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Do you thank God in all circumstances?

Though the Holy Bible enjoins us to give thanks to God in all circumstances, there are occasions when we momentarily lose track of this fact, get confused and completely  become miserable.

We are never challenged in life when everything is going on smoothly and things seem to be in their right perspective.

Death is inevitable though, but the death of a parent, child, siblings, close relatives, acquaintances and colleagues among other misfortunes, set our minds to question or  doubt the sort of love the omnipotent God  has for us.

In such circumstances, we consider  death or whichever calamity as unkind, very wicked and impatient. God is also viewed in such circumstances as insensitive to allow calamity or misfortune to befall us.

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When a sick person dies suddenly, God could be saving the deceased from excruciating  pains, the bereaved  family from shock and spending money which would eventually not restore the health of the sick person.

Calvary

Before he ascended the cross on Calvary which had brought salvation to the world, Jesus became sorrowful when he prayed fervently to God to let the cup pass by him. ” Having prayed thus, he quickly concluded that his father’s will should be done, but not his under the circumstance.”

In another vein he prayed, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46.

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Though Jesus was in such a state, God’s love and his spirit did not depart from him. ” Behold l am with you, even till the end of time.” This phrase should serve as a reminder to all  that God’s love shall never depart from us irrespective of our sinful state.

Lazarus                                                                               

Our attention should be drawn towards Martha and Mary in the Bible about the death of Lazarus. One can envisage  the agony, pain and uncontrollable wailing  the two sisters and their  relatives might have endured during the period.

To them all hope was lost on account of the death of Lazarus. Additionally, varied thoughts might have passed through their minds, giving way to a state of hopelessness and mistrust.

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Bartimaeus

Imagine you were Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, and in another instance a man who became blind from birth. Until  their miraculous healing  by Jesus, one can envisage the thoughts which might have passed through their  minds all these years.

They might have viewed God in a different light, questioned God’s saving power and His love for them. Why has God made them  like that, while others enjoy the best conditions in life ?

Can one envisage the ecstatic joy that might have filled the two blind men at the time they received healing variously from Jesus?

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Joseph

Another example in the Bible which reminds Christians  to give thanks to God in all circumstances is the decision by the children of Jacob to throw Joseph their brother into a well, ostensibly to sell him into slavery.

Unknown to his siblings, God’s saving hands were heavily on Joseph as he had designed a unique task for Joseph  which would invariably help many people including  their family.

Under such trying moments, Joseph might have lived in a state of confusion  and prepared to doubt when the saving hands of God would reach him, if at all.

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God allows certain things to happen to us for a purpose and we are surprised as to why misfortunes should happen to us.

Zachariah

When  Zachariah, the priest became deaf and  dumb, how did he feel about God’s love, care and forgiveness?

Zachariah might have grumbled about how unfair God was to strike him deaf and dumb.

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Life is more precious than any treasure we can possess on earth. Irrespective of the misfortune that has befallen us, do we pause to say, ” Thank you God for sustaining  our lives?”

In every situation, we must give thanks to God, for we do not know what God has in store for us.

Get yourselves prepared always and let us get inclined towards receiving whatever comes our way.

 We ought to know that no matter the ordeal we have to encounter, God is still the same unchanged Supreme Being who has plans for our progress in life, giving us the reason to be grateful to Him at all times.

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By Raymond Kyekye

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High Court issues bench warrant for disputed Akwatia MP following contempt conviction

A Koforidua High Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Ernest Yaw Kumi, the presumed winner of the Akwatia parliamentary seat in the Eastern region, after convicting him of contempt of court.

The court issued the bench warrant for Kumi’s arrest after he failed to attend court.

The conviction comes after he disobeyed an interim injunction against him on January 7, prohibiting him from being sworn in and admitted as the Member of Parliament-elect for the Akwatia constituency due to an ongoing legal contest over his election.

Mr Kumi presented himself in Parliament to be sworn in on January 7, 2025.

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The Judge, Justice Senyo Amedahe held that the convict, throughout the hearing of the contempt case, failed to appear in court in person.

He also rejected a letter from the minority side of Parliament claiming the MP was busy with parliamentary duties, hence his continuous absence from court.

The judge rejected the letter, insisting he would be going against his own ruling should he accept the letter from the minority caucus.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

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Asset declaration is good, but lifestyle audit is key among public officials – Domelevo to Mahama

Former Auditor General Daniel Yaw Domelevo has commended President John Mahama for declaring his assets but stressed the need for a lifestyle audit to effectively curb corruption among public officials.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, February 18, he acknowledged the President’s move as a “good gesture” but raised concerns about the process.

“It is good to see that the President has declared his assets,” he said.

According to him, “I was not too happy seeing the envelope being given to the Auditor General because that goes more or less to support what people have all along been saying—that you put your declaration in an envelope, seal it, and give it to the Auditor General, which is not the case anyway.”

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“This should have gone through the entire process so that they capture it because you are supposed to verify the signature and be sure that the form has been properly completed. That at least should have been done, but it was not done,”he said.

While appreciating President Mahama’s directive for his appointees and public office holders to declare their assets by March 31, Domelevo expressed reservations about the timeline.

“To be honest with you, I think March 31 is too far away because the Constitution provides that it should be declared before you take office,” he argued.

He added that “Some will argue that Act 550 allows six months, but Act 550 contradicts the Constitution. I have a letter in my possession, written by former Attorney General Gloria Akuffo, confirming that the provisions of subsection 4(1) of Act 550 contradict the Constitution. However, we have all been upholding and following that.”

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Daniel Domelevo was particularly pleased with Mahama’s commitment to hold non-compliant officials accountable.

“I’m also happy the President says those who don’t declare are going to be punished or asked to leave office. I think that will cut across everybody, and that will be good,” he stated.

However, the former Auditor General stated that asset declaration alone is insufficient in tackling corruption.

“This declaration is good. We must add to it what we call a lifestyle audit and the reversal of the burden of proof,” Mr Domelevo insisted.

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“If we don’t do these two things so that we can audit and find out ‘how did you get this money?’, people are going to hide their resources or their assets with their families and friends. Everybody who is suspected of being an ally of a political or public office holder must be subjected to a lifestyle audit,” he concluded.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

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