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#WordScattering# – Genesis 26 vs.22 – Expect Rehoboth in September!

Hey dear,

Happy New Month!! Happy New September!

Thank God for today, Thursday, the 1st of September 2011 – a new month that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because our expectation shall not be cut off this month in Jesus Name!

As we start this new month, we are still considering G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and we are taking time to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart. The scripture in the book of Genesis Chapter 26:22 says 22 abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place REHOBOTH (which means “open space”), for he said, “At last the LORD has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.

We are understand from this scripture that after Isaac moved away from well Ezek & Sitnah because of the quarreling and accusation about the water, he and his men dug a well again. But this time, no one opposed them and they named the place Rehoboth. We see that Isaac and and his men didn’t give up on digging wells. With all the opposition from the people, they continued to make effort believing that one day they will dig a well that no one will contend with.

The Word of God coming to us this 1st day is September is that: We must expect our Rehoboth! We must expect God to make room i.e. make a way for us this new month of September.

My dear! As we start this new month, I declare that we are walking into our Rehoboth. I decree that a way will be made where there looks like there is no way this month. I declare that we have all that we need to walk in abundance this month. I decree that new room/space i.e. new opportunity is coming our way each day of this month. I declare that we have “enough space” i.e. wisdom, resources, finances that we need in order to prosper in all that we lay our hand upon this month of September.

Let’s go into this new month with great expectation — knowing that we have come to our “Rehoboth” – place of prosperity… place of abundance!

Enjoy a glorious September!

Loving Regards,

Temidayo

#WordScattering# – Genesis 26 vs. 21- Expect accusation!!

Hi Dear,

Thank God for Wednesday, the 31st of August 2011 – the last day of August. Thank God it’s a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

We have been considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart.

Let’s continue this series of #WordScattering# by considering the story of Isaac and the conflict over the dug well (water) in the book of Genesis Chapter 26 – vs.21 says:  21Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “accusation”).

After being forced to move away from well “Ezek” –  Isaac’s men had a similar encounter when they dug another well in Sitnah – their new location. The people in this new neighborhood accused them and were hostile to them and they had to move again.

My dear! As we scatter the Word and wait for the physical manifestation – we must expect accusation!! We must expect the “accuser of the brethren” (the devil) to accuse us before God (Rev.12vs 10). We must expect the devil will try to bring up iniquity/wrongdoing/sin. We must expect that the devil will try to tell us how we dont deserve the blessings of God. We must expect the enemy to attack our heart and conscience. We must expect the enemy will want to bring up our past. We must expect the enemy will try to make us walk in guilt and shame. We must expect satan will try to stand to oppose us in the presence of God (Zech 3vs. 1)

But we thank God because Jesus is our defense attorney – He seats at the right hand of God interceding for us. We thank God for the blood of Jesus which answers all accusations of the devil. We thank God for the GRACE.. the undeserved favor that we enjoy through our Savior Jesus Christ. We thank God because it is this grace that qualifies us for the blessing of God.

As we go into this new day — let’s remember it’s by grace that we are saved through our faith in Jesus and not by works. And the “accuser” – the devil has been defeated at the cross of Calvary.

Enjoy an “accuse-free” day/seasonJ!

Loving Regards,

Temidayo

#WordScattering# – Genesis 26 vs. 19 -20 – Expect argument!!

Hi Dear,

Thank God for today, Tuesday, the 30th of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

We have been considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart.

Let’s continue this series of #WordScattering# by considering the story of Isaac and the conflict over the dug well (water) in the book of Genesis Chapter 26 vs.19 – 20

19 Isaac’s servants also dug in the Gerar Valley and discovered a well of fresh water.20 But then the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So Isaac named the well Esek (which means “ARGUMENT”).

In the preceding verses (vs.16-18) – Abimelech had ordered Isaac to leave the country because they were jealous and intimidated because of the blessing of the Lord in his life. The Philistines wanted to frustrate Isaac so much that they even went to the extent of throwing dirt & debris into the wells that Abraham (Isaac’s father) had dug. The bible then records that Isaac moved as he was told to and he decided to dig a well at his new location (Gerar Valley) but the people in that neighborhood argued over this well with him. And he named this “well Esek”

My dear! The Word of encouragement coming to us as we continue to scatter the Word into our situation is that – We must expect an argument!! We must expect a battle in our mind. We must expect a struggle between our spirit and our flesh as we seek to believe the Word.  We must expect a conflict between what we believe and what we see. We must expect a war between the desires of our flesh and the desires of the Holy Spirit in us. We must expect a fight between our will and the will of God. We must expect an inner battle as we wait in expectation for the physical manifestation of what we have said.

As we wait in expectation of the fulfillment of the Word we are “scattering” – May the Holy Spirit will help us to stay focused on God so that we can win the battle in our mind.

Have a victorious day!

Loving Regards,

Temidayo

#WordScattering# – Genesis 26 vs. 12 – Expect a harvest!!

Hi Dear,

Thank God for today, Monday, the 29th of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

We have been considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart.

Let’s continue this series of #WordScattering# by considering a story in the book of Genesis Chapter 26 – The account of Isaac and the conflict he had over the right of water (dug wells). In verse 12 – Isaac planted seed in that land, and that same year he gathered a great harvest. The Lord blessed him very much, – We are told here that the Isaac planted his crops and in the same year he reaped 100-times more grain than he planted because the Lord blessed him. Isaac’s harvest came in the same year/season that he planted his seeds – God prospered him and he became very wealthy to the point that the Philistines became jealous of Him.

My dear! The Word of encouragement coming to us today from this story is that: We must expect a harvest this season!! We must expect a result from the Word we are scattering (confessing) this season. We must expect that the Word of God we are confessing will come to pass now. We must expect an immediate change as we continue to declare the Word. We must expect a divine shift to take place this season as we speak the Word. We must expect a fulfillment of the promise God has spoken to us. We must expect to see the physical manifestation of the Word we are confessing.

As we keep on scattering the Word – let’s raise our level of expectation and declare: I expect the harvest now!!

Have an expectant week/day

Loving Regards,

Temidayo

#SayTheName#

Hey TGIFriday!,

Thank God for today, Friday, the 26th of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

Still considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart. We have tagged August the month of #WordScattering# and as continue to scatter i.e. declare the Word of God this season – let’s be blessed as we listen to the lyrics of the song – #SayTheName# by Martha Munizzi [youtube]YISgenboB1c&ob=av2n[/youtube]

My dear! when we don’t know what else to pray let’s say the Name of Jesus – because there’s power in the name… there is deliverance in the Name of Jesus… there is healing in the Name of Jesus… there is victory in the name of Jesus.

