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 04, Issue 01: Not Afraid to Stand Out

It’s easy to blend in, flow with the crowd. But there is nothing special about that, is there? I was recently impressed by a study of the story of Joshua in the Bible. This study revealed that Joshua was a man of distinction. He was distinct in specific ways that challenges me to up my game.

Joshua was distinct in his commitment.

As Moses’ personal aid, Joshua fought both physical and spiritual battles for his master. He wasn’t just a mighty warrior on the battle field; he was also on the spiritual front line for and with Moses. It is recorded that Joshua went up on the mountain with Moses. He also remained in the tent of meeting interceding for Moses while the Lord spoke with Moses face to face. (Exodus 32 & 33)

In serving Moses, Joshua was a faithful committed servant in the house of the Lord. He could be relied upon, counted on to be there.

In what way do you stand out in the things and people you are committed to? How reliable are you to those who count on you? How firm are you in your beliefs and values? How committed are we to living out the life we prescribe to?

Joshua was distinct in courage.

Joshua was among the 12 sent to explore the Promised Land. Ten out of the twelve brought a negative report that discouraged the multitude. But Joshua and Caleb were of a different spirit. Unlike the ten who were gravely intimidated by the enemy, Joshua and Caleb encouraged the multitude not to be afraid. They believed they could swallow up the enemy since they had the Lord on their side.

The easiest thing to do here would have been to side with the 10. The actually risked their lives by taking a different stand from the majority. But Joshua and Caleb dared to stand out. (Numbers 13)

Joshua demonstrated that he was not afraid to stand out from the rest.

This reminds me of the movie “Courageous”. Men of courage, women of courage, stand out to be counted. Do the right thing even when everyone else thinks it’s no big deal. Don’t just blend in quietly. Stand out and make a difference in the society.

Joshua was a man of distinct conviction.

Towards the end of his life, Joshua realized that the matter of worship had to be settled. He called out to the children of Israel to choose whom they were going to serve, declaring that as for him and his house, they would serve the Lord.

Joshua once again shows that he is not a man who goes by the crowd. It didn’t matter what the rest of the people were going to chose, he made up his mind to follow the Lord. (Joshua 24:14-28)

Consider the areas you need to make up your mind about. Is it worship – your devotional life? Is it raising your children – training them in the way they should go? Is it being faithful and doing your best at work? Is it concerning your physical, mental, or emotional well being? Whatever it is, choose to be like Joshua and stand out in your convictions.

Where are the Joshua’s of our time? I beckon us to choose to stand out. Stand out in our commitments, stand out in courage, and stand out in our convictions. Let’s stand out and make a difference.

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 03, Issue 14: Count your Blessings

As I enjoy the slowness that comes with the holiday season towards the end of the year, my mind is free to roam through the happenings of the year that is soon drawing to a close. Not everything turned out just the way I anticipated, but I can’t help to recount all the many things that were really good.

Reviewing my goals for the year confirms what I already knew. A few of the things I committed to do, or achieve, did not go so well, in fact, two or more were a complete flop! For one, I wasn’t able to write nearly as much as I did in the past years. But what I appreciate is that my life was changing. My failure in some areas was as a result of shifted focus that resulted in an overall successful year. You will find that to be true for you too, unless you were plain mediocre.

Think of all the things that you did well. Celebrate your achievements in the year, you deserve it. Despite the obstacles along the way, you pushed through, worked hard, made sacrifices, and excelled.

Plenty of things went well, but it wasn’t all your doing. Lots of good things happened in your life that had nothing to do with your effort. The sheer favour and goodness of God and people brought about a lot of good in your life. You had love in your life, you learnt new things, you got the promotion you desired, you finished the project that seemed impossible at first, your strained relationships were mended, while average ones soared, your needs were met with an abundance, you enjoyed good health, your children brought you joy, you got to stay in a beautiful home, good breaks came your way, and you got out of all the trouble that came your way.

