Pastor Birai's Daily Devotions and Bible Study
PASTORBIRAI.COM
The burning of the Korans!
In life,there are haste decisions that we take that turn out to be very detrimental.
Such is the decision to burn the Korans. Whatever else motivated Reverend Terry Jones and his evangelical Christian group,all indications are that this is definitely going to a rouse vicious hatred and a desire by some to revenge.
I learned long time ago that two wrongs don't make it right. If anything,those who have chosen to follow the foot steps of the man of Galilee,even our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,must purpose in their-hearts to chose and preach peace.
I wish to add my voice to all those who have made a passionate plea to Reverend Terry Jones and his church to retract. The world has already enough headache,please do not add or create more tension. Let there be peace. Let us learn to live together as God's children.
True in every community,there are those who have always attacked and even maimed innocent people. But remember that not every one is like that.
I pray that the good-Lord may intervene in this volatile situation. Even so Lord Jesus please come down and solve this issue but not according to our will but rather according to yours. Amen.
Pr Birai
www.pastorbirai.com
Such is the decision to burn the Korans. Whatever else motivated Reverend Terry Jones and his evangelical Christian group,all indications are that this is definitely going to a rouse vicious hatred and a desire by some to revenge.
I learned long time ago that two wrongs don't make it right. If anything,those who have chosen to follow the foot steps of the man of Galilee,even our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,must purpose in their-hearts to chose and preach peace.
I wish to add my voice to all those who have made a passionate plea to Reverend Terry Jones and his church to retract. The world has already enough headache,please do not add or create more tension. Let there be peace. Let us learn to live together as God's children.
True in every community,there are those who have always attacked and even maimed innocent people. But remember that not every one is like that.
I pray that the good-Lord may intervene in this volatile situation. Even so Lord Jesus please come down and solve this issue but not according to our will but rather according to yours. Amen.
Pr Birai
www.pastorbirai.com
To those who are hurting
Out there,there are those who are hurting, and hurting so bad? Like who?
1.Individuals who have lost a loved one and just don't find meaning in life.
2.Spouses who have been mistreated,tortured, cheated, abused, and ignored by their sweet hearts
3.People who lost their jobs and don't seem to be finding another.
4.Students who have no idea as to where school fees will come from. All doors and windows seem to be permanently locked
5.Those who have been neglected by their own and the society.
6.Children who have been abused and neglected
7.Individuals who don't like what they are doing but have no where to go.
8.Individuals who are suffering from a terminal disease.
9.Individuals who owe so much and have no way of paying any one right now,leave alone making ends meet.
10.Individuals who are sufferings as a result of their own bad decisions.
11.Students who are studying so hard and yet they just can't pass this one subject
Whoever you are and whatever your challenges are,I just want to remind you that you need not struggle alone. We have a caring and able God,who is more than able to help you.
I know Him for He has over and over again picked me up from the ashes and gave me hope when all seemed hopeless.
Here is what He says:
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Are you hurting right now? Why not try Jesus!
Pr Birai
www.pastorbirai.com
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1.Individuals who have lost a loved one and just don't find meaning in life.
2.Spouses who have been mistreated,tortured, cheated, abused, and ignored by their sweet hearts
3.People who lost their jobs and don't seem to be finding another.
4.Students who have no idea as to where school fees will come from. All doors and windows seem to be permanently locked
5.Those who have been neglected by their own and the society.
6.Children who have been abused and neglected
7.Individuals who don't like what they are doing but have no where to go.
8.Individuals who are suffering from a terminal disease.
9.Individuals who owe so much and have no way of paying any one right now,leave alone making ends meet.
10.Individuals who are sufferings as a result of their own bad decisions.
11.Students who are studying so hard and yet they just can't pass this one subject
Whoever you are and whatever your challenges are,I just want to remind you that you need not struggle alone. We have a caring and able God,who is more than able to help you.
I know Him for He has over and over again picked me up from the ashes and gave me hope when all seemed hopeless.
Here is what He says:
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:and ye shall find rest unto your souls.For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Mathew 11:28-30)
Are you hurting right now? Why not try Jesus!
Pr Birai
www.pastorbirai.com
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The painful cry of David
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Having rejected Saul as a king of Israel due to his repeated disobedience,the Lord of the universe disappointed Jesse and all his 7 children by chosing the youngest and in experienced lad by the name of David to be the king of Israel.
A study of the book of Psalms gives us a hint that David was not only hated by many but that they pursued him every single day to harm,no,actually to kill him.
One of the most encouraging thing in the book of Psalm is to see how David relied on his God. Over and over again,David sent his petition to the living God with complete trust that God would indeed protect him. One such Psalm is Psalms 56:1-13. Hope you will be blessed by reading it.
Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me; all day long they press their attack. My slanderers pursue me all day long;many are attacking me in their pride. When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.What can mortal man do to me? All day long they twist my words; they are always plotting to harm me.They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps,eager to take my life.On no account let them escape; in your anger, O God, bring down the nations. Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll are they not in your record? Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help.By this I will know that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise- in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? I am under vows to you, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you.For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling,that I may walk before God in the light of life. Pr Birai
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Childhood culture?
Kudos to my late parents for taking time to instill in me a rich culture. My parents made sure that we,their children, learned the very basics of my people's culture. Here are some of the lessons as I recall them.
1.We were taught to respect our parents and anyone older
2.We were taught how to share the little that we had.
3.We were made aware that we belonged to the community. Any parents had permission to discipline any child at any time.
4.Each was made aware of their responsibility
5.The boys were taught to respect girls. Dating was not part of our upbringing. Boys were expected to start the girls stuff when they were about to get married. Sleep over, holding hands,and walking half naked was not allowed.
When we became Christians-S DA's-we learned more stuff. Like what?
1.We were made to understand that there was a difference between Men and women clothes.
2.Make ups, such as painting of the lips,eye lids, and finger nails was considered as belonging to a different group of people
3.Women were not expected to wear pants or shorts. They were expected to cover their bodies
4.Divorce was not part of a Christian vocabulary
5.Christians were not allowed to drink,dance and smoke cigarettes or abuse drugs
6. Immorality was a no no for those who had chosen to be disciples of Jesus
7.Men and women were not supposed to sleep under one roof unless they were husband and wife.
8.The Sabbath was the 7th day of the week and was kept holy. Preparation started on Friday afternoon. It was kept holy from Friday sun set to Sabbath sun set. No social activities were planned for a day set a side by God
20 years ago,I relocated to this great Nation that I love so much. Over the years, I have been dismayed to note that some of my people have long away done away with the childhood culture. The culture that was passed over to us and that home way of Christianity seem to have evaporated.
We have instead adopted everything about the new culture which often times is in total conflict. The Sabbath is just another day . Even though we work hard and happen to have more money, most of it is spent in paying bills and all kinds of pleasure. God has no part in it. We spent God's money as we wish. All you hear around is,"this is America" Well, What happened? Does the childhood culture and the faith that we were brought up with make sense any more? What's going on here?
Pr Birai
www.pastorbirai.com
1.We were taught to respect our parents and anyone older
2.We were taught how to share the little that we had.
3.We were made aware that we belonged to the community. Any parents had permission to discipline any child at any time.
4.Each was made aware of their responsibility
5.The boys were taught to respect girls. Dating was not part of our upbringing. Boys were expected to start the girls stuff when they were about to get married. Sleep over, holding hands,and walking half naked was not allowed.
When we became Christians-S DA's-we learned more stuff. Like what?
1.We were made to understand that there was a difference between Men and women clothes.
2.Make ups, such as painting of the lips,eye lids, and finger nails was considered as belonging to a different group of people
3.Women were not expected to wear pants or shorts. They were expected to cover their bodies
4.Divorce was not part of a Christian vocabulary
5.Christians were not allowed to drink,dance and smoke cigarettes or abuse drugs
6. Immorality was a no no for those who had chosen to be disciples of Jesus
7.Men and women were not supposed to sleep under one roof unless they were husband and wife.
8.The Sabbath was the 7th day of the week and was kept holy. Preparation started on Friday afternoon. It was kept holy from Friday sun set to Sabbath sun set. No social activities were planned for a day set a side by God
20 years ago,I relocated to this great Nation that I love so much. Over the years, I have been dismayed to note that some of my people have long away done away with the childhood culture. The culture that was passed over to us and that home way of Christianity seem to have evaporated.
We have instead adopted everything about the new culture which often times is in total conflict. The Sabbath is just another day . Even though we work hard and happen to have more money, most of it is spent in paying bills and all kinds of pleasure. God has no part in it. We spent God's money as we wish. All you hear around is,"this is America" Well, What happened? Does the childhood culture and the faith that we were brought up with make sense any more? What's going on here?
Pr Birai
www.pastorbirai.com
When someone hates you
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When someone hates you due to jealous, your tribe,race,education,success,family,position and/or status,he or she becomes blind in many ways than one.
Such a person will do everything possible to criticize all that you do, say or write. If say you are a leader,such a person will criticize your policies and anything that you try to achieve.
Will any one please such kind of people? No way. No need to even try. All that you need to do is to do your best at all times. The good Lord,who alone knows the end from the beginning will sure fight for you. He will not only protect you from your enemies but will lift you up high and ashame your enemies. Here is what the sovereign God says:
"When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." (Proverbs 16:7)
Do you remember the young man Joseph,one of the sons of Jacob? Do you remember what his brothers did to him? Didn't God turn things around so that he became the prime minister of Egypy and in the end saved his family?
