Towera
Nyirenda Loper

Contributing Writer

Towera Nyirenda Loper is a speaker, life coach, and a licensed minister. A native of Zambia, she came to the United States to pursue her education, obtaining a BA, from Northpoint Bible College (formally Zion Bible Institute), Haverhill, MA, and both a Masters of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA. Her life’s mission is to help people transition from information to transformation. She and her husband reside in Florida. 

More from Towera Nyirenda Loper

More from Towera Nyirenda Loper

Created to Withstand Turbulence

“We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (NIV)
NIV

“A bird that fears turbulence will never know how high it can fly,” said African philosopher Matshona Dhliwayo. The statement made me appreciate turbulence, having come off a 15 hour non-stop flight. You see, in order for a plane to reach its final destination, it has to encounter turbulence. Without turbulence, planes cannot take off. During moments of turbulence, the Captain will say, “Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has turned on the fasten seat belt sign. We are now crossing a zone of turbulence. Please return to your seats and keep your seat belts fastened. Thank you.”

As uncomfortable as turbulence can be, planes are built to withstand them. Retired Delta airline Captain Bill Watts said of planes, “It’s a very solid structure. It’s built to extreme safety standards. And if you look at all the statistics, you’ll see that it’s just very rare that an aircraft is affected by it – these acts of turbulence.” What causes turbulence is “crossing a barrier between different currents.” What makes passengers uncomfortable with turbulence is not knowing that it's part of the process and it will not hurt us, unless our seatbelts are unfastened.

Reflecting on this truth, I realized that we too are built to withstand turbulence because we are made in the image of God. Knowing this truth helps us not be fearful. If life’s turbulences scare us, we will never ascend the heights of life’s purpose. What God expects of us however, is to ALWAYS have our seatbelts on when turbulence occurs.  These three thoughts are the seatbelts that will keep us securely fastened:

  1. God’s DNA Lives in Us:
    and
    respectively state, “So God created man in His own image ... male and female created He them.” “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” When God created us, He injected His unshakeable, undefeated DNA in our system to help us ascend the “barriers between different currents.” So if we face the turbulence of sickness, His DNA of healing is available. If we face the turbulence of sadness, His DNA of joy is available. Every turbulence we encounter is always met with an answered DNA found in our Heavenly father. Allow this truth to sink into our hearts.
  2. The Word of God Guides Us:
    states, “Thy Word is a lamp until my feet and a light unto my path.” When turbulent times come our way, we need to speak God’s Word over our situation. God says He is watching over His Word to fulfill it. What better confidence to go into a situation knowing we are already victorious because the blueprint declares it.
  3. The Holy Spirit is our Helper
    is Jesus promise to us. “And I will ask the father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.” What audacious comfort to know we have a helper on hand 24/7, 365 days a year, including the leap year! Never a day goes by that the Holy Spirit is not available. All we need to do is summon His help and be willing to obey.

So how do we apply these simple truths when we are faced with turbulence? First, we need to speak these truths loudly to ourselves. When we hear what we are saying, it will build faith in us to face turbulence courageously. Second, we need to be grateful to know that turbulence does not last forever. Third, we need to magnify God through our praise. So let us use turbulence as a launching pad to trust God and let us not forget to have our spiritual seatbelts fastened at all times.

Copyright © 2017 Towera Loper. Used by permission.

Heart Invaders

On a given week, my husband and I run anywhere between eight to 15 miles. We sometimes run on a trail layered with broken up seashells, sand, and little stones pebbles; and those little stones or shells find their way inside our shoes, uninvited. I have either had to stop and take off my shoes to clear them, and other times, I have just endured the discomfort and waited until I got home before I remove them. However, sometimes, because I forget to clean the shoes until I want to run again, those little nuisances remind me that they are still there.

It got me to thinking about our life journey and how most times we collect unwelcomed stones along the way. Through life experiences, we pick up hate, bitterness, unforgiveness, fill in the blank__________. These stones eventually become justified and we feel vindicated when we hold on to them. However, God never intended for

OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
says,

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (ESV)

This life abundance becomes evident when we produce the fruits of the Spirit found in

,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (ESV)

... and not the fruits of evil like hate, bitterness, etc.

