Learning to See Life from God's Point of View: Vol. 1 - an Invitation to Unconditional Love

LEARNING TO

SEE LIFE FROM

GOD’S

POINT OF VIEW

VOL. 1 - AN INVITATION TO UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

AYANNA KOFI

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© Copyright 2014 AYANNA KOFI.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

Scriptures Taken From

KJV = Kings James Version

NIV = New International Version

NLT = New Living Translation

ESV = English Standard Version

NASB = New American Standard Bible

ASV = American Standard Version

ISV = International Standard Version

Definitions from Merriam-Webster online dictionary

Disclaimer: Writing is a journey of personal spiritual learning and biblical experiences and does not reflect the opinions of others.

ISBN: 978-1-4907-2264-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-1864-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-2263-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013923754

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Contents

Dedication

God Is Light

Introduction

An Invitation to Unconditional Love

God Is Love

Jesus at Work

The Holy Bible

Bible Basics

Our Father Which Art In Heaven

The Color of God

Holy Is Your Name

Some of the Names of God

Knowledge, Wisdom, Understanding

Fear of the Lord

Let Wisdom Ring

Thy Kingdom Come

The Transformation

1, 2, 3… God is a Trinity

Jesus

The Cross and Crucifixion

Some of the Names of Jesus

The Creation

Train Up a Child—Don’t Walk Away

The Origin of Man

Thy Will Be Done on Earth

The Man Who Gave Birth

You Must Have Been A Beautiful Lady!

E-Nee Me-Nee My-Nee Mo

Choices, Choices, Choices

Making Choices

Man Makes a Decision

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

The Serpent Made Me Do It!

As It Is in Heaven

Church Isn’t a Building

I Am Royalty

What’s God Got to Do With Us?

Spiritual Roots Birth Natural Fruits

The Whole Armor of God

Stepping Out Of the Night—Divine-Designed Fashion Wear

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

Prayer: The Spiritual Conversation

Food for Thought

Jesus, I’m Home! Household of Prayer

Eternal Life

Prayer: It’s Elementary, My Dear

Unleashing the Power We Have Within: Our Intercessor, the Holy Spirit

Unleashing the Power We Have Within: The Holy Spirit/Ghost Revealed

Unleashing the Power We Have Within: Self-Actualization

Unleashing the Power We Have Within: Some Manifestations of the Holy Spirit/Ghost

Unleashing the Power We Have Within: Sticks, Stones, Broken Bones, but Words

Forgive Us Our Trespasses

The Master Plan

Backslide: It’s Electric for Persons Missing in Action

Sow, Give It Up!

The Boomerang: Law of Reciprocity

The Boomerang: Law of Reciprocity Reciprocity, Tithes, and Offerings

Lead Us Not into Temptation

Trials and Tests

Discouragement Is Not for Me

But Deliver Us from Evil

Jesus Overcomes Temptation

Jesus: The Door to Your Salvation and Head of the Church

Workout! Work It Out!

Lucifer aka Satan

A Wing and a Prayer

For Thine Is the Kingdom

Only Have Eyes For Him

Role Call: We are to Be a Family, God’s Revelation

Man, Keeper of the Gate, Beacon of Light

The Hand that Rocks the Cradle Rules the World

Women Birthing the Vision Within

The Fountain of Youth Inheritance

The Seedlings

The Power and Glory Forever and Ever

The Magnifying Glass

Till Death Do Us Part

Peace Be Still

The Race of Hope

The Language of Love

Dedication

T his writing has been accomplished through being an obedient instrument of

I AM’s divine guidance.

I t is dedicated to our Heavenly Father who loved us so much that He gave us life, the light of our soul.

A nd to Jesus, my Lord and Savior, who filled me with faith which He authored and completed in His Book of Life, and who, by the grace of our Heavenly Father, redeemed me from an existence of ignorance and sin and transformed my mind to behold His glorious Kingdom into which He has adopted me.

T o the Holy Spirit, who comforts and guides me through the path of Righteousness. He reveals our Heavenly Father’s wisdom so I may learn and know how to behave, move, and protect our home which is the Kingdom of Light… right here on Earth, and He has my back covered in Heaven.

T o my parents, Nathaniel and Lucy Hendry, whom God brought together and caused me to be birthed. They cultivated and directed my spiritual development in good times and bad.

