The Power of Knowing God by Name, Part 4

God wants His people to be set apart for His use. Before entering the promised land Joshua told his people “sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you to” Joshua 3:5. Sanctification was a process of purification before approaching the presence of God.
In this fourth part of knowing God by his name, we continue studying God's attributes as revealed in His word. He is the great "I AM" and His names are revealed through His encounter with us. It takes faith for us to accept God as He is and believe that He is the all sufficient and all knowing God who was, is and will always be. This faith “comes by hearing, and hearing of the word of God” Romans 10:17.

10) Jehovah-Mekoddishkem (The Lord who sanctifies)

Throughout scripture we see God rescuing His people and separating them (sanctifying) from the rest for His use. We cannot sanctify ourselves to be right with God because our standards are way be low His. God says that “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways. --- For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” Isaiah 55: 8-9.

When Moses went to meet with the Lord in Mt Sinai, God told him, “ You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to me above all people; for all the earth is mine. And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” Exodus 19: 4-6. From this scripture God explains His reason for rescuing Israel; that they may be “a special treasure, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation”.

This is the same calling made to those who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter calls on the believer to “gird up the loins of your mind---, as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’” 1 Peter 1: 13-16. It is God who sets up the standards of morality and He expects us to abide by them. We do this by imitating Him through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Our salvation is not something we have worked for or earned, “it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works” Ephesians 2: 8-9. It is God’s work of sanctification working in us and only He can start it and complete it. God’s purpose for setting us part, just like it was with the children of Israel, is that we may serve Him and make Him known to others through our acts of service.

In his first epistle, Peter reminds us that we are a “chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy, but have now obtained mercy” 1 Peter 2: 9- 10. Our worth as believers is wholly based on what God has done and does through us. He has called us "out of darkness" and when we are united with Christ as members of His body, we join in His priestly work of reconciling Others to God.

In His epistle to the Philippians, Paul calls on the believer to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” Philippians 2: 12-13. God works in us inwardly and we work outwardly what He does in our inner being. This He does through the Holy Spirit who is our teacher, counselor, intercessor and the one who gives us revelation into the hidden things of God.

Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/406314_the-power-of-knowing-god-by-name-part-4#ixzz1IDJj8KQx

Knowing God by Name, Part 3

God manifest Himself to us according to our needs and in the process demonstrates to us that He is the great “I AM”. It takes faith for us to accept God as He is and believe that He is the all sufficient God. This faith “comes by hearing, and hearing of the word of God” Romans 10:17.

Joshua was instructed by God to meditate on the word of God “day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it” Joshua 1: 7. God assured Joshua that if he was obedient to the word, success would follow him. In His word God reveals His attributes and character and in the process helps us understand Him. As we understand God we develop the confidence to approach Him in times of need by His name.

7) Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord will provide): Abraham discovered this name of God when he was tested beyond measure. Abraham had waited for years to have a son that had been promised to him as an heir by God. The son was eventually born when Abraham was one hundred years old (Genesis 21: 5) and was named Isaac.

God then tested Abraham’s faith by asking Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac to Him. This is a son that he had waited to have and now God was asking Him to sacrifice him. Just like fire refines ore to extract precious metals, God also refines His people by allowing difficult circumstances into their lives. Through these difficult situations we learn to trust God.

Abraham on his part did not question God when asked to sacrifice His son. He woke up in the morning and began one of the greatest acts of obedience by a human being recorded in History. He traveled for three days accompanied by two young men and his son to the place of worship. One can only imagine the struggle that Abraham may have had concerning this command. Perhaps God’s faithfulness before, including the birth of Isaac may have given Abraham the confidence to trust God even in this difficult command.

Isaac on seeing the fire, commented to his father, “look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” and Abraham replied, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering” Genesis 22: 7-8. This statement shows that Abraham was somehow trusting that God had a purpose through this, even though he did not understand everything.

He writer of the book of Hebrews says that “by faith Abraham, when tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, --- concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead” Hebrews 11:17,19. Faith entails trusting God even when we do not understand everything. It entails believing that God is the almighty and in Him there is every provision we need.

Just when Abraham was about to slay his son in obedience to God’s command, “the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, Abraham, Abraham, ---Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son, from me” Genesis 22: 11-12. Abraham lifted his eyes and looked “and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. ---and offered it for a burnt offering instead of his son” Genesis 22: 13.

