It's Official........It's seasonal!!

God knows just what to bring my way. All I have been reading from the Bible and devotionals is what the Lord needs me to know. 

Last night I was feeling down and was also feeling tired of so many things. As my mind was going crazy with thoughts I felt worse. I stayed up longer in these deep thoughts and I just couldn't sleep. Such thoughts bring worry, pain and fear that tosses you into a stressful and depressing place. I know pain and fear. I also know where I find comfort and solace. I find comfort in what God says about my thoughts and pain and hurt. I find comfort in knowing that other people (in the Bible) have gone through the same but God saw them through.

I came upon an uplifting read in my daily devotional, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. It said that, being aware of God's presence fills our minds with light and peace, leaving no room for fear.

Knowing that God is here with us and that He knows whatever we are going through, is already comforting. Trusting Him with our thoughts and needs, telling Him how we feel allows us to open up and pour out our hearts to Him. There is then room to hear what He has for us. Filling our hearts with His words of hope, thanksgiving and love, brings us peace.

So, back to my long night. I turned on the light and reached out for my Bible when I realized I couldn't control my thoughts on my own. I wanted to keep reading through my Samuel series but I just couldn't. I found myself reading through the book of Psalm. I came upon Psalm 42 and I suddenly felt some of my words being echoed by the writer of the Psalm. I then found words of comfort and hope:

⁸ By day the Lord directs his love,
    at night his song is with me—
    a prayer to the God of my life.

¹¹ Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.

Psalm 73:26 (NIV)

²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart
    and my portion forever.

I found hope and peace. After reading and turning off the lights, I prayed. I praised God for His eternal love for me, His grace and mercy. I thanked Him for being by my side, for understanding me and for His word of hope that gave my heart a new light and the peace I needed. I asked Him to take control of my thoughts and to fill me with His joy. 

I remember saying, "In Jesus Name", and an "Amen" then I drifted off to sleep. I woke up happy and at peace.

Trusting God my Father, fixing my eyes upon Jesus and His calling and seeking guidance from the Holy spirit with a passion to spread The Kingdom and the Love, is in season and forever will be!

What a Love!

 You know that one moment when you hear a song and go------Wow! That's what's in my heart right now!?! Well, that's what I felt when I heard this song tonight.

  I had it all planned out. What I wanted to share tonight was a continuation of my Bible series 1Samuel from Hannah's prayer onwards. Clearly, God had other plans.

It has been a crazy month with projects demanding tons of creativity, fresh and new ideas, a lot of time, energy and finances. I'm convinced this is just the beginning. I have never been so fascinated with the Bible like this past month. I Started with the book of Isaiah, by choice, and to tell you the truth I sometimes found myself drifting off and wanting to go back to the ever vibrant and way cooler New Testament. Isaiah is that one book where I read through the first dozen chapters and all I could say was "come on guys!". I mean, God had had it with Judah and Jerusalem. They kept on sinning and disobeying, being corrupt, they worshiped idols, they stole, they spat on God's face,yet, He never stopped giving them another chance................. Tons of chances!! 

He even gave them hope of a coming Savior who would bring them back to Him. 

That reminded me of the kind of person I had been in the past. I kept seeking my way and doing things that pleased me more, that it never mattered what God meant to me. Never, at any one point did God turn His face away from me. When you have done the worst and the consequences are way worse, you then remember your God...right? Well, I'd say, that's what happens to most of us. 

In 1Samuel 12, Samuel addresses the people of Israel during the coronation of Saul. He reminded them of the times God had delivered them from their enemies, yet they kept on turning away form Him. They even asked for a king of their own. God gave them a king.

1 Samuel 12 (NIV)

²⁰ “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. ²¹ Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. ²² For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. ²³ As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. ²⁴ But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

I surrender to you - Jeremy Camp

 Lord, You live in me
You're my best friend
You're the King of kings
The beginning and end
Now that you have my eyes
I see your spirit inside of me
 
All that I am is for You
My savior
I live by your word
And surrender to you
Here where I stand in this moment father
My spirit has been renewed
I surrender to You
 
You hold the key to my life
In your loving hands
Always by my side
I offer all that I am
So glad I realize
You are the truth and the light
In my life
 
All that I am is for You
My savior
I live by your word
And surrender to you
Here where I stand in this moment father
My spirit has been renewed
I surrender to You

Everything I need I find in You
I believe your promises are true
I will lift my burdens up to You
Your loving grace will see me through
All that I am is for You

My savior
I live by your word
And surrender to you
Here where I stand in this moment father
My spirit has been renewed (Repeat)
My spirit has been renewed
I surrender to You
To You, to You, yeah
I surrender to You

AMEN!  

