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DON’T BE ANXIOUS (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)
LENT REFLECTIONS (DAY 24) Don’t be anxious is the theme for today’s reflection. Being anxious is showing signs of extreme uneasiness or brooding fear about something unpleasant likely to happen. We can simply say being anxious is a state of uneasiness as a result of a real or perceived danger. More often than not, we…
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PASTORAL MISCHIEF (EPISODE 11)
My graduation saw friends and family who came to share in my joy. I felt I was on top of the world when I was the first grandaunt to receive my certificate with distinction. Pastor Derick and the wife could not hide their joy as they hugged me and congratulated me for excellent academic performance…
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DON’T LOSE HEART (2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18)
LENT REFLECTIONS (DAY 23) The theme for today’s reflection is don’t lose heart. The expression don’t lose heart means do not be discouraged. Paul acknowledges the suffering and persecution of believers by the Roman empire in Corinth and therefore ceases the opportunity to encourage them to using binaries of the body and spirit, light and…
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PASTORAL MISCHIEF (EPISODE 10)
Academic life began again and I was determined to graduate with distinction. I found most of the courses we were studying in the final year easier than in previous semesters. Some older folks had a challenge in assimilating the courses we were being taught. I usually organise extra classes and taught them to grasp the…
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PASTORAL MISCHIEF (EPISODE 9)
My next rural ministry challenge was at Afram Plains. I was well seen off by my church and Pastor Derick. It was the first time I had boarded a pontoon across the River Volta after travelling for hours through the Kwahu Mountains. I was tired due to the nature of the uncomfortable seat in the…
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All WHO ARE WEARY (MATTHEW 11:28-30)
LENT REFLECTIONS (DAY 21) All who are weary is the theme for our reflection. To be weary is to feel or show extreme tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion or application of mental or physical force and effort. Jesus makes a clarion call to all who are weary to come to Him. Jesus…
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PASTORAL MISCHIEF (EPOSIDE 8)
I was now in the second year of Bible school. There were other spiritual formation activities going on besides lectures. There were morning devotions, evening prayer meetings and midweek church services. On Sundays, we were assigned churches within the Accra metropolis to continue our practical attachments. My chief aim is to graduate with distinction therefore…
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DO NOT WORRY (MATTHEW 6:25-34)
LENT REFLECTIONS (DAY 20) The theme for our reflection is, do not worry. Worry is the state of being anxious and troubled over actual or potential problems. What then is the major cause of worry in life? The major source or cause of worry to humanity is struggle to survive through the acquisition of the…
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PASTORAL MISCHIEF (EPISODE 7)
Beposo serves as one of the tributaries of the famous River Pra. The river serves as a source of livelihood for the people. Fishing activities goes on every day except on Thursdays. The men do the fishing and the women smoke and sell the fish. On one Thursday, I decided to take a walk to…
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LISTEN TO THE LORD AND LIVE
LENT REFLECTIONS (DAY 19 – SUNDAY REFLECTION) ISAIAH 55:1-9 1 CORINTHIANS 10:1-13 LUKE 13:1-9 A person referred to as Lord is a ruler with authority. He is the one to whom service and obedience is due. A slave is owned by his or her Lord therefore if a slave wishes to live then he or…
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THE WEEPING PROPHET (JEREMIAH 20:1-18)
LENT REFLECTION (DAY 18) The weeping prophet is the theme for our reflection. To weep means to shed tears as a result of deep sorrow. The prophet Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet because he was mocked and persecuted by his contemporaries on account of his prophecy. Again he felt usually embarrassed by God…
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PASTORAL MISCHIEF (EPISODE 6)
During the announcement time of one of our Sunday worship services, Pastor Derick announced an opportunity that had come for a dedicated young person to undergo a three years course at the Believers Bible School at Kwabenya in Accra. For some strange reason, some of the youth began to stir at me. To my surprise,…
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MAN OF SORROW (ISAIAH 53:1-12)
LENT REFLECTIONS (DAY 17) The theme for our reflection is “Man of Sorrow” Sorrow is a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune suffered by oneself or others. Isaiah gives us a vivid description of the man of Sorrow, “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and…
