We are ONE NATION under GOD!!!

  “… Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.” Psalms 68:31

On April 14, 2015, a heartbreaking news headlined Medias about the xenophobic violence which took place in South Africa leaving at least 5 people dead (among which one is from Ethiopia) and causing hundreds of immigrants to flee from their homes. Some South Africans have accused immigrants of taking jobs and opportunities away from them which led to the violent attacks directed at fellow African brothers and sisters. South Africa, the ‘Rainbow Nation’ which is home to about five million immigrants mostly Africans, is being erupted by some racist attackers.

Before we have recovered from the shocking news, another tragedy happened in Libya. On a grisly footage released by ISIS recently, 30 Ethiopian Christian brothers were brutally murdered in Libya.

Where is the world headed to? Brothers killing brothers, innocent souls being taken in the name of religion. As citizens of the Continent and the World, each and every one of us has a responsibility to unite to stop violence and terrorism!!!!

We are ONE NATION under GOD, all created in the image and likeness of HIM!!! It’s time to stretch out our hands and to pray together with one heart for our people, our Country, our Continent and the World as a whole! If we do that God will hear our cry and have mercy upon us!!!! As Second Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sins and heal their land.”

Amen!!!

May the souls of the victims rest in peace! Our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and relatives of the victims!

May Peace prevail on Earth!!!

Lidia Samuel

THE CHINESE BAMBOO TREE (中国竹子)

These past few days I had been seeking some inspiration so that I can come up with a good inspirational story or idea to share with my readers. I kept contemplating on various topics picking up one idea after another without success. But today as I was reading a book by my favorite author, I discovered a very interesting story which sparked my interest and ultimately gave birth to this article.

In the Far East, there is a tree called the Chinese Bamboo Tree. This tree has unique characteristics that make it different from other trees. When this bamboo tree is planted, watered and nurtured for a whole year nothing breaks through the ground. 

The second year you water it, fertilize and nurture it and nothing happens.

The third year comes you water, fertilize and nurture it, still nothing! The process goes on and on during the fourth year. Imagine how tiresome it becomes after a while.

However, sometime during the fifth year, something marvelous happens! The Chinese bamboo tree sprouts and starts to grow, suddenly shooting up to a height of 90 feet. All those years when the farmer saw no growth above the ground, the bamboo tree was spreading its root system, miles of root, getting ready!

Are you in a situation where you do everything you are supposed to precisely, you toil day and night but seemingly to no avail? You can work for weeks, months, and years on end but your dream is showing no visible sign of progress? Don’t become discouraged, your day is coming! All you need is a pinch of faith and persistence.

During all those years of toil with nothing visible happening, what kept the Chinese bamboo tree growers going was faith. Begin today to sow your seeds of dreams and nurture them doing all that is expected of you persistently and tirelessly. Just have faith that you are laying the ground works from which your future success will sprout and never ever give up because you don’t know when your ‘bamboo tree’ will show up!

Happy Friday!!!

Lidia Samuel