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God can minister to you in any part of a church service / program. It doesn't matter where you fellowship, or the 'greatness' of the preacher ...what matters is that God is there. It doesn't matter if the setting/congregation is glamorous or not. Where two or three are gathered in His Name, He's promised to be there, and His promises are yea and amen in Christ Jesus. Stay open and enter church with an expectation - only be careful not to put our Great God in a small box in your mind. A Spirit-filled usher's handshake may be the channel through which your healing may come...a song ministration by the Choir may carry the words you need for the next assignment of your life...you may receive a special word in any part of the service, and it may not necessarily come directly from the pastor - so stay open. God moves in unlikely places and uses unlikely people sometimes. Stay open - you may have left home with a set amount in mind to give but don't push away the nudge to give more...you may have predetermined your 'conservative mood' for the entire service, but don't be surprised if the Lord causes you to burst out in a song or dance that you had not planned, for " The wind blows (breathes) where it wills; and though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where it comes from nor where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8, AMP) May the Lord visit you in a special way on this first Sunday of September 2015. Go to Church with an expectation...and i trust God with you, that our expectations will not be cut off. Amen! Happy Sunday!

From times when you feel left out, to times when you are exhausted...
From days when your baby would go to no one else but you, making you feel embarrassed because he/she is labelled as 'clingy' or 'spoilt' or 'unfriendly'.... to times when you feel you are misunderstood...
From days when you want to hide in the supermarket or at that family gathering because your toddler threw a tantrum and you looked helpless, to times when you miss your 'without-a-child-days'...

"The truth always finds its way out...even years and years and years later. The truth always prevails" - Tyler Hamilton.
If you're currently going through a season in life where it seems as though falsehood is prevailing, be encouraged in this fact: - truth always prevails. Sometimes people don't believe your side of the story at all, because they've come to accept the 'untruth' about you....sometimes you wish they knew the whole story with all its complicated turns and twists, but they take the 'half-truth' and judge you based on that. Worry not....Fret not...Truth always prevails!

We sometimes miss the beauty of friendships because we're quick to draw the lines: she's Muslim, I'm Christian...He's a Catholic, I'm Charismatic....They're whites, we're blacks...she's Akan, I'm an Ewe...they're classy, we're regular, etc. We seek to almost 'force' our beliefs on others and almost never give them the space to have an opinion. We write people off sometimes because they speak a different language, or have a different colour, or have a certain societal status. We need to respect people for who they are and accept the fact that not everyone thinks like us, feels like us or has the same views we have on issues. At the core of every life is that need for acceptance, love and respect, regardless of age, race or faith.
Good manners and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of others breaks barriers...
Kindness and love unite people and get rid of discord and resentment...
Wishing one another well from the depth of our hearts leaves no room for envy, jealousy, quarrels and fights...
Self-control, patience, understanding and peace would surely make the world a better place...
Not all black people are criminals...not all white people are racists...we need to stop putting people in labelled boxes and give everyone a chance.

"... like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son". Heb. 12:16b

Don't let a single grudge let you sell your inheritance rights as a spouse/friend/sibling/parent/child
Let not a single unresolved issue cause you to sell your blessings in that loving relationship
Don't let one selfish move cause all the years of friendship & trust to be washed down the drain
Let not one un-forgiven sin have a foothold in your heart & cause you to drift apart from the angels God has placed in your life
Be careful not to give the root of bitterness any space in your life; it defiles many.
Let not a single corrupt act cause you to sell your self-esteem, honour, years of selfless-service and hard-earned reputation
In that single moment of being angry/upset/disappointed, be careful not to take a decision that doesn't bring glory to our Heavenly Father. Let good overcome evil - always.
Don't let a quarrel over a loved-one's property cause you to depart from all that is lovely and admirable in family relations

"....afterward, as you know, when Esau wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done." Heb. 12:17

 “Home is the true wife’s kingdom. There, first of all places, she must be strong and beautiful. She may touch life outside in many ways, if she can do it without slighting the duties that are hers within her own doors. But if any calls for her service must be declined, they should not be the duties of her home. These are hers, and no other one’s. Very largely does the wife hold in her hands, as a sacred trust, the happiness and the highest good of the hearts that nestle there. The best husband—the truest, the noblest, the gentlest, the richest-hearted—cannot make his home happy if his wife be not, in every reasonable sense, a helpmate to him.

