so glad Jesus came ... understatement, eh!!!!

yesterday was passover (according to the calendar) ... so leo and i decided to have communion ... it was good to read the account of Jesus celebrating passover ... and His words, as He broke the bread and blessed the wine ... it was a sweet moment in our morning devotions ... thanking Jesus for all He has done for us ... INDEED - What a Saviour!!! 

blessings on your Good Friday and Easter celebrations ...

Voices of the Faithful

i've been reading "Voices of the Faithful", compiled by Kim P. Davis  ... inspiring stories of courage from Christians serving around the world ... and the story i'm about to share  has stayed with me through the past couple of days ... here it is:

One smart donkey


"This is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us in whtever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him."  1 John 5:14-15 (NASB)


It was harvest time when Mrs. Tendai's (ten-DIES) donkey went missing.  She searched everywhere and even reported the missing animal to the local police.  When it was evident that her donkey had simply disappeared, she began praying that it would return.


Due to lack of good seed, fertilizer and sufficient rain, Mrs. Tendai's harvest that year was small, and she had little money to buy food for her family.  Several months later, her prayers were more about God providing "daily bread" than finding the donkey.  The family's maize meal supply was depleted.  Would God answer her prayers for food?


The next morning, when Mrs. Tendai walked out of her hut, she was amazed to see her donkey standing there with a 100-pound bag of maize meal on its back!  She was happy to see the donkey but afraid to use the maize meal since it wasn't hers.


Eventually a story was pieced together that a man had stolen her donkey and used it to do his labor.  One night after grinding his corn, he went to the beer hall to drink, leaving the donkey burdened down with the maize meal outside.  The donkey realized that he was not far from home and decided to return to where he would be taken care of and fed.  The thief, wishing to remain anonymous, did not claim his maize meal, so Mrs. Tendai was able to use it to feed her family.  God had answered both of her prayers in a very unusual manner!  - Donna, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa


this story really hit home with me because God already knew that mrs. tendai would be praying for the family's daily sustenance in the very near future -  He had the answer to her prayers prepared ahead of time ... even though the story started out with a bad experience, the stolen donkey ...  ... it reminded me of our condo search ... i really did cry a river one night when the condo i thought was perfect for us, was taken off the market!  i thought "why, Lord??"  that was the one i wanted!! ... but we needed to journey along, pray earnestly and live in a rental- experience some things before God opened up the condo we are now in - which is quite perfect in all ways  ... thank you Lord!


patience,  prayer, perseverance ...

ice fishing weekend

we have had the most amazing week ... weatherwise, it was way above seasonal with a rapid melt happening ... today it was 13C or 55F here!  WOW!!!  leo and i have literally been watching the snow disappear!!!


the annual ice fishing derby was on this weekend ...  about 1000 or so fishermen took advantage of the great weather and still solid ice conditions!   we have front row seats from the condo to watch the coming and going ... even indie was by the window for an hour or so, wondering where all these people came from!


spiritually, we have been refreshed and blessed and growing ... God's word is something we share and discuss ... and there has been a sweetness around the house, that i would like to keep around forever ... life and chronic pain can sometimes chase away the gentle moments - so when they stay for longer periods of time i feel so blessed ...

here are pics taken of all those ice fishing folks!  and also a little scene taken during my walk - the snow should be gone the next time i venture on the trail  ... blessings on your week that is yet to be!

chitchat on a sunday afternoon ...

this pic made me smile ... poor kitty, eh!!! ...

i have been an absent blog bud again ... it seems that the days have gotten shorter (though we know it's the other way round!) ... and what do i do all day, you might ask?  ... well, i am an early riser, i love those first quiet hours ... they are so important to me and my time with God ... i read my devotions, while sipping coffee that leo prepared the night before ... then when leo gets up, we spend time reading together (currently it's billy graham's, "approaching hoofbeats") ... then my daily chores, groceries, etc. need doing ... and i've gotten quite religious about my walks - they are a must in my schedule ... later in the afternoon, more time chatting with leo ... then the phone calls to family and friends (maria still has her cast on and though she is getting antsy with spring around the corner - is doing well other wise... relative term!) ... and before you know it, the day is almost done ... i do fit in bits and pieces of time on the computer, e-mails and such ...

plus, even though my blog doesn't reflect it, leo and i are news hounds ... we follow all kinds of current events - whether on tv, newspaper or internet ... though i like to step away from that on sundays!!

who knew that retirement would be busier than my working days ever were?  i am not complaining at all ... just marvelling at how full my days have become ... days that used to contain lonely moments - especially during those long winter months at our cottage ...

so i am still blogging ... just in a haphazard sort of way ... sending out a HELLO and Lord bless you guys - may your sunday (and the week to come) be peaceful!

i know Who holds my hand

I know Who Holds Tomorrow

words and music by Ira Stanphill

I don't know about tomorrow,

I just live from day to day.

I don't borrow from it's sunshine,

For it's skies may turn to gray.

I don't worry o'er the future,

For I know what Jesus said.

And today I'll walk beside Him,

For He knows what is ahead.

Refrain

Many things about tomorrow,

I don't seem to understand;

But I know Who holds tomorrow,

And I know Who holds my hand.

Ev'ry step is getting brighter,

As the golden stairs I climb;

Ev'ry burden's getting lighter;

Ev'ry cloud is silver lined.

There the sun is always shining,

There no tear will dim the eyes,

At the ending of the rainbow,

Where the mountains touch the sky.

Refrain

Many things about tomorrow,

I don't seem to understand;

But I know Who holds tomorrow,

And I know Who holds my hand.

I don't know about tomorrow,

It may bring me poverty;

But the One Who feeds the sparrow,

Is the One Who stands by me.

And the path that be my portion,

May be through the flame or flood,

But His presence goes before me,

And I'm covered with His blood.

Refrain

Many things about tomorrow,

I don't seem to understand;

But I know Who holds tomorrow,

And I know Who holds my hand.