Who do you think you are? Have you forgotten all the mistakes you’ve made?
Things will never get better. You should just accept your lot.
It’s not going to work—you are just going to fail again!
Nobody loves you. You are all alone.
Have you been at the receiving end of these words of discouragement, accusation, and dismissal?
I’ve seen these tactics of deception, loaded with condemning judgment, used too many times by the adversary. I’ve seen too many people, who have tried to move out from under the shadow of their past or break free from their addictions, end up succumbing to these lies about themselves, their identity, and their future and their destiny. As a result, they are unable to break free, and day after day, they simply live to perpetuate the pain, fears, and addictions to which they’re bound.
What is right believing?
Then they cried out to theLORDin their trouble, and He savedthem out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness andthe shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces.Psalm 107:13–14
That’s the power of wrong believing.
Wrong believing puts people in a prison—a prison where its inmates behave as though they are incarcerated in a maximum-security penitentiary. They march inexorably to their dank cells of self-doubt and addictions. Equally, they allow themselves to be led into dungeons of destructive behaviors.
They have convinced themselves never to dream of a better place, believing that they have no choice but to live in despair, frustration, and defeat.
If that describes you, it’s time for a prison break, my friend. It’s time to break free from the crippling grip of all that has held you back. How?
Through right believing—the light that illuminates the path of freedom out of this prison.
Know and believe that God does not want you to live imprisoned by fears, guilt, and addictions. Open your heart to believe His plan for you is to live with joy overflowing, peace that surpasses understanding, and an unshakable confidence in what He has done for you. Through the cross, Jesus has paid for you to have His abundant life—a life marked by His liberty, His power, and His blessings.
It’s time to let go of the life of defeat and step into a life full of victory, security, and God’s abundant grace!
When we ccknowledge Jesus’ Presence by Giving Thanks, everything falls in place.
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
There are Christians who know in theory that Jesus is with them, but they do not actively practice His presence.
For me personally, one of the best ways to practice the presence of the Lord is to thank Him all the time.
You can give thanks to Him for everything. Just say, “Lord, I thank You for this beautiful sunset. I thank You for Your love and for surrounding me with good things and good friends.”
There is no limit to what you can thank Him for since every good and perfect gift that we enjoy today comes directly from Him (James 1:17).
Even if you have had a rough day at work and you are facing a seemingly impossible challenge, you can practice His presence.
When should you be giving thanks?
The moment you realize that your heart is heavy with worry and your mind is plagued by anxiety, share your challenge with Jesus and thank Him that this problem is not bigger than His hands. Begin to surrender it to Him and depend on Him for His strength, power, and peace.
As you do that, you are already practicing the presence of the Lord. And as you honor His presence and behave like He is indeed with you, He sees it as faith in Him and intervenes on your behalf for your success in whatever situation you may be in.
What is an example of not appreciating God or people?
It is sad when Christians behave like some husbands who bring their wives to a party, only to ignore them completely. Their wives could be right there with them physically, but these guys are so engaged with their own friends, talking about the stock market, economy, or latest game on television, that their wives might as well not be with them.
Ladies, do you know men like that? Now, men who are reading this, I know you are not like that, so don’t get offended, all right? I know you cherish and love your wife.
What I am trying to illustrate is that just because someone is with you physically, it does not mean that the person feels appreciated by you.
Appreciation only occurs when you start acknowledging the presence of that person.
Now, what does the word “appreciate” mean? It means “to increase in value.” If you appreciate someone, the person increases in value in your eyes.
My friend, the Lord is already with you, so start to practice His presence. Begin by thanking Him, appreciating Him and increasing His value in your eyes. Certainly, you will see Him acting on your behalf.
This artcile is a devotional by Pastor Joseph Prince from New Creation Church, Singapore.
Please go here to read more devotionals and inspirational messages.
“For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has mercy on you.Isaiah 54:9–10
A warning is issued in 1 Peter 5:8—“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
I know that a lion roars to intimidate and to bring fear, but I used to wonder what kind of fear the devil tries to instil in the believer. We must let the Bible interpret the Bible. We can’t base our interpretations on our denominational backgrounds or our experiences.
One day, I was reading Proverbs 19 when I came across verse 12: “The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.” Who is the king that this verse refers to? It is our Lord Jesus!
So when the devil goes about like a roaring lion, he is trying to impersonate the King. He is trying to make you feel as if God is angry with you. Every time you hear preaching that leaves you with a sense that God is angry with you, guess what? You have just been roared at!