As we continue in this season of #wordscattering# — let’s continue to declare and confess: The Name of Jesus…

Enjoy a blessed and highly favored day and weekend.

Loving Regards,

Temidayo

#Wordscattering# – John 14 vs. 13

Hi Dear,

Thank God for today, Thursday, the 25th of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

We have been considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart.

The next scripture I want us to look at is in the book of John 14:13  – And if you ask for anything in my name, I will do it for you so that the Father’s glory will be shown through the Son (NCV)

In this scripture – Jesus was admonishing the disciples as He was preparing to leave them – He took time to encourage them to continue to believe and hold on to those things He had taught them. He then gave them a #blankcheck# (so to say)… by telling them if they ask anything in His Name, He will do it so that the Name of the Lord will be glorified.

My dear! You and I (as believers) have also been given this #blankcheck# — We have been given the privilege to ask anything we desire in the Name of Jesus and we will have what we have asked for. We have been given the opportunity to seek the Lord and we will find him as we seek Him with the whole of our heart. We have been given the right to knock on that door of opportunity and it will be opened unto us. We have the confidence to ask anything in the Name of Jesus and we will see the manifestation of what we have asked God for.

As we continue in this great day — let’s use this #blankcheck# and write what we want on it in the Name of Jesus using the blood of Jesus as our ink .

Let’s keep scattering – The Name of Jesus over every situation and let’s keep asking in the Name of Jesus!

Have a blessed and highly favored week.

Loving Regards,

Temidayo

#WordScattering# – Philippians 2 vs. 9-11

Hi Dear,

Thank God for today, Wednesday, the 24th of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

We are still considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart.

The next scripture I want us to look at is in the book of Philippians 2: 9-11 –Therefore, God exalted him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the NAME OF JESUS every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (NLT)

Here we are being told that the Name of Jesus is exalted above every other name in heaven and in the earth. Then it goes on to say that at the mention of the Name of Jesus two definite things must happen — every knee must bow…every tongue must confess that Jesus is Lord of lords.

My dear! As we continue in this season – we declare in Jesus Name that every knee in the form of… a stubborn/difficult situation, stronghold, hindrance, delay, opposition etc… must bow. We decree that every tongue that has risen or that will rise up against us is condemned in the Name of Jesus. We declare in the Name of Jesus that everything contrary to the plan of God for our life must bow. We decree that every negative word or evil pronouncement spoken against us is condemned in Jesus Name.

As we continue to scatter the phrase: In Jesus Name — let’s be expectant because every “knee” will bow and every “tongue” will confess the Lordship of Jesus this season.

Have a victorious day!!

Loving Regards,

Temidayo

#WordScattering# – Acts 3 vs. 16

Hi Dear,

Thank God for today, Tuesday, the 23rd of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

We have been considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart.

The next scripture I want us to look at is in the book of Acts 3 (verse 16) – By faith in the Name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ Name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

Still the story of the crippled man that was healed at the Beautiful gate. The man was walking & praising and the people around were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to the man. Then Peter explained to the people in this verse that it was faith in the name of Jesus that has made this happen.

My dear! As we continue to scatter the phrase: In Jesus Name — I want us to remind ourselves that it’s not just the declaration of the Name of Jesus but the faith that we have in the power that is in the Name of Jesus that brings about miracles. Let’s remember that when we pray in the Name of Jesus, it is Christ himself, not merely the sound of His name, who gives our prayers the power to bring results.

As continue in this season of #wordscattering# — let’s remember to add our faith to every confession and declaration we make in the #NameofJesus#.

Have a faith-filled day and week!!

Loving Regards,

Temidayo

#WordScattering# – Acts 3 vs. 6

Hi Dear,

Thank God for today, Monday, the 22nd of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

We have been considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart.

The next scripture I want us to look at is in the book of Acts 3 (verse 6) – 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”

This is the account of the crippled beggar who was healed at the Beautiful gate as Peter and Paul were on their way to the temple at the time of prayer. This man who had been crippled from birth usually stays at the entrance of the temple to beg as the people make their way into the temple. Then one day he saw Peter and John going into the temple and he asked them for money as his usual practice. But we were told Peter offered him the greatest gift of all – the name of Jesus. Peter told him to “get up and walk”  in the Name of Jesus.

My dear! The #WordScattering# phrase for today is: “In the Name of Jesus” – As we go into this new day – I decree in the Name of Jesus that – we get up and start to do those things that have looked impossible. I declare in the Name of Jesus that we stand up and walk into the fullness of the divine purpose of God for our life. I decree in the Name of Jesus that we rise up and start to possess our possessions. I declare in the Name of Jesus that we are moving forward into the perfect will of God for our life. I decree in the Name of Jesus that we arise and walk in the divine favor of God this season. I declare in the Name of Jesus that we rise above everything that looks like a mountain in our life.

As we continue in this great day — Let’s speak to every impossible situation in our way #inJesusName#

Enjoy a day & week of miracles, signs and wonders in the Name of Jesus… #inJesusName#

Loving Regards,

Temidayo

#BlessedAndHighlyFavored#

Hey TGIFriday!,

Thank God for today, Friday, the 19th of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

Still considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart. We have tagged August the month of #WordScattering# and as continue to scatter i.e. declare the Word of God this season – let’s be blessed as we listen to the lyrics of the song – #BlessedAndHighlyFavored# by The Clark Sisters:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lzqak49CaQ&ob=av2e — We are indeed blessed and highly favored!

My dear! As we go into this weekend… let’s thank God for taking us through hard trials & tribulations… let’s thank God because what the devil meant for evil has been turned around for good… Let’s thank God for the blood of Jesus… Let’s thank God for His grace and mercy.

As we continue in this season of #wordscattering# — let’s continue to declare and confess that: “We are blessed and highly favored”

Enjoy a blessed and highly favored day and weekend.

Loving Regards,

Temidayo

#WordScattering# – Psalm 102 vs. 13

Hi Dear,

Thank God for today, Thursday, the 18th of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

We have been considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart.

