WordToday

Psalm 43:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. The Psalmist talks to himself in a moment of depression. “Why are you downcast, O my soul...why so disturbed..?” In other words, “…why am I feeling so low…my heart is not at peace!” This is called self-talk. The statement is repeated in 42:11 so the Psalmist must really have been feeling it. Ever felt this way? I certainly do from time to time. And unless you are one of those irrepressible sanguines, eternally optimistic, you certainly have come across the ‘ black ’ times.   Sometimes it is related to some circumstance and sometimes there isn’t anything in particular that one can relate the feeling to. However what is important in every instance of depressive self-talk is what you tell yourself next. The Psalmist immediately continues, “…put your hope in God...” I dare say that is the most important favour on...

Five women are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus; Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary. What is the common thread that ties these women? Why of all the other mothers in the lineage of Jesus are they the only ones picked out for honorable mention? Now one would expect that the lineage of the Messiah should consist only of 'good stock' seeing that the Messiah is considered King of the Jews. Not so with the biblical record. Unlike other holy books that embellish the record of their heroes, the Bible is unflinchingly candid in its details. Thus a second look at the women above will reveal that each had a touch of scandal. Tamar had a rather umm, interesting past. In Genesis 38 we see her losing two husbands in quick succession and then schemes to get herself pregnant by her father-in-law. She disguised herself as a prostitute and then solicited sex from her father-in-law! The (not so good) result is that she bore twins and one of them (Perez), fell smack in the line...

The other day I sat in a matatu my eyes on Proverbs 14. Coincidentally Classic 105 was airing one of its salacious stories on everyday life and a woman caller was narrating how her marriage broke down. She said that she had a defined evening programme for each work day. She would live work at 6 p.m. and then head off to a café where she would have quality time with the girls up to about 8p.m. She would then get home by 9p.m. Her husband she said, reluctantly agreed to this arrangement. However he soon changed his mind and demanded that she comes home straight from work. Not one to be commanded around, she adamantly stuck to her evening routine. Things quickly went south and before long she walked out of the relationship.  As I listened to this story and then read Proverbs 14:1, I couldn't agree with the bible more. To be a good home-maker requires wisdom. It cannot be without good reason that the woman is traditionally called the ‘home-maker’. For example in my culture w...

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 1 John 3:8b Each year I find it perplexing that even those who do not consider themselves true followers of Christ celebrate Christmas. And they probably do it with more pomp than those who live by the commands of Christ. In any celebration or commemoration it is only a fool who participates without knowing the real reason behind the event. A wise man does a little research before lending his time and largesse to a holy day he doesn't fully understand. Only then can he appreciate the solemnity with which true believers carry the day.   It seems to me that the excessive carousing and binging around Christmas is testimony to man's ignorance on the things of God. Few stop to ask themselves; why Christmas? A Sunday school class might probably respond that Christmas is when we celebrate the birthday of Jesus. To which I would pose the question; why is Christmas important? Christmas is not a spec...

There are moments I believe, that are reserved only for those who get to raise daughters. My five year old daughter gives me this privilege. The other day I came from work all tired and agitated. As I came round a corner that leads to the house my little girl spotted me some distance away. She gave me a mischievous look and then turned her back to me as only a woman can. Without uttering a single word she paused like someone preparing for a grand performance. Then she gingerly lifted one leg off the ground and with her other foot planted firmly on the ground, she twirled this way and that way, all the while waving her little hands in the air. Her eyes still carried that mischievous glint and every so often she looked my way to make sure that I was watching. It took me a while to figure out what she was doing. It was a ballet dance. I was the audience. And yes, it was the beautiful thing ever! J The following day did not turn out so well. As we left a friend’s house my daught...

I once heard a preacher give a wonderful analogy on spiritual hunger. He said that out in a field lay a pebble and next to it a 10,000 litre open-top water drum. One day the skies burst open with torrential rain catching both the pebble and the tank unawares. After the rain stopped a man passing by came across the pebble and asked, “Sir, what was your experience in yesterday’s downpour?” The pebble being small in size and having no capacity to hold water replied rather nonchalantly, “Well, I caught a few drops of rain on me but as soon as the sun came out, I dried up pretty quickly.”  The man moved on to the 10,000 litre water tank and asked the same question. “Oh my God, you should have seen me! It poured cats and dogs and I caught much water. I am almost full to the brim as you can see. That was the most exciting experience I have had!” The man walked away pondering at how the same amount of rain could elicit such divergent views. One with little capacity to ‘catch’ the ra...

Near the throne-room a man waited anxiously for his turn. His name was Slim . He had read a passage in Hebrews and delighted at its import. Heb.4:16  ….let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.   He intended to test it out now.  The angels loved it. They were used to seeing him here at this particular hour. Their work was made all the more easier when souls such as this one stretched their faith.  Back on earth, Slim was by his bed-side doing his daily prayer. His knees ached as he prayed but he was determined to bring each of the things on his prayer-list before the Lord. He had no idea of the happenings in heaven-that as he knelt struggling in prayer, his spirit was with the angels angling for a chance to be heard before the King of kings. Day after day Slim came before the Lord and week after week, the angels were glad to deliver his answers but they were n...