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.

Of Pleasant Dreams & Resurrection

I’ve forgotten how to play J.S. Bach’s “Jesu Joy of Man’s desiring.” However, I woke up remembering a dream in which I was effortlessly and skillfully playing it like I used to years ago before I fell out of practice.

And the words are so, oh, so... really, I can't find the right words!

It’s a New Year. Perhaps, resurrection is taking place. : )

Sorry, the photo is grainy.

Mr. Music Score, where art thou?
Lady Akofa.

“I can’t go on like this anymore!"

Promises to live by: “I can’t go on like this anymore! I’ve no strength left!”

Are there days in your life when it seems as if you have no strength to go on? Responsibilities overwhelms us, the state of important relationships are not as desired and we are unable to accomplish significant goals. These seasons come and go, but while we are in it, we wonder when it will be over.

I was fervently praying through some overwhelming responsibilities and expressed similar words, a few days ago. The Holy Spirit dropped 3 bible verses into my heart. These are verses I’ve memorized in the past. The Spirit inspired remembrance was like the resurrection of the verses… seemingly dead words coming back to life to me.

So I write these mostly for as reminder and in part, share with you. If you find yourself in a similar state now or sometime in the future, this could be starting point for prayer and assurance. God promises to give you strength and it shall be said of the situation, “… and it came to pass.”

“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you;
He will never let the righteous fall.”
Psalm 55:22; NIV

“The Son the is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things (including me!) by His powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
Hebrew 1:3; NIV

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:13; NIV

*All emphasis are definitely mine.

Without a doubt, there are more Bible verses that apply to overwhelming situations, but these are what God reminded me of at that time.

God’s sure word is this: He will sustaaaiiin you!
Lady Akofa.

11 days gone already!

Wow, it is 11 days into 2012 already!!

Where did the days go?

Yours truly finally took down the Christmas decor this morning. My Christmas posts has photos of a few of them. The rest of the photos didn’t come out well… still testing the new camera I got for Christmas, courtesy of my lovely mom. Yippee!

As expected, the season was all eating, drinking & chatting with family to the point that I had to briskly walk a couple of nights to “walk away the pounds.” I'm not an exercise person but when it becomes necessary, I "hit the floor running."

I made a weird resolution: not to drink any soda (Fanta, Sprite, Coke, Pepsi, 7up, etc) during the Christmas & New Year Season at home or when it was offered at a gathering, party… wherever. I drunk juice, water and green tea instead of sodas. (Indeed, I'm drinking green tea as I type this post). It was pretty strange to my hosting friends & family that I wouldn’t take up the offer of Coke or Sprite, when I visited. It also meant that instead of me drinking all the sodas at home, -sheepish grin : -)- we have plenty of left overs and somehow, I've no desire to touch them. At least, not yet. I think, I may be getting cured of my coca cola addiction… or perhaps it’s the usual New Year resolution to save money with a no-coke agenda. Whatever… but I did it!

I was glad to attend 3 Nine lessons and Carols Night services within a week, in which I read a bible lesson in one of them. It was like God, dropped that opportunity on my lap at the last minute!

So… HAPPY NEW YEAR! Belated… needless to say… I wish you all my blog readers God’s very BEST and nothing less in 2012!

It’s a brand new day!
It's a brand new year!
New things are here!
Lady Akofa.

A Christmas quiz of some sort

I must say that I started playing Christmas carols in … ahem… in October. Weird, I know. Okay, I do play carols in the middle of the year... just because... well, just because I can! So I’ve been rather psyched up for a looooong time. It’s only left with the food and family part then it will be complete, haha! I found this quiz on Faith's blog and decided to play along. Ssssh… Faith doesn’t know I follow her but today will just be the day.

1. Eggnog or hot chocolate? Eeerm… what’s an eggnog? I’m a chocolate girl both in colour and in food, haha!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? I didn't believe in Santa growing up so it’s not my thing. And... most families rarely do the Christmas tree thing in Ghana.

3. Coloured lights on tree/house or white? I think coloured lights are fun, but I really don’t have a preference. (Note: There is no way I'm going to spell "coloured" the American way, just bear with me... ha!)

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope.

5. When do you put your decorations up? 1st December.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Fufu with goat light soup or chicken light soup.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Dressing up in new clothes, getting a new hairdo, going to church with my sister and cousins and the feast after church service. I also remember the hazy, dry and cool weather at this time.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Never believed in him, so there was no truth to reveal. But I do remember asking my mom what’s the big deal with Santa Claus when we lived in the US, because it was so silly to me.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We didn’t and don’t have a tradition of when to open a present. You open your gift as and when you get it.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? We haven’t had a Christmas tree in years!

11. Snow! Love it or dread it? I love watching the dancing snowflakes but don’t like the cold weather, nor the mess it leaves at the front door when it starts to melt. I’d love to live outside Ghana (say US.. wink, wink) someday soon and experience a white Christmas just one more time!

