Ascension Day 2011

Such religious days help us to focus on our Faith. If we don't have landmarks to remind us on our path to Heaven, we may easily lose our way and our focus in this wide road of the world. I remember preparing for Ascension Day Sermon for my first time. I pored over Scripture. Afterwards, I had a deeper understanding of Christ's Ascension to the Father.

http://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2011/06/remembering-christs-ascension/

Prayer Cycle Week 22 - Botswana, Zimbabwe

Week 22 - Botswana, Zimbabwe

22 May - 28 May 2011

Intercessions

Give thanks for:

• Health care workers who provide medical aid and education to those infected with the HIV virus.
• The Christian Council of Botswana and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches.
• Marimbas, drums, mbiras (instruments made with tuned strips of metal and played with the thumbs) and shakers.
• Choir festivals where singers join together in praise of Christ.
• Those working for a better democracy in Zimbabwe.
• Uncles, grandmothers and cousins taking care of children whose parents have died of AIDS.

Pray for:

• The leaders of government and their success in bringing economic progress, education and health care to their people.
• Landowners and the land workers, and those who are displaced by land reform.
• Reconciliation between the races in Zimbabwe, leading to a society of equality and respect.
• AIDS orphans.
• Hope for those who have little to hope for.

Prayer

Dear God, our builder, 
you have all the building materials needed to construct our societies. 
You have all the strength to put wisdom on all that has fallen apart in our lives. 
You have the wisdom to reshape our world. 
Inspire us with all your wisdom, strength and love, 
to rebuild the broken walls in our community.

(prayer text for 2007)

Lord God,
we give you thanks for sending your only Son to give us life.
In the midst of wealth we are crushed by poverty,
and while we are offered Christ-life in all its fullness,
we are surrounded by disease, death and destruction.
We are tempted to despair, and yet keep hoping,
knowing that you care.
At times we weep silent tears, and cry out with deep emotion.
We come to you, our only hope and refuge.
Thank you for the gift of laughter,
even when the going is tough.
With you, O Lord, we may be troubled but not destroyed.

© Rev. Farai Chirisa, Zimbabwe. www.ctal.org.uk/zimbabwe.htm

Grasp Jabez's Prayer for Enlargement of Territory for Yourself

Jabez' Prayer

Ndi wafunda nnyo Mukama Katonda nga Yabezi bweyali. Omulabe anfunzizza mu buli ngeri yonna. Naye nga Yabezi bwe yakukabirira nakusaba Mukama Katonda wa Yisirayiri, nomuwulira, era nomuddamu. Nange bwe nsaba. Enlarge my territory, that I may bear no pain. Gaziya oluggya lwange Mukama, gaziya ensawo yange, gaziya emikwano gyange, gaziya enkolagana yange nabantu, gaziya enganda zange, gaziya enfuna yange, gaziya emirimu gyange, gaziya Bank Account yange, gaziya abaana bange, gaziya oluggya lwange, gaziya enyumba yange, gaziya emmotoka zange, gaziya amagezi gange, gaziya obusobozi bwange, gaziya eweema yange.


1 Chronicles 4:10, we read:

"And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that Thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that Thine hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested."

The prayer is composed of four parts. 
First, Jabez asks God to bless him. 
Second, he asks God to enlarge his territory or increase his responsibility. 
Third, he prays that God will be with him and stay close. 
Lastly, Jabez asks that God keep him from harm so that he will be free from pain.

Read more:http://www.allaboutprayer.org/prayer-of-jabez.htm#ixzz1NCc7AzZb

Maintaining a Pure Prophetic Flow With Prayer

Maintaining a Pure Prophetic Flow With Prayer

"Prophets obsessed by the fear of man or unholy desires will not fulfill God’s ultimate plan. We must be careful, then, not to prophesy according to the party line in order to establish and preserve popularity in ministry circuits. If we fall into this trap we find ourselves in danger of perverting the gift of God by building walls of religion.
True prophets are not always the most popular five-fold ministry gift on the block because they are bold enough to release a word of the Lord that deals with sin or that warns the local church of potentially unpleasant circumstances coming down the proverbial pike. In order to properly carry this mantle, genuine prophets must build towers of prayer."

Jennifer, you really have the prophetic calling upon you. I am glad that God still speaks even in our generations and calls His own to prophesy and prophecy. My spirit is just saying Amen to all your words. God bless you. I am going to distribute this. I am also glad that what God has put on my heart is confirmed with you. Sometimes people in the prophetic ministry sound like a  lone voices crying out in the wilderness. I will visit your site soon. God bless. And I am glad that you did not keep silent about it.