So we tell Moses, 'we sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you; pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.' Moses prays for us...then the Lord says, 'make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live'. Then, truly, when anyone among us was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived! (narrative coined from Numbers 21:4-9)

Why would God give us a snake as the solution when we asked Him to take snakes from our camp? God's methods and solutions may look out of the world and may not make sense to our finite minds sometimes, but that's part of His sovereignty. God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.

The message of salvation sounds too good to be true to some. "Really?", some ask. "All we need to do is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour and in His finished work on the Cross?", some question. Yes! Salvation is full and free in Christ alone! "But there's no free lunch", others say. "There certainly must be something we need to do or pay right?" Well, there's a price but only the spotless Lamb of God was worthy enough to pay that price. Jesus paid it all...all to Him we owe. Just as the snake was lifted up in the wilderness, so the Son of Man was lifted up on Calvary for us. Look to Jesus now, and LIVE!

Mothers with babies...sometimes you need help...sometimes you need a break...sometimes you feel lonely. Surrounding yourself with reminders and with people who encourage you helps. Remind yourself that you're doing very meaningful work...have a master plan... What do you want to see in your children?

Sometimes you look your best, other times you don't...
Sometimes you forget to put on your ear-rings or make-up because you're in a hurry or there was an unexpected poop-incident...
No matter how you look or feel on any day, take note that you're doing a great job...don't downplay your roles or duties. You have the beautiful opportunity of bringing up a child made in the image of God...
Know your worth...smile...seek God's strength daily and enjoy the journey.

Some days you make mistakes...other days all goes well. When you make a mistake, forgive yourself, learn and move on. Rise up every time you fall...you have the strength...you're a woman. :)

Pray a lot...read a lot...may the Lord sharpen your gift of discernment - yup! every woman has that. Listen to your inner voice. "Be very careful then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord's will is." - Eph. 5:15-17

It doesn't matter how long you've 'known' Jesus or how long you've been associated with Him / His ministry. What matters is how much of Him others can see in you, and how much you've been transformed into His likeness. What is critical is how much of your heart you've surrendered to Him completely, unrestrained.

As Ira F. Stanphill rode in his car, he listened to some commercial programs on the radio, some sponsored by establishments that advertised their happy hour and their alcoholic beverages. He also heard cigarettes being advertised in terms of how they bring happiness.

 

..he walked with Him but the words He spoke didn't change his life...he was numbered among His closest friends but iron didn't sharpen iron in his case...he was there when Peter confessed, 'You are the Christ', but clearly those powerful words didn't make an impact in his world...he was exposed to the same parables and teachings the others heard..he saw many miracles...he had many opportunities to fully surrender but Judas Iscariot gave the Lord Jesus Christ away to be crucified. Dr. John MacArthur says, "It is possible to be near Jesus and to associate with Him closely and still be hardened in sin."...Jesus puts it this way - "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven."
Forbid it Lord, that we'll have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof...forbid it that we'll be associated with You but refuse to let Your Word sanctify and transform us from the inside out...may we grow more and more to be like Jesus in every fabric of our lives...may our lives tell the story of Jesus, and may the aroma of Christ in our lives draw many to the saving knowledge of Him who died and rose again. Amen.

I have had the opportunity of going to the Passport Office in Accra twice in the past year; here are a few of my thoughts:

1. Why can't the passport forms be downloaded and filled, or even filled online? Why can't the general public access a document online which details the requirements for filling the passport forms? Why do people need to pay middle-men to help them fill the forms because of the 'tricky' details required? Why do people need to be returned home because they didn't know they needed one particular document or the other? For instance a lady gets to the passport office after three hours (from her home in Afienya to the central business district) only to be told to go and get a new birth certificate done because the one she brought was 'not acceptable'. Why can't this information be made easily accessible so that people don't keep going and coming?

2. Why do people need to start queuing as early as 5am in order to get 'a number' for the day's transactions? Some people arrive at 8am (official opening hours) and have had to be turned back because they didn't get there 'early enough'. Really? If there's such a high demand, why can't we run two shifts? I asked one employee, 'what time do you close?'....'3:30pm', he replied. Why's that? Meanwhile, by 8am, the 'numbers' for the day have already been given out and people need to come the next day.

