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…

I had a lot of gardening to do. Weeds needed pulling, grasses had grown into the wrong areas and needed cutting back, and spent blooms needed pruning. I quite enjoy it if I have time and can make the garden look good with flowers and greenery. It makes the appearance of the front or back yards pleasant to look at. But I like working with my hands without gloves. Feeling the soil. Of course, that is bad for your hands, nails, and skin. The nails break and get dirt underneath them, the skin on the hands becomes rough and needs scrubbing to get the soil out of them. So, I…

Do you have days when everything seems to be going wrong? I know you do. That is life sometimes, but when you have a cold, a barking cough and have no energy – on those days – the world seems to be very overwhelming! The actual minor irritations that happen to us from time to time teach us about our character. Show us – are we patient, are we kind, are we trusting in God in everything. Are we letting go and letting God? Have I learnt to control my anger in situations that I don’t need to be angry? Do I laugh (and not cry) at circumstances that can…

David, the King of Israel, the ruler in that part of the world, thought about God, His creator. His thoughts were often written down in his journal – called the psalms in the Bible. He wrote songs and poems and essays about God. Some of these thoughts are described in Psalm 139. Have you ever thought about God? Or even wondered if there is a God? David’s thoughts went like this… “O Lord, you have searched me and known me…” God, the creator of all, knows me -he’s searched me thoroughly and knows me. I am known to Him. I am recognized, familiar, within His scope of knowledge. Not just…