Faith and Life Blog

J eremiah 18:4   And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. I lifted the lid off the toilet tank to check why it was not filling up with water and to my surprise, it fell to the floor and broke in two. Shocked, I tried to figure out how this accident happened. I thought I had a firm grip but my hands failed me when I needed them most. I pondered what my next move should be. The rest of the toilet was in good working order, but I was not sure that I could source a replacement lid. It might mean that I would have to replace the entire toilet, which meant spending money I had not expected.  I gathered the broken pieces, intending to throw them away, but I needed a box to put them in. So I rested them in a corner of the bathroom and went looking for a box, a search which proved futile.  I advised my plumber of the situation and he decided to do some checks to source a li...

  Has this ever happened to you? You buy a newer, larger cell phone and then the old one looks so small.  You wonder how you were so comfortable with that little thing all this time and why you took so long to upgrade. Or another scenario: you leave your small community to live in a big town or city and later on when you return, the place looks so small that you can hardly believe that you once lived there In both instances, expansion has taken place. As you step out of your area of confinement, you embark on a learning curve as you grow into your new environment. You learn to adapt and change in order to become aligned with a new way of living, thinking, and acting. As your capacity for the new increases, you push past the growing pains and eventually conform to your changing environment and settle into the new norm.  When you look back at where you once were it's not uncommon to feel a sense of amazement that in your state of ignorance, there was so much that you were m...

It pains my heart to see elderly persons on the road seeking assistance from strangers. This is not a fate that should be suffered by anyone, especially the elderly, who have often worked hard to provide for their children, many of whom are now grown and have left their parents to fend for themselves. In the majority of cases, I believe, parents have made huge sacrifices for their children and should now enjoy the fruits of their labour, being pampered and cared for by those children who they have raised. This morning as I walked in a plaza in Half Way Tree, I came across a dear old lady standing there with a forlorn look on her face. She stopped me, asking for a contribution to help her purchase medication for glaucoma at the pharmacy. It would have cost little or nothing at the Drug Serv Pharmacy, but the drug was out of stock there, so she had to purchase it at a more expensive pharmacy.  I could not pass her without stopping so I spent a few minutes talking to her. I asked abou...

    In 2014, I acquired a hospital bed for my ailing father. He was totally bedridden and couldn’t help himself, so everything had to be done for him. It was becoming increasingly difficult to care for him on his regular bed and so my sister suggested that we purchase a hospital bed. My research revealed that the cost at the time was in the range of $200,000.00, which was way out of our reach. After thinking about it a little more, I decided that I would reach out to a reputable charitable organization for help. My first attempt failed as none was available at the time. I was however able to acquire one on rental from another source. After about two weeks, I received a call from said charitable organization, inviting us to pick up a hospital bed. We were overjoyed as a family and quickly made the arrangements for pick up and in no time, Daddy had his new bed. He was delighted about his new bed and constantly expressed appreciation. Now he could sit up comfortably to have his m...

For we are his workmsanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2: 10 I needed a few items at the hardware but kept forgetting to visit one close to my workplace, so having made a doctor's appointment, I decided to visit one that was quite close to the location. I arrived early for my appointment so I decided to make use of the waiting time. The hardware store was only about two minutes away so I decided to walk instead of driving as that would be good exercise. I got to the store, ready to make my purchase, but alas, the building was empty. The door was open and I could see signs of renovation taking place, but there was no one there at that moment. Disappointed, I turned back and as I walked, I saw a blind man trying to navigate his way on the uneven sidewalk. I saw that he was about to collide with a light pole and so I called out to him. I guided him away from the obstacle and then enquired where he was h...

  On Friday, September 1, 2023, I lost a friend. A few months prior, we had a small disagreement and we were both upset with each other. We did not see eye to eye on a matter but eventually, good sense prevailed and we apologized to each other, worked it out, and put it behind us. Friendship restored. Prior to that incident, she had mentioned that she was having some health challenges. After not seeing or hearing from her for a while, I reached out to her but got no answer. I reached out to her daughter who informed me that she had been hospitalized. I reached out again and thankfully was able to contact her. I kept in touch and prayed for her. After several weeks in hospital, she messaged to say that she was home. As I got home from work that Friday afternoon, she crossed my mind and I made a mental note to visit her on Sunday. She was a Sabbath keeper, and as such, Friday evening and Saturday would not have been appropriate times to call or visit. But that was not to be. Shortly ...

  Without a doubt, we all love to receive - whether it's a gift, a word of encouragement when we are down and out, a hug, or some well-needed cash. When we receive it makes us feel good, loved, and special. But there is something even better! The Bible tells us that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35) and this is indeed true. When we give, we are making a difference in the lives of others and making this world a better place. We can give of our time, gifts, and resources in numerous ways. So from being hospitable to someone, donating to charity, volunteering with an organization, preparing a meal for an elderly person, or feeding the poor, the possibilities are endless. Studies have shown that the act of giving or helping someone has significant health benefits. Giving boosts your physical and mental health. As you help someone. in whatever way you choose, the brain secretes what are commonly called "feel good hormones'' - namely serotonin, dopamine...