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 06, Issue 12:  Still Believe

We go through times of waiting for doors of opportunity to open. A job, a spouse, a baby, promotion, healing, restoration, whatever the heart desires. Sometimes what we hope for takes long to come to pass. When it tarries, the easiest road to take may be to give up and focus on something else. Even worse, stop seeking and live in disillusionment and bitterness.

How about taking the hard road of persistence? Once you are certain you are knocking on the right door, like Hannah, determine to persist until the door to what you seek is opened. Persistence and consistency is what we need to tarry at the place of prayer until the door opens.

Everyone who keeps on seeking will find; everyone who keeps on asking will receive; the door will be opened to those who keep on knocking.

Ask and it will be given to you, knock and the door will be opened for you; seek and you will find – Matthew 7:7

The door to having children was closed for Hannah. This did not stop her from knocking on the closed door. Hannah was miserable and dejected, but her condition did not stop her from seeking God. On the contrary, Hannah’s misery drove her closer to the Lord. She knocked on the door year after year. She agonized before the Lord at the temple in Shiloh year after year.

Many of us allow our problems to drive us away from God. We settle for substitutes to what we truly seek. You seek a husband, but when that door remains closed for long, you settle for a come-we-stay arrangement with a man who is not interested in marrying you. Hannah’s husband’s love for her was no consolation for what she sought. She knocked on the door for a child and did not give up. She kept on knocking year after year.

As you stand knocking before a closed door, be prepared to be misunderstood. People will tell you to move on and find something else to focus on. But if the Lord says he took your infirmities on the cross, then you believe it even when you are not healed yet. You stand believing that his blood is sufficient for you. Hannah was not understood by her husband who expected her to be content with his love for her. Eli the man of God rebuked her for drunkardness as she agonized and poured out her heart before the Lord at Shiloh. Don’t seek to be understood, keep on knocking.

Even when God sets before us open doors, there’s often opposition at the door, to keep us from entering. It is those who persist who enjoy what lies therein. Whatever it is that you seek within God’s will for your life, keep on seeking; keep on asking; keep on knocking; believing, and expect to receive.

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 06, Issue 11: Read and Write with Children

Reading is an invaluable educational skill. Books help us think about our life, assist, inspire and motivate us. As we form a habit of reading, we should encourage children to acquire the discipline of reading.

In addition to reading and getting inspired by the Bible and excellent literature, we should incorporate writing as an expression of our thinking. In order to receive a progression of truth that leads to creative thought, ideas must be recorded.

As David prayed that God would show him the plans and ideas for building the temple, he began to record his thoughts and ideas. It is when he was writing that he received revelation and understanding from the Lord concerning every detail of the temple.

Reading and writing will help our children develop their reasoning abilities. Require them to read and write. When they go on a trip, they should write about the experience. When they finish a storybook, they should write about their favourite parts of the book and lessons learnt.

Our children will never do great and noble things unless they have great and noble dreams. They will never think great and noble thoughts unless they first read them. The greater the knowledge of truth, the more creative and greater our children will think and reason and aspire to acquire them.

As our children read and reflect upon the Bible and other great literature, it becomes the launching pad upon which they can dream and reach down to the wells of greatness deep within them.

Shallow literature begets shallowness. Great literature inspires greatness. Valuable books make us think – A. W. Tozer

Let’s not be among those who encourage children to read only to pass examinations. If we do this, most of them will grow up not reading serious literature unless there is an examination. Even as they mature into adults, they will read only newspapers and magazines.

Look beyond here and now. Be futuristic in what you do with and for the children in your life. Develop a reading culture in them and encourage them to view it as a hobby. Stock up on books for your children to develop their reading skills early, and by the time they join institutions of higher learning, they will have nurtured a love for books.

Stimulate the love for reading in the children in your life as a pleasurable activity. Inspire them by taking them on a book fair every now and then to pick up children storybooks, children’s magazines and textbooks. It is when reading has been sustained and developed into a habit that full benefits accrue from it.

Catch them young. Right from pre-school, help children to develop an interest in reading. Encourage them to own books, read and exchange with friends. Additionally, encourage children to form or join book clubs, and write stories.

Even for children there is always time to read. Just like adults, children are always waiting.  They can read as they wait for you to get ready, as they wait for the school bus, as they wait for their turn at the doctors, and on the ride to and from school.

