Royal Sisterhood 2019: Harnessing Influence

This year’s Women`s day was special to me for a number of reasons. One reason was – Royal sisterhood. I had always wanted to attend the Royal sisterhood gathering held at Worship Harvest Naalya but never got around to it. This year I got to be apart,thanks to a friend who decided to sponsor me even though I had put it in my budget😂😂. Surely God was speaking, right or right??!!

This year`s theme was,“Harnessing Influence’’ and the speakers did the theme justice right from Cindy Adong who talked abit about skin care to Eunice Adubango ,Beatrice Byemanzi and lastly Moses Mukisa. There was soothing music from Charlene and her crew. This gurl can siiiinnnnngggggggg y’all.

Anyway, since many people were asking for snippets of what was shared, this is me laboring to share a 3 hour event into a few words.

Cindy Adong a make- up artist emphasized the need to invest in good skin care products and make up products.

Eunice Adubango shared her story and one quote stood out for me

“You are the light of the world. When light is switched it asserts itself ‘’ –For some reason the scripture reference of this quote made me think hard on it. When I walk into my room and turn on the light,it doesn`t light just a few areas of the room,it asserts itself everywhere,unashamed.

Beatrice Byemanzi

Bee 3 kicked off her session with asking ladies for the meaning of harnessing .The answer we settled for was harnessing means to make use of. In our context, making use of your influence.

Make use of your influence but remember it starts from within. You can`t add new wine to old wine skins, they will burst. Why? Because they don`t have the capacity for the new one. In the same way, you need to shade off the old thinking patterns, the old rhythms of your life and create new ones that will help you make use of your influence. Stop playing small, the world needs to hear your voice. (Scripture reference Luke 6:36-39)

Practical exercises from Bee3 that you can do at home.

Do you think you have influence over anyone?, How far have you seen yourself go with your influence?, 5 categories of people you have influence over

Mosze`s sharing was titled Honey we are expecting-Luke 1:39-45

He left us with questions to ponder on during the session and for life;

1.Do you know the value of what you`re carrying? (Luke 1:42-45)

Many times we never know the value of what we are carrying and I am a culprit,I get torn between knowing and forgetting and people always jolt me out of the not knowing phase. Mosze admonished us to be super encouragers, call out greatness in others.

2.Are you choosing the right environment for your baby?

When you know the value of what you`re carrying, you choose you`re environment carefully. Find people of like minds, people who have been where you want to go, People who cheer your dream on.

3.Have you made the decision to carry your baby to full term?

There was no doubt people were stirred up to think practically about harnessing their potential in whatever fields of work and stages of life they are at.

PS: Take note of the scriptures and go back to your room and eat them .Answer the questions embedded in this article not for me but for yourself and go ahead and harness your influence.

Photo credit: Worship Harvest Ministries

©Racheal Kizza 2019

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Who is teaching you responsibility?

Dear boys 2 men,

Who is teaching you responsibility?

Who is teaching you how to treat the ladies in your lives?
Who is teaching you how to behave on dates? (I am not talking about opening car doors here.if you do it, awesome,if you don’t,it’s OK)
Who is teaching you how to disagree but not beat up that woman in your life?

Who is teaching you how to go about proposals?
Who is teaching you how to be a present friend, husband,father, grandfather?
who is teaching you the basics of manhood?
Who are you having your manhood conversations with?

Who are you vulnerable with?(I know in our society,you’ve been told to man up. “abasajja tebakaba,” but that’s not even scriptural, Jesus wept openly)
Who are you showing your nakedness?Who is walking the marriage journey with you?Who is teaching you responsibility?

Who is teaching you how to protect your “Chic,kyana” physically,mentally,emotionally, spiritually and financially?
Who is teaching you not to have premarital sex to prove your manhood?

Who is teaching you parenting?some of you get kids while at campus, after campus and there in between and have no idea where to start from hence ,choosing irresponsibility.perhaps if you knew better,you would do better.perhaps.

Who is sharpening you? ``As iron sharpens iron,So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)

Who is affirming you? Who is speaking wisdom to you?

Who is praying with and for you?

Who is rebuking you?

Tell me,Who is teaching you?

Who is holding your hand and showing you the way to go?

Who is teaching you how to lead and be led?

Who is teaching you responsibility in every form?

 

Follow Kuteesa Foundation on Facebook ,because they are teaching the boys 2 men in our generation responsibility.

Comment below with a man ,men or group of men who are teaching you responsibility.

