Migration

After quite a few years on another blogging site, I thought it was time to relocate, time for a fresh page. So I decided to give some life to this dormant blog on wordpress. The site address is http://tonyouma.wordpress.com  

So many things have happened in the previous year and I have not been able to write as much as I would have normally wished to. I hope to be able to post more this year, especially since there's some stuff I have been working on. 

Stay tuned and stay blessed. 

Dreaming Dreams

A dream will set you on your way. Practice will prepare you for the stage ahead. Favor will open doors that would otherwise remain closed. Skill will allow you to play at your very best. Maturity will keep your nerves from failing you under the pressure of the big stage. Character will keep you among the great.

Most of us have some goal we would like to achieve. The goal may be so distant at the moment that it seems crazy to imagine that the dream would ever become a reality. Yet the dream must be nurtured, fed, fueled and prepared for. A man with just a dream is only at the beginning of his journey. He must put in the hours of practice needed and invest as many resources as possible to the achievement of that dream. Nothing good comes easy.

It is a tragedy to see so many start so well on the faith journey and eventually get trapped in sin when they are in the limelight. There is a better way, a long and sometimes hard journey to character-based longevity on the big stage. As the well-worn saying goes, "skill will get you there, but character will keep you there". As you prepare for your big dream, what is it that you are not yet doing that will prepare you for the day your dream comes true? 

GETTING USED TO POSSIBILITIES DEVOTIONAL WEEK TWO

Day One: Abraham  

Hebrews 11:8-19

Abraham was counted a man of faith in these three areas: relocation, where he obeyed God and left the place and family he knew to follow  God’s leading to a place he did not know. He had to also leave behind the polytheistic (worship of multiple gods) lifestyle and worship the one true God. Reproduction : even though he and Sarah were well advanced in years, he still believed that God could grant a child through their frail and worn out bodies. Restoration: he believed that God could raise Isaac from the dead even as he prepared to sacrifice his child of promise to God. 

The main verse today is Hebrews 11:12. Abraham is referred to as one who was as good as dead, yet God brought forth offspring from him. Think about some dead situations that you need God to bring back to life.

Food for thought:  which areas of your life are dead or seem to be headed in that direction? How do you think those areas of your life got to that situation? God is able to deal with every situation in your life. Make the decision today to invite God into every area of your life that needs His intervention. Leave nothing untouched.

 

 

Day Two: Isaac   

Hebrews 11:20; Genesis 27:27-40

Isaac always knew there was something special about his sons. He loved Esau because of the stew he used to make but Rebekkah loved Jacob (Genesis 25:28). There was obvious distribution of affection in the family but it didn’t stop Isaac from desiring to bless them both. Isaac, however, intended to give Esau his rightful blessing of the firstborn. Esau chose a bowl of stew over his birthright and so Jacob ended up receiving his (Esau’s) blessing. Isaac had no way of knowing how his sons would fulfil the promise God had given to him but he blessed them anyway, believing by faith that God would see His promise to Abraham through.

The main verses today are Genesis 27:28-29. In these verses, Isaac proclaims a blessing of prosperity. Some of us would love to have this verse proclaimed over us, yet we would still have some seeds of doubt even as these words are spoken over our lives. What doubts do you have concerning God’s promises to you?

Food for thought:  Have you ever received a special word from God concerning your life in particular? What was/were the promise(s)? How did you get to learn of the promise(s)? How did you receive that information when it was brought to you? If you have never received a promise from God, then look into His Word, it is full of promises for you.

Day Three: Jacob 

Hebrews 11:21; Genesis 48:1-22

When dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshipped as he leaned on the top of his staff. Jacob had seen it all in his life. He had been on both ends of a life-changing lie, and he had nowhere else to run to. Old age had finally caught up with him, death was imminent and he had made his peace with God. Now he blessed Joseph’s sons as though they were his very own. He saw the future was indeed great for both of them, but even greater for the younger son, Ephraim.

Today’s main verse is Genesis 48:19. It speaks most to the people who were never deemed to be at the forefront for success. There was always someone better, more skilled, more ambitious than you. Jacob’s action of blessing the younger son is an encouragement to us, that God does indeed prepare the way for even those who would not otherwise be considered.

Food for thought:  Have you been living in the shadow of some relative or colleague? Has it been hard for you to be considered as someone worth investing in or someone that has something to offer? Just like Ephraim, you can with the help of God experience untold favor in your life. Take some time today to connect with God in this matter. Invite Him also into this situation and walk in this new path with Him. 

