Precious little prickles

The Truth May Scare You (Part 1 of 9)

2012-06-02T05:49:00.001-07:00

A Thief in the Night - Full movie 1972

2012-05-22T15:11:00.001-07:00

Patience

2012-05-12T07:21:00.000-07:00

Patience stands alone,the most solitary word we know...

Some prayers seem to be answered so quickly and others seem to fall on deaf ears;going unanswered without even the slightest explanation.One would be most inclined to ask God,what is going on, especially when you are placed unexpectedly smack dab in the middle of a fiery trial.

During these times of testing and devastation it is imperative that we focus on the positive outcome instead of the negative circumstance that we are surrounded with.From a more practical standpoint we have to be proactive in the midst of turmoil not allowing ourselves to be consumed with thoughts that could lead to depression or unbelief.We should choose only to trust God and what His word says, confessing it in faith daily regardless of how difficult it is.James 1:1-4(N.I.V.) implores us to count it all joy when we face trials knowing that God is doing a work in us and will bring us out in His time.It seems pretty cruel when we are going through seasons of pruning,but it is an essential process in getting rid of all of the junk that weigh us down spiritually.

Be patient- Eccle 3:3 tells us that there is a season for everything,there is a time for the valley and a time for the mountain.If you find yourself catapulted into a season of unfortunate events ,rest assured that the Lord has heard you and will deliver you...but in His time.

Romans 12:12 (N.I.V.) "Be joyful in hope,patient in affliction,faithful in prayer".

Ode To Mummy

2012-05-10T05:17:00.000-07:00

Ode To Mummy

To all of you who did not suddenly just magically appear,You should be forever grateful of the Mother you have near.

The love and admiration of the one who carried you 'til birth,should be forever etched into your heart all the days you're on this Earth.

-And if perchance she is no longer physically here,I pray that you would still hold memories of her oh so very dear.

On this day we commemorate all that our Mothers have done, but our praise and honor for this blessing we must give unto the Son.

Happy Mother's Day

God Does Not Lie!

2012-04-06T06:57:00.000-07:00

Jesus Loves YOU!!!!!!

2012-04-03T15:53:00.002-07:00

Introduction to Fasting

2012-03-22T12:31:00.001-07:00

Fasting is a term that somehow conjures up intense feelings of discomfort and deprivation which would steer many away from the very activity.Pictures of gaunt little children with distended tummies or perhaps a picture of Mahatma Ghandi comes to the minds of most when the word fast is mentioned.
The fasting I'm referring to is termed Biblical Fasting which is a very challenging task to undertake even by the most avid dieter or the most disciplined health enthusiast.

Careful inspection needs to be given to the whole purpose of the fast before partaking in it.We should not neglect or underestimate the physical,mental,emotional,and most importantly the spiritual changes that will occur as a result of fasting.

Physically, fasting will effect you in many ways depending on how your body reacts to the toxins that are being released.You should consult a medical professional before beginning any fasting regiment and have them give the ok,especially if you have any health concerns that could possibly be compromised during this time. YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT,that's a given to anyone who has ever had the privilege to experience one of the most rewarding benefits that fasting has to offer :) .Dig deeper there is so much more ;) ...

Your mental state can be altered severely depending on the length of your chosen fast and again, depending on how many toxins you may or may not have floating around that body of yours.The thing is, our bodies are finely tuned machines that have an innate nature to respond to whatever stimulus we expose it to.If goodies like sweets,coffee and other unmentionables are suddenly taken away from us our bodies go into shock.Our minds have to then resist the urges our bodies are screaming for-not an easy thing to do by any stretch of the imagination.Discipline my friend is the keyword in the success of your fast.

Emotionally you will be on a roller coaster,stopping off to occasional bouts of self praise;"yippee I'm fasting,why didn't I do this sooner",can quickly turn to ,"this fasting thing sucks,I'm done",in a nano second.Yes crankiness and perhaps the proverbial pity party can be the spice of the day when fasting but it's only temporary and will pass as your body's PH levels settle down.

The Spiritual aspect for me has been the most rewarding part of fasting and is the only reason I do it.Yes I know there are other amazing benefits but what fasting does for you spiritual man is priceless and everything else falls to the floor-period!.No kidding I can write an entire book when it come to the spiritual advantages alone of the fast.
You are so much more in tune with the Holy Spirit when you fast,more than at any other time in your life.It's not because the Lord draws nearer to us when we fast but rather,it's because we are drawing nearer to Him.Much more on this in later posts....

Change your atmosphere

2012-02-12T12:53:00.000-08:00

BE QUIET!,SIT DOWN!,BEHAVE!,LEAVE THAT! Often times our lives are literally bombarded with these militant commands due to the obstinate behavior of our precocious young lings.As our anger seethes to immeasurable levels and the heat on our heads rises to an unbearable degree we realize that we are slowly losing control. The tension in the room continues to mount because we have allowed our voices to escalate beyond normal indoor parameters and a hint of regret eventually enters the picture.
How can we keep ourselves from descending into this survival conundrum that lends itself to pity or remorse soon after without reward?

A Time out, can invariably become quite a pleasurable retreat for you and the kiddies if approached with a little practice and care.Which ever method you consider may take a little tweaking to accommodate the personality and age of your child. Although extremely cliche in its terminology,it does work wonders when properly employed .I find that leaving the room or sending the child away before unpleasant comments are uttered either way is paramount.I prefer to walk out of the room breaking into random songs of praise and worship this I have noticed does tangibly neutralize the toxic acidity in the air almost immediately.