12. Can you ice skate? Nope, never tried it.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? A teddy bear, from an uncle, who turns 21 this Christmas. Yep, Mr. Teddy Bear could be older than your kid, haha!

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Singing gospel-centred carols, reflecting on Christ’s birth, being with family AND the food!

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Piccadilly biscuits, Danish butter cookies and any chocolate delights.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Going to church (not always on Christmas day) and coming back home to eat fufu and all the goodies are what I look forward to. I love being with my family as we chat about not-too-important things, recount our favourite memories and talk about everything in between.

17. What tops your tree? There is no tree.

18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? Both. It’s an exchange, you know? Haha!

19. Candy canes: yuck or yum? Yum! But don’t always get it in my part of the world.

20. Favorite Christmas movie? Home Alone 1 and 2. Macaulay Culkin - “Kevin” was really cute then.

21. Saddest Christmas song? Can’t think of any... perhaps, I haven't yet heard a sad Christmas song. Or did I miss the joke? Yeah, I thought so! :)

22. What’s your favorite Christmas song? I love them all but it's a seasonal thing too… click here to see my post on this.

Christmas is coming, the chicken (not goose) is getting fat,
Lady Akofa ~:).

Of my favourite Christmas carols

I have always loved Christmas carols; both listening and singing to them.

If you ask what my favourite Christmas song is, I doubt I’d be able to pin point a single one. I tried listing my favourite 5 on my facebook page and then remembered all the others that I love but didn’t list, haha!

In my childhood days, I listened to whatever carol was available and eagerly learnt those taught in our singing class at school. We had really good music teacher, Mr. Okine, who was passionate about each group (tenor, soprano, bass and alto) getting it right and on the beat. He had a bamboo cane with a cock head shaped tip to ensure that, haha! I remember Mr. Okine teaching us, “The Holly and the Ivy” and “In the Bleak Midwinter,” although most of us hadn’t seen snow before at that time in our lives, haha! May his soul rest in peace.

I remember often listening to Boney M.’s in one of my next door neighbour’s house when I went to play with them during this season. I often associate, Boney M.’s “Feliz Navidad,” and “Mary’s Boy Child/Oh my Lord,” with this family. Today, Boney M.'s Christmas carols are heard all over town.

At home, my dad often played Christmas country music; both the ‘blueish’ ones and the upbeat ones like, “Jingle Bells.”

And then when I got to secondary school, I joined the school choir and was part of the annual tradition in which we hosted the Nine Lessons and Carols Service for our school and for the alumni. To learn to sing Handel’s “Messiah,” was a heavenly experience.

Now, I’m more interested in the word content of the carols; those that speak of the advent of the Messiah, of waiting for His coming, of his Light and of His coming deliverance and of the establishment of His Kingdom. This is partly because of my own personal need and partly because I long to see God’s kingdom established in my family. We are beginning to see relatives give their lives to the LORD in recent years and I’m more than thrilled at what God is doing.

Also, ever since I took my first 90 day Bible reading challenge and followed the account of God’s chosen people and how non-Jewish have been called to be a part in our day, I’ve always looked forward to the day that Heaven (the New Kingdom) will be a reality. I was so enthralled by the temple design of Solomon’s day that by the time I got to Matthew in my reading challenge, I kept asking, “Ah! So where is the Kingdom? Where are God’s people – the 12 tribes?” Oh, blessed that John the Baptist came preaching the coming of the One, who would establish the Kingdom: Jesus Christ.

So in this season of my life, I will say, “O come, o come Emmanuel,” and “O Holy Night” are my favourite Christmas carols. I do more of quiet meditation on the words than sing them. And that has been meaningful to me. Some hymns books list all 8 stanzas, others 6, and some others 4 but I share the stanzas in no particular order from, “O come, o come Emmanuel,” that resonate with me:

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.

Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Perhaps, next year or in 5 years, I might tell you of my new favourite Christmas song.

Have a Merry and Cheery Christmas!
Lady Akofa.

It wasn’t my turn: God’s voice in an unprepared teacher’s day

It wasn’t my turn. So I wasn’t prepared to teach. I was only prepared to assist my co-teacher by monitoring the sweet, often restless 7 to 9 year old kids and by guiding them through an activity, if need be.

Unexpectedly, I was called to teach an older class because as an assistant teacher wasn’t available to take his Sunday School class. “How do you teach 11 to 13 year old kids, unprepared?” I wondered. “These kids will skin me alive with their teenage inquisitiveness! I’m not even armed with grown up wisdom to tackle their questions,” I thought. I hadn’t even glanced through the bible lesson the night before.

Yet here was I, leading the bible lesson. We, together, went through Exodus 17, verse by verse as the Holy Spirit led me to ask questions so the study would be interactive.

We saw how God provided water for the Israelites out of a rock – beats my imagination- this my God.