That's how our God works. He reads our hearts like an open book. He knows who harbors un called for hatred towards innocent people. He will surely fight for you.
Pr Birai
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Let's do the numbers!
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Even though God's desire from the very beginning has been to save not one, but all His children,the sad truth is that many over the centuries have disqualified themselves from that list.Here is what the Bible tells us:
1. During the time of Noah, only a family of 8-Noah,his wife,his 3 children and their wives were saved.
2.During the time of Sodom and Gomorrah,only 3-Lot and his 2 daughters were saved.
3.After many years in the wilderness-40 years-out of about 2 million who staterted their journey from Egypt to the promised land,only 2-Joshua and Caleb-made it to the promised land. What? Yea, I hear you.Sorry!
So, what happened to the rest of supposedly God's children? They were all destroyed due to among others the following factors:
1.Disobedience
2.Drunkardness
3.Immorality
4.Idolatry
5.Lack of faith, trust and fear of God
6.Tested God over and over again
7.Continually whined/complained
8.Took God's biding/commandments for granted
Are we better or worse than them? Is it possible that we have gone the ways of our fathers?
The good news is that salvation is still open to any one who is willing to trust and have faith in the living God,to pray daily for strenghth to travel on and be willing to let the things of darkness
Like Jesus said while on earth,no one can succeed by following 2 masters. Each one of us must chose daily which one to follow. I will daily chose the Lord of the universe. How about you?
Pr Birai
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Confronting our weakness/sins
| When it comes to our weaknesses/sins,you and I know exactly what they are. |
1.Repent,and plead with the Lord to help us overcome and become victorious
2.Justify ourselves and continue living in sin. Those who take this route usually hate any one else who reminds them of the need to turn around. They even go to an extend of blaming everyone else including God
The Bible has several stories in this regard but I will cite but two.
Do you recall Judas? When He joined Jesus as one of His disciples, He knew that He had many weaknesses including stealing, condemning the innocent people and always undermining the young apostolic church. Jesus did not condemn Him but instead allowed him to see his weakness and repent accordingly. Un fortunately he did not. Finally he betrayed Jesus and then killed himself. That is what sin always does.
The story I love is that one of Zaccheaus as found in Luke 19. Though many regarded Zachaeus as a sinner due to his position in the community-tax collector- He surprised many. When Jesus spoke to his heart,Zacheaus repented immediately and vowed to give half of his property to the poor and to retun four fold to any one that he had robbed. That is what I call genuine repentance.
Just take a few minutes and reflect on your present and past life. You know without any doubts that all has not been well. You know every detail of your life. Don't you?
You see,Jesus has never and will never condemn you. All He needs of you and I is to repent and do the right thing. Which route will you follow? That of Judas or that of Zacheaus?
Lord Jesus, you know that I have let you down over and over again. Please forgive me and give me victory over not one but all my many weaknesses. Help any one out there who wants to follow you as well. Amen
Pr Birai
What will it be?
Ever given thought to the judgment day? What will be the one factor that will determine those who will be saved and those who will be lost. I ask this not so much because I have not read or heard it preached but rather because I just can't figure it out.Here is why:
1.If the determining factor will be the tencommandments,then many will miss it. Why? Because many people including those who are called by His name don't pay too much attention to the ten commandments.
2.If hatred will be a factor then many will fail to qualify. How so? Becausemany of God's children are good at hating others. Many are the people that we hate who have not done anything to us. Are you free from this killer vice ? Just ask yourself this question are there people that you hate for no apparent reason?And you call yourself a child of God?
3.If misuse of talents will bethe key factor,then many will fail at this point. How come? There aremany out there who have and continue to sit on their talents.
4.If living double standard will feature,then I am afraid that many will stumble and fail at this point. We are not that which we claim to be. We speak and preach one thing and then turn around and do something else.God have mercy and forgive please. Kindly start with me.
5.If jealousy, idolatry,gossip, arrogance,negative attitude,stealing, and the way we treat others will be the factors,then many will be denied entry to the home of the saved.
6.If the way we spent God's money will be the factor,then many will qualify as unfaithful stewards.
The more I reflect on this the more I get confused. I am looking at judgment from a human point of view. I must confess that it doesn't look good. But I am just human. The final answer lies with the Lord of the universe.
Acloser look at what happened during the time of Noah,Sodom andGomorrah, does not help.Whatever standard God used, many were disqualified. In each case, only a family was saved! Well, need Iremind ourselves that Lot's wife didn't make it?
Let us read the word of God and pray that the good Lord opens our eyes so that we can see. Nothing sort of the Standard of God will work. Let us seek to know what it will be.
