MATCHING WITH GOD’S WILL.
(Photo: Praising the Lord with dances: Girls from the EPISCOPAL FREE CHURCH of Gitega, BURUNDI)

Gospel Reading: Matthew 8:1-3

‘And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him saying,
“Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then
Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying:
“I am willing; be cleansed.”
Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.’

Matching our prayer with God’s will has never been an easy matter to men. Another hero of the faith, Moses, well-known as being the special God-elect Liberator of Israel, was surprised when a certain day the Lord refused granting his prayer:
“I pray, let me cross and see the good land beyond the Jordan,
Those pleasant mountains and Lebanon.”… But the Lord said to me:
“ENOUGH OF THAT! SPEAK NO MORE TO ME OF THIS MATTER.”
(Deuteronomy 3:25.26)

Leaning on God’s will is a proof of humility, submission, obedience, full dependence and patience. Before he came to Jesus, this leper had certainly listened (even from afar) to all the teachings of Jesus as recorded from chapter 5 up to 8 in this book. Unfortunately, Matthew notices something strange:

“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the
People were ASTONISHED at His teaching.” (Matthew 7:28).

ASTONISHED! Yes, of course, because nobody from the multitude had the vision To WORSHIP Christ. They simply were  “ASTONISHED“. How odd it was after having listened to a so deep sermon about the GREAT PRINCIPLES OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD! The leper as for him had received Jesus’ teachings in his heart and was inspired and moved by the Holy Spirit to WORSHIP HIM.

Lepers were an Israelite UNCLEAN classified people category UNWORTHY of any consideration, and a TRASH-SOCIETY of men deserving no respect nor human right except those of having a nationality and hanging begging on streets and breathe as anybody else and finally die and be buried some day. But it was only this poor leper from a desperate and solitary dark life who understood that Jesus deserved worship as the King of the New Covenant. Furthermore, that’s what the Father wanted the multitude (and the Disciples as well) to understand and believe. But none did. Hence, the leper’s belief having matched with God’s will deserved cleansing from his leprosy immediately because he had become A CHILD OF THE KINGDOM.

But see how even the great Moses simply wanted TO CROSS the Jordan and SEE the good land beyond and the pleasant mountains INSTEAD OF WORSHIPING THE LORD for the great things He did for them during the wandering in the desert and for the additional victories He was going to grant them against the giant Anakin and the other tribe populating the promised Land. Moses wanted to enter Canaan as a TOURIST and not as the well-known COURAGEOUS LIBERATOR and CONQUEROR he had been for 40 years in the wilderness. Crazy Moses! His calling and Ministry got to end immediately: “ENOUGH OF THAT!” (Deuteronomy 3:26).

Similarly, isn’t the Christian Church in the 21st century filled with such ‘Moses’ coming in just TO SEE and WATCH the good land and the pleasant mountains of wealth and pride that reign over beautiful cathedrals and marvelous choirs led by super-professional directors and organists and guitar players? This prevails while Jesus as for Him is at the right hand of the Father in heaven making intercession for us (Romans 8:34), praying that our generation may understand what the Holy Trinity wants for the Church in these times of unbelief, saying:

‘Oh. Father, soon You shall send me back to rapture the believers.
“SHALL I REALLY FIND FAITH ON EARTH?” (Luke 18:8).

That’s the subject that is currently discussed about in God’s Office in heaven. Therefore, a universal call has already been issued announcing the recruitment of those who wish to respond to Christ’s concern of finding FAITH ON THE EARTH when He comes:
– Am I, are you candidate to the worldwide Prayer battle front?
– Are my prayers, your prayers, our prayers really MATCHING WITH GOD’S WILL for His Church in this age?
– 2000 years have passed since the Church of Christ was born in Jerusalem. Are we all the CHRISTIANS still ONE IN THE FAITH IN ONE LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS-CHRIST (John 3:16)? Are we still ONE WITH THE FATHER AND THE SON (John 17:21)?

Dear true Intercessors of all nations, if this is not, then:
1. Come, and let us immediately PRAY and unite as ONE INTERNATIONAL INTERCESSORY CHRISTIAN ARMY.
2. Let us PRAY and start meeting in a NON-STOP FIRE PRAYER CONGRESS planed to be launched soon in Burundi, Africa.
3. Let us PRAY and set Teams called from all the nations and especially devoted to UNCEISING PRAYER to participate permanently in this program in order to have the FAITH SEED planted by the Lord Jesus-Christ form and grow again within His Holy Church. This is the Revival expected in this 21st century: PRAYER! PRAYER! PRAYER! What about Psalm 86:9: “All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You”?. Could it put a flame on this vision?

