Friday, August 16, 2013

With Eyes Wide Open

Grace Gift
Hope


And your life will be brighter than the noonday;
its darkness will be like the morning.
And you will feel secure, because there is hope;
you will look around and take your rest in security.
You will lie down, and none will make you afraid;
many will court your favor.

Job 11:17-19





 








In spite of it's limitations, this day is a gift - an opportunity to live with courage, wonder and a sense of adventure, and with eyes wide open to the beauty, grace and mercy around me.



Thursday, August 15, 2013

The Sound Of His Voice

Grace Gift
The Sound Of His Voice


Job 37:1-3
“At this also my heart trembles
    and leaps out of its place.
 Keep listening to the thunder of His voice
    and the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
 Under the whole heaven He lets it go,
    and His lightning to the corners of the earth."

 Job 36:29
Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of His pavilion?
 Psalm 93:4
Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!
Jeremiah 51:16 When He utters His voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and He makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and He brings forth the wind from His storehouses.
  2 Samuel 22:14
The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice.

 Thank You, Lord for Your Magnificent Power, Your Magnificent strength, Your Magnificent Love.
May we hear Your Voice in the thunder, see Your power in the lightening and feel Your Love . Quiet the storms in my heart. Help me to tune out the noise of the world so I can
hear You whisper  in Your  "still, small Voice."


Friday, August 9, 2013

Sea Creatures

Grace Gift
Dolphins

Genesis 1:21
So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also created every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Dolphins! Thank You, Lord. What amazing creatures You've created!












For Crying Out, Loud !

Grace Gift
Prayers Said Out Loud

Psalm 66:1 says, "Shout with joy to God, all the earth!"
I know God hears me every time I pray. Often, I pray silently and the communication is between my mind and God.
Lately, I have been pondering the importance of praying out loud.
When we pray silently, only God hears.
When we voice our prayers audibly, the enemy and all his forces hear our proclamation of faith.
We openly give witness to our belief in God and His great power.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Oh, The People You Meet

Grace Gift
Hope For A Future

'I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink'...Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?...'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' Matthew 25:35, 37, 40 

Through a prayer forum, I 'met' a young man, Wunpini. Right away, I knew I was blessed- blessed to 'know' someone who's heart is focused on the Lord in a third world country- Ghana. Tamale, Ghana to be precise. 

 

 Wunpini graciously provided all information and all of the photos. Thank you, Wunpini. May our Lord bless you and keep you.

GEOGRAPHYICAL LOCATION (NORTHERN REGION-GHANA) Cooperation Foundation For Development (CFD) is located in the regional capital of the Northern Region (Tamale) as its National Headquarters for a smooth running of the day-to-day activities. A lot of the marginalized youth, women and children in Ghana can be found in this area. It covered a road distance of 640km from the headquarters to the capital city (Accra) with a population of more than 1,854,994 (2010 population census).





 Here are some of Wunpini's little friends. I look at their faces and wonder what it's like to be them; and I cry. Tears of sadness for their poverty, tears of happiness that others care about and are doing something to make a difference in their lives.






















































Brief History Cooperation Foundation For Development was formed in 2011 and incorporated under the Ghana company of 1963 (act 179). It was founded by young professionals from the northern region of Ghana who showed concern about the plight of the rural folk; the women and children pledged their commitment to work to improve the lot of these vulnerable groups in diverse ways. Members of CFD in forming the organization recognized the fact that children are the most vulnerable in society and need a little push in other to realize their dreams and aspirations. Members of CFD have diverse backgrounds in working with children in other to develop their full potentials and are prepared and willing to exhibit these skills to ensure success programme delivery.
Organizational Background CFD is a Youth-led Non-profit, Non-political, Non-ethnic NGO that exist to help empower women and children and other vulnerable groups, among others, to contribute meaningfully towards national development and prosperity. As such CFD believes in effective collaboration as impetus for cost effective intervention strides. The activities of CFD are well embrace by all sectors of society in promoting the welfare of families, with special focus on promoting the survival, protection and empowerment needs of children and women as the economically vulnerable group in society. CFD was set up to promote and hence the welfare of women and children by opening and linking them through sources of opportunities in education for children, skills training, microfinance, ICT and exchange programmes.
Mission CFD is set-up to work in partnership with other development partners towards the improvement in the quality of life of children, and other vulnerable people through: 1. expansion of their livelihood opportunities 2. improving their education and training, especially employable skills 3. Poverty alleviation 4. Improving the status of general sexual and reproductive health rights of women and children 5. Promotion of primary health care through proper environmental sanitation and personal hygiene. Through this we; * Place children as centre of nation’s development * Advocate for the respect of the rights of children and empower them for development. * Ensure that women gain full recognition and equal participation in decision-making * Improve the quality of life through proper family planning management and quality reproductive health education and services. * Network with NGO’S, Schools to produce relevant skills experts. * Develop and manage long-term development oriented programmes aimed at supporting women and children as source of livelihood.
Vision CFD envisages a society free from child abuse, violence against women, gender inequalities violence against women and child streetism, by creating an atmosphere where women and children would have a voice and be outspoken through active participation in decision-making from the grassroots to the national level.
Aims and Objectives * To champion the promotion of primary health care through the exercising of proper environmental sanitation and personal hygiene. * To advocate, promote, support and enhance the education of women and children in Ghana * Embark on training designed for children (5-18) to upgrade and broaden their knowledge and skills in ICT to expose them to modern technology. * Grant to individuals (orphaned and the needy) in exceptional circumstances. * Financial empowerment for women through a revolving microfinance scheme. * To receive and accommodate volunteers from across the globe. * Catalyst processes that will establish sustainable and dynamic cross-sector partnership that are driven by the priorities of marginalized women and children. * Foster an environment which maintains processes of coalition building throughout institutions and development entrepreneurs that drive creativity, best practice and build legitimacy throughout civil society. * Introduce exchange programmes for children to interact with colleagues within and outside the country. * Organize Annual round table discussions on issues related to women and child welfare and development. * Implement the child protection policies (CCP).
Programme Focus CFD programmes are designed to focus within six (6) main thematic areas; Child Development and Reproductive Health Child Rights Education HIV/AIDS Skill Training/ICT Microfinance for Women Food Security Target Groups • Children • Women
Operation Areas • Tamale Metropolis • Savelugu/Nanton District • Tolon/Kumbungu
Governing Body The organization is headed by a five (5) member Advisory Board (herein after referred to as BOARD OF TRUSTEES) who are child rights activist, youth development activists, gender activists and human rights activist; dedicated and self motivated to ensure smooth running of CFD. The Board is responsible for policy formulation, direction and supervision of all activities.
Management Committee A team of four management committee, assisted by District Coordinators sees to the day-to-day running of CDF programmes. They comprised; o Programme Manager o Project Coordinator o Finance Officer o Administrative Officer


These women are supported with little funds to do shear-butter and other agricultural business to support themselves and their families.




Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity
Give me Your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see
- chorus of Give Me Your Eyes by Brandon Heath