Getting Used to Possibilities - Devotional Guide week one

Nairobi Chapel Ongata Rongai, the church where I am blessed to serve and fellowship in, is currently dealing with a series on "Getting Used to Possibilities". Below is the devotional guide I prepared for the first week of the series. Please feel free to use the material and also to share with your friends.

INTRODUCTION

How would you define faith in your own words? What does it mean for someone to have faith according to you?

We will get to learn about some heroes of faith this month in a series of studies that we begin with one of the first inhabitants of human history. Our heroes are listed in Hebrews 11.

Faith has been defined as a confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing. It is referred to also as belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. It is also known as the theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will.

Day One: Abel 

Genesis 4:1-10

Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did and was commended as a righteous man when God spoke well of his offering. Whenever we think of the Abel and Cain story we are reminded of the first death in the history of mankind. Sad also, that this death was the result of the first murder as well. This reference to Abel in Hebrews does not, however, focus on the tragic end to his life, rather to his offering which God accepted and the fact that it was driven by faith. This very offering aroused murderous rage in his brother Cain and resulted in his death.

Carefully read Genesis 4:7 and note down any action points that this verse highlights.

Food for thought: Have my offerings been offensive or unacceptable to God in the past? Are my offerings acceptable to God at the moment? Is there an element of faith also present or lacking in my life of prayer and service to God? 

Day Two: Enoch

Genesis 5:18-24

Before he was taken, Enoch was commended as one who pleased God. It was the first time human beings were noted to have sought a worshipful relationship with God and he was the epitome. He never died a natural death and was taken up to be with God, he was no longer seen on earth.

Our focus verse today is Genesis 5:24. What does it mean for you to walk with God? What are the likely benefits of a closer walk with God?

Food for thought: How would you rate your walk with God? How would you describe your relationship with Him? How can this relationship be further strengthened?

Day Three: Noah

Genesis 6:1-22

When warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear Noah built an ark to save his family. Before the time of the flood, there had never been rainfall in the land. The land was watered by dew. This made it an unrealistic threat when people had of a flood caused by falling rain. Noah had also never seen the rain fall yet he chose to believe God. His faith was accompanied by obedience, and he found favor with God.

We fix our eyes on Genesis 6:22. Noah did everything, that God commanded him to do. It was not enough to believe, it had to be accompanied by action. Faith without action is dead, James 2:17.

Food for thought: How many times have you been in a position that necessitated a bold step of faith? How did you respond to that situation? Is there some area of your life in which you need to believe God against seemingly insurmountable odds? Take the time to commit the situation to God, then to boldly step out in faith and take charge of the situation. If God commands it, then God accompanies it. 

I am Kenyan

I am Kenyan. I was born and raised in Kenya. I went to school here, had my fights here and my fair share of good times too. My salary isn’t high, my living conditions are modest and my style of dress allows me to easily blend in a crowd. I am not someone you would notice at a concert or party, unless my mouth goes off and I become my sometimes loud self.

I like this country. How many people go for holidays in their own country and return home feeling like they were in another land? I like the languages, the tribes, the cultures and the women who sell vegetables along the street. I like being able to buy pre-boiled beans and pre-cut vegetables. I like the low end eating stalls and the high end multinational restaurants. I like playing football on the grass-less pitches and on the well-manicured lawns.

I like being able to travel to another country without being considered a security threat. I also like being able to visit friends in a mission station who are lulled to sleep by the roar of nearby lions. I like being able to have hope of peaceful elections. In some countries, the elections always have a predictable result. Our unpredictability makes our democracy more believable.

I like being able to wear clothes from other countries and listen to music from international artists. I like being able to help people who need my assistance, and being able to receive help when it is extended to me. I like being able to talk openly about my faith without being branded a fundamentalist. I like being able to pray in schools and public places.

I like the fact that we have working internet connections. They can be bothersome at times but your email will get delivered, someday. I like being able to save money by taking a matatu (Google it). I like the sun when others are freezing and the rain. I like the scenery and the fact that we have the equator, the ocean, a piece of a significant lake, forests, national parks, one super highway, an international airport, many rivers and the wildebeest migration.

So as you tell everyone who reads your material that this is one of the worst places to be born in, know that there are some of us who don’t mind the place at all. Just so you know.

PS: We’re really good at long distance track events too.