My Walk with God 🌱

"I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving." - Psalm 69:30 Have you ever heard the expression "Ungratefulness is worse than witchcraft" ? I have heard this being said time and time again where persons share about having helped or nurtured others, only to be on the receiving end of quite the opposite - acts of unkindness, carelessness or neglect. While we all may have benefitted from the kind care of another at one point in time, many either felt they were entitled to it anyway, or were too wrapped up in their own self to appreciate the effort of another. Imagine the irony when the opportunity presents itself to help someone who has helped us, and we let it pass us. While being helped doesn't necessarily mean you are indebted for life to the person who helped us, sometimes we are guilty of causing hurt and disappointment to others when we behave in a way that shows outright thoughtlessness and disrespect, or demonstrates ungratefulness. I...

Illustration ©  Review & Herald Publ. Assoc. "And I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself. that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:3 I remember reading a piece of writing some years ago that described a vision that the writer received. They recalled seeing a large group of believers sensing the darkness of this world and setting off on a journey to heaven, or as some may refer to it, the promised land. As they progressed along this journey, they noticed that the path got narrower and steeper, and little by little, they needed to shed the bulk and the weight of the things they had started with on the journey. The path was challenging, and oftentimes, they would have lost their footing if they hadn't maintained their focus on the light provided by the Holy City ahead. Some got discouraged along the way, and fell away. Almost at the end of their road, the path was so narrow, all they could depend on was holding on with both...

"Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen." - Revelation 1:7 Have you ever had a dream that felt so real, you woke up and were experiencing real physiological reactions like tears, or strong heart palpitations, or panic responses? I had such a dream this week. And as I awoke and tried to process it, I prayed about it too. It was a nightmare to me. After I finished telling it to God, I checked my messages. One of these messages was from a friend who appears to have awakened from a dream one hour earlier, and was sharing his dream. As I read his dream, it brought comfort to me. This was his dream: I was in a park, looking up at the mountains, and then we saw this huge foot break through the stratosphere (sky). It seemed to belong to what reminded me of the statue in the prophetic dream of Nebuchadnezzar, but I believe that it was Jesus. Everyone started to ru...

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" -Mark 8:36 Have you ever watched an item in the store, and when you check at another store or even online, the price is lower there? Merchants usually purchase their goods at what is called a cost price, and mark up their selling prices because making a profit is how they make a living. It is up to the customer, who has the power of choice, to decide where they get the best value for their money. At the end of the day however, we all value the idea of making a reasonable profit, be it from the seller's side, off of anything that is sold or a service that is provided, or from the consumer's side, profiting well from a product or service that is paid for. It is wise to weigh choices well, and ensure we get the best outcome possible. This week, a well-established and rapidly expanding supermarket chain was catapulted into the media headlines due to one of it's top executives calling ...

  "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 Have you ever heard someone testify of a smooth road, paved with the blessings of everything in their life aligning at the expected place and time, someone who has need of nothing, and door after door was opened for them where they found favour and advancement, and they attribute it as evidence of the goodness of God in their life? Perhaps you might be such a person too. No one can fault such a person for giving God all the praise and honour and glory, because He makes all things possible. Sometimes, another believer may be looking on and listening however, and comparing their road to this person's. It is after all, natural and human, to wonder: "God, aren't you with me too? Why aren't things working out like clockwork for me too? Does this mean that You aren't with me? Does this mean that You don't favour ...

"And I looked and saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was One like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. Then another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the One seated on the cloud, “Swing Your sickle and reap, because the time has come to harvest; for the crop of the earth is ripe." - Revelation 14: 14-15 In the US, the month of September has been designated as the month for raising awareness of Sickle Cell Disease. Do you know someone who is affected by this? Depending on which part of the world you are in, the chances of this may vary, as certain regions/ethnicities seem to have a higher frequency than others. According to statistics, twenty million people worldwide are affected by this condition, of which approximately 100,000 are in the US (1 in every 365 persons are born with the disease, and 1 in every 13 persons carry the trait). Normal blood cells are disc-shaped and flexible and can travel eas...

"Bless the Lord oh my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name." -Psalm 103:1 This week, this particular song has been replaying in my mind. What a beautiful joy it is to find oneself in a state of gratitude for all of ones blessings, and praise and worship to our Creator and Redeemer. It lightens our hearts, and is infectious to those around us. It doesn't always come easily though, because as individuals, we go through several ups and downs in life, with regards to what may pre-occupy our thoughts and minds. Reflecting on God's goodness and His mercies and blessings in these times will then have to become an intentional exercise, one that re-directs our thoughts and heart to Him, acknowledging and refreshing ourselves with the reminder of the goodness of God through it all, generally and in our own personal lives.  The psalmist David wrote a beautiful tribute to the Lord during one of his moments of reflection and appreciation. It is one that we can all ...

  "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...

I thank God every time I remember you. - Philippians 1:3 Sometimes, just sometimes, we ought to stop, reflect, and appreciate what we truly have before it becomes 'had'. Tonight I just want to say a simple Thank You to my mother, for the many complicated things she did for me that were simplified by love.  Thank you for your patience, your love, your sacrifices, your training and your nurturing. Thank you for trying to protect us even when things were hard. Thank you for being my most silent supporter in the background, yet my biggest cheerleader. Thank you for continually trying to be the best role model you can be. Thank you for putting up with me, on my moody days, my tired days, the days when I just feel like retreating to my quiet shell. Thank you for guiding me on the straight path, for being a Christian mother, for loving the Lord, for your many many prayers. Thank you for thinking of us when you find a new recipe, or a funny video, or a new flower or plant you are excit...

'The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love." -Psalm 147: 11 "Hope floats" .  Have you ever heard this term? What does it mean? It describes the ability that hope gives to rise above and eventually overcome difficulties and hardships, which can otherwise weigh down on ones spirit, slow down ones progress or trigger the temptation of giving up. Picture yourself on a long exhausting journey, and no end in sight. We continue not knowing if we will ever reach our destination. However, if it is a place we have been to before or been told of it before, we know it exists, we have its image in our mind, we walk with the hope of seeing it at the end.  We are acquainted all too well with life's twists and turns, but through it all, we hold on to hope, that things will get better. Some may place our hope in a human being like ourselves, a thing or even an event. These may fail us. For the Christian, our blessed hope doesn't only re...

"Not that I have already obtained it, this goal of being Christlike, or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that perfection for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own." - Philippians 3:12 QUESTION : What does a slippery salmon and a rip-current have in common? Continue reading 😎 Have you ever tried to swim upstream in a river? For those who have, they often say it is a tiring process, sometimes even futile for those who are not strong enough swimmers. There is a particular fish that has been known to do this very thing, at least once in its lifetime. The salmon, who is usually born in fresh water (rivers), tend to live most of their lives downstream in the ocean. When it is time for them to lay their eggs however, they instinctively return to the areas they were born, which unusually requires for them to find their way from the ocean back to the rivers, and successfully swim upstream.  I have another analogy I ha...

"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...

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations."  -Revelation 22:1-2 Hello friends, did you know that one of my passions is hiking? It is something I discovered over a decade ago. I was invited to a hike in 2012, after and during a stressful period in my life. I was a bit doubtful about it, because I didn't know what to expect, wasn't fit at all, and really wanted to be by myself. Interestingly enough though, I did manage to complete it, and on sensing my new found interest for more, the hike leader introduced me to his hiking club. It was my first time hearing about something like a club for persons who hike, and I am so glad I found out about it. It quickly became my ...

"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 ...