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2025- My “Wueh?!” Year: 12 Jewels from 12 Months – Part 4

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Doing this last installment has made me quite reflective. When you pause long enough to process 12 months and all the highs and lows, praise will rise from your lips. I can see God in the details – every step of the way. Well, lets land this.

10. Give Thyself Wholly

If you will do anything, then do it with your whole heart and mind. I agree, some of these will be what I call “Thankless Tasks”. Just give yourself wholly. When I reflected on this verse in 1 Tim 4:15, (here you will find it in many translations so dig in) I noticed a few things: The Word is commanding us to give total dedication to what He has placed in our hands – not the half baked, barely visible, hardly working attitude. No.. Full dedication – like what we say in Kiswahili – “Kujituma” – loosely translated “To Send Oneself”! There were assignments that just felt overwhelming and burdensome and because of that, I will be honest and tell you it took all of me to get it done. In hindsight, thankless as they were, I grew in the process.

And that the other thing about giving myself wholly – you grow – your progress will be evident. We all joke about how gyms are full in January… everyone is on the floor! But it is the consistent ones who see progress after 4 weeks, 6 weeks etc. We all start off with a reading list – 10 books this year. Wuehhh.. by March, book 1 is still unopened! By the way, 2025 did a number on me guys. I did not finish a single book. Yoh!? But as you give yourself wholly, the compound effect gives you a reward.

Therefore, whichever the case – give yourself 150%. I love the song Jesu by Eunice Njeri, especially where she urges us to dance “Kabisaaa!”. So, Jitume Kabisaa….. At a personal level, I know that if I had applied the same attitude to all I needed to do, I would be very far. So – this gem is being carried over intentionally into 2026 – I will give myself wholly. In all fronts of my life – physical, spiritual, financial, intellectual and social. Some thoughts:

a. Make the list of areas you flopped in – once you know the gaps, you are half way there.

b. Determine what needs to change to ensure a better outcome – also, you will need to get over that “meh..” feeling very fast to move into action. Otherwise, you will just nurse emotions that will not push you in the right direction.

c. Do it – not just plan it, dream it and write it – No…. Do the Do. Otherwise we shall be here in December 2026 nursing regret.

11. Don’t Forget to Remember

The Bee Gees sang that song – yes I know them. I don’t live on the 4th Rock from the Sun please.

But on a serious note, there were moments in 2025 when I willed myself to remember. Ahh – don’t get the wrong idea please. You remember how in the last part I mentioned the high highs that can get you off track, and that you need to remain focused? Yes. In the highs and lows, it is very easy to forget who you are, what you are about, and whose you are. In those moments – don’t forget to remember that:

a. You are a Child of God – and that comes with its privileges and expectations. He will keep you as the apple of His eye, but He will also demand that you do all for His glory.

b. You are called for a purpose – that purpose will sometimes take you through the leeward side of mountain before you face the windward side. He never promised days without rain, He simply promised to walk with you through all the seasons. So trust Him – not the process, yes?

c. You are loved – I remember many years ago, I was facing the monstrous battle called low self esteem. Teenage was cruel to me guys. Wuehh…Anyway, one fine day we were in Nakuru with my parents as my Dad was preaching to Businessmen – He was in the Businessmen’s Fellowship those days. So after the seminars, we went to visit a family and I was somewhere in the house listening to music with the daughter of that home. That previous term had really done me in and I was lost. The song I Have Loved You by Kent Henry was playing on the cassette (Gen Z please google this). And in that moment, I can tell you it was the Lord speaking directly to my heart reassuring me that He loves me with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:1) Nothing I do can increase it, diminish it, eliminate it, or change it. I am loved! Child of God, you are loved! He loves you with an everlasting love. Hold onto that truth.

12. Anchored and Secured

There are two images I need you to hold in your mind – A ship docked at port, tossed around by the mother of all storms; and a tree growing on the side of a cliff defying all the forces of nature and year on year, blooming at the right time. If asked, both will tell you “I am holding on to something deep below – anchored, secured”. My friend, your survival when the waters are stirred up, and when all logic fails is dependent on your anchor and root system.

