Welcome to your Home Blogger: January 2019

Thursday, 24 January 2019

GOD RENEWS PROMISES

God's renewal of promises is not a one-time historical event, but an ongoing divine action of transformation and restoration. It involves encountering God's presence, surrendering preconceived identities, and receiving a new mission. It is achieved through personal revelation, repentance, and obedient alignment with God's unfolding purpose for our lives.

Encountering divine revelation

Opening our spiritual eyes to see God’s presence and purpose, often in unexpected ways.
✔ Be open to God meeting you on your current path, even if you are moving in the wrong direction
✔ Understand that a true encounter with God can be disorienting and humbling
✔ Allow God’s light to reveal the truth about yourself and your actions
✔ Listen for God’s voice asking you the foundational question: “Why are you persecuting me?”
✔ Recognize that the Lord sees and knows you by name, even in your resistance

Submitting in surrender

Entering a season of brokenness and dependence as a preparation for new purpose.
✔ Accept the temporary “blindness” that follows a true encounter—the end of your own vision
✔ Embrace fasting and prayer as God’s method to humble and reorient your heart
✔ Wait patiently in a place of physical and spiritual need, relying completely on God’s provision
✔ Be led by the hand, trusting God to guide you when you cannot see the way forward
✔ Understand that surrender is not punishment but preparation for a greater calling

Receiving transformative instruction

Allowing God’s people to speak into your life and teach you the way forward.
✔ Be humble enough to receive ministry from those you once opposed or disregarded
✔ Welcome the “Ananias” God sends—the faithful believer who ministers grace and healing
✔ Be baptized into a new identity, washing away the old life and its persecuting spirit
✔ Be filled with the Holy Spirit, receiving power for the new mission ahead
✔ Accept that your transformation will be visible and shocking to those who knew your past

Stepping into new mission

Embracing a completely redirection of your life’s purpose, fueled by grace.
✔ Preach the Gospel you once tried to destroy, becoming a living testimony of God’s power
✔ Understand that your past becomes your credential for grace, not your shame
✔ Move forward with boldness, knowing you are a chosen instrument of God
✔ Let your testimony silence critics and confound those who doubt God’s power to change a life
✔ Live with the constant awareness that you are a product of mercy, commissioned for glory

Walking in grace and forgiveness

Reflecting the heart of Christ by forgiving others as you have been forgiven.
✔ Pray for those who oppose you, just as Stephen prayed for Saul and as Christ prayed on the cross
✔ Release bitterness and the desire for vengeance, knowing God is the righteous judge
✔ See persecutors not as enemies, but as future brothers and sisters in Christ
✔ Understand that forgiveness paves the way for their future transformation
✔ Bear witness with your life that no one is beyond the reach of God’s renewing promise

PROJECT SURVIVAL STRATEGIES

A successful project is not defined by a flawless plan, but by a resilient system that anticipates and navigates inevitable challenges. It involves clear communication, disciplined execution, and adaptive problem-solving. It is achieved by proactively identifying risks and building processes robust enough to withstand them.

Defining clear goals

Establishing a shared, specific, and measurable destination for every project.
✔ Write a one-sentence project mission that every team member can repeat
✔ Set 3-5 measurable key results that define success, not just activity
✔ Ensure every goal aligns with the larger organizational or strategic objective
✔ Review goals weekly to confirm the team’s work remains aligned
✔ Celebrate milestones that demonstrably advance a core goal

Planning with sufficient detail

Creating a roadmap granular enough to guide daily decisions and spot deviations early.
✔ Break the project into phases, then into individual tasks with clear owners and deadlines
✔ Identify dependencies between tasks and visualize them on a timeline
✔ Allocate specific resources (budget, tools, personnel) to each critical task
✔ Define clear "Definition of Done" criteria for each major deliverable
✔ Schedule regular "detail check-ins" to review progress at the task level

Containing scope creep

Protecting the project's core mission from uncontrolled expansion.
✔ Establish a formal change control process for any new requests after launch
✔ Require any scope change to identify what existing feature or timeline will be cut
✔ Regularly refer back to the original project goals and success criteria
✔ Empower the project lead to say "no" or "not now" to protect the timeline
✔ Log all requested changes, even rejected ones, to manage stakeholder expectations

