Be careful what you ask for

Throughout the year, Ghanaians have been praying for peace before, during and after our December elections, Christians, Muslims and traditional believers alike. Many persons and groups have campaigned in various ways to advocate for peace; celebrities, school children, religious leaders, etc. It was overwhelming to hear of the many churches/denominations and Christian organisations who organised prayer-fests or prayer marathons, for the peace of the nation during this critical time and how Christians eagerly responded to the call for prayer for the nation. And there were peace concerts, peace walks and other events organised as well. I was amazed to watch a documentary in which grandmothers were admonishing the youth not to undermine the peace that Ghana had enjoyed over the years. In the unlikely case there is war, it’s usually old folks, children and the vulnerable who suffer the most, so I get the drift. 

In spite of a few skirmishes here and there, overall, I believe God has answered our prayers. We asked for peace. God has given it. So everywhere you turn, this or that person is saying, “peace that” and “peace this.” To say that I’m grateful for this peace is an understatement. But note what is being said, “... for the sake of the peace of the nation” and NOT “... for the sake of the people of the nation.” Who or what is more important: the peace or the people? Maybe I need a teacher to take me into another level of learning, haha!

So, I’ve been wondering, what if Ghana had prayed for say, “transparent, free and fair elections”? Wouldn't that have prevented claims of election rigging?  While, I’m not for or against any of the major political parties, I think that any persons or parties that have  evidence to prove in court that the election process or results were manipulated should freely do so. That is a true test of our democracy; people should be able to seek redress in the constitutionally viable manner, without hindrance from any opposing person or group.

Ghanaians, particularly Christians, should realise that this same God, to whom they fervently prayed for peace, is a holy, righteous and just God. I do not suppose He will overlook the injustice and sweep it under the carpet like human beings do. But then, I don’t know how God will work justice out for those who seek redress except through Jesus Christ; He is such a big God for my small mind. Hear me well: Be careful what you ask for. More importantly, know the Person to whom you are making your requests.

Peace!

Lady Akofa.:-)

How times have changed!

Before the internet days, I mostly read books, cover to cover and thick books like Condensed Readers’ Digest Collections, often one at a time. But now, a considerable amount of reading is done online, and they tend to be short articles.

My reading habits are not structural. I fail at my goals to complete one book per month or whatever. Instead, I read several books in a month but do not finish them. So what does it mean? Perhaps, two half-read books make one? Haha! I tend to reread old articles that I’ve printed from the internet as inspiration for personal growth. I often take notes, when I get an insight every now and then. I also save articles in PDF or download free e-books and read them straight from my laptop. So if, I regularly read 1,500-2,000 word articles… how many would I have to read to be considered as a full book? Haha!

Anyway, what I find myself doing often when I’m online, is noting recommendations or reviews of newly released books and noting those that I would like to buy someday. That way, I can ask a family member to purchase them during his or her travels for me.

There is also a booming market for both motivational and Christian literature in Ghana, so I often go the noted Christian bookstores in Accra to check out what is in stock. To be in the midst of books, either at a library or in a bookstore, gives me pleasure.

Now the challenge is to be an author too, haha!

“Of making many books there is no end,…”
Ecclesiastes 12: 12b; NIV

Books, books, books!
Lady Akofa.

Confession: I’ve not always loved reading.

My sister was the one who loved reading. Growing up, she almost always had a book in her hand; in the kitchen, in the car, while eating, walking from the dining room to our bedroom, etc. Our shelf was full of books. I probably owned 0.05(!) of them. What a pity.

My mother noticed my apathy to reading and sought to do something about it. I was about 8 or 9 years old then, I think. She encouraged me to read and decided to reward me with money for every book I read and gave a verbal review of. Sounded good to me; I wanted the money. So I’d read one of my sister’s books and would tell her what I read. I would ‘earn’ money, come back with more reviews and then ‘earn’ more money. But the interesting thing was since I was young and didn’t have many financial aspirations at that time (I already had lots of toys and a bicycle), I would always give the money back to my mother for safekeeping, which I never claimed. At some point, I stopped reading for money because I was reading several books per week! Another reader in the family had been born.

But then, in my early teens, my father felt I was not reading enough African literature (remember: Sweet Valley High, Baby Sitters Club, etc.), so he gave me couple of African books that, I think were difficult for my age at that time… or maybe not, only he knew what his intentions were. But his approach demanded more: unlike the tales I would narrate to my mother of which book I had read, I was to write my review of each book, write all the unfamiliar words I came across in my reading and learn these new words by finding out what they meant from the dictionary. And he did make sure to mark my homework (or do we call it, daddy-work?), of course, he is a professor of Ghanaian and African literature!