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OVERWHELMING GUILT (PSALM 38:1-22)
LENT REFLECTION (DAY 16) Overwhelming guilt is the theme for our reflection. To be overwhelmed means be overburdened emotionally, spiritually or physically. Guilt is the fact of having committed a sin. The theme connotes the fact that a person can be overburdened by the ramifications or consequences of his or her sins. The psalmist finds…
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PASTORAL MISCHIEF (EPISODE 5)
One of the exciting feelings was the pleasurable aroma of the goat meat light soup Doreen was preparing. I could imagine the taste of the food already. She asked me my choice of drink and frankly, I got confused so I simply sighed, ‘‘any soft drink will do my dear’’. It was when she was…
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PASTORAL MISCHIEF (EPISODE 4)
Pastor Derick made me his trusted chauffeur and would go to almost all the places he was invited to preach with me. He gave me a special assignment anytime I accompanied him to preach in another church, I would be the one to read all his scripture texts. I was happy being with him because…
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PASTORAL MISCHIEF (EPISODE 3)
EPISODE 3: The Gospel According to ‘Goro’ Boys My mother’s grand design was simple: proximity to Pastor Derick would lead to a spiritual osmosis. She insisted I visit him fortnightly for “counselling”, but the man of God clearly saw a different kind of potential in me. He didn’t see a scholar of Economics; he saw…
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HEALTH OF JOB (JOB 2:1-13)
LENT REFLECTIONS (DAY 15) Health of Job is the theme for our reflection. Health is a person’s mental or physical condition. Good health is fundamental to every human endeavour. Without good health, there is no way a person can achieve his or her goals in life. Health is precious and is worth more than wealth…
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PASTORAL MISCHIEF (EPISODE 2)
EPISODE 2: The Price of Providence That fateful Thursday, we sat huddled on a bench outside the Pastor’s office. As the queue dwindled, my mind raced with cynical curiosity. I braced myself for the clichés: perhaps I was possessed by a ‘spirit of delay’, or maybe I’d be ordered into a forty-day fast. The latter…
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PASTORAL MISCHIEF (EPISODE 1)
EPISODE 1: The Weight of the Gown The woes and dreams of a jobless man are heavy burdens to carry. I graduated from the University of Ghana with a Second-Class Upper in Sociology and Economics—a certificate I thought would be my golden ticket. During my National Service with the Social Welfare Department, I was buoyed…
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ELIJAH’S DESPAIR (1 KINGS 19:1-18)
LENT REFLECTION (DAY 14) The theme for our reflection is Elijah’s Despair. Despair is the complete loss or absence of hope. Elijah experienced a state of despair when he became a fugitive in Israel and was being threatened and pursued by Jezebel, the King’s domineering and influential wife. Serving God is fulfilling yet can sometimes…
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THE DEATH OF DAVID’S SON (2 SAMUEL 12:15-23)
LENT REFLECTIONS (DAY 13) The death of David’s son is the theme for our reflection. David’s son was born out of the abominable and sinful acts of sexual immorality and manslaughter, for this reason Prophet Nathan told David that “because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to…
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CALL ON THE LORD AT ALL TIMES
GENESIS 15:1-12,17-18 PHILIPPIANS 3:17-4:1 LUKE 13:31-35 LENT REFLECTIONS (DAY 12- SUNDAY REFLECTION) Children are usually vulnerable therefore at any given time they find themselves in trouble they call on their parents for security and help, such is the relationship between believers and God. For this reason, we are called upon to reflect on the theme…
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SEEING THE LIGHT (LUKE 11:33-54
LENT REFLECTIONS (DAY 11) The theme for today’s reflection is seeing the light. To see means to perceive with the eye and light on the other hand is the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible. In Jesus’s teaching, Jesus likens the eye to light and the body to the eye. This is…
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RESTORATION (LUKE 11:14-32)
LENT REFLECTION (DAY 10) Restoration is the theme for today’s reflection. Restoration is the action of returning something to a former condition. Restoration is needed in a situation of suffering and hopelessness. Jesus proved to us in the Gospels that He has the power to restore every infirmity and oppression orchestrated by demons. “Jesus was…
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FRIENDS WITH GOD (LUKE 10:38-11:13)