Is God furious with us?
But know this, beloved: God will NEVER be angry with you ever again. He only has to tell us this, but He wanted us to be so sure that He swore in His Word that He would never be angry with us again.
Today’s verses are from Isaiah 54, which is right after the famous messianic chapter of the sufferings of Christ in Isaiah 53. Therefore, Isaiah 54 is spelling out the triumphs and spoils of His sufferings.
Do you know why God will never be angry with us again?
It is because of what Christ has accomplished for us! On the cross, God poured out all His anger on the body of His Son. Jesus exhausted all the fiery indignation of a holy God against all our sins. When all of God’s judgment of our sins had been completely exhausted, He shouted, “It is finished!” (John 19:30).
And because our sins have already been punished, God, who is a holy and just. God will not punish us today when we believe in what Christ has done. God’s holiness is now on your side. His righteousness is now for you, not against you. You are His beloved, in whom He is well pleased because of Jesus’ finished work!
The next time the devil tries to rob you of your sense of being beloved by making you think that God is angry with you, just ignore him. Ignore him when he says, “How can you call yourself a Christian?”
You are a righteous, accepted, and beloved child of God! When you believe this, you will have the confidence to face every challenge with boldness. It will make you know that you have God’s unmerited favor on your side!
This article is a devotional from Pastor Joseph Prince of the New Creation Church, Singapore.
The first place we must prosper is in our spiritual lives. Here are more faith-based articles.
The University of San Carlos museum is famous for its anthropological and archaeological exhibits. Unlike many national museums, it’s hosted in the campus of the university, making it perfect to explore the corridors of a typical educational environment in the Philippines.
The museum is found on the main first floor beside the entrance to the campus and is divided into two sections slightly far away from each other. For a small private place, l was impressed to see that they had invested so much to maintain the 16th-century practice of artificial skull deformation on infants for aesthetic reasons.
Here are a few artefacts I decided to catch on camera.
What is the history of the University of San Carlos museum?
This campus museum has been operating as early as 1952. However, it was inaugurated on April 23, 1967. Unlike any other cultural site, the museum was inaugurated with specific rites conducted by the then Verbite priest. At that time, he was the University of San Carlos President, Rudolf Rahmann and then First LadyImelda Marcos.
As time passed, in 1967, the museum is now hosted in two large former classrooms and another room. Since 2017 till my 2023 visit time, it has been occupying the ground floor wings of the Arthur Dingman Building along P. Del Rosario Street at USC’s Downtown Campus. That means, infrastructurally, there isn’t a specific design.
Sarah inside the university of San Carlos museum
How much does it cost to enter the museum?
The University of San Carlos is located a few kilometres from the busy, famous Colon street. It’s easy to find with a taxi depending on where you are located in Cebu City, but I took a walk obeying my Google map directions, and was there in barely 10 mins from the main street.
As in every cultural site, visitors are expected to pay before entering the museum. It wasn’t a surprise to me. I paid a few Filipino PESOS (less than 10USD) and spent a long time viewing each item as l wished.
Unfortunately, no tour guide is included in the fee, so you will have to walk around alone. I didn’t mind because typically, l prefer to read and take pictures at my convenience. Amazingly, all of the descriptions were in English. That made it easier to understand and grasp the huge change in culture over several decades for Filipinos.
How many artefacts are in the University of San Carlos museum?
According to an inventory made in 1988 by then USC Museum curator Jane Calderon-Hayhow, the museum’s collection comprises 9,606 artefacts, objects and specimens, Wikipedia reports.
I didn’t have time to count all of them, but l can confirm there were many pieces, spread on both sides of the walls, and a lot more on table-like stands in the middle of the rooms.
University of San Carlos museum artefacts
When to go there?
One will expect a museum should be open every day, morning to evening, at least that has been my experience visiting others in different countries. This one was strangely different. I came the first day at around 3pm and was told the cultural world was closed already. Disappointed, the guards encouraged me to come the next day much earlier. In obedience, I returned the next day at a few minutes to 12pm.
With warm smiles, the guards ushered me to the museum where l met a smiley Filipino staff, sitting alone. In their typically welcoming way, she spoke clear English, inquired about my nationality, received the payment and told me, she needs a break in the next 30 mins indirectly meaning, l couldn’t tour the place until after her break which will last 1hr 30 mins. I found that weird but understood it was part of the rules.
To wind time, l found a seat in front of the cafeteria and a busy, well decorated campus corridor. As l listened to students chatting in Tagalog with smiles and laughters among themselves, l missed my campus days.
