13 Hours of Rain

It is year in review time. And since my current stage of life doesn't lend itself to staying up until midnight to clink the champagne glasses, I feel the need to mark the moment through words instead. I did a quick perusal of my previous blog posts and read a few of my private journal entries over the year. A few thematic elements jumped out at me. I list them below in no particular order: Perseverance. There were a few incidences over the past couple of years that strongly tempted my husband and I to attend a new church. This is a hard thing to admit in this space, as I know some of my readers frequent our place of worship. So why admit it? Because, let's be honest, as Christians, we do struggle with some element of our church experience, whether it is the preaching, leadership, worship style, certain individuals or groups, theology, vision, etc. And there are times when you wonder why in the world you decided to attend your church in the first place, especially in the fac...

  Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Our family was invited to share about East-Indian Christmas traditions at a Seniors Christmas Potluck. I spoke. My husband sang. Our daughter added a Hindi greeting to my conclusion. Our son added harmonica accompaniment to his Daddy's guitar and voice. It was a fun and encouraging evening. Thanks for your prayers!

This is one of my favourite parts of winter: deep blue skies and frosty white trees. It is breathtaking!

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,   "Glory to God in the highest heaven,   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." ~ Luke 2:13-14 ~

This year's theme: Be You Bravely Today's topic in the Mom's group I attend was generosity. I once again was convicted on how I struggle with generosity. To be perfectly honest, I rather horde my money or spend it on frivolities; donate time to things I like to do (as opposed to serve in areas that are not super exciting); and guard my heart so I don't have to invest in relationships that have the potential to be messy. Yet, as I've become older, and my relationship with God has deepened due to His Grace, I am being pushed in all three areas. Believe me, it is hard, as being generous in not my natural tendency. But we are called to be generous as God's children. And how we actualize generosity will differ from person to person, culture to culture. Nonetheless, A. & J., I pray that you will be generous by God's enabling and equipping. May you give out of an attitude of abundance instead of scarcity. I am thankful for being challenged by my Mom...

I have finally reached the point when I can proclaim with sincerity, "I am thankful for my church and I actually like it." Now I am praying that God will help me LOVE my place of worship. I don't mean love as a feeling of euphoria or infatuation where I become giddy talking about where I attend for corporate Christian gathering. I mean the 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love, where I love in spite of frustrations or hurts or imperfections. So, here is my prayer: Dear Lord, I pray that you will help me love my church as you love this group of believers. May I be patient, especially when things don't go the way I think they should. I pray that I will speak kindly of my church when rubbing shoulders with those on the outside. I ask that I will not boast when things are going extremely well, because all that we are is because of your Grace and Power. Please, may I not be proud when I use my talents and passions to serve others (and receive affirmation). May I not be rude...

I realize I struggle with silliness. I think it was the way I was raised. Your Nana & Nani's generation and culture followed the norm, "Children should be seen and not heard." This was especially true in the presence of an elder or older guests. As a kid, you didn't talk. You only spoke when spoken to. Otherwise you just listened. Over time, and after being in Canada for a while, our family's dinner table conversations were more interactive and lively. But I don't think I was ever encouraged to be silly. So I catch myself curbing the silliness levels of you, my daughter, which at times is necessary to do. But my shortcoming is that I often want you to be like what I was expected to be, as the eldest daughter of our family: serious, obedient, responsible, proper, demure. I forget that you may very well have a different personality than I did when I was younger. I often -- too often -- forget that you are only six and that you love to live life with ent...

I know the Canadian oil/gas industry isn't too thrilled right now, but I am thankful that at least one of our monthly bills has gone down this Christmas season. That being said, I do offer up a prayer for those who may have lost their source of livelihood due to the rapid decline in oil prices. May God meet your needs during this season of giving.

Even though our days are shorter during this time of the year, I am thankful that I can enjoy sunrises. Winter sunrises are gorgeous! There is something about the angle of the sun rays and the crispness of the air that produces stunning backdrops of pink, purple and red. Then oranges and yellows emerge as the golden orb awakes from its slumber. Of course, the clouds scatter the light with artistry. It is breathtaking!

It was 5 degrees above zero today! We built a snowman and went sledding. Is it spring? Not really, just a chinook in this corner of the prairies. It all makes me think of purple flowers. :)

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The Toy Pile Up Dearest son, you have a vivid and creative imagination. I am thankful. You have the ability to play on your own and create daring scenarios with your cars and superheros. You can pick up a book and just "read", unraveling tales to match the pictures. Your dreams are intense, sometimes frightening, more often fascinating. Your artistic renditions reflect depth of story instead of two dimensional objects. Your Lego creations are complex and unique. Keep imagining, my son. Create unrestrained. And dream God's dreams.

