The Bible states very clearly that children are a blessing unto us from the loving God. " Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate." (Psalms 127:3-5)

In giving them to us, God expects us to train them to succeed in life, to be of service to fellow human beings, and to prepare them for the heavenly kingdom. Anything short of this will be regarded as a failure.Below is part of what the Bible teaches us:

^"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.(Deuteronomy 6:6-8)

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

"He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly" (Proverbs 13:27).

On the judgment day, every parent and all religious leaders will be expected to account for the children/flock that were given to them. "Lift up your eyes and see those who are coming from the north. Where is the flock that was entrusted to you, the sheep of which you boasted?" (Jeremiah 13:20).

Those who have taken their God given responsibility of training their children seriously, will be glad to present themselves, " And again,

And again he says,

The question to each one of us (those with children ) is this "Where are your children?" How have we or how are we raising them up? What values are we imparting on them? Is it possible that we have failed or neglected our responsibilities as parents?

Pastor Birai
Read or subscribe to my blog www.pastorbirai.com

Every day I wake up and all throughout the day I undertake to do the following:

1.I diligently study the word of God, spend time communicating with the Lord of the universe and continually thank the good Lord for the free gift of life
2.I purposely seek for an opportunity to be a blessing unto someone
3.I critically examine myself with the sole purpose of making needed changes to live peacefully with all God's children. To be like Jesus in all that I do has always been my ultimate goal
4.I strive to be a peace maker and not a trouble maker. Knowing very well that the only person that I can change in myself, I do all it takes by the grace of God to swallow pride and work on myself. Even as I stand by the Biblical principles that have always guided me I do everything possible to see things from other people's perspective
5.Taking every day stories and occurrences, I try my best to draw a spiritual lesson and share it will others

I know without any question that I am not where the good Lord and His children expect me to be. Like Paul, seeing myself as the chief of sinners, I pray daily and do my part to become more like Jesus. So, help me dear Jesus. Amen

Pastor Birai
Read or subscribe to my blog www.pastorbirai.com

Some days can be described and rightly so as excellent days filled with good feelings and a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Others come with an evil report and leave one wailing, devastated, lonely, with lots of unanswered questions and a gap never to be filled by any human being. How sad ! The latter took place yesterday. What happened?

With a sense of hopelessness and uncontrolled shading of tears , I joined the parents, siblings, relatives  and friends at a graveyard as we bid farewell to a stunningly little charming baby girl-Laurynn T Ombongi-whose sudden sickness and dead has touched many lives.

Little Laurynn who was born on July 9, 2010 to Douglas and Judy Ombongi died on April 14, 2012 .From the day she was suddenly rushed to the hospital to the day she died, she was mourned and touched the lives of many like I have never seen. Laurynn was such a beautiful and adoring little baby who even in her dead looked like she was just sleeping-a perfect description of the Biblical interpretation of the dead in Christ.

All the speeches by her loving parents, friends and relatives said it all-She was loved by all and will be dearly missed. As we laid her to rest until the resurrection morning, my mind would not but recite the following words of encouragement:

^"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice  and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned." (John 5:28-29)

^"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.  According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) 

Well, like all others, I will truly miss little Laurynn. She touched me in ways that  neither paper nor ink will describe. My only consolation in that there will be a resurrection morning. All those who have died in Christ will God resurrect again. Then, loved ones will be re-united never to part again.  Hallelujah ! I look forward to seeing Laurynn again and all loved ones who left us way too soon. What a day that will be ! I just can't wait.

Even so, come Lord Jesus. I am sick and tired of this world.

Pastor Birai

Read or subscribe to my blog www.pastorbirai.com

Every time someone dies, family members, friends and well wishers come together to raise funds to cater for many things(medical expenses, funeral expenses, and air ticket (for those in diaspora). How much one receives depends on how much that person was liked or known.

What has been a bone of contention is this: Who is supposed to control that money after it has been raised? There has been three schools of thought. What are they?

1.Some feel that the committee should  guide/dictate on how the money should be spend
2.Others feel that the individual who has been bereaved should have a say on how that money should be spent
3.Some more others feel that the family members/relatives should decide on how such money should be used wisely

My position is that such money should be left to an individual to decide on how best to use the money. No one should step forward to direct or dictate on how such money should be used.

What are your thoughts on this issue?

Pastor Birai
Read or subscribe to my blog www.pastorbirai.com

Any time we fail to pay attention on certain issues, many other things go wrong. I relearned this reality this last week. What happened? During the Friday evening local news, it was announced that a certain major highway (94 E) was to be closed from Friday evening to Monday morning). On hearing this and knowing that I was to use that highway in going to church, I reminded myself to remember.

Come Sabbath morning, I forgot all that and drove on the same highway going to church. Guess my surprise and disappointment when the traffic suddenly slowed down and it dawned on me that the highway was closed. What ! I reacted and I immediately blamed myself for failing to pay attention. The de tour (alternative route) took us in circles and in the end we were late to church. Shame!