The sun rays at before and few hours after midday are unfriendly in Cebu making me dizzy as l sat there almost jobless. I returned when it was time and began my tour from outside. Apparently the rooms are full to capacity, so the corridor in front of the museum is also like an outdoor exhibition for anyone to see. From there, l was all smiles to see ancient phones and a host of old items l was familiar with.
What was special about the University of San Carlos Museum?
There are ancient boat coffins dug up in Anda, Bohol, in the 1970s. This was my least expected item.
On one other section, there were some fascinating limestone burial jars dating from about the 6th century. Note the covers – carved phalluses for men, roofs for women, faces for datu (chiefs).
A section had just wooden carved sculptures of people believed to be gods in those days. It felt creepy and fetish, but it’s part of the life of those people and some people today.
The ceramic bowls displayed on several shelves made some sections almost boring, as there wasn’t much to see, at least for my non-archaeological mind.
However, for many items, especially the butterfly sanctuary harbouring several species, l remember smiling for a few seconds unconsciously because of the outstanding colours. God is really a Designer, I whispered in my mind.
Items at the museum
I have no doubt, birders will be amazed at the large Philippines Eagle. I was taken aback for a minute when I saw it too. Its gigantic size was unique to behold.
Above all, I was impressed by the Christian statutes of Jesus Christ, beautifully sculpted on several parts. Though just a symbolic image of God, it spoke volumes to why I had seen a lot of Catholic churches around the streets. Many Filipinos believe in God and consider themselves Christians. A few, I spoke to, joyfully shared their lives with God and couldn’t stop referring to Him during our conversations.
History always comes to life after such visits to me. Somehow, l felt glad to explore the museum for almost 2 hours, slowly walking around and reading.
Here’s a link to several other museums and tourist to-dos around the world.
Achievement to man is not the same as achievement to God. What are you boasting about?
This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24
The greatest achievement on earth is to pray as God wants us to pray, because prayer is a relationship that exists between God and His children, a relationship that will take you beyond the grave, to eternity.
This means all that you hold dear in this world is nothing compared to knowing God, and to be known by Him. So, how can we have understanding to know God? Knowing God is not only to see His miracles, His works, His hands but to learn His ways.
How do we learn His ways as an achievement?
Through His Word and by His Spirit in our heart. God tests our hearts to reward us. In God’s way, our life is measured by the movement of our heart. What you see as failure may not be at all in His way, what you see as success may not be at all in His way.
We need a greater understanding of God’s heart to know that what we are going through, God is aware. God is working through your circumstances, sicknesses, affliction, setback. You need a greater understanding of God’s heart to understand this, if not you continue to run after alternatives. Whereas God works through your circumstances of life.
Lord, give me a greater understanding of Your heart because You are Lord over my life.
This is a devotional from the University of God by Prophet Racine and Evangelist Ruth
Limbe is one of Cameroon’s Atlantic coast cities. It’s famous for its black sand beaches due to the volcanic soil from West Africa’s tallest volcanic mountain-mount Cameroon.
Besides the large shoreline which served as port for some of the earliest colonizers to enter the country, Limbe is a herbarium and houses diverse plant species.
For animal lovers, the best place to go is the Limbe Wildlife Centre. They rescue and rehabilitate primates, such as lowland gorillas.
Historically, Limbe was called “Victoria” under the British administration. Strangely, it wasn’t considered a part of the previous German colony, Kamerun.
However, on March 28, 1887 Victoria and its vicinity became a part of the German administration.
According to church history, it was also at this time that the Swiss Presbyterian missionaries bought the land from the Baptist Missionary Society in 1887.
By 1915, Victoria became a British territory again.
After independence in 1982, the first President – Ahmadou Ahidjo renamed the city as “Limbe”.
Sadly, records have this city as the home for the devastating transatlantic slave trade. The neighbourhood called Bimbia still contains ancient proof of slavery. It has been restored for tourists, as a way to aid understanding about the hostile past.
My father’s village, now a big neighbourhood – Botaland is located in this city. I have been there countless times. However, will list just a few things to do below.
Eat BBQ fish at the Limbe main public beach
Unlike many countries where people go to the beach to swim, Cameroonians go to eat. Presumably, many Cameroonians cannot swim. Except for those who live at the edge of the ocean like in my village, I know many people go to the beachside just to relax on the cemented benches, and discuss with friends and family. You can even watch footballers playing beside the beach.
