This was a journal entry (First year of doctoral studies)2020. These few days, my identity has significantly been put to the test. So these days, as I interact with professors, I notice my academic inadequacies not directly but by how I finally have no contribution to make. I mean, I feel I have no voice. I interact with top scholars (authors) and my own professors, and I feel like a grasshopper.    There are areas in my life; I have had outstanding contributions to make, and I discovered those make me feel "great." They bring a sense of intellectual strength that I take pride in. e.g., My previous job.   On the other hand, I am now noticing despair moments as I feel inferior for not knowing or even my lack of synthesizing ideas.  In both times (when feeling knowledgeable and inadequate), I am absorbed in chasing some value in me and defining my identity. A recent article by velvet ashes got me reflecting on how often I lose sight of Christ and get absorbed...

BECAUSE HE IS MY SHEPHERD I LACK NOTHING.   By Gillian                             Anyone ever wondered how devotions for a sheep would look like? David in Psalms 23 says that "The lord is my shephered". The ame Lord David referred to remains the great shephered as Jesus says in   John 10:11-18 . Last sunday the pastor preached on psalms 23   and I cant help reflect it so often.  This morning in my quiet time, I felt led to pray a prayer of a sheep. As I embarked on the prayer, I noticed that my prayers were different when I view myself as a sheep.  a) I viewed myself totally in fellowship with the shepherd. Because I belong to his flock, I know his voice, and He knows mine. I don't come as one seeking to be loved, but I belong am loved, and I can talk to my shepherd. He says I lack nothing. He is enough; He is sufficient. As I go about my day, He makes me lie down in green pastures. L...

07/25/2021 Randon Journal entry from books  I am reading.   THEME:  I don't 'do' to belong, but I belong, so I 'do.' My doing is not a means to belong but is a result of being or belonging.  Because of who we are and whose we belong to, we can "DO"(serve, work, etc.). We don't "DO" because we want to be loved and Belong. He calls us first to be with Him. Out of that relationship, He calls us to serve in diverse ways. God is at work redeeming our darkest shadows from a place of relationship. We belong to His flock. He loves us. While He redeems us (WIP), we are still enough, and we won't be loved more later. " #MakingPeacewiththeProximate ." There is hope. We cant fix the shadows by ourselves but have to trust God and the community around us. #churchfriendsgoals . Trust that we are not in control, but we can trust God and release us from our shadows. True face## We are not the end to this formation process, though, lest it beco...

  Journal Entry : 8th May 2021 Topic: Am Not an End to My Education.  What is happening ? I am sitting in front of Blanchard building 😒, the oldest  building at Wheaton College facing the Billy Graham Center, waiting to check in for my Graduation that was supposed to be in 2020.  I am graduating today with an MA. Intercultural studies.  Breathtaking; a green serene environment with beautiful flowers and birds singing as if indeed Christ is present here and listening in.  How do I feel ? That excitement that makes you drip tears as you think about how far the Lord has brought you. Tears of joy as I look back and see how much I have grown. I look at the indicators, and yes, I know I have been transformed.  My heart is so full and feeling so blessed, and I overflow in praises to the Lord Halleluya.   I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;     I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalms 9:1 Why Surely? Seven Year...

Does life really begin at 40?   If So, what does one do in  their first 39 years?  Are they just rehearsing?  What about the midlife crisis?  Does it exist, and if it does, is it only for women, just men, and at what exact age does it happen? Now that it is only a few days before I turn 40 years old, join me as I reflect more on it. Elliott Jacques, who introduced the term mid-life crisis, defines it as to " pause from actively pursuing one's goals and review their achievements, take stock of what they have and have not yet accomplished, at times taking drastic measures to fulfill their dreams." He further argues that critical phases characterize the change of point periods of rapid transitions in individuals' development. What is wrong with pausing, I wonder? My Crisis: behind the boat with storms.  At around 35years, a transition begins to happen to individuals termed as a midlife crisis. He admits that the time will vary, though, among individual...

                                              QUAD C’S Cross-Cultural Competence Courses With Gill Cultural Specifics, General and Contextual Understanding Decoded. Gillian Gathoni Mwaura (Edube) is a coach, an Intercultural Communication & program  Consultant with over 13 years of work experience in Non-profit organizations, government agencies, institutions, and churches.  Through her Intercultural competence expertise and experience, she facilitates inter and intrapersonal relationships, organization communication effectiveness, and contextual adjustment to diverse cultures.   She Prepares people to function well in the margins where culture collides. She has facilitated workshops and courses in Europe, the USA, and Africa.Strong multicultural consultant with a Masters in Intercultural Studies from Wheaton College Graduate School (USA) . “Y...