The next scripture I want us to look at is Psalm 102 verse 13

You will arise and have mercy on Zion; For the time to FAVOR her, Yes, the set time (designated moment), has come (Ampl)
We are being told in this scripture that: The set time for God’s favor is now… today… this season!! This is the time of God’s favor. This is the season that God has promised to favor us in every area of our life. What we need to do is to take time to study, meditate, believe, speak the Word until we see the physical manifestation in our life.
My dear! As we continue in this season — let’s scatter this phrase: This is my time of favor!! We declare that now is the time for God’s divine intervention. We decree that this is time for God to show Himself strong in our behalf. We declare that this is the time for us to walk in the fullness of God’s purpose for our life. We decree that now is the set time for ultimate breakthrough in our marital, financial, physical, emotional & spiritual life. We declare this is the time for divine favor. We decree that this is time to experience the miraculous hand of God in every area of our life.

Go ahead this season and scatter this phrase: This is my time of favor!!


Loving regards,

Temidayo

#WordScattering# – Psalm 5 vs 12

Hi Dear,

Thank God for today, Wednesday, the 17th of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

We have been considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart.

The next scripture that I want us to look at is Psalm 5:12 – For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your FAVOR as with a SHIELD (NIV)

The Psalmist is telling us here that: The Lord has blessed us and has surrounded us with His goodwill –His pleasure and His favor. This favor as the scripture says is like a SHIELD — A shield is a device that is used to defend…something like a protective cover or barrier. A shield is used in defensive warfare to preserve something or someone and to make the missiles of the enemy glide off the target more easily.

The phrase we want to scatter today is: “I have favor like a shield” — We are surrounded by the favor that will prevent all the fiery dart of the enemy from reaching us. We are surrounded with favor that preserve us from everything that might be contrary to the Word of God. We are surrounded by favor so every missile (voice) of the enemy will not be able to reach us.

My dear! Favor as a shield is something that the Lord has blessed us with and is available to us every blessed day. But as you know if a soldier at war refuses to put his shield on, he will definitely be exposed to the missiles of the enemy. This is just the same way if we don’t put on “favor as a shield” – by declaring and agreeing with the Word of God. Then we are bound to be exposed to the voice of the enemy and favor might not work for us as it should.

So as we continue in this season -- let's keep "scattering" (declaring) FAVOR in every area of our life and in every situation that comes our way.
Enjoy this #wordscattering# season....keep surrounding yourself with the “shield of favor”
Loving Regards,
Temidayo

#WordScattering# – Exodus 12 vs. 36

Hi Dear,

Thank God for today, Tuesday, the 16th of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

We have been considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart.

The 1st scripture I want to “scatter” is Exodus Chapter 12 verse 36 — The account of the “Exodus of the Israelite”: This was when Pharaoh eventually gave up holding on to the people of Israel after seeing the hand of the Lord — He decided to let them go after seeing all the devastation that came through the 10 plagues that God sent — Pharaoh & his people were so scared of what they had experienced. Then we are told in this verse that the Lord made sure Pharaoh’s people favored the Israelites and gave them all that they asked for as they prepared to leave Egypt.

36 The LORD had made the Egyptians FAVORABLY DISPOSED toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians (NIV)

36 The LORD made sure that the Egyptians were KIND to the people so that they let them have whatever they asked for. And so they robbed the Egyptians.(CEB)

36 God saw to it that the Egyptians LIKED the people and so readily gave them what they asked for. Oh yes! They picked those Egyptians clean (MSG)

My dear! The #WordScattering# today is that – Everyone we come across will be “favorably disposed” towards us. We speak the favor of the Lord over our life. We declare that as we walk in divine favor — whatsoever we ask for will be given to us. We decree that the wealth of the Gentiles is ours. We declare that we are set free from every form of “Pharaoh” in our life. We speak peace to every stormy situation in our life. We decree that we have whatsoever God has promised us in His Word. We declare: this is our time of favor! We confess that we have favor in the sight of God and man.

As we continue in this season  – may the goodness, mercy & favor of the Lord continue to follow and be with us in all that we lay our hands upon.

Now let’s continue to scatter: Favor! Favor! Favor……!

Loving Regards,

Temidayo

#WordScattering# – Action time!

Hi Dear,

Thank God for today, Monday, the 15th of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

We have been considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED#, using the Parable of the Sower/four soils” in Matt 13:4a – As he scattered the seeds across the field…. We have also looked at the importance of scattering the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart.

And this month of August has been tagged – the month of #WordScattering#. By this we mean: This is the time where we will confess the Word into our situation and see an immediate change. This is the time where we will decree things in the name of Jesus and see them come to pass in. This is the time where we will declare the complete counsel of God over our life. This is the time we will speak those things that “be not as though they are”. This is the time where we will speak by faith in the Word of God.

My dear! it’s action time! — Therefore, for the next couple of weeks, we will be looking together at specific scriptures that relates to different situation and activities of life. We will read, study, meditate and confess the Word together. We will apply the Word together. We will use the Word to pray together. We will believe and expect to see the manifestation of the Word. And we will encourage one another as we wait for the manifestation of the Word.

As we know our relationship with God is personal – sometimes the Word I feel laid in my heart to scatter might not be what you are scattering at that time. So please feel free to share any scriptures that God has laid in your heart as well.

May God help us as we take this practical steps together. I believe the Word of God will not return void but will definitely accomplish what it has been sent to do. (Isaiah 55:11)

Enjoy this scattering season!

Loving Regards,

Temidayo

#EncourageYourself#

Hey TGIFriday!,

Thank God for today, Friday, the 12th of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

Still considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart. We have tagged August the month of #WordScattering# and as we start to scatter i.e. declare the Word of God this season – let’s be blessed as we listen to the lyrics of the song by Donald Lawrence & Co: #EncourageYourself# [youtube]JbEaftzaFWA&ob=av3n[/youtube]

My dear! It’s time for us to encourage ourselves… It’s time to speak the Word over ourselves… It’s time to speak victory in the storm….It’s time to declare the truth of the Word of God to that situation….

As we continue in this new month of #wordscattering# — let’s continue to encourage ourselves in the Lord = in the Word!!

Have a Word-filled weekend.

Loving Regards,

Temidayo

#WordScattering# – Action of Thorns!

