GIVING & RECEIVING

BE THANKFUL

An elderly lady in a nursing home said, “I thank you, Lord, for two good teeth, one upper and one lower. And I thank you that they meet!” Thankful for little things. Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) wrote more than 9,000 hymns during her lifetime. When she was just six weeks old, she became blind for life—due to a doctor’s incompetence. But despite her blindness, she refused to be bitter or feel sorry for herself. She explained why: “If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.” Thankful for trials. There’s ALWAYS something to be thankful for (Philippians 4:6, 7; Psalm 103:1-5). Find yours!—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

A DEADLY DISEASE

It is the root-cause of every other ailment. It has brought restlessness, misery, and devastation to every family that ever existed anywhere in the universe. It has afflicted ordinary people, great leaders, and even holy angels. This cancer of the soul is best known as Pride or self-conceit. “The more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others” (C.S. Lewis). It’s a deadly disease. To have it is to be delusional. To deny you have it is to be full of it and, thus, incurable. There’s only one lasting cure: Christ’s grace of humility. He Himself said, “learn from Me, for I am gentle & lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29; Proverbs 16:5, 18).—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

CANCER OF THE SOUL

It was the first malady ever to be introduced into the universe, and the last that will be rooted out. This grave disease is no respecter of persons. It has afflicted paupers & princes, priests & prophets, and even holy angels. The dreadful condition is best known as Pride or self-conceit. Often, this spiritual cancer begins with a seemingly harmless feeling that we’re unappreciated, neglected, or despised. It spreads when we believe our ideas, experiences, or ways are superior to all others, or that some tasks are "beneath us." The condition is critical when we always look down on others to the point of not caring about them. It becomes terminal when we stubbornly refuse to accept our faults or receive instruction or correction, or cherish the spirit of envy, unforgiveness, or hate. The cancer of the soul is deadly! To deny you have it is to be incurable (Proverbs 16:5, 18).—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

HUMILITY ON DISPLAY

“Humility is like underwear—essential, but indecent when it shows” (Helen Neilson). A man was voted as the most humble person in a village. As a reward for exhibiting this laudable virtue, he was awarded a gold medal. But the next day, the villagers withdrew the gold medal because the man was found wearing it!  Be careful how you display your humility; the moment you think you have it, you have lost it. Consider another Man. In His life was no trace of extravagance, ease, selfish-gratification, or indulgence. Instead, He consistently displayed self-denial and self-sacrifice—from His humble birth to His humiliating death. “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, … and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord …” (Philippians 2:5-11). To know Him is to cultivate His winsome grace of humility.—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim.

SLEEPING LIONS

“A barking dog is often more useful than a sleeping lion” (Washington Irving). True! Far too many are busy sleeping, when they should actively be working. But ability without action is laziness. "How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man” (Proverbs 6:9-11; cf. 24:30-34). Wake up! It’s not what you have, but it’s what you do with it that counts. And you’ve got what it takes to make it!  So put your hand on the plow. Give responsibility to your ability and let God increase your capability. It’s better to be a barking dog than a sleeping lion.—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

CRYING IN OUR SHELLS

After a series of tragedies in the animal kingdom, a delegation of credentialed mourners went to the tortoise with a query. Led by the elephant, giraffe, gorilla, dog, cat, goose, and dolphin, they asked: “How come we never see you cry?” The tortoise replied calmly: “I do. In fact, I shed tears frequently. But I always cry in my shell.” Some pains are too deep to be expressed publicly. We can only withdraw to the shells of our closets to cry, and cry out to the Lord. Are you currently in anguish, grieving or mourning in silence? God who feels your pain will be with you in your shell, to comfort and wipe away the tears (Revelation 21:4). You WILL emerge from your shell, to give your own brief on grief.—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

MY APOLOGIES

“I’m sorry, BUT…” is not a true apology. Genuine confession has no “buts.” It offers no excuses or rationalizations, and assigns no blames. In a true apology—either to God or to man—I accept my mistakes as MY own failures. Period. I do not blame others or circumstances for my actions and inactions. In an honest confession I admit that my greatest problem is myself, and my greatest need is forgiveness and a Savior from myself—my sinful human self. Genuine apology is a mark of humility—and strength. For when I truly confess my failures, it frees me from the guilt and crippling pain of living a hypocritical and phony life. But if, in my apologies, I play the blame-game, I will B-LAME! (Psalm 51 & 32)—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

WORDS OF SILENCE

Sometimes the most powerful words are the words of silence. Shakespeare said: "It’s better to be king of your silence than slave of your words.” As powerful as words are, there are times when you need not say any. In a climate of hate, anger, prejudice, or insecurity, don't waste your words of explanation on adversaries. In sorrow, your friends drinking from its bitter cup might benefit more from your mute presence than your vocal commiserations. And from Job, we learn to harness the power of silence when we don’t understand God's ways. Why destroy silence with words? Rightly timed silence speaks volumes, and words of silence are golden. Use them well! (Ecclessiastes 3:7; cf. Job 19:2; Isaiah 53:7).—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

THE PRIVILEGE OF SORROW

Sorrow deserves our utmost respect and gratitude. It has mentored some of the wisest, inspired some of the noblest ideals and acts, and refined those privileged by its company. George MacDonald (1824-1905) said it best: “No words can express how much the world owes to sorrow. Most of the Psalms were born in a wilderness. Most of the Epistles were written in a prison. The greatest thoughts of the greatest thinkers have all passed through fire. The greatest poets have ‘learned in suffering what they taught in song.’…Take comfort, afflicted Christian! When God is about to make pre-eminent use of a person, He puts them in the fire.” Sorrow is a privilege. Cherish it! (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim