No Other Gods

"You should not have no others gods before Me."

Exodus 20:3

I entered High School with a great love for mathematics. It was my favourite subject, so much so that it became an obsession. If the teacher asked the class to do every second question for homework, I would do every one of them. There was not a question in math that I felt I couldn't answer. If I found a question too challenging to answer at first, it would excite me. I would ponder the answer no matter how long it took, ignoring all else in my life. Mathematics became my god. I started neglecting reading my Bible. Even during sermons at Church, I would think of math equations, oblivious to the words spoken at the pulpit. I obtained 100 percent as a final mark in Grade 12 Algebra Honours.

Then one day my brother and his wife invited the rest of the family to their church. It was quite a distance away, but they talked so much about how wonderful their church was, we decided to go. The man that preached the first Sunday we went was a teacher at the Bible College. He had a doctorate in Theology. I never heard anyone before preach the Word of God with such passion and understanding. It was obvious his wisdom came from God because his spirit was humble and not arrogant. A man's education can create arrogance, but God's wisdom is profound, saturated in love and humility. During his whole sermon he had my full attention. At the end, the Holy Spirit of God began to draw me back to His Word.

In matter of weeks, God revealed to me the god that I had created in my life and His desire to be first and foremost. As I continued to beg my dad to drive me back to this church every Sunday, God called me to Bible College. I now had a passion to learn more about the Bible. I once had an ernest desire to become a Math professor, but God changed the fervor of my heart. It isn't wrong to love math. It isn't wrong to want to become a Math professor. It is wrong to put something, no matter what it is, before God. And that is what I did.

I gave up continuing my studies in math to serve God. God later blessed me with four sons that have the same gift God gave me in mathematics. All of my sons are now in fields of study related to this gift. Daniel, my oldest, has just obtained his doctorate in electrical and computer engineering, Tim is working on his doctorate in mathematical physics, Chris has just now completed his masters in condensed matter physics, and Matthew is working on his degree in mathematics and physics. Each one of my sons have never put their studies before God. They are all active in Church ministry and love serving God foremost.

The man that God used to change the course of my life later spoke my wedding and dedicated my first son to God. He also became the senior pastor of one of the largest churches in the world and yet he is still exhibits the character of God in his life.

"Car Wash Yeah!"

I have a fear of automatic car washes. I hate them! I hate the noises they make, the force of the water spraying on your windows, the large, intimidating, red LED instruction sign that you can't read through the soap suds sprayed on your windshield, and the massive machinery that rotates around your vehicle. Automatic car washes scare the living daylights out of me! I would rather wash my car by hand any day. Well, any day except yesterday morning, I didn't feel like washing my car and I was getting really tired of looking at all the dead bugs on the hood and windshield. I decided to be brave, so when I filled up my car with gas at a local gas station yesterday, I added to the bill the cost of a car wash.

Then I courageously and proudly drove around the back of the gas station to enter the car wash. But when I saw the building of evil I was about to enter, I began to perspire. Panic set in. I wanted to turn my vehicle around, but I couldn't. It was too late. I had no choice but to go through the dreaded machine and face my fear. I was so nervous, I couldn't think clearly. As I wound down my driver's window and punched in my code, I stopped breathing. Then I looked forward and saw the large, devilish, red LED instruction sign: "Proceed slowly ahead." I told myself, "I can do this. I just need to take a deep breath and breath slowly." The only problem is that I should have done something else as well, but I was unaware of it at the time. (Remember my mind was not working at full capacity.) As I drove ahead slowly to my fate, the red LED instructions sign abruptly changed messages, "Stop!" I stopped and then the water sprayed forcefully from all directions. That's when the nightmare began. I suddenly became drenched from head to toe. I had forgotten to wind up my window! I punched several wrong buttons before I pushed the right one to wind it back up again. I was in total shock from horror. I wished I could turn back time. I looked in my rear-view mirror and thanked God that nobody was behind me to see my stupidity — after all a woman has her pride. I did manage, however, to complete the wash, but I didn't stay for the drying stage. I was out of there!

Then I started to laugh, and laugh I did. I never laughed so hard in my life! I was wet and embarrassed, but I survived the car wash. It sure felt great to laugh! The fearsome experience was almost worth the laughter.

When God told Sarah she was going to have a baby at ninety years old, she first laughed in unbelief, but then later she laughed with joy at the humour of it all.

"God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me."

Genesis 21:6

God created laughter, so laugh at the craziness of life!

I Am A Well-Watered Garden

For weeks now I have had the image in my head of a rock garden in my backyard. I knew exactly where I wanted to plant my five trees, two bushes, and two flowering rock plants. The only problem is that these trees, bushes, and plants had to be uprooted from other places in my yard. I also needed rocks and lots of them. In other words, I needed a man — maybe a couple of them. My truck-driver husband is usually not available and three of my sons are working. I thought I might be able to talk my youngest son into helping. Unfortunately, he just applied for a school-year job, so if I was going to fulfill my dream, it had to be now.

