WEBVTT 00:00:21.609 --> 00:00:25.190 Welcome to Pomoja Podcast, a ministry of Life 00:00:25.190 --> 00:00:28.059 of Christ International. Pamoja means together, 00:00:28.339 --> 00:00:30.539 and that's exactly what this space is about. 00:00:30.679 --> 00:00:33.359 Walking together in faith, growing together through 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:35.880 the word, and living the life of Christ in our 00:00:35.880 --> 00:00:39.399 homes, our marriages, and our daily lives. I'm 00:00:39.399 --> 00:00:42.880 your host, Barry Mwamba, and in this season premiere, 00:00:43.299 --> 00:00:45.939 we begin our journey with a theme close to my 00:00:45.939 --> 00:00:49.020 heart, marriage. I believe marriage is one of 00:00:49.020 --> 00:00:52.000 life's greatest challenges, and one of the covenants 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:55.630 the enemy fears the most. Today we begin with 00:00:55.630 --> 00:00:58.509 part one, the house in the middle of the forest. 00:00:58.729 --> 00:01:01.850 This is how our marriage began. At least from 00:01:01.850 --> 00:01:04.650 my side. My wife will share her story in one 00:01:04.650 --> 00:01:07.530 of the coming episodes. After falling deeply 00:01:07.530 --> 00:01:10.030 in love with this intelligent, beautiful Christian 00:01:10.030 --> 00:01:13.310 woman from my church, who is now my wife, I went 00:01:13.310 --> 00:01:16.189 to seek my father's counsel. Rather than asking 00:01:16.189 --> 00:01:19.310 about her, he looked at me, smiled, and began 00:01:19.310 --> 00:01:23.040 to share a story. A parable I later titled, the 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:26.519 house in the middle of the forest he said marriage 00:01:26.519 --> 00:01:29.879 is like a beautiful house discovered deep within 00:01:29.879 --> 00:01:33.400 a vast forest a man walking through the woods 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:37.079 stumbles upon this magnificent dwelling its beauty 00:01:37.079 --> 00:01:40.099 draws him in peeking through a window he sees 00:01:40.099 --> 00:01:43.159 a couple laughing and enjoying each other's company 00:01:43.159 --> 00:01:47.000 a scene so captivating that he feels an irresistible 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:51.439 urge to join them he enters with enthusiasm eager 00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:54.340 to know their secret how they managed to be so 00:01:54.340 --> 00:01:57.640 happy. But once inside, my father continued, 00:01:57.920 --> 00:02:01.799 he discovers three strange things. First, the 00:02:01.799 --> 00:02:04.579 door only opens from the outside, meaning he 00:02:04.579 --> 00:02:07.819 cannot leave on his own terms. Second, the windows 00:02:07.819 --> 00:02:11.780 are sealed, no escape, no fresh air. And third, 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:15.419 the house is warm, even stuffy. He stands there 00:02:15.419 --> 00:02:18.020 bewildered, wondering how this couple can be 00:02:18.020 --> 00:02:21.219 so joyful in such a confined and uncomfortable 00:02:21.219 --> 00:02:24.900 space. Even though my father explained the story's 00:02:24.900 --> 00:02:27.900 meaning that day, it took me over 20 years to 00:02:27.900 --> 00:02:31.620 truly understand it. Discovering God's purpose 00:02:31.620 --> 00:02:35.020 is a journey that unfolds over time, and the 00:02:35.020 --> 00:02:37.819 daily process of endurance is the most challenging 00:02:37.819 --> 00:02:41.159 part. It demands faith, patience, and the guidance 00:02:41.159 --> 00:02:44.319 of the Holy Spirit. because the outcome is determined 00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:47.120 by the strength of your foundation. As the psalmist 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:50.219 said, unless the Lord builds the house, the builders 00:02:50.219 --> 00:02:54.000 labor in vain. Without God's blessing and presence, 00:02:54.439 --> 00:02:58.000 all human effort is wasted. If He didn't initiate 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:00.879 the journey with you, it's bound to fail. When 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:04.780 your path turns rocky, when fear, pain, or uncertainty 00:03:04.780 --> 00:03:07.849 weigh you down. That's when God steps in to carry 00:03:07.849 --> 00:03:11.150 your burden. Jesus said, Come to me, all you 00:03:11.150 --> 00:03:13.530 who are weary and burdened, and I will give you 00:03:13.530 --> 00:03:16.710 rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. 