Hey dear,

Thank God for today, Tuesday, the 9th of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

Still considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart. We have tagged the month of #WordScattering# – but before we start to scatter i.e. declare the Word — let’s look another important aspect of #WordScattering# in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13)

7 Other seed [of the same kind] fell among thorn plants, and the thistles grew and pressed together and utterly choked and suffocated it, and it yielded no grain. (AMPL)

Yesterday, we started talking about the thorns (concern for the world). Let’s look further at the action of the “thorns” —

1). The thorns starve the seed by sucking away all the nutrient available for the seed, and as there is only a certain quantity of nourishment in the soil – and if the thorns have it, then the seed must go without it. There is only a certain amount of thought and energy in a person; and if the world gets it, Christ cannot have it. If our thoughts are engaged with the care and pleasure of the world, then it cannot be effective when it comes to the things of the Kingdom (Word of God)

2). The thorns chokes the seed by keeping off the air and sun; the seed then became shriveled and weak, and unable to produce any good fruit. So it is with many “believers” — they are at first worldly, but not very worldly. They are fairly religious, but not too zealous. They seek the riches/pleasures of the world, but not quite as much as others around them. But very soon the thorns grow, and it becomes doubtful which will win: the world (sin) or (Word) Christ.

3). The thorns eventually takes over and the seed dies – There can’t be 2 masters so we must make a choice between God or mammon, the Word or the world, sinful life or holy life.

My dear! A life packed with materialistic pursuit will eventually crowd out the Word of God and make it an unfruitful life.

As we continue in this month of August – let’s take time to get rid of those things that are thorn-like in our life – cos it’s either we are in this thing (called Christianity) for real or not.

May God help us as we seek to live a thorn-free life!

Loving Regards

Temidayo

#WordScatt​ering# – Thorns

Hey dear,

Thank God for today, Monday, the 8th of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

Still considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart. We have tagged the month of #WordScattering# – but before we start to scatter i.e. declare the Word — let’s look at another important aspect of #WordScattering# in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13) — 7 Other seeds fell among THORNS that GREW up and CHOKED OUT the tender plants (NLT)

Here we are told that some seeds fell among thorns – Thorn(s) is described in the Epistles as the care/worries of this world, the deceitfulness of riches (Matt 13:22), the pleasures of this life (Luke 8:14) and the lusts of other things (Mark 4:19). Looking closely at this verse:

The THORNS as the riches of the world is not just money and the things it buys, but the totality of attractive things the world offers — fame, power, glamour, social esteem, a life that is committed to the “creatures” but neglect the Creator.

And we are then told that these seeds that fell among thorns lived and continued to GROW until a time that the thorns begins to choke them. This means the thorns are actually choking the Word out of people who are actually “believer”… those who know/believe the Word and are members of a church; but whose religion seems to be buried beneath their worldliness.

Finally, we are told that these seed plant is CHOKED OUT by the thorns – the thorn chokes out the Word by working on people’s thoughts and distracting them from what should be their main concern. The thorns chokes out the word by turning people’s attention from doing God’s will as expressed in the Word of God.

As we continue in this season – May the Lord open our eyes to see those “thorns” in our path so that we can consciously control and remove them from our way/thought/life.

Enjoy a “thorn” free day!

#LawOfConf​ession#

Hey TGIFriday!,

Thank God for today, Friday, the 5th of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

Still considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart.

We have tagged August the month of #WordScattering# and as we start to scatter i.e. declare the Word of God this season – let’s be blessed as we listen to the lyrics of the song by Donald Lawrence & Co: #Law of Confession# – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyL3km9Hqxc.

[youtube]OyL3km9Hqxc[/youtube]

My dear! It’s time for us to operate the Law of confession. It’s time to use the simple formula/principle of confession. It’s time to say what has been said.

As we continue in this new month of #wordscattering# — Let’s start to say what God has said… let’s start to speak the Word to our situation… let’s start to confess the Word of God over our life.

Have a Word-filled weekend. Loving Regards,Temidayo

#WordScattering# – Stony Place

Hey dear,

Thank God for today, Thursday, the 4th of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

Still considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart. We have tagged the month of #WordScattering# – but before we start to scatter i.e. declare the Word — let’s look another important aspect of #WordScattering# in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13) – 5Some fell on ROCKY PLACES, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

Here we are told that some of the seeds that were scattered fell on rocky soil with stones. In the Jewish terms, a stony/rocky place is like a barren place which “is not fit for sowing”

Therefore, as stony place can be said to represent the people who are naturally hard-hearted and remain unbroken by the word. This represents people who are without any true sense of sin, and repentance for it.  This stony place represents the hearts of people without firm or true conviction. This can represent the people who believe the Word but never get round to doing anything about it. This stony place can represent people who allow the different persecutions, troubles & trials of life to take the Word of God from their heart. This can represent a person who refuses to continue to feed his/her soul with the Word. This can represent who are not committed to doing the things that can strengthen our faith. These represents people who actually believe the Word but have allowed the pressure of what they are going through to “choke” the Word from their life. This represents those who have failed the “test of faith”.

My prayer as we continue in this #WordScattering# season is that: We will continue to trust in God and not in man so that we will not be affected by the “pressure & heat” of life (Jeremiah 17:7&8)

As we continue in this new month — Let’s keep our trust in the Almighty God!!

Loving Regards,

Temiday

#WordScattering# – Wayside

Hey dear,

Thank God for today, Wednesday, the 3rd of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

Still considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart. We have tagged the month of #WordScattering# – but before we start to scatter i.e. declare the Word — let’s look closer at some important aspect of #WordScattering# in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13) –4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a FOOTPATH and the birds came and ate them” (NLT) — And as he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and ate them (AMPL) —

We are told that some of the good seeds the farmer scattered fell on the wayside and the birds came and ate the seeds before they could even germinate.

The footpath or wayside represent people who simply don’t understand the Word or refuse to believe the word of God when it is presented to them. And the birds represents the “wicked one” (presumably the devil), then comes to take the seed away before it can take any root at all in the person’s heart.

My prayer as we continue in this #WordScattering# season will be the prayer in the scripture – O Lord! help our unbelief and increase our faith (Matt4:24)

Have a faith-filed month!!

Loving Regards,

Temidayo

#WordScattering#: Various places!!

Hey dear,

Thank God for today, Tuesday, the 2nd of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a new beginning. Praise God…Hallelujah!

Still considering the G in D.E.L.I.G.H.T i.e. GodConnection in regards to the #SEED# — and how it’s important to scatter the seed of the Word that we have gathered in our heart. We have tagged August the month of #WordScattering# – but before we start to scatter i.e. declare the Word the Word together — let’s look at some important aspect of #WordScattering# in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13)

4 As he scattered them across his field, some SEEDS FELL on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other SEEDS FELL on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other SEEDS FELL among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other SEEDS FELL on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! 9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” (NLT)

Looking at the scripture – we see that the farmer sowed good seeds but not all of them sprouted. We are told the seeds fell in various places: some on footpath, some on shallow soil with underlying rock, some among thorns & some on fertile soil. These various places signifies the various kinds of “hearers” of the word. These various places implies different spiritual states or level which exist.  These various places represent the different ways people respond to the Word of God. These various places can also represent the different phases or times in a person’s life. These various places represent the different level of faith that people operate in.

