian"?
The Gospel of Christ tells us the Christian lives in Christ, through Christ, for Christ, and with Christ – each statement points to our relationship with Jesus Christ. It means something to say "I live in Christ" – in short, it means that I am no longer my own, "I" have become His. It means something to say "I live through Christ" – it means "I" no longer go into the world as me, "I" go to reflect only Him. It means something to say "I live for Christ" – it means that “my” desires fade as His desires brighten. It means something to say "I live with Christ" – it means that “that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God inChrist Jesus our Lord.” In these proclamations (and many others) we declare we are completely bound to the Lord of lords, the King of kings and the God above all idols. It is important we hear this clearly. The pluralist societies in which we now live distort our Christian thinking. Pluralist philosophies and anthropologies would have us understand and accept as perfectly valid non-Christian worldviews that center upon our self, our family, our goals or ambitions, our hopes or dreams, other definitions of the One God, or even our own imaginings of who God should be. As we are drawn into accepting these ways of thinking and understanding, we are subtly, step-by-step turned from Christ. Our lives soon no longer reflect the Light of the world, rather they reflect the world. Slowly, we are drawn onto that easy road towards the wide gate that leads away from the Christ of Christmas.
As we approach Christmas, we will hear many proclaim, “keep Christ in Christmas” … but as we move beyond Christmas day let us truly and humbly ask what it means in my life to “keep Christ in Christian.”
Jesus Christ is unique and to be His means something. The Name He has inherited is most excellent; to claim it and arrange ourselves under His banner and His name means something and looks like something.
There is no other name - do more than sing it - truly live it! Let that be our desire for 2018 and into eternity.
19th day of Advent December 21st, 2017 Hebrews1:1-4
FOCUSING ON THE JOY & NEW HOPE DURING THIS ADVENT SEASON by Rev. Denis Robert, Anglican Church of Tanzania The more clear our understanding of the Scriptures, the more clearly we will see our hope in Christ’s birth. The more clearly we see our hope in Christ, the more joy we will know. The more we take time to learn what God has revealed to us about what He has prepared for us, the more joy we will find in that hope of Jesus' birth.
Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit - Joy is evidenced in our lives when we are walking by the Spirit of God rather than by our sinful flesh nature. The fruits of the Spirit are characteristics of God that were evidenced in the life of Christ and are gifts that God wants to build into our lives.
In Isaiah 53, the coming Messiah was described as “a man of sorrows.” "He was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. He was one from whom people hid their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed him not."
Jesus had every reason to live as “a man of sorrows.” Yet this is not the picture we have of Him in the Gospels. In Hebrews, we are being told that the Christ of the Gospels is a man of joy, in spite of the conflicts and obstacles that confronted him. Jesus Christ perfectly carried out the will of God, and His life reflected God’s character. Even in His passion, Jesus knew joy.
The birth of Jesus Christ is the key to our joy. We don’t have to scrounge up happy feelings from inside our own hearts; our joy comes from Jesus Christ. As we live seeking Him, joy resides in us. Joy is inherent in being a Christ follower. We are out of step with the world as we follow Christ; the world mistreats us because it mistreated Him. But nothing separates us from God's Love and in that Love we know joy.
The basis of our joy is our confidence, that regardless of what is going on around us, God loves us, and He is our source of supply. We can have joy in the midst of dark circumstances and in the midst of need because our eyes are focused not on our circumstances or on our need, but on our God, who is greater than both. As we keep our eyes focused on God and the hope that is set before us, He promises us we will run this race of life with hope and joy.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him during this holy Advent. May you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
In Jesus' name.
UBARIKIWE SANA
Guest Blogger: Mchungaji Denis Robert of Buganjo and Sowakologi Parish, Diocese of Rorya, Anglican Church of Tanzania. Rev. Denis is an energetic evangelical minister of the Gospel. We have worked together among the Luo and Kuria, bringing the Light of the Gospel to many a dark place, hurting heart and lost soul. I have benefited a great deal from his love and friendship. Asante sana (Thank you) Mchungaji.