Though people go to eat, they typically only eat BBQ fish, commonly referred to as“roasted fish”. It has a way of quenching our raging taste buds. This fish is sold as a whole with all the bones, and served with spicy chilly sauce. That means, we enjoy chewing the bones and sucking the juice of the head part.
As compliments, some people eat the fish with BBQ or fried plantain -a fruit that looks like bananas. Others prefer bobolo or meondo, – local ground fermented cassava.
The taste for is smoky, succulent and delicious. As extras, some people will sprinkle chopped onions, carrots or mayonnaise.
Known in French as Poisson Braisé, this common delicacy is widely loved in Cameroon. It’s guaranteed to eat freshly harvested fish from the ocean. But you can buy refrigerated BBQ fish at every street corner around the country.
If you like other seafood, crabs and shrimps are all BBQed too, though I like to buy it fresh and boil it at home.
Please go to Precious (a Cameroonian food blogger) if you want to see the recipe of how to BBQ fish, using Cameroonian ingredients.
Historically, it was created in 1892, during the German colonial dispensation. Though it was done with an agronomic intent, it has now become one of the main recreational and tourist attractions of the southwest region.
In 1892, Paul Rudolph Preuss, and his German team, started growing this garden. Records say it was a trial garden. The main motive was to make it a centre for experimentation and acclimatisation of useful tropical species. They include; rubber, coffee, cocoa, oil palm, banana, teak, and sugar cane, destined for Kamerun and other German colonies.
According to Wikipedia, in its heyday, it was considered one of the most important tropical botanical gardens in the world.
To show its importance, in 1920 the British administration took over the garden. This was done in unison with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which provided advice and training.
What is the history of this garden?
From 1932 and until 1958, the Cameroon government sent staff to administer the garden. Since 1961, the government still manages the place, though I think they can do.
In 1988 a partnership concluded with the United Kingdom allowed its renovation and development. Currently, the botanical garden is a conservation, education, science, tourism and leisure hotspot.
Today the garden, covers 250 hectares (620 acres), has no more than 48 hectares (120 acres) stretching a few kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean.
Historians say this is the second oldest in Africa. They add, it is home to unique spices and fruits; cinnamon, nutmeg, mango, ancient cycads and an unnamed tree that locals describe as ‘African Viagra’.
With a small entrance fee, both Cameroonians and tourists can explore the gigantic tree species/plants. It is free to take pictures and enjoy a quiet walk in nature. Though, there can be a lot of mosquitoes in the evening hours especially during the rainy season, I recommend wearing long clothes or spraying anti-mosquitoe sprays.
In 2014, I remember dancing and singing with ecstasy at the theatre area because one of the world’s best Gospel musician – Don Moen was having a concert there. I had been listening to his music since the early 2000s. It was a joyful day to worship God live with him and his amazing, skilled band.
Beach Markets around the world are generally the one-stop shop for fresh seafood, directly from the ocean, lake, river etc
Limbe is no exception, with fish markets littered on every corner of the extensive ocean. Here, you can discuss directly with the fishermen on their wooden canoes and buy as much as your budget can handle. The prices are very cheap because these men don’t want to take the fish to their homes.
Some people buy it, go to the vendors who BBQ and watch them grill it in minutes. This could cost only $2-3 for a big fish.
If you come after midday, when typically the fishermen are done selling, you can buy from retailers on an open area. As expected, the prices will be higher.
One thing is guaranteed, you will see varieties of sea fish, crabs, shrimps, sea snails, and smoked fish. Cameroonians do not eat other seafood like octopus, squid and a host of famous delicacies in Asia. Many people, if not everyone, doesn’t eat raw fish/ seafood.
On a different part of this area, there are small souvenirs shops packed with Cameroonian clothes, jewellery, wooden arts items and a host of memorable gifts.
Beach market
Take a walk around the historic city
The disctioanry defines to take a walk as to wander round a town or city, especially when looking for work or having nowhere to stay.
Many times, I wander just to exercise my legs. A way to explore the ancient colonial city is to walk. There are tarred streets around the main road where you can stroll to admire the city. On one of my many trips, I saw very old churches. Despite the fact that a lot of modern renovations have been done in recent years, several of them date back to the colonial era.
As earlier mentioned, Limbe remains one of Cameroon’s colonial cities that is why there are still a few colonial monuments. One of the most celebrated British Missionaries, Alfred Saker has a large monument with a sculpted face. He was the head of the Baptist Missionary Society and was reputed for establishing churches in Southern Cameroons. WIthin his reign in 1844-1876, he succeeded to collaborate with the then natives of the Sawa ethnic group to translate the Bible into the Duala language.
