New administration under Samia Suluhu gives hope after 5 years of hopelessness

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Acts 19:14-41

Paul’s plans

Paul was a strategic thinker. He made careful plans. ‘After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.” He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer’ (vv.21–22).
Paul’s vision, mission and plans revolved around the evangelisation of the whole known world. His strategy focused on cities: Jerusalem, Rome, Corinth and Ephesus.
He spent a great deal of time in these cities preaching the gospel to as many people as possible, whether in the synagogues or in the lecture halls.
He was not unopposed. Interestingly, in Ephesus the opposition was not doctrinal or ethical but economic. Demetrius thought he might lose money as a result of Paul’s preaching. So, he stirred up opposition (vv.24–29).
But God also had a plan. Another proverb for today tells us that, ‘The Lord works out everything for his own ends’ (Proverbs 16:4). In this instance, God worked through the city clerk (Acts 19:35). Even though he didn’t seem to believe in God (vv.35–36), his actions still stopped the riots. God often works through those who are not believers to achieve his plans.

Lord, thank you for the example of Paul’s planning, strategy and courage in the face of great opposition. Thank you that you work out everything for your own ends. Please guide me in all my plans. Help me to be strategic and courageous.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

1 Kings 22:1-53

God’s plans

It is not a good idea to try and outwit God! This was Ahab’s problem. He tried to manipulate people and events in order to defeat God’s plans.
Jehoshaphat wisely told him that before going to war with Aram he should seek the Lord’s counsel: ‘Before you do anything, ask God for guidance’ (v.5, MSG). This is another example of the vital principle. If you want your plans to succeed you need to ask God for his guidance in making your plans.
The 400 ‘puppet’ prophets may have been state-employed parrots who simply did what they were paid to do – that is, say whatever the king wanted them to say.
However, Jehoshaphat knows that this is not genuine prophecy and asks, ‘Is there not a prophet of the Lord here whom we can enquire of?’ (v.7). The king replies, ‘There is still one through whom we can enquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah’ (v.8).
Micaiah, who is a genuine prophet, speaks the word of the Lord to them. Whereas the 400 prophets put forward the popular view, Micaiah was the only one who in fact knew the mind of the Lord. We must not be swayed by popular opinion if it does not come from the Lord. The fact that we may be outnumbered is not conclusive.
Micaiah is courageous enough to speak truth to power: ‘As surely as God lives, what God says, I’ll say’ (v.14, MSG). He warns them of the danger of going against God’s plans. For his troubles, he is put in prison on nothing but bread and water (v.27).
Ahab is determined not to listen to the voice of God. He continues his manipulation. He thinks he can outwit God by disguising himself (v.30). But, as we have read, ‘The Lord works out everything for his own ends’ (Proverbs 16:4).
We see this principle at work as ‘someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armour… The king died… and dogs licked up his blood, as the word of the Lord had declared’ (1 Kings 22:34,37–38).

Lord, thank you that you are the sovereign Lord and that you control the events of history.
Forgive me, Lord, for the times when I have perhaps known I am on the wrong path but have tried to manipulate events. Help me always to stay in line with your plans. May my plans be your plans, and may these plans succeed.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Pippa Adds

Proverbs 16:2

‘People think all their ways are innocent, but motives are weighed by the Lord.’
Our motives can be a little mixed at times.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Verse of the Day

‘Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed’ (Proverbs 16:3).

 

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References

Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version Anglicised, Copyright [emoji2398] 1979, 1984, 2011 Biblica, formerly International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Publishers, an Hachette UK company. All rights reserved. ‘NIV’ is a registered trademark of Biblica. UK trademark number 1448790.
Scripture marked (MSG) taken from The Message. Copyright [emoji2398] 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

 

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Futa sasa siyo tutaenda kuchunguza. Hakuna la kuchunguza hapo

 

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Legalize khat and save enforcement resources to better causes

 

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Backsliders ALWAYS eat the fruit of his backsliding

 

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Bad leadership is here


From veepstakes we distance ourselves from his garbage

Sokoine vision was utopia and has no place in a globalised economy...resurrection of relics tell us more about its instigator than the misplaced hopes generated by Sokoine ...let us ignore the perpetrator has a doctorate because if we add it into this analysis we may end up discussing a personality rather than sticking to core issues..

From the Premier we rebuke his lack of creativity...

Industrialization will never yield the anticipated jobs because cost of doing biz is the first deterrent...just too prohibitive...you need to lower VAT to 12% from the current 18%...you need to wipe out extra taxes in electricity for EWURA and REA...Get rid of PAYE and let VETA carry its own cross.......If you are unwilling or unable to chip in these minimum business friendly policies you will do well to suppress your folly...we are not impressed...

So walking the talk beyond their capabilities

 

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Birds of a feather 🪶 flock together.

All were former ministers before they became presidents.

All run as if they were outsiders to secure voter sympathy.

All went on to protect their predecessors while unleashing hell to the minions.

All promised change during campaigning but once in power did everything in their power to sabotage it....

All promised "Maendeleo" but delivered "umasikini"

All attempted to build political dynasties to succeed them...

All claimed to be masikini but were filthy rich by looting our treasury.....

All we never elected but declared themselves winners a gratitude of CCM NEC...a CCM department well embedded in the government

 

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Huyu ni mnafiki kwani wakati wa enzi za shujaa wa Chato aliufyata sasa anajaribu kufurukuta.....kwanini hakuyasema haya wakati wa shujaa wa Chato?

Anaona yuko salama ndiyo maana anatujia na hizi ngonjera...yeye usafi wake uko wapi?

Wahenga wako sahihi...paka akisepa panya hujitutumua...

 

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Who cares? The way he talks is as if he will be missed. Well, nobody cares...they can even dissolve themselves and we will not even bother to attend their funeral since we have better things to do...

 

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