Equipping young women professionals with young families to find fulfillment, contentment and joy as mothers and home makers without losing sight of who they are as women.

Volume 10, Issue 50: Doing Life With God

Sometimes I feel that we don't know what we get with Jesus, what we get with a life of salvation. An abundant life is everything we ever wanted and then some. There's a portion of scripture that has always impressed me, and I thought to highlight it for you today so you too can get excited about your life with God.

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely." Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭MSG‬‬.

If that's not an abundant life then I don't know what is. When Christ takes over our lives, we know warmth and love, peace and joy, health and prosperity. Nothing quite fazes us. We are unperturbed, unfazed by rumor and gossip, trusting God to work all things together for our good. We feel exuberant about life and people. We find joy and happiness even in the smallest of details.

We don't find work a chore, our work is our worship. We are not bogged down by what we don't have or what's isn't sorted yet, we feel deeply grateful for everything every time we turn around. We live in his presence, acutely aware of his providence, his guidance and protection every step of the way. The ups and downs of life don't rob us of the abundant life because we are doing life with God.

For His Glory,

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 10, Issue 49: Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing

As we draw near to the Christmas holiday season, I am excited about taking time away from work, going on vacation, traveling and having fun with extended family and friends. But what's gnawing at me in the midst of the excitement is that I don't want to get lost in the celebrations and the noise of the season. I want to be careful to keep the main thing the main thing.

Christmas isn't just the hip holiday of the year. It's a commemoration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour, the event that changed everything for us. Christ came on earth to redeem mankind, to pay the penalty for our sin and reunite us to God. Before the birth of Christ, we were headed for damnation. Now, we are not only redeemed, we have been given the privilege of abundant life.

"The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I've come that you may have life, and life in abundance," said Jesus. He came at Christmas, to translate us from a puny life to an abundant life. To save our souls. Change our eternal destination from hell to heaven. To break the curse, heal our diseases, right our wrongs, free the oppressed and bound, bring justice to the mistreated, mend our brokenness, restore our families and so much more.

That's the reason for this season. It's not about traveling and partying. Therefore as we do those things this season, I don't want to even for a moment forget the reason for the season. I want to keep communing with Jesus at the center of my heart, in the fore of my mind through every bit of the laughter and relaxing and celebrating. I want to keep the main thing the main thing.

Jesus is the reason for the season. As we celebrate this time with family and friends, let's remember to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, without whom there is no ultimate celebration.

For His Glory,

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 10, Issue 48: From Marah to Elim

A message from my church service a few Sundays ago impressed my heart enough to want to share it with you. Reverend Patrick Kuhio of CITAM church taught on overcoming disappointments from a story of when the children of Israel were travelling through the wilderness.

These folks travelled for three days through the wilderness without finding any water. They got to a place called Marah, but the water there was bitter. God pointed Moses to a stick of wood which he threw into the water and the water turned sweet.

The people then travelled on from Marah and arrived at a place called Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. They set up camp there by the water.

“Moses led Israel from the Red Sea on to the Wilderness of Shur. They traveled for three days through the wilderness without finding any water. They got to Marah, but they couldn’t drink the water at Marah; it was bitter. That’s why they called the place Marah (Bitter). And the people complained to Moses, “So what are we supposed to drink?” So Moses cried out in prayer to GOD. GOD pointed him to a stick of wood. Moses threw it into the water and the water turned sweet. They came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. They set up camp there by the water.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭15:22-25, 27‬ ‭MSG‬‬.

Life is full of sweet and bitter moments. My experiences have taught me that a crisis is nothing but an opportunity to encounter the faithfulness of God. Granted real life is bitter-sweet, but whether you camp at Marah or Elim is a personal choice.

For the children of Israel in this story, Marah was a place of temporary respite, while Elim was a place of rest and comfort. When going through troubles, remember that Elim is up the road. Don't stop at Marah, but instead keep moving, because Elim is up the road.

