Tested and Now Testifying!

On that Bed!

In gloom and tears I sat on my bed, knowing not what to do but thinking so hard and wishing I could turn back the clock! I didnt have any hope or anyone to turn to because no indicator around me showed there was a way through.

After several trials in all places for a couple of years, Joy and Peace finally became my possession when I found out and got enrolled in an International Sponsorship Program. I can now stand on my own, support my family and enjoy a christian life because I have been equipped to by this Program.

Testimony enough!

In my interactions with children who have been supported by Compassion International, such stories are told and how I beat and blame myself for not being there before they shed those many tears, before they got to that point of hopelessness! We can make a difference in many of the children's by reaching out to them, I urge you. I recommend it, Sponsor-a-child

Food for Thought!

Mathew 9:36 - 37

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Secrets and Mysteries!

Formulaes or Formulars or Formulas?
Dont doubt that I never attended Mathematics and English lessons when I was in High school or College by the fact that I cant distinguish between Formulaes and Formulas. I did and I was many of my Tutors' favourite because I understood formulas as they were explained to me.

Allow me retrieve your memories back...
Has a workmate, friend or relative ever revealed to you a secret of doing something [say cooking an italian pasta or african pizza [Chapati]]? It so happens you try it out and it works out just fine. This is my personal experiene am told secrets and formulas, there are times that they work out and sometimes they just back fire!

Try out this formula, Sponsor a Child and You will make a difference in their lives

Food for Thought
Let me share with you in one Mystery or Secret, it is an wonderful thing to know Jesus Christ at a personal level just as you know your best friend and God has indeed given us all we need to Know Him. Pauls says that this mystery - "the good that is knowing Jesus Christ" was hidden from so many for ages but now God has revealed it to us. Venture in knowing Christ

Colossians 1:26-27 [CEV]
For ages and ages this message was kept secret from everyone, but now it has been explained to God's people. God did this because he wanted you Gentiles to understand his wonderful and glorious mystery. And the mystery is that Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God's glory.

My Style!

In Suprise or Suspense!
Am still amused by how what we cover our bodies with is manufactured. In my Country Uganda, clothes are majorly from cotton which is grown naturally and then threads are joined up together to make one cloth that then is tailored into a shirt or trouser.

The African Way!
We have gone ahead to forest trees, all in search of cloth material. Bark cloth which is extracted from forest trees[see attached photo] is so common here in Uganda but the victims of this have been forests. It is stylish not to wear the common silky stuff but its hazardous to have a dessertified country, what is your take? Forests going down for the sake of style or something?

American Way!
Check out the Watercooler Wednesday!

Food for Thought!
1 Peter 3:3 - 4
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

Christianity in Uganda!

Childhood Traits!

I grew up in a family where I was told to always show up at Church on Sunday or else something really bad happens to me.To always pray before eating or else.... To always pray before sleeping or else I get the worst nightmare overnight. I actually thought that was christianity. I didnt know there was a better way of learning about Christianity...

Adulthood Traits!

Many of us are scared to christianity, do you still remember that sermon that led to the confession of your sins. I know of a friend who was scared to Jesus, they were reminded of the burning sulphur that waits them in hell and just in case they didnt confess Christ that night they would definitely run in a truck as they walked out of church to their home. In a blick of an eye they would be at this "flames of hell" destination.

How about you try out this!

I want to you introduce you to a simplified way of knowing about God and Christianity. Alpha course is a basic course on christian faith, commonly advertised as "an opportunity to explore the meaning of life". The course is currently offered in 152 countries by many different denominations including Anglican, Roman Catholics, Baptist, Pentecostal churches among others.

You can find it near you, Alpha Course... I have confidence to say that so many of your questions will be answered during these interesting and interactive sessions of the course... You should try it out.

Food for Thought

Proverbs 19:2

It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.

Handling Worries and Anxiety!

What happened at Church Yesterday
Am glad I went to church yesterday, it all started with an awesome session of praise and worship where angelic voices of my churchmates from one side of the church to the other echoed in our rectangular shaped church. After a 2 minute silent break, we interceeded and prayed for our country's and individual needs; my church being an modernised anglican, we couldnt miss out the first [old testament] and Second [new testament] readings.

First Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-14
Second Reading: 1 Peter 5:1-11

The Sermon: Handling Worries and Anxiety
I will tell it as it was taught me. What is Worry, Worrying, Worries? Worries or Worrying is living in doubt of God's word and His promises, Worry is faithlessness and hopelessness. As you manage worry, you need to understand that you are dealing with doubt, faithlessness and hopelessness, that should be your starting point.

I thank my people for handling the worries of many children scattered around this world.

Food for Thought

Mathew 6:25-33, "We are beseeched over and over again not to worry about anything in this world, its all taken care of... "

Phil 4:7, "We are commended not be anxious for anything...."

Visions, Goals and Missions

Visions and Goals, What is the Difference?
Lets admit not so many of us can actually differentiate between the key words. Let try my best to make a distinctive difference between the three words.