In honor of him, the Baptist church built a large secondary and high school in Limbe but named it after him. Several years till date, every one in the southwest region knows the famous Saker Baptist College.
Colonial history
Urban development has led to a lot of changes in the city, but it is not uncommon to still see a few colonial buildings. It is a wonder to me how those structures were built to resist the severe weather changes over these many decades.
Some are government offices. Regardless of the negative effects of colonization, I think we benefited from unique buildings. The architecture and designs are ancient, but the materials used were high quality.
Go horse riding
Horse riders can develop better reflexes and a sense of balance. They build on their coordination as they use their entire body to guide and propel the horse forward.
Reports say riding also offers cardio benefits. For example, liftiing the saddles onto the back of a horse, mucking stalls, moving hay bales, etc., builds muscles and physical strength. These are some of the benefits for a horse owner
Horse riding is a common beach exercise in Limbe. For less than a dollar, anyone can borrow a horse and enjoy a few minutes of fresh air as the horse runs down the black sandy beach. They are trained to see people daily so its unlikely they can resist strangers.
Typically, the rider walks or runs alongside while controling it.
For many its a worthy experience as their friends, parners or family members take pictures of them either scared or laughing.
A hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I highly recommend that adventurous tourists like me to plan to stay at the Serengeti park for at least two days to allow time for this activity.
Additionally, hot air balloon flights need to be pre-arranged in order to ensure guaranteed availability due to the limited space of only 16 passengers in a balloon. The balloons can accommodate adults and children, with some limitations in exceptional cases.
Generally, children must be at least four years old and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Safari companies recommend that adults be in good physical and mental condition. For example, Adults who are over 265 lbs (120 kg) may be required to purchase an additional spot on the balloon (twice the cost) for safety precautions, though this can be waived depending on flight occupancy at the discretion and prior approval from the pilot.
My hot air balloon experience in Serengeti
When we arrived the night before our flight, a staff from Miracle Balloon came to have a talk with us. He gave us general information about how a hot air balloon works and what to expect. We had to sign authorization forms consenting we will abide by the rules of the flight.
Miracle Balloon consent form
We equally had to give our contact detail and affirm we were healthy to go on the flight.
At 5am the next day in the morning, we had to leave our camp tents and board vans with the Miracle Balloon staff. They took us to a place almost 20 mins away.
Pre-departure routine
It was an open air area with a lot of people. We were all offered hot coffee and tea. I am not a fan of hot drinks, but l happily drank because it was very cold.
Arusha has freezing early morning temperatures. I assumed in September it could be warm, but it was chilly. I recommend taking a jacket or a pullover. Furthermore, I wore a jacket, some thick gloves, socks and I tied my hair to keep my ears warm.
For about 15 minutes, we had the time to chat with others and make friends from around the world.
The pilots were introduced to us, and they made short welcoming speeches and general safety information.
While we chatted, we were issued safety belts and taught how to strap them.
How is the hot air balloon inflated?
Shortly after, l walked to the launch site, where l saw the balloon deflated and spread on the ground.
I noticed almost 20-25 staff are required for the launch and recovery. I heard it was referred to as an “envelope,”.
Firstly, the ground crew opens the envelope by laying it across the ground. A large fan is used to inflate the envelope partially before takeoff. The sound of the fan is deafening. When the envelope is about half-full, the crew attaches the basket and burner. The basket remains fully secured to the ground during inflation. The burner is used to inflate the envelope fully.
Inflating the hot air balloon
Watching the inflation and preparation is an incredible experience, within minutes, l saw the truly massive size of the balloon. Once the balloon is fully inflated, the crew helped all passengers aboard. I was surprised to see the basket of the balloon is sectioned into multiple compartments for both our comfort and safety.
The ground crew steadies the balloon as our pilot “Mr Bill” gave us and other guests a safety overview. When everyone is set, the burner is turned on once again, and we slowly felt the balloon aloft to the ground.
The crew guides the basket until the balloon is safely launched. We quickly learned that no two hot air balloon safaris are the same. The balloons rely on air currents, such as wind direction and speed. The pilot only controls the up and down movement. This is why hot air balloons require a chase team down, following the balloon on the road.
Advantages of riding a hot air balloon
Generally, hot air balloons fly over areas of the Serengeti park that are restricted to safari vehicles! During our flight, even the altitude of our balloon flight is different – sometimes, we rose high above the plains, so we could see for miles while at other times, it seems we were slightly closer to earth, giving us close-up views of the animals.
