A Glimpse – The Gambia

Easter, the cornerstone of the Christian faith, holds a profound significance for believers worldwide. Beyond its traditional observance, Easter offers a timeless message of hope, renewal, and redemption—a message that resonates deeply with every generation. In an era marked by uncertainty and rapid change, the timeless truths of Easter provide a steadfast anchor for young hearts seeking meaning and purpose.

In today’s fast-paced world, where digital distractions abound and societal norms constantly evolve, people often grapple with questions of identity, belonging, and purpose. Easter, with its celebration of Christ being raised from the dead, offers a totally cool story of how things change and get fresh again, a reminder of what really took place in Jerusalem that speaks directly to the challenges and aspirations of the current generation.

The Promise of a fresh start:

At the heart of Easter lies the promise of a fresh start, a promise fulfilled through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:8 (ESV), “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The crucifixion of Jesus, foretold in the scriptures, serves as the ultimate expression of God’s boundless mercy and grace, offering you the gift of reconciliation and forgiveness. Easter’s message offers the promise of a fresh start and a renewed sense of purpose.

Hope Amidst Uncertainty:

In a world plagued by uncertainty and unrest, Easter offers a signal of hope. The resurrection of Jesus Christ reminds you that even in the darkest of times, there is light and life beyond the shadows. As you navigate the difficulties of modern life, the promise of Easter serves as a source of comfort and assurance, guiding you through moments of doubt and despair.
1 Peter 1:3 (ESV) : “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

The Promise of Eternal Life:

Easter holds forth the promise of eternal life, a hope that surpasses the boundaries of time and space. Jesus declares in John 11:25-26 (ESV), “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?. Through His resurrection, Jesus offers the assurance of life beyond the grave, inviting you into a relationship marked by joy, peace, and everlasting fellowship with God.

The Call to Renewal:

Easter extends a timeless invitation to renewal, a call to embrace the life-changing power of Christ’s resurrection in your own life. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV), “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Just as Christ emerged from the tomb in glorious resurrection, you too are invited to cast off the shackles of sin and embrace the abundant life that comes through faith in Him.

Conclusion:

As you journey through the Easter season, may you pause to reflect on the profound truths found within the Word of God. May you embrace the promise of redemption, rejoice in the triumph of resurrection, and respond to the call to renewal with a heart full of faith and gratitude. And may the timeless message of Easter continue to inspire and uplift you, bringing you even closer to the love and grace of our Risen Savior.

Paul and the False Apostles

1 Please put up with a little of my foolishness. 2 I am as concerned about you as God is. You were like a virgin bride I had chosen only for Christ. 3 But now I fear that you will be tricked, just as Eve was tricked by that lying snake. I am afraid that you might stop thinking about Christ in an honest and sincere way. 4 We told you about Jesus, and you received the Holy Spirit and accepted our message. But you let some people tell you about another Jesus. Now you are ready to receive another spirit and accept a different message. 5 I think I am as good as any of those super apostles. 6 I may not speak as well as they do, but I know as much. And this has already been made perfectly clear to you.

7 Was it wrong for me to lower myself and honor you by preaching God's message free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by taking money from them to serve you. 9 Even when I was in need, I still didn't bother you. In fact, some of the Lord's followers from Macedonia brought me what I needed. I have not been a burden to you in the past, and I will never be a burden. 10 As surely as I speak the truth about Christ, no one in Achaia can stop me from bragging about this. 11 And it isn't because I don't love you. God himself knows how much I do love you.

12 I plan to go on doing just what I have always done. Then those people won't be able to brag about doing the same things we are doing. 13 Anyway, they are no more than false apostles and dishonest workers. They only pretend to be apostles of Christ. 14 And it is no wonder. Even Satan tries to make himself look like an angel of light. 15 So why does it seem strange for Satan's servants to pretend to do what is right? Someday they will get exactly what they deserve.

Paul's Sufferings for Christ

16 I don't want any of you to think I am a fool. But if you do, then let me be a fool and brag a little. 17 When I do all this bragging, I do it as a fool and not for the Lord. 18 Yet if others want to brag about what they have done, so will I. 19 And since you are so smart, you will gladly put up with a fool. 20 In fact, you let people make slaves of you and cheat you and steal from you. Why, you even let them strut around and slap you in the face. 21 I am ashamed to say we are too weak to behave in such a way.

If they can brag, so can I, but it is a foolish thing to do. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Jews? So am I. Are they from the family of Abraham? Well, so am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a fool to talk this way, but I serve him better than they do. I have worked harder and have been put in jail more times. I have been beaten with whips more and have been in danger of death more often.