Hosting tips 101

Ever had people crushing over at your place for a few days,weeks,a month or two,years?
I have been hosted before by friends and I have learnt a couple of things about hosting people. There are hosting Dynamics and today Rachel and I share tips on how to be a good host.These tips are in no particular order.

+Always know your people.What do they like to eat,what are they allergic to.This helps to plan better for their stay.

+Plan!plan ahead for their coming.Stock whatever you need to stock for their stay.

+Don’t change your menu for your guests.Make adjustments depending on who likes what but don’t do a 360 on your menu.This might be costly and draining as well on your pocket,house help if you have one or yourself too.

+Take/accept the help.The more people in the house, there is multiplication of house chores.Incase a guest asks to help out ,let them help.

+Ask for help.Remember some of these guests,like to work and if African ,they have been trained to work and might be uncomfortable sitting all day.Ask them for help.This helps you bond and you could learn something new about each other.

+You are bound to meet people of various cultures.don’t be alarmed.

+For guests who stay for long;months or years, purposefully involve them in the house chores and activities.If you go by a rota include them that way they appreciate and are part of the family and it also lifts the burden off of you to do everything. Everyone has to have some form of responsibility.

+It is important to know how long a guest is staying, especially if you are in a family setting, that way there is no uncertainty and family members are well prepared. Guests who stay for Ununspecified days can easily feel like a burden and there could be the anxiety of how long is the person staying.To avoid such discomfort and uncertainity,it is good to know the length of the stay.

+Be ready to be vulnerable.This comes with letting someone in your space.Be yourself and don’t adjust your lives completely. Let the guest adjust to your system (this can be added to the menu as well)

+It is great to learn from your guests as well, as much as it is your house, your rules, try to involve some of their ways especially if they are from a different culture. You could ask them to cook a common dish of theirs or show you how they do their things. This way the guest feels appreciated and is able to involve a part of them in the family

+When a guest does something wrong or off, it is OK and right to tell them directly and in a kind and polite way. It is so easy to find yourselves discussing the guest behind their back with other family members yet the issue would have easily been resolved by speaking to them. This can also breed contempt and ruin the whole experience.

+Always consult with your family members before agreeing to host someone, that way they are prepared cause even if you are the one taking care of most of the things, they have a right to know and agree as their space will be invaded/interrupted

+Considering all the above, it is actually OK to say no to hosting someone, it doesn’t make you a bad person, it does take grace and quite some work, so be willing to give 100% rather than say yes and your heart is not in it. Whatsoever you do,do it with all diligence as unto the Lord and not man.

This post was co-authored by Racheal Atieno-my Kenyan sister,who has hosted me and so many other people at her home in Nairobi over the years. It is right to say her home is international 😂😂.

Kindly leave your views in the comment section.

Photo credit: Gakosun Photography

©Racheal Kizza 2018

Book review 13: I dared to call Him Father

Book: I Dared to call Him Father

Subtitle: The Miraculous story of a Muslim Woman`s Encounter with God

Pages:190

Genre:Biography

Authors: Bilquis Sheikh with Richard H.Schneider

I have to admit this is by far one of my best reads this year. I laughed, cried and got chills all over from reading Bilquis Sheikh`s encounter with God. I read this book in one day, it’s gripping and so beautiful.

The book opens with a frightening presence, Bilquis an aristocratic from a rich Muslim family feels and is aware of a presence while in her flower garden. The presence literally touches her and she runs for the safety of her house where the presence albeit can`t touch her. She is flustered and her servants wonder what is wrong with her. She asks her two servants, Nur-jan who is Muslim and Raisham -a Christian whether they believe in spiritual things. And they both avoided answering her question. Nur-jan insisted they invite the village mullah to cleanse the garden.

Bilquis deep down knew there was no evil spirit in her garden. She felt a deep seated desire to read the bible after a series of dreams. She was no dreamer but suddenly was having dream after dream with Jesus in them. She gets a bible but does n`t understand it and in the night visits a popular missionary couple-the Mitchells and her only question is, `Do you know anything about God?’’ Mrs. Mitchell’s reply is an interesting one, `I`m afraid I don`t know as much as my husband knows about God, but I do know Him.” Bilquis finds her answer odd and wonders how one can presume to know God intimately.

This visit cemented a long time relationship between the couple who introduced her to other great Christians in the village of Wah. Bilquis enjoyed her new found family who replaced her own blood relations. Upon hearing about her conversion, her family cut off any sort of communication with her because she had done the unforgiveable. Her own daughter pleaded with her not to do but her plea fell on deaf ears. She lost relatives but no one informed her so she could attend burial.

