JESUS-Shepherd of my soul

With less than a month left of our time here in Vegas,I seem to be experiencing a fair share of anxiety and strong momentary emotions of homesickness. They remind me very much of our very first weeks on arrival.Yester morning was particularly strong.I woke up and the prevailing thought on my mind and soul was..."I want to be home,right now." It was like a power just swept over my being.

Well, during my quiet time God spoke very gently to my soul thru Psalm 23.The words that calmed my raging soul to be specific were:

I am your good Shepherd and therefore you shall not be in want.
I make you lie down in green pastures and lead you beside quiet waters.

I restore your soul and guide you in paths of righteousness for my Name's sake.
I am the Shepherd of your soul

Since then my soul has been rested.We all have different anxieties and raging seas inside us.I pray that you too will find comfort,peace and rest in knowing that Jesus is the Shepherd of your soul.

SP Onaba

A WEDDING SONG

There is this popular song that is sang at weddings(the ones I have attended atleast).I only know one line...Jesus makes beautiful the things of my life.....
This song for whatever reason has been in my heart and it wont give me leave as yet.But yes I do know that Jesus has made beautiful the things of my life indeed.

MY LIFE WILL COUNT

As easter comes to an end and life kind of returns to 'normal' several things, specifically one, continues to re-echo in the depth of my being......My life will count!

Of all the awesome reflections of easter the most outstanding piece for me is the story of one life that counted;Jesus' one life that was offered up for all.No wonder we celebrate easter.

Life has a routine......almost like a default setting

We are born.....
We go to school.......
We find a job......
We get married (perhaps)
We try this and that before we retire and finally....
We die.....

I have chosen to reset this default setting.I desire for my life to count.Jesus' one life did and today from generations past many lives have and continue to benefit from his one life.

If my life were a debit card with a million dollars to be spent,I would want God to spend it to the last penny.

In Luke 9:24 Jesus says,"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."

May we lose our lives for Him and in so doing may our one life count for Him.

SP Onaba

THE DEAD COME TO LIFE-my understanding of Easter

As I reflect on easter and its significance,I am personally grateful for Jesus Christ He not only died for me but also died because of me and today His death and resurrection brings me an abundant life.

I am also encouraged (very strongly) that this is a time of the dead things coming to life.The certainity of death is 100% for all of us.There is a sense in which death seems to say this is the end...but think about it,the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ defies this notion and from hopelessness there arises a whole new level of hope....the dead can come to life.Jesus conquered death.As Paul says...oh death where now is your sting?

My prayer this easter is that the things that have experienced a certain type of death(relationships,marriages,business,economies,etc etc) would experience a resurrection and second life.And yes it is possible.In John 11(when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead)Jesus says to Martha,"Did I not tell you that if you believed,you would see the glory of God?"

Let us believe God for the resurrection of that which has died in and among us.

Happy easter.

SP Onaba

CHRIST IN THE PASSOVER

Yesterday Joy and I had a special privilege to experience a passover jewish service at Canyonridge.Joy did a worship dance which was sweet and I did the prayer in luganda...I actually sang the East African revival song, tukutendereza Yesu,before i prayed.

It was special just listening to the Rabbi teach and show how Jesus is the passover lamb.We are grateful for Jesus our passover lamb who saved us from death.

SP Onaba

MIRACLES,SIGNS AND WONDERS

The last few days have been exceptionally exciting for me....There is a sense in which life can become monotonous and boring.But who says it has to be that way?

I like it when the writer of Hebrews says that without faith it is impossible to please God,that those who come to Him must believe that He is and that He rewards those who deligently seek Him.A friend of mine once said that,if indeed it is true that without faith it is impossible to please God,then with faith it is possible to please God.The qusetion though is:Is faith present within us...to believe God for the impossible?

In the book of Mark Jesus puts it this way:

"And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

May we believe God for the impossible...Miracles,signs and wonders.

SP and JOY