24 Five times my own people gave me 39 lashes with a whip. 25 Three times the Romans beat me with a big stick, and once my enemies stoned me. I have been shipwrecked three times, and I even had to spend a night and a day in the sea. 26 During my many travels, I have been in danger from rivers, robbers, my own people, and foreigners. My life has been in danger in cities, in deserts, at sea, and with people who only pretended to be the Lord's followers.

27 I have worked and struggled and spent many sleepless nights. I have gone hungry and thirsty and often had nothing to eat. I have been cold from not having enough clothes to keep me warm. 28 Besides everything else, each day I am burdened down, worrying about all the churches. 29 When others are weak, I am weak too. When others are tricked into sin, I get angry.

30 If I have to brag, I will brag about how weak I am. 31 God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, knows I am not lying. And God is to be praised forever! 32 The governor of Damascus at the time of King Aretas had the city gates guarded, so he could capture me. 33 But I escaped by being let down in a basket through a window in the city wall.

Pawulu niŋ faniyaa kiilaalu

1 M be ali daani kaŋ fo ali si muña domandiŋ n na tooleeyaa la. Dukaree, ali muña m fee! 2 M be kiiliyaariŋ ali la kuwo la le niŋ kiiliyaa la, Alla ye meŋ dundi n sondomoo kono, kaatu ŋa ali laahidi kee kiliŋ ne la, meŋ mu Kiristu* ti, fo n si ali naati a kaŋ ko sunkutoo meŋ maŋ kewo loŋ. 3 Bari saayiŋ nte be silariŋ ne ko, ali la miiroolu kana ali filindi ko saa ye Hawa neenee ñaameŋ, ka bo niŋ a la feere jawoo la, meŋ si a tinna, ali ye bo ali la soobeeyaa to, aniŋ ali la foroyaa Kiristu ye. 4 Niŋ moo doo naata ka Yeesu koteŋ na kuwo kawandi ali ye, meŋ niŋ ntolu ye meŋ kawandi maŋ ke kiliŋ ti, ali ka tariyaa le ka soŋ a la. Waraŋ niŋ ali naata noora koteŋ soto, meŋ niŋ Nooroo maŋ ke kiliŋ ti, ali ye meŋ soto nuŋ, waraŋ niŋ ali ye kibaari koteŋ moyi, meŋ niŋ ali sonta meŋ na maŋ ke kiliŋ ti, ali pareeriŋo le ka soŋ ì ma.

5 Bari nte maŋ a miira ko, nte dooyaata wo moolu ñaatiliŋo la le, ali ye mennu muta kiilaa* baalu ti. 6 Hani niŋ a ye a tara, nte maŋ diyaamoo noo, bari m maŋ ke londintaŋo ti. A keta ñaa-wo-ñaa, ŋà ñiŋ koyindi ali ye kuwolu bee le to.

7 Fo ŋa junube kuwo le ke, biriŋ ŋa m faŋ jindi, ka Alla la kibaari betoo kawandi ali ye, m maŋ feŋ kaniŋ a kunna, fo alitolu si sikandi? 8 Ŋa baadiŋolu* la kodoo taa ì bulu Yeesu la kafu doolu kono fo n si dookuwo ke noo ali ye. 9 Kabiriŋ n tarata ali fee, aduŋ m be suuloo kono, m maŋ duni laa moo-wo-moo kaŋ alitolu kono, kaatu baadiŋolu mennu ka bo naŋ Makedoniya, wolu le ka n na suuloolu topatoo. Nte ye m faŋo muta le fo n kana ke ali ye dunoo ti, aduŋ m be tenteŋ na wo le la. 10 Ko Kiristu la tooñaa be baluuriŋ n kono ñaameŋ, moo-wo-moo le te nte la ñiŋ kibiroo bondi noo la Akaya tundoo kaŋ. 11 Muŋ daliila le ye a tinna, ŋa ñiŋ fo? Fo m maŋ ali kanu baŋ? Alla ye a loŋ ne ko, ŋa ali kanu le.

12 Nte ka kuwolu mennu ke, m be tenteŋ na wolu kewo la le, fo n si wo moolu la daliiloo bondi ì bulu, mennu lafita ka ì faŋolu niŋ ntolu kaañandi baara kuwolu to, ì ka kibiri mennu la. 13 Wo moo siifaalu mu faniyaa kiilaalu le ti, aniŋ neeneeri dookuulaalu, ì ka ì faŋolu ke Kiristu la kiilaalu ti. 14 Wo maŋ ke teremma kuwo ti, kaatu hani Seetaanoo* ka a faŋo ke le ko maloo malaayikoo. 15 Wo to, a maŋ ke jaakali kuwo ti, niŋ a la dookuulaalu ka ì faŋolu ke tiliŋo la dookuulaalu ti. Ì labaŋo be ke la le ko ì la kebaaroolu be ñaameŋ.