Keep track of the good things in your life. You may not be all that optimistic generally, but by focusing on the good things in your life, you can muster up enough strength to hope. I know it may be hard to imagine that any of the good things I listed above happened to you, but that’s only because of where your focus is. Actively seek to see the positive in your life and you will be surprised at how beautiful it is.

Take note of what’s right in your life, better still, magnify even the little good things in your life, and see if things don’t change for the better.

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 02, Issue 13: Don’t Settle for Less

Aim higher as the new year approaches. You may have struggled this year, but that doesn’t mean you should lower your expectations for times ahead.

Don’t just ask for your needs, ask your dreams. Ask for your goals. Ask for the secret petitions of your heart.

God has blessings stored up for those who honour him. Pray God-sized prayers, and expect God to show up in a great way.

It is good to ask for our needs, but go a step further and ask for your dreams. Be bold enough to ask for the secret desires of your heart.

Expect to see the fullness of what God has in store for you, to overcome every obstacle, defeat every enemy, and become all that God destined you to be.

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 2, Issue 12: Begin with the end in mind

Success is about forming habits that keep you on course. We get to choose how to live, what we want out of life. We can live better lives if we acquire the habits that support it.

The actions that we take over and over again become habits over time. Research has shown that it takes about 30 days to develop a new habit. By then the daily routine becomes a habit.

As once said by Aristotle, we get what we repeatedly do. Therefore, we get what we want by regularly practicing for it until it becomes a habit. Whatever you desire; health, wealth, happiness, love, acquire and practice the habits that will create it for you.

Habit is the servant of great men and women; the servant of failures as well. It will push you onward or drag you to failure. Successful people employ healthy habits to propel them on the road of continuous improvement. Failures take bad habits for granted and find themselves incarcerated by them, leading to despair and disdain.

We make our habits, and then our habits make or break us. Habits are either the best servants or the worst enemies. Be easy with habit and you will live to regret it. Be firm with habit and it will get you ahead of the average person.

Habits require time, consistency, patience and determination to acquire and refine. As you acquire new habits, get rid of the old ones that do not serve you.

If you desire to live a long fulfilled life, full of health and vitality, embark on habits that promote that - daily routines of exercise and healthy eating, making a point to rest after periods of hard work.

If you desire wealth, painstakingly apply the habits of generating wealth – saving, investing, and living below your means.

There are no short-cuts in life. Whatever you desire, consistently apply the habits that will create it for you. If we want to change where we end up, we must begin with the end in mind and get on with the habit.

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 03, Issue 11: Keep Walking

In the race of life you will not be measured by the humbleness of your start, but by the greatness of your finish – Paul Tergat, Kenya’s former great athlete. He talks of how his marathon in life was a hard one, second place after second place, before he finally hit gold.

Kipchoge Keino, one of the greatest athletes in his time did not only succeed on the track, he also motivated many young athletes after him to achieve standards in sports which might have been regarded as impossible until he paved the way. Kipchoge’s success not only put Kenya on the international athletic map, it also inspired many of the country’s long distance runners and launched its decades-old dominance of long distance running.

Just like Paul Tergat, Kipchoge has a story to tell of how hard it was for him at the beginning and the hurdles he passed as he pushed himself to greatness. Regardless of how dismal his start might have been, what we remember him for is the grandness of his finish.

Do not be intimidated by your modest beginnings. Keep sharpening your skills where you are and you will rise to the top. God will cause you to be noticed. Joseph sharpened his skills while he was a slave and they were noticed in prison, and he wound up a prime minister in a foreign land.

Aim for excellence. Paul Tergat did not settle for second place. He kept striving until he made it to the top. Stir up what God has deposited within you and reach for the stars.

Be diligent at whatever you do. Joseph was only a slave, he wasn’t being paid for his work, but he still did his best. We are being paid for our work yet we border on mediocrity. We do the bare minimum just to get by and stay on the payroll. The day we realize that we are not working for men but for God is the day we shall get over the bug of mediocrity.

The expression of your talent may not look like it will amount to anything grand, but keep walking. Keep doing what you know to do best, refining it day by day. Only you can determine what becomes of your dream, and how it will look like at the finish line.

Lillian Chebosi