The basis of our success is in what we invest time, resources and a creative reading culture in. When we direct our children to embrace these, they shall reap maximum benefits for many years to come.

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 06, Issue 10: Self Education

Reading is a neglected practice yet one of life’s biggest opportunities. Reading opens windows of opportunities to things that were foreign to us. Unfortunately, after completing formal education, few of us want to read again.

Books are a store of wealth. At every graduation ceremony, the second President of Kenya, who was the Chancellor of all public Universities would charge the graduating class to read by stating, “I give ye power to read.” How many of us after graduating make a commitment to read? Sadly, a majority of graduates read only newspapers and magazines.

One of the contributing factors to this is that there’s no motivation to read. We have emphasized the importance of certificates so much that we do not value books. After all, when you read a book no one gives you a certificate for that.

The greatest university of all is the collection of books we have read. Reading makes up for what parents and schools do not teach us. We should form a habit of reading and encourage children to acquire the discipline of reading.

Formal education may get you a well-paying job. But it is self-education that gives you the skills to succeed in life, beyond just book balance. Self-education helps you acquire life skills and success principles that are not covered in a school curriculum.

What we become depends on what we read after all the professionals have finished with us – Thomas Carolyn

Develop a hunger for reading. I was impressed by The Apostle Paul’s hunger for reading evidenced by his writing to his protege Timothy asking for his parchments and books. Even at old age and in prison, Paul was anxious to grow. The Old Testament scribe, Ezra, also believed in the growth of the mind. He devoted himself to study the Law of God, to obey it and to instruct the people of Israel in it.

Some of us have zeal but no knowledge. We desire to be used of God to bring transformation in our societies but we are not equipped.  Read widely and extensively to position yourself for noble assignments. Because Ezra’s mind and spirit were full from his reading, God tapped him for the gigantic undertaking of leading a large task force of men across the wilderness to rebuild Jerusalem.

Read widely to know how to tackle issues in life. The society is changing; we are changing, and almost everything within, about and around us is changing. We are faced with diverse challenges, dilemmas and problems that we do not know how to solve. We face challenges on career choices, how to run a successful business, how to communicate effectively, marital problems, parenting issues, sickness, handling finances, being single, divorced or separated, handling success, etc. That is why we need to read widely to open a window of opportunity in these areas of life.

When we read books, they take us to places we have never been before. We meet great minds and experts whom we could have never met otherwise. Sometimes we hide behind prayer when what we need is knowledge. In certain issues, it is not only prayer that we need, but also the knowhow to handle challenging issues in life.

We must read and learn all the time. Knowledge helps us manage our lives. Married with two children, coupled with a demanding career, books have helped me a lot on how to balance my life, how to relate with my husband, how to raise my children, how to manage resources, how to grow in intimacy with God, and so on. There are many things around me competing for my attention, but I have committed to create time to read.

The best part is that we don’t have to go out of our way to create time to read if we are determined. You can read as you wait at the bank, clinic, restaurant, salon, and on a bus ride. There’s always time to read. Advanced technology has made it even easier as we can now read by listening to audio versions of books. We are living in a digital generation, most tablets and smartphones can convert text to speech. This way, you can read as you drive, as you cook, as you exercise, even as you wait on queue at the supermarket.

Reading is an investment, and not a time passing routine. Improve your capability to handle life in this day and age by grabbing your opportunities to read. Don’t be content with the knowledge you have, reach out for more and keep growing as a person, intellectually, and in all areas of interest to you.

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 06, Issue 09: Biggest Opportunities

We are always looking for opportunities to make life better. The best things in life are free, like watching the sunset, worshipping, exercising, laughter, etc. The doors of the best opportunities in life are wide open, and free for all to partake of.

1. A connection with God

People who know their God will do exploits. It is pursuing God and being connected with Him that’s the key to great success in life. God did not intend for us to be acquaintances with him. He is calling us to know him intimately. God cannot take us further than we want to go, He cannot take us deeper than we want to go. We are as close to God as we choose to be. An encounter with God is the best opportunity ever, and it’s in the offing for all.

