THE SLEEVE OF A JEWISH MAN

 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."’"..Zechariah 8:23

It's a common thing to see the little children grasping the edges of our clothes,when they are threatened and scared of something,This they do as a way of seeking for protection from the older ones,this part of scripture says just that.
Ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man- For every Jew, there shall be ten converts from among the Gentiles. But ten may here signify a great number, without comparison. And from this scripture it appears as if the Jews, converted to God, should be the instruments of converting many Gentiles. This can be compared to what prophet Isaiah wrote about in Isaiah 3:6.

As we break up the former part of scripture,we realize that there was certainly a great accession of converts which the Jewish Church received since the coming of Christ,the number of Christian disciples which the Jewish preachers made, and the future conversions were so great re-affirming what was written of old.

Ten-This is often a number that means ‘complete’ in the Bible. Examples are in Genesis 31:7; Leviticus 26:26; Judges 17:10; Ruth 4:2; 1 Samuel 1:8; Jeremiah 41:8. Perhaps here it is a picture of God’s ‘complete’ church.
Every language of the nations-This is what happened in Acts 2:5.
Shall grasp(hold firmly)-Exodus 4:4 uses these words, about Moses who was holding on to the snake’s tail. 1 Samuel 17:35 uses them about David who was holding on to the lion’s beard. In both passages, the men would not dare to stop holding.
The sleeve(edge of the coat)-This may link with Ruth 3:9 and Ezekiel 16:8. When they spread the edge of their clothing over them, it gave these people the security of marriage. In the New Testament, the Church is the bride of Christ, Revelation 21:2. And the name of the bride is Jerusalem!
Let us go with you-The Jews went to the temple to pray and to look for the LORD. So this probably means that people from everywhere wanted to obey the covenant. ‘
God is with you-reminds us of many Bible verses. Here are some examples: Genesis 21:22; Genesis 26:3; Exodus 3:12; Joshua 1:5.
Just as human kind should be grateful that Noah obeyed God,so should we be thankful that the earliest Jews to whom the gospel was preached to accepted the word of God and became Jesus Christ's disciples.
As we enjoy the gift of life,we should be the light of this world,that for every one christian there will be ten people who will receive Jesus Christ into their lives.

TWO BANK ACCOUNTS.

In real life the word bank far attracts too much attention that even a 9-year old head would turn at it's mention,banks like any other financial institution require one to register before transacting business with them
I am compelled to recall one event on a hot afternoon as i hurriedly dashed through the crowds of people on this street, i had been travelling form Burton street to Nakasero market when i bumped into these industrious Cranebank salesman urging me to open an account with their bank,simply put the requirements were passport size photographs,an endorsement letter from the local council authorities and a 4 zero sum of money,10,000 Ugandan shillings to be precise but for the bare fact that i hardly had enough to pay the taxi conductor who would offer me a lift to Nakawa,i would not give in to their persuasion.
In a nutshell opening any bank account necessitates some requirements which for an ordinary person is some what cost worthy(some people down there who earn a net income of 10,000 Ugandan shillings in a year) and that young people below the age of consent don't open accounts until they become adults(save for a few banks that operate kids accounts)
Alternatively their is an account that every living soul can open without any charges and that's the Heavenly account,all fares,charges,risks and fears are born by the CEO and that the account pays interest that is so much times the principal,it offers great insurance cover without a large premium and it's the heaven account
as of now everyone is a shareholder in this bank.

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house...." Malachi 3:10


Quite often when we owe people debt,compliments and appreciations,we should ask in our hearts "from which accounts  should i pay my debtors" and the answer should always be the store house of the lord.
One thing for sure,all those that save in this account stand  high chance of earning great,so if you are wondering how you can earn a fortune in the shortest time possible try this account,the chairman even assures you folks that you'll get your reward,you can even try HIM on that.

"Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it"

I have done it all,traversed all valleys and climbed hills in search for financial prosperity to no vain until i realized i needed to open an account with this bank,the The Great Store House Of The Lord.