I am continually dreaming seeing every nation represented by 12 intercessors (like the 12 spies and the 12 Tribes of Israel and the 12 Disciples) all gathering (Acts 2:1) WITH ONE ACCORD (praying for spiritual Unity in the Faith of the Church), IN ONE PLACE (my country, Burundi, of course) during a month and then relieved by other teams for another month, and so, and so, a NON-STOP MINISTRY (for years, even for centuries) UNTIL THE LORD JESUS-CHRIST COMES ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN WITH POWER AND GLORY! (Matthew 24:30). PRAYER was the FIRST Christian Project at the birth of the Church, and so PRAYER will be the LAST Christian Project before the Rapture of the Church!

PRAYER must be the leading and prior worldwide Christian Church PROJECT, I mean the UNIQUE PROJECT on which all Denominations and Christian Organizations, Missions and Ministries, Christian Foundations as well as Christian Governments SHOULD FOCUS ON AS A RESPONSE TO GOD’S WILL and to the current world challenges. Christians, and you nations of the world, don’t you have eyes to see and realize that our planet is presently HIT and SUFFERING FROM THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE BRIDE (the Church) and THE BRIDEGROOM (Christ Jesus). An African wisdom says: “When two elephants are fighting, destructions fall on the grass on which they stand!”

Do not complain saying “We have no means for such a huge project”. No! What you claim to have IS NOT YOURS, IT BELONGS TO THE LORD OF LORDS, JESUS CHRIST. (Mathew 11:27). Let Him use it to fulfill His will for your welfare and your blessing. Haven’t you been praying saying: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on EARTH as it is in HEAVEN.” (Matthew 6:9-10). Now, the ANSWER is there!

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

FULL CHRISTIAN OBEDIENCE!
GOSPEL READING: Luke 7. 1 – 10

Is the Christian Church going through times when God continues speaking and saying “Christian, go, and we go; or come and we come?” Is each Christian Believer living such blessed times when Jesus says “Love your neighbour and we do so; give to the poor and to those in need, and we obey, visit the sick and the prisoners and we step in the ministry, fast and pray and we go on ?”. Frances Havergal’s well-known Poem has always awaken me to full obedience to God:

“Take my love, my God, I pour
At thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee !”

A young man named Humble served at the king’s court for several years. He was so humble and kind, obedient and faithful, that the king loved him so much. One day, the king invited him at lunch where the whole king’s family and many respected guests were assembled. At the end of the meal, the monarch stood up and said : “Dear honourable visitors, dear family members, this special day was organized to welcome my beloved servant “Humble” as one of my true family members from now. I wish to let you know that due to his humility and kindness and his full obedience and faithfulness, I have decided to take him as my own son and from now, he will be one of my princes. The king continued saying: “Furthermore, I wish Humble married with Princess “Blessed”, my elder daughter and I do invite all of you to the ceremony of their official wedding within three months.

Weeks passed but Princess “Blessed” didn’t feel loving Mr. Humble who continued to be a servant at the king’s court. She loved another respected Prince from the neighbour country. The fixed day came and everybody was at the king’s court where many honourable guests had been invited too. Best dancers and musicians from all the regions of the country were there under a shinning sunny day, all drinking and eating various kinds of food and rejoicing. Then the king stood up to speak and pronouncing a very long speech he introduced Mr. Humble as his son-in law and everybody shouted with joy clapping their hands. Then the king wanted the protocol to bring Princess “Blessed” so that she might be seen by all his guests. As they brought her in slowly, she jumped immediately and ran away out of the courtyard and disappeared in the mountains around. Nobody followed her.

Then Mr. Humble the servant stood up and said : “Your Majesty the king, many thanks for the great blessing you grant me with Princess “Blessed”. Consequently, please, allow me to follow her until I get her back as my beloved wife and live with here according to your word.”

And so Mr. Humble was allowed to go. He turned all around in the mountains and finally found Princess “Blessed” seated up on a branch in a very high tree. He decided to cut the tree but quickly realized that once the tree would fall down, his beloved Princess would also die. Thus he returned back to the king’s court but told nobody what was going on. He quickly took a dog and a goat with him along with vegetables and some fresh beef meat. He returned to the mountains and sat under the tree in which his beloved Princess was. He started giving the vegetables to the dog and the beef meat to the goat. Unfortunately, the dog couldn’t eat the vegetables nor the goat eat the meat. Mr. Humble beat them seriously.

