July

Love and respect forgives

Written by Mantebeah Elizabeth Matilda Abena.

"Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged." (NLT) Colossians 3:18-21 

So, as we dedicated this month to "Relationships, Marriage and Parenting", I believe most of the scripture references for messages were based on – husbands’ love thy wives and wives submit to thy husbands. This is because these are the two most important ingredients that hold the Christian home together. They are indeed very essential to the survival of most relationships. Unfortunately, some of us still falter in this regard in our relationships. We hurt the people that God has joined us to, be it in our marriages or potential marriageable relationships..

Marriage therefore should not be seen as a simple and easy field where we can do all that we want by hurting and making the people in our lives feel unappreciated. The Bible has been clear on its position on marriage and how couples should care for each other (Ephesians 5:21-33). What this tells us is that the institution made by God is not an engagement between two perfect people. It is indeed a commitment of two imperfect beings (man and woman) with the perfect being (God). As a result, we are bound to err along the way but when that happens, let’s not run like frightened chicks, instead let’s put to practice what our supreme counselor teaches us – letting go of our pride. Proverbs 16:18 signals Pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall.

Letting go of our pride in our relationships, is our way of telling God, we understand the importance of His institution and the seriousness of the implications that our neglect or refusal can bring on the sanctity and sanity of the home He has blessed/joined. It also means we value the role He has delegated to us as parents or partners to first of all love and respect as commanded; and more importantly, to bring our children to walk in the light of the Lord.

Letting go of our pride means love (husband) understands respect (wife) and respect (wife) values love (husband). Letting go of the pride that can cause untold pain and potentially disrupt the home means love and respect are ready to go the extra mile and that means to forgive each other and to find joy once more in the comfort of the home God blessed. In doing so, God’s presence is ever present and true happiness is achieved, even in the mist of the seemingly unforgivable conditions that others may find unbearable to handle.

Today, take a good look at the husband or wife God has blessed you with. Or better, the potential partner God is blessing you with. Remember the circumstances of your meeting. Imagine your life without such a person and know God has been faithful to you irrespective of your current marriage crisis – emotional, financial, family etc.

Above all, remember marriage is a perfect institution but the people in the institution are imperfect, so love and respect forgives.

We are siblings || More

We are siblings

Written by Dede Abebreser Tsonyake.

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (NIV) Galatians 6:10

The Bible makes it very clear that we are brothers and sisters and co-heir with Christ (Mark 3: 35, Romans 8:14,17,29), however, are we living as siblings? Siblings are children of the same parents and if you have observed little children of the same parents, no one will tell you they are siblings because you will notice the care, support and love they show each other especially if one is under attack by another child from a different parent. These young siblings may fight between/among themselves but they resolve their differences in no time. They share everything.

Today, these characteristics can hardly be seen in the Church. We have people dealing with problems alone without help. There are those who are very wealthy and those who are very poor in the church, and we see nothing wrong with it. Caring for the needs of one another is no longer a priority in the Church. The church is more concerned about how many members it has and how much money is raised every Sunday through offerings and never bothered about that brother or sister who no longer comes around to worship with us. Business owners in the church prefer to hire non-members than members who are equally qualified and employees in the church are more faithful to non-members who are employers than employers who are in the church. We are just unconcerned about one another. Misunderstandings are blown out of proportion and people hold grudges forever. These and many others are of concern in today’s church.

In Acts 2:42-47, we read of a perfect relationship among the Christians. They lived like siblings and deeply cared for one another. We can learn from them and do better. Let us be intentional in showing genuine love to one another and looking out for one another because in doing so, others will love to join the church without we exerting much effort in convincing them to. I pledge to do better, what about you?

  God’s Promise and Assurance in Childbirth || More

God’s Promise and Assurance in Childbirth

Written by Emelia Darko Adzimah & Worlanyo Komla Adzimah.

“In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless, she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.” (NKJV) 1 Tim 2:9-15

God needs to be praised and thanked all our days for His provisions and sustenance for mankind. For us, we are just excited about His assurances specifically His assurance to Christian couples regarding children and childbirth. The book of Psalms 127:3-5 says clearly, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.”

We are a testimony when it comes to believing God for everything and this belief is strongly grounded. With God, all things are possible and He has assured us that He is the one that gives children, the one that creates and sustains genealogy; in other words, He is in charge of creations and sustaining generations upon generations! From this, we can confidently say there is none called “barren” in His sight or among his children! Never!

When Adam and Eve sinned in the book of Genesis, God said to Eve in Genesis 3:16 “To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.”

Fortunately, God sent His son, Jesus Christ, our savior, to redeem us from this punishment! 1Tim 2:14-15 gives an account of the reversal of our punishment: “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless, she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.”

This is good news for women! To women who are God-fearing, God says: “I will give you children” and further promises to save women's lives in childbirth. Anytime we are due for delivery as a couple, this is our assurance that we are coming back to our family safe with our bundles of Joy. Start believing woman and dry those tears! Work with your doctors and most importantly believe in God’s assurances and promises. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He did it for Hannah, Elizabeth and Mary and He can replicate this miracle a zillion times and beyond our imaginations! The fore-mentioned women feared God and lived very exceptional lives for God and the result was that God was pleased with them and blessed them with children. We leave every couple with this quotation; Luke 1, read, meditate on the message and you will be blessed!

Who is your friend? || More

Who is your friend?

Written by Ruth Afua Agyeibea Arthur.

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish" (NKJV) Psalm 1:1-6

As Christians, we are called to distinguish ourselves from the world and to set ourselves apart for Christ. This does not forbid us to talk to unbelievers or have dealings with them, but it cautions us to be mindful of our ways in order not to follow their steps.

For example, a young lady Christian gained admission into the university. She made new friends and soon bonded with her roommates. Along the line, she started compromising her faith. Apparently, she was under pressure to do it to suit her new friends.

Most often, we find ourselves wanting to fit into society or willing to do whatever it takes to be accepted in a group or to be with that special one. We lower our standards just so we can be happy temporarily forgetting that its repercussions are dire.

Among religions, Christians have been found to compromise a lot. It has now become so common to engage in the vices God speaks against in Galatians 5: 19-21a: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like...”

On the other hand, some Christians have been shunned and made to lose their sense of belonging. This is usually due to the standards they have set for themselves hence the world seeing them as enemies. As humans, when hit by such situations, we are tempted to question who we are and our stance. In times like this, our focus should be on Christ the Author and Finisher of our faith. Furthermore, as Psalm 1:3 puts it, " He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."

You do not have to sell your conscience to be in a good relationship, you rather have to be yourself. A good relationship always has Christ in the centre and those are the ones that last.

A Closer Walk || More

A Closer Walk

Written by Ruth Afua Agyeibea Arthur.

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him." (NKJV) Psalm 28:7

When clouds of darkness

Around me moves

Illuminate my path O Lord

For You are my Light

 

When shadows of doubts

Around me dances

Clear my thoughts O Lord

For You are my Hope

 

When tears of pain

Releases its drops

Hold my hand O Lord

For You are my Strength

 

When winds of fear

At me strongly blows

Lead me O Lord

For You are my Truth

 

When clothes of solitary

On me robes

Nearer to You will I draw

For You are my Rock.

 

Understanding our young ones || More

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