Even so forgive us dear Lord and help us tounderst and and appreciate the fact that your judgment will be fair and free. Help us to live to your standard and avoid confusing and deceiving ourselves! Human sympathy from fellow human beings will not help us make it.
Pastor Birai
www.pastorbirai.com
1.If the determining factor will be the tencommandments,then many will miss it. Why? Because many people including those who are called by His name don't pay too much attention to the ten commandments.
2.If hatred will be a factor then many will fail to qualify. How so? Becausemany of God's children are good at hating others. Many are the people that we hate who have not done anything to us. Are you free from this killer vice ? Just ask yourself this question are there people that you hate for no apparent reason?And you call yourself a child of God?
3.If misuse of talents will bethe key factor,then many will fail at this point. How come? There aremany out there who have and continue to sit on their talents.
4.If living double standard will feature,then I am afraid that many will stumble and fail at this point. We are not that which we claim to be. We speak and preach one thing and then turn around and do something else.God have mercy and forgive please. Kindly start with me.
5.If jealousy, idolatry,gossip, arrogance,negative attitude,stealing, and the way we treat others will be the factors,then many will be denied entry to the home of the saved.
6.If the way we spent God's money will be the factor,then many will qualify as unfaithful stewards.
The more I reflect on this the more I get confused. I am looking at judgment from a human point of view. I must confess that it doesn't look good. But I am just human. The final answer lies with the Lord of the universe.
Acloser look at what happened during the time of Noah,Sodom andGomorrah, does not help.Whatever standard God used, many were disqualified. In each case, only a family was saved! Well, need Iremind ourselves that Lot's wife didn't make it?
Let us read the word of God and pray that the good Lord opens our eyes so that we can see. Nothing sort of the Standard of God will work. Let us seek to know what it will be.
Even so forgive us dear Lord and help us tounderst and and appreciate the fact that your judgment will be fair and free. Help us to live to your standard and avoid confusing and deceiving ourselves! Human sympathy from fellow human beings will not help us make it.
Pastor Birai
www.pastorbirai.com
What do you think of Pastor Birai's writing?
One day, while at the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples," Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" Interestingly,He wanted a feed back of what people thought of Him and His work.
I know that many of us like to wait until a person is dead and gone before we can either appreciate or disapprove that which he/she did while a live.
For several months now, I have taken upon myself to write to various blogs including my own (www.pastorbirai.com) Since then, there have been thirty five thousand (35,000) visits to my blog.
Since a good number of you are but silent readers, its hard to know whether my writing has been a blessing to any one. I think you will agree with me when I say that every so often,its important to hear what others think of your work. That way it will help one to adjust accordingly.
I'll therefore appreciate hearing from you on whether any of my writings has been a blessing to you. If you can recall, let me know what article touched you most. Hope I am not asking too much.
Pr Birai
www.pastorbirai.com
I know that many of us like to wait until a person is dead and gone before we can either appreciate or disapprove that which he/she did while a live.
For several months now, I have taken upon myself to write to various blogs including my own (www.pastorbirai.com) Since then, there have been thirty five thousand (35,000) visits to my blog.
Since a good number of you are but silent readers, its hard to know whether my writing has been a blessing to any one. I think you will agree with me when I say that every so often,its important to hear what others think of your work. That way it will help one to adjust accordingly.
I'll therefore appreciate hearing from you on whether any of my writings has been a blessing to you. If you can recall, let me know what article touched you most. Hope I am not asking too much.
Pr Birai
www.pastorbirai.com
Why so resistant?
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You and I know that all is not well with our souls. There are certain vices/things that we need to overcome or let go. Like what?
1. May be Jealosy, hatred,envy,gossip,stealing ,holding a grudge,arrogance,stubborness,cheating and.......
2.May be our negative attitude towards others
3.May be the way we treat others(spouse,children,parents,fellow church members,pastor,church members,employees,employer,our leaders and...)
4.Our negative attitude and opposition to God,the Bible,spiritual books and.....
Instead of God condemning us,He comes around and pleads with us to let Him into our hearts. That way,He will not only forgive us but also give us victory over our weaknesses. Here is what He says:
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"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet,they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool. " (Isaiah 1:18)
they shall be like wool. " (Isaiah 1:18)
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives" (1 John 1:8-10)
" He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.(Proverbs 28:13)
"as far as the east is from the west,so far has he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalms 103:12)
Seeing that our God is willing to forgive,forget and give us victory over our weaknesses,how come that we are so resistant instead of heeding the call to surrender? I ask again,why so resistant? Imagine that its free! I mean without paying a single penny/cent! Are you willing at least to let Him come in? If not,why not?
Even so Lord Jesus,please begin with me, not tomorrow, but today.
Pr Birai
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