My Walk with God 🌱

"I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine." -Song of Solomon 6:3 This week many around the world celebrated and treated the loved ones in their life in a special way. Persons may have either showered their partner with affection or engaged in acts of appreciation to their friends, coworkers and family members. Let's be honest: intimacy is something that the human being craves. Finding someone to love and be safely loved by is a beautiful experience, however sometimes, we find ourselves looking for that intimacy in places that can instead end up being a source of disillusionment.  So how can we go about fulfilling that need for intimacy without risking disappointment? While nothing in this life is perfect or guaranteed, it is an important step to acknowledge that human love was created to reflect the love of God in many ways. If we were to learn what true love is from God, we not only elevate our ways of loving, but also, elevate our criteria in our search for and identifi...

  "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."  - Isaiah 9:6-7 Have you ever looked at a painting and the more you look at it, the more detail you see? Or how about a movie? Have you ever looked at a movie, or read a book, or verse of scripture, or a Bible story, and every time you look at or read it, you pick up on details you missed before? I don't know about you, but those moments for me are like finding treasures. They open up new perspectives, new understandings, new insights! This week, I have been enjoying attending virtually an online seminar entitled Messiah. The...

"Because you are His sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” - Galatians 4:6 This weekend, fathers are in the spotlight for appreciation. Sometimes, we as children take a lot for granted. It is only when we take some time to sit back and reflect, we realize just how much we really have. I am taking this opportunity to publicly say thank you to my dad. Thank you for being a committed provider the best way you knew how. He always thought of us, to provide food, shelter, clothing, education and support. Thank you dad for the part you played the best way you knew how in nurturing in us a love for God and His Word. He would engage us as children, in little challenges in memorizing hymns, psalms and other portions of scripture, and reward us when we were able to. Thank you for seeing education as not only academic but also spiritual also. Thank you dad for displaying and modeling values such as responsibility, independence, educati...

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here I am! Send me." - Isaiah 6:8 Have you ever seen God? I am not saying it is impossible but I imagine that this would be a very holy and reverent experience. While this privilege may not be given to any and everyone, the Bible does record that very few persons have seen God face to face, such as Adam and Moses. Several others though were able to see Him in vision. The prophet Isaiah was one such person. He says at the start of chapter 6, "I saw the Lord", who he goes on to further describe as seated on the throne, and surrounded by angels. What an impactful scene it must have been for him, a mortal man. He was humbled, convicted, and his heart forever won over. We can tell this because after his encounter of being purified and empowered, and then the brief exchange as seen in tonight's verse of scripture, Isaiah was eager and willing to do whatever ...

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.” -Matthew 18:12-14 This week, I came across a piece of art in my archives which has been one of my all time favorites. I don't know who the artist was, but I consider it a deeply meaningful image. It depicts a sheep that has found itself in a precarious position, and its shepherd having placed himself in a risky position to be able to rescue the sheep. Several questions usually surface in my mind when I reflect on this. How did the sheep get there? Didn't it realize how dangerous it was before reaching so far? How did the shepherd find the sheep? How many times has the shepherd or the sh...

"He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His stripes we are healed."  - 1 Peter 2:24 Have you ever done something wrong? I guess we can all answer a sheepish 'Yes' to that question. How about have you ever done something wrong and watched someone else suffer or be punished for it, instead of you? Now this is where it gets sticky. Not many folk would feel comfortable admitting that they allowed someone to suffer because of their actions, and even worse, that they did nothing about it. It doubles the guilt. After all, it is the general in-built moral compass in most if not all of us, that accepts that the person who does wrong is the one who should experience their own consequences. Somehow though, through this life, we come to the realization that our actions not only impact us, but affect others also.  The Bible gives the following account. Jesus, innocent of any crime, is presented together with the ...

"I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands." -Psalm 143:5 Are you someone who feels the need to be constantly reassured by God, to be reminded that He loves you and that He is with you? I have a confession to make. I can be like this sometimes. I sometimes wonder why, or if anyone else is like me, if He ever gets tired of me, or if He cares about the need enough to keep meeting it for as long as it takes. Of course, I know He loves me, and that He is working for my good, but sometimes, just sometimes, hmm..  I can sometimes imagine Him thinking to Himself, "After all that I have done for you, how can you still wonder if I still love you? Here's something that you definitely can't miss."  I don't ever want to forget Him, and I don't want Him to forget me either. I look to the Bible to see if there was anyone like me. I have always thought these folks were not who I wanted to be like, but have you...

"Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!"  -Luke 1:45 Hello friends, I am sure by now you would have noticed this week that the world acknowledged International Women's Day. The strengths of women, the value and contribution of women, the beauty and timelessness of women, were all encouraged and affirmed. It is interesting, however, despite the accolades of the female gender, women often forget how precious we are. This may be due to many varied factors. Seasons of hardship, neglect, mistreatment, loss, abuse, exploitation, failure of protectors, the absence of fathers/father figures, and many other effects of a sinful world, all tend to influence a woman's self-perception and perhaps, even forget her worth. Tonight, I want to remind you, (and indeed myself in the process) that God has placed His image in us just as much as He has placed in our male counterparts. The Bible tells us that He has created us, fashioned us, crafted...

"Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, Your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O LORD. How precious is Your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of Your wings." - Psalm 36: 5-7 Have you noticed? For many, 'tis the season for hearts, roses and chocolates, all in the name of love. It truly is a beautiful thing when individuals can go to great lengths to ensure that the one they love feels loved, cherished, secure in and convinced of their love. Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote a poem to a loved one, which has always stood out in my memory. It begins with the line:  How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. She then proceeds to describe the depths and limitless bounds of her love.  Whether we have knowingly found that special someone to love or not, we all have someone who pulls out all the stops when ...

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  - Isaiah 41:10 🌱 Holding hands usually brings to our mind thoughts of love, acceptance, and companionship. However, has someone ever held your hand during a difficult time? It could have been for a few seconds, or even a minute. Most likely, we can testify that it would have had a comforting or re-assuring effect on us. When we feel sad, alone, angry, crushed, anxiety, doubting, grieved, fearful, a hand that reaches out to us reminds us that someone is there, someone cares, and there is a source of strength outside of our failing selves that is offering to share some strength with us and walk with us through this. This side of humanity that exists around us, reflects and points us to an even greater hand that is reaching out to us. When we can't see beyond what our eyes can see, when we cannot feel beyond what is...

  "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship." -Romans 12:1 🌱 Have you ever been asked to do something, and yet you feel inadequate for the task ahead? I know I have. We have many examples of persons in the Bible who were called to do things that they felt totally unprepared for or even unwilling to do.  Consider Noah, who was called to preach to the people of his time about an unheard of impending flood and also build an ark. Consider a stuttering and once fugitive Moses, who was called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, or a reluctant Jonah being called to preach to persons he felt may never take him seriously, or Joseph who had been through one too many incidents of betrayal and yet called toward an important position of responsibility. Consider even the widow who was down to her last handful of flour and getting ready to die and was...

Artist's depiction of our cloud of witnesses  "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." -Hebrews 12:1-2 🌱 Whether it be a story on the news or a theatrical play, the calamities of people's personal lives displayed on stage seem to often provide entertainment for, or condemnation from the public audience. In today's digital landscape, it is easy to participate in hasty commentary, adding pain to the injuries that individuals are already enduring. I reflect on our own heavenly   cloud of witnesses , as described in the Bible  (Hebrews 12:1-2) , watching us fall or be messed up in our own lives. Does heaven take pleas...

"Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer." - Psalm 61:1 During this week, I came across a written prayer that silenced me into reflection [posted below] . As I read each line, I found myself ticking off items on a mental checklist of things I have either already been wanting for myself or now desiring for myself.  We may have started the year with good intentions and plans, and may have even possibly failed miserably in some ways already, but expressing these plans in prayer to our Father adds another dimension to our personal walk this year. No matter what our resolutions may be, we solidify our well-intentioned path going forward by inviting God into the equation, and partnering with Him as our daily companion who is an ever-present help, listener, and reminder of all that is good, noble and true.  I would like to share this prayer with you, and I trust that as we take our time and read it, that it will be a blessing, inspiration or an encouragement to someone reading thi...

"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?"  - Psalm 8: 3-4 On the second to last day of the year, one cannot help but reflect on the year that we are leaving behind and the year that is awaiting our arrival. This year has been one of the most difficult for me, but it has also come with an added portion of God's grace, comfort, strength, and providence. I have had some leaves and twigs pruned, and I have also been placed in a position anticipating the continued growth and sprouting of new ones. The pruning process is never a pleasant one, but it is a necessary one for the health of any plant, or tree, and even us as individuals. It is with utmost gratitude that I will end this year and begin the new year, gratitude for what God continues to do with me, in me, for me and through me, even when I don't understand or see the b...