3. Does the facility have to look that dirty and run-down? I've not been there on a rainy day, but i wonder where people are made to sit. On the sunny days I was there, we were made to sit under a canopy (donated by a Chinese Fund) on some not-so-comfortable-chairs. We sat there in the open for about an hour. Mothers with babies had to be pacing to and fro to keep the children quiet. Elderly men and women with waist pains had to bend low to sit on the chairs because there was no alternative. Is this the best service to be offered to people who desire to have a simple travel or identity document? The facility may be old, but can be kept cleaner and more decent. That's not the only uncomfortable place there though: there's the 'capture room' that is just not it! - ACs that don't work well in a stuffy room that isn't well ventilated; 7 capture booths with just about 3 or 4 in operation; scanners that don't work well, etc. Plus, the gate is locked once you enter, to prevent others from entering - restricting your movement, causing you to barely find a seat in the often-crowded space! It's sad to see the elderly, clergy men, children, etc being in such uncomfortable situations. And while those who have gone in 'by the right way' sit to get their turns, there's always a lot of people who use the 'back door' and have a separate queue to take their shots at the 3 or 4 available cameras, leaving the 'ordinary' people stranded.

There's a lot more i think could be done better at the Passport Office that would lift the face of the country, create more job opportunities, and provide dignified services to the public. One sad thing about Ghana is this - when you want to do things the 'right way', the 'systems' make life uncomfortable. Many people have passports but very few people go through the kind of hassle I have just described because there's always another way - you can pay a middle man to get this done for you while you relax. Take the cases of renewing a license or registering a car at the DVLA, or clearing goods at the port - People need to either know someone or pay many people 'bribes' along the way just to get a service they are entitled to.

I look forward to a Ghana with a better maintenance structure. e.g. the 10-floor structure at the passport office should not be left to rot...i know there was a fire and all, but is there no use at all for that building? I look forward to a Ghana where people (especially the disabled, elderly and children) can have services rendered to them in a comfortable and dignifying way. I look forward to a Ghana where people who want to do the right thing are encouraged and not frustrated along the way. I look forward to a Ghana where we cherish fearless honesty, like our national anthem says. God bless our homeland Ghana, and make our nation great and strong!

I came across this quote by Tim Clinton - "You are who you spend time with", and it led me to some self-examination; appropriate for the dawn of a new month...appropriate for some soul-searching...

Who did you spend most time with last year and last month? How did that relationship add value/meaning to your life, your other relationships, your family, your business, your career, etc? Who are your friends? Who or what is shaping you? Most adults are certain that they've passed the stage of 'peer pressure' but we need to take note that there's still a level of influence that the people we spend time with have on us - no matter how small that influence may be.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. - Prov. 27:17

Do we have friends who keep us eternity-conscious? Parents, do the people you spend time with encourage you to be your best in your roles at home in a God-honouring way, spend more time with your children and make an intentional effort to impart life-changing traits to the next generation? Couples, do you spend time with other couples who encourage you to build sweet-smelling marriages that focus on Jesus at the center? Single ladies and men, do you spend time with people who encourage you to be pure, joyful, grateful and steadfast in our most holy faith while you wait for God's perfect will concerning you?

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character". - 1 Cor. 15:33

Do we have people in our lives who are bold enough, and who love us enough to tell us the truth - even if that truth may hurt and may turn our relationship a little sour?

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. - Prov. 27: 5&6

Are you being a good friend, sister, mother, wife, office-mate, church member, boss, employee, husband, brother, etc. to the people in your life? We are all not perfect, but we can motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Let us encourage one another to be all that we can be in Christ Jesus, by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, even the more as we see the day of His return drawing near.

May the Lord cause us to choose our friends carefully...may His Grace keep us from walking in step with the wicked or standing in the way that sinners take...may we build one another up in our most holy faith and keep ourselves safe in God's love. Amen. 

Life gets discouraging sometimes. We may feel our skills and talents are being underutilized on our jobs...or that our current salary is nothing compared to what we think we deserve...or we 'wasted our time' in that relationship which didn't work out...or that we took a course in college that we don't seem to be using...
But there's no wasted season in life. All things may not feel good, but all things are working together for our good. Moses had to be in the wilderness to encounter the Lord in that burning bush experience. Moses had to first walk the dreary path of the wilderness to enable him be the leader that God had predestined him to be. Moses' being in the wilderness was totally different from everything he had known previously about life; raised up in the palace, he had all things provided for him...But God thrust him into a season that prepared him for his purpose - a season that was uncomfortable...perhaps confusing sometimes...a season of humbling oneself to learn new things...a season of hard work that was noticed by no man...a season of tears, fears and failures...a season of doing the 'dirty work' of tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law...a  season of insignificance...a season of fleeing and trying to hide the unpleasant parts of his testimony - in short, a season of running to God to discover his true identity and purpose in life.