With this understanding in mind as we start to scatter the seed of the Word into the life of people this season – We should not be weary if it seems we are sowing the seed of the Word and not all of it is bring forth the results we desire. We should not be discouraged if it seems we do not see the results we expect. We should not give up if we don’t see the fulfillment of the Word we have spoken to that situation.

But we must be encouraged knowing that God through the Holy Spirit is the One who will cause the Word to germinate and bring increase  — as the scripture in the book of 1 Corin. 3:6  I  (Paul)) planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.

May God strengthen us as we continue in this #WordScattering# season.

Loving Regards,

Temidayo

#WordScattering#

Hey dear, Happy New August!

Thank God for today, Monday, the 1st of August 2011 – a day that the Lord has made so let’s begin this new day by rejoicing in the Lord. Let’s rejoice & be glad because now is the set time for a

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Messy Divorces

Jerry Rawlings (l) no longer calls the shots with President John Atta Mills (r)
Elizabeth Ohene

Ghanaian writer and opposition politician Elizabeth Ohene says that that the break-up of a political marriage is as painful as a real-life divorce.

A former first lady of Ghana lost an election most emphatically on 9 July, the same day that the new Republic of South Sudan was born.

While the events in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, were a joyful affair, the events in Sunyani, the capital of Ghana’s Brong Ahafo Region, were very painful to watch.

Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, wife of former President Jerry Rawlings, was contesting an election to become the presidential candidate of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) party in polls due next year.

Her opponent was President John Atta Mills, who was Mr Rawlings’ protege and had come to power in 2009 with the firm backing of the Rawlings.

Both events, in Sunyani and Juba, came out of a relationship gone bad – a marriage that had broken down.

Whereas in all cultures we have devised elaborate rites for marriages, the process of breaking up remains mostly unstructured and messy.

The problem often is that it is very rare for both sides in a relationship to conclude at the same time that a marriage has broken down irretrievably.

The African Union (AU), like the Catholic Church, is resolutely against divorce.

What god (or in Africa’s case, the colonial powers) has put together, cannot and should not be put asunder.

‘Marital property’

The African map, as drawn by the colonial powers, is sacrosanct – no matter how absurd.

The AU, though, reluctantly endorsed South Sudan’s independence.

As I watched the birth of the nation and the joy on the faces of the crowds in Juba, I looked at at the face of Omar al-Bashir, now president of a half Sudan.

I could tell he was hurting. Maybe, it had something to do with the sharing of the marital property and the oil revenue going to the south.

The problem is that even pre-nuptial agreements never bring equal solace to both sides.

Then, my mind went to a May dawn in 1994 in Pretoria at the inauguration of a certain Nelson Mandela.

Not exactly a divorce that one, but not quite a marriage either since this “new” South Africa did not require a new domain name or a new football team as South Sudan apparently does – but it did get a new flag and a new national anthem.

That, too, was a relationship among different races that had collapsed and was being re-engineered after years of trouble.

We all wished them well and have been watching their progress sometimes with anxiety but more often with a lot of pride.

‘Delirious’

A year ago they did Africa proud by hosting a successful football World Cup tournament and one got the impression this new marriage was working even if the partners were still adjusting to the shift in power.

My mind then went to a country much nearer to the new state of South Sudan – Eritrea.

It divorced from Ethiopia in 1993 after a long liberation war.

Like the crowds in Juba on 9 July, the Eritreans were delirious at nationhood but the divorce was traumatic for Ethiopians.

The sharing of the spoils had turned Ethiopia into a landlocked nation overnight, as the country’s only port fell in Eritrea.

But an even more interesting example is that of Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia 20 years ago.

That divorce has not been recognized by officialdom but Somaliland has certainly left the marriage and we wait for the formalities to be concluded one day.

Which all brings me back to events in Sunyani.

The fall-out between the Rawlings and their one-time protege – Mr Atta Mills – was played out in full glare of the public.

It seemed to me this was a classic case of an abusive relationship where the marriage had broken down but one side was still trying to hold on to it.

I have not quite worked out who filed for divorce, but the truth is that the marriage is over.

Mr Atta Mills has spoken about working for unity, but that is just empty talk.

This was a divorce and we await the sharing of the spoils.

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‘Dead’ South African Man Wakes Up in Transkei Mortuary

Johannesburg — A 50-year-old asthmatic man presumed dead by his family woke up inside the morgue of a private undertaker at Libode in the Transkei region on Sunday afternoon

The man, whose name has been withheld, lost consciousness while asleep at his home in a nearby village on Saturday evening, said Eastern Cape health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo.

“His family thought he had died,” Kupelo told Sapa.

“The family called a private undertaker who took what they thought was a dead body to the morgue, but the man woke up inside the morgue on Sunday at 5pm and screamed, demanding to be taken out of the cold place.”

He had been there for nearly 24 hours.

Kupelo said the two mortuary attendants who were on duty at the time ran out of the building thinking the screaming man was a ghost.

They called for help, put on brave faces and went back to find that the man was indeed alive.

“We sent an ambulance to the funeral parlour to take the man to Saint Barnabas Hospital because he had been exposed to extreme cold for nearly 24 hours,” Kupelo said.

He warned the public not to assume that a sick person had died and call a mortuary.

“Doctors, emergency workers and the police are the only people who have a right to examine the patients and determine if they are dead or not,” said Kupelo.

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Dominique Strauss-Kahn accuser Nafissatou Diallo Gives First Interview

The New York hotel maid who accuses former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn of attempting to rape her in a hotel suite has given her first interview.

Nafissatou Diallo told Newsweek magazine that she has told the truth about the incident on 14 May.

The move comes as authorities consider whether to drop charges against him amid doubts over her credibility.

The French politician, 62, who resigned as head of the IMF to defend himself, vigorously denies all the charges.

He has said that what happened with Ms Diallo was consensual, and his lawyers have described the maid’s interview as “unseemly”.

Media campaign?

Ms Diallo told Newsweek magazine: “I want him to go to jail. I want him to know there are some places you cannot use your power, you cannot use your money.”

