Author Archives: Patricia Ann

Longing for Love

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There are many people of all ages and both genders who are sadly lacking love in their lives. Some are seriously seeking it, as in online dating sites, others may think it has passed them by, and still others are just waiting for Mr. or Ms. Right to come along. There are some who have had love and lost it, others who have lost love and found it again, and those whose love is right in their midst and they have forgotten to nurture it.

Well, let me tell you, there is hope for all. Two quotes came my way recently…one secular and one spiritual and here they are:

If grass can grow through cement, love can find you at any time in your life.

God designed us with a desire for intimacy…to connect, to know and be known.

I really like both of them, how about you? Are you longing for love?

 

 

 

 

A Question of Trust

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A question I often get asked is, “How did you get such deep faith?” The answer has to be that I seem to, without knowing it, have trusted God all of my life…and with my life.

Yesterday, I came upon this scripture which seems to sum it up perfectly for me: “Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.” Psalm 22: 9-10 NIV

I’m not sure that any better explanation is available. In whom do you put your trust? Happy Sunday.

 

Picture Perfect

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I know, I know…I talk too much about my church. But look at this…she’s just passed two-hundred years old and prettier than ever. It is not only my place of worship but my sanctuary, my home away from home, (not counting Heaven) and where much of my life happens.  May your day be picture perfect. Happy Saturday.

Angels All Around Us

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I believe in angels…and why wouldn’t I? More than one personal experience has proven they exist for our help and comfort.

My most recent experience was while changing the cartridge in a dripping bathroom sink tap. Having been told it would be most difficult to remove the old cartridge, I went ahead and attempted the task. Sure enough when it came to the old cartridge, it would not budge…not one iota. After a great deal of twisting and turning the little strength I had left was depleted. That’s when I cried aloud, “C’mon, Angels, you have more strength than I, please help me do this!” It took one final twist and pull and…voila!…the cartridge was out. Any three-year-old would have been proud of my jumps of joy and hand-clapping.

After many thanks to my ministering angels, it wasn’t long before the tap was finally fixed. No more drips.

Now, before someone says, “There she goes again…imagination working overtime,” let me direct you to a few scriptures regarding angels:

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Psalm 91:11-12

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, (hold him in awe) and he delivers them. Psalm 34:7 (brackets mine)

So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. (Jesus) Hebrews 1:4 (brackets mine)

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2

Even angels long to look into these things. 1 Peter 1:12

Enough said. Just wanted to say I believe in angels all around us. Doesn’t everyone?

 

 

 

 

The Worth of Wisdom

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If wisdom is worth thinking about, it is worth having. Wisdom goes beyond being smart, intellectual, and/or knowledgeable. Wisdom is the sum total of all of these and yet is only available to those who recognize this fact. The following was gleaned from Psychology Today online:

Wise people generally share an optimism that life’s problems can be solved and experience a certain amount of calm in facing difficult decisions. Intelligence—if only anyone could figure out exactly what it is—may be necessary for wisdom, but it definitely isn’t sufficient; an ability to see the big picture, a sense of proportion, and considerable introspection also contribute to its development.

The Bible speaks often and well of wisdom:

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1;5 NIV

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, Proverbs 3:13

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; Proverbs 4:5

Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Proverbs 13:10

For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Proverbs 8:11

 

And then there is the age old adage: Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. Whether or not you place much stock in this verse, it is wise to consider the worth of wisdom.

 

The Least We Can Do

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We all have our tough times in life, of that there is no doubt, but when something like the following prayer request crosses my life path I have to stop and realize that there really are people worse off than I am. That little phrase was always the answer to my childhood complaints: “There are people worse off than you.”
Please pray for twenty-nine-year-old Andrea, a single mom from Sri Lanka, dying, and leaving her three children aged twelve, eight and six with grandparents in their seventies. Pray for God’s strength, help and comfort for this family in their tragic and difficult situation.
I love being part of our church prayer chain…it not only offers the opportunity to pray for people but it opens my eyes to so much suffering that I would otherwise be unaware of.
Please join me in prayer for these dear people…it is the least we can do.

Soar With the Butterflies

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I’m always in awe of butterflies…not only their beauty but their brain. It is said that the brain of a butterfly is the size of a pinhead, and yet the Monarch can travel three thousand miles to Central America and end up at the same tree its ancestors landed on a generation or two earlier.

A butterfly expert once said, “The creation of the body of a caterpillar into the body and wings of a butterfly is without a doubt, one of the wonders of life on earth.” Another expert states that this metamorphosis is “rightly regarded as a miracle.”

There is so much interesting information on this transformation one can only wonder if the caterpillar was programmed to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)

Can we all be so transformed? Indeed we can…the secret is in the choosing. Why live like a caterpillar when you can soar with the butterflies?

 

Butterfly Monarch Butterfly Danaus Plexipp

Today’s the Day!

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Celebrating 200 Years of God’s Love. That is our slogan as we celebrate our two hundredth anniversary at St. Andrew’s Scarborough today.

We have been celebrating in many different ways over the past year in anticipation, and today’s the day!

The motto over our door is Jehova Jira – translated The Lord Will Provide. (Genesis 22:14)

For two hundred years this scripture has proven amazingly true for our congregation and we look forward to its continuation.

Just as our Lord welcomes all of us with open arms, we at St. Andrew’s also welcome all with open arms which is one of the reasons we are a growing congregation.

Going forward, we continue to celebrate Jesus who not only lived and died but who died and lives in our churches and in our lives.

Happy Anniversary, St. Andrew’s!

1818 – 2018    200 YEARS OF SHARING GOD’S LOVE

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