Leave it there!

Growing up, life depended more on my parents. They took good care of me and raised me up in such an excellent fashion. I want to be like my parents, they are my heros. Their faith in God and the legacy they carry is astonishing to me and all my siblings. At an early age, they sent me to a boarding school. It was a very hard decision for them to not be able to see their first born every day like they used to. However, they made the decision because they thought the school was the best in Ethiopia. That was the start of an 'independent' life for me. I was not 100% independent but started to think for my self and I can still remember the load weighing on my shoulder little by little (the weight being my education).

I remember praying to God, Lord I want to be the best student in my classes and make my parents happy. He heard those prayers and my family were pleased. I thank God for that. Fast forwarding...Some 15-20 years later, my life is totally different with the weight a little heavier than ever. Now I think about my wife, my two kids, the ministry God bestowed upon my life and also work. Some of the challenges I have, I don't even know how to address them. Life is totally different now.

I learned that as I grow older (not that I am too old), my independence went out the window. I needed to rely on God for my life now and the future. Here are some incredible promises that I ponder about and they keep me going forward:
"I will never leave you nor forsake you"..Hebrews 13:5
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, " plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."...Jer 29:11
"The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him," Nahum 1:7
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:5

Incredible promises! I have a refuge, a shelter, solid rock, a hiding place and ofcourse an incredible Father who is trustworthy. I am learning to leave my burdens on him and leave'em there. I don't know how to live life with out him! Money and riches can not be reliable. I remember when the recession was at peak in 2009, a couple of co-workers told me that they lost hundreds of thousands of dollars over night. When the stock market crashed, riches capitalized in years vanished. Everything in life could go away in a second but my God is reliable..He is the first and the last, Alpha and Omega, faithful and wonderful, the same yesterday today and forever, his mercy endures forever. This life can be well lived trusting him than anything else.

Lord help me to rely on you always as long as I live!
Amen!

Gratefulness

It is amazing how sometimes I get occupied with what I think is a need in my life. I am learning that most of the things that I 'complained' about in my heart are never needs but just one more thing in my life. Apostle Paul says "As long as we have food and clothes, we should be satisfied." 2010 has been a great year for me just because I have started to be really grateful no matter what. Gratefulness can not be faked. It has to come out of the heart. I am really thankful that God changed my heart not to focus on the things of the earth but on HIM. AMEN!