The 32-year-old immigrant from Guinea told the magazine that she was scared about losing her job when she eventually ran from the room where the incident allegedly took place.

But Mr Strauss-Kahn’s representatives accused her of conducting a “media campaign” to persuade prosecutors to pursue charges against the former IMF chief, Reuters news agency reported.

He is charged with seven counts including four more serious felony charges – two of criminal sexual acts, one of attempted rape and one of sexual abuse – plus three misdemeanour offences, including unlawful imprisonment.

But some US media reports say the case is close to collapse. Court prosecutors have said that the maid gave false testimony to a grand jury, citing inconsistencies in her account of the sequence of events on the day.

Mr Strauss-Kahn was released from house arrest on 1 July and had his $6m (£3.7m) cash bail and bond returned.

Meanwhile, French authorities are investigating allegations that Mr Strauss-Kahn attempted to rape French writer Tristane Banon a decade earlier.

Mr Strauss-Kahn denies any wrongdoing, and has launched a counter-claim, suing Ms Banon for making false statements.

Ms Diallo has also granted an interview to the ABC news network, excerpts of which are due to be broadcast on Monday.

Until she came forward for interview, her name had not been reported by media outlets which normally protect the identities of people who say they have been sexually assaulted.

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The Gay and Lesbian Debate: A Credit to Ghana’s Democracy

The discussions surrounding the gay and lesbian situation in Ghana has received a lot of attention lately. The former President, His Excellency J.A. Kufuor as well as the current one H.E. Professor John Evans Atta Mills have joined the on-going debate by frankly and candidly expressing their views on a controversial matter that seems to be affecting the country and possibly the continent more than most people would want to admit.

The multifaceted nature of the issues has drawn comments and contributions from all and sundry including the clergy and the legal fraternity. The religious perspective has called for outright condemnation due to the Biblical position on sodomy and same sex partnership. The legal angle however appears to be admonishing caution as well as the constitutionality of illegalizing or criminalizing the gay and lesbian lifestyle. Even though existing codes in the country’s criminal legal system identifies unnatural sexual practices as acts of misdemeanor the constitution which is the supreme law of the land remains silent on the matter. Needless to say that, the constitutional debate will continue until a clearly defined legal position is adopted to guide the society’s treatment of gays and lesbians.

It must however be said that, a legal analysis of issues may not exhaust the gargantuan scope of this debate which quite frankly must be evaluated from a myriad of angles. For the ratified legal status of homosexuals in Ghana will have sociological, cultural and Continue reading “The Gay and Lesbian Debate: A Credit to Ghana’s Democracy”

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Drogba Takes Malaria Fight to Native Africa

(Reuters) – After six years braving England’s frigid winters, a tropical disease was the last thing Chelsea’s injury-prone striker Didier Drogba thought would keep him on the sidelines of the Premier League.

Since contracting malaria last year, Drogba’s fight against the disease has gone from the Chelsea treatment room to the wilds of West Africa, where he is building a hospital and providing thousands of mosquito nets in an effort to cut the infection rate of one of the world’s biggest killers.

There are 225 million cases a year of malaria, a mosquito-borne disease which can damage the nervous system, kidneys and liver. There were 781,000 deaths due to malaria in 2009, nine out of 10 were in Africa, according to the World Health Organization.

“I had malaria, I know exactly what it feels like and it’s something that I want to stop,” Drogba told Reuters on Saturday, handing out hundreds of nets bearing his face to a foundation in Thailand during Chelsea’s Asian tour.

“That’s why we’re giving these nets to kids and people who can’t afford treatment. These are good options, they’re efficient and they save lives.”

Drogba has been active in his native Ivory Coast in raising funds and donating his own sponsorship earnings to building a hospital in the capital Abidjan worth more than $4 million.

The 32-year-old fell ill with malaria in September but continued playing, a decision he said was foolish in retrospect and delayed his recovery.

DANGEROUS MOVE

The towering forward still does not know where he picked up the illness, which the club did not reveal until two months later.

“It was very dangerous and cost me fitness for almost two months,” he said. “But I kept playing, I wanted to help my team, but I really should not have.”

Drogba’s hospital project has been delayed due to a four-month conflict in Ivory Coast that killed thousands of people following an election intended to unite the former French colony that plunged it back into civil war.

The country is now in recovery following April’s ouster by French-backed rebels of former President Laurent Gbagbo, who had refused to cede power. Drogba said he would return to his homeland in the next few weeks to get his hospital project started.

“The situation in Ivory Coast has meant it’s difficult for people to receive treatment, but the country is trying to survive, slowly things should get back to normal,” Drogba said.

“I want this money to go to the right place, to try to help my people and give back to them what they gave to me.

“They’ve always been supporting me, so I really want to help them.”

By Martin Petty
BANGKOK
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Our Political Leaders Must Seek ‘Intellectual Wisdom’ from the Electorate

Since time immemorial, Ghanaians hav e been spea king with their chests out to portray to the whole world, especially their counterparts in the sub-regi on that they are indeed unique creatures. They base their pride on the rich human resource, abundant natural reserves, cultural heritage, religious tolerance and even the democratic environment that they have nurtured. Before 1957, the country was called the Gold Coast (Land of God) in apparent reference to the abundance of gold deposits along her coast. Currently, Ghana ranks second to South Africa in gold production in Africa. Talk about politics and the proud Ghanaian will boast that Ghana was the first to win political independence in the sub-Saharan Africa.

Whilst we play second fiddle to Cote D’Ivoire in terms of cocoa production in the world, agriculture has proven to be the mainstay of the economy. Ghana’s total land area has beautiful touristy attractions, such as beautiful parks, mountains, rivers and waterfalls and the fertility of the land is the envy of all. Out of these rivers, Ghana has been able to build the largest man-made lake in the world and through this; hydro-electric power is generated for local consumption and for exports. The sea with its beaches, acts as place for domestic and international holiday makers. The climatic condition is so favourable that if the academic wisdom from the so-called elites were applied to maximise our resources, poverty would definitely be a thing of the past.

Our religious inclination is so strong that if religion were to be a criterion to judge a country as a developed nation, Ghana would be among the G-8 nations. This is because Ghanaians pray and worship God 24/7 sometimes with the wrong notion that all their socio-economic, spiritual and political problems could and should be solved by God. It was therefore not surprising to hear the sitting president unilaterally ‘electing’ God as the president of Ghana. Sometimes one would even fault God for putting brains in our heads. In the field of sports, Ghana has not been found wanting at all because the junior national teams – the Black Starlets, the Black Satellites and the Black Meteors have taken the world by storm by winning gold, silver and bronze medals at different stages of the world football competitions. The splendid performance of the senior national team – the Black Stars at the recently held World Cup in South Africa is a clear testimony of our God-given talent in sports.