JOY WE FEEL AS GOD'S PEOPLE by Rev. Donald Okumu, Anglican Church of Tanzania PSALM 125 is a psalm of Triumph. The theme of this psalm is our safety and security within God's will. At some point in our lives, everyone feels uncertainty about the future. We all fear for the future of ourselves, our families and our fortunes. Yet we hear God's promised security and safety; He promises that He will surround us, protect us and shield us now and forever. We hear God's promise even as we stand amidst our fears for our tomorrow in the world, in our country, in our community, and in our family. Surrounded by trials the people of God live with a deep joy in our heart because we know God is triumphant. God gives us true protection and security. Even as evil pushes against us we feel joy and laughter because our God is faithful and He is our God alone - we feel eternally secure protected by God.
As the Church we gather so we can talk with each other and support each other and remind each other of God's promises. As we gather, the Lord hears us and listens to us. He sees our beginning and He knows our eternal end. He draws us to Himself! What source of Joy this is! To be surrounded by our family in Christ and surrounded by our God - we rejoice in Him. As the people of God who revere Him, we experience the presence of The Son of Righteousness rising among us, loving us and bringing a healing calm to our anxious hearts. The people of God have all the reasons to have joy because in our fellowship God's Love manifests, and we share in Love as we rejoice in Him.
Sometimes, it can be hard to be around happy people if we are feeling low. Yet in the Church, we are reminded and lifted up by God's promises. If we hear God clearly we will understand that anything suffered now is so small when compared to our promised future. Be encouraged. Allow yourself to celebrate with others even if you may be suffering. Share in Joy together and share always God's blessings with each other. Remember, God created us to be in community - so seek out your family in Christ. Don't wait for people to talk to you, take the initiative and go and talk to them. As we press into the Body of Christ, as we spend time with each other, as we learn to love through good and bad, and as we chat sharing our stories, we begin to see the larger story of Immanuel - God with us. In Immanuel, we know we are secure in Love. In Immanuel, we delight. God is with us. His people have an opportunity to manifest the joy of God in your direction; this is for you to begin to delight in God and His people. Here we are safe and secure so we delight.
If you return to the Almighty you will be built up;
if you remove injustice far from your tents,
if you lay gold in the dust, ...
then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver.
For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty
and lift up your face to God. Job 22
Delight yourself in the Lord,
and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37
When our hearts are rightly focused; when our hearts yearn for God, then we will know His Joy.
Praise the Lord for He is good ... let all the earth sing!!
Hallejuha
Μαραναθα, be blessed
Guest Blogger: Mchungaji Donald Okumu
The Diocese of Rorya, Anglican Church of Tanzania.
Rev. Donald is a learned evangelical minister of the Gospel, recently ordained as a Deacon. Donald comes from Kenya, yet the ministry God has called him to areas in Tanzania along Lake Victoria, into the poorest and most challenged communities in the region. Thank God for providing such a teacher in such a dry and weary land. Follow us on Facebook:ACrossMisson Check out our Website:ACrossMission Daily Readings:Lectionary Year B
17th day of Advent December 19th, 2017 Acts 3:17 - 4:4
To HEAR THE GOSPEL AND LIVE by Rev. Cn. Mwita Ezekiel, Anglican Church of Tanzania
What great Love we are given in Jesus. Peter recounts our sin and guilt - a guilt that leads us to crucify the Lord of life - Jesus Christ. Peter walks us through Scripture showing us that the words of the prophets had all been fulfilled in Jesus. Peter shows us our sin in the words of Holy Scripture. All we had done was announced through God's prophets.
Then Peter goes on to talk of Jesus in the most interesting language. Jesus is the One who is appointed to redeem us - to freely lay down His life for us. Such was His abundant Love that He would endure our sin for us. Now, He sits in heaven until God`s time is fulfilled and He will come to restore creation; again, just as is spoken through the prophets.
Peter reminds us that though we are guilty, because of God's Love for us, we remain heirs of hope; meaning that we will inherit Life as promised in Scripture. Through Jesus, God's covenant with Abraham is unfolding and all people on the earth shall and are receiving Gods blessings (see also Gen.22:18).
Dear brothers and sisters, we acknowledge our ignorance, we acknowledge our guilt, we acknowledge our weakness and sin and God's response is Love. God gives us the blessing promised to Abraham - restoration of all peoples on earth regardless of their color, tongue, rich or poor, to right relationship before God. God gives us the ultimate blessing of His Holy Spirit in Love to guide and teach us and restore us to life in Him (3:19;2:38).
