Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” And the “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."(Luke 12:35-48)
My lil bro Moses sent me a text with verses from Luke 12 (which was also part of the Solid Life Reading plan - which is a free plan to read the Bible in one year on the Bible app. Check it out!) In my Bible it was titled, "Warnings and Encouragements" and I knew I had to read the whole chapter and yes it's both convicting and encouraging. Many things stood out to me but the one which stood out the most is the passage above. It reminded me of this dream my sis Flo had and shared with us on whatsapp on Jan 3rd:
"We were all in a very big house... then we heard commotion downstairs.. I thought it was the kids but went to check. Much to my surprise it was Charlene fighting with the maids. We had two of them... (she went to describe one of the house helps we had back in Kenya and another one who was my mum's relative)... They were all at the kitchen stove/cooker. It was a very large cooker/stove one of those 42'' inches ones... this was a mansion like I said... a big one. And the last thing I heard the maid telling Charlene... {She sent a voice-note trying to sound like the maid} "Mbona unamkataza na mama amesema anaweza kukula hiyo?" Direct translation --> Why are you refusing her/him yet mother (the woman of the house / boss lady) said that she/he can eat that?... {moving on with the dream}... "Then I pulled them apart had them both -Charlene and the young maid- go in different rooms. Then I asked Charlene for her version of what happened... (she also mentions some other family and friends who were also there for some reason). Then next I go ask the young maid for her version but then I woke up.... It was not physical really, just Charlene holding on to the sufurias in a protective way while pushing them aside with her body and they were trying to get what was in the sufuria (cooking pot)... I said food is the last thing we should be fighting over." [End of dream]
When I was thinking about the dream I read Deuteronomy chapter 6-9 and I knew that had to do with some of the dream. Then when I thought about it some more I realized that in the Bible, the Word of God is food (spiritual food) and maids are servants hence representing servants of God (his lovers and messengers) then what God was trying to teach me through that hit me... "We were in big house"-> represents "the promised land"... (God has blessed me so much this year) and to connect it with the Luke chapter above it... Though He has given me His blessings, I'm actually just a *steward of His blessings {* means: [noun] an official appointed to supervise arrangements or keep order at a large public event. [verb] manage or look after (another's property)} So the challenge is not to get caught up / too comfortable/complacent with the blessings and forget the main point of everything... It's not about the blessings, He is the main prize (Yeshua/Jesus) so he wants to find us waiting for Him dressed for action/ready for service and with our lamps burning which means seeking God by reading and doing His Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us, to wash us and free us, to guide us and teach us [ you can read more about the role of the Holy Spirit in John 15: 26-27 & John 16:12-15] and also SHINING/SHARING OUR GIFTS/ HIS BLESSINGS.
"For we are His workmanship / handiwork / masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)
So in the dream, like Flo mentioned, it was not a physical fight, it was just me hogging the food in the pot ~ keeping it to myself and also preventing others from getting to it... and also in the dream I had my excuses which I told Flo my sis (the boss lady in the dream) when she came to separate us... And all this true in real life... God was reminded me the gifts He has given me... prophecy (knowing what's coming and what we're supposed to do), speaking up and just being myself... but yeah I haven't been myself coz of caring too much what *people will think when I obey God (*not all people mainly christians)... and I should say that again so that the ridiculousness of that statement sinks in and scars me for life lol...
But moving on to a sum of the lessons God was teaching me...
1.) I must always listen to God and do what He says regardless of what anyone else thinks and whether or not they listen. So we don't have any excuse for not obeying.
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29)
"And you shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear..." (Ezekiel 2:7)
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29)
"And you shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear..." (Ezekiel 2:7)
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“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (Luke 12: 11-12)
"And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” (Acts 18:9-10)
"But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain... Now go; I will help you speak and teach you what to say." (Exodus 3:11-12, & 4:12)
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6: 10-13, post: FULL Armor of God)
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3.) Eyes on the Prize. It's not in vain. Jesus is coming soon....Jesus has revealed to me many signs of Beauty & the Beast: To be Human Again ] And this knowledge really woke me up and inspired me to live and to love... So He's trying to wake me up again... I'm also reminded of the Parable of the talents... Check out: Matthew 25:14-30
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'" :o
"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every person according to they have done. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city." ~ Jesus (Revelation 22: 12-14)
"Child don't be dragging, be lagging behind!... I am who I say that I am and you are who I called to be Free! ... So Wake up! Wake Up and get free now! "
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APPLICATION: WAKE UP =D
1. Confess and Repent (means to turn) ~ The awakening process isn't always fun... realizing you've strayed from the right path God has for your life is sometimes painful... But God doesn't convict us to shame us but just so that we return to the right path... His is leading us with His love. His grace and mercy is enough for us so we can get back up and finish the race =) I must admit that I've been pretty foolish this past year and wasn't listening to God... and it's embarrassing and discouraging when I make my self face this. But I remember that God disciplines those He loves. So thanks Jesus for your grace and patience with me!! Now help me do things Your way which is the best way! Amen! :D Love this song from 'Out of Eden' and I'm making it my prayer: ♫ Forgive me LORD for I sinned, I have strayed from Your ways and need to begin again. My ways have let me down, LORD please would you turn my life around. I will do what You say, LORD have Your way!... I love You LORD, You're so beautiful! ... So LORD please take Your place, as my master, I'll seek Your face! ♫ =)
2. Spend time with God~ Talking to him, listening to Him, reading the word, worship music... As you get to know Him more, you will also find yourself more. And His perfect love is the one that will perfect us... He is renewing us each day. His perfect love drives out fear! I was watched the movie "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron" yesterday on youtube and in one of the songs in this one scene said, "When you lose yourself, your courage soon will follow so be strong tonight, remember who you are!" And it's funny, in the movie, Spirit, the horse who's the main character says "With power comes responsibility." ...And yeah God does't need servants... He doesn't need us... He wants us though. He is Love and He created us to be loved by Him and manifest His love to the world. Jesus says, "No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." ( John 15:15) So it's all about relationship with Him... intimacy... yes there's lots of work that needs to be done on this earth but Jesus invites us to find ourselves in Him, our purpose and find confidence in how loved we are which is what will equips us to change the world with Him,... Him in us and through us.
3. Use the gifts and talents God has given you with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. You are unique and beautiful! When we use our talents we are praising God for He is the one who blessed us by creating us uniquely. And we also bless so many others. (post: BLOOM!) And in the end, the only thing that matters is when we are One with Love and we hear the words, "Well done." :-)
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Oh yeah, another major reason why I haven't been sharing is coz I got overwhelmed with all that I haven't shared already... I'm in a new season in life now so I opted to make a new blog site that way I can share narratives of the present without being tied down by the past, yet still remembering history and moving towards the future, so help me God!! So anyway, here's my new page if you want in on my SB stories : Destination SB :-)