We also saw how God delivered the Israelites from the Amalekites who attacked them in the wilderness.

What struck me was God’s promise to vindicate the Israelites for all eternity after the battle had been won through the praying, lifted hands of Moses. If you are familiar with the Old Testament, this was the command King Saul failed to obey, which cost him and his descendants the throne (1 Samuel 15). For me, I saw God’s powerful hand of protection over His chosen people. He was and is willing to go to all lengths to honour His Word.

The 2nd thing that struck me was what Moses said of God, “The LORD is my Banner.” Trust me, prior to the study, I hadn’t really considered what a banner stood for and didn’t know why God is called a Banner. Yes, we sing it in songs but God? A Banner? What’s the link? What was I to tell my little students, eh? But as I was leading the discussion, I suddenly remembered the Independence Day parades and lifted banners at war scenes I had seen on television over the years. BINGO! So I asked, “Have you ever seen on TV or participated in an Independence Day parade?” Heads bobbing up and down.

A banner is often lifted up ahead of an army when they are parading or going to war. Often the name of the group, its emblem and other identifying details are written or drawn on the banner. As God was for the Israelites, the LORD is also MY BANNER. He goes out before me in battle, fighting for me and giving me the strength and wisdom to fight. Just as God promised to fight for the Israelites from generation to generation, I can be sure He will fight for me and my descendants, whatever circumstances come our way in the future.

Yes, I wasn’t supposed to teach. It’s almost unthinkable to call an unprepared teacher to teach. But, I believe that God had a HAND in it. Although, the kids seemed to grasp the lesson and I sure hope they did, I suspect that the study was more for me than the kids. I probably would never have gone through the study after that Sunday.

While serving impromptu, God teaches me lessons. As I pray through God’s promise to lift up His standard over me and to fight for me, it makes me confident about the victory in store. See… the BANNER is Himself… the emblem on the BANNER is My All-Powerful, Unconquerable Father and all that He is, who can withstand Him?

JEHOVAH NISSI, He will forever be to me.

He will also fight for you, if you so believe Him,
Lady Akofa.

"Auntie Akofa is here!"

“Auntie Akofa is here! Auntie Akofa is here!”

These days, that’s how I’m welcomed whenever I go to my friend’s E.’s place. The voices belong to her 3 ½ year old son and her 2 year old daughter, excitedly announcing the arrival of a familiar face; a family friend.

Sometimes, my arrival is too early in the morning, that is on bread collection days, and though the little ones are awake, it seems they would rather go back to bed and skip school. Or perhaps, I got there at hungry moments when they were patiently waiting for breakfast... so no happy welcome for “Auntie Akofa,” haha!

It’s a privilege and an honour that my friendship with E. has spilled over to her marriage and now, to her children. Almost every time I visit long enough to sit down for a chat, her son, Ad., eagerly searches my bag for my cell phone –not that it’s fancy, by the way- or for something equally ‘cool’ enough for him to play with. Ad. is usually delighted if he’s able to pour out all the contents of my bag if he manages to escape the watchful eyes of his mother and I, who are catching up on life’s happenings and God’s goodness on our lives.

It wasn’t until recently that her daughter, Ay. gave up her suspicions of me and embraced me with her shy smile and cautious handshake. Or should I say Ay. had been gingerly checking me out all throughout her 2 years of life? Now she delights in pointing out her big brother’s impish ways, “Auntie Akofa! Look at Ad.!” Or she would call out simply, “Auntie Akofa! Look at…!” I’d turn towards the direction of the little pointed finger and true to the report, Ad. is gleefully indulging in some mischief.

In early October, their little brother arrived and I had the privilege of keeping them with me over the weekend. It was challenging to keep them entertained and occupied, so that I could tackle some 'adult' task. For some reason they didn’t like the kid music video I had, neither did they seem to like one of my favourite cartoons, “The Lion King.”

However, whenever they were allowed to, they got busy on my mom’s exercise bicycle often fighting over who to ride it- a quarrel I refused to stop. I figured they would solve their toddler quarrels on their own by way of crying, lol!

Ad. and Ay. were pretty excited about being able to freely run around and play in front of our house. Lots of space to freely roam and get dirty too!

One night, we 3 all went for a walk and they told me stories most of which I didn’t really get but encouraged their storytelling nonetheless with my, “I see! Oooh! Hmmmm! Is that so?’ etc. While I’ve forgotten their stories, the memory of slowly walking and talking together is precious to me. I hope to do this with my children someday.

And there was one night, we shared a bedtime prayer. Although what Ad. said was mostly unintelligible, I know God heard his prayer. I was proud of him and more importantly of his mother’s effort in teaching and modeling prayer to her children.

I cannot wait to get to know their little brother as he grows up to be a sweet toddler, like Ad. and Ay are now.

Grateful for friendships,
Lady Akofa.