So in my living abroad experiences, I’ve always been a card holder of public libraries. It’s fun to walk into a library and surprise the old lady volunteer (they have mostly been old ladies!), when I ask for the bestseller section and she provides me with her take on a few of them. I would check out a variety of books each week and return them often before the due date. I intend to keep this habit, should I have the opportunity to live abroad again in the near future. Perhaps, I will return to Ghana with a ship full of purchased books for consumption and to be given as gifts, lol! I also have an ambition of owning a bookstore. My wish might just come true. But first, I need to add to the collection of books of this world. So help me God.  

I would want my children to develop a love for reading much earlier than I did. I know an older woman in my church who taught her grandchildren to read by the age of three years. When she told me this, I exclaimed, “Wow, three years!” Then I understood why her grandchildren were proficient readers among their peers in my Sunday School class and why her own children, who are my peers, had been avid readers when we were growing up. I’ll need to go back to learn some skills from this woman on how she accomplished this in her family. In recent years, I’ve started building a collection of children books. I try to select them with care, so that I can answer questions when they come up, but you never know, kids always ask the most unsuspecting questions, don’t they?

I’m grateful to my mom, who sparked the fire for my reading craze. Yaaay, it’s my hobby now! Although I did not catch it earlier, I’m beginning to see why it is not healthy to have an appreciable understanding of one’s own local literature and I believe that is one on the things my dad had been trying to teach me in my teen years. I’m always amazed at how much my dad reads despite his impossibly busy schedule. I’m also grateful for my sister, her personal library became mine in those early years and I was never for want of books or have never been because I still get to borrow her books.

Now, I love reading!
Lady Akofa.

Why I love reading

I’ve been reading a lot lately. And that’s because I’ve a lot of time on my hands to do so without much distraction. I’ve several unfinished books, including a John Grisham book from 2009 or 2010 (I think?), which I started reading on a flight on one of my work trips. The next time I picked up the book, I couldn’t remember who the main character was and what the plot was about. I put the book down, because it would mean starting all over again and I wasn’t ready for a fresh start yet.  I’ve found that while I’m hoping to finish reading those half-read books, I’ve been adding new stacks of books to my ‘to-read list’ by moving unread books to from my shelf or my sister’s shelf to my bedside table or just about anywhere in my room where I can have easy access to them. 

I’ve just finished reading an insightful blog post targeted at Christian men on how they can grow in their faith. At the end of my reading, I felt my heart soar and I thought, “Wow, this is really uplifting! Even though men are the target audience of the article, look at how blessed I am too! I love reading and wish everybody loved to read just as I do!” And that has got me thinking, “Why do I love reading? What do I get from it?”

I love to read books or articles that stimulate me to think critically about life, God, my beliefs, my values, health and nutrition, the world, social change and justice, hot bottom issues - some of which are not ‘issues’ in my country, Ghana (at least, not yet), etc. 

Through my love for reading, my worldview has been shaped largely by Christian literature, well… that is mostly what I read these days, lol! When I was younger, I would read all kinds of stuff: Baby Sitters Club (anyone?), The Pacesetters, Sweet Valley View, Sweet Valley High, Enid Blyton books, etc., and some romantic books, that I was warned not to read. I found a love in Mary Higgins Clark, John Grisham’s works, Condensed Readers’ Digest Collections, among others and I had friends with whom we would exchange our latest findings or purchase. As I grew older and especially when I got born again, I lost interest in such books. Apart from my Bible, I was hungry for Christian books for the most part. However, I do light reading (newspapers, magazines, blogs, comic stuff) as well but I’m selective about what I read now.  My worldview about relationships, marriage and family, work, my faith, politics, health, etc. have been shaped by a combination of both what I’ve learned from the my walk with God, at home, at school and through what I’ve read. Oftentimes, the literature gives explanations or scientific evidences for why, for example, my mother would let not me run off to play immediately after eating lunch or supper as a child or why, it is good to drink water first thing in the morning. 

There are a lot of things that I know about this beautiful world and life not as a result of classroom/lecture sessions or because my parents or a mentor taught me but because “I read it somewhere.” Oftentimes, in a conversation a friend would ask how I know what I’m saying and if I couldn’t remember the exact book or article, my response would be, “I read it somewhere!” Despite the best efforts of the government, the regulatory agencies and teachers, I think the educational system in Ghana is unsatisfactory and one needs to back up school lessons with self-motivated, individual lifelong learning. Reading is just one of those avenues for learning.

Reading gives me fodder for writing. When I read, I often get ideas for how to write; “Oh, I like the way she skillfully constructed that sentence,” or “Wow! See how the author brilliantly uses the two adjectives to describe the dog!” I also do get ideas for what to write, “This aspect would make a good insert in a short story,” or “The issues raised in this article about child-labour will make a good story. It’s amazing how children are lured away from their homes and schools into force labour!”