From the branch where she was seated, Princess “Blessed” cried down to Mr. Humble and said: “Are you crazy, young man! Have you ever seen a dog eating vegetables and a goat eating beef?” But Mr. Humble continued serving the animals the same as he had done earlier. So, furious, Princess “Blessed” came down slowly from the tree in order to show Mr. Humble what he should do. And as she approached him, he jumped and took her in his hands and kissed her saying: “I was crazy because you had escaped and were so far from me. But now, that you come back and allow me to obey to the King’s word and have you as my beloved wife, I am no longer crazy, and so I can serve the dog with the meat and the goat with the vegetables.”

“…Blessed are those who hear…and take to heart what is written…because the time is near” (Revelation 1:3)

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

“Faithful in That Which is Least”
Luke 16. 1-13

An elderly disabled widow had a son and a daughter. When their father died, Alfred the boy was only fourteen years old and was attending primary school while his sister Katarina never went to school. Years passed and Alfred had serious difficulties to keep going to school but fortunately one of his uncles decided to help him. Katarina as for her was condemned to stay at home, illiterate for ever, helping mum with everything.

Alfred was studying civil engineering and when he graduated from university, he was hired at a renowned international road construction company in the Eastern Congo region with a very high salary. Alfred never forgot his mother and sister who lived in Bujumbura the Capital of Burundi. As he was paid with his salary at the end of every month, he crossed the border and came back home to Burundi to see his poor mother with many gifts bought for her and for Katarina. Furthermore, he left mum with enough money to help her survive for another month.

A day came and Alfred’s mother got sick. Katarina had no access to a telephone to call Alfred and even if she had had a possibility to do so, she didn’t know the number to dial to reach him over in the Congo. Consequently, she struggled alone to have her mother taken to hospital where she died two weeks later. The neighbors helped with the funerals costs. Katarina was now alone at home waiting for Alfred who arrived three days after the burial of his mother.

Katarina had a tremendous deeply moving secret in her heart. So when her brother arrived home, she took him in her late mother’s room and moved the pillow from her bed and removed a bag that was under it. She opened it and poured on the floor numerous five thousand-Burundi francs notes.
Alfred surprised asked his sister: “Where did you get all this money from?” Katarina in tears answered:
– Brother, It is not my money. It is a legacy from mum! When she knew she was to pass away, she told me that all the money you had given her during months was hidden under her pillow and that she had saved it for you and for me because she had no other legacy to leave with us.
–
Alfred fell in tears and together with his sister Katarina, they were moved by their mother’s faithfulness. Hence they also decided to use the money to help two other widows in their village and pay school fees for one orphan there too. Alfred promised that he would build a new house for Katarina and buy a big land for her and dairy cows to help her become a farmer.

Yes, dear brethren, some stories may teach us something extremely important just as Jesus also taught people from moving parables too. And I believe that one day in the future, someone will tell the story about you or your neighbor being “Faithful in That Which is Least” despite the recession and several big storms that would have tried to stop you to keep on loving and serving the poor and the needy. Amen!

PRAYER: Father, may you bless abundantly, spiritually and physically, those within your Holy Church willing to serve and assist the poor and the needy.

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

“The Precious Sheep”
Luke 15. 1-10

I remember teaching about this same story of the lost sheep at a child evangelism Vacation Bible School. To end the lesson, I fixed on the board a picture presenting the rejoicing shepherd carrying the found sheep laying on his shoulders, and said : « You see, dear children, this is how Jesus rejoices always while carrying everyone of you laying on his shoulders. »

All the children laughed happily but one of them asked me :
– Why do Dad and Mum beat us while Jesus, as for Him, is taking care of us in a so lovely way ?

My answer was : « You know, my little angels, when Dad or Mum beat you, it is because each one of you is The precious sheep Jesus is looking for and so, they are trying to push you on his way so that He can see you and take you and lay you on his shoulders, and kiss you eternally ». All the kids shouted with joy and danced while another one came to me and said :

– Teacher, tell me how I can also become the lost sheep because I want Jesus to come after me and find me and lay me on his shoulders forever ! »

I answered : « Oh, Darling, didn’t you know that you are already on Jesus’ shoulders ? That is the reason why you always hear the birds singing from early every morning and all day long, because they are so glad to see Jesus carrying you on his shoulders day and night ! »
– And why doesn’t He take with Him a bird which sings so wonderfully, the boy continued ?

