Timing

 Tis spring and the flamboyants are in bloom; or in Ghana where there is no spring, it's the season of the flamboyants. They light up the streets with their crimson blossoms creating such a kaleidoscope of colour that you wonder if it's the same plants that hitherto looked green and almost as if they could not bloom.

How like our lives this is! Reminding us that God makes all things beautiful in his own time.

When the time is right, I the LORD, will make it happen.

Angela Azumah Alu

Come, Holy Spirit!

Come Holy Spirit!

Come with your power,

Your anointing,

Your conviction,

Melt, mould and make me.

Spirit of the living God!

I am yielded to you.

I am surrendered.

There is none like you!

Come, O Advocate!

Speak on my behalf,

Teach me to speak the mind of the Father.

Come, O Consuming Fire!

Burn out all within me that is not of you;

Purify me wholly.

Come, O Spirit of Truth!

Guide me into all Truth,

Just as Jesus promised.

Come, O Creator Spirit!

Breathe new life into me

That I may be fully alive

Come, O Holy Spirit!

Kindle your love in me

That I may bear fruit that will last.

Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit!

Fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love

Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.

And they shall renew the face of the earth.

Angela Azumah Alu, Pentecost Sunday, 31/05/2020

Image from: https://stlukeaa.org/come-holy-spirit-blog/

I choose you LORD

I choose you LORD over myself.
I choose you over my dreams and desires.
I choose you over my flesh.
I choose you over my doubts and failures.
I choose you over my hopes and expectations.
I choose you LORD.

You chose me first.
You love me no matter what I do.
Your plans for me are good.
Your favour and grace rest upon me.
Your blessing maketh rich and you add no sorrow with it.
Your unconditional love are my joy and strength.

I pray for the grace to choose you as you have chosen me.
I ask you to help me abide in you.
I pray for the wisdom to bear the fruit you have called me to bear.
To love others as you have loved me.
To seek your kingdom above all else.
To trust for every need...great and small.
Amen

Angela Azumah Alu

Christmas!

23 December 2018
05:32

Christmas is about unexpected gifts that always don't seem like it,
A turning upside down of your world that you don't quite understand,
Sometimes a taking away of shame, sometimes the possibility of ridicule and rejection from those who do not understand God's actions,
Sometimes you become mute, sometimes you burst into praise,
Babies in the womb leap for joy at encountering the messiah...even when he's less than a month old incarnate!
Christmas is about dreams with seemingly strange instructions that demand obedience,
Christmas is about how even world events work together to fulfil to the letter God's promises about the birth of the messiah,
Christmas is about faith and about believing that what God said will come to pass because He said so!
Christmas is about riff raff like shepherds encountering the baby Jesus because of an angelic visitation.
Christmas is about angels leaving heaven to come and proclaim the birth of the Messiah.
Christmas is about Wise men leaving everything to encounter the new born king.
Christmas is about enemies trying to kill the new born king but finding themselves fulfilling scripture.
Christmas is about the scribes and Pharisees who knew all the scriptures but failed to recognise the visitation of God.
Christmas is about you and I embracing all that Christ brings and living life joyfully because we know God is with us (Emmanuel!)
Will you be a Mary this Christmas and believe God's word?
Will you be a Joseph this Christmas and obey God's instructions?
Will you be the shepherds and visit the baby Jesus?
Will you be the wise men and leave everything to encounter the new born king?
Will you, unlike the Pharisees and scribes, see the Messiah in the scriptures you are so familiar with?
Will you, like the angels, sing a song of joy at the incarnation?
Will you have faith that all of God's promises to you will be fulfilled?
Will you trust?
Will you have a Mary Christmas...regardless of whatever may be happening around?

Cheers!
Angela Azumah Alu
23/12/18

Image from: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Christmas-Nativity-Scene-Jesus-Birthday-Edible-Cake-Topper-1-4-FROSTING-sheet-/252371282086

Reflections: Saying yes to GOD

20 December 2017
07:47

His promises are yea and Amen in Christ Jesus.
Say yes to Him....abandon yourself as Mary did.
And only trust.
He will do as He has said.
There is no need to fear.
His grace is sufficient.
Trust.
Though it tarries, He will do it.
In His time...which is the best.
Only trust.
And obey.
Only respond:
Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord be it done unto me according to thy word.

