A Well Watered Garden

It is almost a year ago since I started blogging. Since then I have learned some deep and priceless life lessons. I have learned that God is faithful. His Word is true and He does not lie. On August 2, 2011 from His Word in Joshua 3:13, just like the priests had to walk to the river bed, before God parted the sea, I needed to take that step in faith and trust Him. I wonder did the priests feel and look foolish as they walked with the Arc of the covenant to the river bed? I felt foolish when I gave up a good job and the only reason I had was my season is over, because God had asked me to go. Through the dark and lonely days that followed, I learned that God is trustworthy and caring . He sent me numerous and constant reminders of His love. As I walked through what seemed at times, to be a dry desert and sometimes a storm, His presence was always with me. I cried a lot. Had I heard right? Why did it hurt so much? I looked desperately for another job, thinking that this would be the...

W e did not realise how different that day was going to be. As the sun rose higher in the sky and we had walked far enough, we decided to turn back to the hotel. The beach was still very quiet – too early for the hotel guests to be out. There were a few locals walking and possibly getting ready with their wares – Cuban hats, costume jewellery and little trinkets. This is where we met our beach friends – I am going to call them Louis and Max. Louis was a fairly young man. He had a torn back pack and he was walking briskly along when he stopped to chat. He wished us politely and then quickly asked us if we had any clothes for his family. He was one of the few locals we met, who spoke good English. He told us that he worked on a construction site for a new hotel and that as such he lived away from his family for a few weeks and then got a week with them. The book I was reading “Radical” by David Platt had talked about house churches in Cuba and we were curious to hear from the locals ...

While in Cuba last week, we enjoyed an early morning on the beach walk every day. It felt good to be out before the crowds – just a few local Cubans walking around. Always the gentle “hola” and a gracious respect for your space. This particular morning, the beach front looked different – there had been a thunderstorm the night before. The sea still looked rough and choppy and the waves had swept up so many shells. I think there is a childlike thrill about finding pretty sea shells that does not fade with age. The sand in my toes, the waves crashing on the beach and the pretty shells scattered all over the shore brought back so many memories of my childhood and the beaches of Goa. This morning was different - I found a real treasure – a piece of coral reef. I had read a little about how these are formed and I could not help but stop and marvel at this little part of God’s creation. Who but an almighty, all knowing God could have created a safe space for the tinies...

Just back from spending a week at Varadero, Cuba. I have often looked at the brochures and websites advertising the “all inclusive” holidays. They look like paradise – or as close as my finite mind can imagine paradise to be! For various reasons we were looking for a stress free, restful vacation and this seemed to be the best option at this time.   So we logged on to Trip Advisor, checked out Hotel reviews, zeroed in on The Iberostar Laguna Azul, booked our tickets and away we went. And yes it was all it was promised to be and yet so much more. Beautiful beachside, lovely big room excellent service, fabulous seafood cooked fresh (wasn’t that great for Julius who is allergic to sea food). There were dancing lessons around the pool, morning water aerobics, afternoon games of beach soccer and volleyball, live after dinner music followed by theatre.   The resort was big enough to find spots in the shade where you could also be unsociable and just read a book. ...

A great and personal way to study the Bible is to use the inductive study method.   First spend time in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to illumine your mind and teach you God’s Word. Read a passage, and break it down in 3 parts. The length of the passage is entirely your choice. The 3 parts are: 1.        What it says literally (the contents) 2.        What it means (the principles)and thirdly 3.        What it means to me (applications) This past month I started the Book of Hebrews. My first day was only the first 4 verses of the 1 st chapter. The Book of Hebrews 1: 2-4 (NIV) Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last day he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his na...

Just back from service and the title of my pastor's sermon this morning was "Going for the Gold" On an aside, if you live in the GTA and don't have a home church, visit http://www.harvestyorkregion.ca/   Solid Biblical preaching, God glorifying, Spirit led worship and a community that cares. Speaking of gold, Pastor Paul pointed out that "you don't get a gold easily." The Olympics are around the corner and we all know that it takes years of practise to qualify and then to win that coveted gold. The value of gold is in it's purity, he said. I once read that in the days of old, a good gold refiner would sit at the crucible and watch that the heat does not become even one degree too hot and possibly harm the metal. And as soon as he skimmed the dross from the surface and he saw his face reflected in the pure metal he would extinguish the fire. God, Our Supreme and Loving Refiner also puts us into the crucible of suffering to test the purity of our fa...

It is over six months that I started this journey on my blog. And this past month I hit a bend in the road. It seemed like I was going nowhere - like the journey had somehow stopped abruptly. My husband, the most solid dependable person in my life, had been hit by a strange malady (for want of a better word). The doctors had no answers. I did the only thing that I know to do best, or so I thought - I prayed without ceasing. God showed us His power and grace by healing him and I rejoiced, but after a few days it came back. This is when I found myself at that bend. I pleaded with God, questioned Him, wept, bargained, made promises...Nothing happened and the bend seemed a dead end. The road got hard and bumpy. It seemed like the joy had left our home. This is when I began to take a hard look at my faith. How do I respond when God does not answer my prayers the way I want them? Why is it so much easier to say He is good when things are going my way? When I realised that I was ...