Every disappointment in life is an opportunity to experience God's faithfulness. The Calvary tree makes bitter waters sweet. Don't get stuck in Marah because God is faithfulness to get you to the other side of your trouble. Pass through Marah, but camp at Elim.

Inspired by a sermon by Reverend Patrick Kuchio - CITAM

For His Glory,

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 10, Issue 47: Unrelated Intellectual Distraction

When I was researching on the "Managing Your Energy" series, I heard Craig Groeschel mention an article he once read and it lit a bulb in my mind. The article said, "The highest performers generally have an unrelated intellectual distraction. The highest performers - those who are at the peak of whatever they do, they almost always have an unrelated intellectual distraction".

Craig gave his example for this. He is a pastor, but he has a side interest - he has always enjoyed business. He has done real estate and invested in homes for over 30 years. It's a completely unrelated interest, sort of like a hobby for him. Reading books on business stimulates his creativity.

Craig's example made me think of mine. I am an accountant but I have always enjoyed coaching. I have taught classes, coached individuals, but the main expression of my coaching this season is through writing. I have written creatively on a consistent basis for the last ten years. I write to inspire and motivate people, and myself to reach for the best versions of ourselves. My writing goes a long way in recharging my mental energy.

What is your unrelated intellectual distraction? What is the thing that you enjoy doing outside your mainstream occupation? Craig reiterated that if you want to be the best at what you do, you might want to look for an unrelated intellectual distraction. That will help you grow in more ways than you can realize.

For His Glory,

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 10, Issue 46: Finish What You Started

I invested time at a ladies' leadership conference out of town this week. This time away from home and work afforded me a moment to pause, refresh and reflect. One of the presentations was on physical wellness for the busy woman. This is a topic close to my heart as I am about a decade into my physical wellness journey. I would say that I am classified among the middle level nutritionally conscious and physical fit people.

I have exercised consistently over the last 10 years, and my nutrition has gradually transitioned to now consuming only wholesome foods maybe 95% of the time. I didn't think much about it during the presentation but while taking time to reflect on the discussion later on, I realized I have an issue to address as a matter of urgency.

Have you ever started a project but not seen it through to conclusion? Have you ever stalled on a project in its final leg? Have you ever basked in the applause of the moment for how well you have done so far on a project and found yourself stalled? I never thought about it this way before, but today I realized that I stalled on one of my ultimate fitness goal.

Imagine running a 42 kilometers marathon so well only to stop at the last 2 kilometers and hang around there jogging back and forth. That after completing 40 kilometers, you are not moving backwards but you are not moving forward either to finish the race. That's how I feel about one aspect of my fitness goals, something I hadn't realized until now.

I feel like I did so well making small changes over time but failed to finish the race. I basked in the glory of feeling good and looking good but I did not push to get to the finish line to look my best. This realization is so annoying I have to take action now! Just picture a marathoner not finishing their race a mere 2 kilometers from the finish line. Not because they don't have any stamina left in them to finish but because of getting distracted by their success thus far.

Success can indeed be a serious enemy of progress. I know better than to bask in yesterday's successes but here I am having plateaued in my fitness journey, inches away from reaching my goal. I've got to do something to finish my race. I have come so far to not reach my goal. And I refuse to settle anymore for anything shy of my ultimate goal regardless of how close what I have attained resembles my ultimate goal. Starting now, I am racing to the finish line. I am giving myself until my next birthday (which is six and a half months away) to attain my goal of a flat tummy.

Which of your long term goals have you plateaued on? In what area of life have you settled for close but not quite there, less than your best, above average but not excellent? If you answered affirmatively, what are you going to do about it? Join me in this challenge to push ourselves to the finish line. We can do this. We have come so far to settle for less than our best.

Like I have done, identify just one of your stalled projects that you are passionate about finishing. List down the action points that you know if you disciplined yourself about you will definitely succeed in finishing the project. Create a system for tackling your action points. Set for yourself a realistic timeline. Enlist a few people to hold you accountable. Then start today!

For His Glory,

Lillian Chebosi