As we ascended aerially, beautiful features unfold before your eyes – meandering rivers and lush grasslands. From this vantage point, we realized that we could locate wildlife with little guidance – giraffes, elephants, gazelles, hippos and many other grazers and foragers. The Pilot told us, if we were lucky, we may even spot the lordly predators like lions, hyenas, cheetahs and other hunters.
Serengeti park from the sky
As we sailed above the park, l was slightly scared, except the Pilot’s one shared the same section with me and encouraged to not be scared. I gained a greater perspective and deeper appreciation for the intricacies of the Serengeti ecosystem, as well as the synergistic relationship between flora, fauna and human. We were able to see how animals feed upon vegetation, moving when a new supply is needed.
We watched herds move toward the water to drink and bathe.
How long is the hot air balloon experience?
Generally, the hot air balloon ride lasts about one hour, but it’s an experience that will last for a lifetime and very much worth its high price.
After landing, the ground crew helped us out and made a small table for a customary champagne toast to celebrate not only our experience, but also the incredible beauty what we discovered during our superb dream holiday in Tanzania.
Guests having champagne after the landing of the hot air balloon
There was juice too for those who didn’t want to drink alcohol or who wanted to mix it.
Within almost 20-30mins, the Pilot told us the history of this tradition. It was an action done by the first French hot air balloon pilots.
Bush breakfast
After of chitchatting and sharing the sky stories, we boarded the vans again to another area for the bush breakfast, as we soon found out. Located still inside the Serengeti national park, there was a simple section designed with tables and chairs like an outdoor dinning room with a large canopy.
Upon arrival, guests are welcomed with enchanting Swahili songs and loud clapping. The smiles and dancing was delightful to watch.
After we sat, we received the variety of breakfast items to eat like bread, butter, jam, eggs, bacons and host of others.
Guests eating breakfast
When we were almost about to finish eating, we got a strange announcement. The cooks had baked a delicious cake. Though in September, all August borns and wedding anniversaries/newly-weds were invited to cut the cakes and celebrate in a special way.
Who would imagine I will eat a birthday cake in the middle of a wildlife park? I never thought about it, but I was happy.
As we cut the cakes, the amazing Miracle Baloon team continues singing other joyful Swahili songs. I was full of smiles.
That gesture remains one of my highlights in 2022.
What was the most surprising thing?
Shortly after we finished eating, the Pilots of the two balloons walked around and issued everyone a certificate.
On a designed cardboard paper, our names were handwritten by the Pilot, and he mentioned the kinds of animals we saw from the sky. To crown the seemingly “graduation”ceremony, we all had a big family photo shot with the beautiful wildlife grass decorating our background.
The smiles and shock were uncontrollable, at least for me.
Restroom in the wildlife
How to end the tour
My last surprise was to use the unique restroom called “The Loo with a View”. I was unsure what to expect when we were told that name. I recall everyone laughing when the pilot said it and invited us to use it.
It sounded weird for us to be encouraged to use the toilet. However, out of curiosity, I went there before we departed. A big wow and laughter were my only reactions. Though a simple hard plastic tent, the back part had a net which allows you to see the park, presumably to give you enough time to wipe up and run in case a wild animal is coming to attack.
I really liked the stone design for the sink. Somehow, I still wonder how they connected water to make everything modern.
The pictures below will give you the best explanation.
It really was a loo with a difference.
The last way to cement this experience is to shop at the Miracle Baloon tent. It is just a table with a lot o books, mostly children about animals in that live in the Serengeti National park. I gladly bought a book for my baby nieces. There were other souvenirs too.
I recommend using Miracle Balloon for safaris in the sky. This was the best experience I had for my holiday.
Neither do l condemn you, go and sin no more”. John 8:11
When Jesus was on earth, a woman caught in adultery was brought before Him by the scribes and Pharisees, the religious mafia of His day. They tried to trap Him by posing a question that was difficult to answer, “Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stones. But what do You say? (John 8:5).
Jesus answered, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (John 8:7). The scribes and Pharisees began to leave one by one till none of them were left.
The people in the crowd who wanted to condemn the woman could not. But Jesus, the only one in the crowd who truly had the power to condemn her, would not. He then asked her, “Woman….Has no one condemned you?” (John 8:10)
Why did Jesus not condemn her?