God again had come through for Abraham and proved his faithfulness. Abraham named the place where this happened “The lord will provide” because it was in this place that God had proved to Abraham that indeed He is the provider of all our needs. In this case God substituted the death of Abrahams son with that of a lamb which is very symbolic because He would later provide the “Lamb of God” who would substitute our death with his death.

Scripture says that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16. Unlike Isaac, Jesus knew and understood His calling and He willing went to the alter of sacrifice that we may through Him have eternal life. Yes, God provided the ultimate sacrifice for our salvation.

Can you doubt Him in anything after that? If He did not “spare His own son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32. Do not withhold anything from Him when He asks, for He has good plans for you and His desire is that you may know Him. When you reach the end and you do not know how your needs will be met, you can trust that the Lord will provide, for that is His name.

Indeed Jesus warned us about worrying about our needs because “ your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” Mathew 6: 31-34.

Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/402836_the-power-of-knowing-god-by-name-part-3#ixzz1IDIq6H9f

The Power of Knowing God by Name, Part 2

As discussed in Part I of this article, it is important to know God by His name for He manifest to us in various ways which reveals His attributes and nature.


As scripture teaches, “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1. To know the word is to know God, for “He is”. In the first part we discussed God as EloHim, El Elyon and as El Roi. In this article we continue discussing God’s name according to His attributes, character and nature.

4) El Shaddai (The All-Sufficient one): God revealed Himself to Abraham as El Shaddai at Abrahams 90th birthday during which He also changed his name from Abrams to Abrahams. God said to Abram, “I am Almighty God; walk before me and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between Me and you, and you will multiply exceedingly” Genesis 17:1-2. On hearing this Abram “fell on his face” , Genesis 17:3.

El as previously discussed in part one means power or might and is always attributed to God. The translation for Shaddai is not as clear in its meaning amongst scholars. One view leans towards a definition of God in His might and power as seen in His judgments. Another view sees it to mean “the pourer or shedder forth, that is of blessings, temporal and spiritual---”. Both views, in my opinion manifest God as Almighty.

On the one hand, God is experienced as mighty and powerful and able to and does exercise judgments. On the other hand God is experienced as a Father who pours forth to His creations; who has, “shed forth His Spirit” to His people . Abraham needed to experience God as El Shaddai, for at 90 years and Sarah 89 years, they had no children of their own despite God‘s promise to bless them with an heir.

God established a covenant with Abrams and called him Abraham, which means father of nations. God then promised to make Abraham and his descendants extremely fruitful as well as promising that nations and kings would come from him. God went further to allocate the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants “as an everlasting possession” Genesis 17: 5-8. All God expected of Abraham was for him and his descendants to keep his covenant with God, Genesis 17:9-14.

God wants us to know Him as El shaddai and to trust Him with our weaknesses and failures. He works through our weaknesses to reveal His power and establish Himself as the Almighty God. All He expects of us is obedience to His word as revealed in the scriptures and made clear by the Holy Spirit living in us. It is not possible in the natural for a man of 90years and a woman of 89 years to bear children, yet with El Shaddai nothing is impossible.

No matter what you may be going through or what you think is impossible either because of your physical limitation or financial burden, let El Shaddai be true to His name. If you need a place of refuge and cannot get it in the world, run to El Shaddai whose might will shield you against your adversity. If what you need is impossible in the eyes of men, run to El Shaddai for He pours out His being in our weaknesses and makes the impossible, possible.

Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/400163_the-power-of-knowing-god-by-name-part-2#ixzz1IDH34CIC

The Power of Knowing God by Name, Part 1

The writer of the book of Hebrews writes that “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is” Hebrews 11: 6.

God manifest Himself to us according to our needs and in the process shows us that He is Lord over all our needs. This is why the writer of the book of Hebrews emphasises that “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is” Hebrews 11: 6.

To believe that “He is” takes faith based on our understanding and experience of God. This is why God commanded Joshua to “meditate “ on the “Book of Law” “day and night that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” Joshua 1:8. In other words to know God and "believe that He is" involves meditating on His word and being obedient to the word.

Scripture teaches that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God” John 1:1. It is therefore evident that to know the word is to know God, for “He is”. How then do you recognize God by name when He present Himself to You?