I’m sure there are more reasons why I love reading, but the above are what immediately come to mind.

Read! Read! Read!

Lady Akofa.

Counting my Blessings

1. Literally rolling on the floor with laughter, repeatedly shouting and clapping, “He has done it!” at a retreat. You’d think for a while yours truly had gone mad. But that was a confirmation of things I had been looking to God for. Even before it’s in my hands, the proclamation had been made, “It’s done!” Amen; So be it!
2. Vinesong, UK ministering at my church. Love, love, love their music and ministration.
3. The sweet presence of the Holy Spirit drawing me to lie flat on the ground before God during worship time at a prayer meeting.  How I wished that I could be in His Awesome Presence all day!
4. My Bible Study Group and what God is teaching us about the Glory of God, the character of God.
5. Seeing a mustard seed once again. I always marvel when I look at it.
6. What God is teaching me about faith in Him, the Hebrew 11 kind of faith and receiving from Him.
7. The people I work with and for. It’s a blessing to get to serve each one of them, including my diligent boss.
8. My family and …
9. … friends and…
10. ...my church family. Each one of them is a blessing to me.

What will you remember Prof. J.E.A. Mills for?

I first got to know the late Prof. John Atta Mills as a secondary school girl at my church (yeah, I’m that old). We were in the same Bible study group, he and his wife, along with some lecturers and university students. I was the youngest in the group at that time. Those days, he hadn’t gotten heavily involved in politics and hadn’t yet been nominated as Vice-President to former president Jerry John Rawlings.

It may sound cliché because just about everybody is saying the same things, but I knew him to be a humble, modest and... very intelligent. I say intelligent because my church Bible study is structured in the group discussion format, so I get to rub shoulders with sharp minds as we grapple theological issues and how they apply to our modern, everyday life. He was one of those who would offer insightful comments during our study times.

Even after he became Vice-President, Pres. Mills was still the same simple man. He attended church services with an unmarked car and a casually dressed bodyguard, not an entourage, and sometimes would “hide” in the congregation so as not to draw attention to himself.

When He became president, he was always honest about his challenges as leader of the country the few times he visited (he wasn’t regular in the past 5 years or so) and was sincere in his request for prayer support. However, I disliked how the presidential entourage took up our parking space and how the security team were a source of distraction as they did their work before and during church service.

I believe his wife and close family members will have deeper things to say about him, however, humility, simplicity and sincerity are the 3 things I will remember him for. 

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints, (Psalm 116:15; NIV).

Rest in God’s strong, loving arms, Prof. Atta Mills. That’s where you belong.

Amen,
Lady Akofa.

Prof. Atta Mills! Damirifa due!!!

You may have heard Ghana’s sitting president, Prof. John Atta Mills, died 2 days ago.

I was in the office when my boss walked in with two of our workplace drivers talking about the announcement of the death of somebody. I didn’t catch the name but I already knew who they were referring to. I had seen President Mills on television news a few days prior to his departure and passed on a comment to my mother, “It seems Atta Mills has lost some more weight.” My mother agreed with my assessment. Whatever it was, we knew this was the reason he sought medical attention prior to his 68^th birthday.   

While Ghana is in grief, President Mills’ death has brought a sense of unity among Ghanaians. The voices of his loudest critics and ‘haters’ have turned into a mournful, “Oooh!”  There is nothing more to say, is there?  Political parties have suspended their campaigns as a mark of respect for him. Lots of Ghanaians were seen clothed in black or black and red as a sign of mourning the day after the announcement. Flags were flown half-mast as directed by the newly sworn in President, John Mahama. 

Conversations and news seem to revolve on two things:

     1. How good, humble and modest President Mills was, as tributes and condolences pour in, of course, not without tears. 

2   2.  Who killed him?  The sickness? Work? NDC, his party? Himself via self-sacrifice? Ghana? Or the devil?

The day I heard the news, I was so sure that God had revealed President Mills' death beforehand to one (or more) of His prophets but I didn't know who. As of the time of writing this blog post, I know of one young man who says he had dreamt of Pres. Mills’ death about 2 months ago. The dream made him depressed but the good thing though is that he prayed and shared the dream with a few others to pray along.

So here is my take on the issue number 2:

1. Sometimes God reveals a person's death so that it can be prevented.

2. Other times, God reveals a person's death so that we (the person and his/her loved ones) can be prepared for the heavenly homecoming when it happens.

3. Sometimes, when God wants to save an unbeliever prior to his/her death, He may choose to reveal it to a Christian so that the Christian will pray or even evangelize to the dying person. 