I have encountered many argumentative persons that would rally their venomous tirade until they bled if it meant they won a disagreement,from such-turn away I say.We can change where most disagreements go by simply limiting our involvement in the discourse with our words or actions.Might I even suggest humming a tune,walking away,or actually volunteering a kind word in the midst of the verbal tryst.Any of these subtle pleasantries could possibly disarm the most tactical and malevolent contender.

Yes Praise and Worship is the key to changing any negative or conflicting mood that would ultimately lead to an undesirable or regrettable aftermath.
What are your thoughts?

I have no favorites

2012-02-09T11:18:00.000-08:00

I have often heard many mothers whispering among themselves saying that they do not have any favorites when it comes to their growing brood of offspring.In the back of my mind the very statement somehow suggests to me that they are wrestling with with their own maternal emotions concerning this.Perhaps they do have a cherished little darling whom they devote most of their time to over another,but it does not make them a bad person.

In my personal opinion I don't think I favor any one child over my other two despite what outsiders might think.I love all of my children the same way and try to disperse my affections equally among them as best as I can.Obviously with a one year old toddler,more time and effort is required compared to the time you would normally share with a ten or sixteen year old.
All children have different personalities and occasional infantile idiosyncrasies that warrant a watchful mother's eye,but we do the best we can don't we?
Perhaps on a particular day one child may not be having such a good day a melt down ensues and they are very abrasive towards us and others.We don't love that child any less but we are also not as endeared to them as we might have been had they done something more pleasant.

As parents all we can do is our best to love and nurture our kids in the hope that one day they can impart love and admiration on their children,whether or not they may have a favorite.

still transitioning in canada

2012-02-08T11:36:00.000-08:00

One of the main comforts that I consider welcoming about our fascinating passage into The Great White North is the fact that countless others have done the exact same thing before us.
There were the slaves who left behind years of bondage and found refuge particularly in the province of Nova Scotia.The large majority of these slaves were accompanied by their Loyalist owners upon arrival.They are the original black Canadians and make up a very high percentage of the population that now live in Atlantic Canada.
The Caribbean population here in Canada is overwhelmingly encouraging because on a consistent basis I am able to interact with people of similar interests and moral backgrounds.It is still quite cumbersome for me to adjust to the variety of cultures and liberal views this beautiful country displays.I have always considered myself a very open minded individual who embraces all persons regardless of social standing or country of origin.I quickly learned that no matter where you go,there will always be some persons who you just will not see eye to eye with.

Just a hop,skip and jump from my native Bahamas seems like worlds away at times.These pangs of cultural loneliness usually manifest themselves when I am surrounded by other people of west Indian heritage,especially on occasions such as heritage festivals.I realize my country has less than 500,000 people in total and so our numbers collectively are so much smaller.
Hardly anyone has either eaten or seen conch,which I must admit I did not think I would ever miss because it was such a staple in our weekly diets.
What is one to do in such a social dilemma?

Adjust is the keyword that satisfies my insatiable hunger for all things familiar.I have transformed my mind and accepted my place in a new country that promises nothing but does it's absolute best to embrace all.I am certain that almost everyone who has ever immigrated at some point in has felt the exact same.
I am not alone,I have my family and new friends to share my awesome journey with,which makes it all worth while.

freedom from all cares

2012-02-07T12:17:00.000-08:00

What is the point of worrying? Can we really by some internal supernatural power,decompress ourselves of anxiety,uncertainty and burdens?

After a perpetual lifetime of desperate attempts to carry not only my personal cares and afflictions but those of countless others,especially loved ones;I without regret have come up disgracefully short.I am certain that I am not the only one in this God-shaped hole who through the gifts of compassion and ignorance,worry incessantly at times."Cast your cares on Him because He cares for you" is what we often here preached from the pulpits from afar.In my experience it is easier said than done,especially when you have a bill that needed to be paid last month and could possibly render you homeless if it was not.Isn't it near impossible or even somewhat pretentious to nonchalantly dismiss our responsibilities as we watch ourselves slowly spiral into dire straits?.To twist and twirl through the tulips whilst ignoring a growling and angry tummy is preposterous.

If you have kids,oh boy!-your worries are magically quadrupled and even more consistent,just for your pleasure.The constant barrage of tormenting thoughts when your little ones are out of your sight can be overwhelming at best.Managing the plethora of nuisances catapulted on us from the unpredictable realm of the mundane can definitely become debilitating if we allow it.

It is all meaningless,pointless and downright miserable to allow ourselves to suffer in such a painful way.In my opinion I think we have all been given the eternal gift called free will so it's safe to say we can choose where we allow our minds to wander.We honestly can deliberately decide what to ponder upon whether good or bad.I choose to concentrate my thoughts on more positive scenarios regardless of the outcome in reality.I cannot change anything positively by creating a negative atmosphere for thoughts of doubt and depression to wallow in.I choose to live worry free because it has emancipated me from the doldrums of despair and awarded me an enticingly more fulfilled life.Whatever arsenal you decide to use to combat the hostile enemy of worry is entirely up to you.Before moving from my native Bahamaland to the Great North,I had many apprehensions of my new life abroad but was compelled to take it one day at a time.

Once you find a method that works for you ,stick with it with dogged determination unearthed by whatever comes your way because the heavy loads of this life were never meant for you to bear.