Who Is Your Friend?

By Martin N. Kwaning

A true friend is someone who sees the pain in your eyes while everyone else believes the smile on your face. Unknown Author

This book was inspired by the wonders of God that I have seen in my personal life and other peoples lives. This book 'who is your friend seeks to establish the fact that no matter what situation you find yourself in, you have to find solace in the fact that God is there for you. We live in a world where people have persistently ignored the needs of others. We have allowed nepotism, race, status, and where one comes from as a barometer to assist those in need of help. You might have witnessed how friends and family have deserted you and have been wondering who is there for you. Rests assure that God is there for you. I have tried him and I am overjoyed what the good Lord has done.

I am desperately searching for someone who I can call a friend, a person who my worries will be his, my growth in life will be his concern, and my burdens will be his too.

I have to keep on searching for this friend! For I forget my pass and press on in great diligent to see this friend. There is no time to waste and the journey to find this friend must start today..

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 4, 2013
• ISBN: 9781493100125

Martin N. Kwaning

Martin N. Kwaning was born in Ghana. He furthered his education both in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. He was a former student leader, a columnist, and a teacher. He is also the Founder of Eastern Foundation, a charitable organization that seeks to help children remain in the classroom in some of the deprived areas in Ghana (Africa) The author takes great inspirations from famous leaders such as Martin Luther Jr. and Nelson Mandela. These men indeed sacrificed their lives for their fellow human beings. Their belief hinges on the premise that, we always have to love one another irrespective of the background of that person. That belief system is the embodiment and anchor to my faith. “I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles” Nelson Mandela “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” Martin Luther King Jr.

Book preview

Copyright © 2013 by Martin N. Kwaning.

Library of Congress Control Number:                   2013916723

ISBN:                  Hardcover                         978-1-4931-0011-8

                            Softcover                          978-1-4931-0010-1

Ebook                               978-1-4931-0012-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 09/30/2013

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

1.   WHY I AM SUFFERING?

2.   WHO IS A FRIEND?

3.   JONATHAN AND DAVID FRIENDSHIP

4.   GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU

5.   WALKING IN THE PATH OF GOD

6.   A CHRISTIAN FRIEND VRS A WORLDLY FRIEND.

7.   GOD IS ALIVE

8.   GOD’S TIME IS ALWAYS THE BEST

9.   HERE IS YOUR BLESSINGS

10.   BE ON FIRE

11.   START TO SING A NEW SONG

DEDICATION

To the Almighty God, I give thanks for His merciful hands in my life. There are many people in my life who deserve my gratitude, to all of them, I say thank you. I dedicate this book to His Excellency Aliu Mahama, former vice president of the republic of Ghana. Sadly His Excellency passed away in 2012. May His Soul Rest In Peace.

My deepest gratitude to my dear brother Ossei Jones (London).

I am desperately searching for someone who I can call a friend, a person who my worries will be his, my growth in life will be his concern, and my burdens will be his too.

I have to keep on searching for this friend! For I forget my pass and press on with extreme seriousness to find this friend.

There is no time to waste and the journey to find this friend must start today… .

A true friend is someone who sees the pain in your eyes while everyone else believes the smile on your face.

Unknown Author

INTRODUCTION

One of the disciples of Jesus, Peter, demonstrated a posture during the persecution of Jesus which convinced the people around to believe that he was indeed one of the disciples of Jesus. But Peter, fearing the torment and disgrace that our Lord and Savor was going through, didn’t want to associate himself with Jesus’ suffering. When the people approached him, he denied any knowledge about Jesus Christ.

Were there occasions in your life when friends have deserted you because you were going through tough and difficult times? In your period of constraints you will surely witness those that love you and those that want to see you fall miserably.

Wealth makes many friends, But the poor (man) is separated from his friend. Proverbs 19:4

We have persistently witnessed how people who pretend to be genuine friends ran away from a friend who is encountering difficulties in life. As long as you have enough, they will hang around you.

A man was once eating his supper and heard a knock on his door. He looked through the windows and there was his poor friend standing outside.

This man was sure that his friend will surely demand some of his food, so he hurriedly hides his food under his table and then beckoned his friend to come inside. After minutes of conversations, his friend left. He then decided to grab his meal kept under his table; and sadly his pet (cat) had consumed everything.

Many people who profess to be your friend have hidden avenues of opportunities from you. Whether it is good counseling or any form of assistance, they have deserted you to your fate. Unfortunately, some of those supposedly good friends go further to broadcast your predicaments to other people; hence others will then ridicule you in your moment of agony.

Indeed many lives and souls could have been saved if we as Christians have shown mercy and empathy to our fellow human being in times of need or crisis. Again, if all mankind had had the slightest compassion and empathy on a fellow friend, the many wars and conflicts that have engulfed nations could have been prevented. Christ said;

And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it for me.(Matthew 25:40).

No one has ever seen God, but clearly our generous hearts to our fellow human beings will seriously open the doors of Heaven to the giver.

Christ has given us the greatest command to be fishers of men. It is therefore incumbent on us to help our fellow human beings, thereby saving many souls to Christ and simultaneously saving souls from starvation.

Unfortunately, today’s world has witnessed the dwindle of genuine friends, but rest assure that you have a Great Friend.

This friend is incomparable to anyone else. He is not a seasonal, nor is he a situational friend; but an everlasting friend. He will never disappoint nor will he reject you. Amen!

CHAPTER 1

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WHY I AM SUFFERING?

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8)

Horatio Spafford was a great American philanthropist. In 1870 his only son died; a year later, fire destroyed almost everything he owned. As if the incidents that befell Spafford in 1870 and 1871 respectively were not enough; in 1873 his family decided to journey to England. While crossing the Atlantic, their ship was struck by an iron sailing vessel. Sadly all his daughters were killed; but he refused to be defeated by this misfortune and simply said it is well with my soul. Surely, it is well with your soul even in the midst of turmoil and suffering.

Job was bewildered about the suffering that he was going through. "May the day perish on which I was born . . . . ? "Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breast, that I should nurse? Job 3:3

Life is indeed full of inexplicable circumstances. Yes, it does baffle many of us. Sometimes, I think it is pathetic, but it is worth thinking about. It is premised on nature and this is what I described as the mystery of our lives on this earth. It never ceases to amaze me as strange events in the world unfold every second. Much of which we are witnessed to, still others we only hear or read on the media. Whilst some people are sad or mourning, others are seriously making merry. When some relationships are breaking down, others are busily falling in love.

Whilst some people are afraid to build houses because of the earthquake in Japan and other places, some places in the Middle East currently boasts of the world’s tallest and finest buildings. Whilst there are wars in some countries, other countries are busily seeking ways to end disagreements.

When some countries are experiencing water shortages; others are experiencing floods and are perhaps angry with God. Still when the dead are being conveyed to the mortuary, others are happily returning home from the maternity ward with their newly born babies.

Whilst some married couples complained about being childless and their marriage about to hit the rock, others have about six to eight children; who may be disrespectful and are nuisance to their parents and the community in which they live.

This trend described before can go on repeatedly, but make no mistake to ever forget that while mankind continue to sin, God always ignite His love and forgiveness for us.

There was a man who decided to commit suicide because of his problems; he went to a quiet place to hang himself. He puts the