A 2006 going on to 2007 advice from my Mom

During the Christmas season last year, I got several calls, text messages, e-mails, e-cards and cards laden with Christmas messages and goodwill messages for the year 2007. Some included Scriptures and I remember writing them down. I did and do appreciate them all. Looking back, the Season’s message that was most significant for me was from my mom. And it wasn’t written or typed out either… it was a heart-to-heart talk.

And I share this for somebody’s encouragement. Romans 15: 4

My mom, knowing my situation and my thoughts at that time, took me through Psalm 124, asking me to remember the LORD’s goodness and faithfulness to me in times past. The Israelites or should I say David (it’s a psalm of David, not so?) proclaimed the LORD and only Him in rescuing them and being on their side. They acknowledged that their Help was in the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. If the LORD had not been on my side, let Akofa say…..

Then she shared a second Scripture bit: Psalm 121. This, I was to hold on to in my future days, knowing that the LORD is my only Help when I skim through all people, things and places (Psalm 121:1-2). Day and Night the LORD watches over me and in all my going out and coming in. What a gracious God!

These two have truly kept me going this year especially Psalm 121. I know, my Papa God has been and is still my Help and my Protector. So I thank Him for His 24 hour Help and Protection. How sad that I’m unable to thank Him 24 hours here on earth for what He does for me!

So I thank God for my mom and her message and I pray that this will also bless you!!!
Happy New Year and may God Almighty be your HELP in 2008, whatever befalls you.

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Beneath the shadow of your throne
Your people dwell secure;
Sufficient is your arm alone,
And our defence is sure.

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our guard while this world’s troubles last,
And our eternal home.*

* The first two stanzas and the 6th stanza of the hymn, O God our help. Credited to Isaac Watts (1674-1748).

Belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I purposely chose to be a bit silent on Christmas day, because I know everyone will be busy on Christmas day with the 2 Fs: Family and Food. :) Yeah, food! I was too, cooking and eating it! :) But not silent enough to miss posting on my blog the entire season.

So…Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

My Season’s Message is published in the next post, so read on.

“Limbo” Relationships: Noncommittal Men and the Women who “love” them

One of the books I’ve been reading this month is Michelle McKinney Hammond’s How to Avoid the 10 Mistakes Single Women Make. One of things she writes substantiates my thoughts and predictions concerning Fair Lady’s relationship with her man, see previous post.

When a man is ready to make a commitment, he moves heaven and earth to put his life in order to accommodate the woman he has decided is the best thing since sliced bread. …..

It has been said that a man will do only what a woman allows. If you allow him to continue on in a noncommittal state, he will take full advantage of all that you have to offer without ever committing more of himself to you or the relationship. .....

It simply becomes an issue of what we choose to allow or disallow. When you act as a wife before you are a wife, chances are you will not become a wife. You have given the man nothing to aspire to. Page 164. (Emphasis added)

My Fair Lady is just one of the many who has allowed a man to take full and undue advantage of her and now, she can’t get her man to commit officially. Though she acts like a wife, she doesn’t feel like a married woman, thus her confrontational attitude about getting married.

Michelle Hammonds advises in the next page,

Whether your issue is sensitive or not, don’t allow anyone to waste you time or your emotional energy on a relationship that will not profit you emotionally or spiritually in the end. I realize that many hang on, praying that their man will someday wake up and smell the coffee. See the light or otherwise you will be sorely disappointed to find these long, drawn out relationships fading to black like a bad movie.

From godly counsel and observation, such men hardly smell the coffee. I wonder…., I doubt... (at the risk of appearing glum) that Fair Lady’s man will smell her coffee either.

Prophecy to Determine Marriage Status???

As part of my looooooong deserved vacation, I spent 10 days in Kumasi, one of my dream places. I went to braid my hair in a small kiosk of a very pretty, respectful lady. The braiding took the whole afternoon and most of early evening. Though my hair didn’t come out the way I would have liked, I was struck by the braider’s beauty and her painstaking diligence in getting my hair done.

I noticed she had a Good News Bible tucked in her things but I didn’t comment on it. In Ghana today, it seems everybody is professing to be a Christian, or so I thought.