In the fields of medicine, education, engineering etc, the expertise of Ghanaians is phenomenal both in abroad and at home thus giving meaning to our rich human resource. Our cultural heritage, with its well-established chieftaincy institution remains one of the best in the world. Ghana even boasts of the Africa personality of the millelium in the person of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of the Republic of Ghana. It is refreshing to note that our country is among the only three African countries – South Africa and Nigeria that had their sitting presidents represent all G-8 Summits between 2001 and 2009. The Ghanaian hospitability is second to none and in spite of our tribal and religious differences, the people co-exist with each other, a feat which has ensured relative stability in our motherland. It is also interesting to note that Ghana remains the only African country to have paid host to three different sitting US Presidents – Clinton, Bush and Obama. Currently, our beloved country is among the oil producing countries in the world – many thanks to His Excellency, J.A. Kufuor and his NPP administration.

However, the above notwithstanding, preventable diseases and poverty are gradually killing many innocent Ghanaians. Whilst many of our natural resources remain untapped, Ghana is still a net-importer of food and raw materials. Currently, our political dispensation has become the arena for political insults, especially by ministers of state who are required to provide quality leadership for the tax-payer. Our young democracy has been characterised by ‘foot soldierism’, corruption and vindictiveness, putting the unity of the country under serious threat. Ghana has been divided into two political lines (teams) and the players within the teams seem to play ‘Kokofu Ball’. Consequently, national interest and consensus building have given way to mediocrity and nepotism. Even members of the same political group have been sidelined for sharing dissenting views whilst others have lost their jobs (Dr. Sekou Nkrumah and Brogya Gyemfi of NDC). If the NDC could do this to its own members, what would be the fate of other political opponents who work in the various state institutions?

Fellow Ghanaians, why would a religious country like Ghana become a home of armed robbers? Can we say that religion has had a negative impact on our lives and can anybody convince me that the practitioners of these ‘social crimes’ are atheists? It is so disheartening to see mother Ghana plagued with corruption in all facets of the economy – politics, judiciary, executive, legislature, chieftaincy, religion, educational and health institutions, among others. What religious sense does it make for Alhaji Muntaka, who happens to be a Minister of State, a Member of Parliament and a devout Muslim to spend the tax payers’ money on his girl friend and ‘kyinkyinka’ whilst his wife and children are left at home?

As I write today, the Akosombo dam with its hydro-electric power cannot even produce electricity for the entire country after 50 years in existence. Apart from about 72% of the populace who enjoy power rationing, the remaining 28% still live in total darkness. Ghana’s infrastructure – roads, rail network, school buildings, hospitals etc is an eyesore. It is often said that water is life but how far do our leaders value our lives? Just last week the sector minister revealed that only 62% of Ghanaians have access to quality drinking water yet he failed to come out with a strategic plan to improve water supply in the country. The other time it was the President, John Mills who had to close his eyes before he could pass through the Accra-Ofankor road because of its bad nature. In fact, our roads are so bad that motor accidents continue to claim precious lives on a daily basis. And when the Executive President was tasked to put in measures to curtail the rate of motor accidents, he sought for God’s intervention as if his sense of direction was completely lost. Why can’t our president appeal to reason in relation to rampant road accidents? Typically, Ghanaians are quick to identify the causes and solutions to almost all the problems we face in the country – sanitation, power failure, motor accidents, falling standards of education, armed robbery, indiscipline, low agricultural output etc. A typical Ghanaian can lecture you from morning to evening on how and who caused this and that problem yet when it comes to the practical implementation of programmes and policies to ameliorate them, the competency and the organisational charisma needed to execute the rhetoric are lost.

As a patriotic Ghanaian, I have been so disappointed with the attitude of some Ghanaians who have had the opportunity to acquire formal education at the expense of the poor tax-payer. The other time, I heard Hannah Bissiw, the Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing speak on top of her voice all because she wasn’t addressed by her title on a political debate. She even vowed not to make further submissions until her co-panellist addressed her properly. And this is the woman who spent millions of the tax payers’ money to be trained in Cuba just to specialise in ants, dogs, cockroaches and mosquitoes. What have these titles – Professor, ‘Asomdweehene’, learned friend, General, Flt. Lieutenant, Doctor, Osagyefo, Daasebre etc done for the ordinary Ghanaian apart from using them to oppress the people and steal from the national coffers?

I would like to sound a word of caution to our political leaders that they should never underrate the intellectual capability of the electorate. We may be poor but we have not lost our senses. We are religiously observing and following their actions and inactions and very soon we will treat their so-called academic wisdom with contempt because we cannot fathom some of the actions they take. Just imagine how a visionary president like Kwame Nkrumah misapplied the £200 million left in the national coffers by the British government? With a population of only 6.5m, the PhD holder thought it wise to build a mansion for his Egyptian wife. Besides, Nkrumah gave whopping £10m to Guinea towards her developmental efforts at a time when the northern part of Ghana remained a desert and with all these, the defunct CPP members continue to disturb our ears that Nkrumah was selfless. Their reason being that Dr. Nkrumah never built a single house for himself. So what did Nkrumah do with his salary for all the six years that he spent at the presidency and what do his disciples take Ghanaians for? ‘Fools’ isn’t it?

Between 1979 and 2001, J.J. Rawlings – also a Flight Lieutenant, could not understand why a Ghanaian should own two toilets in one house. To him, there should be financial equality between the rich and the poor. He changed our educational system without any adequate preparation. He killed many Ghanaians including three former heads of state. In the end, not only did he educate his kids in a foreign country, but also many private enterprises became insolvent. Apart from leaving the country in a Heavily Indebted and Poor Country (HIPC) status, Rawlings is seriously pushing for his wife – Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings to become the president of Ghana. Hmmm!

I cannot recount the failures of our political leaders without mentioning the inadequacies of my role model, Mr. J.A. Kufuor, the man whose administration brought positive change in our lives. As a human, President Kufuor also committed a blunder by awarding himself with a gold medal meant for past presidents.