Where as a goal or objective consists of a projected state of affairs which a person or a system plans or intends to achieve or bring about, a Vision occurs to be long-term goal of strategy.

One thing I want to point out is that achieving complex and difficult goals requires focus, long-term diligence and effort.If I had known God's will at an earlier age, His goals and Visions for my life, I should declare this that I would not have started from where I did! Ponder on this question and look around yourself to find out if you are where you are meant to be.

Find out God's Will for You! Once you do, trust me you will live in total liberty


Food for Thought
Proverbs 29:18 [KJV]
Where [there is] no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy [is] he.

Facebook Discussion Board!

Contributions!
Before I started out blogging, I should admit I was having a mini blog on facebook! I started up a topic that I thought would help both the young and the old. I wont be writing up much today but all I will do at the moment will just ask you to make your contribute to the Discussion Board Topic that I started up.

Learn more about Compassion International

Food for thought!
Ecclessiates 4:9 - 12
Two are better than one,Because they have a good reward for their labor.For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.But woe to him who is alone when he falls,For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. ~Henry Ford

Heather for Women's Ministry!

Lets Celebrate!
I thought I may celebrate with you in the glad tidings! Heather, my girlfriend has started up a new women's ministry with her friend! Am so glad that we still have bible characters like Deborah [as in Judges], Lydia [as in Acts] and Mary Magadelene [as in the Gospels].

Heather's Women's Ministry!
What still intrigues is the name! Pray, Share and Pizza?! Sounds fun and a go for it Meeting.

The ministry will target people in teenage years, school leavers or university students to help encourage them and build them up and it will be held 6 times in a year, beginning of university semesters, mid of the semester and end of the semester. It shall be a prayer based minstry but also with some bible sharing....along with some food...

Have you thought about initiating a ministry around your neighbourhood or maybe at your workplace or at Cafe where you have your variety cappucino [I have a story to tell about a ministry that was initiated from the Restaurant], I think you have potential to address the tiny Issues that your agemates or workmates are challenged with. Go for it! Or maybe the word Ministry sounds huge and an arrangement that would need training up for. Well I will break it down to reaching out and my question will still stands, are you reaching out?

News Flash!
Every wednesday I will featuring my friend's blog on this blog, you may want to check out what he has invented.He has called it Watercooler Wednesday!

Food for Thought!
We must either find a way or make one. -Hannibal

What Happened to Dad?

Many apologies!

If you read this blog yesterday, I had promised to send out something on Women's ministry - what Heather [My girlfriend has initiated]. Well many apologies we have something different today. From the comments one of us asked if I could share my own personal testimony in as far as Child Development is concerned. I guess I will just do that!

Find out more about Child development from http://blog.compassion.com/

My Life!

We possibly all identify with the fact that exposing your own life makes you abit nervous to the bones. But I thank God for the confidence I have in doing this. Hopefully this will give a big push to all of us in as far as parenting and reaching out to children is concerned.

I was born on 29th April 1985 in the days when civil wars in my country were at their climax but I survived and ran over the huddles of military gunmen. Soon after my birth, Uganda was at peace, my sincere gratitude to the current ruling party. So much devastation sorrounded me, my family and the country.

I should mention that the current face of Uganda depicts the big reconstruction and development the country has tasted.

I dont know if what had happened to my country back then [disintegration] ended up happening to me as well!I give yes for an answer on that. What I remember is Dad had left me and mum alone. It felt so lonely and insecure without Dad around! Mum was solely responsible for me, she had to provide for my upkeep, my education bills, my clothings and all that I needed. She could afford paying the bill but how many Mothers in my country can afford this? Not all, actually most are uneducated without any income generationg work!

In Uganda, many children are diastered by sometimes both parents, in some instances children loose their parents to HIV/AIDS or Malaria. We have families that are headed by children! Dad is gone, Mum is gone as well! Who do they look to?

Good News!

The good news is that Christ Jesus knows the children's needs and knows the ability and potential each of us has to make a difference in the lives of children. Compassion International [http://www.compassion.com/default.htm] has come in to help so many children get to their full potential as fulfilled adults. This is done through child sponsorship! Learn more about Child Sponsorship

Food for Thought

Psalm 27:7 "Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me"

David cried out to God that He may hear him in his tribulation and adversity. How many of the Children cry out there for Care, love, Compassion and Parents, many. Still you and I can make a difference in millions of children's lives.

Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking. William B. Sprague

Appreciation!

Appreciation
Am grateful to Carlos Whittaker who has exposed me to many of you through his Blog, thanks man! And for all you have committed and devoted your royality to reading my blogs, thank you!

I wont be blogging today, but check me out on my Friend's Blog, find Tom Emmons on the List of Wonderful Bloggers. Will send up something concerning Women's ministry tommorrow! Blessings

Food for Thought
It is the province of knowledge to speak and it is the privilege of wisdom to listen.
Oliver Wendell Holmes

My Country, Lets Talk Statistics!

