2 Popular myths that appear as if they are from the Bible…

… BUT are not. 

1.  Myth:  “God helps those who help themselves.”

Truth: God helps those who are helpless.  Throughout the Bible, it is evident that God has a special heart for the helpless and the vulnerable such as the poor, the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, etc. In the Old Testament days, God gave specific instructions for the care of such people. See Scriptural examples of God’s zealousness for the care and protection of the poor, orphans, widows and the foreigner below. The first example has really strong words of warning from God to the advantaged group.

Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless. Exodus 22:22-24 (NIV). 

He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. Deuteronomy 10:18 (NIV)

At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. Deuteronomy 14:28- 29 (NIV)

Do not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge.  Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this. Deuteronomy 24:17-22 (NIV)

When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.
Deuteronomy 24:19-22 (NIV).

If Boaz and his farm servants had not practiced the command to leave some of the barley sheaves behind them, do you think Ruth would have gotten food for Naomi and herself? (Ruth 2:1-23).

Under the New Testament covenant, Christians are expected to continue to care for the needy. To share is one Bible quote which for me, sums up the subject: 

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27 (NIV).

I believe this principle is different from fighting for or claiming what belongs to you as most people interpret the statement above. Even then, when one is at the receiving end of a twisted deal that goes against the person, God will come through for this person when he/she calls on Him. Read the example of the widow and her persistent petition to a godless judge, from Luke 18:1-8. 

2. Myth: “Money is the root of all evil”

Truth: For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, (1 Timothy 6: 10: NIV). Some Bible versions say, “a root” while other say, “the root”. Discussions about money seem to be a thorny issue for most people. Is it because there is never enough? I don’t know. There are many pastors who would rather not talk about money or preach about money in their congregations; they often condemn their follow pastors who preach the “prosperity gospel”. The “prosperity gospel” pastors seem to excessively preach about money and wealth to the point of disregarding the message of first import: the salvation of lost souls. These are the two extremes. But whatever position one stands for or whether a person does not have any position at all, money is a necessity that one can’t live without. Just know this… it is the love (greediness) of money which is the problem, not the money itself.  

May the LORD bless as all as we confound myths with the truth of God’s Word. 

Blessings,
Lady Akofa.

... on Patience

To wait upon God is the perfection of activity. ~Oswald Chambers

Patience is the companion of wisdom. ~St. Augustine

Selfishness is weakness

“Selfishness is weakness.
But loving and caring for others is a position of power beyond anything that we can possibly imagine.”

~~~Joyce Meyer

Lifting your heart to God in the wait

I have not read any of Elisabeth Elliot's books, not yet. But I have been to her website and read other books, blogs with quotes from her books and writings. From the little that I've read about her, I think Elisabeth Elliot is one wise, old lady impacting the younger generation for God's kingdom. Here is one of those profound quotes I found from a devotional:

I do know that waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one’s thoughts. It is easy to talk oneself into a decision that has no permanence, easier sometimes than to wait patiently.
~Elisabeth Elliot~

Hmmm... What do you think?
Lady Akofa.

You say...

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’
But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire,
so you can become rich;
and white clothes to wear,
so you can cover your shameful nakedness;
and salve to put on your eyes,
so you can see.

Revelations 3: 17-18

Too much to take in?

The gold has been tested and all impurities have been taken out. Wouldn't you want true wealth?
The clothes are clean, white and without stains. Why would you prefer dirty clothes?
Who doesn't want to see clearly in the midst of all the darkness in this world?

Take up the offer!
Lady Akofa.

History like a weaved fabric

“... history is like a giant piece of fabric with very intricate and complex patterns. During the minted span of our lifetimes we see only a tiny fraction of the pattern. Furthermore, as been observed by others, we see the pattern from the underside. The underside of a weaving usually makes no sense. Even the upper side makes little sense if we view just a tiny piece. Only God sees the upper side, and only He sees the entire fabric with its complete pattern. Therefore, we must trust Him to work out all the details of history to His glory, knowing that His glory and out good are bound up together."

From Trusting God: Even when life hurts by Jerry Bridges, page 94; NavPress.

Only in Ghana! Speaking in Tongues

Sometimes, I’m tickled by conversations I have with people, especially when

1. we speak different languages (literally) or
2. when people use inappropriate words or unintentionally use certain words to mean something else. This makes for potential misunderstanding and conflicts but can be a source of humour!

Sometime ago, I had a brief conversation with a retired cleaner and messenger. He wears many hats, by the way. I was so amused by it that I typed it for my personal pleasure. This conversation is an example of situation 1 above, where he was speaking in broken Ghanaian English and I, formal educated English. I normally switch to broken Ghanaian English when I meet such people but for some reason, I stayed with formal English in this encounter. I’m sharing here.

Former co-worker, a pensioner: I wan box cover.
Me: There are things inside so I won’t be able to give you the box. By the way, what do you want the box for?
Pensioner: I wan put puss cat for box make I take home.
Me: Eeeiiiee! Pussy cat! You’ve got a pussy cat!
Pensioner: Somebody stole my Big puss cat, eh! So I get small (baby-my insert) puss cat make I take home.
Me: Oooh... as for this one. Somebody has probably taken your Big cat to make Fufu and light soup. Oooh sorry o!
Pensioner: Ooooh.... every time visitor come for house, they make say, this puss cat dey BIG, fine! Now i-no more. Oooooooh!

*Note: Yes, there are people who eat cat meat. I’ve not yet tried it. I doubt I will.

Amused,
Lady Akofa.

On Service...

So.... last year, I was collecting quotes on "service" for my church news magazine and found these online. When we were ready to send our articles to the press I just couldn't find them, lol! Anyway... it's not too late to share on a different forum, right? I share!

Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.- Albert Einstein

Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us daily.- Sally Koch

Service is the rent we pay to be living. It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time. – Marian Wright Edelman

There is incredible value in being of service to others. I think if many of the people in therapy offices were dragged out to put their finger in a dike, take up their place in a working line, they would be relieved of terrible burdens.- Elizabeth Berg

The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity. - Leo Tolstoy

Start where you are. Distant field always look greener, but opportunity lies where you are. Take advantage of every opportunity of service. – Robert Collier

God bless ya,
Lady Akofa.

The enemy

Below is a profound thought, a quote by yours truly, if you will, that has consumed my thoughts today and I'm completely awed! I just had to share.

"The stuck reality that sin, not Satan, is my greatest enemy of all time and the comforting and assuring TRUTH that sin can be overcome in
JESUS CHRIST."
--- Lady Akofa---

And I'm incredibly floored by the realization that God had already provided for the redemption from my greatest enemy (sin) through Jesus Christ even before I knew I needed Him. What a good and loving God!

So who do you say is your greatest enemy? Just think about it.

Glod bless ya,
Lady Akofa.

****Note: Still not sure whether to blog regularly or not, hehehe! Like I said earlier, please bear with me!
:)

A good dose...

This is the first time, I'm blogging since this blog went private. Too busy for my liking. U-haul should come and get me to change my lifestyle, hehehe! :)

Below is a quote about thought patterns and gratitude. A good dose of gratitude every single day will certainly show you how rich you are.

"I cannot tell you anything that, in a few minutes, will tell you how to be rich. But I can tell you how to feel rich, which is far better, let me tell you firsthand, than being rich. Be grateful ... it's the only totally reliable get-rich-quick scheme."
- Ben Stein

A Time for Everything

Another end has come; new things are in store. There is time for everything. His faithfulness and love is beyond full comprehension. No thanksgiving can ever be enough but I'll THANK Him anyway. I ♥ my Papa.

A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 (NIV)

Still on the themes of Seasons, Change, Expectations and Gratefulness, one of our pastors-in-training made a striking statement -I had to pause and write it down- when we celebrated our annual thanksgiving early this month. It's worth sharing.

Flowers are sign of promise and the fruit are the manifestation of the promise.
~~~ Mrs. A. Phillips.

