Thursday, August 20, 2009
"God heals the broken hearted"
There many causes of heart wound that people face from different places like the major ones are; from families, churches and places of work. Examples of the heart wounds are: being rejected in your family, outbreaks of marriage, disappointments, sin, Poverty, barrenness, failing to get married, rape, producing unwanted sex and death of the loved ones, when some one looses his or her only child to death or more than one child, husband, wife, parents or friends this cause a lot of sorrow in his or her heart. I cannot forget my dear mother who died in the year 2005 of the heart disease, I was almost dieing of pain and I have no word I can use to explain such trial moments. The high desire for money has also caused a lot of wound on some people. For it is written in 1Timothy 6:9-10 "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” Some people eager for money have wandered from the faith and pieced themselves with many griefs.
King David's Joy of salvation drew away from him because he had killed Uriah, additional to his adultery practice. His sin toured his heart, and when he was searching the Lord, he said these words "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast Spirit within me. Do not cast me a way from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the Joy of your salvation, and sustain me with a willing Spirit" (Psalms51:10-12). Job also a servant and a faithful man of God went through such situations of the broken hearted "Afterward Job opened hid mouth and cursed the day of his birth. And Job said, Let the day perish on which I was to be born, and the night which said, A boy is conceived" (Job3:1-3) and "If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales! It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas no wonder my words have been rash."(Job 6:2-3).
No matter, for what you’re going through or having gone through such heartbreaks, only your God is the only source of the inner healing of your heart. The cries and grief of the broken hearted always reaches to God and since Genesis; God's desire was to have an intimate relationship with man forever. However, God was not happy after Adam and Eve had sinned, because of God's love he sent his son Jesus to save man. "For God so loved the World, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16) and he says" come to me, all who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for Iam gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls" (Mathew 11:28-29) When the children of Israelites forsaken and departed a way from God, his anger lasted for only a short time. In his great love, in words of love and many ways he spoke to them wanting them to them to repent so that he forgive them to set them free.
He said to them "Go, and proclaim these words toward the north and say, Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord; I will not look upon you in anger. For Iam gracious, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever" (Jeremiah 3:12) "come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, Though your sins are as Scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool"(Isaiah 1:18) It is the joy of the Lord to see the sinner repenting to come back to him. This cause a banquet in Heaven "The sacrifices of God are broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise"Psalms51:17
Crying into the Lord is one of the main channel through which the brokenhearted are healed. " In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears"(Psalms 18:6, 120:1) David one day said" His favor is for a lifetime; weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning "Psalms 30:5 There is nothing that is impossible with God and It is whom who made our hearts, he knows what we think, so he is the one who can search our hearts and therefore, heal them. May God's healing power heal your wound today and may his lasting peace befall on you. Continue soaking your self in the presence of God!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
An African Introduction"Kwanjula"
The letter has to be in flawless Luganda and has to be written through the Ssenga or aunt who thenceforth becomes the official go between the two parties. The letter is then taken to the Ssenga with a little money for transport of course to take it to the Bakulu Bano (fellow respected elders).In the letter, the man is asking to be allowed to get born in his inlaws family by going there to ask for their daughters hand in marriage.The Bakulu then accept in writing that you can go on a specified date (and get born into their family) They also gave you the maximum number of people you should take which is most times not more than 50 people. The father inlaw will also ask for his Mutwalo, what could be taken as bride price.
Here in Uganda, a man to marry a woman he has to pay the bride wealth to the parents of the girl. This ceremony is called the "INTRODUCTION CELEMONY" where a girl introduces her husband to her parents. It's like an engagement party, where the groom officially asks the parents if he can marry their daughter. They insert this from the Bible where Isaac gave gifts to Rebecca’s parents. Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. Here is Rebecca; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has directed." When Abraham's servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.
Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebecca; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother. Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, "Send me on my way to my master."Gen 24:50-54 Even Jacob paid a price for Leah Rachel to Laban. Why did Jacob have to work for Laban? In those times men gave a gift to the father of the woman they married. Jacob had no money, but he loved Rachael so much he was willing to work for seven years for her. Gen 29:15-30
This originates from the bible, they insert that even Isaac had to pay bride wealth before marrying Rebecca in the Bible. This is why whites say that in African culture women are just bought because every man has to pay bride wealth first to the parents of the girl before they are wedded in the Church. After the Introduction, the Girl has to remain at her parent’s home or where she has been living before going to live with her husband to be, until they are officially wedded in the Church. She does not have to go straight for marriage before the wedding.
The mutwalo is accompanied with some items that you will need to take along for example: fruits and vegetables except egg plants (Ntula and Biringanya) and a few others, which if taken would be considered as cultural taboo that may lead to the man being fined or denied the bride altogether. There has to be bread, sugar, salt, soap, paraffin, cooking oil, curry powder, and a host of related items. You are required to buy certificates from Buganda kingdom to show that you respect and support the cultural monarchy, one of the four certificates being the marriage certificate. The Kanzus for the Father in-laws and brother inlaws, Gomesis for mother inlaws and Ssengas (Kanzu and Gomesi are cultural dresses for males and females respectively). These are a must. You have to prepare money for the envelopes for the father inlaw, mother inlaw, Ssengas, brother inlaws (with a special one and a cock for the official brother inlaw).