Bilquis got baptized in the holy spirit at 54 and everything about her changed and she grew in her knowledge of God as her father. She had adopted her daughter`s son-Mahmud who also grew into Christianity and enjoyed the bible stories.

Having experienced the tangibility of God from day one, she mentions how the presence of God left her a couple of times due to things she had done. On the other hand, I believe the presence of God can`t leave us. He promises in Hebrews13:5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” However, we can loose awareness of His presence.

Bilquis  Sheikh is used by God to share her testimony at a conference that was being organized by Billy Graham in Singapore. This was the beginning of her new purpose.

I like the fact that Mrs.Mitchel gives her tale of the flower lady and ends the book on a great and personal note.

I highly recommend this amazing book for anyone who needs to be reminded what it means to be set apart for God.

I recommend this book for anyone who desires to see the power of God at work.

PS; Bilquis Sheikh died on 9th April,1997 aged 85.

#1: What now??

I am almost ashamed to greet you all and say happy new year . A month has already passed and I honestly didn`t know what to write about. Not sure if it was writer`s block or just unseriousness that stopped me from scribbling unordinary things here??(*insert wondering emojis*)

It`s a sunny afternoon and I decided to write something down as I read through a new found blog by a 24 year old girl travelling the world for a living-http://girlvsglobe.com/ and listening to Do it again by elevation worship( I have had this song on replay since Jan,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dYmVphxEao ) The song is off their new album, Evidence. Go check it out. It`s beautiful and befitting for our KING.

I can`t get enough of each phrase. I want it to saturate my very being till I am bowed in a posture of worship in my writing, walking, talking, dreaming,beliefs  so whoever encounters me has Godly encounters.

Now that January is over, what next? The hype for new years resolutions is out the door.We are into the love month, what now? Do we still remember our plans for 2018??

This year I am excited about a number of things and I will share two that are close to my heat-GANG and walking a journey with a few amazing ladies.

What is GANG?In my own words, GANG is a yearlong discipleship and leadership  huddle geared towards helping young people in Worship Harvest ministries grow in all spheres. I am in GANG with amazing young people and I look forward to learning from each one of them, have great collaborations too (shout out to Mable).

PS: Our Gang leaders are soooooo cool.

Walking with a few amazing ladies which is loosely translated as mentoring. This year I believe ,this is one of the areas God is growing me in. I am no expert at mentoring,hehehe. However, with God being in the driver`s seat, I fear nothing. He makes all things beautiful in His timing and I am excited to meet with these ladies and simply do life with them.

What are your 2018 plans and how  far  have you gone with executing them?????

 

Welcome to 2018.

Happy new year.

 

Extraordinaire 3 : Noeline Kirabo

Women empowerment can best be done by women who know and understand fellow women. Meet Noeline Kirabo who is building an active legacy when it comes to empowering young ladies to live out their God -given potential. Many know her for Kyusa but today, she tells us all about the New Generation Mentoring Program and how to be apart of the upcoming cohort in September.

1st NGMP cohort, Further left, Sumaya, Cathy, Grace, Noeline Kirabo , Fifi and Justine on the extreme right. Certificate ceremony.

1.Who is Noeline Kirabo?

NK: Noeline Kirabo is a family therapist by profession and a social entrepreneur by passion. She has over twelve years’ experience in the nonprofit sector mainly working with children, youth, women and community self-help groups.

She is the Founder and Executive Director of Kyusa, a registered organization that empowers out of school youth in urban slums to become employable by developing passion driven sustainable careers.

She is the Co- Founder and director of Newen Consults a personal and business development consulting firm.

Noeline is also the founding president of Christian Women Entrepreneurs Network (CWEN); a platform that brings together Ugandan Christian women in business to connect, create and collaborate.

As part of her passion for women, Noeline has also pioneered a four months coaching program called New Generation Mentoring program for young adult women 20 – 35 years preparing them to identify their potential and use it to strategically influence in the market place.

Noeline is an author, writer, motivational speaker, life coach, career mentor, trainer and business development consultant. Her life mission is to empower people to identify their life purposes and turn their passions into skills for fruitful living.

2.The name Noeline is synonymous with kyusa,but what is New Generation Mentoring Program (NGMP)?

The mentoring program was birthed out of my passion and commitment to nurturing young women to actualize their potential so as to influence in the market place. I had been mentoring and coaching ladies one on one for years so I just decided to turn it into a group mentoring because of the number of ladies that were approaching me for mentoring.

New generation Mentoring Program is a four months mentoring program that aims at developing outstanding female leaders. It is an experiential program that nurtures holistic development and equipping of women for kingdom service in the market place.