And I replied : « No, my love, don’t you know that Jesus is the Only begotten Son of God the Creator of everything and of all the birds in this world? If He decides to take only one bird with Him, the millions other birds would weep and never sing again for you!»

Dear Brethren, why couldn’t we also feel like being « The Precious Sheep » that Jesus went after until He found it and laid it on His shoulders ? In our Burundian tradition, sheep were looked at as being sacred animals, the reason why people didn’t eat mutton but kept them to be offered to the ghosts and to Almighty God. Hence, when a woman was found sterile, a traditional rite was organized where the family offered a sheep in sacrifice and beseeched God to bless them with children. When people needed wealth or any other blessing in their life, there was also a special traditional rite called « Ukubandwa » that was conducted to implore « Kiranga », the Burundian ambassador of Almighty God, to provide the blessings after sacrifices with sheep were offered, too. But also sheep in the Burundian tradition are the symbol of highest humility and obedience and full submission.

But I know of another Sheep, the Holy Sheep, the One about whom Prophet Isaiah said :
« He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth ;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a SHEEP before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth. (Isaiah 53.7, KJV).

And I remember a certain humble man of God telling us that Heaven will be filled only with « Precious Sheep » who shall look like the Lamb of God as they will have accepted to keep silent in all the trials they encountered in this world just as Jesus did, and thus « become men and women of sorrows and familiar with suffering » as Jesus was, giving joyfully to those who ask from them, feeding the hungry and assisting the poor and the needy without hindrance.

Yes, « They are blessed as they are THE PEACEMAKERS ; for they shall be called the children of God »(Matt. 5.9)

PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for takimg care of all the PRECIOUS SHEEP that follow you in this world. I love You, Jesus!

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

BOWED! (KJV)
Luke 13. 10-17

In Makamba, the Southern Province of Burundi lived a fisherman who had done nothing else in his life except fishing in the waters of Lake Tanganyika. Mirango was his name and he was now seventy years old but was still strong enough to row his small boat over the Lake. He could even cut big trees and work for hours making firewood that he sold at the market. But at this age, his sons did no longer allow him to go fishing alone and every time he went on the Lake, he was always accompanied by one of them.

The hard work Mirango had done during all these years had made of him a completely bowed man and even his hands were misshapen and gnarled as if he was holding continually a row. He walked bowed like a gorilla and all the children in the village called him “Nkoto”, which is the Kirundi language word for gorilla.
This year was a particular one for him as his elder daughter, Doreka, graduated from University and was appointed as Director at a public service in the capital Bujumbura and became quickly rich. Every time she came home to visit her family, she was very sorry seeing her elderly father continuing to suffer as a fisherman and a lumberjack at a so advanced age.

And it came that Doreka told her father that she wanted him no longer work so hard and that she would pay him an important amount at the end of each month to help him survive. So she did. Mirango was very happy but quickly became a drunkard. He was every day drunk zigzaging in the streets and instead of having his health improved, he went weak day by day and became totally irresponsible. His neigbourgs became jealous of him since he had a lot of money and lived without spending any efforts. They ploted against him and finally killed him.

One day in man’s history, God found us completely distorted and different from the wonderful godly image we had been created with. We were lost and left lonely, bowed and mishappen in the desperate state we were engulfed in as sinners. So, Jesus Christ at the Cross launched a universal setting-free prayer saying : « Father, forgive them ; for they know not what they do. »(Luke 23.34, KJV). I am sure since it was said, this short prayer has been setting free billions human beings of all nations and all tribes and all tongues and all colours and that it continues spreading freedom and liberty around the world for ages to come. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.” (Mathew 24:35). O, thank you, Lord!

Similarly, Jesus’ statement, « Woman, thou art loose from thine infirmity »(Luke 13.12, KJV) is still healing spiritually and even physically thousands and millions women and men, youngmen and children in various nations and faiths (christian or not). From the power of this same word, men continue receiving visions and getting funds to erect hospitals and health centers all over the world and discover various medicines to treat deseases. Food is produced despite the desert expanding and all kinds of parasites attacks simply in order to respond to the need for healing millions from the hunger infirmity during this « Acceptable Age of the Lord» which Jesus launched in the first century in a synagogue at Nazareth as He read from the book of Prophet Isaiah :

« The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me
To preach the Gospel to the poor ;
He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted,
To preach deliverance to the captives,
And recovering of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty them that are bruised,
To preach the Acceptable Year of the Lord » (Luke 4.18-19)

Dear Christian Brethren from Western Churches, please, NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME to heal the Churches in poor nations from bowing and not being able to continue heralding the Good News. It’s YOUR HONORABLE ROLE and MANDATE.