Assembling the right team

Matching skills, working styles, and commitment to the project's unique demands.
✔ Select team members based on required competencies, not just availability
✔ Clarify roles, responsibilities, and decision-making authority from day one
✔ Assess team dynamics early and address collaboration issues promptly
✔ Provide necessary training or support to fill skill gaps before they cause delays
✔ Foster a culture where team members feel safe to flag problems and ask for help

Enforcing clear accountability

Ensuring every task and decision has a single, responsible owner.
✔ Use a RACI matrix (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) to clarify involvement
✔ Implement weekly check-ins where owners report on task status and blockers
✔ Make accountability public within the team to build peer support and transparency
✔ Address missed deadlines immediately to understand the cause and adjust
✔ Recognize and reward reliable ownership and follow-through

Standardizing core processes

Creating consistent, repeatable workflows to reduce errors and rework.
✔ Document the primary workflow for the project's most common tasks
✔ Use templates for recurring communications, reports, and deliverables
✔ Establish a single source of truth for project documents and data
✔ Conduct a "lessons learned" review after each phase to refine processes
✔ Train all team members on the standard procedures to ensure consistency

Prioritizing proactive communication

Creating multiple channels for transparent, timely information sharing.
✔ Hold a brief, daily stand-up meeting for quick progress updates and blocker identification
✔ Send a concise weekly status report to all stakeholders
✔ Establish clear protocols for escalating issues based on severity and impact
✔ Create a central communication hub (like a channel or dashboard) for project info
✔ Schedule regular stakeholder reviews to align expectations and gather feedback

Setting realistic deadlines

Basing timelines on data and capacity, not optimism or pressure.
✔ Build schedules bottom-up from task estimates, not top-down from a desired end date
✔ Include buffers for known risks, reviews, and inevitable unforeseen delays
✔ Break long deadlines into shorter sprints with their own deliverables
✔ Re-forecast timelines honestly at regular intervals as the project evolves
✔ Communicate deadline changes early, with clear reasons and a revised plan

Managing risk systematically

Proactively identifying and mitigating threats before they become crises.
✔ Hold a formal risk identification workshop at project kickoff and each major phase
✔ Maintain a living risk register that lists each risk, its probability, impact, and mitigation plan
✔ Assign a risk owner to monitor and manage each high-priority threat
✔ Review the risk register in every major project meeting
✔ Develop contingency plans for the top 3-5 most critical risks

Engaging stakeholders actively

Cultivating commitment and buy-in from everyone with a vested interest.
✔ Map all stakeholders at the start, noting their influence and interest level
✔ Develop a tailored communication plan for each key stakeholder group
✔ Involve stakeholders in milestone reviews and key decisions to build ownership
✔ Proactively manage expectations, especially when delivering difficult news
✔ Turn influential stakeholders into project advocates by ensuring their needs are heard and addressed

THE WORD MADE FLESH

The Word is not merely spoken language but the eternal, creative expression of God's being and will. It involves divine presence, revelation, and redemptive action entering human history. This is revealed through the incarnation, where God's character takes human form to bring light, truth, and grace directly to humanity.

The Eternal Word

Understanding the Word as the source of all creation and the very essence of God.
✔ Recognize the Word as existing from the beginning, with God, and being God
✔ See the Word as the active agent through whom all things were made
✔ Understand that in the Word is life, and this life is the light of all people
✔ Acknowledge that this light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it
✔ Receive the Word not as a concept, but as a person—Jesus, the Son of God

The Incarnate Word

Embracing the mystery of divinity taking on human nature to dwell among us.
✔ Believe that the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us
✔ See Jesus as full of grace and truth—the complete revelation of God's character
✔ Understand that no one has ever seen God, but the only Son has made him known
✔ Recognize Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
✔ Receive from his fullness grace upon grace—one blessing after another

The Invitation of the Word

Responding to the offer of new identity and relationship with God through Christ.
✔ Receive Jesus and believe in his name to become a child of God
✔ Understand this birth comes not from human decision, but from God himself
✔ Recognize that to all who receive him, he gives the right to become God's children
✔ Enter the Kingdom of God by being born of water and the Spirit
✔ Believe in the Son to have eternal life, not condemnation

