GOD and me = Me and an ant.

I’ve always been fascinated by cartoons and animated films about the animal kingdom. In Monster Inc., it was ‘frightening’ to see monsters scaring kids at night for a living, lol! I think I was fascinated that one of the monster’s name was “Boo.” Boo? Yeah! And there was one called, “Fungus!” “Finding Nemo” was just as exciting for me, the day I watched it. And my favourite for all time has always been “The Lion King” 1. You wanna guess how many times, I have watched it?

Enter:

GOD and me = Me and an ant.

So when last Sunday my pastor tried to use the equation above to illustrate how precious my salvation is in his sermon, my mind went a-roaming in the animated animal kingdom, lol! I was reminded of “Antz” and “Chicken Run” that I had watched during the Christmas break last month. But that was an “Aha! moment” for me during church service.

God, soooooooooo big decided to come in human form in order to relate to small me, in the form of Jesus Christ. He really didn’t have to do that but for some lovey-dovey reason and to honour His word, you and me are so important and valuable to God that He did the most unthinkable thing in order to establish an everlasting relationship with His human creatures. Why is that unthinkable? Well, imagine you had the power to do so, would you want to be born and live as a ant in order to relate to ants? Even if it’s temporary, would you? If you ask me, a Big “No!” and “Yuck!” are my answers. Lol! But that’s how I got the message. God loves me and you soo much to do just that!

“What is man that you are mindful of him
the son of man that you care for him?”
Psalm 8:4 (NIV)

Yep, you are that precious.

BTW, wouldn’t it really be an interesting world if all animals could speak, like in those movies? God even let a donkey speak some eons ago. Think I lie? Check out Numbers 22:21-35. Awesome!

You’re loved and highly esteemed,
Lady Akofa.

Peace when all goes haywire

So prices for fuel and major commodities have gone up all over the world. Everybody is digging deeper into their pockets. Investors are worried. Next door Cote D’Ivoire is in a state of political unrest. The sudden uprising in Tunisia feels like, “Wow! Where did this one come from?” For the largest country in Africa, Sudan, the question is, “To split or not to split?” Australia and Brazil are recovering from loss of lives and property due to floods. The random shootings in schools and public gatherings in the US is just insane. Haiti is still recovering from that big earthquake last year. And the Middle East? Let’s not go there.

What is the world coming to? Are we safe or what?

But Jesus never promised a life free from pain and suffering. And it’s interesting that he reiterates this in one of his last words to the disciples before he went to Calvary.

“I have told you these things, so that IN ME you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV).

So while all these are taking place, you can have peace... I can have peace... But only in JESUS CHRIST. And that’s comforting!

Peace in Christ Jesus,
Lady Akofa.

2 things!

I’m sooo not over the Christmassy-New Year season, although I’ve been back at work since the 4th day in the year. I’m still in the reflecting-resolution mode, learning to be at peace as I trust my God for each day.

2 things I like about Christmas season. : -)

1. Piccadilly Biscuits



See, the Piccadilly biscuits are made in Ghana. It’s an annual tradition for lots of Ghanaians to have this goody at Christmas.


Updated: Below is what the Piccadilly biscuits look like. Hi! :-)







2. Danish butter cookies

I love the set with sugar sprinkles and with chocolate cookies.

I don’t know where the biscuits go when Christmas and New Year season is over but you hardly see them on the Ghanaian market the rest of the year.

Yes, I’m that vain. : - )

And yes, I have a sweet tooth,
Lady Akofa.

A time to make New Year Resolutions 3

Goals can be set or resolutions can be made in different areas of one’s life. Here are 6 start-up categories but certainly not exhaustive.

Spiritual: Evangelism and Discipleship, Bible study (Personal, Corporate), Prayer (Personal, Corporate), etc.

Financial/Economic: Budgeting, Giving, Tithing, Saving, Investing, Acquiring a property, Repaying Debts, Building/Creating a business, etc.