There was a sigh of relief on the part of NDC supporters when the so-called ‘Asomdweehene’ – John Atta Mills became the president. This is the man who led a demonstration to kick against, among others; the purchase of a Presidential Jet, the $20,000 car loan to MPs, the celebration of national anniversaries and more importantly the increase in fuel prices at a time the price stood at $147 per barrel. But what has happened under his Better Ghana administration? In his ‘professorial wisdom’, Ghana is spending a whopping $250 million to acquire five military jets. My questions are; is Ghana planning to go to war with any of our neighbouring countries or is Ghana being attacked by our enemies? Is the purchase of the five military aircrafts a national priority? Has President Mills gotten enough money to complete the Accra-Ofankor road? What about the children who attend classes under trees, the SADA and the two new universities he cut sods for construction? What happened to the Ghana International Airlines? Is Ghana a rich country now and has the government purchased a new flow meter to measure our oil?

Unfortunately, the philosophy of the NDC under its own ‘Better Ghana’ agenda is that the erstwhile NPP, for instance, ‘killed’ 20,000 people so the NDC will not be wrong for ‘killing’ 40,000 people. An NPP member ‘slapped’ two NDC members in 2008 so an NDC member should ‘slap’ four NPP members now. Oh Mother Ghana! Do you think Ghanaians would be wrong to describe the NDC members as true economic saboteurs? If you doubt, just assess the two and half years of John Atta Mills – the ‘I care for you’ president and you will understand me better. Apart from doubling poverty levels and car loans of MPs to $50,000, the law professor wisely thinks that the late Kwame Nkrumah deserves some honour from Ghanaians and therefore 48million old cedis should be spent on his birthday. As an academic, President Mills argues that putting money in the pockets of Ghanaians entails doubling fuel prices, doubling and introducing new taxes and banning graduates of tertiary institutions from accessing public sector employment. And this is the party that claims to be a social democratic and brags to have the welfare of the people at heart.

So my dear readers, are we advancing or reversing as nation? Your guess should be as good as mine. I strongly believe that our political leaders need lectures on nationalism, patriotism and intellectual honesty to build the nation for posterity. We cannot remain poor in the face of oil find, agricultural wealth, mineral wealth and all the big loan facility from donor countries. Ghanaians deserve better! Our collective failure to maximise these resources to relieve us out of abject poverty is giving credence to Prophet Bob Marley’s assertion that; “in the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty”.  As we have decided to choose democracy over other systems of government, I will appeal to the electorate to see and treat all selfish politicians as baby diapers and change them as regularly as possible, until a charismatic leader, who will combine competency with selflessness, courage, honesty and above all, the fear of God, is elected.

God bless Ghana! God bless the NPP!! God bless Kufuor!!!

Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang, Hull. UK.

Official blog (www.katakyie.com) katakyienpp@yahoo.co.uk 07944309859

“Vision, coupled with persistency, results in true success”

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African Youth Development Through the Eyes of African Leaders

In the last week’s edition of this column, we rummaged over first two of the resolutions of the African Union 17th ordinary Session in Malabo, Guinea, that dwelled on the employment of youths and creating an avenue for vocational training in the areas of ICT and agriculture. In this concluding part, we shall take a critical look at resolutions three, four and five, that pertain to the provision of adequate resources for youth agenda cum funding of the Pan African Youth Union, and organizing training summit at the middle of every year for youth volunteers, and subsequent posting within the region possibly to serve as volunteers on the bill of the African Union.

African resources have been frittered away to foreign lands for non-economic activities, that had left the continent worse-off than it were in the last 50 years. Each dying year witnesses the pomp and pageantry of expensive Independence celebration ceremonies round the continent, but they celebrate underdevelopment and poverty and dwindling economies. We often hear stories of the ‘good old days’ of the seventies and early eighties, when young graduates had their job placement before they write their final examinations. Civil servants could buy new cars with ease, but what we have today is an array of over-used cars that are only fit for scraps in developed countries, running in African major cities partly because people cannot afford the cost of new ones. What happens to these jobs and new cars? Why are the industries closing shops as the universities churn out thousands of young graduates into the already over-blotted labor market? Does that portend a good future for the present generation, if past years are better than now? This is the bane of brain-drain syndrome plaguing the continent. African leaders must wake up to their responsibilities and provide purposeful leadership in the area of economic empowerment for their young population.

I keep wondering why these leaders have not seen it fit to empower their young population over the years. The scenario has been build-up factions that will empower the youth with guns to sack the entire citizenry and create huge refugee population in order for them to be political saviors. One of the basic problems of youth in Africa is lack of access to quality education. In places where schools are available, young people there do not see the need to go to school as it takes a long time to reap its dividends because the value for ‘quick wealth without labor’ is on the increase. Those who have the gusto and drive to acquire education/skills do not have the financial capacity due to chronic poverty ranging them, as the government care a little less. Moreover, skill acquisition centers that would have been the alternative mode for equipping the youth with technical and entrepreneurial skills are nowhere to be found. Thus, young people are left with no plausible option than to engage in all kinds of unwholesome activities that tend to undermine the moral fabric of their societies just to make ends meet. The example of pockets of insurgent groups in various parts of the continent is a clear case at point, each seeking to be heard depending on what the grievances are, at the expense of civilian casualties.

The Pan African Youth Union has more or less been left moribund for years. Why is it now the leaders deem it fit to dust it up from the shelve in the organization’s archive to give it a new look? African youths are despondent and frustrated because they have been denied opportunity for empowerment economically and politically for the past fifty years. Organizing youth summit in every June/July to train youth volunteers is not a bad idea, but do they have the political will to make it real? How far would the leaders go to move the proposal from paper to practical action? Do all the countries that signed that pact have the capability to absorb these young volunteers (as proposed by the AU), into their economy to participate in the program marshaled out considering the volatile nature of many of these countries? Which country would allow her young people to be sent to a place like Somalia or the DRC? Would this attempt not be another pipeline for the siphoning of public funds without tangible results? Your guess is as good as mine!

Truly, there is nothing nobler than planning for younger generation by their leaders. Nonetheless, the abhorrence of youth by some of these leaders make the whole resolution looks as if that summit in Malabo, was another gathering for our ever- complacent leaders who gather to drink expensive wine, lodge in five-star hotels with tax payers’ money, and consolidate on their business links and forget the plight of their suffering masses back home. Future studies have demonstrated that equipping young people with profound strategies for the unknown is the best way to galvanize any country into prosperity. Until the right atmosphere free of internal conflict, youth unemployment, hunger, militancy and poverty is created in Africa by the leaders;  the impossibility of incessant youths’ unrest in the forms of violent protests and demonstrations would continue to be a mirage.