 

It's with such GREAT Love that I live with hope and joy.

My journey through 1Samuel continues.................

Totally feeling Hannah......................

I feel awful! My tummy really hurts, I'm tired and a bit drowsy. Imagine that then top that with a 3yr old running around doing naughty stuff and you just don't have the energy to deal with it! Well this is my evening. 

Well, that might put a damper on my physical strength but I'm spiritually upbeat. I have been reading through the 1st book of Samuel and I see hope, despair, joy, pain, blessings, sacrifice, hate, love, good evil, patience.................all in one book. Exciting!! 

The story is about Samuel. From how and when he was born, to how he continually served God, to the death of the first king of Israel - Saul.

Hannah's prayer of praise after she dedicated her son Samuel to God made me smile. She had a true song of praise to sing. She had been through the pain of not being able to conceive, she had been though tons of emotional pain and hurt, and she had to deal with irritating rivals. She was troubled and downcast. 

With a loving husband by her side and a God who answers prayer, She poured her heart out to God and in her lowest moments, He heard her. Her persistence in prayer and her trust in God is what amazes me. And the patience...............WOW!!

In my lowest moments, I sometimes push prayers to the back of my mind and I instead take time to blame God and those around me for all my troubles. But, I have come to realize that God finds us in our lowest moments in life. When we are downtrodden, depressed, in the deepest pain, flat on our faces, drowning....name it! God loves us and He cares more than we could ever imagine. All we need to do is trust Him with what we are going through. And by trusting Him I mean totally trusting Him. Pour out your heart to Him. Your feelings, emotions, needs....all to God!

Here's part of Hannah's prayer that I really liked but, I think the whole prayer's awesome!

1 Samuel 2:

⁶ “The Lord brings death and makes alive;
    he brings down to the grave and raises up.
⁷ The Lord sends poverty and wealth;
    he humbles and he exalts.
⁸ He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
    and has them inherit a throne of honor.

“For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
    on them he has set the world.

AMEN!

On my day!! With a belated Birthday wish for a dear friend...

Here's what happens on days set apart to celebrate your birth...otherwise known as Birthdays!

1. Texts start trickling in after midnight and I'm guessing those are texts triggered by reminders on some phone calendar set for each year.
2. You log on to your Facebook page and suddenly that red pop-up thingy on your notifications icon has more notifications than you've ever had three months combined. This again is due to that Birthday reminder people get on Facebook. Which I tend to unintentionally not see!
3. People around you are chatty....just not as much with you. They are particularly busy and don't need your help. That simply means they are planning something.
4. Mom making a special meal just for fun.
5. When they do bring out the Birthday cake, everyone remembers how old you are....except for you of course. Reason being, Selective Amnesia regarding your age presents itself after 26yrs.
6. The Birthday song they are singing does not sound as exciting as your yester-years and one verse is more than enough.

But here's what I love about it..

• You amazingly reconnect with people you have not seen or spoken to in ages!
• Those texting you in the middle of the night took time to save your Birthday's reminder for the rest of that phone's life. And I'm not saying being woken up a dozen times from your sweet dream is cool...just so we're together on this.
• Those little surprises tend to be super cool especially when you think of how many people love and care about you.
• When it's your son singing you that Birthday song......It turns out to be SO CUTE AND AWESOME!! Not saying the rest of you can't sing it....just do it with one verse in mind.

 

This is the cute version of Joshua singing "happy birthday"

 

And here's the disturbing version involving a squished balloon.

All that said, I am so thankful for all of you. You made me smile. Thanks for the wishes and the love. :) :) Most grateful for my lovely family for making my day awesome!! I love you all!! God bless you. I still have a few hours to go....so keep them chocolate bars coming..... Belated birthday wishes are also highly accepted :).

Cathy Agalo Happy belated Birthday! I love you girl. I did not forget your birthday intentionally. I had a later date in mind. You are special to me and I pray for you. May God bless your every move and may He use you in doing His work. May His glory shine through you. I love you! Again, Pole sana. I owe you!

FREE!! FREE!! FREE!!

I am giving out FREE Birthday cards from Azizi Cards for the first 12 kids mentioned by their parents on a post. What you need to do:

1. Send me your email address for you to be able to post on this blog. Send it to mjwangari@gmail.com
2. Once you receive your invite, go to http://azizimommy.blogspot.com, log in, at the top right-hand corner. You will also find a New Post link on the same top right-hand corner.
2. Share something nice about your child or a sweet and memorable experience about your child.
3. At the bottom of the post sign your child's first name, and birth date.

HALLOWED BE THY NAME.....

 hal•low (ˈhæl oʊ)

v.t. -lowed, -low•ing.