T o my siblings, Nathaniel, Elaine Aisha, David Bruce, Patricia, Pamela, and Rosemary, who are like iron sharpening iron, honing my personal development and discernment.

T o my spiritual parents, Reverend Dr. A. R. Bernard and Elder Karen Bernard of Christian Cultural Center, Brooklyn, New York, where our Heavenly Father planted and continues to feed and develop my understanding in His Word and relationships. It is a household of faith, founded on putting faith into practice. It’s an environment filled with God’s promises being brought to pass in a practical manner while sowing, watering, and reaping souls for the Kingdom of Light.

God always gives the increase.

C hildren are an inheritance from the Lord. Shaka Kofi and Sundiata Kofi are two souls our Heavenly Father birthed through me, sired by Ronald Gaines. They are an inheritance which I did not abort but, through the strength of God’s Word, stood up for their life when they couldn’t stand on their own… and endured the challenges for doing so. They brought out hidden potentials and taught me how to love at a deeper and higher level.

Proverbs 13:22

A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children.

T o my grandchildren and all future generations, may you develop a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father; may Jesus Christ be Lord and Savior of your soul, and may your heart be receptive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The Lord shall command His blessings upon you in your storehouses, and all that you set your hand to will be anointed. He shall bless you wherever He will send you and in whatever He will give you to do.

Sealed with Faith, Love, Peace, and Joy images.jpg /

Ayanna N. Kofi

Introduction

W elcome to revelations… things that are revealed and those to come—the future of pending events to come through you and me.

G od has poured into my life through His Holy Spirit, Jesus, and, of course, Himself a desire to reveal things the way He sees it. The Holy Bible and experience has taught me that God is love  . . . and it is a love which is so profound, so indescribable, so consuming, and so eternal. It is a passionate love which seeks to have a relationship with everyone and everything created by Him. It’s a love which surpasses our understanding, yet is so simple it draws us to Him. This love, this relationship, this understanding, this passion is our Heavenly Father seeking us to love Him in return through His Son, Jesus. Jesus wants us to have an abundant lifestyle on Earth and for our future eternal life in Heaven. He wants to give us hope.

A re you curious, and do you long to come into a better understanding of whose you are, why you are, and where you are going? To confirm what God has already spoken to you? If so, this writing is for you. If not, this writing is still for you. It is not an end-all to everyone’s questions. It is only a beginning.

W hen we view our reflection in a mirror, what we see is a physical image of our being… the contour of our body, skin texture and moisture, design, placement and luster of hair or lack thereof, color of our eyes, hair, and complexion, and, let’s not forget, the sexual characteristics of our gender. Pretty unique, isn’t it? Some of us aren’t satisfied with what we see and so desire to alter our looks, for better or worse. This is okay because God has given us the freedom of choice to direct and apply our will.

W hen we view the reflection of our soul, we cannot see or touch it physically. It is like the wind. We know it is there and can sense it. However, just like the wind, all we are able to see are the effects our soul has on people and things we come in contact with. This includes our self. Our soul longs for love . Our heart wants to be loved unconditionally, to be accepted just as we are with flaws, to be viewed as unique in the eye of the beholder, and to be forgiven for our wrongs toward others and self.

Y es, when it comes to love , we do not want our loved ones placing someone else before us. We desire to be first in their life, not second or third. This is an incomplete canvas of the spiritual side of our being. It is the side we are able to experience in part because God has not revealed all of it to us. This is the side God wants to develop. This is where our journey begins as we are…

Learning to See Life from God’s Point of View images.jpg /

" T herefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

Y ou see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

—Romans 5:1-8

" I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have sufferings and trouble. But take courage! I have overcome the world."

—John 16:33

An Invitation to Unconditional Love

L ove is an investment which has both present and eternal benefits. I’m not speaking about falling in love as the world defines. I speak of God’s love for us through Jesus Christ. Our existence here on Earth has great benefits. God is an equal-employment-opportunity employer. He is no respecter of persons, but in every nation, anyone who reverences Him and applies righteousness are acceptable to Him.

H e searches the entire Earth, seeking people who are willing and desiring to know Him. Getting to know God is the beginning of wisdom, and only the wise will travel this path. Psalms 53:2 sums this up in a nutshell.

