Random Musings

I can't believe that April has flown by so quickly. We are now into its last full week. It finally feels like Spring here in the great white north!!! The warm sunshine feels very nice! Yesterday, I was finally able to work in my garden --- it was pure bliss: crocuses sprouting up revealing beautiful purple flowers, tiny leaves budding and unfurling on the shrubs, new growth peeking up from the ground, forsythias on the verge of flowering!

The last couple of weeks have been busy but exciting. Here are some random musings...

~ We found out from a blood test that my son might have outgrown his tree nut allergy! Yipee!!! Praise God. Although his peanut allergy is still there, as strong a reaction as ever, we are most definitely grateful to God that the tree nut allergy is most likely gone! The next step is to go downtown to the children's hospital for an oral challenge. We are praying that he will pass it so that we don't have to worry about tree nuts any longer!

~ Sunday services have started at The Sanctuary Pickering. It was awesome to see God's hand evident in a number of details, including choosing the location of where we should meet allowing for the details to come through at the very last minute. It is awesome to see God's handprints in the little things (and in the BIG things, of course) because it reminds me that He cares. God reminded me of this verse once again through my devotional three mornings ago --- "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

~ This past weekend, we participated in Earth Week activities in our city as a local church. On Friday night and Saturday afternoon, we congregated in two local parks and picked up litter for a couple of hours. It was a lot of fun! I think the kids enjoyed their "break time" the most as they got to play with each other on the parks' playground equipments.

~ This morning, my devotionals took me to John 15. Very appropriate passage as I delve into gardening this Spring season and as I start to tackle those overgrown bushes in my backyard. This passage is a great reminder to me that my God is the Master Gardener in my personal garden called life! He is constantly pruning away at those branches that are no longer bearing fruit. His doing so allows for new growth, thus new fruit being produced in me and through me. Great analogy, eh? The reality and practicality of the Bible never fails to amaze me each day! It is awesome! Here are some verses from John 15 (NLT) that spoke to me...

"5 Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing."

"7 But if you remain in Me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father."

"11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!"

"16 You didn’t choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name."

"26 But I will send you the Advocate — the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about Me. 27 And you must also testify about Me because you have been with Me from the beginning of my ministry."