It never ends. But I am so thankful for the little bodies (and adult bodies) that dirty clothes for me to wash. I am thankful I have reliable machines that wash and dry the clothes for our family. My daughter, when asked in Kindergarten what your Mother's favourite activity was, you drew a picture of me folding clothes. Yes, the weekly laundry chore is my favourite chore. And I am thankful that you two kids are now old enough to help me with the folding of dish cloths and socks. As I finish this post, I will do just that: fold your clothes, many of which have been gifted by your generous Grandma & Grandpa and Nana & Nani (thank you!). I praise God that several articles are getting small, which means you are growing. I thank God in advance on how He will provide more clothes for you in the future. Today I choose not to fret about clothes. The God who adorns the lilies, loves you more than I ever will. He will adorn you outside, and more importantly, inside - with beauty...

A gift that says "I love you."

Jingle Bell In preparation for Easter, I marked Lent by thanking God for something every day for forty days. I called it a sacrifice of praise. And for a melancholy introvert such as myself, it was a blessing to practice thankfulness. I am hoping to do the same as I prepare my heart for the Christmas celebrations ahead. I desire to focus on Christ and what He does for me everyday, instead of being overwhelmed by all the things I feel I should do to create positive memories and happy moments for my friends and family. Intentional celebration is awesome! And celebration is necessary to break up the monotony of everyday-ness. Yet celebration can be found in our monotony. After all, happiness is momentary, usually experienced through an event, a person or some item. Joy, rooted in Christ, is everyday and everlasting. Children, I pray that God gifts you JOY this Christmas. I pray that you will not be distracted by the glittery, sparkling materialism that surrounds you. I pray that ...

There will always be someone who is more exceptional than me. Yesterday I came across a website of a local photographer and graphic designer. My heart sank. Her site was amazing, displaying beautiful pictures of families, babies and graduates accompanied with a slick publication describing the perfect photo shoot. I was impressed (and jealous). I realized that I will never be that good at family photography. The competition is too steep and it will take a lot of work to even be a viable option in this town. Other days I bemoan the loss of my childhood dream of becoming an author. I am a decent writer. I can produce eloquent speeches or professional handouts in a short span of time. But to envision a novel, with a believable plot that could engage a diverse audience, is a very daunting task. Truthfully, I don't have the drive to attend writer's conferences and create an online following like Ann Voskamp . I'm kind of lazy and just want to be famous on a first draft. (Or I ...

Daughter, you are learning to read and write. Every week, a list of spelling words comes home along with daily reading. So we read sentences like "The red car is coming." Or "My tower is going up and up." This morning, you asked me to help you write a sentence: "I am getting full." For some reason you added "god" at the end of the sentence to read "I am getting full God." Do I ever pray this way? When I am receiving too much of a good thing, do I admit I am getting stuffed? Rarely. Many of my prayers acknowledge the things or attitudes I don't have. "Dear Lord, please help me through this day because I'm not feeling well. I really need joy and wisdom." Or "Lord, help us with our finances so we can meet all our Christmas gift giving desires with cash." And as I pray for others, I ask for things they need. Health. Money. Wisdom. Hope. Joy. I don't think there is anything particularly wrong with pray...

Autumn lingers, showcasing leaves that have slowly ripened into brilliant yellow, orange and red. The season of Christmas rush and winter hibernation is just around the corner. A tentative gift budget has been struck. Rakes comb our backyard to prepare for snow. And I pause and savor the cool mornings, warm afternoons and the chill of night frost. Change is coming. One side screams with anger and sorrow. Another side whispers hope. On Wednesday, October 22, our country woke up to a different reality. Acts of terror rocked our nation’s capital. The battles fought way over there descended for a moment within the House of Commons. Sorrow flowed. Anger was expressed. Our collective resolve to stand firm was punctuated by political speeches. Fears were calmed with promises of a more secure country. I was saddened that day, saddened over images of citizens and paramedics frantically trying to bring a dying soldier back to life; saddened to know that there is a six year old boy out th...

I'm frustrated. You know the definition: feeling or expressing distress and annoyance, especially because of inability to change or achieve something. Yup, I am there today. I'm frustrated over my seemingly mundane existence. Wake up. Cook meals. Wash dishes. Do laundry. Clean house. Track debit/credits. Clean house, again. Go to bed. Repeat. It goes on and on and sometimes I just WISH I was doing something smart. I'm frustrated over money and how I wish I didn't have to track what we spend. The cost of everything continues to go up and there are days I wonder if I've got this budgeting thing all wrong. This week I need to stretch $50 for groceries without swiping the credit card. Don't panic readers, I am not a charity case at all. We do have some emergency savings. And technically government subsidies were deposited into our account very recently. However, I want to pretend it doesn't exist as I need that cash for some added expenses next month. Regar...