Pawulu la toora kuwolu

16 M be a seyinkaŋ na kotenke, moo kana m muta toolewo ti. Bari hani niŋ ali ye m muta wo ti, dukaree, ali muña n na tooleeyaa la fo nte fanaa si kibiri domandiŋ. 17 Nte ye kaŋo soto Maariyo bulu le, bari m be meŋ fo kaŋ saayiŋ, m maŋ tara a fo kaŋ wo kaŋo kaŋ, bari m be diyaamu kaŋ ne ko toolewo meŋ ka kibiri a la dankeneyaa kono. 18 Baawo moo jamaa ka kibiri niŋ hadamadiŋyaa hame kuwolu le la, ì ye mennu soto, nte fanaa be kibiri la le. 19 Ŋa a je le ko, ali kontaaniriŋolu ka muña toolewolu fee le, bayiri ali ye ali faŋolu muta moo ñaamendiŋolu le ti. 20 Alitolu ka hani muña moo-wo-moo fee le, meŋ ka ali joŋyandi, meŋ ka ali kasaara, meŋ ka a faŋ nafaa ali la, meŋ ka a faŋ wara, waraŋ meŋ ka ali tama fadi. 21 A naata ke nte ye malu kuwo le ti, n ñanta soŋ na meŋ na ko, ntolu la semboo maŋ wara ka ñiŋ ñoŋ kuwolu ke.

Bari niŋ moo haañita ka kibiri feŋ na, nte fanaa haañita ka kibiri wo la le. Nte be diyaamu kaŋ ne ko toolewo! 22 Fo itolu mu Hiburunkoolu* le ti baŋ? Nte fanaa mu wo le ti. Fo itolu mu Banisirayilankoolu le ti baŋ? Nte fanaa mu wo le ti. Fo itolu mu Iburayima koomalankoolu le ti baŋ? Nte fanaa mu wo le ti. 23 Fo itolu mu Kiristu la dookuulaalu le ti baŋ? Nte le tambita ì la wo to. Saayiŋ nte be diyaamu kaŋ ne ko ñaamaatoo! Ŋa dookuu baalu le ke ka tambi itolu la, n soronta bunjawoo kono siiñaa jamaa ka tambi itolu la, ì ye m buutee siiñaa jamaa le la mennu te konti noo la, aduŋ siiñaa jamaa n ka sutiyaa saayaa la. 24 Siiñaa luulu Yahuudoolu ye n karawaasi busa daañaa taŋ saba niŋ konontoo la. 25 Siiñaa saba ì ye m buutee niŋ dokoo la. Ì ye m buŋ beroolu la siiñaa kiliŋ. Kuluŋo kupita m fee ko siiñaa saba. Aduŋ suutoo sotota, aniŋ tiloo, n tarata yanka kaŋ fankaasoo kono. 26 N na taamasila jamaa kaŋ, n tambita niŋ baa boloŋolu maasiiboo la le, aniŋ boyinkannaalu la maasiiboo. N tambita Yahuudoolu la maasiiboo la le, aniŋ moo koteŋolu. N tarata maasiiboo le kono saatewolu kono taariŋ, wuloo kono aniŋ baa kono. N tambita moolu fanaa la maasiiboo la le, mennu ye ì faŋ ke Yeesu noomalankoolu ti. 27 N tarata dookuu koleŋo le la, aniŋ bataa, n ka tara n ñaa la suuto jamaa. Konkoo niŋ mindoo ka tu n na, aduŋ siiñaa jamaa m buka domoroo soto. M be sumayaa kono, m maŋ feetoofata soto. 28 Aduŋ ñiŋ kuwolu bee koolaa, miira baa le ka tara nte kaŋ luŋ-wo-luŋ, meŋ mu Yeesu la kafoolu topatooroo ti taariŋ. 29 Niŋ baadiŋo lamfuta, nte fanaa ka lamfu le. Niŋ ì ye baadiŋ doo dundi junube kuwo to, wo ka nte faa niitoora le la.

30 Niŋ nte ñanta kibiri la, m be kibiri la kuwolu le la, mennu ye n na sembentaŋyaa yitandi. 31 Maarii Yeesu la Alla, meŋ mu a Faamaa ti, ate ye a loŋ ne ko, nte maŋ tara faniyaa fo kaŋ. Tenturoo niŋ jayiroo be ate le ye fo abadaa. 32 Kewo meŋ tarata maraloo la Damasiku saatewo kono Mansa Aretas la kaŋo koto, a ye Damasiku saatewo kanta le nuŋ, fo a si nte muta. 33 Bari ì ye n yoora niŋ sinsiŋo le la ka bo niŋ huwo la, meŋ be saatee tata sansaŋo bala, aduŋ n kanata a ma wo le ñaama.

2 Corinthians 11