I live a country located in East Africa [Uganda] which has a total population of 30.4 Million people and am so proud of my country's diversity in language dialects and culture. Imagine a nation with as many languages as nearly 23 different language, communication among the dialects would be so complex but we are in one harmony and consistently we understand each other.

In 2005, the total population of Ugandans under 18 years and of those under 5 years was approximately 16,539,000 and 5,970,000 respectively [Statistics from UNICEF] though according to the forecasts there is an immerse increase in the figures. From these facts, I would assume you have a glimpse of what you could possibly see on many streets of the country's towns and cities, Multitudes of Youth!

In as much as I would rejoice and merry in my beautiful Country Uganda, a deeper digging of statistics crowds tears in my eyes, not tears of joy but of sorrow. We are burdened by two epidemics that have seen many lose loved ones, HIV/AIDS and Malaria! Poverty meanders from community to community, village to village, home to home.

My country's conditions and what has been prevailing for the last years have left the children endangered and vulnerable because in many ways they are affected directly. To wrap all up, atleast heard and witnessed from Daily News flash of incidences where Children are being married off at a tender age, many are under child labour, several are abused physically, emotionally and multitudes are unable to go to school. Much as many people and organisations have established to advocate and protect children, still many have not yet been reached.


The good news is that you and me can make a huge difference in the lives of many children in our capacities. We can transform the lives of many children who live or have lived their lives without hope, in hunger and without basic needs! Come with me this site and I will show you how you can help the children.

Just click on this link http://www.compassion.com/default.htm

Food for Thought
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go,And when he is old he will not depart from it.NKJV

Zig Ziglar: Accomplishment Quotes
It's not the situation, but whether we react (negative) or respond (positive) to the situation that's important.

Body Parts!

What a Creator!
Wow, Wow....
An awesome creator Our God is! Last weekend a couple of my American friends and I were on a safari trip in the North Eastern parts of Uganda in Murchison Falls National Park. Well what we saw was so incredible and unbelievable and am still amazed at what God's mighty hand is capable of! The twisting and revolving currents of water falls,the Hippopotamus, Lions, antelopes, Crocodiles, Kobs and Jackson Hatbeasts.... Awesome Wonderful and Good He is, the Majestic God of all!




The Creator of Me!
After having such a breath taking experience at the Park, back to the City we were and here while am processing all the scenarios am put to a stand still to scrutinize God's Hand on Me, on His people Hes dearly. This runs directly through my mind, we have been created wonderfully and fearfully in His Image [Genesis 1 & Psalm 139] and soon or later we shall be just like Him [1 John 3]. In His creation of me, He proportions all things together.

Nose, Eye, Legs, Hands, each with its Use! Aint we meant to use each of these body parts accordingly, Nose for Breathing, Ear for Hearing, Eye for Seeing. The question for debate still hangs unanswered, what am I meant to see or hear and what am I meant not to.

Food for Thought
Psalm 85:8
I will hear what God the LORD will speak, For He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; NKJV...

The Lord your God wants to say something to you, when He speaks His words have so much peace but are you in the position to hear, are your eyes tuned into the right channels? Do you hear His voice cry out to you His own creation. He needs you as much as you need Him. You can have a new life, a fresh chapter on a fresh page with Him! Just accept Him in your life!

Our very "firsts"!

How did your first feel?
How did it feel on your very first day at High school? How did it feel on your first day on your first job ever [I wont mention nothing on the panel of interviewers that you faced on the interview]? How did it feel on your first date with your very first girlfriend or boyfriend?How did it feel on your first encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ?

I personally don't know how I feel about my first blog, I obviously feel but earnestly and honestly, I cant describe it!

Am sure I have an audience that have no idea what blogging is, it is a whole new thing to them as it was to me a few weeks back before I met up with a team of 16 wonderful US friends [I would want to say they!] who are major bloggers in the states they live in back in USA. Maybe someone out there should tell my audience what blogging is all about, am still in awe of this new thing and it is hard to explain.

This is me!

This being my first blog, I thought I should take the honor of introducing myself. Am Dennis Godwin Tumusiime, a 22 year old male born in East Africa [Uganda]. I work with an International Christian Child Development Organisation. Check the organisation out on this link http://www.compassion.com/default.htm

What about my blog?
I have not yet figured out how to approach my blogging antiques and what to post but definitely. I have something in mind and in plan though. For starters, I will posting on issues that concern the Youth, Child Advocacy Articles, Biblical Teachings on different key issues that affect our day-to-day lives.

Am excited about this and look forward to posting my next blog and obviously to my first comments about my blog, oh you could include your suggestions on what should be included on this blog. It takes a team you know that.

Food for Thought
Zechariah 4:10; For who has despised the day of small things?...NKJV.

As I start to blog, I do believe as many as who read this today and tomorrow will be blessed. Am sure this is going to be a link between all readers in Uganda, Africa, America and Australia [my girlfriend will be featuring on this as well, she is Sydney at the moment].