1) Elohim( the Creator) - The bible introduces God as the creator of the heavens and earth , Genesis 1:1. El means “mighty” or “strong” and is used in reference to God. The ending “him” is used in plural in Hebrew language acknowledging the trinity. Genesis 1: 2-3 reads, “ The Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” while the writer of the book of Hebrew states that “by faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God” Hebrews 11:3. This two scriptures introduce the Holy Spirit and the God head who spoke creation into being.


The deity of the third member of the trinity, Jesus Christ, is clear in scripture for , “ He is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible , whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him”, Colossians 1: 15,16 . It is thus obvious that the whole trinity was involved in creation. The God head spoke, the Holy spirit moved, and through Jesus all things were created.

In creating the man God said “let us make man in our image, according to our likeness” Genesis 1: 26. The “let us” refers to the trinity , the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit. We are all a product of our creator and not accidents of nature as some may believe. David celebrated his life and said “ you formed my inward parts; you covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” Psalms 139: 13-14.


Knowing God as Elohim helps you understand that God has a purpose for your life for He spoke into your being. God says this “ Everyone who is called by My name whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him” Isaiah 43: 7. It is God who “forms” and “makes” us for His glory. All we need to do is to trust Him as Elohim because He is all knowing.

When Moses tried to get out of his calling on the basis that he was not eloquent of Speech, God rebuked him saying, “ who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?” Exodus 4: 11. Everything and everyone has a purpose and when we recognize this then we can celebrate our creation by accepting who we are. We must never lose sight of the fact that we are created to glorify God. In us and through us, others will have the true concept of God

Read more at http://www.bukisa.com/articles/398399_the-power-of-knowing-god-by-name-part-1

Trusting in the Name of God for sustenance

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” Proverbs 18:10.

When God called Moses to go and deliver the children of Israel from their bondage in Egypt and lead them to the promised land, Moses asked Him whom he should tell them send Him. Moses in asking this question recognized that the name represented the character and attributes of God and would be the deciding factor on the success or failure of his mission.

God answered Moses by emphasizing that “I AM WHO I AM” and told him to tell the children of Israel that “I AM has sent me to you” Exodus 3: 14. In other words He was all they needed. He was their father, their deliverer, their healer, their peace, their comfort, you name it and He was. As the Psalmist says, the name of the Lord is a strong tower in which we find sustenance in all our needs.

David preparing for battle acknowledges that his success is based on his dependence on the Lord. He writes that “some may trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God” Psalm 20:7. David recognized that trusting in human capabilities would lead to failure for we are limited but God is all knowing and all powerful. Only God can preserve a nation or an individual because His victory is eternal.

Scriptures implores on us to work towards knowing God and call on His name at the time of need and He will deliver us. Jesus praying just before his crucifixion says, “this is eternal life, they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” John 17:3. Jesus in this prayer was saying that the only way to eternal life is by knowing God the Father through His son, Jesus Christ.

Apostle Paul affirms Christ prayer and shows that his greatest desire and goal in life was that he “may gain Christ and be found in Him---; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” Philippians 3:8,10. Paul understood that knowing God is the difference between success and failure for a believer.

When we know God and are united in Him through Christ, we experience the power that raised Christ from the dead. That same power helps us to live renewed and regenerated lives. When we know God as He is, we develop a confidence that He will see us through in every situation for His glory. Indeed God gives this assurance to those who truly know Him to “call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me” Psalm 50:15.

Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/396550_trusting-in-the-name-of-god-for-sustenance#ixzz1IDENZsPc

Honoring Nine Soul Artist of Yesteryears whose Music still inspires and each

It seems there was a period when musician used to sing songs with meaning and had depth to them that is rare today. In the 1970’s and 1980’s the songs seemed more reflective and had deep messages that started movements.

The artist were soul singers and were able to tell a story in a soulful away that would touch even the hardened heart. Most of these singers had learnt to sing in church before they went into the secular world and their music reflected this background.

Music is God’s gift to human beings and it is food for the soul. Used properly music can change people and give them hope as they experience its inspiration. Modern artist seem to live on the now and their music seem to be noise than anything else.

The lyrics seem to glorify the dark world and use a lot of dirty language. Rarely are the songs deep enough to last a season and few can inspire change.