Since then I don't casually look at flowers of fruit-bearing trees and other flowers; I'm filled with much awe and wonder at the sight of them.

Yes, there is time for everything and He makes ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL at their proper time.

May God make all things not yet beautiful in your life BEAUTIFUL when it's time.

God bless ya,
Lady Akofa.

Great who?

On discussing recent trends in publicity and adverts of church ‘power-packed’ programmes in Ghana:

"Why not say, ....
the man of the Great God
instead of
....the great man of God?"

asked by Mrs. E.B. Quarcoo-July 2009

Are we excessively qualifying the servant/man of God yet failing to give proper recognition to the Incomparable God, who is much greater than the human vessels He chooses to use?

Food for thought!
Lady Akofa.

Anything Other than what God intends

To itch to know
and
to have
and
to be
anything other than
what God intends for me
to know
and
to have
and
to be
must go.

~Elisabeth Elliot~

Old Love

The question is asked, "Is there anything more beautiful in life than a young couple clasping hands and pure hearts in the path of marriage? Can there be anything more beautiful than young love?"

And the answer is given. "Yes, there is a more beautiful thing. It is the spectacle of an old man and an old woman finishing their journey together on that path. Their hands are gnarled, but still clasped; their faces are seamed, but still radiant; their hearts are physically bowed and tired, but still strong with love and devotion for one another. Yes, there is a more beautiful thing than young love. Old love."

~Author Unknown~

Nancy on the Sovereignty of God

On the Sovereignty of God, below is a quote by Nancy Leigh DeMoss of Revive Our Hearts.

"Once we agree with God that we exist for His pleasure and His glory, we can accept whatever comes into our lives as part of His sovereign will and purpose. We will not resent, resist, or reject the 'hard things,' but embrace them as friends, sovereignly designed by God to make us like Jesus and to bring glory to Himself."
~Nancy Leigh DeMoss~

On Desire

I came across scribbles of quotes from old notepads about desire. Aaaah, that strong feeling we call desire! Desire for a particular woman cost Jacob 14 years of labour to her father. Uriah prematurely lost his life and wife because of David's unbridled desire. Desire caused Jesus' relentless pursuit of me and His life in exchange for mine. Man can control it somewhat but only in God's hands does it become a purposeful and God-honouring tool.

“… pursuit is proof of desire.” Mike Murdock.

"Desire, ask, believe, receive." Stella Terrill Mann

"There is one quality that one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants and a burning desire to possess it." Napoleon Hill

“It is one thing to desire and it is another thing to be prepared to receive what you desire.” ???

From World Disney's Mulan

I watched World Disney's Mulan sometime last year, and this statement struck me:

The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.

I'm still reflecting on what this means, considering how Mulan disguises herself to join the Imperial Army for a much needed battle that would save both her father and her people. Mulan did bloom and mature under such pressing circumstances. And was recommended as a rare and beautiful flower to her man.