The Authority of the Word

Acknowledging Jesus's divine knowledge, power, and timing in all things.
✔ Trust that Jesus knows all people and what is in human hearts
✔ Submit to his timing, understanding that he operates according to divine purpose
✔ See his miracles as signs pointing to his identity as the Messiah
✔ Recognize his devotion to God's house and his mission
✔ Accept that he is greater than all and has been placed above all

The Revelation of the Word

Understanding that Jesus completes and fulfills what came before him.
✔ See that while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus
✔ Recognize Jesus as the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit
✔ Understand that he speaks of what he knows and testifies to what he has seen
✔ Accept that whoever believes his message certifies that God is truthful
✔ Know that the Father has placed all things in his hands

The Response to the Word

Choosing between light and darkness, belief and rejection.
✔ Come into the light so that your deeds may be seen as done in God
✔ Understand that judgment comes because people loved darkness instead of light
✔ Rejoice at the bridegroom's voice, like the friend who stands and listens
✔ Accept that no one can receive anything unless it is given from heaven
✔ Believe that whoever disobeys the Son will not see life

INNER FORTITUDE

Inner fortitude is the cultivated strength to meet life's challenges with courage and purpose. It involves aligning your mindset, actions, and spirit to move consistently toward your dreams. It is achieved through daily practices that build resilience, foster self-belief, and connect you to a source of strength greater than your circumstances.

Nurture your vision

Cultivating a clear and compelling picture of the future you are creating.
✔ Record yourself speaking your dreams and motivations aloud; listen to it daily
✔ Visualize your success in vivid detail—see, feel, and embody the achievement
✔ Write down your goals and read them each morning to set your daily intention
✔ Create a vision board with images that represent your aspirations
✔ Protect your dreams by limiting time with those who discourage or doubt them

Own your agency

Taking full responsibility for the actions that shape your life.
✔ Start each day with the statement: "I am the one who must go get what I want"
✔ Break large goals into small, actionable steps you can take today
✔ Celebrate every action taken, no matter how small, as a victory of will
✔ Replace "I have to" with "I choose to" in your internal dialogue
✔ Accept that while you can't control everything, you control your effort and response

Cultivate spiritual patience

Trusting the timing of your journey while remaining steadfast in your work.
✔ Practice the serenity prayer daily, distinguishing between what you can change and must accept
✔ Keep a "divine timing" journal, noting when things worked out better than you planned
✔ Maintain your effort even when results aren't immediate; trust that your turn is coming
✔ View delays and detours as preparation, not denial
✔ Release the need to force outcomes; focus on doing your part with excellence

Master your inner state

Choosing your emotional response to both success and setback.
✔ Decide to feel excited and curious, even in failure—ask, "What can I learn here?"
✔ Cultivate self-love; when you are happy with yourself, you become happier with others
✔ Practice gratitude daily to build a foundation of contentment independent of circumstances
✔ Develop a mantra for tough moments: "Why not me? I can learn and grow through this."
✔ Refuse to indulge in self-pity; shift from "Why me?" to "What's next?"

Embrace courageous action

Moving forward despite fear, understanding that inaction is the only true failure.
✔ Acknowledge that not trying guarantees no success
✔ Start before you feel ready; action builds confidence more than planning ever will
✔ Share your goals with a supportive person to create accountability
✔ View every attempt, regardless of outcome, as a necessary step on your path
✔ Remember: the fight itself—the persistent trying—is where your strength is forged

SPIRITUAL PREPAREDNESS

Spiritual readiness is the active practice of maintaining a vibrant, personal connection with God through consistent devotion and obedience. It involves tending to the inner life—prayer, scripture, and service—so that when Christ returns or calls, we are found faithful, awake, and fueled for eternity. It is achieved through daily dependence on the Holy Spirit, not mere ritual, ensuring our lamps burn brightly until the end.