Educational/Work-related or both: Study times, managing work/school relationships, being a faithful steward in school assignments and in handling tasks at work, etc.

Relationships: Marriage, Parenting, Family, Friends, Society-mission, mentoring. Relationships you’d like to start and relationships that need to be restored.

Health: Eating Healthy, Exercise, Medical Checkups, etc.

Passion, Hobby & Entertainment: to start new hobby a to sharpen skills, to turn a hobby into an income generating venture, etc.

A few questions to get you along in goal setting

1. What are 3 key things you’d like to achieve this year or that you’d like God to do this year? You can select from the suggested list above.

2. For each of 3 listed goals, what is the first necessary step you need to take to start the process? Here you’ll find out that you’ll need to break that lofty goal into smaller steps or redefined your goal to include timelines, measures for monitoring and evaluation, etc. Joan Esherick gives insights here.

3. Of the 3 goals that you’ve set, which one of them is most challenging to you?
b. Who would you like to consider as your accountability partner in this area. Anybody of your choice... but preferably someone who won’t sugar-coat the truth, who you can trust to poke their nose in your personal business from time to time and will support you in prayer. Let God lead you in this area too!

I do know one thing from past experience: the times that I’ve spent significant time and energy on pursuing spiritual things/goals or in making radically spiritual changes have often spilled over into other areas of my life. That, I can tell you and it's most profitable, (Matthew 6: 33-34). Don Whitney has a set of questions that you can sample from. Check them out here.

If you’re convinced that this New Year resolution business is still not for you, I sympathize. I’ve been there and done that.

May God lead you and may 2011 be a fulfilling year for all my readers!

God bless ya,
Lady Akofa.

A time to make New Year Resolutions 2

I’m sharing some articles this area. I’m not necessarily using all these ideas but depending on where you are in your walk with God or what you want God to do in your life... it may trigger something, bring clarity to your situation or lead you to consider new things. I really hope that this post blesses you in some way, even if it’s teeny-tiny, lol!

1. Annual resolutions and our daily habits seem not be aligned, no wonder we struggle with carrying them out! Check the Boundless article here.

2. Another article on Boundless on Goal Setting.

3. Here is a third article from Boundless. Can’t you see that I ♥ Boundless? Mwaah!

4. So you are busy. I understand. So what are you busy about anyway? Are they of value? No, I’m not talking to you, I’m talking to myself.

I’ve had this PDF file since last year... I downloaded it because I knew I needed to read it. I never got round to applying the recommend principles because I never finished reading it... because... you know... because... : - ) Sheepish smile. The title tells you why: Personal Productivity. I so, so, so need to finish reading it. From what I did read, I highly recommend it.

5. Five-a-month plan.... If you think the whole yearly thing is too long thus prefer monthly goals, maybe this will work. Plan to accomplish 5 major things (it could be more) per a month and report back to yourself or your accountability partner(s).

6. In her article, “Resolution Solution,” Joan Esherick gives pointers as to how to work through and streamline the goals you set. It’s not as simple as, “I want to be more patient in 2011.” That’s a lofty dream that is bound to fail.

7. You might want to try the challenge of reading the Bible in 90 days (3 months) if the short term thrill fascinates you. I did the 90 day challenge twice (in a little more than 90 days) & each experience was thrilling. Of course, the reading the bible in the year or in 6 months can be considered. But you definitely need make time for your readings each day. See the first article.

8. Or perhaps quantity is not your focus this year but quality in your bible reading. A motivation to chew the cud, meditate more can be found here. Get the plan in PDF here.

9. Carolyn McCulley has an interesting perspective on New Year Resolutions... our plans and well meaning efforts at self-control will not work unless we consider that Holiness of God and His Spirit’s enablement. I agree.

10. Your To-Do-List will never get done, CJ Mahaney asserts. Just so you don’t get smug about achieving all your daily goals if you manage to do so... hey, there will be more things to accomplish tomorrow. Or if you do get discouraged because you didn’t accomplish one of your daily goals, please know that we only live by the grace of God, step by step and day by day - only God does EVERYTHING He plans to do... that’s why He IS God.