Just like I do when my shoes collect little stones, let me suggest four things to consider when we collect unwanted stones in our hearts:

  1. Stop and Take off your shoes:  When God tells us to stop doing something (don’t send that text, or don’t respond to what is being said) it is because He is protecting us from unwanted stones. He knows the end from the beginning, what can jeopardize your future or destroy you. So, the next time you walk on life’s journey and you collect the uncollectable, and God tells you to stop, take off your shoes, please pay attention.
  2. Do not be comfortable with Discomfort: How many times have we become comfortable with discomfort? When we become comfortable with being critical, hateful, judgmental, etc., we are living with dysfunction. It is not abundant life. When little stones find a home in our hearts and we choose to run with them and not clear them, then we have become comfortable with dysfunction.
  3. Don’t Ignore Addressing Issues: Sometimes we ignore addressing our issues because of the work involved in coming face to face with truth. When we ignore addressing issues, we do not live to our fullest potential because those stones become a distraction and destruction in our lives. Let us not ignore the work of the cross by not addressing the very things that Christ came to set us free from to live an abundant and victorious life. 
  4. Always clean your shoes before you wear them: When we start and end our day, we need to make sure that we clear our minds and hearts.
    states,
    “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (ESV)
    Whatever we allow to find a home in our hearts, good or bad, will yield the results sown. Wouldn’t it be great to yield results that God has envisioned for us? A life producing love, kindness, self-control and not anger, hate, judgment?

Our heartfelt prayer can be found in

:

“Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; cross-examine and test me. Get a clear picture of what I am about; see for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong — then guide me on the road to eternal life.” (MSG)

May this be our attitude daily so that every stone or shell does not find a home in our hearts.

Copyright © Towera Nyirenda Loper, used with permission. 

Swim Lessons

“You need to trust the water. It is your best friend.”

This, coming from a 21-year-old who began swimming at age three and who has competed professionally, advising a 40-plus-year-old who has never swam. I always wanted to learn how to swim, but did not know what to expect other than being in water and learning the “easy” techniques. Boy, was I wrong!

My biggest setback was not trusting myself to know that the water and my body could hold me up, instead of drown - if I relaxed. Throughout the process, my coach was there telling me, “I am right here, I won’t let you get hurt.” 

I gave it a try, but was overcome by images of drowning and thoughts of how my family would react to my death. The few seconds I would relax my body and follow her instructions, I found myself floating. But as soon as I realized I was floating, fear would grip me and I would start to go under water. I WAS AFRAID!

Her parting words were simple. “Spend as much time as you can in the water so you can be comfortable in it. Also, get the swim goggles so you can see under water. Maybe that will help overcome your fear.”

I reflected on those words, “You need to trust the water…,”  “spend as much time in it...,” and “get the swim goggles…”  Four things came to mind as I reflected on my trust journey:

  1. The Coach is always present: How often do we act as though God is not present when we are going through life’s challenges? We become stuck and drown the voice of the Holy Spirit because our fear is so paralyzing that we do not give God a chance to work. 
    OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
    states, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or panic before them, for the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (NLT). If we listen to the small instructions God gives us in moments of fear, we will float on our backs and not sink.
  2. The Water is our friend: The image of water in the Bible symbolizes new life, God’s promises, cleansing, etc. (
    ,
    .
    respectively). God’s Word is there to give us instruction and renewed life daily.
    states    , “Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (NLT). Do we trust the Word to hold us up and float when life rages on or are we trying to trust in our own inabilities?
  3. The Eye Goggles: I purchased the eye goggles and what a difference they made! I am still fearful and not able to float on my back, but seeing the bottom of the pool has been a game changer. I am calmer. I strongly believe God wants us to use our eyes of faith to see the bottom of our pools and know it is not as scary as we think it is.
    states “The Just shall live by Faith.”  We just need to trust our Coach because He has walked the floors of our pools and they are conquerable.
  4. The Renewed Mind: Having negative thoughts while going through life is never helpful. Think about it, I was rehearsing my funeral during my first lesson. Yet, I am still here.
    states, “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.”  We need to think on God’s Word when life happens.
    should be our guide in all things and thoughts. 

I head back to my second lesson this week and I hope these first few lessons I have learned will be evident. My coach will be present, I will trust the water, I will walk the floor and my mind will be renewed.

Copyright 2016, Towera Nyirenda Loper. Used by permission.

The Right Keys for Your Journey

Having lived in my apartment for seven years, it was time to move. As I took the apartment keys off my key chain, I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I was excited I was leaving student housing; but on the other hand, I was faced with the challenge of a new chapter in my life. As I took my last walk to the office to drop off the keys, I reflected on my last seven years in an apartment that saw answered and unanswered prayers.

I did not realize that keys had the ability to communicate with such intensity as they did on this particular day. On any given day, keys speak of the locking and the unlocking of doors. On this day however, I was sensing a communication that spoke more to the battle of the mind. I needed to let go and trust God for what was next. Just as easily as I would unlock or lock a door, I sensed God pressing the same thoughts on my heart; you can easily lock or unlock the next journey of your life based on how you think and use the keys I have given you.

I felt the Lord speak to me concerning keys that I needed to use to either lock or unlock the doors that He has in store for me.

The Keys of Faith: Our Christian walk is that of faith. The agonizing fact about faith however is that it does not always yield the results we so long for. Just because we serve God faithfully does not mean “bad things” will not happen to us. Sometimes we hold God hostage because of what we have done for Him. We are afraid to realize that the keys of faith come with the questions of “Why Lord?” and sometimes faith is blind.