May God bless us and encourage us as we continue witnessing Him in all the world.
Amen.
Μαραναθα, be blessed
Guest Blogger: Mchungaji Canon Mwita Ezekiel Hami
The Diocese of Tarime, Anglican Church of Tanzania.
Rev. Ezekiel is a passionate evangelical minister of the Gospel, holder of the Christian Education Desk in Tarime region and a recent graduate of Uganda Christian University. He has a heart for the Kuria people and especially for the plight of women and children in that pagan culture. We thank God for providing such a teacher among the Kuria. Follow us on Facebook:ACrossMisson Check out our Website:ACrossMission Daily Readings:Lectionary Year B
16th day of Advent December 18th, 2017 Ephesians 6:10-17
"Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power."
I cannot remember ever not knowing that among the most loving acts one person could perform for another, was the act of sharing God's Word. In many of Paul's letters, Jesus confirms this as Truth - to share the Gospel is the greatest expression of Love. But, loving in this way is costly. Christ followers will be attacked; attempts will be made to stop the proclamation of God's Love.
Jesus tells us He is with us always - He does not leave us defenseless though He sends us as sheep among wolves. Jesus promises us the protection of His Truth and His righteousness. Living faith shields us and the knowledge of salvation guides our thoughts. All this spiritual armour is defensive - we will be attacked but Jesus promises to envelop us in His armor.
In Ephesians 6 the Word of God is imagined as a Sword. It then is what we must carry into the world both as a defense and as the weapon against darkness.
"Why did you so suddenly decide to become a priest?" That question and my response is a much longer conversation than we have time for here. But one reason was biblical illiteracy - I heard things being preached that seemed contrary to the Bible. Another reason we might call hypocrisy - I saw blatant, persistent and unrepented behaviours overtly contrary to Christ. Another reason, inequality - the condition of God's people was not as God desired, yet the Church seemed quite content with a worldly status quo. I realized that if I even had the Sword of God in my hand, it seemed corroded and dull.
If we are to love as Jesus loved and proclaim God's Love, then the Word of God, the Sword in our hands must be sharp, precise, clear and ready. We must be skilled in its use. We must be prepared to defend against evil words that are hurled against us, not with 'our' words but with God's Word; we must be ready and equipped to pierce the darkness.
I pray that in this season of seeking Light, we will all speak the Word with integrity, clarity, and accuracy.
15th day of Advent December 17th, 2017 Luke 1:46-55
He has done great things
At one time in my life, I believed I had everything. A wonderful family, a great job, a beautiful home, vacations every year. I was content. At least I thought I wasuntil my world changed. Fifteen years ago, my parents died less than two months apart. I was 41 years old and I felt lost and empty inside. A good friend visited one day along with her pastor’s wife. I had met her many times before but her compassion and love that day covered me in my grief and I will never ever forget it. God used that moment to reveal Himself more fully to me, and I wanted to know Him more. Never could I have imagined the journey He would lead me on, and the more I open my heart and put my trust in Him, the more I am amazed and humbled by His goodness.
Jesus saves. As followers of Jesus, we are called to share His saving Love and to bring Hope to a hurting world – to people who hunger for something more. Isaiah 61:1 says:
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners”
Through Isaiah, God shared His plan to exchange beauty for ashes and gladness for despair. He clothes us in “garments of salvation” because He loves us so much! The greatness of that Love is revealed in how He chose to step down from heaven to earth as a tiny baby. God chose Mary for this purpose, and Mary’s Song of Praise (Luke 1:46-55) reminds us of God’s faithfulness. It is a song of trust and obedience, but also one of thankfulness and joy.
"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Luke 1:46-49)
How about you? Does your soul magnify the Lord? Is your heart open to God and available for His purpose? The lyrics of the song “Be Born in Me” capture the essence of trust and surrender, not only Mary’s but our own:
And before my head agrees, my heart is on its knees; Holy is He; blessed am I. Be born in me…
Glorify Him this Advent season. He is truly Holy…and we are truly blessed.