S o are there painful situations or memories in your life that have a grip on you? Do you suffer from low self-esteem, depression, suicidal tendencies, feeling unwanted, unloved, hatred, dread getting up in the morning, substance abuse, or sexual abuse? Does an emptiness or void exist in your heart that cannot be filled no matter what you have tried? Whatever your problem or condition may be, whatever your cross, Jesus wants you to name it and come to Him for healing. Nothing is impossible for Him. He will provide a way out. His strategy will always be the best for you according to God’s plan for your life.

Y ou see, our lives are like a million-piece jigsaw puzzle. We are constantly trying to figure out where each piece fits. We want to know what the entire puzzle picture should look like and how it works . The problem is since there are so-o-o-o many pieces, we need a sense of direction and support. Jesus is the direction. He is the way, the truth, the life, and the mediator. The Holy Spirit is our support and intercessor.

J esus can mend the broken pieces of your life because He loves you and you have asked Him to. He wants your permission to allow Him to help save you from a lifestyle that is nonconducive to an abundant life. Every person has sinned against God, and sin doesn’t come in sizes or colors. Sin is disobedience to God’s ways and commandments. There isn’t any good sin. Sin is sin, and the consequence of sin is death—death in your spiritual, mental, physical, emotional, or financial relationships. More importantly, sin separates us from God. Deep within our heart, we don’t want to be separated from the love of God.

T he Good News is John 3:16 that says, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Jesus paid the price for our sins and has forgiven our wrongdoings, our disobedience. Jesus knew no sin but became sin for us. He died, went to Hell in our place, and our Heavenly Father resurrected Him. This is the depth of God’s love and His Grace.

W hat does God seek in return? Jesus articulates with crystal clarity in Revelation 3:20, Behold, I, Jesus, stand at the door to your heart and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. God wants us to know Him, Jesus, and the unconditional love they have for us. They wanted a family and created one—us! Can you imagine and believe? We are God’s children and siblings to each other. Jesus is a brother, and he is a brother to all of us. They care for the heavens, the Earth, and all creation but have a special place in their heart for us. You and I are exalted above angelic hosts by them!

B ehold, I tell you a truth, the angels want to know why we are so special. Psalms 8:4 says, What is man, that you are mindful of him? and the son of man, that you visit him? Hebrews 2:6-8 says, But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that you are mindful of him? or the son of man, that you visit him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, and did set him over the works of your hands: You have put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. Jesus has dominion over all creation, and Genesis 1:26 says we have dominion over the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air, the cattle, all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. Let’s go a step further. According to Luke 10:19, Jesus gave us authority and power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt us. Everything mentioned in Luke 10:19 relates to evil spirit entities, the powers of darkness. Our Heavenly Father has faith in us to accomplish whatever He has declared. We are special, we are loved, and we are love. Allow God’s love to flow through you by getting to know Him, the Great I AM.

S o as you journey through this book, if you feel a tugging at your heart, it is Jesus calling you into a love relationship with Him or a deepening of the relationship you already have with Him. Don’t leave Him outside; invite Him in!

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Who’s there?

Jesus. Will you invite me in?

RSVP today. This French acronym for Répondez S’il Vous Plaît means please reply. Give your answer to Jesus right away!

A re you tired of your perspective on life? Do you need change? Do you need rest or encouragement? How about a Savior? Jesus says…

" C ome to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden is…

Light!"

" F or a child is born to us; a son is given to us. The government of God will rest on his shoulders and he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace. His government and peace will never end" (Isa. 9:6-7).

G od wants your light to shine, and Jesus is the only one who can develop this. He will remove you from the Kingdom of Darkness and convert you into the Kingdom of Light. Jesus is a transformer. Flip your switch. Don’t allow another day to pass without getting to know Him. Ask Him to come into your heart, and admit that you are a sinner. Inform Him you are willing to repent of your sin. Guess what!!! Jesus will enter in and begin a good work in you. Not only will He begin it, but He will also complete it.

G od knows your heart. He just wants you to know His heart and enjoy the plans He has for you. To know Him is to accept His Son, Jesus. When we accept Jesus, we accept the love of our Heavenly Father.