PRAYER: Oh, Lord Jesus, help us deeply understand that You have given us our whole life as an ACCEPTABLE YEAR!

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

CRUMBS FOR BUILDING THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST
Gospel Reading: Luke 16:20-21

In heaven, Seraphim have their function that they accomplish correctly for the whole heavenly hosts. The same, Cherubim have also their roles that are correctly done for the whole heavenly creatures. What about the Christian Church on earth?

We are rich churches seated separately on their table in the western world and poor churches seated far away at the gate in Africa, rejected and suffering from their sores. I always picture myself with a photo of this story as I walk down to our little town of Gitega in Burundi every Friday. Friday is a great day for the poor there who rush down from their villages around to the busy center town streets where they usually hope to be welcome by a Hindi or Pakistani traders giving some money to help. They may even spend hours under the hot tropical sun waiting to be served late in the afternoon. That’s no problem for them.

From this story, I imagine Lazarus the beggar seated watching from the twenty or thirty meters far gate to see whether some crumbs are falling down from the rich man’s table. I imagine Lazarus praying silently and eagerly from a two-day hungry stomach imploring God to allow more and more crumbs to continue falling down from that table. I also imagine the rich man himself seeing the crumbs falling from his table without knowing whether the poor seated far at his gate is praying that it may happen so. And I also sometimes imagine Lazarus leaving this place silently, hungry and thirsty after hours spent there without having been served at least with a full spoon of crumbles. I mean crumbles, NOT good food; and then moving in tears towards a remote village or shanty town which he will hardly reach at midnight and sleep exhausted and drained after having said a short usual prayer: “I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God” (Psalm 17:6), just as the rich man also says it every evening! And so, the spiritually rich but materially poor Lazarus spends and ends his days and is finally carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom, Abraham the One who heard God’s voice telling him to leave his homeland and go, and DID SO.

Aren’t we rich nations and people and churches? Aren’t we rich pastors, rich Bishops, rich Evangelists, rich Christian singers and athletes, rich Christian businessmen, rich, rich, rich materially? WHERE ARE OUR CRUMBS FOR THE CHRISTIAN SUFFERING CHURCHES IN THE THIRD WORLD? See, there are no new missionary callings among the youth in your churches to go to our poor nations. Did the Lord Jesus command you to cease the ministry and flee the terrorist battle front in Africa? Your economies and financial situation are falling for your accounts are keeping CRUMBS that no longer belong to you BUT TO LAZARUS the African Christian beggar! If not, does this word no longer speak to your heart as Christ said it: “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the Name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” (Mathew 10:42).

Servants of God in poor Africa have presently, courageously and heroically relayed you the RICH on the missionary field, heralding the Good News through limping Gospel programs on radios and TVs or on the internet as I do, etc, that fail after three or six months due to lack of those CRUMBS you refuse them to receive daily from you! This happens while North America is filled with millions consumers who stop every day at a McDonald shopping and buy a package of chips and chicken that is then half-eaten and half-thrown away. Could you calculate how many “halfs” you throw away per week and value them in dollars to know how much you could save weekly to be sent to build a church or a school or a dispensary or support an orphan and a widow in Africa? HOW MUCH CRUMBS HAVE YOU FILLED YOUR TRASHES WITH instead of sending out equal value to support the servants of God in Africa.

In response, thousands true Christian intercessors from our continent are prepared to respond to your great love and obedience to Christ through a powerful intercessory program that would defeat terrorist plans upon your nations! Do you believe this can happen? If you are the cherubim, African Christians are the seraphim and each has a role for the whole Body of Christ. “For he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” (Luke 7:5).

African Christians need big churches to bring thousand souls to knowing Christ the Savior but our efforts are short and very limited. Our Christians Strengthening Christians Ministry is willing to train thousands young African disciples and intercessors and send them over the mountains and villages. Could we do this without your crumbs? CRUMBS are what you throw away and no longer need. LET YOUR CRUMBS BUILD THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN AFRICA!

“Blessed is the servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing” (Mathew 24:46). NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO DO SO. Amen!