God alone holds the keys to life and death, I strongly believe this. Since President Mills is gone, I believe it was God's will to call him home. Even through the sickness, God could have kept him alive but He didn't. It's not sickness, or work, or the devil that took Pres Mills home, IT IS GOD who took him home. He was a dedicated Child of God and as such ONLY God could say, "Come home, my son."

I figure, if he had been alive till the elections, I suspect people would have kept on saying, "Atta Mills didn't achieve his Better Ghana Agenda" and all the negative things they used to say. I think God has preserved Atta Mills' reputation in his death. And I will attribute that to Atta Mills being a Christian, who truly loved the LORD. And that is a really good thing because God gets all the Glory. 

We do not know who our next Vice-President will be, although a few names are being tossed about in the airwaves. And we don’t know who our next President will be after the December 2012 elections, but I would encourage Christians in Ghana to keep on praying for leaders after God's heart to rule this nation. That’s the way to go.

Rest assured that good will come out of this (Romans 8:28) and God’s glory will be shown in the days ahead.

*** The photo was NOT taken by me. It's a public image being circulated in his memory.

Let God’s glory be seen in this loss,

Lady Akofa.

How come you've NOT read the whole Bible before?

This quarter, my church has been focusing on the theme,  Renewal in the Church. Yesterday, a visiting preacher, Rev. JFK Mensah preached on the theme, Renewal in the Church: Emphasis on the Word. He is such a fiery preacher, who has such an undying passion for the study of God’s Word and wholehearted commitment to God. You cannot expect to leave his presence without critically making some life-changing decisions. He doesn’t mince his words.

So he did little exercise in the beginning and requested the whole congregation to close their eyes. With our eyes closed, he asked, “Raise your hands, if you’ve read the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelations before.” Hands went up and he counted.

Next, he asked one of his sons and his wife to each give a 5-minute talk on what the Word of God meant to them and what it had done for them before he preached his sermon.  His son talked about his indifference to the Word of God as a child. However, he has recently come to love the Word for himself (I think, he’s in his late teens or early 20s now). He talked about being set free from sin through the Word.

His wife talked about how God’s word (book of Job) comforted her when they lost their first daughter.  She also said her reading of the whole Bible had given her an appreciation of the Old Testament (OT) and a deeper understanding of concepts in the New Testament (NT) that had its foundation in the OT.

I was intrigued, because I have experienced some of what they both mentioned.

Bible Reading: Cover to Cover
Now back to point one. He expressed disappointment that in my church, he counted about 30-35 hands who indicated they had read the Bible, cover to cover.

In his estimation, we are the “most literate church in Ghana” so he was expecting more from us. I was surprised that he would think that my church family was the “most literate church in Ghana.” Yet on reflection, he may be right because:
1. My church family is made up of mainly academics or children of academics, professionals in the formal sector, many adults who have at least a tertiary degree (university, polytechnic, some professional training, etc). And we are based on one of the university campuses in Accra.
2. He frequently preaches in other congregations and would be able to give a fair assessment of our ‘literacy level.’

I was also surprised that only a few people had read the whole Bible in my church. What happened to the initial hunger of the Word of God when one becomes born-again? Wouldn’t that compel new Christians to read the Bible and say, “I can’t get enough of this, I want more!” Ever since my first and second Bible 90-day reading challenge, I’ve been telling friends about it and encouraging them to read the Bible and to take it as a challenge. I even e-mailed and distributed printed copies of the 90-day reading schedule to these friends. I don’t know whether any of them has actually taken up the challenge yet… maybe I should make a few phone calls to find out. I won’t be surprised if none of these friends bothered to take up the challenge. But, it amazes me, this apathy to the God’s Word.

I do know that people easily lose track of reading the Bible in 1 year, I’m a typical example. However, reading the Bible in 3 short months and seeing it as a personal challenge is highly motivating.

“You say, 3 months/90 days? Why not?! Dude, I'm up for it!" 12 months sounds long and dragging… in my opinion. But hey, if you choose to do it that way and will be committed to such a pursuit, do so.

What the Bible has meant to me
Just like Mrs. Mensah, I also have come to appreciate the Old Testament more. In fact, I’m always looking out for connections between the OT and the NT in my Bible reading.

Before I became a born-again Christian, I didn’t know how unhappy and depressed I was until I tasted joy from God’s word. I would constantly read the Psalms –I love the Psalms!- whenever I felt unease in my heart. And I’d often beam with joy and peace after a reading session.

God’s word has often pulled me out of anxiety about "this and that", things I’ve no control over (Phil. 4:6).

God has broken the cords of habitual sin in my life through His Word and He continues to do so.

I’ve been transformed in my thinking through God’s word and it continues to today.

I’ve seen God’s faithfulness: As have I obeyed His instructions from the Bible even when it was difficult and God has responded accordingly, just as His promised.