In celebration of the artists contribution to the betterment of the human condition through music the writer honors them in this article. Most of these artist have since departed the world, some at very tender ages

1) Marvin Gaye: Marvin was one talented singer who never found peace with himself. He is reported to have suffered from depression and perhaps self medicated with drugs as he struggled with drug addiction. Marvin was born on the 2nd of April 1939 and died on the 1st of April 1984 due to a fatal shot by his father after a heated argument. Marvin had many hit songs like “Mercy, Mercy me“, “I heard it through the grapevine”, “sexual healing” among others. The most endearing for this writer is “What’s going on” because the question is still very relevant.


2) Curtis Mayfield: Curtis Mayfield was another of this writer’s favorite artists. He was born on the 3rd of June 1942 and died on the 26th of December 1999. He had been paralyzed from the neck in 1990 after a freak accident on the stage before a performance. Curtis was a self taught guitarist and used his talent well. His songs were humanistic in nature and included hit songs like “its alright”, “People get ready”, “choice colors” and the soundtrack “superfly”. The most endearing song for this writer is “move on up” and “people get ready“.


Read more: http://musicouch.com/genres/honoring-nine-soul-artist-of-yester-years-whose-music-still-inspires-and-teach/#ixzz1FTeV7KGc

7 Ways to handle difficult challenges in our lives

Many times trouble comes to our lives when we are un prepared. This may create panic in us while we look for ways to resolve the problem. Some people may become paralyzed with fear while others look for a scapegoat to blame for their misfortune.

David’s reaction when attacked by the Amalekites as reported in 1 Samuel chapter 30 reveals the best way to handle difficult challenges. David and his men in this particular incidence were not home when the unprecedented attack happened. They had gone to fight with the Philistines who turned them back because they did not trust David who had previously fought with Israel against them.

David was in exile at this time and lived with his men in the city of Ziklag, a Philistine territory, which the Philistine king Achish had bestowed on David and his men because David had found favor with him (1 Samuel 27: 5-7). David’s exile had been forced by King Saul’s threat on his life because of Saul’s insecurities.

They arrived back in Ziklag on the third day after being rejected by the Philistines to a scary scenario. The Amalekites had raided Ziglag, burnt it down and taken captive the women and anyone else they found there. “David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive” 1 Samuel 30: 3. So what do you do caught up in such a situation?

1) Express your emotions
It was a distressing moment and seemingly a hopeless situation. David and his men wept together “until they had no more power to weep” but the situation turned to be more distressing for David because “ the people spoke of stoning him” 1 Samuel 30: 5- 6. The men caught up in grief looked for a scapegoat for their misery instead of working together for a solution. Avoid looking for someone to blame or criticize for your predicament. It is useless to do so.

2) Find strength in the Lord
In the midst of all these David “strengthened himself in the Lord, his God” 1 Samuel 30: 6. David recognized that the Lord is our shepherd and a very pleasant help in times of need. Instead of focusing on who to blame or express his anger towards, David found his strength in the Lord. So instead of blaming others, recognize that nothing gets the Lord by surprise. Reach out to him in your weakness and He will strengthen you.

3) Enquire of the Lord
Consult the Lord on what to do before acting. The next thing that David did was to enquire of the Lord whether to pursue his enemies and the consequences of doing so (1 Samuel 30:7). The Lord answered David and said, “pursue for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all”1 Samuel 30:8. Do not be in rush to revenge but wait on the Lord and He will direct your path. Once you receive your answer, act as instructed.

Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/373610_6-ways-to-handle-unprepared-attacks#ixzz15CHE6cpO

Have you entered the sabbath rest?

“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His” Hebrews 4: 9-10.

Have you ever felt like the Lord was calling you for a conversation and when you obeyed you knew He was warning you or reminding you of something? Well that happened to me not long ago when I was feeling disturbed in my spirit but did not know why. I tend to be like apostle Peter sometimes, where I do mighty things in the name of the Lord but get overwhelmed when I take my eyes from the Lord and view my circumstances from a carnal mind and start drowning.

Let’s face it, the ways of the Lord are hard to fathom and only our faith in Him can sustain us. Sometimes one feels like the Lord does not take cognizant of time or has forsaken them and in the process worry unnecessarily. Jesus reminds us that “which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” Mathew 6: 27. This is where I was when the Lord called me for a conversation.

Sometimes the Lord closes certain doors in our lives that we perhaps previously found our self worth in. He makes us to be totally depended on Him living on a day to day basis. In the process God teaches us to trust in Him and to receive from Him. The Lord may do this by removing you from a place of comfort and move you to a foreign place away from your security. The challenges may be many but it is in this place that you learn to depend on the Lord for your sanity.

