Belinda, CLM Kenya, shares with us her reflections after the spiritual exercises she has done in her preparation for the mission.
Empty yourself of all your responsibilities, thoughts and burdens that may cause disruption, create space in you for concentration in the things of God (reading of the word, prayer).
Listen attentively to the Holy Spirit (his guidance, teaching and direction)
Allow the Lord to be in control of everything, surrender yourself fully to Him.
Quite your spirit and your soul becoming aware that you are placing yourself in the presence of God in a special way.
Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you closer to the Father.
Be open to receive his graces, do not figure out things for yourself let the Holy Spirit pray through you.
Be patient, be still and know that he is God and He makes things beautiful at His own time.
Be obedient to his will so that he may bestow his graces upon you. As Christ was obedient to the will of our Father in heaven unto death and was glorified.
Let the Holy Spirit immerse you in the love of Christ and show you His mercies that know no bound, His forgiveness, His power and majesty and His kingdom that is forever and ever. Psalms 103
The Good Shepherd – John 10:1-42
The Lord desires to have an intimate relationship with all his children. He reminded me that He is the good shepherd those who belong to his flock know Him and can distinguish between His voice and the voice of the enemy (false teachings, doctrines and compromise).
Christ is the good shepherd, He Lays down His life for our salvation, He will not allow us to go astray, but brings those who are lost back to God our Father.
He knows our sinful nature and calls us to repentance in order to be renewed and returned back to His flock.
Heaven rejoices whenever we are reconciled to Christ through repentance. Luke 15:1-7
Christ The True Vine-John 15:1-17
As lay missionaries our source of life is Christ. He nourishes our spirits and we are able to bear good fruits amongst those He sends us to serve.
If we forget He who sent us, forsake him and drift away from Him, we have no life and we can never bear good fruits, no amount of effort or resources we give to others without Christ is empty.
John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches, whoever remains in me and i in him will bear much fruits because without me you can do nothing”.
Christ reminds us that those who love Him truly are obedient and keeps His commandments.
He loves us dearly, He instruct us to remain in His love.
Love one another for it is in love that we are able to serve others.
Christ is the one who chooses us, He sends us to spread his love to his people and in love whatever we ask in his name we shall be given
Serve One Another -John 13 :1-15
With humility Christ being the son of God washed his disciples’ feet, He taught us that nobody is greater or lesser than the other, we ought to serve one another.
Philippians 2:2-3
Do not do anything in pride or jealousy, be one in love, mind and heart with humility of Christ value others above yourself.
Christ has forgiven us we ought to do the same to others, put on love peace of Christ.
Always be thankful.
In God’s company there is no fear
As Comboni Lay Missionaries we are called to serve God’s people, He who called us is the one who sends us and is the one who goes before us and is the one who goes with us, when we fix our eyes on him, we don’t lose direction.
Colossians 3:11 Christ is all and in all
Through his persecution, death and resurrection.
In Him we have strength to face death, temptations, persecution and all the troubles that life in the mission may offer for he will always be with us.
Isaiah 43:1
Fear not for I have redeemed you I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the water, I will be with you.
In the rivers you shall not drawn.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned the flames shall not consume you.
TAKE LORD
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. All I have and call my own, You have given all to me. To, you, Lord, i return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me. Amen
Belinda Awino, CLM Kenya