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

“MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM,
AND THEY FOLLOW ME”
GOSPEL READING : John 10. 22 – 30

In some African forests, there is a kind of female leopard that is known to be able to scent and locate where its kids or male are even at a distance of a hundred kilometers. This leopard is very dangerous and hunters have to be cautious because killing its male or kids always leads the female to conduct a terrible revenge and attack in villages around and kill either people or domestic animals. This story happened in the high mountains in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which is the Burundi neighboring country in the West.

There was a group of three hunters who used to trap leopards and sell the skins to foreign traders. Sometimes they could catch leopard kids and sell them as well. One day, it happened so. They caught one and escaped hurriedly with it after they had also injured its mother in the face. They had to walk more than ninety kilometers in the forest to get to their customers. It was a two days walk through the mountains. Ivory as well as animal skins and minerals were regularly taken on board by unknown aircrafts which landed at night at such many illegal small airports that exist in the Congo forests. So the hunters sold their loot and as always had to wait and help their customers while carrying the animal down to the airport. The foreign traders had to fly the next night and the leopard kid was already caged.

At nightfall, while they were ready to leave for the airport, the leopard kid began to roar and to scratch the cage strongly. They could not understand why the animal was so disturbed. As soon as they had loaded the cage on a truck ready to leave, a big leopard jumped from the bush nearby and sat next to the cage where the kid was. From that time, things changed. The traders as well as the three Congolese hunters were already seated in the truck’s cab. None of them had a gun. They decided to stop for a while and think about what they could do. None could get out off the cab because the leopard was there ready for a revenge. The traders using their radio decided to appeal for help from their friends afar telling them to come with guns. In the meantime, one of the Congolese hunters looked through the glass behind him and realized that the Leopard which was seated next to the kid was freshly wounded in the face. And surprised, he said loudly:
– What ! Look, isn’t this the mother leopard we wounded in the forest three days ago when we caught this kid? How did it know where we took its kid?
Another hunter replied and said: “ This is the kind of leopard that my late uncle had told me about. He said that it was able to scent and locate where its kids or male or a prey are even up to a distance of a hundred kilometers”. The surprising thing that happened is that the Mother-Leopard in its rage managed to break the cage and released its kid and both they disappeared in the forest before the appealed helpers arrived.

Now, what about Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour ? Prophet Isaiah had a vision of Him PIERCED (Isaiah 53). And later at the end of the nineteenth century, American Church Minister, Rev. J. WILBUR CHAPMAN, about Him wrote this marvellous poem “ONE DAY” from which Charles Howard Marsh made one of the best Easter Church hymns that our choir in Gitega sings also :

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising He justified freely forever;
One day He’s coming Oh glorious day !

Yes, like the Leopard Kid, Christians have heard His VOICE while we were all still caged by Satan under the bondage of sin. But He knew us and came to set us free and allow us FOLLOW HIM in the Eternity of glory! Isn’t this a solid reason TO PRAY WITH ASSURANCE that He cares for us?
THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN FIRE-PRAYER CONGRESS AGAINST TERRORISM is coming soon:

Click here to read more and Give now to International Prayer Congress against Terrorism by CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS https://www.givesendgo.com/GCE3#.V3JddIvtuts.twitter

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

What Shall I do ? (KJV)
GOSPEL READING : Luke 12. 13-21

That’s the crucial question men always encounter in their life when important matters need to be sorted out. “What shall I do” is generally a good question when the answer is expected not from men but from God. People whose heart is turned to Jesus usually come to a helpful answer while the others always make bad choices.
From a Burundian tale we are told about Kanyange, a girl who was born from a very poor family in the high mountains of Burundi. Her father died earlier and she didn’t want to leave her mother alone but was finally pushed by the neighbours to marry a rich farmer. In the Burundian tradition, a girl being married has always been an honour to her personally and to her family indeed.
Three years passed and Kanyange had already got two beautiful children. Unfortunately, she hadn’t had yet an opportunity to go and visit her mother in the mountains and present her the children. She had insisted several times asking her husband to allow her to go only once but she was refused. But one day, Kanyange’s mother-in-law told his son off and pushed him to allow her to go and see her lonely elderly mother. The husband accepted and bought a lot of fresh cow’s meat that Kanyange would take for her mother.

The night before Kanyange left, her husband organized a big meal at home and invited the neighbours to come and share. After they had finished, the man stood up to speak and said: “Kanyange, I am so glad that you are going to see your elderly mother and present our two children to her. But be careful and be aware about the dangers which stand in your way. As you already know it, when you reach the first mountain over there, the way you’ll be walking on will come at crossroads and you’ll have a wide one on your left and a narrow way on your right. Be careful, I say it again, Be careful! Do not go with the wide way but keep walking in the narrow way on your right because people say that there is a leopard hanging around there which has already killed a lot of people.