Late afternoon, a beautiful, fair-coloured lady, whom I will call Fair Lady, walked into the Lady Braider’s kiosk with tales of marriage ceremonies she had attended over the weekend, including her brother’s. In her rich, deep voice and with an aggressive attitude, Fair Lady lamented that she had attended countless marriage ceremonies over the years and especially so, this year. Thus by hook or crook, she too must get married in 2008, otherwise she might have to advise herself with regards to the current relationship she is in. She also alluded (this is the part that got my sensors fired up), that she needed to have a prophecy from a pastor/prophet so as to determine her marital status next year. I was both surprised and amused at the conversation between Fair Lady and Lady Braider. Lady Braider’s soft-spoken response, “Everything has its own time. Your time will come and you too will be married,” won my added admiration for her. Unfortunately, Fair Lady wasn’t comforted by these words and left the kiosk a few minutes later with the same belligerent attitude she came in with.

A few minutes later, wanting to revisit their earlier conversation, partly because I was in awe of her godly response to her friend and partly because I was just curious, I asked Lady Braider, “How old is your friend that she seems incredibly eager to get married?” My request for Fair Lady’s age was denied (In Ghana, age is considered confidential) but was given more information than I hoped for. (Now, I stand at risk of being accused of gossiping, but read on, Fair Lady and Lady Braider really do not concern me. It’s doubtful that I’d meet them again, ever. But the issues raised in their conversation, is what grabbed my attention.)

According to Lady Braider, (if the story is true) Fair Lady has a 6 year old child with a man, with whom she is currently living with and is providing him with all the “wifey” services. Oooh I see…. No wonder after all these years, the man doesn’t see the need to formalize the relationship and still doesn’t today. Now, it seems Fair Lady is fighting a battle in which she’s likely to loose. And now, she needs a prophecy to determine the future of her relationship.

So I commented that since Fair Lady had already gotten herself a “husband,” how could she expect God to provide the good and godly husband she now desires? And I have a feeling that this man is not motivated to marry her officially ‘cos she is already behaving like a wife. But then if the man is coerced to marry her (as Fair Lady’s attitude seems to portray) esp. without godly counsel, I can foresee avoidable problems in their marriage in the future.

I only wish Fair Lady would quit the relationship (I know it won’t be easy for her) and seek godly counsel. I also pray she would genuinely seek God, Himself and not just a “prophecy” to fix her relationship problems or to determine her marital status in the coming year.

Not that I’ve been in this situation before nor am I married; none of the above. Lady Braider also appears to be unmarried, but we both did and do acknowledge that waiting for and on God is the Best.

And know what I found out just about when my hair was done? Lady Braider’s signboard reads: God’s Time Beauty Centre. What an extraordinary, circumstantial reminder on an ordinary day.

The Three Musketeers

The Three Lovely Musketeers at my graduation. It's always good to have family especially, sisters, share in your joy on jubilant days .

Nana Akua and Kate were instrumental in encouraging and supporting me throughout my graduate school journey. And I appreciate their love and care.

Happy Birthday, Mama!!!

Not that I lack the words to express my gratitude and love to my mom as she celebrates her birthday... no.... or maybe, I do. :) So, I'm borrowing the words of BOYS II MEN, from their song, "Mama," in celebration of my mother's birthday.

Mama

You taught me everything
And everything you’ve given me
I always keep it inside
You’re the driving force in my life, yeah
There isn’t anything
Or anyone I can be
And it just wouldn’t feel right
If I didn’t have you by my side
You were there for me to love and care for me
When skies were grey
Whenever I was down
You were always there to comfort me
And no one else can be what you have been to me
You’ll always be you always will be the girl
In my life for all times

Chorus:
Mama, mama you know I love you
Oh you know I love you
Mama, mama you’re the queen of my heart
Your love is like
Tears from the stars
Mama, I just want you to know
Lovin’ you is like food to my soul
You’re always down for me
Have always been around for me even when I was bad
You showed me right from my wrong
Yes you did
And you took up for me
When everyone was downin’ me
You always did understand
You gave me strength to go on
There was so many times
Looking back when I was so afraid
And then you come to me
And say to me I can face anything
And no one else can do
What you have done for me
You’ll always be
You will always be the girl in my life

Not to us, oh LORD, not to us

Not to us, oh LORD, not to us
but to your name be the Glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
Psalm 115:1 (NIV)

Getting to this place was a real, loooooooong journey. And I might (no promises ooo!) share in a few posts His-story about my graduate school experience. So on 10th November, 2007 I finally saw the climax of my academic brouhaha experience.

