On waiting and hoping

 What do you do when your dreams come true?

Have you ever wanted something which never seemed to come to you?

Have you ever wanted something for so long that it almost seemed unattainable?

Have you ever wanted something for so long that it seemed easier to just give up hoping?

When you want something or hope for something, keep hoping.

When you are waiting for something, enjoy the journey....knowing that it will arrive.

When you are waiting, prepare....because usually things which delay come in doubles and triples.

And when you are waiting, be kind....to yourself and others who are waiting. :-)

And when your gifts arrive, enjoy them! Everyday!

Even when they bring you troubles or seem to turn your life upside down, enjoy them!

Make all the memories you can and enjoy the topsy turviness, always knowing how hard you prayed and how long you waited!

And make every minute count....it's really the only way to enjoy the things you have waited for.

Angela Azumah Alu 

1st February 2022

Romans 5:5a and hope does not disappoint us

A dream of home

 Sometimes I dream of home...although it comes with thoughts of her hydra headed problems which both annoy and depress me.

But the thoughts of time spent with family and friends,

the smell of Ghanaian food,

the sights and sounds of the city,

time spent in the village and 

the warmth of the sun,

give me a warm feeling until I almost start grinning.

And then I realize I'm at home but it is winter.

Angela Azumah Alu, 22nd January 2022

image from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accra
 

The Prayer of Blind Bartimaeus

 Oh God, I cry out loud and shout to you.

I have borne the brunt of society's insults long enough.

Everything that could have gone wrong has gone wrong.

My tears seem to have no end.

Have mercy Oh Lord and show yourself strong for my enemies seem to have triumphed long enough.

Do not forsake your servant for I have no one but you.

Show yourself strong and glorify yourself.

Hear my cry for your own name's sake.

Amen

Angela Azumah Alu, Legon

Image from: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/147422587780496341/

Joseph shares his thoughts

You know child, my brothers still can’t believe all my dreams came true.

But they did….every single one.

And as I told them, it was all God’s doing.

Of course when it was happening it wasn’t funny at all.

I asked God many questions during my time in Potiphar’s house and in prison.

There were many times when I actually gave up but every time God would find a way to pick me up.

And honestly, the day I was called to Pharaoh’s palace and my life changed seemed like a dream.

It took the birth of Ephraim for me to realize it was reality.

And the day my brothers came to Egypt, I could not believe my eyes!

Inspite of everything, I had missed them badly.

Plus, looking back, I knew that I would not have been a good leader given my behaviour at home.

I was really quite a brat and very proud of my coat.

So I can imagine how second rate my brothers might have felt.

So little one, keep dreaming and keep trusting.

Remember that God fulfills every single one of His promises. I am living proof of that.

Joseph, Prime Minister of Egypt.

 Image from: https://www.timeout.com/news/andrew-lloyd-webbers-joseph-and-the-amazing-technicolor-dreamcoat-streams-for-free-again-this-weekend-070620

 

Angela Azumah Alu, Legon

 

 

 

 

I know who I am

 

I’m a skittish colt; afraid of everything and unable to stand.

I’m blind; not able to see myself as I truly am.

I’m afraid; of my own power and strength.

I’m unaware; I do not know the full extent of what I can do.

I’m an eagle who grew up in a chicken yard; I do not know I can fly let alone how high.

I’m a broken pot; feeling useless.

I’m a withered plant; the sun has shone on me for too long with no reprieve.

I’m tired; of all the seeming vicissitudes of my life.

I’m a child of God; I’m not a slave to fear.

I’m a daughter of God; fearfully and wonderfully made by Him and for Him.

I know who I am; I am chosen to bear fruit.

I am a seeker of wisdom; learning every day and becoming aware

I have the Holy Spirit as my counsellor; I am righteous, protected and secure

I have His word hidden in my heart.

I am renewed and not weary.

I live by faith and I am created for good works

Angela Azumah Alu, Legon

04/05/2021 

 

Image from: https://growchurch.net/knowing-who-i-am-in-christ-scriptures

 

 

Meditations on Elizabeth 1&2

 This is a two part meditation on the biblical character Elizabeth. Her story is found in Luke 1.

Elizabeth-1

When there's a question mark about my life because nothing seems to be working,

When all the marks of success seem to elude me and all I have are a long string of failures and question marks,

When I have prayed for so long that it seems better to stop praying because there has been no response,

When your faithfulness seems not to extend to the one thing I am trusting you for,

When your word clearly shows that this blessing should be mine but it seems to elude me,

When tears have been my food and there is nothing I can do about my "issue",

When my trust in you is unwavering yet I have no answers,

When it seems that I must have done something wrong,

When it seems that there are no answers,

When I have trusted you like the women of old yet have not received any answers,

Even then, my faith in you remains unwavering.

You are faithful who has promised and I believe I shall see your completion of it.

Increase my faith in you.

Help me to continue to believe.

Elizabeth-2

He has answered!

Yet in a way I did not expect.

He has taken away my disgrace and lifted me up.

My husband is temporarily mute but what a visitation!

And what a dramatic way to announce the birth of our son, John!

Imagine my son being the fore runner of the Messiah!

And one of the few children whose birth was announced by an angel.

Imagine the announcement of my pregnancy being the sign that nothing is impossible with God!

I laughed as hard as Sarah must have laughed!

And when Mary came to visit, I was stunned!

I couldn't imagine how she knew...only for her to come with a tale stranger than fiction.

And John leapt in my womb at the presence of the Messiah!

I had no choice but to cry out words of blessing in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant.

My household has been blessed in these three months as the household of Obededom was when the Ark rested there.

For every tear, he has given joy and laughter!

And it's super exciting to have the privilege of raising a prophet.

I cannot wait to teach him all the prophecies and to prepare him for his work.

How glad I am to know the scriptures!

Waiting eagerly for you baby John...I wouldn't have had it any other way.

How else would all these strange things have happened.

In all things, I praise you LORD!

 Angela Azumah Alu, 14/12/2020

Image from: http://nataliesnapp.com/2011/12/07/friendship-the-elizabeth-and-mary-way/

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/