I have come to understand this world better and do not take world news as seriously as a news junkie or an atheist would. I have a different perspective of life. The ‘little skirmishes’ as God has called it in a prophetic word all over the world, do have a divine purpose.

There are many more things that God’s word has done in my life, but these are just a few that immediately come to mind.

I just can’t live without the Word of God. It’s my lifeline.

My conclusion
*If you can read and write, You’re blessed. Don’t take it for granted.

*If you can read and write and you’re a Christian, what’s stopping you from reading the Bible from cover to cover, if you haven’t done so already? You have no idea, how illiterate Christians yearn to read and write so that they can read just one verse for themselves!

*There are some things you won’t know for sure till you practice it. Reading the Bible is not enough but it will facilitate your rich experience of life as a Christian. And that’s how you’ll be able to testify how good and faithful God's Word is. 

*If you’re up for a challenge, click here to explore the website.  A pdf schedule can be found here.  Don’t wait till January 2013, you and I know it won’t work :- )

*Finally, people... if you're going to do life as a Christian, you must as well do it well. (Note: I did not say, "perfectly.") The Bible is the guide to that life.

What is worth doing, is worth doing well.

Start now! Let me know, I'll cheer you on,
Lady Akofa.:-)

Not-so-Happy Mother's Day

I love Mother’s Day because it gives me the opportunity to celebrate my mom …and me: a future mama. : -)

But this season tends to remind others of their unfulfilled dreams. Arms that never carried their own baby. Full hearts that ache to pour out love into children they can call their own.

“Why does she get pregnant and have a baby within 9 months of her wedding and I don’t?”
“Oh, God… what more prayers do I have to say before You’ll let me carry my own child? Just one baby will do, that’s all!”

It gets very uncomfortable in church settings when a baby is brought up to be dedicated to the LORD by parents.  “But what about me, God?” At family gatherings, your name is left out when grandchildren are being introduced.

And there are those who had children out of wedlock, who have had to struggle and are struggling to cater for their child(ren). The other half who contributed to the conception of the child is nowhere to be found, even if he’s around, he doesn’t care… or so it seems.

And there are those who are single parents because their marriage broke down. But the children still need to be cared for.

And there is yet another category of mothers who are widows; the ill-timed enemy called death came and took away their husbands.

How about those unmarried women who long to be mothers?

For some strange reason, I’m burdened for those who are yet to be mothers (married or unmarried) and those who are mothers but in less than ideal circumstances, this Mother’s day.

There is a Bible chapter that I want to share, with those who find what is supposed to be a joyous occasion, a reminder of what is yet to be or what could  or would have been. I’m not going to offer my thoughts on it but I’d say… prayerfully read, Isaiah 54, and let God speak to you.

Sharing in the pain, yet standing in faith that God does impossible things (Matthew 19:26).

Blessings,
Lady Akofa.

... on Patience

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

Patience is the companion of wisdom. ~St. Augustine

I’m the ONE you’ve been waiting for!

I’m concluding my thoughts on my reading of the book of John. At my church, we have been studying the complex, ‘terrifying’ yet comforting book of Revelation. This coupled with my reading of John and the celebration of Palm Sunday and Easter has got me excited about many things: Jesus Christ Himself, the much anticipated full restoration of His Kingdom, the eternal joys and blessings of heaven which will forever cease the pains, tears and sufferings of the earth… I choose heaven! I’m an excited bride waiting for my Prince Charming, who is the triumphant and awesome King!

Imagine your father promises a gift but doesn’t tell you when he will give it you. So you’ve been waiting for the promised gift for a long time, watching out for the signs of when Daddy will unwrap this present. At the appointed time, Daddy he holds out his hands to give you the gift. Unfortunately, for some reason, you missed his open arms and questioned his Gift. How do you suppose he’ll feel?

I’m sure Jesus Christ must have been disappointed when the Pharisees and the Jews didn’t believe Him or His message. It must have been frustrating for Him to repeatedly try to convince them by His miracles and words that He was the Messiah, the ONE whom they had been waiting for all along (Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). It’s like arguing with someone about your own identity. “I’m the One, don’t you get it?!” You say you are “Barbara” yet the person calls you, “Betty.” You would correct somebody who mispronounces your name, wouldn’t you? How much more fight to establish your identity!

I was amused to read the response the temple guards got when they returned to the chief priests and Pharisees having failed to arrest Jesus Christ (John 7:45-52) and were accused of being deceived. “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. “Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? No! …” John 7:47; NIV. I loved reading that part aloud, haha!

It is amazing that in John 12:12-16, a great crowd waved palm branches and sung, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!” Although they didn’t know they were fulfilling Scripture, a few days later, they shouted and condemned Jesus, “Crucify him!” Yes, he is Appointed One who was and is the Sacrificial Lamb, for the salvation of the whole world.