Three yards of rainbow rocks were delivered Friday night and miraculously my husband was home Saturday. (Well, I thought it was a miracle. I think my husband had a different viewpoint.) With the help of my son and my husband, we were able to complete the project in one day.

Here is a picture of my rock garden.

By the way, there is a practicality to all of this. I don't have to mow around the trees anymore and there is less lawn to mow. We have a big yard! It is an inside corner lot.

The Bible says that, in God's eyes, we are like a well-watered garden that He so lovingly takes care of.

"The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water

when you are dry and restoring your strength.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like an ever-flowing spring."

Isaiah 58:11

Now, whenever I look with delight upon my rock garden from either my deck or kitchen window, I will remind myself of this verse: Right now I am going outside to blissfully water my transplanted trees, bushes, and plants.

*     *     *

Since fall is approaching, today I bought  two scarecrows, a man and a woman,  to display sitting on the rocker. With every season I am going to redecorate my rock garden to depict that  time of the year. Life is so much fun!

They Remember!

One Christmas Eve when my sons were younger, we all went for a walk in the softly falling snow, enjoying the wonder of Christmas and the brightly coloured lights and outdoor decorations. I remember the evening very well. As we were leaving the house, our grey and white cat named Charlie came running after us. We initially tried to discourage him from following, but the cat was stubborn and wanted to be with us on that special night. It was like Charlie sensed that that night was different from all other nights.

Even though our walk was long, Charlie kept up. We crossed a main road and were about six blocks from our house when suddenly a large untied and unfenced dog came rushing out of a yard barking ferociously at Charlie. Frightened, our cat bolted. We called for Charlie and searched through the bushes and trees to find him. But we never found any sign of Charlie. We knew he was smart though, and would find his way back home, so we continued on our walk. We figured he would be there at our front door to greet us when we arrived.

When we arrived home, however, we found, to our great concern, that Charlie was not there. So that evening, during our family devotions and prayer, we prayed for Charlie's safe return.

The next day was Christmas and still Charlie was nowhere to be found. After the presents were opened and we had eaten a warm breakfast, my sons and I went back to the neighbourhood Charlie was last seen to look for him. We called out his name many, many times, but Charlie never came. Every day for weeks one of us would eagerly open the front door hoping to find Charlie there waiting to come in, but we were always disappointed. Weeks turned into months and our hopes of ever seeing Charlie again faded.

We never forgot Charlie though. Every time I opened up a can of tuna, I still thought of him because as soon as he heard our can opener, he would instantly get up and run towards the kitchen in eager hopes it would be tuna. I always poured the tuna juice into his food dish. I missed Charlie. We all did, but especially my oldest son, who dearly loves cats.

About nine months passed since Charlie went missing that Christmas eve. Then one day, the unexpected happened. For some reason, I was drawn to look out my living room window. That was when I spotted the answer to a long-ago prayer. Charlie was standing at the edge of the street sniffing the grass of our front lawn. I couldn't believe my eyes! I ran as quickly as I could downstairs to open the front door to call out to him, "Charlie!" He recognized his name. He remembered! He immediately looked up and came running. As I was hugging him, I yelled out to my sons to come. We were all ecstatic and in disbelief. Charlie had come home!

As my sons were petting Charlie, I noticed a large indentation on the side of his stomach. On closer inspection, I saw that it was once a large open wound that had healed over. What had happened to Charlie? Where was Charlie for the last nine months? Only God knows. All we knew was that Charlie had finally come home and we were elated! I opened a can of tuna to celebrate. Charlie hadn't forgotten. He came running as usual.

If you have a son or daughter, a friend or relative who has lost his/her way and needs to return home to family values and God — don't give up. Keep praying and have hope. God is hearing your prayers and is working to answer them. Your loved one hasn't forgotten the good memories of home, nor has he/she forgotten all that you taught them about God. They remember, and God is working to draw them back. They may have scars from living life out of the will of God, but they remember! The Bible says that the Holy Spirit of God reminds them.

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send

in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you

of everything I have said to you."

John 14:26

One day, at the right moment, God is going to call out to your lost loved one, and they will remember and come running back into the loving arms of God.

Your Invited!

This Sunday is the beginning of the fall year for children attending Church, so I decided, "Why not have the children make party-like invitations to give to their friends to invite them to Sunday School?" I remember as a child how exciting it always was when I got an invitation to someone's party; so I thought a child would be just as excited to get an invitation to Sunday School.

Here is an example of one I made:

The inside of the card says:

Come and learn how much

God loves you!

Your friend, ________________

I am also having the children make bracelets of different color beads with a heart in the center that says "God loves you!" ( I am buying the beads today.)  The children will give the bracelet along with the card to their friend that they choose to invite. I have 80 children this Sunday to prepare for.