The traditional marriage ceremony in Buganda may have changed over the years, but it still remains a battle of wits and cultural tongue twisting between representatives of the two sides who engage each other in a question and answer challenge or in knowing, mentioning and following century old norms and traditions. Both families are required to have a spokesman to speak for them. The spokesman takes the role of the final emissary on the day of introduction and he has to pull a lot of antics learned from tradition and experience to engage or answer challenges from the other sides spokesman. It is the battle (friendly and of words) between the two that makes the Kwanjula and the whole ceremony memorable and unique from any other ceremony.The spokesman takes the role of the final emissary on the day of introduction and he has to pull a lot of antics learned from tradition and experience to engage or answer challenges from the spokesman of the other side. It is the battle (friendly and of words) between the two that makes the Kwanjula and the whole ceremony memorable and unique from any other ceremony. The spokesman will range between 250,000 to 300,000 but the price is negotiable.
The dressing is also another crucial aspect on this day. The men are supposed to wear coats and kanzus while the women will need to put on gomesi preferably but this also depends on what culture the intended son in law comes from. The greetings then begin starting with the girls of the house who also welcome the visitors followed by the boys and then the sengas. Since the senga is the most important person on this day next to the bride to be, she actually runs the whole function from introducing the guests to choosing the bridegroom. When the bridegroom is chosen, the mugole can then come out of the house and greet her visitors most especially the bridegroom. This is the beginning of a new family to the bridegroom since he has been inaugurated or allowed into his mugoles family.
The rest of the ceremony is as interesting as the gifts (which are left outside) are brought and allocated to the different beneficiaries and the hosts lay their demands and wishes on the new family. Once the gifts are brought, the hosts spokesman asks the bride and Ssenga (Ebintu Tubirye?) whether they should accept the gifts. When they accept, the part of the rings follows were the bridegroom puts a ring on the brides finger this in kwanjula denotes marriage, and then the cutting of the cake follows and that brings us to the end of a memorable day.
When the Introduction is done, the man and the woman organize their wedding in the Church. This is when the two people are wedded in the Church as they give their vows saying “I do” The pastors and the elders of the Church usually instruct the bridegroom and the Bride not to separate apart but to live together until death as you have ever heard on the wedding ceremony. I welcome your comments and am also ready to answer any question you may want to ask regarding our African Introduction ceremony.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
The way to your Canaan.
The bible says "Those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. psalms147:3 When the children of Israel came to the Red Sea, it was all part of the journey, because Canaan still lay on the other side of the sea. They contemplated turning back, but it is God who paved a way through the sea and they got to the other side.
If God brings you to it, trust Him to bring you through it. Don't look for shortcuts out of the desert, because even the Bible says in Proverbs that "sometimes the way that seems right may only lead to disaster" No one but God understands what you are going through, but I love to think that if He let me be led down a turbulent path, then He trusted my capacity to weather the storm. The Bible says God will not let us handle more temptation than we can bear. Just focus on two things: God and your Canaan. No retreat, no surrender!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
God's unfailing love.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We didn't earn or deserve God's love (we were still powerless and we were still sinners). However, God loved us anyway, because God is love (1 John 4:8) -- that is, his nature is love. God can't help but to love us, because that's what he is. In Ephesians 2:4-5, Paul writes about the nature of God's love for us:
Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved. Nothing you do can cause you to earn or deserve God's love. You can't earn God's love, but he loves you anyway -- that's why it's called grace. God loves you, because he is love not because you have earned his love. Joyful living requires giving.
Much Love Kaliba Youth Pastor.
Preaching at the Radio Christian station.
Hey my beloved friend!
Praise be the name of the Lord! First and foremost I want to appreciate God so much for the golden opportunity he granted me ever since in my life to be on one of the Christian Radio named "DUNAMIS FM" that is found in my Country Uganda owned by Bishop Musisi of Prayer Palace Church in Kampala located in Mukono district just 25Kms away from Lugazi where I live. Being on this radio Station on Wednesday 4th June was not for any other Business other than preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ the son of the living God and for praying for people who had different needs of life to be meant by God thru calling me while on the Radio. On this special day to me, I received a call from my pastor Hudson when it was 4hours towards the start of our Church's Radio program and requested me to be the one going to the radio Station to preach and to pray for the people who may need my prayers in God meeting their needs. I believe you have ever accessed our Church's web site www. godshouseofmiracles. com where my Pastor Hudson is presented in the photo while preaching in the radio Studio"Dunamis FM" this is a 30mins program due to our sponsors' SHOW MERCY MINISTRY based in US amount of money they can offer to the available of this Church Radio Program on air at the moment. I thank God for what he can provide!
