Luke 2:36 speaks about a prophetess named Anna, a woman whose life was devoted to serving God. She was married for only seven years before becoming a widow, and it seems that she spent most of her life alone, as the Bible does not mention any other family members. Yet Anna did not allow her loss or circumstances to define her. Instead of living as a victim, she chose to remain faithful and serve the Lord. In a time when women had very little freedom to speak, God honored her by allowing her to prophesy about Jesus. This passage reminds me that even in hardship, God invites me to serve Him. I may not be eloquent, gifted in singing, or blessed with much materially, but I can still offer what I have. Just like the boy who offered five loaves and two fish, I am called to give what God has placed in my hands and trust Him to use it. My prayer is that I would look beyond my limitations and trials, and serve God with a grateful and willing heart.

 December 29 – just past 12:00 a.m.

I came home around 10:30 p.m. on December 28th from a small Christmas gathering at a friend’s house. It was a lovely evening filled with singing, dancing, laughter, and delicious food. More than anything else, being together with close friends is truly a blessing.

Sometimes we have differences—the way we think, the way we present ourselves, and the way we believe certain things. The closer we get to one another, the more we notice both the good and the not-so-good in each other’s lives. Still, overall, it is a blessing to have friends.

All of us at the gathering have migrated to Canada—some about 50 years ago, others around 20 years ago. Each of us left behind our families, siblings, parents, relatives, and friends. We raised our children here in Canada, so they are fully Canadian, while we still carry our Sri Lankan culture mixed with Canadian culture.

Thinking about all this led me to reflect on something deeper. Everything in life can change, but the Word of God never changes. God loves us. Jesus came into this world and died for us. His Holy Spirit lives within us. Whether we lived in Sri Lanka or now live in Canada, these truths remain the same. God expects us to give our best to Him—to love Him more than anything else.

I turned to Scripture and read the book of Obadiah, which has only one chapter. In it, God speaks about Edom and how displeased He was with them. Esau did not value his birthright and sold it to his brother Jacob for a meal.

This made me think deeply. God gives us everything and has a plan for our lives. What He asks from us is obedience and love.

Am I obedient to God?
Do I have the love He expects from me—love for Him and love for others?
Do I give Him first place in my life?

The honest answer is that I am not where God wants me to be. But I sincerely desire to change my heart and live fully for Him. I see attitudes within myself that I am not happy with.

So tonight, I prayed and asked God to help me

 Journal Reflection – Book of Jonah

This morning, I had my usual cup of tea and sat down to read Scripture. I read the book of Jonah, which has only four chapters, yet carries such a powerful message. As I read, I noticed the conversation between God and Jonah, and how Jonah tried to run away from God. Even so, in the end, Jonah obeyed God and preached His word.

The people of Nineveh heard the message. Although they were living in sin, God’s warning touched their hearts. From the king to the least among them, they repented and turned away from their sinful ways. Instead of being happy, Jonah became very angry—angry that God chose not to destroy them.

Jonah then went away and made a shelter for himself. In His compassion, God provided a plant to give Jonah shade and comfort. But the next day the plant withered away, and once again Jonah became angry.

What I learned from this is that sometimes, we who follow God think that we are always right. When we see the sinful behavior of others, we believe they should be punished, and we fail to recognize when they have truly repented. Yet, when someone close to us is going through hardship, we show concern without questioning whether they have sinned against God.

This reveals a lack of love in our hearts and a lack of understanding of who God truly is—a God of mercy, patience, and compassion.

My prayer today is to ask God to give me a heart that truly understands who He is, and to help me know what part I should play as His child.

 Journal Reflection

Jonah 1:1–3 reminds me of how God spoke to Jonah and asked him to go to Nineveh to preach His word. Instead of obeying, Jonah ran in the opposite direction—to Tarshish—trying to flee from the presence of the Lord.

This brings Psalm 139:7 to my mind: “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?” God is everywhere. He sees everything. He hears what we say, and He knows what is in our hearts.

Lately, I have been struggling within my spirit. I have felt judged by many people. One reason is that I often share my private struggles and family issues openly. Others may face similar challenges, but they choose not to share them, and in that, they show wisdom. I realize now that foolishness is not from God, yet I allowed foolishness to creep into my life. Because of that, I am experiencing the consequences of what I have sown.

As we celebrated the birth of Jesus yesterday, I am reminded that through His birth, death, and resurrection, we are given the gift of new life—a born-again experience.

From this moment onward, I want the Spirit of Christ to work deeply within me. I desire to overcome the spirit of foolishness and grow in wisdom through Him. Instead of lying to cover things I should not share, I choose silence and discernment. I will no longer share unnecessary information.

I trust that God hears me and that He has already taken care of this issue.

Thank You, Lord, for Your wisdom, guidance, and protection.

 Journal – December 24, 11:32 PM

This year, Christmas feels different.
Our family was not able to gather for our traditional Christmas meal. That absence was felt. Yet, we went to church and celebrated the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in that moment, I sensed something deeper.

There were many differences this year. Still, I felt the strong presence of God—Emmanuel, God with us—entering my heart in a powerful way. Even without familiar traditions, His presence was real and comforting.