Guest Blogger: Cathy Edwards, known across the ACrossMission ministries as Mama Mchungaji, is a founding member of ACrossMission and truly a pastoral voice. When others focus on the storms of ministry, she speaks of Jesus and raises our eyes to the One who calms the storms.
As we begin the third week of Advent, we light the candle of Love. We thank God that His Love is freely offered to be freely received. We weep for those who turn away - we celebrate all who turn seeking to be Loved and to love. We renew our commission and commitment to reflect God's Love in the world by living and proclaiming The Gospel to all the world.
(together in Christ we light the candle of Love)
O LORD Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee; Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
Isaiah 42:16 "And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them."
If you are interested in other missional opportunities visit ACrossMission - we would love to share this ministry with you.
14th day of Advent December 16th, 2017 Habakkuk 3:17-19
THE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH AND REJOICING IN THE LORD
Habakkuk spoke to God for the people, while most prophets spoke to the people for God. Habakkuk lived in times where being faithful was very difficult; in times where God's ways were hard to understand and when God's wisdom seemed foolishness. Yet Habakkuk never doubted God's purpose - in the questions, confusion and contradictions there IS God's wisdom, love and protection.
"Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will triumph in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation..."
We see a lesson in Habakkuk. We must see past the present to a purpose. We need to truly believe that if everything we relied on failed, if everything that gave stability to our life crumbled, God would still be faithful. We trust and obey Almighty God even in the storms and chaos.
Rick Ezell says "faith believes that God is too kind to be cruel. Faith believes that God is too wise to make a mistake. Faith believes that God knows best and does best in His time. Faith believes that God is in control, and therefore we can rest easy. Faith believes that when we cannot trace the hand of God, we must trust the heart of God." In order to stand firm especially in this season of Advent, a season that points us to the turmoil and chaos of the end times, we need to truly KNOW that God is at work in the world. We trust and humble ourselves and let God be God.
Let us be glad and rejoice because God is God above all gods, King above all kings and Lord above all lords. We are His people and through every moment and experience, He is transforming us into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
Let us have the steadfast faith of Habakkuk.
Let us rejoice in the coming of the Lord.
Amen.
Guest Blogger: Pastor Fred Peter, Kowak, Diocese of Rorya, Anglican Church of Tanzania, ACM Rorya.
Rev. Fred is Associate Dean at St. Peter's Cathedral and Associate Professor of theological and biblical studies at Kowak Theological College. We thank God for calling Pastor Fred to this ministry.
13th day of Advent December 15th, 2017 Philippians 3:12-16
Stay the course
by Scholar Ochieng, Principal of Kowak Theological College Diocese of Rorya, Anglican Church of Tanzania
As we read Philippians 3, we can hear Paul's desire for us to understand Christ's victory and for us to take hold of God's blessings which Jesus won for us. Paul wants us to see our place is in Christ because of the battle He won over sin. Paul wants us to know true peace and satisfaction in Jesus. Paul encourages us to turn away from our sinful past and strain forward, pressing heavenward living in the reality of Jesus victory. We hear Paul calling us to continue forward, despite our weaknesses, with patience, to live for the blessing and purpose Christ has for us.
The Christian living creed is to advance and to fulfill the goals Christ sets before us; to believe in the Lord regardless of what we face in this mortal life. The Christian is likened to an athlete who is focusing forward, seeking to finish the race and claim the victors prize. We are satisfied with all things in life knowing they are only part of the course God lays before us. Trusting in God we are persistent and come to understand the good purpose God has for each moment of our life. As we live in Christ and we stay the course, we bear witness to all the world of God's persistent Love. UBARIKIWE SANA
Guest Blogger: Madame Scholar Ochieng Kowak Theological College (KTC), Diocese of Rorya, Anglican Church of Tanzania. Scholar is a great gift to the students of KTC as she teaches and equips them for the ministry God is calling them to. Asante sana (Thank you).
A song, sung to her by Adda in Kiswahili broke her heart and she was inspired to seek Jesus. We must never give up hope. Sometimes it takes a few years, sometimes 107. But with prayer and persistent love, every chain can be broken and every child of God brought home. Jesus is the unique Truth, the Life, and the Way. Bwana Baba Asifiwe, Bwana Yesu Asifiwe, Roho Mtakatifu Asifiwe. Mungua awabariki sana.