1. to make holy; sanctify; consecrate: to hallow the name of the Lord.

hal·low  (hl)

tr.v. hal·lowed, hal·low·ing, hal·lows

1. To make or set apart as holy.

2. To respect or honor greatly; revere.

Before my son was born, I already knew that I’d name him Joshua after my dad. I needed two names though and my list was long but I still had time to come up with the perfect names for my son. After Joshua was born, I started making his scrapbook. One of the pages in the scrapbook I titled “What’s in a name?” Here I was to write down Joshua's names and then write the meaning behind each name.

Joshua, an English rendition of the Hebrew name Yeheshua meaning “Yahweh our salvation”..such a powerful meaning. I started reading through the story of this great man of God and found that one of my favorite verses in the Bible – Joshua 1:9 had been mentioned severally in Deuteronomy 31.

Joshua 1:9 (NIV) Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

These words were told to the people of Israel then later to Joshua by Moses. Joshua was a leader, commissioned by God to lead His people. Joshua's name reflected his character. 

I gave my son Joshua a second name from this passage...Jabari...meaning "Strong and Courageous".

Long story short...I found two perfect names for my son! Do they reflect his character?

Speaking of great names...GOD! God's name is great and powerful and represents His character. His name should be honored as holy and sacred. God should be greatly revered and respected. Every time we enter into His presence we do it with thanksgiving, worship and high reverence. Thanking Him for what he has done for us, what He does in our lives and we also thank Him for who He is......Great, Awesome, Loving, Caring...... When we reflect on who God really is,. His glory and Holiness, we realize that, that alone is worthy of our thanks, worship and praise.

Psalms 99.9: Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy. 

Psalms 100.4: Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  

All that we are, all that we have, all that we own, all that we hold dear and possess, belongs to God. Thanking God is the simple way of honoring Him. The greatest way to honor and revere Him however, is by how we live. Our lives should reflect God. 

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)

³¹ So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Does your life glorify God? Does your life bring people in to His Kingdom? Do people desire to know God and live for Him when they look at you and how you live?

Let us worship God's awesome and holy name, honoring Him with our lives and seeking to grow deeper in our relationship with God. That's what "Hallowed be thy name" means to me.

OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN...

My dad was the best!! I looked up to him, admired his love for God, family and ministry. He loved us so much. Just the other day I was thinking about how he spent time with each of us. I remember the trips we (me and him) took together be it running errands or whatever. He'd answer each of my curious and sometimes nagging questions, he'd take time to explain stuff, he'd teach me from the most complex to the simplest of things. My dad listened to me, helped me grow my talent - art, he disciplined me, encouraged me and showed me love. I believe he did the same with my siblings......we all felt special but were loved the same.

One Sunday afternoon he asked me to go with him..he was driving up to some village to go visit a friend. It was raining and the car was sounding kinda funny. I asked him what was wrong, and he said it was just a minor problem and it was going to be okay. I trusted my dad and it never mattered to me if the car would swerve a bit from time to time.... My dad said it was going to be okay, I trusted him. He was my dad.

The relationship I shared with my dad is a picture of a child and a loving father and that's the same picture Jesus was trying to paint in Our Lord's Prayer. An approachable, caring, loving , tender, patient and giving Father, God who wants a relationship with us and Jesus made this known to His disciples by addressing God as "Our Father".

In the Old Testament God was seen and addressed as Awesome, Majestic, Great and Mighty Lord who reigns on HIGH. That still remains to date because God is all that and more but with the coming of Christ we were taught to call Him Father. Christ bought us the right to be called God's children through His painful death on the cross.

1 John 3:1 (NIV) 

3 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

John 1:12-13 (NIV)

¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

God is loving, patient, kind and as our Father we should trust Him. He knows our every need and we should approach Him with that in mind. I would give anything to have the conversations I once had with my dad. To tell him about my day, to share with him my dreams, my disappointing moments......what could be better than having him kiss me goodnight as he and mom tuck me in every night? Well, how about this....a heavenly Father who is always by my side and knows everything about me. A Father who gave His ONLY son to die for me....my broken life. He gave me eternal life..... a chance to one day praise Him eternally with my dad by my side.

My Father who art in heaven, I approach Your throne of grace with confidence, so that I may receive mercy and find grace to help me in my time of need. (Hebrews 4:16). 

I love you God!! 

 

TEACH ME HOW TO PRAY.

