Light in the Darkness

So we are officially at the end of 2017. In fact, in 2 days and a few hours we will be in a new year. As the year comes to a close, many reflect on the year and plan ahead for the future. For some, 2017 was a cruel year taking lives, homes, jobs and health among other things. However, with a new year approaching, it signifies new hopes, dreams and aspirations. 2018 has the potential to be your best year or your worst year with a tight 50/50 chance on either side. How your year turns out is ultimately in your hands. My question is, will you let your hardened heart say yes to God for 2018?  Saying yes to God does not mean you will have a magical year. It does not mean you will have a sick free year. It does not signify you will get the house or car you hope to acquire. Neither does it mean you will get that sought-after job or position you desire. Saying Yes to God means you recognize your limited ability and is willing to submit to a higher power in whom ALL things are possible (

With all the dazzling lights and beautifully wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree it's easy to get lost in the true meaning of what this holiday season represents. The noise from all the family gathered together, the sweet aroma of the many meats we have on the grill and the alcohol loaded on the wine racks may all distract us but I dare to remind you that Jesus is the reason for the season.  Friends let us take some time from the hustle and bustle of the festivities and reflect on what Christmas is all about.  Christmas is the time of year when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Many argue about the accuracy of the time but honestly that is insignificant, what is important is that he was conceived by the power of the holy ghost and was born of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1: 18-25; Luke 1:26-38). We celebrate Jesus today not as a baby in a manager anymore, but as Jesus the grown man that died for our sins, was buried and who has risen; Jesus the  one wh

It is Christmas! My favorite time of the year and not for the commercialized aspect of it but because it is the time of the year when family make deliberate effort to spend time together. More importantly, it's the time of the year whether accurate or not when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and what His coming has done for mankind.  Therefore as another year comes to a close I think about all I have achieved for this year, as well as those plans I fell short of making a reality this time around. My reflection entails all my trials and triumphs, all the nays sayers that had their own ideas of how I would progress for this year but most importantly what I withstand with Christ in my vessel. While my year wasn't always on a high note I must admit that the things that worried me occasionally throughout the year don't even matter today. The beauty of time is that it heals. We often worry about today but if we live to see tomorrow we would see th

 I was on my way home one evening from work. It was a long day that presented many challenges and I was rather exhausted and just wanted to get home in the shortest possible time. Unlike most days I would have patiently waited for a bus with empty seats, on that particularly evening  my body would not allow for that when I just wanted to get home and retire for the day.  Therefore, the first bus that came that was traveling on my route I gladly boarded, despite there wasn't much room to even stand. I figured with the day's earlier weather and the forecast that was out for the evening many others were eager to get home too.  We were all crammed in the bus, squished like sardines in a can which was quite the norm from time to time in some Caribbean Islands. I was standing closer to the front of the bus as it was already jam packed by the time I had boarded. A young lady was standing beside me in the bus with her cellphone in her hand. She had one hand holding the rail and the ot

So in my line of duty from time to time I have to respond to emergency calls. With this, I am rostered to be on stand by, ready and waiting. Last Thursday I was rostered to respond to emergencies if any on that day. I got up early and  showered, had my clothes out and ready with my phones fully charged and my car in proper working order if any casualties. The most unfortunate thing about this scenario was that there were no sureties I would receive a call even though I was all ready to go. As I sat at home in my alert mode, the Lord said to me that just as how I was ready and waiting not knowing when I would be called just the same  I should ensure I am ready and waiting for his return as I know not when he  will put in his  appearance. This thought about my state of readiness  if God should surely put in his appearance lingered in my mind for the remainder of the day. I couldn't help but think on Mark 13:33-37 which advises sternly to be on the alert. As I waited in alert mo