Prayer Week 20 WCC - Kenya, Tanzania

Week 20 - Kenya, Tanzania

8 May - 14 May 2011

Intercessions

Give thanks for:

• The witness of Christian churches and organizations and the continued relationship between brothers and sisters in Christ from different denominations.
• Choirs who spend long hours rehearsing to give God praise.
• Worship with joyous dancing accompanied by drums and shakers.
• Small farmers who work hard to feed their families.
• Ugali (cornmeal), cassava, rice, chapati (a type of Indian bread).
• Welcoming people, who share their resources with strangers from across the borders.
• Mt. Kilimanjaro, and the vast Indian Ocean.

Pray for:

• Refugees from neighbouring countries, that they may find food and shelter and soon be able to return to their homes.
• Those affected by drought, that they may have clean water to drink and grow their crops.
• Peace among ethnic and tribal groups, so that they may work together to create a just society.
• Churches and church leaders as they seek to fight corruption and promote democracy and good governance.
• Young women forced into prostitution.
• Those suffering from HIV and AIDS, children orphaned by the epidemic, and those who care for them.
• Those who live in abject poverty, many of whom are not able to feed themselves or their families.
• Relief for the people of Africa from the burden of international debt. 

Prayer

God of Hope, 

whose Spirit gives light and power to your people, 

empower us to witness to your name in all nations, 

to struggle for your own justice 

against all principalities and powers 

and to persevere with faith and humour 

in the tasks that you have given to us. 

Without you we are powerless. 

Therefore we cry together: 

Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus.

And grant that we may with one voice and one heart 
glorify and sing praise to the majesty of your holy Name, 
of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus has Risen, He is not Here! Easter 2011

Wishing You All A Happy Easter 2011

Jesus Has Risen, He Is Not Here!

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!

Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.

But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. (Luke 24:1-12) NIV 2011

Many times some people have dismissed the words of those who have seen Jesus in our days, who have a personal relationship with him as nonsense. When they look at some of the women or men who are telling them, that Jesus is risen, they see no substance in them. Sometimes they don't even drive flashy or fancy cars. Sometimes they don't even own houses. Sometimes they don't even have a regular job, or a prestigious one.  At times they don't follow the fashion of the day. In the days of Jesus, women were not listened to. They were discounted in almost everything. Women were not counted, only the household they lived in as belonging to their fathers or husbands. the women of Jesus' days had no property to their name. That was the culture in which Jesus grew in. That was the culture in which he preached, taught and perfomed miracles and wonders. Jesus had many followers and among them women but his disciples were men according to the culture. Yet God chose to tell the women first. And these women remembered His words.

At the Temple of worship, the women's place was in the Outer Court, where sometimes they could not even hear what was going on in the Inner Court. Perhaps when they went home, their fathers or brothers or husbands reported to or informed them. 

Do not miss out on Jesus's Resurrection by discounting the wonderful and powerful message of the woman or man who brings it to you just because of popular culture, tradition, culture, society, class, education, status, ego, belief, just like the Eleven men apostles then. For you will definitely miss out on your soul and eternal life with God, our Creator when He calls us.

The message is still true today as it was then; He has risen from the dead, He is not here!

Oluyimba:

Omukwano Gwa Yesu

2. Byonna ebitalabika

Kaakano mbirengedde;

Bibikuliddwa gyendi

Ku lw'ekisa kya Yesu;

Era ebinafu by'ensi

Katonda yabironda,

Alyoke akwase ensonyi

Eby'amaanyi mangi nnyo. 

Alyoke akwaase ensonyi

Eby'amaanyi mangi nnyo.

Song:

On the Resurrection morning Jesus rose again, 

Rose again triumphantly appeared again to people, 

Angels standing by the tomb told them not to cry, 

He is risen from the dead, He is not here!

 Chorus: He is risen x3 from the dead.

Rev. Jessica Nakawombe

Sunday, Easter, 24 April, 2011

Songs and Hymns Speak to the Heart and Soul

Song:
Hear my prayer, O Lord,
From the ends of the earth I cry.
Your love will lead me on.
To the rock that is higher than I.


For You are my refuge in times of trouble.
A tower over my enemies.
And Lord I want to be with You forever.
In the shadow of Your wings.


Oluyimba:
"Omukwano gwa Yesu"
 (Nga) Tegutegerekeka;
Omwoyo Omutukuvu
 (nze) Yanjigiriza yekka;
Emirembe gijjuza
Bwe gityo omwoyo gwange,
Era gikulukuta
Bulijji okunsanyusa.


Ebyentiisa sibitya
Nze nvumbudde ekiwummulo.
Sikyayengetana sso, ze sikyategana nate
Nina ennono y'obulamu kwe kukkiriza Yesu
Era nimba nessanyu, Ye Mulokozi wange
Era nyimba nessanyu, Ye Mulokozi wange.