A downside of the construction boom in many urban centers is the interference with the natural root system of trees. Recently, a huge tree fell in the Nairobi CBD because of this. Was it necessary to put up the buildings – yes. But it came at a cost. One we probably counted and chose to live with. Now, here you are running helter skelter

Of late, we all seem to be running helter skelter to look the part, sound the part and have the highlights. But can I ask you – what’s the status of your root system? Where is your ship anchored? In the Giver, or the gifts? As you are busy chasing and ticking off the list of achievements, please ensure you are well anchored. Because I promise you, the storm will come, and your ground will shift. What will keep you sane is your anchor and root system. So… in conclusion:

a. Get your major premise and minor premise correct so that your conclusion makes sense. Just look that up – its the process of logic. But to make it make sense, you cannot arrive at the right conclusion if your main arguments are off. By now you know – I will send you back to the Word for this. Not self help books, or seminars – no. The Word. Get your logic tested by the Word.

b. Check your soil – My Mom is a small scale farmer and one things she knows is soil. My dear, matoke in Kisii can never taste like matoke in —- (fill in the blanks). The soil not only determines the quality of fruit but also how deep the roots will go. So if your fruits is abit off – repot immediately. Also, your soil will determine your depth and how intertwined you will be with the next tree. Can you sit and look at this intentionally?

c. And finally, a plot twist – if that port you are anchored at is always under a hurricane watch, please set sail and go look for a more peaceful place to dock. Some relationships need to evolve, neighborhoods left, locations changed – just do what it takes to preserve the ship so that you can still reach your destination.

That’s it – my 12 Gems.

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I hope you have found a gem or two to reflect on? Yes? Today we have the first Sunday Service of the Year. May the heavens be opened over you.

2025- My “Wueh?!” Year: 12 Jewels from 12 Months – Part 2

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Did you deck the halls? Ring the bells? Celebrate Christ? I did – I almost forgot we needed to share the rest of the Jewels! Well, here goes: :

4. Be A Perpetual Student

Nothing is more painful than a wasted opportunity or experience. Every situation we face has a lesson hidden in it – no matter how good or bad. And then, i think that at the end of every day, two fundamental lists must be updated: the “How to…” and the “How not to…” list- each within its applicable context. Having the posture and receptivity of a student is a sign of great humility and is the shortest route to being lifted. On the flip side, walking into any situation with a “know it all” mindset is the fastest way to fail. Why? Because you miss the opportunity to learn from those around you. Everyone can learn something from someone – be open to it and learn.

So, here’s what i suggest you do:

a. Identify the subject matter expert and make them your teacher. Woii!! Imagine you are not the sole depository of knowledge. Someone is better than you at something – learn from them.

b. Ask questions – even the silly ones! Ah!? What is this pride? Please drop it – and ask that question. You will be surprised at how many people around that same table didn’t know but had no courage to ask. So ask – both you and them will be the wiser for it.

c. Share your knowledge and experience. My friend – let me first of all tell you that no one can take away your experience. NO ONE! So the least you can do is share it, and in the process, you also benefit from another person’s experience.

d. Those lists – the “How to..” list and the “How not to…” list are live documents. Update them as often as you need to and most of all – apply the learnings! Otherwise, you have just wasted an experience.

5. Know your irreducible minimums

In other words – what’s your basement? Do you know there are people out here who will take anything and follow anyone/anything? What will you never compromise? Have you defined it, ama I leave you alone? Let me tell you something my friend – you must know your irreducible minimum. Otherwise, you will be sold for cheap change.

Let me add another perspective – what are your values? And please note that values are not set in the midst of a crisis – no. You define them before hand! You cannot say that you are a person of integrity because a situation helped you see that – Hapana. First determine to walk in integrity within your house, then live them out when confronted by life. And trust me, if you do not do the inner work first, you will fall flat! And one more thing, your values need to be anchored in the word of God. Yes – the word of God.