When my son was almost two, I taught him a simple bedtime prayer.  "Dear Lord, thank you for (all family members by name), bless us all as we go to sleep and protect us till morning. In Jesus Name, AMEN". He learned how to pray that prayer in a matter of days. A couple of months go by and I realized that while praying for meals, he would change a few words in his bedtime prayer. He'd pray..."Dear Lord, Thank You for rice,.......,....and.......,bless us all as we eat rice,......,..... and.......and protect us till morning. In Jesus Name, AMEN!" That was one of the sweetest prayers I've ever heard and the beauty of it is that he put his own words in there and even though he'd pray this for breakfast and lunch, it didn't matter to me that he still had a little bedtime prayer in there.
My son was too young to ask me to teach him how to pray but I did anyway. As a Christian parent raising my son to learn and know about God, it was important for me to teach him how to pray and the sooner the better.

Jesus Disciples were probably in awe, the many times they had seen and heard Jesus pray and they wanted to know of this relationship/convos He had with his Father. Imagine this, Jesus' time: He's praying all night, most of the day, before healing, before raising the dead, before teaching,...giving all the glory to His Father, and then you, a follower, put two and two together and BAM!...behold the power of prayer and prayer being THE link. Even I would ask as they did: Lord, teach me how to pray......

Our Lord's Prayer becomes a model prayer. A very simple prayer that carries a lot of weight. It's a prayer that I say each and every Sunday in church and unconsciously with time it becomes a routine weekly chant.

At some point in life I never cared to know if this prayer was like a guideline for prayers that Jesus gave to His followers but at the back of my mind I knew. So, for the past few months, as our local Church went through the prayer series, I took it upon myself to sort of go through it and try to understand exactly how Jesus intended for us to pray using His guidelines. I want to learn how to pray......Jesus Way! I want to experience the power of prayer!

Join me as I do so for the next few weeks. I will appreciate your feedback and contribution as I share my understanding and God's guidance through "The Lord's Prayer" Matthew 6:9-13 and/or Luke 11:2-4 and bear with me all Theologians and teachers of The Word :).

On My Playlist....

I randomly selected:

God I look to you- Bethel live ft.Jenn Johnson
You are Good - Bethel live ft Brian Johnson
Story of Grace - United Pursuit Band
Fill Me Up - United Pursuit
I Believe - United Pursuit
Set A Fire - Will Reagan and United Pursuit Band
The more I seek You - Kari Jobe
Heaven Song - Phil Wickham
Awakening - Chris Tomlin
Lord I Need You - Passion Worship Band
Famous One - Chris Tomlin
Jesus Paid it All - Kristian Stanfill
Can I have More of You - Kim Walker
I Surrender - Kim Walker
I asked You For Life - Kim Walker
You're Never Giving Up - Jonathan David Helser
God Of The Angel Armies - Jonathan David Helser
One thing Remains - Brian Johnson
We Cry Out - Kari Jobe
Beautiful One - Jeremy Camp
Dance with me - Evan Earwicker
That's What Faith Can Do - Kutless
The Anthem - Jesus Culture
You're Beautiful - Phil Wickham

I love my playlist....I have never heard God speak to me like He has these past couple of months. Tons of choices that we make turn us in to the hypocrites we condemn each day. I have done that so many times and it's mocking God.
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

Job 4:8 As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.

---

Job 13:9 Would it turn out well if he examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?

---

Hosea 10:13 But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors, 
 My Precious Heavenly Father,
So many times I turned my face away from You, I sought my own judgement and ways, but You were always there waiting for me with open arms willing to listen to me cry and ask for your forgiveness, willing to hold me close and show me the power of Your Love. I am so sorry and my mortality is no excuse. I am sorry I sinned against you so many times. Forgive me of all my sins. Those I was so much aware of and those I unconsciously committed. I know I cannot guarantee a sinless life from here henceforth but I trust in You and the power of Your Salvation, the blood of Your Son Jesus Christ and the guidance of The Holy Spirit, that I will conquer temptations and all the snares of the evil one. Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. I will live with the confidence that You love me no matter what and You will never leave me nor forsake me. I will get through the disappointments of life, pain, fear, sorrow, hurt......I will not be devastated by all these because my relationship with Christ allows me and gives me the power to conquer all.

I wish to be in your presence, seeking Your face daily, honoring You in my words and actions, serving You with my life. I love You Lord and I surrender my all to You.....my life, my dreams, my thoughts, my heart and body. I give my everything to you knowing you will purify me, renew me, restore me,  take charge of my life and use me for Your Glory and to Your service.

I long for a life that sings of Your Greatness and Awesome love. I long for a life that pleases You and honors Your Name. I want people to see Your grace and love in my life and when they look at me.
Thank you for loving me and thank you for Your Son Jesus my Savior. Thank you for bringing me this far. Hold me now and be with me and all that I am. I praise You! In Jesus' Name.
AMEN!

Heaven Song - Phil Wickham.