And no, I didn't wear the academic hat/cap (whatever they call it) because it kept falling off my small head. Thank God for my small head!!!

No One Like YOU

In my weakness, You are my Strength
In my uncertainties, You are my Secure Hope for the future
In my limited knowledge, You are my Wisdom and Truth
In my faults, shortcomings and sins, You are my Saviour and Redeemer
In my restlessness, You are my Solid Rock
In my turmoil, You are my Peace
In my loneliness, You are my Friend
There is No ONE like YOU

Lady Akofa

Flash Allergy

I think I’m allergic to the flash. It seems that I always close my eyes when taking a picture…. I mean, don’t you blink when taking pictures with the flash??? For me, the camera almost always captures my “blink!”

Friends!

Grandma and Grandson

He loves to pose, smile, and say "Cheese!" when it's picture taking time. And while our three generational home lasts, Kofi loves to chat with his Grandma. Although most of Kofi's chatter is unintelligible and almost meaningless, his Grandma pays good attention and engages him in whatever he wants to talk about. I really don't get what they say, nonetheless, they get along so well.

The Gift of Family Within the Body of Christ

The Gift of Family Within the Body of Christ

Just as it is uncharacteristic for God to lie, I'm a die-hard when it comes to using black ink to write. The few times I use blue ink, it’s so because I can't find my black pen to write with. This has been so since my secondary school days. My dad also has this trait. I wonder why this is so and how it came about???

However, I have this blue pen, which is so dear to me. It is a gift from one of my moms in Christ. It is multi-purpose- a fancy duck stamp, with bubble liquid inside to blow out bubbles. Just blowing the bubbles makes me feel like a kid! And I smile fondly, whenever I think of this godly mom, who gave me this pen along with a cute, red notepad, which has heart shapes on it. I’m so grateful for the gift. And more importantly, I am grateful for the relationship I have with this mom, Auntie Margaret and her husband, Uncle Simone.

I’m not sure how I got to know this couple but I first knew their daughter, Elsie and her, then fiancé, Kofi, who were in my bible study group as far back as 1997/8. As time went on the group grew bigger and we split several times. Interestingly, though I was no longer in the same bible study group with Elsie and Kofi, when Auntie Maggie and Uncle Simone decided to fellowship with my church, they joined my bible study group.

I can clearly say that, I’ve been blessed by fellowshipping with them over the years. I’m always awed by their wisdom and love when they share their experiences in bible study discussions. I remember when we paired up within the group to form prayer partnerships. My first partner was Uncle Simon. Initially, I didn’t even know how to relate to him, especially with his eye challenges and all. I can’t say that I was faithful in this partnership of praying for Uncle Simone, but I do know that several relationships blossomed in Christ’s love. I really do miss this godly, old couple when they are not able to make it for bible study. I remember penning my appreciation in a Christmas card last year (I had even wanted to do this much earlier!) and giving it to them. According to Auntie Maggie, they were touched by this gesture.

Well, I just got touched recently, when Auntie Maggie returned from visiting family abroad with the bubble pen and hearty notepad for me. How sweet! :) The beauty of relationships within the body of Christ, Hebrews 10:24-25. Let us consider how we can spur one another unto love and good works. How true, is His Word!

September 28, 2007

I found myself in the Blogsphere!!!

Well, I got lost and decided to find myself.... :) in Blogsville. So here am I. On this blog, will be about almost anything I think worth sharing with whoever will read. I seek to share mostly God-glorifying things.

So hang on and let me figure how this Blog thing works.

Lady Akofa.