Last weekend I had the chance to photograph a friend's extended family. Admittedly, I was a bit nervous, as I knew I only had 15 minutes to produce some decent shots. Regardless, it was good practice to photograph a group under pressure while paying attention to background, lighting, and the smiles on little boy faces. To prepare for the photo shoot, I scoped out a park in our city (see picture above). The park was showcasing rich autumn colors. I desired to capture the warm hues of the trees at this time of year. For two days, back-to-back, I took my family to the park and practiced camera settings. I made sure I was shooting the pictures around the same time as the scheduled family portraits. I discovered my "go-to" setting of Standard/Shade under the Portrait setting (EOS Rebel T5) produced dark pictures with muted brown tones. I changed the settings to Warm/Daylight and the pictures took on more vibrant colors. I was pleased with the result. Photo shoot day cam...

It began with some national inspiration, the idea to open our home to newcomers or immigrants and share thanksgiving. The weekend approached. We were informed an Irish fellow was to be our guest. But our city organizer was unable to make contact. And I had bought all this food planning on welcoming a family of four. Plans were changed. Your Daddy persevered in spite of my temptation to "just forget it". A last minute invitation was offered. And a couple from your Daddy's place of work graced our table to partake in turkey, Cabernet Sauvignon and pumpkin pie. It was a good time. I hate to admit it, but I really struggled with misplaced missionary zeal while promoting and anticipating this event. I had aspirations of being used by God to transform a newcomer's life, so much so, that they would dramatically profess faith in Christ and testify to the power of hospitality. "See what happens when you open your home to strangers? The church grows! Let's all d...

Dear Child, I forgive you. I forgive you for all the times you think you are insignificant and ugly. I forgive you for comparing yourself with others, wishing that you were living another person's life or dreams, instead of being content in the reality I've placed you in. I forgive you for coveting the external beauty of others while looking at your own physique with disdain. I want you to know that you are significant. Your life has a purpose. Even right now. And you are beautiful. At this wonderful moment. I forgive you for judging others in an attempt to feel better about yourself. Yes, you have reasons for why you do what you do. But that doesn't mean others who do things differently are stupid or ignorant or wrong. Be blessed in the calling you have received from me. Know that I smile on you. But as you speak up for truth in obedience to me, be gracious with others. And know that everyone is living a unique curriculum designed for them by me. I forgive you for ...

Do I believe in Christ’s redemptive work for me in the present? Do I believe that Christ has given me a new identity? Do I believe God can change me into who He wants me to be? Do I trust God to lead me in the best possible way? I wish I could exclaim a resounding “YES!” to all the above questions. Truthfully, the way I live my life floats somewhere between yes and no. Intellectually speaking, I do believe God can and will transform me into Christ’s image over time, through the conviction and empowering of the Holy Spirit. But often, my heart is somewhere else, trying to earn my own salvation. Once again, I am processing ideas proposed by Lane and Tripp in their book How People Change . In the book, the authors claim that Christians are often guilty of trying to fill their lives with good things that become ultimate things. In other words, we start pursuing ideas, practices or beliefs that take the place of God in our lives. While we acknowledge that God is our Savior and that He h...

Today I write to promote a National program called Shared Thanksgiving where Canadian citizens open up their homes to share their Thanksgiving Dinner with immigrants or newcomers to Canada. Before I share the details, I would like to share a short story about my family. My parents emigrated from India to Canada in the early 1970’s. Both of them are third generation Christians. I was born in large metropolitan city in central Canada. Six months after my birth, our family moved to the prairies. I spend my elementary years in a small hamlet in the northwest region of our province where the hills roamed, the evergreens soared and crystal lakes pooled. There, my Dad taught Grade 6 at a nearby Indian Reservation. Evangelical churches were hard to come by in this region of the province. It wasn’t until four years later that my parents settled into a warm, hospitable Pentecostal church located in a nearby town. My parents were not Pentecostal by denomination, but it was either that or the C...