Many people in our world do not know there is a  God who loves them. Many also have given up their faith in God's love and have turned their hearts away from Him because of a failed marriage, a sickness, the sudden death of a loved one, a financial crisis, a shattered dream, or disappointments and hurts from Christians or Church-goers.

We live in an imperfect world into which sin entered because of the disobedience of the first man and woman. Therefore, being a Christian doesn't mean you will never suffer. However, being a Christian does mean God is right there to help you — to give you the strength, the wisdom, and the faith to live a life honouring to Him, a life full of His love, blessings, and joy.

Yesterday was my son Chris' birthday. It was also the day that he finally completed all his revisions on his masters thesis. Now he will graduate with his masters in condensed matter physics. He has already bought his suit for the graduation ceremony; he took his brother, Matthew, and I with him to pick it out. It was a special moment! It is a black suit, with a dark red shirt and tie to match. He will look very handsome in it! much like his father when I first saw him in a suit. It was when I had invited Brian to a Passover dinner at  Bible College.

Chris has had his share of troubles. He was born with a hole in his heart, had a severe speech impediment in elementary school because he was hearing impaired from acute allergies, and was an epileptic until God miraculously healed him at eleven years old. However, Chris loved God through the difficult times and God has blessed him greatly!

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing 

with the glory that will be revealed in us,"

Romans 8:18

We will have our troubles, disappointments, hurts and sadness, but we always have God, the greatest treasure in all the world! Keep this Great Treasure close to your heart for your reward in Heaven will be immeasurable.

This Is My Father's World

My favourite hymn since I was very young is, "This Is My Father's World." It was the song I chose to sing in front of the students in Bible College for my Voice Techniques Class. I was so nervous that I couldn't reach the high note with clarity and giggled. How are you suppose to not get nervous when you are being graded for your voice? I viewed it as not being much different than women parading on stage in a bikini in a beauty contest. It is so much easier leading worship for God. Then your focus in on Him and not yourself. When I giggled, my teacher gave me a stern look. I managed to regain my composure and continue singing. I got a B+ because of that giggle. The experience did give me more sensitivity and humility in teaching children to sing and play the piano.

In case you don't know this hymn well, the lyrics are as follows. They're beautiful!

This is my Father's world,

And to my listening ears

All nature sings, and round me rings

The music of the spheres.

This is my Father's world;

I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;

His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world,

The birds their carols raise,

The morning light, the lily white,

Declare their Maker's praise.

This is my Father's world;

He shines in all that's fair;

In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;

He speaks to me everywhere.

I still love this song despite my nightmarish experience singing it.

Every time I go for a walk in God's creation, I can't help but think of Him. It is when He speaks to me the most.

I came across this cute little caterpillar traveling across my path on the walk and marvelled at God's creativeness!

Did you know that a typical caterpillar has 4000 muscles? They're mainly used for eating — they eat constantly. In comparison, humans have only 629 muscles, but we don't eat constantly. Well, hopefully we don't.

Caterpillars can also have up to two million hairs. The one I took a picture of is quite hairy, so this fact doesn't surprise me.

When we look all around us, we cannot help but proclaim, "This is my Father's world!" God's handiwork is revealed everywhere. We can sense God when we hear the birds and the crickets sing, view the majestic mountains and trees, look upward to see the endless skies, wonder at the ceaseless oscillations of oceans, and marvel at the birth of a child. Everything declares their Maker's praise!

Just Call Me Jesus

My youngest son had a job interview this week. He was excited, but definitely nervous. However, my son told me that when the person interviewing him introduced himself by his first name, he was immediately made more comfortable. I thought, "Isn't it interesting that the drop of a title can make that much of a difference?"

Then my thoughts turned to Jesus. Did Jesus request people to call Him by the title of, "King Jesus"? Did He ever get offended or annoyed at people who referred to Him as just, "Jesus"? Does God find it disrespectful when we pray to Him and say, "Dear Jesus," instead of, "Dear Majesty On High," or something to that effect? The answer to these questions is: no.

The Bible says Jesus had a gentle and humble heart, even though He was God, and there is no greater position and authority than God.

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for you souls."

Matthew 11:29

My cat resting during the day:

Like my cat, we can rest.  We find our rest in the presence of God.

People of all ages and walks of life gravitated to Jesus because of His humility. The children, the sick and even the most hated of sinners felt free to come to Jesus at any time. They were never afraid or intimidated. Jesus is the most humble, gentle and sweetest person to be in the presence of.

I believe that we need to make sure that everything we do reveals the humility of Christ in our lives. We don't need titles to boost our egos. When we turn our hearts to Jesus, we become heirs of His Kingdom. In other words, we are now the King's princes and princesses. There is no need for any other title than the title of God' children.