11. Ralph Wilson buttresses the point about relying on the grace of God.

12. Crown Financial Ministries is a great resource for ideas on financial goals... Budgeting, Saving, Investing, Tithing (yes!), Giving (that too!), etc. You really have to check out their website to see.

13. While we set goals, we need to be mindful of the different life seasons we are in and special situations that God has allowed in our lives. Some goals may just not be useful or profitable for a mom with toddlers or for an empty nester. However, there are some goals that would be timely for younger people, for example saving towards a property purchase or acquiring a new skill. Even then, who says senior citizens are exempted from learning new things?! This blog article is specifically addressed to women but, men... you’ll get the point, when you read it.

14. Humour! This clock is heaven bent on waking you up! If you have goals that include waking up early in the morning or if ’re addicted to hitting your snooze button several times every morning, like I do, you need a wake up call, lol! Yes, it’s expensive. So either you wake up quickly at the first alarm, which is free BTW or you consider this pricey alternative, lol!

15. If all this stuff about goals and planning seem to be mumbo-jumbo to you, then try the “One Word” approach by Grit and Glory blogger. Just focus and meditate on the one word God gives you throughout the year. Let it permeate all your thoughts and activities.

Okey dokey, that’s a lot for now. More soon.

God bless ya!
Lady Akofa.

A time to make New Year Resolutions 1

“Tis the season to be jolly” is over for most of us around the world who celebrate Christmas and go by the Georgian calendar. Now is the season to be sober, to reflect and make resolutions, lol! For those still in the “New Year resolution mood,” this post is for you.

So last year, I said I wouldn’t make any resolutions. I didn’t and kept on with this life of mine. And then, mid-year 2010, I received an e-newsletter from a life-coach that I subscribe to asking how far I was getting along in my plans and resolutions for the year. I looked back over the previous 6-7 months and I saw that I wasn’t consciously pursuing any personal goals or spiritual goals thus I had nothing to show for it. It seemed that I was only helping to pursue other people’s goals, mostly work related and church related. I hit a state of panic... What about my personal growth? There seems to be neither significant change nor any indication of gradual progress in any specific area of my life! I’ve not really been working at anything! What a Bummer!

Lessons learnt:

1. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Duh!

2. You reap what you sow. The sober warning is that I cannot escape this truth, otherwise I will only be living in deception if I think so. Galatians 5: 7-9

3. If you don’t plant anything, what do you expect to harvest? Nada! At best, wind! Selah.

And since I hadn’t planned to sow much, there was little harvest in my life. To everyone else, it appeared life was going on smoothly but I knew that inner growth was lacking.

So since the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011, I have really been thinking about resolutions, goals and planning for the year. Not just these but actually acting on what I plan to do. There is a difference between planning and carrying out plans, you know. I’m recruiting an accountability partner to keep me in check in this area. I’ve been prayerfully skimming the Bible, e-articles and the like for ideas and motivation, for me.

It’s not so much the concept of ‘setting goals’ and ‘achieving goals’ so that I’ll have something to show for at the end of 2011. The point is to:

1. Lay these plans before God so that He directs my path. There have been times in the past that God has had to re-direct me to do something else or to simply wait, (Proverbs 3: 5-6 and Psalm 37: 5-7) This should be both a seasonal and daily activity of laying my plans before Him, who knows all things and controls everything.

2. So that I live a productive and fruitful life for Him.

You might want to consider these questions, “Why are you setting goals for the year, that is, if you are? Are you setting goals because ‘everybody is doing it’ or there is a stronger motivation for it? Who are you living for as you plan and make schedules? Or are you making goals to impress people?”

Selah.

Wrestling with these questions too,
Lady Akofa.

To be continued....

Bonne année!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

My new year message is this... click here!

I do pray that you will meditate on Him and know that God is with you.

Blessings,
Lady Akofa.