Mercy Found Me

It was a cold night of December 2007. It felt more cold than all other days. She could not understand what was happening anymore. The doctor's report had brought her very active life to a sudden stop. How could this be she wondered. She felt fine. She had no aches. She had just gone for a routine check up. And now she had stage two breast cancer. She thought about her two adorable children. She had done everything for them. They looked up to her. They were her life. She did not want to close her eyes lest she died in her sleep and leave them. She forced a smile now and again. She did not want to alarm them. The elder one was quite inquisitive and he would have smelled a rat a mile away. After tucking them in their beds. She closed the door to her bedroom behind her it was time for some serious talk with God. "Oh Lord!" she said. "I have seen you work things out before for me. You have given me the wisdom to nature and bring up this children in your fear. You ha...

I began this Blog-spot as a 30 something -year-old single woman who fully expected to be someone’s wife at some point, who struggled to make a relationship last, who had a habit of choosing unavailable men, who lived alone in an apartment in Mombasa, Kenya and who spent far too much time doing work that wasn’t aligned with my authentic self. I’m now in love, in love with myself, living by the sea in a Caribbean island, accepting I probably won’t ever get married again and being OK with that, and finding ways to use my gifts to create a fulfilling, purposeful, joyful and abundant life for myself and help others do the same. This blog is about authenticity, vulnerability, truth, change, blossoming, flourishing and thriving. My 40ish ... It’s also about the pain that some of us have to go through in order to get to a good place in our lives. It’s about the work we have to do on ourselves to create the lives and relationships we deserve. Probably w...

“We can’t go on together, living separate lives!” the song blares. It stirs something more than a tune inside you. It pounds in the chasm of your heart...  Maybe you’ve noticed the phenomenon. Maybe you even live it. Men and women who are legally married, but who live as singles. They live under the same roof, share the same last name, maybe operate out of a joint checking account, sleep in the same bedroom, maybe share a house but sleep in different rooms, yet live separate lives. Communication does not go beyond the strictly necessary and avoids conflict so they can maintain their peaceful coexistence. When you ask the married single about his or her spouse, there is usually an excuse why the other is absent. The excuse may be true, or they may have been carrying on the charade so long they actually believe the excuse, living in a constant state of denial. They may even be together at functions, but are not partners in life. What went wrong? Why are they living separa...

First, the finest robe.  You find that the finest robe was used only during times of celebrating such as births or festive occasions.  It is also said that it is very probable that the finest robe was actually the father’s robe. Second is a ring for his finger.  During this time to give someone a ring was a mark of honor and dignity.  It was very likely a family signet ring a symbol of reinstatement to sonship in a well-to-do house.  Lastly, he told them to get sandals for his feet.  During this time slaves or servants did not normally wear sandals.  The son was looking to be received back as a servant, not a son but the father was saying, “No, I won’t receive you back as a servant.  I’ll receive you only as a son.”  Even in the Old Testament sandals had to be removed to be in the presence of God, on holy ground, but under this new covenant our Father is saying, “Put on your shoes, you’re worthy to be in my presence just as you are.” ...

Dear family and friends, With over 500 contacts and double that on my phone book I woke up to an experiment wanting to see how many of my so called “close friends, allies, and close family members” would reach out and probably save me from the self-destruction path I had intentionally taken upon myself. I posted depressing status as a way of crying out for help and seeking attention. But unfortunately, none of those that I had anticipated would be the first to reach out did. Not a word until this very moment. Not to say that they did not see my depressing status but some actually downloaded the same status and posted as their own status posts. You see many are the times that I have scrolled through my phone wondering whom to chat up with or talk to because I feel so lonely or because I need someone I can trust to just listen or because at times I am just in need of some sought of reassurance and found none. This is to say that if I was on a path of self-destruction...

I wish I could have witnessed the love story unfold between Hannah and Elkanah! Oh to know the secrets to this beautiful pair. Was she simply beautiful? Was it her sweet spirit? Was her voice charming or her hair glamorous? Those are some of the things we just don’t know. Hannah was a young woman married to a man called Elkanah. He loved her tenderly and she loved him. But he had another wife, Penin'nah, not loved so much but remarkably fertile. While Hannah had never had a child, Penin'nah was surrounded by both sons and daughters. Penin'nah saw her numerous children as her glory, and indeed they were. She thought they should have made her the apple of her husband's eye. They did not. Elkanah was deeply in love with the barren wife Hannah, instead of the fertile Penin'nah. One can sympathise with her pain. But jealousy can make a woman cruel, and Penin'nah was no exception. She tormented Hannah about her lack of children. The Bible text says she provoked H...

Elisha is traveling through a little town called Shunem. This was his job, he was a “traveling preacher,” going from town-to-town, proclaiming God’s will. We have them today (guest speakers). This women, for whatever the reason, was willing to “keep the preacher.” It’s a curious thing to me, the text doesn’t give us her name, but takes time to identify the specific items of furniture in the room. This is the first reason for her greatness - it was her service! What she did didn’t make front page of the Shunem Gazette. Frankly, I doubt if anyone in town even knew about it, or took notice. Who noticed this women’s spirit of service? God did! I think we often struggle today with service because we think it has to be some great act. If it’s not some great, newsworthy deed (saving a life or something) it’s not worth the effort. What kind of service is God looking for out of us? Matt. 25:22-40 (turn & read). If a neighbor is sick and needs a hot meal, you don’t have to tell an...