For me, I think the seminal Bible verses in John are John 17:2-3.

“For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent,” NIV.

1. Jesus Christ establishes His mission on earth: that God had (has) given him authority over all people and is the key to eternal life.
2. The definition of eternal life: knowing God and Jesus Christ. It’s a relationship not a set of rituals or of dos or don’ts.
3. Now, how do you know get to know somebody you’ve never met? It is by faith (Hebrews 11:6).

Choosing to believe,
How about you?
Lady Akofa.

Perspectives: New Eyes

I was driving down through a street that I normally use, but for some reason I looked at the street with different eyes. The lineup of mahogany trees on both sides of the road suddenly appeared beautiful to me and I thought, “This would make a beautiful landscape photo like the ones I see in calendars and on desktop screens.” The only thing that prevented me from attempting to capture what I saw was that I didn’t have my camera with me at that time. That’s what I call the “photographer’s eyes.”

I know an architect who says he watches movies with an eye to check out building designs that he can use in his work. And I’m sure an interior decorator will have a different perspective when watching the same movies as the architect.

I also remember seeing a rainbow a few years ago. Between my sister and I, we briefly took turns taking photos of the rainbow. While I focused on the rainbow itself (hey, you don’t get to see rainbows often, right?), my sister focused on the rainbow and the surroundings. Professional photographers call this “composition.” In the end, her pictures came out better than mine.

While perspectives are good, they can be limiting in the big scheme of things. We all have view points based on our backgrounds, experiences, professions, etc but that’s not all there is to life. There is the Big Picture that includes all generations and all people. Even historians sometimes get it wrong, either because of misinformation or because their experiences skew their perspectives. Only God, the Beginning and the End, the Eternal God, who is also the Creator and Designer, has the Big Picture.

My encouragement for you today is to ask God to gives you “new eyes” to see beauty in the mundane. Live with the expectation that God will show you new things, and He will.

With new eyes,
Lady Akofa.

I AM HE!

I’ve been chronologically reading the book of John of the Bible since 7th March and so far I’ve enjoyed the reading. My initial purpose was to take note of as many names or titles of Jesus Christ as I could get from my reading. This is a Bible study project I intended doing a few years ago but never really did.

Although I started reading with this intention, I didn’t take out a notebook to jot down the names of Jesus Christ because I wanted to enjoy the reading in itself without the interruption of jotting down the names. It’s not a competition, I thought.

Along the way, I completely forgot about my goal and got so intrigued by the dialogue between Jesus Christ and the Pharisees and the other Jews who didn’t believe that He was (is) the MESSIAH. At some point, I’d read aloud to myself the conversation as if I were an actor preparing for a stage production.

It’s amazing. I wonder… if I had been a Jewish in Jesus’ day, what would I have thought of the man who performed lots of miracles and claimed to be the Messiah that everyone was patiently waiting for? Would I have been like the Pharisees or would have believed Jesus’ message? I’m sure I’d have argued with Jesus too, if women were allowed in those days to speak in public and have Him establish why He was THE ONE.

I’m also sure I’d have been frustrated to hear Jesus talk about eating His flesh, being able to build the temple within 3 days, the Father being in Him, and He being much older than Abraham. Whaaat?! No wonder the Jews accused Him of being demon possessed.

The disciples and those who believed must have been so blessed to have the ability to believe Jesus Christ’s words. Perhaps it’s a good thing that I wasn’t born in those days that I’m a Ghanaian and not a Jew. Even if I were a modern day Jew, I’m sure I’d have been an orthodox Jew, who currently don’t believe in the Jesus Christ who came over 2000 years ago and are still waiting for His birth.

I’m in the final 5 to 6 chapters and hope to finish in a week. I’m so glad for the WORD and for the insights I’m getting.

Thank you Father, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit. Amen...

...and Amen!
Lady Akofa.

Lady Akofa’s 3 Creative ways to read the Bible

1. Act it out, with all the theatrical antics.

2. Sing it like a musician.

3. Read it aloud, making use of tonal variations.


The Word, food for the soul,
Lady Akofa.

Ghana at 55

I love my country. It may not be the best place in the world to live, nevertheless, I love my country.

As we celebrate 55 years of independence from British colonial rule, I’ve been reflecting on God's goodness to us as a nation and to me as a Ghanaian.

I’m grateful for the peace we have as a nation. I’m thankful for the leaders who have served us in times past. I didn’t get to meet Kwame Nkrumah, but I’m grateful for some of the policies he initiated and the institutions that he helped establish. I’m living under those blessings. The Tema Harbour, the Tema motorway, the Akosombo dam were all built under his rule. For a long time, the Akosombo dam was the only hydro-electric source of power for the entire nation and Tema Harbour serves as a major trading port for the country.

