WORDS OF HOPE

 A whole year is passing away, how was it? Were you able to fulfill the resolutions you made last year ? Were you able to achieve your goals? Are you proud of how far you have come? Every new year calls for new resolutions but I ask, how about the old ones? Can you build upon them? Or do you prefer forgetting the ones you couldn't achieve. When the bible talks about born-agains becoming new creations, it's about the spiritual man being washed of sin. A new creation would still have the old body but it is possible to change the attitude of the old body. So maybe you don't need to discard the old resolutions, you can build upon it to make it better. A new  resolution can also be a build up of the old one but this time, with a different attitude which would aide in it's achievement.

Aren't kings exalted? How about people in higher positions? What of the rich in society? A king needs his people in order to be king. Those in higher places need to work their way to the top. The rich also need to work hard to attain such status. It is stated in Colossians 1:18," He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent." Why should Jesus Christ be preeminent? He conquered death, He won our hearts by His love and sacrifice. He gives us new strength everyday and He is everything to us. So I ask, doesn't Jesus Christ deserve a higher place in your heart?

  Sometimes I wish the world had a different ending. I wish there wasn't another life after death, I wish life was very simple and not complicated as it is. But obviously the facts of this world won't change because of my wishes so let's face the facts; you can get carried away by life's pleasures. Everything this world provides is enticing but let's face it, they won't last long so why get enslaved by them? Own things but don't get owned, control things but don't get controlled. None of the things of this world is worth your life so don't get carried away by them. 

We reason before we take certain actions. You may ask, is it necessary for me to take the action? It could be yes or no. Reasons are the guidelines for taking actions. Why do we celebrate Christmas? Why is the birth of one baby celebrated across the globe? Well, the reason for the baby's birth is the cause of our celebration. Jesus Christ was gifted to us as a sign of hope for humanity, His reason for coming to this world is to save us all. The reason for the coming of Jesus Christ to earth is worth celebrating, we are not happy that He had to be subjected to torture; far from  that. We are happy that we have hope of having an eternity with the creator of the world. Because of His birth we can be assured that someday all our misery would come to an end. As you celebrate Christmas, meditate on the reason why there is Christmas.  Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.

There are times when everyone seems too busy to notice anything. The routines of everyone is wake up, get ready for work, return from work and repeat the same routine. There seems to be less room for any other thing but that shouldn't be the case. Working for income is important but there should be enough room for other things, squeezing time for other things like God and  family, friends is unhealthy. If it is important as you say it is, then it should be part of your busy schedule. If you can organize your time well then you are bound to have enough time for all the important things; not forgetting your God. 

 "Let's hope for the best". Doctors normally give this statements to their patients when their best is not enough. Doctors would do all they can to save a patient but sometimes, they don't succeed and when that happens; they hold unto hope. Why hope? So they do believe that some things are above them. With hope, we can rely on God. Knowing very well that He can do anything. God shouldn't be the last option, he should be the first. With hope, we know that all can be well in this world that was created by God.

It's either you build a house or rent one. If you decide to build one, it all boils down to your available resources. Can you stay in a house without roofing sheets? Certainly not a good idea but you can move in when it is completed. Two thousand years ago Jesus Christ said He was going to prepare a place for us and when It is ready, He would come for us. He still hasn't come right? Ever bothered to wonder why? God knew how the world would be today and yet He sacrificed His son. I know one thing for a fact, He is going to come when the time is due. It was started in Revelations the signs of the coming of the Lord, from the current happenings,  I think Jesus has finished preparing the place for us; He is only giving us extra time to turn to Him.

 Back in Senior High School, I use to send and receive letters from my friends in other schools. I was always happy to read them; from the designs to the sweet words woven.  I was obviously going to see my friends over the vacation but keeping in touch through letters was also necessary. John 1:1 talks about the word. The word was with God and the word was God. God's love letter to humanity is His son, the one and only son who sacrificed His life for our sake.  God wanted to keep in touch with us so He sent a love letter  in a form of His son and as a constant reminder of the genuine love He has for us; He gave us His word. Love is very necessary, it's the best feeling ever. If you want a constant reminder of God's love for you, remember His son's journey to earth. That's His love letter to us.

