BEWARE OF LOVE

Not all talks about love are really about love—regardless of its peddler or form, its passion or fury, and the allure of its garb or façade. It’s not at all love when it seeks its own way, turns your dear ones away and leads you astray. Beware of love that will ruin your life and end up the chief mourner at your funeral. True love is there whenever you call, stays with you when ills befall, and helps you to triumph through it all (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7). True love remains your best friend, till life’s days of toil shall end, or to Heaven you both ascend. Love is in the air, but beware of love that trifles with your soft heart, and piece by piece tears it apart, to be discarded in its laundry cart.—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

THE LIVING DEAD

Many are afraid of death, without realizing that they’re already dead. The only reason they've not yet been buried is because they’re still moving. The living dead are those who’ve lost their purpose in life, with no desire or drive for anything worthwhile. They follow the wind wherever it blows, often seeing themselves as victims of circumstances. Theirs is an empty, wasteful, and miserable life! Here’s some counsel: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die… Remember... hold fast and repent” (Revelation 3:1-3). The ghostly life of the living dead is more haunting than death itself. It’s time to wake up!—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

BE POLISHED

It hurts to be hurt—repeatedly!  But consider this: “When people hurt you over and over, think of them like sand paper. They may scratch and hurt you a bit, but in the end, you end up polished and they end up useless" (Chris Colfer, actor). Incredible though it may seem, God often employs the hurtful actions of people to bless us! Think of the envy and betrayal of Joseph's brothers, the lies of Potiphar’s wife, and the forgetfulness of the chief-cupbearer (Genesis 39-41). Wondering about the prickly, mean, and vicious people who keep showing up in your life? They’re providential sand papers. Be polished by them! God uses even the worst people to bring out the best in us. Shine through your hurts!—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

DARE TO REFUSE!

It takes courage—and faith—to refuse. Refusal is an act of the will, the protest of the conscience, and the resolve of non-conformism. It is saying “No” or “No more” to gutless compliance or indifference. Daring to refuse is remedy to the epidemic of cowardly fear, it’s common sense in the civilization of the mindless, and the purest faith in the religion of compromises & fanaticism. Refuse to go along in order to get along. Refuse the prize that costs you nothing. Refuse to be bought or sold. “By faith Moses … REFUSED to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God...” (Hebrews 11:24-26). Refusal is a treasonable act in the democracy of the timid, ignorant, disloyal, or stupid. Dare to refuse!—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

BUTTERFLY OR BEE? 

Don’t just skim the surface; dig deep. Two common field insects illustrate: One, beautifully adorned, dances from flower to flower impatient for where to sip ready nectar. The other, less attractive, is more businesslike. Where he finds the flower-cup closed, he pries open; where deep, he goes down to the bottom. He’s thorough, overcoming all obstacles to find or make honey. “The one died last October. The other is warm in his hive, amidst the fragrant stores he has gathered" (James Hamilton). Are you a butterfly or bee? Shallow or deliberate? Engaged in mere activity, and not productivity? For success—in your work, studies, personal or spiritual life—don’t settle for the superficial; go deep (Matthew 7:24-27).—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

GO HIGHER

Don’t be satisfied with aiming high. Go HIGHER.  For, in the words of E.G. White, “higher than the highest human thought can reach is God's ideal for His children.”  There’s never a period when there is no more to learn and no higher attainments to reach.  Going HIGHER means—don’t just grow, bloom; don’t just hear, listen; don’t just think, ponder; don’t just speak, communicate; don’t just give, sacrifice; don’t just be patient, be kind; don’t just forgive, forget; don’t just live, live for Christ. Grow—“from faith to faith,” “from glory to glory” and “day by day” (Romans 1:16, 17; 2 Corinthians3:18; 4:16;). Press on the upward way, gain new heights everyday, and plant your feet on HIGHER ground. —Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

THE LAND OF THE NEW YEAR

We’ve just begun a journey to an unknown destination—the land of the New Year. Since it’s a different land, we must be prepared for new experiences and be willing to do things differently—if we’re to be successful in the land of the New Year. We know not what will happen on our way. There’ll be ups and downs, mountaintops and some deep valleys. But, as with God’s ancient people in their journey to the Promised Land, we’ve been assured: “The land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys,…[but] the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year” (Deuteronomy 11:10-12). So, fear not. God will guide you through this land of the New Year—every step of the way. Safe trip!—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

START WITH A BEAUTIFUL PAGE!

“How I wish we were given an eraser. I would have erased all the mistakes I made these past years…” That was a comment from a young man who had read my last thought nugget (titled “A New Chapter”). I also received a number of private emails which similarly expressed regrets over things in the past and a deep longing for a brand new page to begin this year.
Here’s some good news: You don’t just need erasers to erase all the mistakes in the previous chapters of your life’s book.  You don’t just need to begin your New Year with blank pages. You can start with a beautiful page! Here’s how I stated it in one of my previous thought nuggets titled “CLEAN RECORD”:
“You can have a clean record! A preacher illustrates how: When Jesus sits at His heavenly computer, He highlights our list of sins. Then He hits the DELETE key, totally erasing our sins! But Christ does more. He also opens up another folder—the file containing His perfect, sinless record. He highlights...

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A NEW CHAPTER

Life is like a book with many chapters. Some have 70; some, more; others, less. To each chapter has been assigned 365 pages, and every fifth chapter, one extra page. The size of our books don't really matter. What counts is that we’ve all been given pens to write what we want others to read from our books.  Sometimes we write well—by our choices and actions. Other times, we don't. Regardless of what you've written in this current chapter of your book, a new chapter beckons. Make this new chapter count—by writing well on each blank page. For the latest chapter and page of YOUR book determine whether or not your name is in GOD’S Book of Life. Happy New Year! (Psalm 90:10; Luke 10:20; Revelation 3:5).—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

TEARS AT CHRISTMAS

The Christmas story is not a sanitized account of life. Not some sentimental jollity of jingle bells, Xmas trees, lights, parades, and Santa Claus’s reindeers supposedly to remember Christ’s birth. Besides “peace on earth and goodwill towards men” (Luke 2), there’s also “lamentation, weeping, and great mourning” because of envy, secret plotting, and massacre of the innocent to advance personal and political ambitions (Matthew 2:1-18). As at that first Advent, our world today is also full of tears at Christmas time. These tears can’t be wiped away by simply going for shopping, dining, or watching sentimental Xmas movies.  Those for whom “Merry Xmas” has become “Teary Xmas” shouldn’t despair. For, He whose Childhood and life were marked by many tears identifies with all our sorrows and griefs. He’ll come again to end all tears.—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim