Whatever He Says

By Belinda Last Saturday I wrote a post entitled Last Day  but during the next week it seemed that over and over I heard the words, "It's a new day." Each time, the words were spoken with energy, hope and resolve. What a gift a "new day" is. We all need New Days--turning points; pivotal moments in our lives that are as unscripted as a brand new journal, fresh as newly fallen snow. I've had a few New Days and I hope for more. I spent some time today reflecting on some of mine and was going to write about them, but I think the point I want to make is that I'm grateful that they exist at all. I am thankful that we are Works in Progress and that a relationship with God is dynamic, vibrant, intimate and filled with hope. I sometimes think of the twelve men who were Jesus's first intimates, What did he see in them? What does he see in us? I can tell you.. He sees possibility. He sees what we can be when we turn in our cards; "give up:" ha...

In the depths of my night, I struggled to the surface. A cry...a deep barking cough. I strained to a conscious state of wakefulness. I slipped out of my warm bed and pattered down the hall to a small, needy toddler. Picking him up, I pressed my cool cheek to his feverish one. The crying stopped but he whimpered his discomfort. Again the cough persisted. The distinct cough of "croup". So many times I've bundled wee ones into cozy blankets and myself too and gone to sit on the porch to let the cool night air do it's work and shrink their constricted, swollen bronchial tubes back to its pencil-like shape. This night I wanted to get both of us to sleep. I administered tylenol to help with the fever and tucked our little bundle between hubby and I. Then the accusing thought came, "You're not a very good mother, you should bundle up and go to the porch. You know what's good for croup. You've done it for the others." The thoughts continued and I cried o...

Acts 2:38-39 (New International Version) 38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." "Baptizdo (Greek) means to overwhelm, immerse, plunge, drench" The Alpha Course Manual Week 8 of the Alpha Course--and there were 8 of us at our home on Tuesday to watch the video that was about the Holy Spirit. We come from a variety of walks of life; hairdressing, a law office, a marketing company, developmental services; and one person is supported by the agency that some of us work for. All of us come together with one purpose and that is to know more about Jesus and to know him in a deeper way. Listening to the video on which Nicky Gumbel was speaking on Tuesday, even though we'd just eaten supper, I felt hungry--but not for food. I felt...