Other leaders have come and gone and have contributed to the growth of this nation, including those who were kicked out earlier through bloodless coups.

I’m thankful for my fellow Ghanaians. It’s easy to strike up a conversation with a stranger in a trotro (public transport mini-vans) and laugh as if you were siblings although you’re unlikely to ever meet this person again. In my experience in a few other countries I was told, “You don’t talk to strangers in this country.” One of the best topics to raise with a fellow Ghanaian you're meeting for the first time is football. Yes, football.

I appreciate that I’ve been able to experience and observe the changes over the decades. Yep, I'm very old! For example, before 1992, there was only one television station in Ghana but now there are many. Media is booming.

And I quite remember that we didn’t have commercial breaks within television shows, but rather in between two different shows. So if you wanted to pee, you made sure to do so before you sit down for 30mins, 45mins, 1 hour straight otherwise you might miss an important or funny scene while you’re in the washroom. Today, companies are massively advertising and television companies are generating huge sums of money from this business. I’m often amazed at how much a company has to pay for an advertising slot per minute in the electronic media or for space in the print media.

And it’s amazing that private enterprises and banks have sprung up all over the place. We have moved from the socialist way of managing our country to embracing capitalism.

There are new roads and yes, some with potholes, haha! While they are not enough, there have been new hospitals, schools and other new facilities that weren’t there in the 80s or in the 90s.

This nation, Ghana, could be better than it is now. I pray that Ghanaians will be grateful for what they have now, work and believe God for more. That’s the way to go.

Happy Independence Day!
Lady Akofa.

Leap Child

It comes once in 4 years.
So what happens if you were born on this day?
You celebrate it once in 4 years.
But know that you are special.
For all other years you don’t get to celebrate
This is your day to Leap!
So I dedicate this poem to you
Leap Child!

I’m not a poet,

but I think I am,
Lady Akofa. : -)

Valentine = Red

Yes, this is late. I took the pictures late but I had the idea much earlier! So I’m dating it 14-Feb-2012 instead of 27-Feb-2012. Yes, I can do that, it's my blog!

In honour of Valentine’s Day, I decided to do an all RED photo shoot. I didn’t think I had enough red things to merit a photo shoot but I looked and found several items. So here we go:

Pleasures has become one of my favourites because some members of my family can’t stand the other perfumes I use except this one.


So they’ve ended up becoming my ever faithful suppliers. Gotta love them!

Red car lights.

Can you see my shadow? I look so tall!


Audio Bible

She who hears these words is blessed.

Red marker.

Mr. Red Scissors is here for all your stationery cutting needs!

Cherry coloured, smiley, brown purse. So cute!

Chocolate.

I didn’t really enjoy the chocolate, to be frank. But, don’t get carried away we’re supposed to be thinking and seeing red, right? Good!

Finally, Mr. Valentine is here!

But what’s inside?

Heart-shaped, lemon-scented shea butter cake lotion that melts on contact with the skin! I love, love, love this! A valentine gift from my sister and made sure to tell her how much I love this.


Happy RED day!
Lady Akofa.

Interesting reads Here and There

I don’t plan for this kind of post to be a series as some bloggers do. I just had to share!

Mouth Dropping Sculpture
I’m a bride of Christ and came across Bride of Christ ministries during an online search few years ago. David Magiera has released a mouth dropping sculpture. I keep thinking “wow,” every time I look intensely at the image. Go “wow” yourself too by clicking here, haha!

Impact Value of Jobs
I have a pastor friend who considers his calling/job as the most important of all jobs in the world. I've often felt slighted by his repeated assertion. I’d usually respond, “Well, I don’t aspire to be a pastor, I think it’s a tedious job. You always must be the beck and call of others and at odd times too.” At least, my pastor friend seems to enjoy his work and that’s a good thing. Well, a pastor is different from a psychologist, yet they deal with people. A cook and a seamstress met different needs. But are their impact value the same? Check this article out.

Where myths are shattered: Ready or not
Should you have completed college/grad. school before you marry? Or must you be established in your career before you tie the knot? Isn't that what most of our parents, teachers and well meaning friends advise? This article does shatter some myths about a person’s readiness for marriage.

Fun Bible Infographic
Tim Challies has created this colourful infographic on the books of the Bible. Go grab it.

Pastor Comparison <> Encourage your own pastor
In Ghana, there are instances of “pastor comparison” and “church comparison” going on.
“My church is better than yours,’cos we have a 24 hour prayer team, 7 days a week.”
“My pastor operates in the prophetic so he must be more anointed than yours.”
Never heard John Piper preach but I’ve read some of his stuff (Books & Blog). I think he’s cool, whatever cool means to you, haha! Check this article out and appreciate your pastor just as he is!