It is the blind faith in the midst of uncertainty that sometimes causes us to question our trust in God because we do not understand.

OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
states, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Our assurance is God and our conviction is that He is faithful on His terms not ours. As I come to terms with my transition, I have to embrace the fact that it is okay to be uncertain; that comes with the territory of faith. However, I am not to stay there, but to press on patiently.

The Keys of Forgetting: One needs to have a short memory in life, forgetting the past.  The Apostle Paul was quick to realize this truth: “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus...forgetting what lies behind, and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (

) Sometimes we live in our past failures or successes. Could have, should have, would have, will never open doors, solve one’s problem, or bring about some resolutions to life’s most disappointing or successful journeys. We have to purposefully forget stuff and move on. It’s expedient!

The Keys of Fortitude: The Psalmist in

states, “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage. Yes wait for the Lord.” When despair, discouragement, disappointments hits us, we have to constantly tell ourselves that we will see God’s goodness while we live on earth. The fortitude to believe this can be sometimes daunting when everything around us screams otherwise. It takes mental fortitude to stand on God’s Word even when the odds are against us.

There are other keys that we can use to lock or unlock the doors God has for us, such as fasting, prayer, forgiveness etc. It is realizing and being sensitive to what keys God wants us to use at certain times as we transition in life that will make us successful.

declares that God knows the plans that He has for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us a hope and a future.” The doors are there, the question is do we have the keys to either lock or unlock them?

Copyright © August 2008 by Towera Nyirenda. Used by permission.

Don't Miss God in the Transition

"Missing God in the transition," is a statement my pastor, Bishop McBath, made in reference to the rich young ruler, as he preached on Sunday. I dwelt on that statement for a while, my mind losing focus on the preaching, as I tried to make sense of the statement. Realizing I drifted in thought, I quickly turned my attention back to the preaching, knowing that the statement made was something God was highlighting for me to address at some point.

Here I am, a few days later still stuck on the statement, "Missing God in the transition." I have had enough time to ask myself the tough question, "Have I missed God in His transitions?" The answer is yes.

Transition defined is, "The act of passing from one state or place to the next," or "an event that results in a transformation." One can be certain of this about transition. It does not allow you to stay in the same place. You can fight it all you want, but it will let you know, "I am here," and until you transition to the expected state, you and I will be miserable.

Throughout Jesus' ministry, transitioning people from one state to another was his goal, whether it be in thoughts, in deeds, in health, and in words. However, more often than not, the people missed His transitions.

Case in point, Jesus tells the rich young ruler,

"If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me." (

OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
)

The rich young ruler's response was very telling.

"But when the rich young ruler heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property." (

)

He missed Jesus’ transition because the young man focused on his property, instead of what Jesus was offering.

How could this rich young ruler be grieved at the author of life when He, the author, was offering the life that the young man desired? It is easy to ask this question when we are on the outside looking in, but we are all guilty of missing God in his transitions.

Three reasons come to mind on how we miss God in the transition.

  • The Picture is not clear. Most times when we approach God, we want Him to give us a clear picture of what our lives should be [Before I relocate, I need to know where I will work, how much I will make, and what my house will look like, etc.]. There is nothing wrong with this expectation, except God tells us to, "Go to a land I will show you," (
    )     and not a land I have shown you. "Follow me and I will make you fishers or men," (
    ),     not follow me because I have made you fishers of men. The picture becomes clearer as we follow.
  • The Assignment is too daunting. It is interesting how the Gospel describes the rich young ruler. He is first rich, he is then young, and he rules. To transition him, Jesus reaches to the very core of his identity: to give it all up. Yes, he could have given it up, but would he have risked being poor and not rule (I assume his money gave him some kind of power to rule), at the expense of his reputation? The assignment to do such a thing was too daunting, hence he settled, when he was supposed to have transitioned.
  • The Timing is not right. I heard Dr. Samuel Chand say, "When you are 100% sure, you are too late." We approach life with an attitude of, "It needs to feel right" before we can make that change. However, I am yet to come across a situation in my life or in the Word where the timing felt 100% right. "In His time, He makes all things beautiful," (
    )    , not our time. When those who wanted to follow Jesus needed more time to finish off personal business, Jesus had this to say, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God."

Other reasons can be given as to why we miss God in transitions: lack of trust, lack of faith, fear of the unknown, the list is endless. But is it really worth it to miss God in His transitions of our lives because of our own insecurities towards Him, not so much the situation? I believe it is worth the risk to go for it with God and not be afraid of the transitions because God's transitions always leads to transformation.

All He is asking is for us to believe Him when He says, "

I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plan to give you a hope and an expected end. " (

)

 May we not miss God in His transitions.