WORDS OF HOPE

 "The Pulley" is a poem written by George Herbert. It's about the creation of man,according to Herbert ,God poured a glass of blessings on man; providing man with all he needed. Then God decided to withhold something so that man would appreciate him instead of his gifts. In the end, God decided to let man keep everything but with repining restlessness just so that we rely on him. One thing is for sure, God doesn't want to rely on our own understanding because this world is beyond that. If God wanted us to be independent he would have empowered us with all that we need and stayed away from us. If you ever think you are bothering God, remember that He asked us to acknowledge Him always.

 It's quite difficult to tell a friend from a foe these days. Some enemies can be easily identified but others are just like wolves in sheep clothing. I call them 'frienemies'. These kinds of friends are always around you, they can be likened to mosquitoes; flying around you till they get the perfect opportunity to suck your blood. They are very good actors, they would gladly offer solutions to all your problems but deep down they are just piling it up for the right time to strike. I don't know how good you are when it comes to telling a friend from a foe but some things about you are safer in your mind than on your lips. Prevention is always better than cure so don't wait till you get caught in their traps before you learn the lesson.

I watched a video of soldiers returning from duty to meet their families. I must say, I got emotional. Some of them surprised their kids in school whiles others were met by their kids at the airport. They all seemed happy and relieved of the burden of the absence of their relative. Are we burdened of the absence of God? Are we longing for His coming? Would we be happy and feel relieved when He comes? Well.....you can answer that for your own benefit.

 It's quite annoying to watch someone jump the queue. At a food joint, at the hospital, at the bank etc; queues are the best option to attend to people but sometimes it seems to have no effect. Have you witnessed someone jumping a queue before? What was your reaction? Did it resort into a fight? Some people are cut out for trouble, it's their nature. Responding to such people could end in a disaster, such as a fight. They would provoke you, fight with you and leave; in their absence your image would have been tarnished. Sometimes you just have to overlook some people's behaviour, they are just traps waiting to ruin your image.

 You can rush a lot of things in life but not life itself. You can basically get a lot of things done faster than usual. You can speed a car, increase the power level, you can run or wake up early to get things done but not life. Life is like land, it moves on it's own accord. Do you know that land moves? It's a gradual process so you would hardly notice it. Sometimes life can feel stagnant. You would wish that life moved according to your pace but it barely happens. At points in time life freezes and all seems lost, what can you do? Take a deep breath and relax, tell yourself that someone is responsible for you so there is hope. If He made seasons for nature, He did same for you so keep relying on him.

 Our bad experiences are what ruins us. Normally things we remember are our mistakes and misfortunes and that hinders our progress. The easiest memory to call to mind is your misfortune;the pain you went through, the loved one you lost, the tears someone made you share. That's just not healthy, you may not  be able to forget your troubles but you need to remember the good memories at all times because that's what's healthy. After  all, the good memories are what keeps your faith strong. 

 In our part of the world, hard work seems to be losing it's effect in workplaces. Is there a need to work hard as an employee? I believe there is a need. Working hard creates a good and reliable impression of a person; such a record should have paved way for job opportunities. Sadly that's not the case, you need to know someone in order yo get employed. Do you know someone? That's the question you would hear. Being favoured is more reliable than knowing someone, the latter has limits. If God favours you; your life is complete, He would take you places you can never imagine. Seek for God's favour, it's a lifetime ticket to greatness.

 Man is never neutral, he is either under the influence of God or gods. Water can be cold, warm or hot; each of these temperatures have different effects on the body. It's still water right? It's easy to look like a Christian but live like a worldly person. It's easy to blend the two but that's only a deception; one is bound to be dominant over the other. If you belong to God, you would enjoy His privileges and if you find yourself under the devil so would you but it's not safe to be in between. Today God is all you have and tomorrow the world is all you need, with that attitude you can easily be destroyed. So for your own sake, please be certain of whose side you are on.

 Faith is the believe in things yet unseen. Faith doesn't make things easy rather it makes them possible. It's impossible for a mountain to move into the ocean and yet faith makes it possible but uneasy. Nothing under the sun is easy but it's possible. Do you have faith? Do you believe that some things are unattainable and yet possible? It's not easy to see things in a different perspectives, it's not easy to believe in things you can't see, it's not easy to believe in miracles but with faith it's possible. 

 Whatever is wrongfully acquired, can never be put to good use. Can  thieves be content with the numerous things they steal? I doubt. Thieves risk their lives and freedom as they steal; this is because they could get lynched to death or imprisoned when they get caught but why don't they make good use of the stolen things? Simple, they weren't the ones who toiled and struggled to acquire them. The devil literally owns nothing, he steals and gives it out in exchange for souls. How can such a thing be put to good use? Those who steal can never be bothered about good management because they could always steal again. The devil would always provide for those who seek his help but it's quite obvious that the offer won't be put to good use.

 Have you taught anyone before? It doesn't have to be school related. Day in and day out we teach ourselves, we impact knowledge. How many people have not been in school before? How many illiterate are in Ghana? I saw an article about a  vulcanizer who was teaching a kid at his workshop. He used a gate in the workshop as a board. If you decide to teach people about something you are good at, won't that benefit a lot of people? It can be generally anything. One thing is a fact, we all won't have the same knowledge and wisdom but if we teach one another; we would make a difference.

Who shows you genuine care? Do you genuinely care about someone? What would you do for them? Has someone you care for ever gone through trouble? How was your reaction? We all love ourselves so we care for ourselves and provide our needs but there are other people that we also care for. We are normally ready to go to their aid even if it's at the expense of our needs. God cares for us in a way that we can never care for ourselves. It's just beyond my understanding how He cares for us. Everything that He gifted to us from the beginning of creation till date is still available to us even though we are turning our backs to him. Till when? I ask. The basis of God's care is this; He would gladly give all your needs, discipline you, protect you, guide you, but withhold some things from you just for your own good. 

You are the only definition of God, no comparison with you. I can't think of anyone playing your role. You are the definition of perfection. Sometimes I try to understand  your ways and when I think I'm half way there; boom! I get confused. I guess if we could understand you then you would cease to be God. It all starts and ends with you. At the end of the day, it's your word that stands. Through thick and thin you are the best option since you see and know all.  God oh God that's all I can say.