Keep your lamp fueled

Maintaining a consistent, personal supply of spiritual vitality through daily disciplines.
✔ Prioritize daily prayer as your primary means of receiving spiritual oil and direction
✔ Study and meditate on Scripture daily to feed your faith and keep your vision clear
✔ Depend on the Holy Spirit for constant refilling; do not rely on past experiences or others' faith
✔ Store up spiritual resilience through consistent habits, knowing seasons of waiting will come
✔ Recognize that spiritual fuel cannot be borrowed at the last moment; cultivate your own supply

Stay awake and watchful

Cultivating a lifestyle of alertness and expectation for the Lord’s return.
✔ Live with an eternal perspective, making choices today in light of Christ’s certain return
✔ Reject spiritual complacency and drowsiness; regularly examine your heart and motives
✔ Be aware that the "thief" (the enemy) seeks to exploit spiritual sleepiness and distraction
✔ Understand that watchfulness is active—it involves obedience and readiness to serve, not passive waiting
✔ Remember you do not know the hour; therefore, let every hour find you faithful

Be dressed for service

Living a life of active obedience and readiness to respond to the Master’s call.
✔ Keep your heart and life uncluttered by sin and worldly attachments that hinder swift obedience
✔ Embrace a servant’s posture, looking for opportunities to minister and love others in Christ’s name
✔ Be prepared to "open the door immediately"—to respond to God’s promptings without delay
✔ Wear the full armor of God daily through prayer, knowing spiritual battles are constant
✔ See your daily work and relationships as your primary field of service for the Lord

Reject self-sufficient idols

Turning to God alone in times of delay, disappointment, or desperation.
✔ When God seems distant or delayed, refuse to craft alternative sources of comfort or identity (modern "golden calves")
✔ Bring your exhaustion, loneliness, and impatience directly to God in honest prayer, as Elijah did
✔ Trust in God's unseen provision and timing, especially when your spiritual energy feels depleted
✔ Recognize that impatience can lead to idolatry; commit to waiting on the Lord’s provision
✔ Let times of testing refine your dependence on God alone, not on people, outcomes, or material security

Accept divine nourishment

Receiving God’s strengthening grace for the journey when you are weary.
✔ When spiritually exhausted, simply obey the basic command: "Get up and eat." Return to the simple means of grace
✔ Allow ministry (and even angels) to strengthen you, but always trace the provision back to God Himself
✔ Understand that the journey is too much for you, but God provides sustenance for the next step
✔ Do not pray from a place of self-pity, but from a place of bold, honest reliance on God’s character
✔ Let God’s nourishment empower you to continue to your appointed destination, no matter how long the journey

Guard the storeroom

Protecting the spiritual truth and maturity God has deposited within you.
✔ Be vigilant against the enemy’s attempts to steal your peace, joy, or faith through discouragement or deception
✔ Regularly inventory your heart—what truths are you storing up? What lies are you believing?
✔ Strengthen your "storeroom" through worship, fellowship, and the practice of spiritual disciplines
✔ Remember that a guarded heart is not a closed heart, but one discerning of what enters and dwells there
✔ The well-tended inner life becomes a source of light and life for others when the time is right

PERSUASION PROFESSIONALISM

Persuasion is the essential, modern skill of moving others through understanding rather than instruction. It involves perspective-taking, problem-finding, and strategic communication. It is achieved by shifting from telling to asking, from presenting solutions to uncovering needs, and from selling products to serving people.

Adopt the customer's perspective

Shifting your focus from your offering to the other person's wants and needs.
✔ Start every interaction by asking yourself: "What does this person really want or need right now?"
✔ Frame your communication around benefits, not features (how it helps them, not what it is)
✔ Listen more than you speak to understand their priorities and language
✔ Use the word "you" more than "I" or "we" in your explanations
✔ Validate their viewpoint before introducing your own ideas or solutions

Become a problem finder

Uncovering the real issue before rushing to propose a solution.
✔ Ask open-ended questions that require more than a "yes" or "no" answer
✔ Use the "five whys" technique to dig deeper into a stated problem
✔ Probe for specific examples when given a general answer
✔ When facts support your case, use questions instead of statements to guide the conversation
✔ Practice active listening to hear what is said—and what is left unsaid

