Remembering Edith Schaeffer

So I learnt last night that its been more than a year since Edith Schaeffer died. What? Huge surprise to me because even though she was 98 years old, I thought she was immortal. She's like one of those things you take for granted like rain in March and April (if you live in Kenya) or former President Moi. It just never occurred to me that she would die and not be part of this world. That a time would come when we wouldn't be 'under the same sky...'
'Well, who is Edith Schaffer?' you might wonder. She is many things. But in my own words she is the mother of all things beautiful and creative. Reading her books 'Hidden Art' and later 'The Hidden Art Of Homemaking' changed my life in the most beautiful way. Being a student of Daystar University in Athi River, I saw a lot of dust and rocks and just a lot of rough terrain. I didn't see beauty. It wasn't until I read her books that I discovered a new way of looking at the world around us. I started collecting shells (which were surprisingly many in Athi River!), picking flowers and I even adopted a potted plant that had been thrown in the rubbish. I tried out little suggestions that she made about living creatively in my dorm room (which drove my roommates nuts sometimes!) and I still to this day, channel her when buying things for our home.
She introduced to me a new love and appreciation for music, beauty,art and good writing, which to her, was a key mandate of every Christian. She considered expression of creativity, an important aspect of reflecting our Creator, who Himself is a constantly creative force and in whose image we're made in.
Through her writing, her childlike wonder and amazement at the beauty in the world came through and was infectious. She lived and died in L'Abri, a home, community and refuge she founded with her Late husband, Francis Schaeffer, for people around the world who were seeking God's truth and answers about the questions they faced in today's world.
I can imagine surrounded by the serene Alpine mountains and flower filled meadows, it was not too hard for creativity and art to flow through her. She taught about bringing beauty in everything and adding flair to even mundane tasks.
Her death, like the passing of so many that I love, admire and look up to, makes me yearn for heaven. It can only be a home full love, music and every beautiful thing. Rest well Edith, thank you for the contribution you made to our world, you will never be forgotten.

“It is true that all men are created in the image of God, but Christians are supposed to be conscious of that fact, and being conscious of it should recognize the importance of living artistically, aesthetically, and creatively, as creative creatures of the Creator. If we have been created in the image of an Artist, then we should look for expressions of artistry, and be sensitive to beauty, responsive to what has been created for us” (p. 32).” 
― Edith Schaeffer, The Hidden Art of Homemaking

Being afraid

Fear is such a strange thing. It can suck you up into dark, small spaces  it can bite you with deadly,  venomous fangs, leaving you completely immobile or dead. Dead to to the life that is around you and the blessings in your life.
I have been feeling afraid a lot lately about so many things. As I type this, I am afraid that if I share some of those things in this platform then you will know the real me and you won't like me or respect me or envy admire me. I will not share those things here today even though I think I might connect with someone out here better by being completely honest. Please allow me to save that for another day.
Meanwhile, join me in facing a fear of yours today. I know it will fade away once you and I stand up to it. And most importantly I know that we are not alone.

Isaiah 41:10

Anyone but Uhuru and Ruto

I used to have a full night of sleep..but not anymore. These days am kept up by so many factors. For starters, let's talk politics. even though am greatly disillusioned by the turn Kenyan politics has taken, I have to participate in it. I have to confessthat I've spent the last 5 years feeling cheated and vowing to not take part in the politics of this nation. That's because, call me naive, I actually believed in those manifestos. I believed I was voting in for development and jobs and less corruption and good governance. But wapi? You know how it goes.
But now something peculiar has been happening in me. I now feel this nudging to do something, not only for myself and my love for this country, but also for the sake of my sons. They have no other home, us parents we owe it to our children to leave a better world than we found it. To give them a better life.
And so come March 4th, you'll find me on the line, somewhere in Kiambu County voting for anyone but Uhuruto! And I suggest you all do the same.

Being my son's mum

Am just wondering. And thinking that there must not be anything else as beautiful and as special as having a baby fall asleep in your arms. My son turned 16 months old on Tuesday and I still haven't gotten used to it. It really is the most pure, calming thing to watch. Even though it often takes me more that a few minutes to get him to nod off, its so rewarding when he finally does.

