Welcome to Pomoja Podcast, a ministry of Life
of Christ International. Pomoja means together,
and that's exactly what this space is about.
Walking together in faith, growing together through
the Word, and living the life of Christ in our
homes, our marriages, and our daily lives. I'm
your host, Barry Mwamba, and in this season premiere,
we begin our journey with a theme close to my
heart, marriage. I believe marriage is one of
life's greatest challenges and one of the covenants
the enemy fears the most. Today we begin with
part one, the house in the middle of the forest.
This is how our marriage began, at least from
my side. My wife will share her story in one
of the coming episodes, after falling deeply
in love with this intelligent, beautiful Christian
woman from my church who is now my wife. I went
to seek my father's counsel. Rather than asking
about her, he looked at me, smiled, and began
to share a story. A parable I later titled, The
House in the Middle of the Forest. He said, Marriage
is like a beautiful house discovered deep within
a vast forest. A man walking through the woods
stumbles upon this magnificent dwelling. Its
beauty draws him in. Peeking through a window,
he sees a couple laughing and enjoying each other's
company, a scene so captivating that he feels
an irresistible urge to join them. He enters
with enthusiasm, eager to know their secret,
how they managed to be so happy. But once inside,
my father continued, he discovers three strange
things. First, The door only opens from the outside,
meaning he cannot leave on his own terms. Second,
the windows are sealed. No escape, no fresh air.
And third, the house is warm. Even stuffy, he
stands there bewildered, wondering how this couple
can be so joyful in such a confined and uncomfortable
space. Even though my father explained the story's
meaning that day, it took me over 20 years to
truly understand it. Discovering God's purpose
is a journey that unfolds over time. and the
daily process of endurance is the most challenging
part. It demands faith, patience, and the guidance
of the Holy Spirit, because the outcome is determined
by the strength of your foundation. As the psalmist
said, unless the Lord builds the house, the builders
labor in vain. Without God's blessing and presence,
all human effort is wasted. If He didn't initiate
the journey with you, it's bound to fail. When
your path turns rocky, when fear, pain, or or
uncertainty weigh you down. That's when God steps
in to carry your burden. Jesus said, come to
me all you who are weary and burdened and I will
give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn
from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and
you will find rest for your souls. Even in your
darkest valley, you are not alone. As Psalm 23
declares, even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.
for you are with me. Your rod and your staff,
they comfort me. Keep this truth close. Our plans
only succeed when God is the foundation. When
He is, He will make sure you reach your destination.
Proverbs reminds us, commit your works to the
Lord and your plans will be established. And
Philippians 1 6 assures us, He who began a good
work in you will carry it on to completion. If
God began it, He will finish it. That's why I
sought God first before I pursued marriage. I
prayed, I fasted, and I waited until He opened
my eyes, just as Adam recognized Eve as bone
of my bones and flesh of my flesh. When He opened
His eyes, I recognized my wife, not by sight,
but by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit gently convinced
my heart that She was the one. Isaiah says, Your
ears will hear a word behind you saying, this
is the way, walk in it. I believe God is a good
father. He gives what is right because He knows
us better than we know ourselves. Jesus said,
If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts
to your children, how much more will your Father
in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?
Not only did God place her love in my heart,
He revealed that she was the best match for me
with strengths I didn't even know I would need
until the hard times came. My pastor Lawson Whitson
often says, We even need the Holy Spirit to go
to Walmart. It sounds simple, but it's profound
and true. The Holy Spirit is our daily companion.
So when I say my wife and I are filled with the
Holy Spirit, it isn't a slogan. It's a declaration
of dependence, because I started with God, because
I built on his foundation, because I followed
his direction. When the storms came, when the
winds blew, the floods rose, and the rains beat
against our marriage, our house did not fall.
It stood, because it was built on the rock. Looking
back now, years later, I realize my father wasn't
just describing marriage. He was describing faith
itself. A marriage built by God, not by hands.
And I can see it clearly now. It was God all
along. I will not leave you as orphans. I will
send you another Comforter, the Holy Spirit.
And you promised, in the last days I will pour
out my Spirit on all flesh. So pour out your
spirit on us, Lord. Fill us with your power.
Teach us to be guided by the Holy Spirit in every
decision we make, because one thing is certain.
The blessing of the Lord enriches and adds no
painful toil with it. Next time on Pomoja, we'll
explore the deeper secrets of the house in the
middle of the forest, where sealed windows, locked
doors, and warm air reveal the true meaning of
covenant and commitment. Thank you for joining
Pomoja Podcast, where we live the life of Christ
together. Be sure to subscribe, share, and stay
connected for more weekly encouragement and stories
of faith, family, and purpose. Until next time,
walk in grace and live in purpose.