At hearing this call from my Pastor, I was greatly amazed and wandered how God is awesome! Whom I to be on the Radio station speaking the word of God to the whole Nation and praying for people. Wow Wow!!! This is incredible and surely this was God's will since I have ever prayed to God one time asking him to grant me a chance to be on the radio preaching his word; so this was his appointed time and truly it came true. God is really faithful to his word. While I was at the radio studio I first of all, passed out some Church programs then preached the word of word for 20mins. I shared the word of God concerning about the seeking or crying upon God for he is the source of every thing we need both physical and spiritual. I shared a about a young man called Jabez who was among the Bible heroes who changed their life history thru seeking God.1Chronicles 4:9-10 I also added on that David the king cried a lot of tears until he could not cry any longer after the destruction of the City of Zikulagi and taking ways all his wives, children and other things too for other people who also lived in this City.1 Samuel 30 It was until when David stopped crying and cried to God to guide him on what to do that he was able to restore whatever was taken. Besides, the above Mathew 7:7 tells me that It is only God thru his son Jesus that we can ask whatever we want and he is the only one who can grant every thing we need in life.
After preaching for 20mins and lastly I asked the hearers to start calling for their prayer requests. May people called for prayers some of which includes, to be blessed, to get rid out of poverty, some children who are students wanted wisdom from God, some wanted partners, to receive healing and to some married to have peace in their families. To mention but a few. Unfortunately, I left the Radio Studio before receiving other many calls because my time had come to an end and I was to be obedient to the laws. Never the less, I felt the abundance presence of God and the power of the Holy Spirit while in the presenting at the Radio station!
It was such an amazing feeling to be used by God in such a mighty way, and to bring the gospel to people who may have never heard it before. I believe that as a result of the word going forth on that day, that many lives were changed, marriages restored, healing took place, and many other amazing miracles:)!!!!! I know deep down in my spirit that this is just a preview of many things that God has in store for our lives, so just GET READY: Thank you for your prayers which have enabled me to serve Jesus in all possible ways. God bless you abundantly.I wish you the best and remember that I love you dearly. Take care of your self.
Love and Many hugs,
Kaliba Youth Pastor.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
My life.."God Lifts the poor from dust"
During my youngest stage, at home my parents used to do some work so as to earn a living. We had a small garden where we could go and dig the soil to grow crops after we would sell some and get some little money which we used for buying our home needs but money was not enough to meet all our needs. We would only buy things like cloths, paraffin for lighting since at home we had no electricity and addition to the above in the House we lived we were just renting it.The feeding was not all that good and most meal we used to eat was posho (Cob) and G.Nuts lunch and supper. Not because we liked it so much but it was less expensive. Thus nothing was like a balance diet. It is believed even in my home place that our family was and is still one of the poorest families in the Area.
I again started worrying about what casual work I can do to pay my fees. My Mother advised me to go to the Village where my Mother was born to look for a very less expensive Secondary School compared to the one in the Town. So I had to go because I very much respected my Mother. When I reached in the Village I met there my Uncles, Grandmother and my step mother. I told them what had brought me in the Village; they also welcomed me because I was a grandson. Remember by this time I was saved and I had spent just 2years in Salvation. I started asking my self "where is my God who delivered the Israelites from the Wildness and the one who have helped many people to prosper" This question was ringing loudly in my mind to the extent of planning to leave salvation.
Then I had my Vacation after this Class. Actually it wasn't a Vacation to me but it was a time for me to work even harder to see that I again join Advanced level of education that takes 2years for the whole completion of Secondary level before you go to College to study for any Course, whether Diploma or Degree.During my Vacation I tried to look for the Jobs day and day but all in vain. So I reached to the climax of my search for the Job and as a last resort I decided to go to the island to start fishing since no qualification was required for one to fish but his only energy and determination. This involved going through the local Boat made of timbers deep in the River and throw the nets at the Night then pull them early morning. But before I started to try fishing I started by learning how to sun drying nets by use of hands since it was the method that was used by fisher men in our end.Time came when I got excited and I wanted also to learn how to fish so that I can get some more money compared to the work of sun drying Nets.
My being saved, transformed in character and in following God's ways changed my life completely to the extent that my mother was touched to receive Jesus as her personal savior before her death. My four sisters also got saved after seeing what God had done in my life. It is only my elder brother and my lame father who are not born again but I believe when God continues to do more great things in my life they will also get saved.I began ministering after God has anointed me with his spirit in the year 2002 during my Secondary School education at the age of 18 Years old. I had just joined secondary at this School called Lugazi High School in Uganda -Africa. It was a mixed, day and Boarding Secondary School. I started joining fellowships of Born again Christians which were conducted by the Director of Studies at this School since she was also a born again Christian. This was a Club known as the Scripture Union Club made up of born again students and Teachers.
I was new to this Club and to Teachers, at one time during fellowship amidst deep prayer and worship. The spirit of God came upon my Director of Studies who was also among the heads of the Scripture Union instructing her to grant me the opportunity to preach to the congregation at that very moment. She says "LET ROGERS BE THE ONE TO PREACH I FEEL THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS INSTRUCTING ME"Therefore, the person who was supposed to preach on that day was stopped and the chance was given to me. I believe this was God himself speaking through this woman of God because she did not know much about me and she had never seen me preaching and I myself I had never preached in my life time since.