ABOUT THIS TIME TOMORROW

God always provides us with an opportunity to reveal his power and glory usually at a time when our strength is waning,at a moment when our faith is down,and not only does he expect us to be obedient but expects us to do away with our unbelief,lack of it is a sin by which men greatly dishonour and displease God, and deprive themselves of the favors he designed for them.
Elisha was a man of God who prophesied to the people and was met with serious unbelief and resistance,Ben-Hadad king of Aram had earlier on mobilized his entire army and marched up and laid siege to Samaria,There was a great famine in the city; the siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter of a cab of seed pods for five shekels,women butchered their children for food,dove droppings or "pupu"(Imagine kaloli excretion being the best meal you'll ever have) sold like hot cake!!
The Lord quickly heard the cries of the people,and he sent a message through his prophet Elisha

 “Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the LORD says: About this time tomorrow, a seah of the finest flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.”

A seah of flour was probably about 12 pounds or about 5.5 kilograms of flour,the seah of barley  about 2/5 ounce or about 12 grams;a shekel would be 30cents at today's price.

At such a time as this only those few who had belief could concur with Elisha that surely the lord shall provide for his people,The godly are always assured of Gods help in their necessity, but the times and hours are only revealed by Gods Spirit,and that is exactly what happened on that day in Samaria.
The good provisions of the lord are always in great measures,with unending supply,I am always surprised with a few friends of mine who are afraid of being laid off,afraid of starting up something new or even giving to a charity or the ones in need because they think they would have lost a big sum of money,this all adds up to one thing,lack of trust in the Lord who always provides,as a matter of fact ,God,when he pleases can turn one dollar bill into a million dollars or more,any one doubting that?
I recently had picked tremendous interest in the stock markets and i realised that in a space of time that did not exceed 6 months a certain company National Media Group,that had just enlisted on the Uganda Securities Exchange was trading at 11 Ug Shs,and when i looked up at how the markets where fairing today,i realised it's now trading at 4,587 Ug Shs,a 41,600% appreciation on each stock,ceteris peribus!,that's exactly what God can do with our little resources,that not even the poorest shall consider themselves poor.
That those who are lacking shall stay calm and wait for their good shepherd to lead them in green meadows and guide them to the peaceful waters,and they shall have there feel,that even store houses and barns will be pulled down,new ones constructed to have enough space to put in those blessings.
So when the lord tells us to believe and mentions to us the words "ABOUT THIS TIME TOMORROW",all will be well,we only need to sit back and relax and wait the great master to do his will.
Lord as we constantly wonder and ponder where our help will come from,Lead us into the green pastures,refresh us always,not only with earthly food but with food for the soul,and teach us to trust you always,that even if the devil robs away from us all we have,we shall proclaim with our own mouths that the Lord is our shepherd there is nothing we shall want.

"WHERE ARE THE OTHERS?"

A story is told in the new testament of ten leapers who when Jesus was going into a village,met him as they stood at a distance and called out loudly to him to have pity on them,they desperately implored HIM to have mercy on them,He sent them to the priests and as they went they were healed.

One of the leapers,a Samaritan went back to thank Jesus and he asked him "were not all ten cleansed? where are the other nine?" 

"As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy  met him.They stood at a distance  and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

  Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?" Luke 17:12-17

Leprosy also known as Hansen’s disease,is a skin infection caused by a mycobacterium. Leprosy was at one time incurable and lepers were segregated into colonies,it was considered a form of physical and spiritual pollution which requires one to be excluded from the community.

These ten lepers where forbidden to reside in their own houses,to interact with their own children or live in their own community,but on this day all that was gone,and it was time to say thanks to the Lord for what HE has done but only one of them, a foreigner came back. 

Every time we count our blessings,we often don't recognize the source of such blessing,and this explains our ungratefulness to God.

There are numerous things we have been given from the father,the gift of life,the wonderful friends we have made,the success we have achieved,the wealth we have accumulated,but we hardly can stop for a second and say thank you God.

