Many, many years ago in the Netherlands, before big-box stores and supermarkets, different merchants delivered goods from door to door. On certain days of the week, they would come down the streets to do just that. The milkman came daily, …( read more )
Search Results for: "Galatians 6:"
Judging Others
During the summer when I walk to our city park, I take bags and a grabber to pick up trash along the side of the road. As I pick up plastic drink bottles, straws, miniature liquor bottles, and assorted other trash, I mutter about "those …( read more )
Don't Blame God When It's Not His Fault
Many collective agreements have language which stipulates that if workers report for work, they are to be paid a minimum of four hours' pay unless there is an "Act of God" that prevents the company from operating. Years ago, a company …( read more )
Doing Good
My parents loved the Lord, and they both used their gifts in service to others. For example, they would take homemade soup to hoboes, and when the orchard was ripe for picking, they would take apple pies to people who were in need. Many …( read more )
The Rescue
Not long ago, a visitor here in Atlin, British Columbia, Canada, who was suffering with Alzheimer's, became lost. He wandered away from the home of friends where he was staying. The Search and Rescue team immediately went into action. …( read more )
Servant Leadership
The famous preacher, Charles Price, wrote: We talk a lot about leadership, and rightly so, but our role is never to lead. It is to serve, and God is the one who makes leaders out of servants. If we want to know who our future leaders …( read more )
When The Sirens Go Off
The first thing that those who visit me remark on is all the sirens! The "Get out of the way, quick!" shrieks of fire engines headed for my neighbourhood's under-repaired housing. The life-or-death screams of ambulances attending victims …( read more )
(In)significant
Imagine the scene that day: Jesus, the Man who did miracles and spoke powerfully — unlike any other — was making His way down the street, surrounded by His disciples and a noisy, jostling crowd. Everyone was trying to get close to Him, …( read more )
Willing To Try?
God has chosen ordinary people — you and me — to help others. Occasionally, it is for something very significant, but usually, it is for something small. However, in every case, we have to be willing to try in order for God to use us. …( read more )
You Are Making A Difference!
To be honest, sometimes, I feel like the work that I do for the Christian church is too much for me to handle. Quite often, there are too many things to do and not enough time to do them. There are church services to prepare for; there …( read more )
The Wonderful Cycle
One of my devotionals was published not long ago, and something wonderful happened: I got feedback! Yes, I got feedback, and not just from one person, but from a number of readers. How great is that? Well, in my books, it's pretty great. …( read more )
Please And Thank You
Have you noticed lately a growing trend among store clerks to drop those "three little magic words": "please" and "thank you"? The cashier simply states what we owe, with no eye contact and no smile. If she were a child, we'd prompt her …( read more )
The Medication
Lucy, our old goat, and Mama, our old horse, have one thing in common: they suffer from arthritis. What they don't have in common is their attitude about their medication. Lucy accepts the apples dipped in the powdered medication with …( read more )
Special Rainbow Friends
Have you ever seen a double rainbow? I have. I have seen many rainbows in my lifetime, but only two double rainbows on two separate occasions. There are seven separate colours in a rainbow. Although it can be difficult to always see all …( read more )
The Wood Fairy
Cutting, hauling and stacking wood is a large part of our lifestyle in northern British Columbia, Canada. It is simply a fact of life. If we want to stay warm in the winter, we must work hard in the summer and get the wood in. As much as …( read more )
Lift Up The Fallen
An elderly friend of mine, who was once a very vital and successful woman, lived her life as a committed Christian both as a business owner and in her dedication to her beloved church for over fifty years. Her attributes … (read more)
The God Who Sees
A few years ago, I was having one of those days when I was feeling very sorry for myself. Working full-time as an elementary teacher was taking a lot out of me. After a long day, I'd start my second … (read more)
Sowing And Reaping
I have a paper route — so that I will get outside and get some exercise and fresh air five days a week. Some of my grandchildren have paper routes as well: two children in a family of four. The … (read more)
God's Household
When I was young, we visited the village often with my parents, siblings, and other members of the extended family. Every village would have a round kitchen or mud hut with a grass thatched roof. The village kitchen was the … (read more)
The Helping Hand
A mother dog and eight puppies! You've got to be kidding! That's all we need: nine more dogs to look after. Penny had been discovered in a junk yard under an abandoned vehicle. Workers from the Humane Society had to … (read more)
Helping Others
There's a family in town that our church has been helping for years. They always seem to get hit with a crisis, illness, or injury that makes it difficult for them to keep up with house payments, utility bills, and … (read more)
Thank You, Montague
As always, I started walking when the sun first lightened the horizon. This daily routine provides time to meditate and to recite poetry. A favourite quotation from Lorraine Hansberry's play, A Raisin In The Sun, came to mind: Child, when … (read more)
God's Grace
My wife died in April, and I found myself alone in a two-bedroom apartment, trying to recover from prostate surgery, with my only child working overseas. The third day after the operation, I was a complete jelly and found myself … (read more)
Rejoice In The Spirit Of Giving
One day recently, enclosed with my Chatelaine magazine, I received a brochure from the Royal Canadian Mint with the title, "Rejoice, in the spirit of giving", in fairly bold letters. Then, in smaller letters, the following wording appeared: "Distinctive holiday … (read more)
Consistency
There are some things in my life that are consistent — going to bed at night, rising in the morning, brushing my teeth, and performing other routine acts that prepare me for the day. Five days each week have always … (read more)
Feed My Sheep
My wife and I have a bird feeder hanging just outside our kitchen window, and we enjoy watching the various kinds of birds that come to eat. Throughout one summer, two blue jays, in all probability mates who must have … (read more)
The Bear Collection
When my youngest daughter left home a few years ago, she packed her large assortment of stuffed toys to take with her. But as she left her room, she hesitated in the doorway and said, "Mom, the room looks too … (read more)
To Fix Or Not To Fix
One of my clients has a couple of finches. They are such tiny little birds. I had never seen such little birds up close before. But there was something even smaller in the cage. There were about six teeny little … (read more)
Its Glory Endures
Among my possessions is a picture that I took years ago while hiking on the southern side of the island where I was born, Grand Manan. It isn't a spectacular picture. To another onlooker it is just a pile of … (read more)