Angela Azumah Alu

http://www.looktohimandberadiant.com/2016/06/lovely-coloring-pages.html

Reflection on the Presentation of the Lord

Reflections on Malachi 3:1-4; Heb 2:14-18: Luke 2:22-40

 (2nd February 2014; Feast of the Presentation of the Lord)

Background:

The feast of the Presentation of the Lord is celebrated on the 2nd of February every year. This year, it fell on a Sunday. The Presentation celebrates baby Jesus being presented by his parents in the temple. This was in obedience to an ancient regulation where God asked all Israelite parents to 'redeem' their first born sons from Him. It was in remembrance of God saving the first born sons of the Israelites during the passover in Egypt.

The first reading is from Malachi and speaks of the Lord suddenly appearing in the temple and purifying His people so they make offerings in righteousness to the Lord.

The second reading, from Hebrews, speaks of Christ the High priest who became like us in every way to save us and thus is able to help us when we are tempted.

The Gospel presents the Presentation narrative.

Honestly, it was the first time I'd ever really thought of the Presentation. And it occurred to me that although God required a physical circumcision and purification in the past, He requires spiritual circumcision and purification of us. And He is the one to do it. That's where the prayer/poem came from. I pray it's a blessing. 

Purify me LORD!

Circumcise me,

through and through,

Cleanse me wholly,

that I may be yours 

and yours alone.

That, as your temple, 

I may offer

pleasing and acceptable sacrifices

to you.

Circumcise me, high priest,

Purify me; circumcise me

that I may be clean and reflect you only.

Angela Azumah Alu (February, 2014)

Image courtesy of: http://www.womenofgrace.com/blog/?p=19086

HOPE

Hopelessness sears my heart 
Despair descends on me like a swarm of locust on a green field 
Eating away all that has grown over the year's
I stare in awe and cannot recognise myself
The enemy has seemingly gained territory
Talk of your efficacy at my rescue frightens me
I am but a broken reed eaten away by despair and hopelessness
Through out all the drama there's one thing I try to convince myself about-"a broken reed you will not reject. "
Esther Afoley Laryea, 5/12/15

Response
A bruised reed He will not break; He was bruised for our transgressions.
On the day the LORD binds up the wounds of his people, he will heal the bruises left by his blows.
He who knows the stars by name and has counted every hair on my head.
He invites me to cast all my cares upon Him and reminds me I am worth more than the ravens and so should never worry.
Even though He seemed to have cast me away, He promises joy in the morning, the oil of gladness for mourning, beauty for ashes and praise instead of despair.
Wonder of wonders, He delights in me and rejoices over me with singing.
Through my pain, He tells me He knows the way that I take and when He has tried me I shall come forth as gold that has been refined.
Like Job, though He slay me, yet will I trust; for I know my redeemer lives and that at the last He will stand upon the earth.
So through my sorrow, pain and rejection, I will rejoice with all my being as daily He conforms me to His image.
I will be hopeful!
Angela Azumah Alu, 6/12/15

image from :catholicinasmalltown.wordpress.com

CITATION FOR FATHER BERNARD

Young pojoba, called of God

To be a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek

Trained and ordained and posted to Good Shepherd Parish

Served dutifully and cheerfully under various parish priests

Always, with a shout of “God is good all the time!”

Older now, wiser too, with sprinklings of gray hair

Posted now as parish priest by the Archbishop

Reminding all that recognition and elevation follow those

Who serve dutifully and cheerfully

Always, with a shout of “God is good all the time!”

Fr.  Bernard Kwasi Kyei, lectors of Good Shepherd Parish bid you adieu

Many a sermon of yours strengthened our spirits and

You oft quieted our restless souls in the confessional

Many of us looked up to you as role model, father and mentor

We will never forget you but serve dutifully and cheerfully as you did

Always, with a shout of “God is good all the time!”

Angela Azumah Alu

To God! 25th May 2012

Made in his image

Endowed with gifts,

Uniquely

Made like none other

Full of love and grace

Called by His name,

His own,

With all the weaknesses and strengths

So awesomely that even

The weaknesses are instruments

For His glory

Endued with power to

Live a Christian life

As prophet, evangelist, teacher, pastor or apostle (Eph 4:11)

Manifesting his gifts(1 Cor  12:1-11)

Sharing His graces with others (Rom 12:6-8 )

Doing all you can do for

His glory

Rooted in Him

Pruned and shaped by Him

To bear much fruit

Fruit that will last(John 15:16)

Led by His Spirit

Daily

To live for Him

Angela Azumah Alu