Kanyange agreed and said that she would remember the warning and all the advices given to her. Early, the next morning, she put the fresh meat in a covered basket which she took on her head. She also took the youngest child on her back and the other walked beside her. As they came at the crossroads, Kanyange stopped and sat down wondering what to do. An elderly women carrying a jug of water came the same way and went straight the right narrow way. Another shepherd boy came that way with his two goats and went straight the right narrow way. Kanyange as for her was still asking herself: “What shall I do ? What shall I do ?” She finally decided to go the left wide way which was the nearest for her to reach her village.

Soon she met a leopard. The leopard said: “Woman, I am very hungry, I haven’t eaten anything since a whole week. Do you have something for me to eat?.” Kanyange trembling opened the basket and gave all the fresh meat to the leopard and continued on her way. Not very far from there, She met the same leopard. “Woman, I am still hungry. The meat you gave me was not sufficient. Give me one of your children quickly!”, the beast said. Kanyange gave her boy child who was walking beside her. The leopard ate him. Kanyange weeping continued her way. Not very far from there, She met the same leopard which said again: “Woman, even now I am still hungry. Give me the other child you carry on your back otherwise I’ll kill you!” She gave her other child and the leopard ate him.

Kanyange crying and weeping continued on her way. Not very far, the leopard came again and said: “Kanyange, you are an impossible woman. This time I’ll cut and eat your ears because you never accept advices from people.” The leopard ate kanyange’s ears and left her alone bleeding there in the bush. What shall I do ? Is this also your question today? Here are the answers:

“This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth,
But you shall meditate it day and night,
That you may observe to do according
To all that is written in it.
For then you will make your way prosperous,
And then you will have good success.”
(Joshua 1:8)

“He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly, to love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God”
(Micah 6:8)

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

“My Peace I give unto you”(KJV)
GOSPEL READING : John 14. 23-29

An eminent man of God said that if the Lord Jesus hadn’t pronounced these words, the world would have become something horrible we have never known or seen. Men can talk and dream about peace because the Prince of PEACE reigns forever (Isaiah 9:6-7) and He has given His everlasting PEACE to the world. Have we really received it?

Her name was Zuena. She was born from a breeder nomadic tribe in East Africa and had never known neither a stable nor a happy life in the bush where they lived. Once every year, their tribe was attacked by people coming from the North, probably the Arabs, who took many of their cattle and killed one or two among her relatives. One night, Zuena finally decided to escape and found refuge in the forest where she met a wise man and asked him an awkward question saying:
– Mzee, what does PEACE really mean? Where can one get it? Is it something precious like a cow? I have never experienced what PEACE is in my life. (Mzee is the Kiswahili word for “Elderly” and is usually used in East Africa to express great respect towards the elderly. Kenyatta Sr, was called Mzee Jomo Kenyatta).

So, the Mzee went on giving Zuena a threefold answer saying: “My daughter, PEACE first means to be satisfied with what you are and what you have and what you can do, and NOT with what you think you could become or could have or could dream to be. PEACE IS THE PRESENT. Secondly, PEACE means to never think you are better than the others. You are what you are and they are what they are. Third, PEACE means to make your neighbour happy and not only yourself “. Zuena took these wise advices back to her tribe in the bush. Beginning then, their chief and the elders decided to voluntarily offer 10 cows and 20 sheep every year to the enemy tribe. This pleased them so much and they never attacked Zuena’s tribe again.

Our heavenly Father is a giving God and He has also given His Holy Church the great blessing of accessing PEACE through GIVING, not giving as men do, but giving as Himself does. We always hear about DONORS, DONORS NGOs, DONORS people, etc. But are they really DONORS as God is doing? Are they donating where the real needy are? Is their giving a true LOVE GIVING? PEACE has really become the great dream of all the peoples of this world. Even before Christianity came to us in Africa, Burundians used to greet each other saying “Amahoro!” which means “Peace be with you”. All the East African peoples also used to say the same and are still greeting each other with “Salaam!” which comes from the Hebrew word “Shalom”, PEACE. They even called one of their great Ports Dar Es Salaam, the Port of Peace for sailors who had spent weeks and months crossing the Indian Ocean. PEACE IS SO PRECIOUS FOR AFRICA and EUROPE and AMERICA and for ASIA and AUSTRALIA as well.