Whatever you're going through or doing in life right now, here's a truth worthy of all acceptance: There's no wasted season of your life - The Grand Weaver is putting all the pieces of your life together beautifully. No tear of yours would go wasted...no relationship would go without the necessary lessons...no experience would prove futile if we yield all of our lives to the Lord. No tear, joy, laughter, pain, failure, success, disappointment, victory, grief, friendship, wilderness-experience, mountain-top experience, mistake, etc. would go wasted. May the Lord sustain us through all the seasons of our lives...may we not get frustrated and give up when He takes us through 'tough times'...may we see life through His eyes...and may His perfect way of telling our peculiar stories be what we yearn for all our days. Amen.

iBlog to give a portion of myself – the gift of words, gifts of the mind, gifts of the heart and most importantly gifts of the Spirit of Jesus Christ living in me.

I saw this quote (coming up below) from Wilfred A. Peterson in a book i read two years ago and it made me think, "what portion of myself am i giving?" Think through each line as you read this 'Art of Giving' quote...may the Lord reveal to you ways in which you can give portions of yourself to those you love, and to the world at large. Amen.

"We give of ourselves when we give gifts of the heart:
Love, kindness, joy, understanding, sympathy,
tolerance, forgiveness.

We give of ourselves when we give gifts of the mind:
Ideas, dreams, purposes, ideals, principles,
plans, projects, poetry.

We give of ourselves when we give gifts of the spirit:
Prayer, vision, beauty, aspiration, peace, faith.

We give of ourselves when we give the gift of words:
Encouragement, inspiration, guidance.

Emerson said it well:
"Rings and jewels are not gifts,
but apologies for gifts.
The only true gift is a portion of thyself." "

From The Art of Living
by Wilfred A. Peterson

Sometimes words jump at me. Sometimes I get the actual wording for a piece I’m led to write. Sadly, I don’t readily get to put my pen/fingers to work in those sacred times. God help me be a better steward of the words and pieces He graciously gives me. Amen.

What holds me back sometimes? Well, I feel inadequate on some occasions. For example, God says to write a piece on motherhood & I go like “I’ve been a mother for barely 13 months Lord…surely, the older mums know better. There are many people with much more experience, plus, many sermons have already been written on the topic of motherhood, etc.” Valid excuses! But I thank God for characters in the Bible who encourage me:
1. Gideon felt inadequate but the Lord called him ‘mighty man of valour’ and said to him ‘go in this your might.’
2. Paul said to Timothy, ‘let no man despise thy youth’.
3. God said to Moses, ‘now go, I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people’. Moses said to God, ‘who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?’ God said, ‘I will be with you’.

There are many more encouraging examples in the Bible. The Lord is with us, so whatever He tells us to do, we should just do it. Let's quit giving 'valid excuses' and get to work.

...iBlog to bring Him Glory...iBlog to encourage myself and others in the Lord. I may not have all the perfect skills but i'm stepping out like Gideon 'in this my might'. Thankfully, i have this blessed assurance: The Lord is with me!

…to help in better archiving and quick referencing. Facebook helps me share my thoughts with family and friends, but it hasn’t helped much with quick searches for written stuff.

I’ve been through phases where going through a challenge, I remembered faintly some words of encouragement which came to me sometime back (which I didn’t write down) and then wishing, ‘oh, those are the exact words I need in this season of my life!’.

Here’s my motivation, plus this blog’s theme Bible verse: “Then the LORD told me:
“I will give you my message
    in the form of a vision.
Write it clearly enough
    to be read at a glance.”

Whatever message the Lord gives me, I pray that I write it clearly enough to be read at a glance. Quick searches, proper labels and headings, so that, as the Amplified Bible puts it, ‘everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by.’

...iBlog because I understand that the words God gives me are not meant for just me.

We read quotes of people who lived centuries ago & these words still speak to us in our generation. There are hymn-stories of authors who wrote some verses, were not pleased with what they had written but got composers who added beautiful tunes to these verses and transformed these ‘unpleasant’ words into soul-lifting hymns that are sung till this day.

Life isn’t only about us and how we feel at the moment. God is an expert at transforming foolish things into mighty things; He specializes in using the little we have to offer to accomplish life-transforming feats; He’s a pro at using available vessels to show forth His praise and glory.

...iBlog to show forth the praises of Him who brought me out of darkness into His wonderful light.

The following text is from Charles Spurgeon's Devotional app (i.e. Morning and Evening app for Android) You can subscribe to it via the link posted at the end of this page.