So, as you review those your values:

a. Remember you are a child of God. And if you don’t already have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, here is a good place to start.

b. Make the word of God your lamb and light and then, follow after it. It will shape you and define your irreducible minimum. Stop looking for someone or something else to define them.

c. Your walk is yours – not ours. That means you must invest in building your inner man so that in the day of trouble your strength does not fail. You must put in the work of personal devotion, prayer, meditation on the word and responding to the voice of God – this cannot be done on a Sunday morning – no. Monday to Saturday – -alone – just you and the Lord.

d. Be led of the Holy Spirit – ahhh do you even need me to expound on this? Make the Holy Spirit your friend. He is the might counsellor, the best teacher and the one who knows the mind of Christ to reveal it to you. And when He corrects you, He does it as you do no. c above – in the secret place.

6. Three Important Companions

Yoh! Where do i start?

A few years ago, a suffered a crisis – I had been waiting on God for something and done all that I knew to do but yet – the answer was not coming. I was crawling through doubt and actually got offended at God. Yes – I questioned him on so many levels. But thank God He is God all by himself. That experience taught me that faith is not equal to feelings! Faith is simply faith! When we come to him, we must believe that He IS… and that He is ready and willing to help me… a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. We must first establish this as the truth within us – that God is – He is! Not will be, IS! And that when I come to Him – he is not only ready but also willing to help me. That raises faith in us – not in the prayer – but in GOD. It is about having faith in God not in the action. He IS!

The Bible also calls us Prisoners of Hope. I say many times that Hope is not a strategy – it is what we stand behind after we have the strategy. Look around you and see how many times you almost gave up and the only thing that kept you holding on was hope. We must remember that hope does not disappoint – it just holds us captive when all else fails. By the way, when you are a prisoner, you are subject to the rules and regulations of that prison – when to move, sleep, eat etc. Likewise, when you become a prisoner of hope, you are hemmed in from everything external and live according to the dictates of the prison warden called Hope. So, your language, actions, thoughts – are governed by Hope! Imagine you will not know the events that are happening outside the prison walls – remember you have no such privileges. Being a prisoner of hope keeps you away from the events outside there – I think it’s a good place to be, yes?

Love – ahh. We love being in love, being loved, receiving love and giving love. But do you know that love also means wanting the best for the other person regardless of who or what they are? Imagine loving your enemies? And wanting only good for others? Love is what moves our hearts to overlook offence and believe the best about others. It keeps you focused on good and never seeing evil – because you see through the eyes and heart of God – who has loved you completely and in spite of yourself.

This year has stretched my faith, threatened my hope and tested my love. But God kept me. What can I share? These:

a. Remember the word He spoke to you in private and hold onto it. It will get hard before it gets better – but keep your eyes on that word. That way, your faith is anchored not on events but His promises.

b. God knows you will be tested – that is why he gave you that word, please and thank you! So, get behind the prison of hope and stand there. Refuse to hear the chaos outside that prison wall. Refuse to respond and refuse to react- keep the bars of hope tightly around you.

c. Hehehehe – love them. Love them even when the urge to slap them is stronger than the desire to embrace them. Yoh! Just walk in the love of Christ.

Let’s take a break and return with the next one – lakini si 2025 has been… Wueh?!

2025- My “Wueh?!” Year: 12 Jewels from 12 Months – Part 1

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1st December 2025.

Wasn’t it just the other day we were all wishing each other a Happy New Year? What happened to the last 48 weeks of this year? I am looking back and wondering where the time went? And if you are from Kenya, then join me in simply saying “Wueh?!” – for our international folks, that simply means… well, “What in the world?!” Anyway, we are here! Of importance is that we are alive and kept of the Lord. Of greater importance is that the Lord has seen us through some pretty tough times, and good times, all rolled into what made 2025 – yes, we still have 4 weeks to go and God will see us through.

So as i wind up my “Wueh?!” year and gear up for a “Wow!!” 2026, let me share with you my 12 Jewels from the last 12 months. By the time I post the 12th Jewel, we shall be singing Christmas Carols… I promise.