Tonight, I read Luke 1:57–80.
These scriptures helped me understand how the Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in real life. Before the Father sent Jesus into the world, He sent John the Baptist as a forerunner. The Old Testament spoke clearly about this, and in the New Testament, those prophecies came alive. Yet, not everyone recognized or understood what God was doing.

These days, I am trying to understand many things.
God speaks, but I struggle to fully hear and understand His voice. I know He is guiding, yet clarity feels just out of reach.

God uses His people to carry out His plan for the whole world. It is never about just one person. His work is always intertwined—lives connected, purposes aligned, moments woven together by His will.

Lord, speak to me.
Help me to hear You, to understand Your timing, and to trust Your plan.

 When I look back on my life, there are many emotions—things that make me happy, sad, frustrated, and full of regret. There are moments when I feel like I didn’t use wisdom, and moments I wish I could change.

The truth is, I could not see the future.

No one can predict the future, even though we all have dreams and plans.

I think about Mary. She was excited to become a wife, waiting for Joseph and preparing for a life she expected. But God had a different plan—one she never imagined.

Mary could not see the future either. Yet her love, obedience, and reverence for God allowed her to accept His plan, even when it was difficult and unclear.

I ask myself: How can I grow to have that same obedience, love, and reverence toward God? I know I need it, and I believe God can help me develop it.

(Luke 1:46–56)

 Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” (Luke 1:45).

Every time I read this verse, it stirs something deep in my heart. Over the years, God has spoken to me and strengthened my faith through these words. Mary, in her young age, accepted what God had for her. She did not know what the future would hold, yet she believed in what the Lord had spoken. Elizabeth, in her old age, also accepted what God had prepared for her. Whether we are young or old, God has a purpose and a plan for each of our lives. To discover it, we must remain in communion with Him. Lord, please help me to trust You and to walk faithfully in the path You have prepared for me.

 Journal Entry

Today, a dear friend came to my mind, and with her, the words of Scripture from Luke 14:12–14. Jesus speaks of inviting those who cannot repay you, of giving without expectation, and of the quiet blessing that comes from love freely offered.

This passage reminds me so clearly of my friend. She is thoughtful, loving, prayerful, and lives out this Scripture in ways that are both humble and consistent. Her generosity is not loud or showy—it is gentle, sincere, and deeply rooted in compassion.

When we first came to know each other, I was in a very good place financially. Over the years, my circumstances changed. Along the way, I noticed some people in my life change as well. But through it all, this friend remained the same. In fact, it was during my harder seasons that I truly saw her heart.

Every Christmas, she sends me a gift of meaningful monetary value, knowing full well that I cannot do the same in return. When I mention plans to visit my family back home, a cheque appears in the mail, encouraging me to use it for my expenses. There is no hesitation, no expectation—only kindness.

Beyond material help, she faithfully prays for me and my family. Her prayers are steady and sincere, a constant reminder that I am not forgotten or alone.

Friends like this are rare. She reflects the heart of Christ in her actions, and through her, I see this Scripture come alive. I am deeply grateful. I am blessed.

 I read Mark 15:42-47

That prompted me to write what I got out of it in my blog.  Here it is:

Faithful God 

Today was another full day. I woke up tired, which wasn’t surprising after going to bed past 2 AM. Still, I managed to get up early for work. Mondays are my usual prayer days, and I kept most of my routine: praying with my daughter, joining office prayer time, and reading my regular scripture passage. I didn’t manage to have my own extended personal prayer time, but I did stay connected to God through what I could do.

Evening came, and as usual for Mondays, it was time for line dancing. I normally focus so hard on the steps that I don’t pay attention to the lyrics of the songs. But last week the instructor mentioned he would be playing a song called “666”, and that deeply troubled me.

Before leaving for class, I prayed sincerely. I asked Jesus to send His angels to the line dancing session and protect me from participating in anything that goes against Him. I truly meant it.

During the second-to-last dance, the instructor taught us a new set of steps. It looked fun and interesting, and I learnt the steps.  But, as he started to play the music, he remembered something and he suddenly stopped the music and said he forgot something — he needed to do a certain movement “when it says 666.” The moment I heard that, I knew. I stopped immediately and went to sit down, thanking God for His faithfulness. Some people were wondering why I stopped, but in my heart I felt nothing but gratitude. God protected me. He always does.

Later at home, as I got ready for bed, I read Mark 15:42–47 — the account of Joseph of Arimathea. I was struck again by how faithful God is to those who fear Him. Joseph was wealthy and influential, a Jewish leader who understood who Jesus was. Because of his position, he followed Jesus secretly. But after the crucifixion, something changed. No longer caring about his status or fear, he openly asked Pilate for the body of Jesus, risking everything to give Jesus a proper and honorable burial.

God had prepared Joseph’s heart long before that moment. What he once did in secret, he eventually did boldly. And in that obedience, he fulfilled God’s purposes.

My little incident today is nothing compared to Joseph of Arimathea’s great courage, yet I see the same pattern — God taking care of His followers, guiding our steps, and helping us not to shrink back from our faith. God is faithful all the time.