Established, not discarded - burnt to ashes and purified gold

Have you ever planned your day with so much detail but in the end everything ended up differently than you had planned? Well I have, countless of times. I'm mostly reminded of this verse when such happens:


A man's heart plans his way: but the LORD directs his steps.
(Proverbs 16:9, King James 2000 Bible)


Looking up the verse, I found this version which really excites me:


The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
(Proverbs 16:9, ESV)


I'm used to understanding it this way: Never mind, Ofosua, your plans don't matter. God's plans do so He'll mess yours up anyway. Just trust Him, He's God. However the latter translation shifts the conversation a bit to: Don't be frustrated, Ofosua, your plans do matter to God so that's why He's establishing your steps in a better way than you planned to. Just trust Him, He's God.


It's such a wonder and such a comfort knowing and reminding myself that God is in control of every situation and has my desires at heart. That He is the God of the universe Who is interested in my thoughts and perfecting the execution of my plans in a way that brings honour and glory to Him. He just doesn't discard them for His, He establishes them beyond my wildest dreams.


Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
(Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV)


So the next time I am tempted to think my plans just went up in flames before God, maybe I could reconsider it as my plans just passed through God's refining fire. It'll definitely appear on the other side established in pure gold and not burnt into ashes.


And you, what about you?

When it's all madness...

This morning, as I sat waiting for my colleagues at an outdoor event, a young mad man came around the loud speakers blaring Hiplife tracks from the late '90s and early 2000's. He made me sad, he seemed to be in the flow, really enjoying the sounds like some really cool artiste getting ready for his big show. He'd occasionally look at the speakers from a distance as if he were verifying that they played the quality of sound he wanted to hear. Then he'll continue pacing around and nodding to the beat. Ocassionally he'd pick up little pieces of litter from the pavement in front of us and throw them into the hedge by us or actually do a few seconds of dancing as if practicing his stage moves. I was sad, that a young man so full of potential, as all young people are, was lost in this imaginary world and was now getting ready for this big on stage performance in a world that did not exist.

Then it also dawned on me, we all get into moments of madness sometimes. Where we all create this make believe world of comfort and security so we can do what we want our way. You know those times where we create our own rules because God's rules are not the reality we want to be in. However unlike our young mad man here who would not be in this state willingly, we consciously make choices that keep us there. I mean who doesn't want to be the 'rockstar' who calls the shots? Who doesn't want to have their own way? Who doesn't want to disobey God every once in a while. I know I do...

But then as the Teacher said in the book of Ecclesiastics, it's all vanity. And in this scenario, it's all madness. We never really get our way, no matter how right, entitled or okay it seems in the end. We know the truth, and we know it's in obedience to the Word of God.

There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.
(Proverbs 14:12, NLT)

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
(John 8:32, NIV)

Oh Lord, please open our eyes to the truth of our situation and set us free us from the madness of our rebellion. Help us acknowledge the reality of our circumstance and not the glamour of our self-gratifying 'insane' moments. Help us honour You in obedience to Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray with gratitude for Your grace and mercy. Amen.

The next time I feel like running my own 'show', I'll remember this young lost man...

And you? What about you?

Waiting for Muesli

So today was a long and rather unsatisfying day at work. I could barely get any work done, and I mean barely. To crown it all, I missed the work bus home and all the lifts I could bank on. It was bearable at some points and I did enjoy some parts of the day that didn't make it all bad, but by the time I was going home by public transport, all I could thing of was Muesli.

Now, breakfast cereal is a killer for me. The ones that come all processed in a colourful box or plastic bag that's taken with skimmed milk (or diluted evaporated milk in my case... lol). Just in case you're mistaken, it isn't Neat Koko, or Tombrown or Hausa Koko... lollll... I love calling those cereal as well though it's isn't often referred to as such. My current favourites are Rice Krispies and Muesli/Granola and I normally eat it continuously till it's finished. So now you know how badly I love these, I'll continue with what I was saying.