For even the flowers that bloom in our gardens,for the tender grass that's so sweet,for the birds singing sweetly in the skies,we deserve to thank the creator.

all the people of this earth have been given gifts that are wonderful to the sight,we have been blessed with numerous qualities and virtues,we have been offered salvation and we have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ,so shall we all rash off like the other nine lepers,or we will be like that "lowly Samaritan",who falls down on his face and thanks the LORD giving glory to God.

The spirit of thanksgiving pleases God and that if we fall at the feet of Jesus Christ and thank Him for all these things we have received from him,he will bend low to us and speak to us the same words he spoke to that healed leaper

"Rise and go; your faith has made you well." Luke 17:12-19.

IT'S MORE THAN I BARGAINED FOR.

No sooner had i entered the chapel than when my eyes raced towards the large white screen in the front that occasionally is used to convey messages to be delivered and the songs to be sang as well as part of the scripture readings of the service,i left my gaze there for a while and what i saw was beyond a fresh wave of joy to my heart,it was a theme about one of the most under looked virtues in life,contentment and spiritual contentment to be precise.
The chaplain in his definition of contentment emphasized the desire to enjoy Christ and the things of God without being mindful of the other people or the world.and that God invites us to  give him all our heart desires and hopes and expects us to sit back and relax as we wait for HIM to do wonders for us.
 "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."-Hebrews 13:5

 As i tried to ponder about the wonderful things the Lord has done for me with out number,i couldn't help but count myself blessed for many people would even have wished to have a fraction of the blessings i have so far received to no vain,therefore in an attempt to offer my heart felt appreciation to the Almighty God,the provider of all our needs,i remembered the zeal with which saint peter wrote while in a prison cell 

 "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."-Philippians 4:11

I have therefore thought to myself that contentment is a virtue so dearly wanting amongst the human race,i imagined these to be one of the few things that will help me achieve contentment to it's fullest.

I have learnt to enjoy the simple things on earth,long before i had great admiration for people i could see driving around in cars,carrying state of the art gadgets and expensively appareled and i did learnt that instead of wanting to buy and acquire those expensive things,i rather enjoy cheap things i could afford,(it's said enough "a bird in the hand is worthy two in the bush")like participating in conversations  with other people,Spending time outdoors. Watching a movie or playing board games and pool,These things don’t cost much, and they are awesome.

I have taken time to appreciate my life, often times i reflect on my life, and all the good things in it, on a regular basis. I do this when i wake up in the morning,or when I'm at work, or when I'm going out to bed.

I remind my self. often times i find myself unhappy with someone,and i try so hard to change them,until i hit a dead end! i have realized that it's fundamental that you try to be happy with that person for who they are.and appreciate the good things about them,the reasons as to why i love them 

I have Counted the entire basket of blessings some days when i really get enraged and unhappy with something, or with what i have dearly lacked,i take a moment to count all the good things my life,which are innumerable and confide in the fact that more are yet to come.

WHAT IS THE COST OF TWO SPARROWS?

