The voice on the phone line was a bit frazzled. “Could you come and pick us up because the car has broken down.” After asking my daughter where she was, I grabbed my car keys, plugged the address into google maps and drove off. Arriving at the address along a very busy highway the waiting started. Waiting on the phone to find a mechanic. Waiting for a tow truck. Waiting and amusing a 2-year-old while waiting. Waiting amongst the noisy, busy traffic of trucks, cars and motorbikes. Waiting in the car till it got too hot because the car air conditioner could not be turned on due to the car…

It’s scary. Read the news, listen to the radio. The reality of life today stops you in your tracks. Literally. “Oh God, what is happening?” my thoughts say and immediately my spirit answers, “God will work good out of this.” Just like scripture says (the word of God that is truth), all things (even corona things) work for good according to God’s perfect plan. It still “seems like a sci-fi movie” one of my daughters shared. But pinch yourself it is real. Jesus was tired and the apostles in trying to care for him told the mothers – take your children away. They scolded the parents for bothering Him. Jesus…

I was watching a medical show on television. You know the usual kind where every week different scenarios are presented. Medically, it could be an emergency and someone needs an operation straight away. Then there is another scene where a long-term patient has further bad news from the last scans.  Then the camera pans to a room where a young patient is with her parents. A doctor walks in and tells them news they have been longing to hear. “The cancer is in remission.” Oh, what joy on everyone’s face. What delight is in the hugs and smiles. All of their lives have just been given back to them. I…

Part way through the Lenten Season I stopped to take stock of where I am. I reflected upon all that God has done for me, in me and through me. I realised I could be more grateful and acknowledge God more in my life, especially after the week that I have had. I have been cleaning, painting, clearing out rubbish because we are moving to a new house. Oh, at night as I climb into bed some muscles ache that I did not know I had. I find it hard to sleep because I keep going over the long list of jobs that still need to be done and wonder…

Paint stroke up, paint stoke down, paint stroke up paint stroke down. Painting is quite soothing and very rewarding when complete. Freshly painted walls and window frames.  As long as you don’t have to do too much preparation, too much puttying of holes, it’s ok. The preparation of the wooden window frames I was going to paint was tedious. I had to scrape off the old flaking paint, rub or sand back some really bad areas and fill in cracks and splintered wood. This took quite a few days to do for 4 window frames, 3 door frames, a whole passageway, 2 ceilings and some edges to paint. This was…