As believers we always claim to be depended on the Lord and it is easy to say that when we are financially alright, we are healthy, our relationships are working well, our children are doing what we expect of them among such issues. But what happens when such securities are taken away from us? Will our actions be compatible with what we say we believe? The only way we can know is when we are tested by having such confidence taken away from us.

According to scripture “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him’ Hebrews 11: 6. In the midst of our trials our faith conditions us to know that God is able to see us through and that He holds the key to our deliverance. It will be in the midst of these challenges that the Lord proves to us that He is all we need in the long run, for "He is".

James writes “ Show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe -and tremble!” James 2: 18-19. James is saying that our faith will show in our works. It is not enough to have an intellectual assent about God, for even demons do that, but the truth of what we believe in will be manifest through our thoughts and conduct. And sometimes it is in our trials that our faith is proved.

Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/367661_have-you-entered-the-sabbath-rest#ixzz15CG0w5O4

Understanding the Peace of God

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” John14:27.

What is peace? When we call on peace what do we really mean? Can we have peace in the midst of injustice? Can we have peace without resolving our conflicts? Can we have peace without rights?

According to Dictionary .com, peace includes the lack of war, a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, freedom from civil commotion and violence in a community, freedom from strife, freedom of mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, and a state of tranquility or serenity. As observed from this defination, peace is dependant on something happening or in the change of circumstances

The peace of God on the other hand is not conditional to circumstances outside our being. The peace of God is a state of being regardless of the circumstances. When we accept Christ in our lives we receive the Holy Spirit whose work in us produces a deep and lasting peace. This peace ensures us a sound mind when we would be anxious and distressed under normal circumstances.

Sin, fear, uncertainty, doubt and numerous other forces are at war within us. The peace of God moves into our hearts and lives to restrain these hostile forces and offer comfort in place of conflict. Paul in his epistle to the Philippians says “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God , which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6-7.

Peace in this regard is a condition of mind that releases you from fear, anger, anxiety and pain even when the circumstances in the natural would warrant a different response. The peace of God is a gift as Jesus said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” John14:27.

The peace of God is manifested in those who understand the sovereignty of God. They understand that God is in control of every situation and that there are times that He will allow things that we do not like to happen if it serves the bigger picture. The perfect example is that of Him allowing Jesus to suffer death in a most shameful manner as a way of reconciling human beings to Him.

Jesus who understood the domain of God manifested peace even at His death. This is why it was possible for Him to pray that God would forgive His killers “because they did not know what they do” Luke 23:34. A normal human being would have been angry and exasperated at being so humiliated and beaten for something he was no guilty of.

Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/357975_understanding-the-peace-of-god#ixzz15CEYKt3x

All Are Sinners, But Some Have Been Saved by Grace

All Are Sinners, But Some Have Been Saved by Grace

The Ten Commandments of Making Winning Decisions.

The Ten Commandments of Making Winning Decisions.

Let conscience and thought direct the abortion debate

The debate on abortion is one that seems to divide people based on values expressed as rights. Some people cling on rights of the person aborting (prochoice) while others think of the rights of the unborn child (prolife). The prochoice and the prolife go at each other on an issue that to me is a moral issue. Some moral issues although universal, need to have meaning for the individual to be of any effect.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008, abortion is the “expulsion of the products of conception before the embryo or fetus is viable. Any interruption of human pregnancy prior to the 28th week is known as abortion. The term spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage, is used to signify delivery of a nonviable embryo or fetus due to fetal or maternal factors, as opposed to purposely induced abortion. Therapeutic abortion is an induced abortion performed to preserve the health or life of the mother.”


If this definition is to be accepted, then it seems there are two types of abortion. One done purposely because the mother wants to regardless of the reason and the other one is done on the recommendation of a doctor with the aim of preserving the health or life of the mother. The word “viable” in this case connotes “capable of living outside the uterus”. We all know that it takes 9 months of pregnancy for a child to be fully matured for birth. Note I use the word child because as far as I am concerned once conception takes place then the child starts developing until he/she is ready to be born.

To justify abortion many try to deny the fact that the foetus is human and therefore deserving protection. Abortion is therefore seen as an easy way out for a woman who is faced with a dilemma of being pregnant but not wanting to carry the child to term. Many times I have heard people say it is just a mass of blood and so it is okay. This is the greatest deception that people have fallen into. I went for a scan when I was 10 weeks pregnant with my son and I was shocked to see all his features developed and him very active in my womb. Yet I was told he was only the size of a pea.

