Wednesday 20 July 2016

My Christian Journey


Like most Kenyan children, I was raised in a Christian home. Sunday school and church was almost a norm. This, anyone would think that it was automatic for a child with a Christian background would end up a Christian.
 It was not the case for me since; it was until the age of 15 when I decided to give my life to Christ. Initially I had sort of done that when I was in primary school, but this was different, it was a sober commitment that I was making. I decided to surrender my teenage worries and burden to Christ.
High-school was not as much a challenge but it had issues of its own. My struggle then was learning how to stand firm for Christ. It is in this stage where one often seeks to belong to a group, wants to identify with the popular kids in school and also stay relevant. Thankfully some high-school kids were young yet mature enough to know what to stand for. Those kinds of people are the ones God used to keep me in check at that time. It is from high-school that I realised the importance of being accountable to people. They do not only keep one in check but are also a fellowship where, we get healing. This is as the bible teaches “Confess your sins one to another that you may be healed”. I am always grateful that as a young believer I had people to cling to, and to walk with in the ups and downs of my young life then.
I have been a student most of my life, therefore my life is centred on school. Campus life was somewhat challenging. With campus, comes freedom that often one longs for. Great anxiety and curiosity clouded my young mind. I honestly believe that the Lord in His divine plan for my life had a reason why I was to land in Karatina University.
My first year of study was a rather “confused” one. By this I mean as far as ministry is concerned. Yes, I was found in Church, but this was not the kind of Church I was used to, the few months I was at home. This was different, the CU. It is a community of students from different Christian denominations. I took time to understand how things in the Christian Union were run. Learning why we were led by a committee and not a pastor, why I would not bring my church doctrine in the CU. Eventually I appreciated the CU and most of all the fact that its sole source of authority was the Bible.
It was in campus that my Christian life experienced tremendous growth. I loved ministering in the Music department. I joined Choir and Praise teams right in first year, yes in the midst of the “confusion”. I thank God for the CU officials (as we called them ) that I found. They held me closely. I remember one Josephine Githutha, who currently works with FOCUS (Fellowship of Christian Unions) Kenya. This lady held my hand, during the time she was around, to this date she “keeps tabs” on me.  She always had with an encouraging word for me. I can mention others who even though did not serve in the Christian Union committee they were sisters and brothers who were true believers in Campus. Faith Ngeru, Emma Nduta, Celine Adhiambo, Nehemiah Rotich are just but a few who I looked up to and still do in my walk of salvation.
In Campus, I also got an opportunity to serve in the Christian Union as a Music Coordinator. I bless God, because that moment I felt inadequate, but His word encouraged me that He perfects the imperfect. When I realised that I could be used for a noble purpose in the Kingdom.
While also in campus the Lord put a desire in me for the Muslim world. I desired to share the Gospel to my Muslim friends in Campus. In the process of loving them and sharing with them, I got to learn about Christian apologetics. A brother who worked with FOCUS Kenya by the name Charles Githaiga was used by God as a teacher in the Christian Union. This brother was instrumental in nurturing the desire in me to reach Muslims. It was then that I understood that the great commission requires total surrender and commitment to Christ. I always thought evangelism was about preaching, but now I know there is more to that. There are other needs that people face apart from knowing Christ. If as a Christian I would be in a position to meet these needs then the world would have a room to get to know Christ and His purpose for the world.
It is for this reason; I became a red-cross volunteer and later a leader in Campus. I decided to serve in what the bible calls “the pure and undefiled religion” James 1:27

Today I am serving in the youth ministry at Full-gospel Zimmerman Worship Kenya. I bless God
Love
Kateblessingjoe

Wednesday 5 August 2015

I CHOOSE TO ENCOURAGE MYSELF




Encouraging myself is what I choose….Not because it is the easiest thing to do, not because I have a lot of good and sweet memories but it is because it is the right thing to do amidst very many option.

Life has a lot of struggles and difficulties and most times when discouragement comes my way I give in to it… Not knowing it’s the beginning of my downfall, or probably I do know but wouldn’t even care.
Wait a minute that right there is being selfish… yes I just said that. Ofcos I need to be happy for myself… that’s for sure. But sometimes it’s for others… friends, family, comrades at school and people I serve in Ministry.

Makes me realise that we are called for the world…. You know most of us Christians think that the “world” is a word to represent nonbelievers, strangers, people whom we can only travel long distances in order to reach. The reality is even the people we are close to form a portion of the world. People who look at you every day and see the Christ in you.

I choose to encourage myself because of this people. This is because not doing so does not only harm me but also the people around me. Yet Christ expects us to reach out to them, and our attitude towards life greatly determines their perception of Christ.

I choose to accept and apply agape... Imagine if Christ didn’t encourage himself through his suffering….what could have happened? As a follower of Christ, it is for the best that I learn from his life. He bore the pain, for you and me.

I choose this path not because it is easy but for the sake of others, and for the sake of the Gospel.