Encouraging read for women
This article is for all women, whether married or unmarried, whether a stay-at-home mom or not, women do have some “home-cares.” It’s an encouraging read… guys, you may want to read too, so that you can encourage your wives, female relatives and friends.

I hope you found something useful here.

Happy Blog Hopping,
Lady Akofa.

Christmas Hampers

20 years ago in Ghana, there wasn’t anything like “Christmas Hampers.” People would give notable gifts such as a live chicken, a goat, a cow (or parts of a cow), large quantities of meat or a bag of rice or sugar, Danish butter cookies, etc.

These days, the corporate world and individuals have become creative in the way Christmas gifts are packaged and given.

ENTER: Christmas Hampers.

The hampers are usually filled with assorted foods and drinks, sometimes a pen here, a towel, there. But… it’s not everybody who gets these hampers. If you have friends in influential places … say a CEO/ MD, a top government official you might find a clerk or a driver delivering a Christmas hamper to your office or to you at home. Or if you have a dollar account with a bank or some huge stipulated amount of money in your bank account you’re likely to receive this Christmas Hamper.

In recent years, I look forward to ‘receiving’ these hampers at Christmas. I say ‘receiving’ in quotes because it’s my parents who get these gifts but I am the chief consumer, haha! I’m not mad that the same bank ignores my teeny tiny Ghana cedis and doesn’t show me love at Christmas. Nope, I’ll get there soon!

In which she blog about Christmas hampers on 31st Jan… : - )

Blessings,
Lady Akofa.

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

Jobs, Lessons & Gratefulness

I haven’t worked long in the professional world. 6 years is not long or is it? As I move on to a new job this month, I’ve been reflecting on my career experiences and the lessons I have learnt since I started working. And guess what? I feel so blessed!

My new boss asked me during the interview, “What do you value in a work place?” I hadn’t really thought of it but somehow I had a ready answer, “Following laid down principles, working to meet expressed expectations and good work relationships.” Indeed, when a said expectation is not met or work ethics are not followed, it mars work relationships. However, being the peacemaker that I am, I’ll mostly take the initiative to work things out and bring back peace. I can take confrontations much better and I’m more assertive than I was, 5 years ago.

I remember a boss who mildly expressed his displeasure by shooing me away with a few words when I brought him my first document for perusal. Silly me! Didn’t I know to put the document in a file before handing it over to him? Then, I didn’t know. Now, I know, haha!

I also remember a “baptism of fire” that each employee went through in at least one project that he/she handled. Those are not my words, my former boss teasingly said those words to me; he knew I was really stressed out. No ill feelings towards him, I laughed at myself too in those miserable moments! Indeed, I went through the fire and rest assured, I survived intact with no burns (Isaiah 43:2).

There were work relationships in which a person’s action or attitude got me angry but I couldn’t express it or wouldn’t because I didn’t think it was necessary. Sometimes, it was because I was stuck with the person anyway (like one stuck with a spouse’s stubborn quirk), so I’d find a nice way of getting my assignment done through this person. I learnt to channel my anger and frustrations towards God, asking Him to come through for me. I have prayer journals to prove this. Writing my thoughts to God helped me processed my feelings and also created an avenue for God’s power to move in difficult situations and for His comfort and peace to calm my heart. And God did some pretty awesome things. At a farewell party in one workplace, one guy remarked, “I’ve never seen Akofa angry before or fight with anybody in this place. She should tell us how she does it.” Oh my, if only he knew!

I remember having to submit to a colleague who was the next to my boss. I was confronted with my insecurities and inadequacies because I wasn’t sure how to relate with this person. I brought it before God and this is what God gave me:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6 & 7 (NIV)

I also remember God leading me to sow into this person’s life by presenting a sacrificial gift. Oh, how I laboured over the gesture! I didn’t know how it would be received. It will surprise you to know that my perspective changed and we got on well together. We both have left the same company yet we still in touch base with each other from time to time.

I remember quietly observing colleagues who were more focused and diligent than I was. They inspired me to do better because I could see the rewards of their efforts by the results they got.

Each workplace hold special memories for me and each person I met on the job has enriched my life in some way. And it includes those who didn’t wish me well because I learnt lessons through those unpleasant situations. I learnt to commit work relationships and work projects to God and got closer to God through those experiences.

As I’ve gotten to know people through each workplace, I often like to keep relationships long term as much as possible, but that’s often not the case. And that’s okay. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to use to my skills, training and talents to bless others through my work.

You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced wealth for me.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
Deuteronomy 8:17 & 18 (NIV)

May the favor of the LORD our God rest upon us;
Establish the work of our hands for us-
yes, establish the work of our hands.
Psalm 90:17(NIV)

May God bless the work of your hands today!
Lady Akofa.