One evening i toke a stroll with the chaplains assistant,Clark http://www.jcraigclark.blogspot.com/ and as we reached a tree that had numerous birds(so small i toke them for sparrows),singing sweetly in the trees,perching on the young branches,with a fresh hope of a brighter tommorow,and alot of appreciation about a day well-lived,i couldn't wait but wonder how everytime animals and all creation gives glory to God by doing what they were created to do,that God has a brood smile across his lips when he sees the birds perching,and the ants criss-crossing on the tree trunks,the trees being humbly swayed by the wind and that the humans doing what they're are supposed to do.owing to their equisite beauty in their abode,Clark was persuaded to pull out his camera and capture those beautiful moments.
In the tenth chapter of Mathew, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+10%3A29-31&version=NIV There are these verses that stands out in my mind with the kind of significance that would inspire hope to the hopless and faith to the doubting
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
It appears to me that sparrows were the cheapest items sold in the market and that not even a single one of them would vanish without his notice,implies to me that God knows and is well aware about the financially insignificant items and possessions we own,The penny in this case refers to an earlier day assarion or a small Roman copper coin and one of them was no less that one-sixteenth of a denarious(which was less than a half hour's average wage.
Quite often when the summer had become so tense with temps! rising as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit,it was always common scenario to find a small bird buried in the sand of the desert,having suffered a painful death of starvation or disease and even predation,and honestly if God is well informed about those dead sparrows and if He knows we humans are worth more than sparrows(birds) then there is no need to worry,not even for a second.I believe God knows every born and sinew within us intimately http://biblebrowser.com/job/10-11.htm-Job 10:11 and values us far much more than the sparrows
Well i have seen many people with really long hair that it w'd take a million times to count them and yet if God knows every single detail of it, and if HE does know about the seemingly invisible hairs on our head,then he knows our thoughts,fears,desires,likes and dislikes,strengths and weakness,hopes and anxieties as well as our dreams.

FARE THEE WELL!

In the quotes mention has been made of,about demise of dear beloved ones,i came across one that made me think about death as something less painful as i had felt or known "If tears could build a stairway and memories, a lane,I'd walk right up to Heaven and bring you home again"
There are days that one will bookmark in their hearts and then there are others we would hurriedly bury deep down,in the hidden cabinets of our hearts not to remember again,the red letter days and the memory worth moments,Vincent one of my face book friends in response to my status message wrote of our lives being all but of two days our birthdays and death days.
Quite often the perception that prevails all over us humans about death is too hard to take in,we always consider death as life's way of telling us we are fired,yet the divine importance of death is great,it's through death of our beloved ones that we are reminded of our own death,God always uses death as a way of uniting us with him for eternity(humanity's ultimate reward) 
Death of brother Leo is something that will take moments,days and periods to heal in my heart,it's a perfect moment to give glory to God for out of his wisdom HE toke him away from us and added him to the numerous numbers of saints,angels and wonderful people singing HIS praises,
It's exactly time i remembered what the scriptures emphasize on death,Job in all his anguish and sorrow never lost hope in the Lord,nor did he quit on life(he probably w'd have taken a rope,wouldn't he?)he went ahead and praised GOD,how much more we stoop low to praise him when our wives give birth to beautiful daughters and handsome sons yet we will not honor HIM when HE takes them away from us,David in all his  despair was after the heart of the lord,so should we.
It is in the making of God,HIS faithfulness and Nature's way and/or the general order of things pre-ordained from time immemorial that we mortal humans,die and our bodies be laid aside,then our souls  enter into real life,life eternal, a preparation for living in heaven,it's well known that man is not completely born until he is dead,and that a new child is born among the immortals,the saints,the patriarchs and the wonderful sons of God
Sometimes i think what we see as the stars are not stars, they are openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy and glad that they are with our Father in heaven.
If i knew how to mint time or how to turn back the clock hand,What would  I do with all the days and hours,all the moments and periods That must be counted,that must be contemplated  before I see you again,the fact that we Miss you gets easy and faint with each passing day because  even though it's one day further apart from the last time we saw one another, it's one day closer to the next time we will meet again in heaven.
In the plains of Africa are so many flowers that drop down,that get blown off their trees,disappointed by the surging wind,hundreds of sparrows that are left by the hotness and drought to fend for themselves,that no longer sing sweetly in the tress,there are trees that fade,that lose hope of another rainy day,trees that no longer welcome the squirrels and the peckers in their branches,and yes,now is a moment,a time that has separated me from the one i love.
I am hopefully that the good Lord blesses all who trust in HIM and rewards them with eternal life and everlasting peace,and that HE has honored those wonderful and beloved ones of ours,to be amongst the saints and angels singing and praising in heaven.
                                    "vaya bien a mi querido hermano"

 "Love is missing someone whenever you're apart, but somehow feeling warm inside because you're close in heart."..Kay Knudsend