LENT REFLECTIONS (DAY 9) Friends with God is the theme for our reflection. A friend is a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection and trust. Friend with God means having a mutual affection and trust in God. Unlike human friends who are sometimes unpredictable, unreliable and may not necessarily help us…
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GO AND DO THE SAME (LUKE 10:17-37)
LENT REFLECTION (DAY 8) Go and do the same is the theme for our reflection. The theme is Jesus’s answer to the teacher of the law to show mercy just as the good Samaritan had done. We need a deeper reflection of the parable of the good Samaritan to fully appreciate Jesus’s teaching on who…
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SHEEP AMONG WOLVES (LUKE 10:1-16)
REFLECTION Sheep among wolves is the theme for our reflection. Sheep is a calm and harmless animal while a wolf is a wild and dangerous animal which preys on the sheep. Jesus sends out seventy-two people or followers to announce His coming and prepare the grounds for the Good News and salvation of many but…
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GETTING RID OF IDOLS – (LUKE 9:51-62)
LENT REFLECTION (DAY 6) Getting rid of idols is the theme for our reflection today. To get rid is to throw away or otherwise dispose of something. An idol is a person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered. The theme is inviting us to give less importance to people or things that…
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MUTUALITY OF MINISTRY (LUKE 4:38-44)
LENT REFLECTION (DAY 4) Mutuality of ministry is the theme for our reflection. Mutuality is the sharing of a feeling, action, or relationship between two or more parties. Ministry is service to God through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Mutuality of ministry is when a servant of the Lord is dedicated to serving the…
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CONTROVERSY AND AUTHORITY (LUKE 4:22-37)
LENT REFLECTION (DAY 3) Controversy and authority is the theme for our reflection. Controversy is prolonged public disagreement or heated discussion. Authority on the other hand refers to a person in command and has the power to influence or command thought opinion, or behaviour. Jesus is viewed from two perspectives. Firstly, He is viewed by…
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TODAY, IT IS COMING TRUE (LUKE 4:14-21)
LENT REFLECTION (DAY 2) Today, it is coming true is the theme for our reflection. The phrase “it is coming true” means something that has become real or happened in a way that one wished or dreamed. Isaiah 61:1-3 was the prophecy of God sending an anointed Messiah to redeem His people from bandage and…
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ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE
JOEL 2:12-17 2 CORINTHIANS 6:1-10 LUKE 6:16-21 Ash Wednesday begins the season of lent (40 days of fast, prayers and reflecting on God’s Word in preparation for Easter). It is a day that reminds us that human beings are mere ashes, therefore, we must be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ to have eternal life. Ash…
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THE SON OF ADAM, THE SON OF GOD (LUKE 3:15-38)
REFLECTION The son of Adam, the son of God is the theme for our reflection. A genealogy is a line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor. The genealogy of Jesus is listed to prove that although He is divine, He is also human. It is interesting to note that two persons in the genealogy…
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REPENTANCE (LUKE 3:9-14)
REPENTANCE (LUKE 3:9-14) REFLECTION Repentance is the theme for our reflection. Repentance is demonstrating or expressing sincere regret or remorse about one’s wrongdoing or sin. Repentance comes from hearing the Gospel and acknowledging our depravity before the holiness of God even as we pray for restoration. We shall reflect on the fact that repentance comes…
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JONAH’S LESSON FROM GOD (JONAH 4:5-11)
REFLECTION Jonah’s lesson from God is the theme for our reflection. A lesson is a useful piece of information learned through experience. God made Jonah experience a situation of loss and disappointment in order for him to appreciate the importance or value of human life. “And the LORD said, “You pity the plant, for which…
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JONAH’S ANGER AT GOD’S MERCY (JONAH 4:1-4)
REFLECTION Jonah’s anger at God’s mercy is the theme for our reflection. Anger is a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility. Mercy on the other hand, is compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone who deserves punishment. We see Jonah’s anger at God’s mercy because God decided to forgive the people of Nineveh. “But to…
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LET THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHINE
EXODUS 34:29-35 2 CORINTHIANS 3:12-18 LUKE 9:28-36 REFLECTION The theme for our reflection is “Let the glory of the Lord shine.” The glory of the Lord is the is manifestation of His presence as perceived by human beings. The theme can therefore be rephrased as experiencing the manifestation of God’s presence in your life. The…
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NINEVEH REPENTS (JONAH 3:5-10)
REFLECTION Nineveh repents is theme for today’s reflection. To repent means to feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one’s wrongdoing or sin. Usually, repentance is a personal affair but we see a unique dimension of repentance which is of a national nature lead by the King of Nineveh. It is important to note…
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JONAH PREACHES – EIGHT WORDS (JONAH 3:1-4)
REFLECTION Jonah preaches-eight words is the theme for our reflection. To preach means to publicly proclaim God’s word. Preaching is an important divine assignment. It enables us to hear the voice and will of God concerning our lives. It was Jonah’s turn to preach to the people of Nineveh and His message was only eight…
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JONAH’S PRAYER IN THE WHALE (JONAH 2:1-3:3a)
JONAH’S PRAYER IN THE WHALE (JONAH 2:1-3:3a) REFLECTION Jonah’s prayer in the whale is the theme for our reflection. Prayer is a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God. Jonah’s prayer in the whale was a prayer of redemption and praise to God. Prayer can be the source of hope and…
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DISOBEDIENCE HURTS OTHERS (JONAH 1:7-17)
REFLECTION Disobedience hurts others is the theme for today’s reflection. Disobedience is failure or refusal to obey rules or someone in authority. Jonah failed to obey God and fled from His presence. Jonah’s disobedience made “…the LORD hurl a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that…
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REWARD OF FAITHFULNESS
GENESIS 45:3-11,15 1 CORINTHIANS 15:35-38 LUKE 6:27-38 REFLECTION Reward of faithfulness is the theme for our reflection. To be faithful means to remain loyal and steadfast. God rewards those who remain loyal and steadfast to Him in all situations. We shall discuss two rewards of faithfulness: Earthly (physical) reward of faithfulness Heavenly or eternal (spiritual)…
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THE HOLY KISS (2 CORINTHIANS 13:11-13)
REFLECTION The Holy kiss is the theme for our reflection. Kiss has been a sign of greetings among the Jews and Romans even before the arrival of Christianity. It was a cultural practice and greetings restricted to male to male and female to female. Paul however coined the phrase the Holy kiss and it was…
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JUDAS KISSES JESUS (MATTHEW 26:47-56)
REFLECTION Judas kisses Jesus is the theme for our reflection. A kiss is a touch with the lip as a sign of love. What could make a person sacrifice his faithfulness and betray his friend and master with a kiss? The answer is greed and the love of money. Judas broke two important rules of…
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AMASA KISSED AND KILLED (2 SAMUEL 20:1-13)
REFLECTION Amasa kissed and killed is the theme for today’s reflection. It is an irony to be kissed and killed since a kiss ought to be a symbol of love and affection. Amasa, a nephew and commander of David’s army was kissed and killed by Joab, his cousin, who is also a nephew and special…
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NAOMI, RUTH AND ORPAH (RUTH 1:6-18)
REFLECTION Naomi, Ruth and Orpah is theme for our reflection. Ruth and Orpah are the daughters-in- laws of Naomi. Naomi, Ruth and Orpah found themselves in a mutual situation, they all became widows but the most bereaved among them was Noami. Naomi lost her husband and her two sons who were husbands to Ruth and…
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KISSES OF HIS MOUTH – SONGS OF SOLOMON 1:1-5 (NBNB VAL’S DAY REFLECTION)
REFLECTION Kisses of His mouth is the reflection for our Valentine’s day. Val’s day a is day set aside to celebrate and show love to one another. The focus of this reflection is on the romantic love of married couples. A kiss is the touch or caress with the lips as a sign of love,…
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JACOB STEALS ESAU’S BIRTH RIGHT (GENESIS 27:1-27)
REFLECTION Jacob steals Esau’s birthday right is the theme for our reflection. To steal means to take (another person’s property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it. Birthright is the concept of things being due to a person upon or by fact of their birth, or due to the order of…
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ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY? (JAMES 5:13-18)
REFLECTION Are you sitting comfortably is the theme for our reflection. To be comfortable means to you are physically at ease and relaxed. James admonishes the recipients of his letter to make prayer and faith core elements of their relationship with God. A prayer of faith by a believer brings great comfort to him or…