00:03:16.849 --> 00:03:19.650 For I am gentle and humble in heart, and you 00:03:19.650 --> 00:03:23.150 will find rest for your souls. Even in your darkest 00:03:23.150 --> 00:03:27.370 valley, you are not alone. As Psalm 23 declares, 00:03:27.689 --> 00:03:30.030 Even though I walk through the valley of the 00:03:30.030 --> 00:03:33.669 shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For you 00:03:33.669 --> 00:03:37.530 are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort 00:03:37.530 --> 00:03:41.650 me. Keep this truth close. Our plans only succeed 00:03:41.650 --> 00:03:45.009 when God is the foundation. When He is, He will 00:03:45.009 --> 00:03:48.069 make sure you reach your destination. Proverbs 00:03:48.069 --> 00:03:50.969 reminds us, commit your works to the Lord and 00:03:50.969 --> 00:03:53.629 your plans will be established. And Philippians 00:03:53.629 --> 00:03:57.189 1 6 assures us, He who began a good work in you 00:03:57.189 --> 00:04:00.009 will carry it on to completion. If God began 00:04:00.009 --> 00:04:02.780 it, He will finish it. That's why I sought God 00:04:02.780 --> 00:04:06.860 first before I pursued marriage. I prayed, I 00:04:06.860 --> 00:04:10.520 fasted, and I waited until he opened my eyes. 00:04:10.819 --> 00:04:15.060 Just as Adam recognized Eve as bone of my bones 00:04:15.060 --> 00:04:18.540 and flesh of my flesh, when he opened his eyes, 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:22.660 I recognized my wife, not by sight, but by the 00:04:22.660 --> 00:04:26.100 Spirit. The Holy Spirit gently convinced my heart 00:04:26.100 --> 00:04:29.930 that she was the one. Isaiah says, Your ears 00:04:29.930 --> 00:04:33.269 will hear a word behind you saying, this is the 00:04:33.269 --> 00:04:36.610 way, walk in it. I believe God is a good father. 00:04:36.839 --> 00:04:39.720 He gives what is right because He knows us better 00:04:39.720 --> 00:04:43.439 than we know ourselves. Jesus said, If you, being 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:46.279 evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:49.000 how much more will your Father in heaven give 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:51.800 good things to those who ask Him? Not only did 00:04:51.800 --> 00:04:54.579 God place her love in my heart, He revealed that 00:04:54.579 --> 00:04:57.060 she was the best match for me with strengths 00:04:57.060 --> 00:04:59.899 I didn't even know I would need until the hard 00:04:59.899 --> 00:05:04.120 times came. My pastor Lawson Whitson often says, 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:07.160 We even need the Holy Spirit to go to Walmart. 00:05:07.379 --> 00:05:10.819 It sounds simple, but it's profound and true. 00:05:11.079 --> 00:05:14.680 The Holy Spirit is our daily companion. So when 00:05:14.680 --> 00:05:18.000 I say my wife and I are filled with the Holy 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:21.379 Spirit, it isn't a slogan. It's a declaration 00:05:21.379 --> 00:05:25.060 of dependence, because I started with God, because 00:05:25.060 --> 00:05:27.720 I built on his foundation, because I followed 00:05:27.720 --> 00:05:30.569 his direction. When the storms came, when the 00:05:30.569 --> 00:05:33.389 winds blew, the floods rose, and the rains beat 00:05:33.389 --> 00:05:36.009 against our marriage, our house did not fall. 00:05:36.149 --> 00:05:39.269 It stood, because it was built on the rock. Looking 00:05:39.269 --> 00:05:42.550 back now, years later, I realize my father wasn't 00:05:42.550 --> 00:05:45.529 just describing marriage. He was describing faith 00:05:45.529 --> 00:05:48.870 itself. A marriage built by God, not by hands. 00:05:49.029 --> 00:05:52.449 And I can see it clearly now. It was God all 00:05:52.449 --> 00:06:00.019 along. I will not leave you as orphans. I will 00:06:00.019 --> 00:06:02.779 send you another comforter, the Holy Spirit. 00:06:03.060 --> 00:06:06.060 And you promised, in the last days I will pour 00:06:06.060 --> 00:06:09.439 out my spirit on all flesh. So pour out your 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:12.300 spirit on us, Lord. Fill us with your power. 00:06:12.579 --> 00:06:15.579 Teach us to be guided by the Holy Spirit in every 00:06:15.579 --> 00:06:18.439 decision we make, because one thing is certain, 00:06:18.720 --> 00:06:21.699 the blessing of the Lord enriches and adds no 00:06:21.699 --> 00:06:25.019 painful toil with it. Next time on Pomoja, we'll 00:06:25.019 --> 00:06:27.459 explore the deeper secrets of the house in the 00:06:27.459 --> 00:06:30.600 middle of the forest, where sealed windows, locked 00:06:30.600 --> 00:06:34.000 doors, and warm air reveal the true meaning of 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:36.509 covenant and commitment. Thank you for joining 00:06:36.509 --> 00:06:39.949 Pomoja Podcast, where we live the life of Christ 00:06:39.949 --> 00:06:43.870 together. Be sure to subscribe, share, and stay 00:06:43.870 --> 00:06:46.730 connected for more weekly encouragement and stories 00:06:46.730 --> 00:06:50.470 of faith, family, and purpose. Until next time, 00:06:50.949 --> 00:06:52.930 walk in grace and live in purpose.