 Take a second and assess your life, would you have survived if you were the one in charge? Imagine how your life would have been by now if there wasn't someone greater overseeing all things. Would you have survived with the knowledge you have? How far can the knowledge you obtain send you? After completing school, you would realise that there is a whole new world out there. There are two worlds; reality and fantasy. Most people choose to hold unto the fantasy, that's the perception that this world is all about what is seen and can be proven. The reality which some are scared of is that, this world  holds two ends; hell and heaven. You can't see many things and that's reality, you don't have control over a lot of things and that's reality. In reality you can't survive on your own and that, is a fact. 

 People set alarms, why? Do they believe that that's what  wakes them up? I don't know about others but I believe that alarms are mediums through which we can be awakened. Naturally the body needs rest, how can some people wake up at a particular hour whiles others can't? Scientist may explain that a person who wakes up everyday at a particular hour has mentally oriented himself with a habit. It seems reasonable but apparently the world is more that what the eye sees. Alarms don't give life, if God gives you life then an alarm becomes a medium through which He would wake you up. 

 I overheard a guy telling his friend that he had a bad dream. In his fright he refused to sleep again, instead he prayed. People act when they encounter bad events. When there is an accident, witnesses help the victims. When people lose loved ones, others console them. When you lose money, you either look for it or find another way to replace it. Who would you call? Some people can be reliable but sometimes we all need help; that's when you need an upper hand. So when all seems lost and no one seems in view, you can rely on prayers.  All you need to do is voice out your problems and have faith that it would be answered.

 Have you ever wished for something before? Have you ever yearned for something before? Have you ever done something you wish you didn't do ?Everybody wishes for a good life and a joyful old age but things don't always go our way. This same feeling of wishing for things exists between the spirit man and the flesh. The spirit man needs spiritual food to survive whiles the flesh needs the fleshy version of it. Spiritual food includes the word of God, prayer, and communion with the lord. The flesh is weak because it easily succumbs to the things of this world. It's not easy to live for the spirit man.  We do wish to please the spirit man but we mostly end up giving in to the desires of the flesh. It's easy to live a life that fulfills the desires of the flesh but bear in mind that the flesh would be destroyed when the time comes but the spirit would live to endure the consequences of your actions. 

 No situation is a waste of time. Do you know how  long it takes for a baby to learn how to walk? Actually, it varies but every effort counts. Some babies crawl on their bellies or move about on their butts. Others crawl with their knees. One common thing in these practices is that they are bound to fall and feel pain. No matter how many times a toddler falls, he or she is bound to try again. I wonder what keeps them going, is it the sight of adults walking about?  Do toddlers feel obliged to walk? I can't tell. There would be good situations and bad ones but keep focus on your goal. You want it, right? You can achieve it if you make the most out of every situation you encounter. At the end of the day, a toddler walks, so why can't you achieve your goal?

 Thanks to technology it's easier to find your way around. Google can give different routes to one specific location but some of the routes can lead to a dead end. Some of the routes it suggest even passes through people's houses or even bushes. It's sometimes not safe to rely on it. The Bible talks  of only one way which is genuine. In John 14:6, Jesus Christ said that He is the way, and the truth and the life. And that  no one goes to His father except through him. This scripture is the best route you can rely on if you want to have eternal life.

 Everyone seems to know what's best at some  point in time. At home, parents know what's best for children.  In school,  teachers know what's best for  students. Also, in the markets traders seem to  know the best, etc. What do people mean when they say, " I know what's best for you?" When that utterance is made, whoever made it is basing on experience. God lived before His creation so when it comes to experiences, He has the most. He knows how stubborn we get when we are in control, He knows that sometimes we intentionally make wrong choices just for the fun of it. He knows us more than we could ever think of, it's quite obvious why He mostly does the best for us without our consent. If it's the best decision, God would take it for you. When it comes to experiences, God would always know best.

 Unfortunately the Ghanaian Educational system features more theory studies than practical  studies. A student needs both to facilitate sound studies. There are topics than require the theory version of studies whiles others requires the practical version. The absence of practical studies results in memorising just for the purpose of exams, that is locally termed as "chew and pour" . Some Christians also adopt the same attitude. They only read the word  but don't practice it. Some would even memorise it, the question is that, "are those words being manifested in your life? Do you really understand what you've memorised? Knowing the words of the bible is necessary, understanding it, is also necessary and practicing it, is even more necessary. To sum it up, read the word, understand the theory, memorise the theory and practice the theory.