Noeline Kirabo

3. How many Cohorts has NGMP had so far ?

NK: Currently, we are running the third cohort and applications for the fourth cohort that will be starting is September are open.

Bonding moments with cohort 3

4.How does one apply to be part of the program? Any qualifications needed?

NK: We are looking to work with:

 Women who actively seek ways to maximize their own potential

 Individuals who enjoy problem solving and creative thinking

 Women who thrive when working with other people

Ultimately, we are looking for 20 women per cycle who want to use their talents to make positive change in their lives and the world.

If you are thinking “wow, this sounds like me!” we would like to offer you an opportunity to apply for the next class of women influencers.

Weekly sessions will be held every Tuesday evening at Kyusa community library in Kalerwe.

Program requirements:

 20 – 35 year females

 Commitment for the entire four months

 Commitment to team work

 Positive attitude towards learning

 150,000/= program fee

You can apply through this link: https://goo.gl/forms/p9X65h1AgsD9H41x2

5.Benefits? what is it set to achieve?

NK: Selected Mentees will be receiving:

 Individual mentoring and coaching

 Field study exposures

 Leadership opportunities in different projects

 Opportunity to take part in community service projects

By the end of the program participants have developed life plans, mapped out career and personal development goals, acquired leadership skills, public speaking skills, ability to effectively work in teams, financial management skills and have a supportive network to enable them continue growing into their full potential.

6.Achievements so far?

NK : NGMP alumni are influencing in different industries which include the legal fraternity, business, fashion, education, social entrepreneurship, telecommunication, IT, agriculture, writing and Beauty industry among others. This provides a wealth of networks and resources that alumni can continuously draw from as they advance in their career and personal development goals.

At the moment 30 ladies have gone through the program and are accomplishing great things both in their personal and career lives.

7.Future of NGMP

NK :At the moment we are focusing on smaller groups for the cohorts with the intention of consolidating the learning experience.

Alumni are expected to also run their own mentoring clusters thus producing a ripple effect of the program impact.

Recently we inaugurated the first Executive Committee that is spearheaded by program alumni with the intention of having alumni take a lead on the growing alumni network so as to strengthen networking, collaboration as well as community impact.

Future plans (starting 2018) include:

• Hosting an annual women in the market place conference
• Monthly seminars for women in the market place
• Quarterly community outreach activities
• Annual Rising Woman award

The rest will be unveiled with time.

8.As our chat ends, how do people connect with NGMP on Social media ?

NK :You can follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/New-Generation-Mentoring-Program/

We share learning experiences from the program participants as well as inspirational articles written by the mentees.

We shall soon be sharing different offers and opportunities.

Book review#7

Book title: Culture of Honor
Subtitle: Sustaining A Supernatural Environment
Author: Danny Silk
Pages: 568

The book provides and calls for a culture of Honor in the church, a culture that solves the shame, fear and punishment culture in our churches today.

The book opens with a thrilling but scary line up of two students caught in “sin’’ like the woman caught in adultery with her accusers expecting Jesus to condemn and punish her. The students had sex over summer break and they expected the pastor to throw them and shame them upon finding out they were about to be parents, but what he did shocked them. He treated them with Honor and deployed kingdom confrontation.

“Honor is not an idea, but a practise, a practise of giving.’’ And “Honor is given on the basis of who people are-not what they have earned or, even what they need.’’ It’s centred on dealing with people the way Christ sees them, in their true identity. This empowers people, creates and protects relationships.

Kingdom confrontation is a process that respects the need for trust and Honor .It yields an entirely different outcome because it allows people to be free from control, punishment and fear.

Control, punishment and fear have been cultivated in church that people always expect them and even plan how to defend themselves when they think they have sinned big time. The author quotes, `many of us think that sin, mistakes, and falling short are more powerful than God`s heart for us.’’

The author uses examples from his blossomed years of experience in running a church revealing the practicality and authenticity of living out the culture of Honor.

This book shakes core foundational beliefs that have been the norm in the church opening up a kingdom honoring way of dealing with each other in love.

This book is a must read.

Racheal Kizza © 2017

Careless in the Love of God

Sunday is my day out .I am picked and dropped from Worship Harvest, Kibuye location by a very good man also a member of the church(hold up!!!!, he isn`t my hubby, hehehe. He has a beautiful wife-Gladys and they have two adorable children).

The good man is Ivan; he has a daughter-Erica. She is a bundle of joy and has so much energy, she is a rock star with a fierce personality. Erica knows who her daddy is and she carelessly lives it out.