He spoke such words of grace to her because He loved her. Also, by asking her the question, He was giving her a chance to speak words of no condemnation to herself– “No one (condemns me), Lord.”(John 8:11)
Jesus not only spoke words of grace to her, he also gave her the gift of no condemnation—”Neither do l condemn you; go and sin no more”. It was when she received the gift of no condemnation that she had the power to “go and sin no more”.
Today, you have the gift of no condemnation because the Son of God was condemned for all your sins. (Romans 8:1). Today, God cannot condemn you when you sin because He is faithful and just to what His Son has done.
So if the devil tries to convince you that God is angry with you when you blow it, just say, “God does not condemn me today because He has already condemned Jesus at the cross 2,000 years ago!”
Unfortunately, we still hear people saying, “Go and sin no more first, then l won’t condemn you.” Maybe you have been saying this to yourself too. But God says, “I don’t condemn you. Go and sin no more.” Be gives you the gift of no condemnation, so that you have the strength to go and sin no more!
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
In ancient times, arranged marriages had a very low rate of divorce, and this may be true, in part, because of the great amount of shame that comes with divorce in those cultures. This is interesting to consider since there is very little to no shame for divorce in many other cultures, especially in the west. It has almost become popular.
Divorce has become almost expected, which is why so many people are choosing not to marry and to instead just live together. And if they do marry, they realize that they have a “get out of jail” card, which they keep close to the chest.
This attitude is obviously very different from the way God views divorce. Consider God’s anger over divorce in Malachi 2:16. It says:
‘l hate divorce’, says the LORD God of Israel, ‘and l hate a man’s covering himself with violence as well as with his garment,’ says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.
Here in this passage, God rebukes the Israelites because of how common divorce was in their culture. God said he hated the violence divorce created in the family, and he taught the Israelites to guard themselves and not to break faith with their wives.
What did Jesus say about divorce?
In the New Testament, Jesus responded to questions about divorce. For exmple in Mathew 19:9, Christ says, “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
In that chapter, Jesus gave one of two exceptions that can break the marriage convenant.
1. Adultery is the first exception for divorce
Adultery is voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not their spouse.
In a marriage where there is unfaithfulness, if the innocent spouse leaves the union, he or she is free to remarry.
However, Christ said that if anyone married a divorced person, not under the exception of adultery, they would be living in a continual state of adultery.
Why would they be in a continual state of adultery?
This is because God still sees the divorced person as married to his or her first spouse. The first exception that can break the marriage covenant is adultery.
With that said, we must still remember God’s ideal. Even though adultery breaks the marital covenant and allows the innocent spouse to seek divorce and remarriage, that still is not God’s ideal.
As seen in the book of Hosea, Israel was adulterous in their liestyle to God many times, but he still continually took them back. As the prophet Hosea imitated God’s committed love, he took his own adulterous wife back.
Even under the exception, God’s ideal is for the couple to restore the relationship, and by doing this, they demonstrate his committed love. Look at what Paul said about divorce in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11. He said:
To the married l give this command(not l, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
What about those who divorced without adultery?
Those who get divorced, for any reason other than adultery, must remain unmarried or reconcile with their mate. This includes situations where there is abuse, irreconcilable differences, etc. Marriage is supposed to be a life-long relationship, and when a person divorces, Scripture says he or she should remain single.
In the case of divorce because of infidelity, the cheating spouse should be encouraged to seek reconciliation. If that is impossible, they must recognize that cheating is not an unforgivable sin. Jesus Christ died on the cross for all of our sins and there is forgiveness available. (1 John 1:9).
However, forgiveness does not always remove the consequences. If reconciliation is impossible, the cheating spouse must accept God’s forgiveness and give himself to a life of serving the Lord as a single person. God will give him grace to fulfil that call and will make him fruitful, if he is faithful.
As for the innocent spouse, God’s ideal is for her to seek to restore the marriage. If that is not possible, she is free to marry another.
Why is marriage relevant?
It is because those who want to follow God’s design must understand how important the marriage covenant is to God. For God, marriage is to be a committed relationship that is essentially unbreakable between a male and emale. Those who break it, except under adultery, are to stay single and continue to pursue the Lord.
These regulations for marriage are strict and were given by God to discourage divorce.
In a society with no regulations and no shame with regards to divorce, it has become rampant and a viable option in a difficult marriage.
Scripture teaches marriage is a covenant which should reflect God’s covenant with us. Even when we fail him and turn our backs on him, he remains faithful because of his covenant which he sealed with the blood of his son.
2. Death is the second exception for divorce
In Romans 7:1-3, Paul said this:
Do you not know, brothers- for l am speaking to men who know the law-that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she married another man.