Kinda reminds me of motherhood. It takes so much physical and emotional strength, it can really wear you out. Make you wanna runaway but would I have it any other way? The answer is a simple, clear, emphatic NO! Every child born is worth the tears and the pain and the work and the sleepless nights. Every child born is worth it because not only is giving life and nurturing it beautiful and rewarding, God says that the children are His. We just happen to be stewards. And so we better carry out that role with fear and trembling as we will one day give an account.

Reflect on that today and if you're a mama be encouraged (You can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you!)

Love and blessings

Finding grace

I'm going back to school! No not that kind of school, another type of school. Its, how do I put this, a God kind of school. Oh yeah there's lots of learning to do I can barely keep up, its a crash course! There's so much to grasp! During this time spent in isolation, am learning a lot about life, about myself, about God. Re-evaluating my priorities and crossing things (and people, yikes!) out of my life.

The first major lesson that I've learnt so far is God's grace. I mean, total, unadulterated grace. Not defined to me by some spiritual guru or leader, just simple grace and experiencing it for myself. Grace, oh that word sounds so good to my mind and to my lips, I'm gonna have to say type three more times! Grace. Grace. Grace.

 Oh what joy to know, that I've been bought with a price that I am not my own, that despite making a mess of my existence I am still loved! To know that whatever happens, God, my Father, has got my back. I'll never scare Him away, I'll never hurt Him so deeply, I can ever irritate Him with my annoying habits. He's really here for the long haul. How's that for reliability and dependability? Our God is awesome! No human words can describe His goodness and bigness of heart!

And so even though, there's been some scary things happening in my life, it takes a whole load of pressure of my back to know that I am His. And He is mine. And His grace is sufficient to me and to you too dear friend. Accept it, receive it. He loves us and who can ever have too much love?



"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Cor 12:9

God's blessings and peace to you all!

The Potter's hands: Reinvention

Hey so I know what some of you are thinking, that when I say reinvention I mean the usual stuff, you know cutting your hair dyeing it blond or drastic weight loss followed by this major makeover. Ha! I wish!

There will be no hair cuts and makeovers for me, rather I mean a serious reevaluation of how I live, the things that rob me of my time and energy. The things that hold me back from being the 'me' am supposed to be.
Just this past week, God has really been pointing out some things in me that really have to go. I mean really, they have no place in my life anymore. And sometimes its scaring, some of this things are old habits that somehow creeped into my life and now feel like part of who I am/

It feels like am gonna change so much and even though it can only be for the better and for God's will to reign in my life, its really unfamiliar. But the two things I know for sure are:
1. God is in control. He knows exactly where we're going and He made me, I mean who better to be in control than one who knows ALL things?
2. When God is calling to a place of renewal and readjustment its always because greater tasks lie ahead and how can you move onto tomorrow if you hold onto to yesterday? How can one serve two masters at the same time? Impossible.

And so even though this is an out-of-my-comfort-zone place for me, I will listen and I will trust and when I find I revert to my old self, I will own up and allow God's tender hands to clean me up and continue with the molding process. He's a great Father.

I hope and pray that God is working His molding power on you too and that you allow Him. Painful as it maybe.

 "And yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand." Isaiah 64:8





God's peace and blessings to you all

Exit Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher..

So the curtain finally falls on Ashton Kutcher's and Demi Moore's union. I'm kinda sad. I know its ridiculous because they're part of the empty, vain, shallow life that is Hollywood. But yet am sad.

This breakup, makes me sad for so many reasons. First of all, they're people and it's tragic when a marriage ends in divorce. Then it just makes me think of how desperately we need Christ in our lives and in our relationships. When we see the world and others through the lens of God's Word, we rise above ourselves and our nature and like Christ, learn to lay our lives down for others. Loving them even in they're weakness and imperfection, God gives us the strength.

It makes me think of how frail and weak we are. Our femininity and masculinity is flawed. Therefore we constantly have to look to God to redefine us and write the story of our lives afresh.

This break up also saddens me because I liked them. Yes, I admit it, I was rooting for them. They were different. Defied tradition. I like different and tradition defying folks. Its just me. Normal bores me.

Anyway, these are just my thoughts.

Have a happy day people! And strive to walk with Christ, in the end He is the only Truth we have.