Category: Forgiven

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I Can’t, But God Can!

This is part two of a previous post, which you can catch here.

Back to 1 Samuel 20 . . . Jonathan could have been content in the knowledge that he was next in line to be king, and sided with his father, King Saul, about harming David. Jonathan was after all the one set to benefit most if David was out of the way. But Jonathan chose to do what is right—he told his father that his treatment of David was unfair, and then he advised David to flee. Jonathan acted righteously! 

What came to mind at the end of this story was every-day situations that we face. For example, how many of us see our mothers mistreat our sisters-in-law and say nothing? How many of us are hesitant to warmly welcome our brother’s wife into the family? How many of us see our brothers or husbands speak hurtfully to children and say nothing? How many of us treat some children in the family better than others? Or distinguish between how we treat children from the city and those from the village? How many of us listen in silence while one friend gossips about another? Or, how many of us are unwilling to care for an ageing parent who neglected/abandoned us as children? A whole number of day-to-day situations flashed through my mind, and I confess that I have certainly not always acted righteously. There is massive room for me to change my outlook and constantly ask myself, “how would I want to be treated in this situation?” Plus learn to speak up in love and not judgement . . . 

It feels like a enormous change is required, and I know that I certainly cannot do it on my own. Which is why I am so grateful that when I confess my sin to God, He is faithful to forgive me and forget my sin (1 John 1:9). Then I can go ahead and ask Him to give me the grace to love people . . . because I acknowledge that I cannot do this in my own effort.

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.” 
Philippians 2:13 NIV

Isn’t it wonderful that we serve a God who gives us His Spirit to work in us so we are able to do the things He desires and asks of us? Especially so for the things that we cannot do on our own?

Thank You, Jesus! ❤️

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Best Discovery Ever

Here to testify has brought back memories of my early days as a follower of Jesus. And how friendship with Jesus is the best thing that has ever happened to me. 

You see, back then, I lived in my head. I was constantly worrying what people thought of me, and wondering whether they liked me. My family background made me feel unlikeable. Which made it incredibly important for me to please others and, even more so, to fit in. One of the key things I did to fit in was to become a party girl. 

In my late twenties I lost my job due to downsizing. It dawned on me then that my friends were not genuine friends, because they didn’t seek me out much when I could no longer afford to hit the clubs with them. This got me thinking that I needed new friends, and I went ahead to pen a prayer in my journal asking God for new friends. 

Not too long after, I  made a few new friends. One of them invited me to join her at a certain weekly Bible study. I’m not sure why I said yes, but I suspect it was partly because I was worried what she would think if I refused to go with her. A few months into the Bible study, I leant something I did not know about God. I discovered that being saved wasn’t about God giving us rules to follow, but about friendship with Him. A friendship that God offers as a free gift. So quietly, one evening alone in my flat, I told God that I wanted this free gift. 

Here I am about fifteen or so years later, and I love the fact that I can talk to God about anything, anytime. Which means I now spend less time worrying. Plus, I’ve learnt that God created me perfectly just as I am and I don’t need to please others to fit in. I can be myself, and because God loves me, I don’t need to be consumed by thoughts of whether people like me.

I’m certain that without this discovery and my friendship with God, I’d be a worry-wart and aimlessly seeking approval from others.  


"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." 
Ephesians 2:8—9 NIV
"I thank you because I am awesomely made,
wonderfully; your works are wonders —
I know this very well."
Psalm 139:14 CJB

Thank You, Jesus, for Your friendship! ❤️

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Gifts & Scars

Do you have a special Christmas Day tradition? Our family tradition since I was a child has been to gather together as the extended family to enjoy some nyama choma (roast meat). We used to get together at my grandparents’ place, but now we rotate venue between my siblings and me.  And this year’s Christmas get together was held at our place. 

My big concern as the day drew closer was on the preparation and post-cleanup. You know what it’s like when everyone leaves, and you have to deal with a sink overflowing with dirty dishes, an unclean floor, and messy living room? I’m happy to report that the Lord graciously gave strength and enthusiasm for all this. So much so that on the 26th of December, I was nowhere near as tired as I expected to be. All glory to God! 

Speaking of the 26th, a friend sent a belated Christmas card that mentioned cherished Christmas memories. As I read the card, my heart sank a little. It sank because I couldn’t help but wish that I had recent Christmas memories that I could treasure. You see, since I turned away from celebrating Christmas as a non-believer, to celebrating Christmas with understanding that it’s all about Jesus, I seem to end up with Christmas scars instead of gifts. I cannot remember the last time I had pleasant memories from Christmas Day. 

There seems to always be that one family member who is out to inflict pain or elicit offence in me, unprovoked. And I must confess that I have sometimes responded in ways that I’m not proud of. Which then makes me feel terrible because I know that I am not being the best representative of Christ, and yet my (many) unbelieving family members need to see the gospel in action.

As I reflect on this Christmas, I am reminded of God’s kindness to us in giving us His righteousness purely by His grace, and through faith. I am a child of God, and have eternal life because Jesus bore our sins, and I believe that He covered over all my sin. I am not born again because I do or say the right things. Isn’t this wonderful? I never tire of hearing this good news! 

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” 
Romans 3:23—24 (NIV)

So, if you picked up a scar yesterday, or perhaps inflicted the scars, take heart! Your righteousness is a free gift from God. You didn’t earn it, and at your request, God is willing to help you become more and more like Jesus, and heal your scars. 

However, if you haven’t received this free gift yet, all you have to do is ask!

What good news!  

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More in Love

Not so long ago, when there was a public interest court-case in progress, the public could only keep track through courthouse photos and articles in the newspapers. Today, thanks to social media, we can actually follow the entire case from the comfort of our sofas. How life has changed!

Now it so happens that today is one of those days when I’m following a court case on social media. The accused person has a team of some of the best legal minds in Kenya. And as I watch the proceedings, I find my mind drifting away from the screen . . . 

I observed that the accused is quietly seated, while the lawyers speak on his behalf. The lawyers are referring to evidence from the prosecution, various sections of our law, and a previous judgment that is in support of their client’s innocence. And the judge is listening carefully as the lawyers as advance their arguments. 

My mind then strayed to a verse in the Bible, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 John 2:1 NIV) Instantly it became clear to me that Jesus’s role as my Advocate is to speak on my behalf, before the Righteous Judge, to counter accusations levelled against me by the accuser (aka satan).   

In pleading my case, I imagine Jesus states that because I have confessed Him as Lord & Saviour, His blood has covered all my sins and made me righteous in God’s eyes. I can “see” Jesus cite verses such as Romans 8:1 which says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (NIV) And “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9 NIV)

So, on the basis of Jesus’s blood shed on the cross, my confession and belief in Him as my Saviour, the Righteous Judge issues a verdict proclaiming me innocent and nullifying satan’s accusations against me. No wonder, the message Jesus brings is called the good news! 

But this good news doesn’t give us a permit to live in any manner that we please, simply because we know we are already forgiven. As it says, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1–2 NIV) 

The only fitting response from us is to fall more in love with Jesus and voluntarily live as He did, with God’s word at the centre of our lives!