Read more: http://socyberty.com/issues/let-conscience-and-thought-direct-the-abortion-debate/#ixzz0xk1bm2o4

Remove the blocks in your life hindering you to be true to yourself

Recognizing and honoring all your desires is the basis of finding your true self. This involves recognizing your soul’s desire, your mind’s desire, your hearts desire and your body’s desire.

Staying in touch with and honoring all your desires gives you a clear direction in life and ensures personal success. Honoring a desire does not mean you have to act on it. We create blocks in our lives that interfere with the process of our establishing our true desires.

In his book “How to get what you want and want what you have” John Gray identifies twelve ways in which people disconnect from their feelings. These are revenge, attachment, doubt, rationalization, defiance, submission, avoidance, justification, rejection, withholding, reaction and sacrifice. He suggests dealing with such feelings as follows;

1) Get mad not even- When we feel the need to hurt or make someone suffer, we are not in harmony with our true nature of being loving. By learning to release blame with forgiveness you free yourself from the tendency to waste your energy and power in trying to get even. When you let go of revenge you take back your power to be happy and fulfilled within yourself without depending on the outside.

2) Give up attachment and keep desiring- When our hearts are not healed from a loss, like that of a relationship, we continue to hold on to what is no longer available to us. When we learn to let go, accept and trust change we clearly experience that every change no matter how tragic always opens the door to more.

Read More at  http://www.bukisa.com/articles/264062_remove-the-blocks-in-your-life-hindering-you-to-be-true-to-yourself

How to conduct effective ministry to people not of your cultural heritage

" In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him ---He is Lord of all" Acts 10:34,36.

The worship of God throughout the world is so diverse and is most of the time connected with a people’s culture. Many religions exist worldwide to sooth human’s deepest need for connection with the spiritual.  Christianity has been adopted and accepted as the true worship of God in many societies and ethnicities as it should because before ascension Jesus commissioned His disciples to go “and make disciples of all nations” Mathew 28:19.

Many missionaries have been faithful to this commission and have travelled to many lands to introduce the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many have however taken their culture as opposed to the gospel and have caused more harm than good to the communities they have gone to. This is because they have gone with an attitude of superiority instead of humility. The missionary in this kind of scenario has belittled the culture of his hosts and has aimed at changing this culture to what the missionary perceive to be right based on the missionary’s own culture as opposed to preaching the gospel.

Read more at  http://www.bukisa.com/articles/263951_how-to-conduct-effective-ministry-to-people-not-of-your-cultural-heritage

The dangers of momentary pleasures

“The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps” Proverbs 14:15


Life is hard no doubt and sometimes it doe seem more difficult for some people than others. Many times we are faced with situations that look impossible and assume that we have to act fast otherwise we will die or lose the opportunity. At such time we may act secretively and refuse another counsel perhaps because we assume by so doing we may waste time or we may be dissuaded against acting as we wish when in our mind that is all we want.


Perhaps it could be greed that takes captive of our thinking or just pure lust. How many people are in heavy debt today because they acted impulsively or were greedy for more? How many have destroyed their marriage because of momentary lust? How many have betrayed loved ones for something they craved for? The problem with such actions is that they lose sight of the future.

At first we may feel satisfied and sometimes even powerful because we have got what we set out to get. However the price for acting impulsively is sometimes too high and cannot be reversed. A good example in scripture of a person who acted impulsively for a moment’s desire was Esau. Esau was Jacob’s older twin brother. By virtue of his position he had the eldest son birthright which entailed a double portion of the family’s inheritance together with the honor of one day becoming the head of the family.

Esau was also his father’s favorite son while Jacob was his mother’s favorite. Esau was “a skillful hunter, a man of the field” while Jacob was “a mild man dwelling in tents”, Genesis 25:27. One day Esau came from working from the field and he was hungry. His brother Jacob in the meanwhile was making some tasty stew at home. Esau asked for some stew from Jacob and Jacob being the trickster he was saw a chance to get what he wanted.

Read more at http://www.bukisa.com/articles/261220_the-dangers-of-momentary-pleasures

Developing A kingdom of God mindset

“Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” Colossians 3:9-10.

