THE HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOREST-BONUS /ORIGINAL VERSION

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.