Like me, many are making serious mistakes every single day for failing to pay attention to certain important issues in life . Ever been in trouble for failing to pay attention to the fine details? Any experience to share?

Pastor Birai
Read or subscribe to my blog www.pastorbirai.com

When someone dies, family members, friends and well wishers usually gather to comfort the family and raise the needed funds.What has always disappointed me are the kind of speeches that people deliver. In most cases, they are far from comforting the family. Some are very offensive and annoying. Like?

1. Someone stands up to remind the mourners to always attend such meetings. Fine, but why remind people who are already there. Its like asking married people to make sure that they don't forget geting married. Just think about that
2.Some people stand up to accuse others for being selective in attending funeral services by alleging that they don't see them whenever they go round. Excuse me. How do they know?. No one has hired any one to check out those who attend and those who don't attend. Furthermore do not expect all people to gather at the same time
3.Don't like the threats that always come out of some mouths. Threats? Yes sir. "If you don't attend, we'll not attend yours? What? We should avoid issuing threats at such place. Simply visit the family, comfort them and leave.

People need to be reminded on what to say during funeral services. If they don't have anything to say, then they should simply keep quiet or what do you think?


Pastor Birai
Read or subscribe to my blog  www.pastorbirai.com

Throughout the centuries men, women, young and old have sought for happiness and satisfaction but in the wrong places/avenues (work, alcohol,leisure/entertainment, night clubs, dancing, abusing drugs, immorality,leadership, celebrity,material possession and what have you) Did they succeed? Yes, but in destroying themselves.

Many have been forced by reality/circumstances to admit or yield that life without God is like chasing the wind. In the end one dies like a dog without hope and in great bitterness. Here is what the sure word of God teaches:

  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.(John 15:5)

""For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26)

"Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who ^">)exercises loving kindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

" Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”  As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. ¹⁷ If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them." (James 4:13-17)

So, listen to me, fear God and give Him glory every single day of your life. Pray, read the Bible and go to church weekly as per the Bible instructions. But if you and I ignore what the Bible teaches then I have bad news for us. Like many have found out to their great disappointment, you and I will finally be forced to admit that life without God has no rewards whatsoever. Its a life of misery, headache and frustration.

I will choose to continue depending on God in all that I do. How about you?.

Pastor Birai
Read or subscribe to my blog www.pastorbirai.com

The committee of the faithful ones had gathered to choose a conference president. One speaker after another took their stand to give convincing accolades on this one candidate. When all indications pointed to the obvious (that all present wanted to choose him as their next president) one individual stood up and said this: "I appreciate all that has been said of my brother. I have nothing to add or subtract. My only concern is that "my brother has a wife." And with that he sat down.

After a length discussion on the statement "my brother has a wife" It dawned on all present that the wife of this candidate was something else. She was so mean, rude, unfriendly, selfish, trouble maker and arrogant to qualify as a president's wife. Therefore, someone else was chosen.

Who we are or how others perceive us has all kinds of negative effects on those that we love (spouse, children, parents, friends and what have you"

Ever taken time to reflect on what others think about you?

Pastor Birai
  

Those who claim to know God, ought to live a life that reflects the Godly ideals/traits. Sadly, that has not always been the case. If anything, the majority are anti-God in many ways. Here is how Paul depicts that reality throughout the centuries. I am sure that you can agree with me that the same applies today.

^"For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools  and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." (Romans 1:21-32)

How do you see yourself? Where do you belong?

Pastor Birai

My devotion this morning took me to the following passages:

"There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12)

"My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them." (Proverbs 1:10)

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it" (Isaiah 30.21)

"Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character." ^{(1 Corinthians 15:33)}

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

" Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." (1 Peter 5:7-9)

In meditation of the above passages, it dawned on me that every single day, we have very strong forces, each calling for our attention. Forces like?

1.God, who having our interests at His heart wants to help us from ruining or hurting ourselves. Both the Old and New Testament bespeaks of the reward that has always accompanied obedience and love towards our God. The book of proverbs tells us that: "when a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him." (Proverbs 16:7). Jesus made this point clear when He taught "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Mathew 11:28-29). He further taught "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Mathew 6:33)

2.The devil whose interest is to destroy us. He does everything possible to take us away from He-God-who has always loved us. History tells us that those who chose to obey Him succeeded in destroying themselves. He is ever at work seeking to destroy the easy targets

3.Loved ones (spouse, parents, siblings, friends, relatives, work mates,) who want us to do this or that. While some of them have got us at their hearts others are there to mislead and destroy us

So, which way to go? Its all up to you and I. One thing though that we should remember is that there are consequences to every decision that we make. Its therefore entirely up to you to choose which way to go. The Lord will never tire to warn and guide us. But He can only reach you if you choose to: Here is what the Bible says:

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." (Revelation 3:20)

Whom will you chose to listen to?

Pastor Birai

Read or subscribe to my blog www.pastorbirai.com