Erica will reach out to her dad amidst clusters of people with the “he is my dad attitude.’’ She doesn`t fear when her father is around; her actions portray her confidence in her father. She is so careless in his love.

Watching them, I am reminded of God`s love. Ivan symbolizes God, who loves us and desires we bask in His love. A love so pure it oozes liberation, inclusion and acceptance. It makes no demands but only seeks to love some more each day.

We are in a covenant relationship with Him. This ultimately means, we are in a heaven bound relationship that can NEVER be broken. So quit worrying about those monies, tuition, that health situation, job placement, marriage, family dispute, and promotion. Hand it over to Him and remember Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?’’

Bask in His love. Love limitlessly and allow to be loved, worship recklessly, lift up those hands with abandonment, dance like there is no tomorrow. Quit harbouring fear.

Be careless in the love of God.

Racheal Kizza © 2017

Book review 4

Photo courtesy: thehelpmates.com

Book title: Passion and Purity

Subtitle: Learning to bring your love life under Christ`s control

Author: Elizabeth Elliot

Page count: 192
Elizabeth Elliot is a popular seminar speaker, radio teacher, and missionary and best-selling author.

Passion and Purity emphasizes the need to commit daily to Christ all matters of the heart and to wait upon Him.

Elizabeth through letters, diary entries and recollections shares her intimate thoughts and journey with Jim Elliot revealing her struggles with loneliness, longing, impatience, fear and hope. Her fusion of the bible and personal reflections cements her beliefs and gives the book a Christian back bone.

Passion and purity dominate the book as the core themes with Elizabeth describing passion as normal. Elizabeth candidly says that, “If your passions are aroused, say so-to yourself and to God, not to the object of your passion.’’ The passion is material for sacrifice and ought to be offered to God who perfectly understands.

She gives an odyssey of passion and purity; it takes on the form of sacrifice, submission, esteeming God higher than any passion two people feel, waiting, praying in the word and being honest with self and God. She reveals the hardships that come with keeping God as the focus at all times even when passion steps and the question of purity looms in stronger than ever.

She emphasizes that ‘waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one`s thoughts.’ Waiting on God requires certain levels of submission because in our weakness, His strength is made perfect.

The book is complete with practical illustrations from Elizabeth`s life, letters from readers on the matter at hand, giving it more flair and making it relevant to Christians today relating, dating ,courting ,single and married.

Racheal Kizza © 2017

Journey to read

Photo courtesy of #Uganda Reading.

As I sat in the waiting room at Kampala orthopaedic and Trauma centre, flipping through the New Vision while stealing glances at the TV which had talk about the death of AIGP -Felix Kaweesi(RIP).I landed on an article by Paul Busharizi titled ,”Time to walk with a book.”in the paper. (New Vision,17th March, Pg 15)

Waiting rooms and appointments have one thing in common-TIME.Lots of time;30 minutes seem like an hour😂
I was in for physiotherapy and had to wait for two people before I was attended too.Back to why I am writing this article.

Paul Busharizi talked about the just concluded “Drop Everything And Read”(DEAR) day on the 3rd Wednesday of March.
The DEAR day was launched in Uganda in 2013 as a collaboration between the Education ministry and the US Peace Corps as a way to promote the reading culture and a love for learning.

Paul obviously schooled me,I saw the #DEAR trending on Wednesday but I had no idea what it meant until today. (Yaaay , the power of reading)
There is a whole world out there in information and only the ardent reader who is ready to spare 5 mins,20 mins or 1 hour and more will reap the harvest.

I have personally never struggled to read except for books which have a slow start.

According to Paul Busharizi,”The Jews known for their financial savvy,it is said their houses are not complete without a library, oftentimes built over generations.”

My mother’s house has no library just like many other homes in Uganda and possibly Africa at large.Most of my relatives still wonder why I constantly have my nose in a book(Why wouldn`t I??????)

The reading culture was left to the schools our parents took us too however the reading we learnt was to “pass exams.” We were not reading because we enjoyed or liked it for that matter.What happened to train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old ,he will not depart from the way?

We can’t hide in social media 24/7,stick to TV ,movies and other entertainment avenues.We need more because there is more.We have the resources, let us foster a growing culture.Fostering is all about baby steps.Find a book you like and start with a page a day and let the habit grow on you.

Check out #UgandaReading a social movement building a strong reading culture in Uganda .(website:www.ugandareading.org, Twitter:@UgandaReading)

Like Paul Busharizi’s title,it’s time to walk with a book.don’t just walk with it,read it too.

Journey to read today.

Racheal Kizza © 2017