  1. Transitions are Rough – But God is in it.

In 2020, my family entered a season of transitions that did a number on us. Oh my – it was rough! As we navigated the process, I quickly realised that God, in his providence, had started to turn the wheels in our lives and we were at entering a season where transitions would hit us in quick succession. Looking back, i thank God for that preparation because…. let me tell you Maina…(Kenyans, you know that phrase very well)…. 2025 was a crucible! Everything i thought I knew, knew that I knew, assumed I knew, knew I did not know – was challenged in every imaginable way. I survived and dare say, thrived, because I had the lessons from 2020 to lean into. Friend – transitions are transitions, big or small! So, whether you moved house, changed jobs, got married, became a first-time parent, lost a loved one, relocated – transitions will inevitably transform and change who you are.

What kept me steady ? Glad you asked:

a. A deep conviction that God was in every single detail of every single second of this year – and still is. My friend, there is no other way to keep your marbles in a row – at least for me, I know no other way. Knowing that God is in the detail will give you peace that surpasses all understanding.

b. Keep the main thing, the main thing – if you get carried away by the side shows you will soon be drifting far off your destination, grasping at straws to get back on course. Determine what that main thing is and focus on it.

c. It will get worse before it gets better – getting used to a new city, a new home, a new social status can throw you off by several miles. Don’t be so stuck on demanding normalcy – just ride that wave and before long, the pace will stabilize. Just expect, anticipate and embrace the turbulence.

2. Loose Excess Baggage

Travelling is on my bucket list – I have not yet done it to the extent I dreamt. I am just getting started. Aside from the thrill and adventure that comes with it, is the adjustment to living out of a suitcase. You have to learn the art of efficient packing – number of shoes, accessories and carry ons will shrink or expand depending on where you are going, how you are getting there and what you intend to accomplish. So, your usual 3 suits will shrink to 1 with different tops, or a dress, a suit, 2 pairs of pants and 3 tops that can be create 16 outfits. It gets easier with time.

However, I recall how one time I had to shake the corners of my bags to pay for excess luggage coz, well, I could not leave anything behind. I can tell you, I made it my business never to experience that again.

It is the same with every other area of our lives.

a. Where do you want to go? You cannot operate as if your sole aim is to survive the year. No please. Life must be worth something – that clarity is critical.

b. How will you get there? What will it cost you? You can get to Mombasa either by road (walking, driving, cycling) or rail, or air. Each has a time factor and a cost factor- choose what you can afford to pay for and be on your way. Just move please.

c. What do you need to get there? What must you have on this journey and what must you loose? Excess baggage may be anger, hurt, disappointment. It can be people, relationships, friends; or habits, addictions, excuses, or even good reasons. As long as it is not serving where you are going, loose it. Drop it. Move on. Learn to keep what is absolutely necessary for your next self.

3. God is not from your village

Haiya!! Do you know that God hears all of us when we pray? So when you are busy asking God to deal with your enemies, or teach someone a lesson, or show you favor and not others, or.. that list is endless – what do you imagine he should do? Pick sides?

Jesus told his disciples here that narrow is the gate and difficult is the way. I mean, following Jesus means that you go against what is popular or heck, natural – for instance, loving your enemy, doing good to those who despitefully use you, walking in humility, walking in meekness, preferring others over yourself. That means that as I say my prayers, I cannot focus on what I want Him to do to satisfy myself or my ego – His will, His purpose and plan must remain the focus – That is what the narrow gate and difficult way is.

Let me just add that imagining that God will deal with your enemy just because you have asked him to reduces God to the level of an errand boy – Yes. Please believe me – I have been there in that whatsapp group because once in a while, I have gone to God and just poured it all out. It is in that state of complete truth that I allow the truth of God’s word to shine the way for me. We must never confuse ourselves to assume that God will do what we say – He will do according to the counsel of His will. So focus on seeking to know and do His will. And that will sometimes, nay – many times, mean that you lay down your soulish desire for revenge and anger and pray a blessing…

So, next time you want to “tell the Lord”…. Take a step back and advise yourself – God is not from your village.