"I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content."— Philippians 4:11 (KJV)

These words show us that contentment is not a natural propensity of man. Covetousness, discontent, and murmuring are as natural to man as thorns are to the soil. We need not sow thistles and brambles; they come up naturally enough, because they are indigenous to earth: and so, we need not teach men to complain; they complain fast enough without any education. But the precious things of the earth must be cultivated. If we would have wheat, we must plough and sow; if we want flowers, there must be the garden, and all the gardener’s care. Now, contentment is one of the flowers of heaven, and if we would have it, it must be cultivated; it will not grow in us by nature; it is the new nature alone that can produce it, and even then we must be specially careful and watchful that we maintain and cultivate the grace which God has sown in us. Paul says, “I have learned ... to be content;” as much as to say, he did not know how at one time. It cost him some pains to attain to the mystery of that great truth. No doubt he sometimes thought he had learned, and then broke down. And when at last he had attained unto it, and could say, “I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content,” he was an old, grey-headed man, upon the borders of the grave—a poor prisoner shut up in Nero’s dungeon at Rome. We might well be willing to endure Paul’s infirmities, and share the cold dungeon with him, if we too might by any means attain unto his good degree. Do not indulge the notion that you can be contented without learning, or learn without discipline. It is not a power that may be exercised naturally, but a science to be acquired gradually. We know this from experience. Brother, hush that murmur, natural though it be, and continue a diligent pupil in the College of Content.

..."for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Phil. 4:11b-13.

The verse 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' is often used in a 'possibility' context, i.e. we can overcome all temptations through Christ...or we can achieve anything through Christ who strengthens us. This verse is not often used in its 'true' context - the 'contentment context'.

 The NIV Bible is one of the translations that makes the meaning of the verse clearer: - "I can do all this through Him who gives me strength."

In keeping with the last part of 2 Tim. 2: 15 which says we should correctly handle the word of truth, let's check the previous verse(s) to find out what this in Phil. 4:13 means:
The apostle Paul was talking about how he had learned to be content in whatever state / circumstance in which he found himself.
1. I know what is it to be in need, and i know what it is to have plenty:
Paul acknowledges that this isn't as simple as it sounds, but he's been able to do this through Christ who gives him strength.

2. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
Paul testifies that this is only possible through Christ.

Humans are naturally selfish. A baby cries when her breast-milk is not available at the time she wants it. We always want more of one thing or the other, and sometimes even believe that the things we don't have currently are the exact things we need to make our lives sweeter and better.

Contentment is not listed as one of the spiritual gifts. It is not a skill attributed to some personalities. It is not a talent that readily comes to some individuals. CONTENTMENT IS TO BE LEARNED.

Whatever our circumstances may be today, may the Lord teach us to be content. Amen.

Sometimes the door will open only when you understand why it was shut in the first place.

Consider the story of Hannah. She wanted a son but God wanted a prophet. When she prayed, 'If you...give me a son, I will give him back to you all his life...' 

(1 Samuel 1:11 NCV),

God not only gave her Samuel, but also six more children (1 Samuel 2:5). When you pray for a harvest God will ask you to sow a seed. That seed may be something you love and want to cling to, but don't - rather, surrender it to God. Hannah discovered she couldn't be satisfied with less than God's will. Elkanah had two wives, but he loved Hannah the most and granted her 'a double portion' of his possessions (1Samuel 1:5). But when you're not doing what you know God has truly called you to do, the love of people and material things won't satisfy you. 'Ordained' people are not just those in pulpits! 

Hannah was ordained to be a mother. You may be ordained to be a secretary, a landscape gardener or a teacher. Find whatever God's called you to do, and do it! Finally, Hannah's desperation led her to her destiny: 'The Lord... closed her womb.' Why? To get Hannah's attention, to draw her closer to Himself. 

Hard times cause us to re-examine our lives and seek God as never before. Our emphasis changes from 'Lord, here's what I want' to 'Lord, what do You want?' Then He blesses us, because '...He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him' (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV).

_UCB_

There is a vast difference between saying prayers and praying. Prayers could be said without meaning...e.g. 'saying' the Lord's prayer because you know every word of it but not meaning/ understanding anything or connecting with God while praying...plus not backing it with faith.

I don't think there's anything wrong with 'reading out' prayers sometimes, especially if that is done with meaning and faith. Sometimes prayers are written and read by liturgists to 'remind' them of a particular theme of focus, or to keep the congregation within a 'stipulated time frame'. e.g. when a service is being aired live, people may want to 'read out' a prayer so that they're kept in check with their wording and timing...but that doesn't mean it's without meaning or faith. Most importantly in every case however, we need to pray with meaning and not just 'say' words.