The stone was rolled away; an Easter meditation

The women woke up early on the Sunday morning to go and anoint the body of Jesus. Their hope was dead but that did not stop them from doing what they needed to do. 

And they wondered who would roll away the stone....but they went anyway...in faith. 

And they were blessed to be the first ones to see the empty tomb and to hear from the angel that Jesus had risen. 

Arise my dear sister! 

Arise my dear brother!

It is your time. 

Not to worry when all hope is gone but to keep pressing on. 

Not to worry who will roll the stone away but to move forward in faith trusting that God will make a way. 

And trusting God to do as He has said. 

He will roll away the stone of sickness and reproach.

He will roll away the stone of fear and disgrace. 

He will roll away the stone that you have had sleepless nights about even before you get there. 

He will prepare an angel to give you the best news you could ever imagine

Resurrection instead of dead hopes.

He will make you live again

Mark 16:3-7

 

Angela Azumah Alu, 09/04/2017 

image: http://www.lightofchristwi.org/sermons/the-stone-is-rolled-away-matthew-281-10/

Jesus, your love is better than wine

Jesus,

your love is better than the sweetest of wines,

your love is better than that of married couples,

your love is better than that of parents,

your love is better than that of family,

your love is better than that of friends,

your love is the best of all.

Wine would never die for me.

Spouses rarely die for one another.

Even parents don't usually do.

Family may betray me,

Friends may forget me,

Your love is the best of all.

Your love is the best of all.

When I think of the pain you endured,

the betrayal and all the suffering.

When I think of your agony and humiliation.

When I remember all that you went through for my sake.

I cannot help but exclaim; your love is the best of all.

Your love is the best of all.

Teach me to love like you do; day by day.

Teach me to trust you more.

Teach me to love your word.

Teach me to proclaim and to do the things you did.

But most importantly, let me rest in the best love of all.

Angela Azumah Alu, 26/3/18

Wishing you a fruitful and Spirit filled Holy Week. Tis the Week of all Weeks!

Footprints

Footprints are almost automatic aren't they?

You walk in a place where it's possible to make them and voila...you have them.
But it's almost impossible to make footprints when you walk on a paved walkway.
So there's a trade off, I guess.
Walk on sandy or other ground where you can make footprints and probably get a quite dirty

or walk on a paved walkway and have no dirt on you and of course no footprints.

You choose.

Now, let's liken it to making a difference in the lives of others.

It takes a lot of work and you may lose a lot.

You may have to make countless sacrifices which others may never even know about.

And the work you do may even not last....like the waves wash away footprints at the shore.

But guess what, for that brief moment, you would have made a difference.

So on this day, I celebrate all at Footprints Development International and everyone who strives to make a difference in the lives of others.

May your efforts outlive you...even though footprints at the shore don't last.

Cheers!

image from: http://www.yourdictionary.com/footprint

Footprints Development International is an NGO committed to raising young Africans with a global mindset. Visit their website today and find out more about them: http://fdinternational.org/about.html

Reflections on the healing of the Gerasene demoniac (Mark 5:1-20)

Save Lord!

There are times when I get into situations that seem to have no solution.

I feel trapped; and there seems to be no way out.

I feel chained and my loved ones seem unable to help no matter how much they try.

Day and night, I cry out and it almost seems as if there will be no end to this suffering.

Oh God, when will you hear and answer?

There are times when I seem to have prayed about a situation for a loved one.

And yet there seems to be no resolution.

Day and night, I weep over my loved one and almost wonder if God has heard or will ever answer.

Tears are my bed and disgrace seems almost certain.

Oh God, when will you hear and answer?

There are times when an issue seems to persist in my family.

There seems to be a pattern; and though we have prayed, there seems to be no solution.

Day and night, we cry out to the Lord as a family and yet He seems not to hear.

We wonder if we would ever be delivered as a family.

Oh God, when will you hear and answer?

There are times when a circumstance seems endemic in our community.

And we are almost certain that the Lord has forgotten us.

Because He seems not to care though we call out day and night.

He seems deaf to our plea and our community is just in trouble.

Oh God, when will you hear and answer?

Then the Lord Jesus Christ came out of the boat.

He came to meet us in our circumstance, situation; whatever you will call it.

He met the needs and desires of our hearts; He spoke the words and the healing was done.

Then his message was: Go home to your friends,  and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.

He sent us out to be evangelists for Him.

Angela Azumah Alu,

29/1/18

Image from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOL0vOEF4Rg

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

Reflections on the Stilling of the Storm (Mark 4:35-41)

Jesus in my boat!

Jesus, the winds of life assail me.

The storms are tossing me to and fro.

I cannot see my way through.

I almost feel like I will drown.

And you seem just not to care but to be asleep!

Yet, it was you who asked me to join you in the boat.

O Jesus, do you not care that I am about to perish?

Save me!

Then the Lord Jesus spoke to the storm.

He commanded the wind to be still.

And all was calm.

He rebuked me for my lack of faith; reminding me about the need to trust Him.

Peace, be still my soul and trust in the Lord.

Amen

image from: https://www.goodsalt.com/details/prcas2579.html

God's own time-a meditation on Gen 21:2b and Is 60:22b

At the time at which God set: 
He created the world and man, 
He brought the flood, 
He called Abram and gave Abraham a son, 
He gave Isaac a wife and twin sons, 
He gave Jacob a wife and made him a nation, 
He made Joseph a redeemer and saved his family, 
He delivered Israel from Egypt through Moses, 
He brought Joshua to lead them into the promised land, 
He brought Ruth to Israel and made her an ancestress of Jesus, 
He gave Hannah a son, 
He anointed the kings, 
He spoke through the prophets, 
He sent his son Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, to redeem the world. 
He will do for you as He has said.

Amen.
Angela Azumah Alu