Prepare a written presentation

Planning your communication in advance to ensure clarity and purpose.
✔ Script your key messages and questions before any important conversation
✔ Structure your presentation around the other person's likely concerns, not your agenda
✔ Prepare leading questions in advance to guide the discussion and uncover needs
✔ Practice your presentation aloud to refine your delivery and timing
✔ Keep your script flexible enough to adapt, but structured enough to stay on track

Target your material specifically

Customizing your message for your specific audience, every time.
✔ Research your audience before preparing any communication
✔ Adjust your language, examples, and benefits to match their world
✔ Avoid using a generic "pitch"; tailor your approach for each person or group
✔ Consider their industry, role, challenges, and goals when crafting your message
✔ Test your material by asking: "Is this relevant and clear to them?"

Understand their business deeply

Building credibility and rapport through genuine knowledge and preparation.
✔ Research the other person's company, products, competitors, and industry trends
✔ Learn their professional language and incorporate it respectfully into your conversation
✔ Use your research to ask informed, intelligent questions that demonstrate your interest
✔ Connect your offering directly to their specific business objectives or challenges
✔ Build rapport by showing you've done your homework and you see them as a partner, not a target

Tuesday, 8 January 2019

EMPOWERMENT THROUGH SELF-KNOWLEDGE

Understanding your potential is not about predetermined fate, but about recognizing your inherent strengths and aligning your actions with your values and opportunities. It involves cultivating self-awareness, developing intentional habits, and building resilience to navigate life's changes. It is achieved through proactive personal growth, not by waiting for external predictions to manifest.

Building Self-Awareness

Developing a clear understanding of your unique strengths, values, and drivers.
✔ Identify your top three core values that guide your major life decisions
✔ List five strengths you possess that have helped you overcome past challenges
✔ Reflect on patterns in your life—what situations consistently bring you energy or joy?
✔ Seek honest feedback from trusted friends or mentors about how they see your potential
✔ Write a personal mission statement that defines what a meaningful life means to you

Cultivating Opportunity Readiness

Preparing yourself to recognize and act on positive chances when they arise.
✔ Develop one skill this year that aligns with your long-term interests or career goals
✔ Expand your network intentionally by connecting with people in fields you admire
✔ Practice saying "yes" to small, low-risk new experiences to build adaptability
✔ Keep a "possibilities journal" to note ideas, inspirations, and potential opportunities
✔ Maintain a healthy savings fund to give yourself the freedom to seize financial opportunities

Designing Proactive Habits

Creating daily systems that move you toward your goals, regardless of motivation.
✔ Establish one keystone morning routine that grounds your day (e.g., meditation, planning)
✔ Break one large annual goal into a single, actionable step you can take this week
✔ Implement a weekly review to assess progress, learn from setbacks, and adjust your plan
✔ Automate good decisions where possible (e.g., automatic savings, scheduled learning time)
✔ Pair a desired new habit with an existing one to make it stick (habit stacking)

Nurturing Key Relationships

Investing in the connections that provide support, growth, and shared joy.
✔ Identify 2-3 people in your life who inspire you and schedule regular contact with them
✔ Practice active listening in your conversations—focus on understanding, not just replying
✔ Express appreciation explicitly to the people who support you
✔ Set healthy boundaries to protect your energy and focus on mutually uplifting relationships
✔ Be the person who reaches out first; nurture your social ecosystem proactively

Managing Your Energy

Optimizing your physical, mental, and emotional resources to sustain effort and well-being.
✔ Prioritize sleep and nutrition as non-negotiable foundations for daily performance
✔ Schedule short breaks throughout your day to prevent burnout and maintain clarity
✔ Learn to recognize your personal signs of stress and have a pre-planned response
✔ Engage in regular physical activity that you enjoy to boost mood and resilience
✔ Protect time for activities that genuinely recharge you, not just distract you

Embracing Adaptability

Developing the flexibility to navigate change and uncertainty with confidence.
✔ Reframe challenges as problems to be solved, not insurmountable obstacles
✔ Practice making small decisions quickly to build your decision-making muscle
✔ At the end of each month, note one unexpected change and how you adapted to it
✔ Let go of one rigid expectation you have for how this year "must" unfold
✔ Focus on controlling your actions and attitudes, not external events