All I could think about was Muesli. Partly because it was a gift I received this morning right before I left for work and hadn't had the chance to open it, and partly because I was starving and could feel my stomach becoming sore. At one of the Trotro stations, I bought a bar of chocolate to ease the pain I felt. However, it didn't make me less hungry. Stuck in traffic, I had the opportunity to buy other small snacks so the hunger would subside, but I kept telling myself, "I'll wait for the Muesli, don't waste the money." My goodness! It was a looooooonnnnng journey home.

Then it hit me. Waiting for the Muesli, delighting myself in the fact that I had Muesli at home just for me, had benefits in spite of the irritating wait:
- it wasn't costly, I saved money from not snacking more
- it built my self control
- I eventually enjoyed my Muesli much better than if I had snacked
Same way waiting for God's timing in a lot of things by keeping our eyes on Him and rejoicing over His promises have major benefits in spite of the seemingly irritating wait:
- it isn't as costly when we choose not to sin to cut corners
- it builds our self control and reliance on Him
- we enjoy God's end result better when we wait without trying to get ahead of Him and thus sinning

If I could trust I would have a great meal in the Muesli, why can't I trust God much much more that His timing would not only be right but also delightful if I wait in total obedience to Him.

Today I choose to wait in obedience to God, rejoicing in Him as He prepares the best for me according to His timing.

And you? What about you?

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
(Psalm 37:4, ESV)

“Let us go over to the other side.”

I find it interesting that for many years I had not paid particular attention to this sentence in the account of Jesus calming the storm. (One account is found in  Mark 4:35-41)

“Let us go over to the other side.”
Mark 4:35b (NIV)

It's got me thinking. Jesus instructed that they move to different ground, knowing very well that a storm would meet them before they got there. He asked them to go, but He didn't ask them to go alone. He asked that they join Him.

“Let us go over to the other side.”

An invitation to walk with Him according to His plan...

“Let us go over to the other side.”

Sometimes, like the disciples who panicked at the peak of the storm, when there are troubles it feels like God is somewhere else, not that concerned, remote controlling my life. But the thing is, He is there with me. Right there, it's an us thing, not a me thing.

“Let us go over to the other side.” 

So yes, He may be 'sleeping' at the peak of my storm. I may not see Him help me empty the boat of the waters that fill it up, or steer the rudder to escape the gigantic waves. It may feel like He's gone quiet, determined not to comfort or encourage me. I may forget He Who asked us to go is not only capable but also around (right there with me) to end my torment at the right moment, His moment.

“Let us go over to the other side.”

So today, before I meet any storm, before I move to any other ground, I ask that I may hear His voice clearly. I ask that I hear Him telling me where WE should go, because I know that with His lead WE can go over to the other side.

That day
when evening came, he said
to his disciples,
“Let us go over to the other side.”
Leaving the crowd behind,
they took him along,
just as he was, in the boat.
There were also other boats with him.
A furious squall came up,
and the waves broke over the boat,
so that it was nearly swamped.
Jesus was in the stern,
sleeping on a cushion.
The disciples woke him
and said to him,
“Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up,
rebuked the wind
and said to the waves,
“Quiet! Be still!”
Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples,
“Why are you
so afraid?
Do you still
have no faith?”

They were terrified
and asked each other,
“Who is this?
Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Mark 4:35-41 (NIV)


“LET US GO OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE.”

Mistakes that won't disappear

Some mistakes are left in the past
Others come back to haunt you
What do you do about those?

Well, I'm much more than my mistakes
Much more than an unpleasant spot in my past
I'm me, I'm beautiful

And though I may not like all those mistakes
They, together with all the other experiences,
Make me who I am today

So yeah we all got skeletons
But if I haven't found a way to dance azonto with all of them yet... teeheeheee...
Whenever they come out of the closet
Or are yanked out without my permission or forewarning... #shiversdownmyspine lol...
I'll just remember I'm human
And thank God I'm alive to remember
All the lessons I learnt from them
And praise Him with an Ebenezer song in my heart

Oh yes!! Thus far the Lord has brought us all, has brought me... hallelujah once more

I am Ofosua, beautiful because of, and in spite of, my past, including my mistakes...

And you? Yes, you readng this. What about you?