We are caught on this side of heaven, where we await our complete transformation, when we cross the threshold to the other side. There we will spend eternity with the Three-in-One who sacrificed His Divine rights out of majestic love for humankind. For many, this future hope is enough. Fire insurance has been received, so to speak. The here and now is theirs to keep, without God, enslaved in sin. Yet, God came to set us free here and now . Your Daddy and I are taking in a Sunday School class where we are pondering the writings of Timothy S. Lane and Paul David Tripp through their co-authored booked How People Change . It speaks of the “Gospel Gap”, where Christians struggle with Christ’s redemption in their present day situation. It is easy to present the Gospel as forgiveness of our past sins and hope for eternity. But what about “the now”? How can the implications of Christ’s death and resurrection make a difference as we struggle with sin day-to-day? What does it mean that...

There is a crispness to the morning air. A few leaves are starting to change colors. And there is a risk of frost next week. We are heading into the last days of summer. It was a good summer. While we were unable to accomplish all that we wanted during the months of July & August, we still enjoyed simple yet meaningful experiences. Family Bible Camp (and the zip line!). Swimming lessons. Reuniting with many friends over yummy eats. Visits with extended family. A just-the-two-of-us holiday for your Daddy and I while you kids hung out with Uncle, Aunt & cousins. A day trip to a Provincial Park with a friend. Ice cream, marshmallows roasted over the fire pit, and all things barbequed. A camp out in our back yard (where I had to get ear plugs at 4:00 a.m. because the leaves were rustling too loud). Harvesting a bumper crop of Roma tomatoes! School has now begun. A new preschool schedule was printed and posted to inspire my time at home with you, my son. Our family bulleti...

My burden was once again punctuated by a moment where I witnessed you kids singing Vacation Bible School songs at a church near our home. I teared up as I took in the sight and sounds of 100+ kids praising Jesus. In that space, I prayed that the seeds of faith would be planted deep in your hearts. And that your faith and the faith of the ones surrounding you would grow and mature and survive the transition from home to adulthood. Because so many young adults these days are packing their bags, moving away, and saying goodbye to church. I believe the North American church does a reasonable job of introducing our children to Jesus. We have our Sunday School programs, mid-week Kids' Clubs, Bible camps, and Vacation Bible Schools. And as our children transition from childhood to the teenage years, Youth Groups take over with their mix of Bible Studies, pizza parties, and community service. It is often the hope and prayer of Children Ministers and Youth Pastors that these experiences...

Yesterday, I found myself in the stationary store, filling my cart with school supplies while methodically checking items off a list. You two kids were exploring the surrounding treasures or accompanying your Dad as he picked up items from obscure aisles. Part of me was giddy, as I soaked in the aroma of new wax crayons and the sight of fan-dangled binders. I loved school as a kid and purchasing school supplies brought back happy memories of learning. The other part of me was sad at the end of two very quick months of random schedules and flexible timelines. I have enjoyed viewing more cork board than paper on our family's bulletin board. I have thrived in a more relaxed environment, where we awoke when we wanted to (well, you kids anyway) and enjoyed quieter weekdays. Plus, it was been great to have your Daddy home. Soon, the schedules will begin, the alarms will sound, the school newsletters will arrive. And we will rush off to catch the big yellowish-orange bus for another 1...

Your Grandpa & Grandma's backyard is a gold mine for a photographer's eye. The entire yard is filled with a variety of foliage, texture and ambience that transforms a run-of-the-mill portrait to something deserving a second glance. I had a blast clicking and experimenting away on you two! Here are some of my favorites pictures taken with a Canon EOS Rebel T5 and a 75 - 300 mm zoom lens: Settings: Creative Auto , 1/200, 5.0, ISO 100   Settings: Portrait , 1/200, 4.5, ISO 100, Light/Scene: Shade Settings: Portrait , 1/250, 4.0, ISO 100, Light/Scene: Shade For all of the above pictures, my camera automatically set the shutter speed, the aperture opening and ISO rating based on the subject and background lighting. However, for the last two shots, I selected the Light/Scene setting as "Shade" before I took the picture, which gave the picture a warmer tone than under the default setting. For comparison, check out the next picture which was taken ...

in·teg·ri·ty : the quality of being honest and having strong principles; moral uprightness. group·think : the practice of thinking or making decisions as a group in a way that discourages creativity or individual responsibility. e·mo·tion·al in·tel·li·gence : the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. There are times I wonder if institutions or organizations (or dare I say churches) even ponder on what kind of leaders they are hiring. Sometimes it seems like a particular person attained a position of power because of three interconnected reasons: (1) personal connections, (2) the ability to perform well in an interview, and (3) the assurance that the prospective employee will be in sync with the status quo. Of course, qualifications and experience are definitely considered. But even the resume items of education, previous places of employment, prestigious awards, skills and d...