Taking Purposeful Action

Moving from planning and waiting to consistent, courageous execution.
✔ Choose one goal and take the first visible step toward it within the next 24 hours
✔ Share your intention with someone who will hold you accountable
✔ Embrace "good enough" progress over perfect, stalled plans
✔ Celebrate small wins to build momentum and positive reinforcement
✔ Remember that your future is built by the choices you make today, not the stars alone

KRA NIL RETURNS GUIDE

Filing a KRA nil return is a mandatory annual compliance task that officially declares you had no taxable income during a given year. It involves accessing the iTax platform, accurately completing a simple electronic form, and submitting it before the statutory deadline. This is achieved through a straightforward online process that takes only a few minutes but prevents a significant financial penalty for non-compliance.

Understanding the nil return requirement

Knowing why filing is mandatory, even when you have no income to declare.
✔ Recognize that a nil return declares zero taxable income for a specific year
✔ Understand that students, the unemployed, and those below the taxable threshold must file
✔ Know that the penalty for failure to file is Ksh 20,000, not the previous Ksh 1,000
✔ Accept that filing is a legal obligation, not an optional administrative task
✔ File annually by June 30th to avoid the automatic penalty

Preparing for login

Gathering the correct credentials and ensuring system access before starting.
✔ Ensure you have your active KRA PIN (Personal Identification Number)
✔ Confirm you remember your iTax password
✔ Have your registered phone number handy for potential password recovery
✔ Use a stable internet connection on a computer or smartphone
✔ Clear your browser cache if you have had previous login issues

Completing the iTax login

Accessing the official KRA portal securely to begin the filing process.
✔ Visit the official KRA iTax website: https://itax.kra.go.ke
✔ Enter your KRA PIN or User ID in the provided field
✔ Click 'Continue' and enter your password on the next screen
✔ Solve the simple Security Stamp arithmetic challenge (e.g., 50+8=58)
✔ Click 'Login' to access your taxpayer dashboard

Navigating to the nil return form

Locating the correct filing option within the iTax menu system.
✔ On the red menu bar at the top, click on 'Returns'
✔ From the dropdown menu, select 'File Nil Return'
✔ Ensure you are filing for the correct year (the system will default to the previous year)
✔ Double-check that you have selected the nil return option, not a standard income return
✔ Proceed only when you are certain you are in the correct section

Filling the nil return declaration

Accurately completing the simple electronic form with your details.
✔ Under 'Type,' select 'Self' from the dropdown menu
✔ Your 'Taxpayer Pin' will auto-populate; verify it is correct
✔ For 'Tax Obligation,' select 'Income Tax Resident Individual'
✔ Ensure the 'Return Period' reflects the full previous calendar year (e.g., 01/01/2023 to 31/12/2023)
✔ Leave the 'Wife Pin' field blank if you are not married or filing jointly

Submitting and confirming

Finalizing the process and obtaining proof of submission.
✔ Review all entered information for accuracy
✔ Click the 'Submit' button to file your return
✔ Wait for the system to generate an 'E-Return Acknowledgment Receipt'
✔ Click 'Download Return Receipt' to save a PDF copy for your records
✔ Log out of the iTax portal securely after confirming successful submission

Managing common issues

Troubleshooting typical problems encountered during the filing process.
✔ If you forgot your password, use the 'Forgot Password' link and follow the SMS prompts
✔ If the system shows you have a pending return from a previous year, file it first
✔ If you receive an error, ensure you are using a compatible browser (Chrome, Firefox)
✔ If your PIN is inactive, visit a KRA office or Huduma Centre for reactivation
✔ If the submission fails, restart the process; the system often works on the second attempt

Maintaining annual compliance

Establishing a routine to ensure you never miss the filing deadline.
✔ Set a calendar reminder for May 1st each year to file your nil return
✔ Keep your iTax login credentials in a secure but accessible password manager
✔ File early in the year (January–April) to avoid the June 30th rush and system slowdowns
✔ Save all acknowledgment receipts in a dedicated digital folder for easy reference
✔ Update your contact details (email and phone) in iTax to receive KRA notifications