D on’t be surprised if suddenly tears well up in your eyes from time to time. The tears are the living waters of your heart, expressing gratitude and joy concerning your salvation or need to enter in. God’s forgiveness is being released and refreshed within you by removing the weight of burdens. It is God’s peace submerging your soul in the embodiment of His love. Psalms 13:5 says that because we have trusted in God’s mercy, our heart will rejoice in His salvation.

O h yeah… to the male gender, tears may overtake you also. The world says men aren’t supposed to cry. This is not the truth. If the God of this universe cried (John 11:35), and He created you, are you greater than Him?

Happy Birthday, Jesus

Out of the treasures of our heart,

love pours forth

We sing praises to you this day!

Jesus our Redeemer, Messiah, Provider…

Author and Finisher of our

Faith.

Prince of Peace, Son of God, Counselor…

Savior for the human

Race.

To all who believe in your Divinity…

Seek to follow your style of

Life.

Sacrificial Lamb, the Great I AM…

Thank you for paying the

Price.

Jesus at Work

G rowing up is a challenge we all face, and there are different challenges at each stage of development in our life. During the earlier years of my youth, in Sunday school, we would sing thus: Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so! Meanwhile, in the sanctuary, the preacher constantly gave fire and brimstone sermons and called sinners heathens. Afterward, I would think, What did that mean? God says He knows the plans He has for us—plans not to harm us but to prosper us and to give us hope and a future. Well, He could have fooled me.

I thought to myself, If God loved me so much, how come there were other people who had better things than my family? They lived in better neighborhoods and went to better schools. Some didn’t have to stand in a welfare line to get food and later be ridiculed by their peers. Sometimes, my shoes were so holey that my mother would place a piece of cardboard inside to protect my feet from the ground. Life appeared to be so cruel.

O ne day, while attending elementary school, I saw hiding behind a heating pipe what appeared to be a huge cat. It was located near the girls’ restroom. Gee, that’s unusual , I thought. Someone’s cat had run into the school and got stuck.

I mmediately, I dashed to find the janitor for assistance. As we neared the area where the alleged cat was, I exclaimed, There he is! The next thing I knew, the janitor had taken flight in the opposite direction, leaving me behind. He was hollering, That’s not a cat. It’s a rat! Run!!! So I followed his instructions and sprinted too but didn’t understand why we had to run.

F ollowing God’s lifestyle is the same way. He gives us information and revelations as a guide. We are to imitate His ways. Sometimes, we don’t understand why; however, if we are obedient and persevere, understanding will set in. Hindsight will ensure we are grateful. On the flip side of the coin, we may learn through disobedience and suffer the pain of regret. Either way, we learn.

W hile living in the projects, I had an awareness of ghosts trafficking through our home: some good, some bad. My inquiring about them only resulted in this: There’s no such things as ghosts. It’s only your imagination. One of the ghosts told me there was a Disney wristwatch located in the door frame to my brother’s bedroom—specifically, positioned behind and below the door strike plate. I didn’t believe the entity. However, a few months later, I wanted a watch, but my parents couldn’t afford to buy me one.

T earfully, I was downcast; then I recalled what the ghost had told me. I decided to see if it was true. Screwdriver in hand, my brother and I persevered until both screws were removed from the strike plate. Lo and behold, there was actually a brand-new Snow White Disney wristwatch in the frame! A soft pink leather band was attached. Excited, I told everyone I knew about the incident, but no one believed me, and this included the Sunday school teacher. No one could offer an explanation, and no one confessed ghosts actually existed. I was lost and confused. Inwardly, a strong urge began to surge up, compelling me to figure this God thing out. At the time, I was five years old and not saved, but Jesus was at work within me before I was born, preparing and molding my mind for this book.

M y Sunday school teacher said we should pray, but I didn’t think she really believed prayer worked because if she did, she would have recommended that I should bring my problems to God for a solution. I knew I didn’t know, but I was surely going to find out. All the ghosts (spirits) and other spiritual experiences kept propelling my search for truth.

P rayer took on a new meaning for me. It became more than just saying words or a repetition of phrases; it was a quest to challenge if there was a living God. I had to know for myself if God was dead or alive and, if alive, whether He would help me. Little did I know what lay ahead due to curiosity. The puzzle of life was about to interlock some pieces and provide a glimmer of unanticipated direction: demonic spirits began to communicate and prey upon me. The spirits taunted me and fused my spirit with fear. My parents weren’t able to help me