PERSEVERING THROUGH THE STORMY WAVES TO VICTORY

 

PERSEVERING THROUGH THE STORMY WAVES TO VICTORY (KWEMERRA/KUGUMA KURABA MUMUYAGA/IHUNGA NEBIGONZI KUHIKA HABUSINGUZI)

Praise God! Praise Jesus!

I am so grateful to God for the gift of life and for all of us receiving this message. Warm greetings to you and your loved ones, whoever you are, wherever you are.

This is the day that God has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. I am happy to be speaking to us again after some while.

I thank Bishop Reuben Kisembo Amooti and his Team (Diocese of Ruwenzori) for the wonderful opportunities he has always given me, my family and other people in the Diocese to serve in God’s vineyard. This keeps us motivated and moving forward knowing that we have a "father" who knows us and recognises our role in building up God's Kingdom. I thank God for fellow Ministers of today. God bless you so much.

We also thank God for those who are celebrating life and have testimonies. We celebrate with you.

Let's think about the topic of the day: *PERSEVERING THROUGH THE STORMY WAVES TO VICTORY (KWEMERRA/KUGUMA KURABA MUMUYAGA/IHUNGA NEBIGONZI KUHIKA HABUSINGUZI)

What does it mean to persevere?

·         To hold on

·         To go through painful situations 

·         To maintain resilience 

·         To be patient and wait through difficult times while focusing on the goal

All those point to us as believers. We must have perseverance of the highest level. We live in times or in a context that is quite challenging but we should remember that we are in this world but we are not of this world. 

Christ also reminds us that in this world we will have many troubles but at the same time encourages us to take heart because he has overcome the world (John 16:33: “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”. So, if Christ has overcome and has spoken, we can be rest assured that he will help us to overcome, as well.

Let us recall too, that he tells us to boldly approach the throne of grace where we will find mercy (Hebrews 4:16: Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy to help us in our time of need.)

Friends, this world is a temporary place through which are passing to a better and eternal home. Let me request us to take a moment of silence and remember our people who have since departed and gone ahead of us. We especially remember Adyeeri Rose Kabaforce, brothers Sam and others. May their souls rest in everlasting peace.

The stormy waves

Reference is made to the Gospel that we read which brings into perspective pictures of the mind. We see Jesus with his disciples; on a journey; in a boat; the disciples awake, Jesus resting...; the waves rage on and Jesus is not disturbed in his sleep/nap. Praise God!? It's until these disciples remember that they needed to awaken their Master, Miracle worker and defender from his sleep to "do something" that he indeed woke up and "did something, more than something." He spoke to the waves of the sea, and they subsided. Hallelujah! Amen!?

Let's give Jesus a mighty applause. He never fails.

What are your current stormy waves? Your job? Lack of employment? Spouse? Children? Parents? The economy? Leadership?

What did he do when the disciples woke him up? What should we do when faced with stormy waves in life?

S/N	JESUS	ME/US TODAY
1         1.	He woke up from his nap.	Wake up from your sleep, from your nap.
2.	Looked at the waves	Look at the waves, however strong they may be. Don’t be afraid.
3        3.	Raised his hand	Raise your hand. Your hand has the power of God.
4         4.	Commanded the waves to be still	Command the waves to be still
5.       5.	Questioned the faith of the disciples	Question the faith of your disciples i.e. the people around us, who follow us.

Victory belongs to Jesus

We are sure and confident that all the victory we attain in life is because Jesus has attained it first. We cannot boast in our own strength or might. It is by the Spirit and by the grace of God. The disciples were terrified, asking themselves who this was! That even the wind and waves obey him! Situations are going to listen to us and people will wonder what kind of people we are.

We must deliberately choose to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 2:2: “… and let us run with perseverance, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author [pioneer] and finisher [perfector] of our faith.”)

God bless you so much.

 ROBERT MUGISA ABWOOLI (RMA)