But, what should one do when his neighbour refuses his offer for PEACE? Only one solution: KEEP ON SENDING HIM ARROWS OF PEACE through giving and forgiving, and talking positively about him, and in PRAYER! Jesus Christ will do the rest! He is the Prince of PEACE (Isaiah 9:6) and whatever prayers are made for PEACE (in the name of PEACE) He will answer.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH SHOULD REALLY BE A “DAR ES SALAAM” where people in this world would find REST and PEACE. I believe this was also the great wish of Saint Francis of Assisi when he prayed saying:
“Lord, make me a channel of thy peace;
that where there is hatred, I may bring love;
that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
that where there is error, I may bring truth;
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;
that where there is despair, I may bring hope;
that where there are shadows, I may bring light;
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted;
to understand, than to be understood;
to love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.
Amen.

Let us all today kneel and PRAY with Francis of Assisi saying these same words.

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

“LOVE YOUR ENEMIES !”
GOSPEL READING : John 13. 31-35

An African wisdom says : “Somebody who really loves you doesn’t look you straight in the face but his eyes will first look at your stomach”. This to mean that when one visits us we should first hurry to serve him some food and water before sitting and talk and talk. This is a little bit different with some western customs. One thing we know is that Jesus taught his Disciples to give and give and always give. But is that the only way to show our love towards the others ?

From Matthew 5:43-45, Jesus teaches the following : “ You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: LOVE YOUR ENEMIES AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”(NIV).

A certain soldier was made captive by the enemies his king’s army was fighting. For many years, these two kings had been attacking one the other frequently and once captives were caught on one or the other sides, they were simply killed within seven days if 10 hobbyhorses were not paid as a ransom. Unfortunately, the captive soldier was now aware that his king had decided not to do so any longer because all his best hobbyhorses had been almost already sent to his enemy. Hence, the captive soldier who was a Christian said to himself: “I know this king is not a Christian believer and so are all his people. Thus, before they kill me, I’ll do whatever I can to teach these people what true love is. Perhaps this will help them stop attacking my country in the future.”

The first day he woke up very early under the morning cold and sang christian songs and prayed loudly for this enemy unbeliever nation, saying : “Oh, Almighty God, I know you love this nation and her people and their so great and powerful king. Oh, God, may you bless them with enough rain so that they may make a big corn and wheat harvest they had never got in the past.” The prison guards heard him praying so during two days and they reported it to the higher Officer who sent the information to the king, saying:
– Your majesty, the king, live forever! The captive soldier we caught during our recent battle against our neighbour nation is praying eagerly early every morning, asking his Almighty God, as he says, to bless you and our people and also bless our country with enough rain so that we may make a great corn and wheat harvest we had never had in the past. And he keeps doing so all days long.

The king replied and said: “Let’s wait and see. We have not had any rains in this country since a whole year and people and herds are dying every day while all the rivers are running dry and our vegetation getting wither. If it happens that we get some rain before his execution day, I’ll know that this captive soldier is a true Christian and I’ll release him immediately.” The captive soldier continued praying the same way every day and night and on the fifth day, there was a big storm upon the whole country with rains and floods all over the plains. Bridges were broken and roads damaged and many houses destroyed. The king afraid, asked his officer guards to bring the captive soldier at his court and he told him the following: “Why is your Almighty God doing such terrible things while we only needed enough rain to allow our crops grow ?”

The captive soldier answered and said : “Your majesty the king, live forever ! My Almighty God is simply doing so because He wants to sweep away the curse that prevailed upon your nation and then pour His infinite blessings on you and your people. He is the One who commanded me “TO LOVE AND PRAY FOR MY ENEMIES” and I have obeyed His Word !” The captive soldier was released the same day and as he had wished it, no more war was recorded between the two rival nations.

Dear Christian Brethren, why aren’t showing our love towards our enemies through PRAYING FOR THEM ? If Jesus has commanded us “To love and PRAY for our enemies and those who persecute us”, it is simply because God has a special blessing to give them and hence bless His Holy Church in this world. Instead of wasting time with discussions and meetings about what should be done to stop terrorism invade our free nations, LET US SIMPLY SPEND OUR TIME KNEELING AND PRAYING just like the captive soldier:

“Oh, Almighty God, we know you love all who try to destroy our nations and cities. Oh God, may you bless them with RAINS OF PEACE and HOPE IN THEIR HEARTS so that they may harvest LOVE and GOODNESS to share with others. Amen!

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com