Category: Pastor`s corner

A new year will always come at the end of every year. This is a point where we look at what worked in the past year. That which worked, we optimise. What did not work can be looked at in several different ways: 1 it did not take off the ground completely, 2 it did go off the ground, but failed, or 3, it worked, albeit not to expected results. Each case should be treated to its merits. That which did not go off the ground was either a poor plan, or it was poorly planned for. We either plan anew or we abandon it. That which got off the ground but failed could have been poorly executed. We could either abandon it or re-strategise a better execution. That which worked but did not reach expectations should just be reworked and optimised.

In a nutshell, we look at everything with a sober eye and get back to the grinding wheel. It helps to take experiential lessons as we go and continue going. Stopping and losing focus should not be an option. Galatians 6: 9; Hebrews 12: 1. Season’s greetings!

The women in our church recently had a community service where they handed out clothing items to the needy in Mogosane village where we serve. The service was quiet a success. In making such announcements we seek not to magnify our name, but to indicate that when we say we need partners in caring for members of the community, we are already doing what we can with limited resources at the church`s disposal. We still continue to seek donations of clothes that are still wearable, not discouraging new ones, of course.

We are at the tail end of the year. A new is beckoning. Schools will be opening sooner than we think. School shoes will be needed. We still seek to make an impact even there. Let us join hands in plucking the gap. May God bless!

Merry Christmas and a highly prosperous New Year!

Luke 6: 12-13. In this passage we see Jesus Christ making an example for us to observe and follow. Prior to him choosing the twelve among his disciples he embarked on an all night prayer. As was customary with him he was out on a mountain. He probably did not have this exercise that was to follow, as his only prayer item. Most likely there were other things to pray for and about. In the the same breath, we cannot rule out that part of his prayer was guidance in the decision he was to make. He probably prayed for the twelve also.

Is there something to learn here? Absolutely! If Jesus saw the importance of prayer, what about us mere mortals? With us there is a margin for error since we are fallible human beings. We may be caught up with life`s challenges at the point of making important decisions. Our decisions may also be clouded by our emotions of what we want rather than what is needful.

It is imperative to seek the LORD before making decisions that will affect the journey and the future. It is all the more better if the decision was ratified by God, even if it does not make sense, than make the one that makes sense and it end up being a wrong decision.

In exactly a week and a day from now we will be celebrating Christmas, those of us who does. This is when we remember the birth in human form, of our Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ. Critical to remember is that this is not just a historical thing to remember only as having happened. The birth of Christ in human form was for a specific purpose. He came to die to redeem all people. While to some this may be deemed a fallacy, to many it is an unshakable and unchanging absolute truth. As we celebrate in a few days from now, let us also remember our redemption came from this birth. Let us celebrate with caution and be responsible. Let us be safe on the roads and our homes. Merry Christmas!

We are fast getting into what is called a festive season. For some reason we as humans will start doing things differently than we have been doing them all year long. In some instances we even do things we never do. Somebody who has been driving safely on the roads suddenly change their driving behaviour to suit the season. Somebody who does not drink alcohol suddenly starts drinking. Church attendance drops drastically. Is this a classic case of human nature? What if we chose to go by Romans 12: 2? “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...” Could we not to some extent drop down the number of casualties on the roads and elsewhere? Just a food for thought. Is human nature not making some to start every new year from the basement and working their way all over again to arrive where they where, rather than start where they have come up to, and step up?

Jesus about himself: John 8: 12

“I am the light of the world“.

Jesus to his disciples: Matthew 5: 14

“You are the light of the world“.

Surely the world needs light. He became the light of the world while he was with his disciples. He then commissioned his disciples, and by extension us, to keep the light going. He addressed us by how he addressed himself. He is the light, and we are the light also. He told them in another passage that his meat is to do the work of him that sent him, and to finish it. That is why he continues in John 9: 5 saying, “as long as I am in this world, I am the light of the world”. Having said that we are also the light of the world, it behoves us to also continue shining the light for as long as we are in this world.

If there is one thing that we should emulate our Master Jesus in, it would be moving with compassion. The reason why he did so much for and among the people is precisely because of this trait. He was not detached from the people and their challenges. It would not even be an issue for him to change course just for one person. This remarkable trait made him do so much in just one day. The following list, which is not exhaustive, needs to be examined:

• Matthew 9:36
• Matthew 14:14
• Matthew 20:34
• Mark 1:41
• Mark 5:19
• Luke 7:13

Our focus is on Psalm 77. When faced with a difficult period, where it feels like God is not responsive to prayer, what should you do? Should we complain about what seems, at least to us, as God`s non-response? The Psalmist starts from verse 1 until verse 9 to flirt with complaints. He however starts verse 10 on a different tune. Rather than complain about the current situation, he REMEMBERS. God has done a lot for us to be relegated to a non-caring God because of a dark season. If he could do it before, why wouldn’t he do it again? Does he change and become what he is not? Selah.