2. Physical fitness

Exercise produces endorphins in the brain which make you feel good. Set a routine in your home that is hard to break. One of the most popular excuses we give is lack of time. One can always create time for exercise. God has given us long life but we are choosing a shorter life span by what we eat and lack of exercise. Some of us are tired, ill, and out of shape most of the time. When we say that we do not have time for physical fitness, what are our priorities? We need to pause and consider what we define as success. What really is success?

3. Laughter

Laughter strengthens the immune system, reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, eases pain, improves complexion and makes you feel good about yourself. Laugh alone, and find time to laugh with others. We are always caught up in busy schedules, worries and cares of life that make us forget to watch the sunset, the beauty and miracles around. Put laughter on your to do list and look for occasions in the day to laugh.

4. Personal Development

Have an appetite to grow intellectually and in the things of God; to grow in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. Wisdom is knowledge applied to the situation at hand. Wisdom makes sense out of non-sense. Develop the opportunities you have been given. Develop yourself and allow yourself to be developed. Stir up the gifts that are within you. Don’t border on mediocrity. Become skilled in your work. Whatever you do, do it as though as soon as you finish, an angel is going to take it to heaven to present before God.

These are some of life’s biggest opportunities. Refuse to waste them.

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 06, Issue 08: A Rich and Powerful Life

One of my inspirational characters in the Bible is Lydia. She mastered the art of balancing success and prosperity in the secular marketplace with a profound devotion to maintain her spiritual beliefs and ethics.

Lydia was a wealthy woman in Greek society with access to all the trappings a woman could want. Yet she found all of them insufficient to fulfill her completely. Her life gives us some profound principles for living a rich and powerful life, a balanced life filled with riches and power on every level.

Though she had everything materially, Lydia still sought more. She sought God, knowing that what she truly craved could only be found in him.

From Lydia, we learn one of the quiet basics, prayer. Prayer and meditation is the prerequisite for victorious living. They are at the seat of power from which all sound decisions are made that fill one’s life with all the soul longs for.

Pursue a quiet life of prayer to nurture intimacy with God and build a deep and passionate relationship. Out of that relationship would come all the trimmings we could possibly desire because that’s what lovers do. They give gifts to the beloved.

In spite of Lydia’s financial stature, accomplishments, and standing in the community, she took the time to pray; consistently and regularly. It was her lifeblood. She made the time for it, had the place for it. And she did not swerve from this discipline, seeking the face of God and his daily refreshing that enabled her to complete her demanding tasks.

Make prayer a central object in your life. Begin every day spending time alone with God. Cultivate a life of prayer and consistent spiritual devotion.

We don’t pray to center ourselves, for there’s nothing at our center if God is not there. Prayer centers God in us. With him firmly in place as the axis at our core, things happen. Revelation happens that empower us to acquire the desires of our heart, from inner peace to external success.

Seek to know where your source of power and influence truly lies and plug into it. Make God your divine partner personally and professionally. May we strive to seek God early and to seek Him late, at all times seek Him. To become passionate and disciplined in our pursuit of Him and all that He has to offer.

The other quiet basic we glean from Lydia is having a hunger for the truth of God’s Word and the ability to live it out. Not just a craving, but an insatiable hunger. Lydia longed to know more about God. She wanted to know his ways and what he expected of her. God answered her by sending Paul and other disciples to teach her and her friends.

Cultivate a hunger and thirst for God’s Word and a desire to be instructed in His ways. Make time to meditate on God’s Word regularly despite the various things competing for your attention. God’s Word is key to our success and prosperity.

In spite of all her material possessions, Lydia’s spiritual life was her dearest asset and she nurtured it with passion.

Pursue a healthy spirit before a bulging bank account. Pursue peace above all the drama wheeling and dealing can bring. Seek spiritual understanding and the knowledge you need will come into clear focus. Lydia prioritized her life in a way that made her fruitful in all her endeavours. As we recalibrate our spirits and align our minds with God’s way of doing things, the power and success we seek will overwhelm us.

Though her needs were met with an abundance with more than enough left over to contribute to the needs of others, at the end of the day, Lydia’s ultimate fulfilment came from the things that were not tied to her career. The legacy she established came from her intimate relationship with God and the works she did beyond her business.

May God help us to keep Him first in the midst of all that we strive to do and achieve. May we be ever mindful of His voice and leading. And when the affairs of the world beckon too loudly, may He lead us back to the quiet place where we can hear His voice again.

Lillian Chebosi