Love
Kateblessingjoe


WE ALL GROW UP BUT NOT ALL OF US GET OVER IT…



Growing up, I was this kind of kid that could not fit in any group of kids. I mean the unwanted type, the type that if I really played it was around boys. Hehe you know what that meant ….”unacheza na wavulana” the girls that time would say if you were in a position like mine.

I think at the time, I either did not care at all about what they said…..or worse still they never said it coz I was just one of the “boys” literally…..ouch right??  Imagine I just fit right there minus the toughness of cos.
I remember my best game was “gondi-sinya” the Mathare sheng for “police and robber” The game involved running around wanting to catch thieves… I always wanted to be a cop , in the game ofcos and catch the bad guys… And when I had extra energy I longed to be the wanted thief who broke free my fellow thieves from prison… Trust me it was a lot of fun…. Now I know we played that game because it was the thing my neighbourhood knew really very well and was accustomed to.
This is when I was around like 9 or 10years old……

As  I grew older I grew “fatter”  now apart from playing with boys  I earned myself another title “kanono” The worst time of my life. I remember I weighed around 60kgs when I was eleven……I know that is quite some chunk of flesh. Now I couldn’t play with most people, because of my weight , I could easily make a team lose…… That is sad …. I know, right??

But yeah that was my life, and a young age … I knew I had to fight my way in any field…. Probably this looks like a good thing… it is not.. a kid that age is supposed to be fought for… by parents older siblings…unlucky or luckily for me I am the first born.
I think the good thing my fighting gave me is I was able to become the best girl in my class as far as academics is concerned.. yeeei!!!!!!..

So I was the unwanted bright girl…..at least that was something … right?? Hahaha..not forgetting the fat girl in a crowd of boys…n this time competing with like 8 boys in class….honestly that was fun for me…. I could beat them in grammar, CRE and general knowledge thanks to my dad and the time I spent burying my head in novels…..

I remember I always knew I would go to Campus …. I don’t know how , but that little faith kept me going…..

I look back at my life and I smile… I smile not because I was strong enough…. Not because I am very lucky I dint get married like most of the girls in my year or get pregnant….(ofcos this was a norm in my neighbourhood)…..I smile because  Christ has a purpose for me…. That’s why I came out unscathed…… “That  I will live to proclaim the works of my Lord”  Psalm 118: 17

And wow don’t I love my life now?……It is when it the most dark that light shines bright….. Christ made sure that amidst my small problems I still shone bright for his glory.. and I give him glory for that.. Now and forever more..

Love
Kateblessingjoe                                                                                      

Friday 19 June 2015

The wait

Having to wait for an event to start is one thing that requires a lot of patience... trust me I have never waited this long ... 2hrs and counting.. People coming and going leaving me behind still waiting.

My bracelet just got  spoilt.. just imagine someones handshake was so vibrant my bracelet is no more.
Just learnt that when good things are supposed to happen then is when disaster strikes

I am experiencing it first hand.. I mean  jewelry  for a woman is just part of her outfit.... Tonight I am "under dressed"... Yeah that's how I feel right now. oooh poor me.

The one thing that I cant dispute is, there is a big lesson right there. I know its hard for you figure that out..... but trust me it is the same thing that happens in our Christian walk.

Waiting upon God is not an easy  task....trials, temptations make u want to stop waiting n  give up....

Hold on tight... the good things of life will get destroyed just like my bracelet.... guess what don't lose hope... Time comes and the Lord answers as he pleases... just the way the programmers of this event will start off when they want.....

My work is to stay positive and wait.....
only that
WAIT
BE PATIENT

Love
Kate

Thursday 21 May 2015

Little things Little people..? I don't think so

I do not know if we’ve ever sat down and thought through the little things in life. For me it’s the little things that count. Especially here in campus there are a lot of things, and that includes people who make life a worthwhile venture.

Out of campus most people think it is to a hole full of evil, that we are sent. In my opinion, it depends with the kinda company you land in.

I am forever grateful for my roomie. Names withheld, this is the one person that I owe my peace in campus. This is aside from God ofcos.

I would say that my relationship with people would be a piece of crap ….

All along before campus and immediately after, I was these kind that are lone rangers. That kind that when they talk, everyone listens. Those who communicates even silent, not the good way though.

So just not to digress, my roomie, silently taught me how to ease up, how to treat people like they had no ulterior motives even though they were guilty of something.

I know, right? I must have been a low life… Maybe maybe not. Probably my kinda life was kinda helpful that time when it lasted. What’s important is I don’t miss that life though the memories tied to it are irreplaceable.

It’s almost three years down the line and I have something to cherish about my roomie. Do you?

Love  Kate




Wednesday 18 February 2015

My Me Story - KateblessingJoe: Should going GAY be the option?

My Me Story - KateblessingJoe: Should going GAY be the option?: After a long time of not wanting to comment about the homosexuality business, I think finally there is something to say. I have sat down ...