Words are very powerful because what we hear can make or break us depending on what we do with the words heard. The devil cannot make you do anything but he can plant thoughts in your mind through what you hear. He will question what you know by offering a different view and if you are not steadfast about what you believe he will create doubt in your mind. Eventually you will act on the thoughts because as a person thinks, he is or becomes (Proverbs 23:7).


Satan defeated humans in the Garden of Eden through use of words. His words created doubt in Eve and she eventually acted on the words, Genesis 3:1-6. God had already spoken His word concerning the things that Satan tempted Eve with, but she allowed herself to ponder on Satan’s words and the more she thought about them the more swayed she was and eventually she succumbed to the words.

It is not surprising that God had to send His word to repair the damage done in the Garden of Eden. Jesus is the word of God which was and is. Apostle John writes, “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God” John 1:1-2.

Read more at http://www.bukisa.com/articles/261204_a-kingdom-of-god-mindset

The dangers of a Prideful life

Pride makes us blind to our faults. We assume that we are better than others and look down on others that we consider less than us.


Scripture warns in many places about the danger of pride. Pride is always associated with wickedness because it really is a cover up for our failures and insecurities. In Psalm 73:6 the writer suggests that to the wicked “Pride serves as their necklace”. A necklace is a jewelry that enhances the neck while taking away attention on a person’s others qualities that may not be so attractive.


Similarly, a proud person will dwell on their achievements, looks, power or whatever it is that makes them proud because it covers their weaknesses. Some it is the pride of being born in a wealthy family or a privileged class or country but the familiar thing is the assumption that one is better than others.

Jesus also taught of pride that arises out of self righteousness. In the parable of two people who prayed, Jesus showed how pride can make us blind to the condition of our hearts. It can lead to stagnation of faith in the assumption that you know it all. The Pharisee was so full of his works and considered himself better than “other men- extortioners, unjust, adulterers or even as this tax collector” because he “fasted twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess” Luke 18:11-12.


Read more at http://www.bukisa.com/articles/258278_the-dangers-of-a-prideful-life

Four Steps to personal success

The secret of getting what you want and wanting what you have is first learning how to be happy, loving, confident and peaceful regardless of your outer conditioning. Personal success comes from within and is achieved when you are able not only to be yourself but also to love yourself. It is feeling confident, happy and powerful in the process of doing what you want to do.  

If you are already happy and you know that you are not dependent on more money to be happy, greater wealth can make you happier but is not the condition for your happiness. The more you think that money is capable of making you happy the more you give away your power to be happy without it. In his book “How to get what you want and want what you have”, John Gray suggests the following four steps in achieving personal success;

Step one: Set your intention- Recognize where you are now and clearly see where you need to go to achieve the right balance of inner and outer success for you. In other words “be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” Romans 12:2. Ask God for the direction of your life.

http://socyberty.com/advice/four-steps-to-personal-success/ for full article.

Exercising Goodness to others

A lot of us would probably do good if we were asked to or if there was something to gain by doing so. How many times have you known that someone needed help and you acted without being asked? What about when someone asked you for help? Did you ask them to come back letter because you wanted them to find someone else to help? Scripture is very emphatic on the issue of helping or exercising kindness to others particularly those in need. The book of Proverbs teaches that “he who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given” Proverbs 19:17.


If society functioned the way God intended it to we would have few people living in the kind of misery that we witness today. Greed and lack of love has infiltrated our thinking and the saying that it is a world where only the fittest survive becomes true. In the book of Deuteronomy God told the children of Israel that, “you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs—. For the poor will never cease from the land, therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your hand,’” Deuteronomy 15:8, 11.

For further reading turn to  http://socyberty.com/people/exercising-goodness-to-others/

Important lessons from the Tiger Woods Saga

Tiger Wood’s downfall contains a great and somber lesson for all men: Do not be controlled by your penis. It will ruin your life. Tiger Woods had everything; a beautiful wife and family, athletic achievement and fortune, and the respect of the world. Yet it was not enough because he could not control his penis.

We live in a world where sexuality is glorified as the light of the world. Even simple advertisement for things like food have sexual connotation. Human trafficking for sexual purposes is on the increase because there are men out there willing to pay to for their perverse lifestyle at the expense of another’s freedom. In the glamorous world we have the escort business thriving and call girls being elevated to the place of goddesses.

For full article go to   http://socyberty.com/sexuality/important-lessons-from-the-tiger-woods-saga/