Singing Ebenezer to the King of kings #allsmiles

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
4 Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
Psalm 63:3-4 (NKJV)

Bad odour and better attitudes

So on Friday, I sat in a Trotro* by a woman on my left who was definitely airing her right armpit. It was so bad I just felt like telling her to put her hand down. I felt trapped and tortured so much that I kept wishing there was a rule that prevented anyone from raising their arms in a manner that exposed their armpits in any way after certain times in the day, say after 4pm, in public transport. Honestly she wasn't horribly reeking of foul body odour. But it definitely was that sort of smell one gets when your deodorant stopped being efficient hours ago, you've been in the sun and sweat for long, and all that's mixed with the remnant of strong perfume that now only smells of anything but sweet. Yeah, you get my drift now.

So here I was, stuck in traffic with the other 20+ people in the van and trying not to inhale the scent that's driving me crazy and obviously made me helpless about it. I mean, what does one say? Lady put your hand down because I'm suffocating from your odour? Well not in such a public vehicle. I mean, if I wanted that much freedom for my nose I should have taken dropping**, right? A breeze blows and I get some respite. That's when I began to pray.

In between thinking of how long I had to endure my ordeal and all the other unrealistic things that would save me, I prayed. I prayed for breeze, which often came to ease my intense discomfort. I prayed for the woman to put her arm down, which she did twice and put it up again. I prayed that my journey would end soon. I prayed the nauseous feeling I had would reside quickly after I got down. I prayed for relief. I prayed.

The funny thing is,  when I got down to board my next Trotro, I kept praying but then about other things instead. I had no body odour dungeons to sit in and it was less crammed. I still prayed when I boarded the taxi that would take me to my junction. I was fortunate to have the front passenger's seat which is often very roomy and most comfortable. I prayed as I walked home, enjoying the free breeze and praising God for life and the willingness to pray for people suffering around the world and about other social happenings (and for the writing of this blog).

I prayed. And I realised that it all started with the awful attack on my nasal sanity (forgive the drama, you may have understood me better if you were my position that day). I was built up in prayer because that's all I could do then: pray for respite. But it didn't end after my torture was over, it had become a habit of some sort. I had prayed long enough to keep praying on my shorter less troublesome journeys. I had become more thankful and more God-focused than me-focused.

This whole incident has given me a lot to think about...

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4 (NIVUK)

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

So now I pray, with all my heart, I pray that if any of us has to face trials that may even not make sense, God will build in us qualities we naturally lack for His glory. He will help us depend on Him and centre our lives around Him and not us. He will teach us and nurture us so we pray....

And you? Yes you, my dear Reader. What do you pray for the rest of us today?

*Trotro - vans used for public transport which is often the most affordable means of vehicular transport in Ghana
**Dropping - term used for chartered taxi service that gives the payer higher exclusive rights to the car and a customized route to his/her during the service. Often more expensive than other public vehicular transport services.

Relax, I'm driving

Today I blew someone's car horn while she was still driving. Not cool... I could justify it but it's just not right to do such. I panicked when I saw a big truck in our lane that was distracted whilst avoiding an obstacle in his. So what did I do? Stretch out my hand from the front passenger's seat and blow the horn of the kind lady who was giving me a lift from work. Oh my, was I shy!

Then it occurred to me... don't I often display my mistrust in God by blowing horns of fear and panic when He's in control in the driver's seat? Don't I try and help the one Who has the best view of my past and future and has fully assessed my present as the only One Who has positioned Himself to do so? "Relax, I'm on the driver's seat," He seems to say to me when He said:

So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

Yes, God is in control of my life so I need not worry or be frightened of what lies ahead, whatever seems to be rushing at me in obvious danger. He's in the Driver's seat and will journey with me in safety. Obviously He's far better than any experienced driver could be. He's the God of Wonders, the God of Miracles, the God of Peace and the God of everpresent security. He is the God Who drives me... The God in control of all situations...

So the next time I feel like there's some impending danger, I'll remember this verse, this car horn experience and the fact that I can relax, God's driving...

And you? What about you?