Here, Paul taught that the second exception, which would allow for remarriage, is death.
Death breaks the marriage covenant. Marriage is a physical covenant that makes a couple one flesh(Gen 2:24). They become one in body, soul, and spirit. Only a physical thing can break this covenant and that would be adultery or death.
In fact, in the Old Testament a cheating spouse was put to death, and the faithful spouse was allowed to remarry (Lev 20:10).
In the New Testament, this is no longer true, but the cheating spouse is called to remain single.
How should we treat divorced people?
Again, it should be heard that divorce is not an unforgivable sin. God’s love and grace are experienced in an even greater way in our failure. Where sin increases, grace increases all the more (Romans5:20). God certainly wants to give grace to restore divorced couples to one another and more importantly to himself.
As the church, Christ’s body, we must love and comfort those who suffered through a divorce. With the advent of sin, marriage has been severely damaged. Sadly brokenness is common, so, as God’s church, we must seek to be conduits of God’s abundant grace so there can be healing and restoration for all who suffered.
Doesn’t the amount of commitment required for marriage, especially a bad marriage, sound scary? It almost sounds impossible. The marriage Union is supposed to be a lifetime commitment, without a “get out of jail” card. It is meant to be something that can only be done through God’s power.
In fact, when the disciples heard of these rigid stipulations, they responded with a similar awe. They said, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry” (Mathew19:10). That’s how strict the stipulations seemed to the disciples, and it should also challenge us as we consider this lifetime covenant.
Why did God make the marriage covenant so stringent?
Simply put, our God hates divorce, and he intended for people to marry and stay together for their lives on earth.
Our legal system provides strenuous consequences to discourage people from stealing, killing, raping, etc . Heinous crimes can incite a potential lifetime sentence in prison or the death penalty. Extreme consequences deter sin in society. This is the same thing God has done with marriage.
He wants people to know that marriage is a life-long calling. It is a covenant commitment and the only way out is to, essentially, remain single. Because people in the church have not been taught this or truly considered it, they have adopted the culture of the world, which looks at divorce as a viable option or as a necessary consequence of seeking self-fulfillment and happiness.
If divorce is necessary to find happiness they say, then so be it. And, therefore it has become increasingly common even among Christians. Statistics reflect no difference in the number of divorces occurring in the church compared to those outside the church.
However, since marriage is meant to reflect God and his love for his people, it is meant to be a Union based on commitment. It is a Union in which both say ,”l will love you even when you are unlovable. Also, they say I want to be with each other even when they don’t feel like loving them. I will love you like God loves me for his glory and his name which is my purpose in life.”
Conclusion
God covenants with his people through good, the bad, and the ugly. So we must consider marriage as a lifelong covenant.
It is a covenant based on commitment and not feelings, for feelings come and go. We need to approach this covenant realizing the potential consequences of not fulfilling it.
It should be just as people did in establishing an ancient covenant. We must come into this covenant seeking to resemble and reflect God’s covenant love for us.
The bottom line question before marriage should be, “Am l truly willing to love like God loves and commit like he commits for his glory and joy?”
In recent times, most people, when they desperately want something, will say words like, “I am dying for the piece of cake!”. Few will say, “I am living for that piece of cake!”
Sadly, many people are quick to mention death when things go wrong. Yet, the truth is that every word you speak has power- to build or destroy hopes and dreams, to restore or cause loss, to bring fright or despair, to bless or curse-for God’s Word says that death and life are in the power of the tongue.
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21
So stop lining your words up with the negative circumstances. Instead, start lining your words up with God’s Word and release the power of His Word to work for you.
How can you use your words positively?
For example, instead of speaking of lack and poverty, say, “God’s Word tells me that the good things are already here. I therefore pronounce my life blessed. I pronounce my life successful. I declare my life great. Darkness, gloom, poverty and sickness, defeat and depression, will not be in my life!”
Instead of saying sickness and death, say, l will live long. I will not die young. Jesus died young for me so that I can live long for Him. I am the righteousness of God in Christ, and God’s Word declares that no evil will come on me now and in the future!”
Instead of speaking fear over your children, say, “God’s Word declares that the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. Therefore, my children are delivered from every curse, every power of darkness and every evil. In the name of Jesus, l call forth a great, bright and blessed future for my children!”
God wants you to have a life filled with good days and an abundance of every good thing. So say, “In the name of Jesus, l command blessings, favor, health, provision, protection, dominion and power to fill my life!”