  "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life." - Psalm 143:8 🌱 Oftentimes, on a morning, I wake up to the sound of birds singing by my window. I confess I am sometimes a bit reluctant to wake up very early, but hearing the birds brightly singing is a beautiful encouragement for me to push forward and embrace the day with joy and enthusiasm. Why do the birds sing? Research says their dawn chorus can have several purposes, be it for marking territory or attracting/re-assuring mates, but the crucial part about it is the timing when the world is quietest and their sound can carry far. The Bible often mentions examples of thoughts and prayers being lifted up to God in the morning and its effects in strengthening individuals in God for the day. God delights in the prayers of His children and I sometimes wonder if all our early morning prayers are as beautiful to Him as the singing...

El Roi - The God who Sees Me So Hagar gave this name to the LORD who had spoken to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “Here I have seen the One who sees me!” -Genesis 16:13 🌱 Sometimes it is in the most unlikely of places, when we are at our lowest, that God reveals Himself to us, as the God who sees us, and is truly present with us. The enemy takes delight in our despair, but our Heavenly Father is about giving us hope and a meaningful future. The Bible is filled with examples of individuals like you and me, men and women who have had the blessed privilege of having their head lifted with joy and dignity by the divine hand. Let's continue to look up to Him and find our comfort, strength and validation from the One who sees, knows, understands, and is with us through it all.  Be blessed by the following selection. Which character's story touches us and encourages us the most? 🎧🙏🏼 The God who Sees [Nicole C. Mullen]

"When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."  - Matthew 2:10-11 🌱 Have you ever looked forward to an event for such a long time that it felt surreal when it happened? I am pretty sure the wise men of Matthew 2 must have felt this way too. They would have been carefully studying the ancient prophecies, eg. Isaiah 7:14 which said "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."  They would have become familiar with and recognized the signs of the imminence of the Messiah's birth, and with  God's continual guidance, they made a voyage in faith to seek the Messiah. According to the biblical account, their faith was rewarded, and they were able to present the symbolic gifts they though...

A timely reminder "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8: 37-39 🌱 Have you ever been told that Jesus loves you? I recently received this reminder from at least two sources, and it was good to be reminded. It also caused me to reflect. I am pretty sure there have been times when we have been told this and it registers in our brains in the same way when we hear our parents say that they love us. We tend to take it for granted, because we assume they have to love us. As we mature however, we tend to be able to appreciate that love even more, because we develop a deeper understanding of just how much this love has shaped, stabilized and supported us, through everythin...

“I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" - Jeremiah 32:27 🌱  💌When a simple receipt becomes the paper trail for a miracle... Bank record - Last gas purchase, Oct 16, 2022 Fuel guage today, Nov 11, 2022 (4 weeks later) It has been 27 days and counting since the last time I have been to the gas station for fuel. On the evening of October 16, I had gone to Port of Spain, and on my way back home, I realized my fuel was very low. I was a bit hesitant to stop off at night in unfamiliar territory to refuel, but at the same time, I didn't want to take the chance to run out of fuel on the dark lonely highway at night. So I pulled into a gas station at the corner of Richmond and Park Street (at the time I didn't know the names of the street, as I was blindly following Google Maps for directions to the nearest gas station, but I looked it up for the purpose of this testimony, made possible by the information on the receipt) , and at 8:10pm, I filled up ...

A galaxy of the universe "I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever. With my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations." -  Psalm 89:1    Sometimes, we look around and are touched by the many things going on around and within. Sometimes, we need to pause and spend some time looking up to the One who created us, loves us and can provide peace in the middle of the storms of life. Sin has sadly continued to make a mess on this earth, and while we continue to do our part to help and support one another, let us remember that the tragedies and sufferings of this world will soon end in mercy, when Jesus comes once again.  Let us pull aside for a while and spend some time remembering and reflecting on our Creator. When He created this world and our first parents, He had love on His mind. His plan is to be with us in perfect harmony once again, forever. Let's purpose in our heart and mind to be part of that loving plan, in Jesus' name, Amen. Be...