We're renovating our summer cottage. It's been interesting and exciting to watch the plans unfold, one step at a time. As I watched the work progress, I couldn't help thinking how much our lives are under construction. God created us. … Read more

It had been a miserable day! Now, as darkness fell on the rain-soaked speedway I was travelling, my mood grew blacker than the night sky. I had just dropped off a young man whom I had hoped would let Jesus … Read more

Alex was trying to learn a new Bible verse. It wasn't an easy one to learn, so Alex gave up. "I can't do it," he said. "You cannot or you will not?" Grandpa asked. "What's the difference?" Alex asked. "Tell … Read more

My family and I enjoy taking a walk after we have finished eating. Lately, as we have walked around the neighbourhood, there have been a lot of dogs running loose. This worries me, because my son is afraid of dogs … Read more

The white trillium is the provincial floral emblem for Ontario. I proudly display it on my license plate. In the spring of the year, the trillium grows in wooded areas all over the province. It is against the law to … Read more

This is the season for graduations. High school students in our part of the world are happily celebrating the end of exams. College and university convocations have recently filled up many calendars. For many, exciting new hopes and dreams are … Read more

Growing up in a remote community in the 1950's meant no television, and telephones that were shared by three other families on a "party line". Each family had a designated number of rings to which they answered, such as "609 … Read more

I'm a great lover of children's books. For several years I had the joy of working in a school library. Over the years I've accumulated a wonderful collection of children's books of my own which I've always said will be … Read more

Recently, I took a workshop in Chinese brush painting. The supplies required are: Chinese paint brushes, Chinese black ink, 12 watercolours, water, rice paper, a little palate to mix one's paints, some paper or cloth towel and a felt underlay … Read more

The Lord's timing is always amazing. Many times we want things done the way we want them, in the time we say. As human beings, we have come to live in an instant society. We have become impatient, wanting things … Read more

For the past three years I have been at a station where I am the only employee of my company present. It is nice sometimes to be alone, because I can do what I want. I work at my own … Read more

A music teacher with whom I studied was a strong advocate of "slow practice" when learning to play a new piece. The idea is that one plays a new piece very, very slowly for the first week or so. This … Read more

I have been struggling with a condition called otosclerosis for the past five years. Slowly I have been losing my hearing as the bones in my middle ear become fixed in place and unable to vibrate. I've recently had surgery … Read more

Early in May, we were expecting my sister and her husband to visit us. We had corresponded about the visit several times. She had told us their flight number and when they would be arriving. But Tuesday afternoon just before … Read more

A reply in response to one of my devotionals inspired this one. The reader said she liked how I could take an ordinary situation and turn it into a God Thing. It made me think about what some refer to … Read more

Each day on the return trip from my client site, I read the same sign sitting on the side of the road. But yesterday as I passed that same sign, it had a little more meaning to it, though I … Read more

Paul wrote the book of Philippians. What many people don't realize is that Paul was in prison, chained between two guards, when he wrote this letter. I find it hard to imagine how difficult and uncomfortable this was for him, … Read more

"Mom, I am so looking forward to coming home for a week!" exclaimed my youngest daughter over the telephone. Cindy, in her second year of university, was coming home during "Reading Week", always an anticipated pleasure! In reality though, she … Read more

The other day we let our dog out to do her duties. She is 15 years old now, and does not get around like she used to. About a minute after letting her out, we heard her outside crying and … Read more

This promise, which Jesus made to his disciples just before his ascension, was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came down on the disciples as they were gathered in the room in Jerusalem. Following this, Peter preached … Read more

This morning, when I was driving to work, I was listening to a Farsi language tape from Muslims who had become Christians. (I speak Farsi.) I noticed that they had a very lively church with a powerful message, songs and … Read more

Two months ago this week, I received a phone call that no one ever wants to get. My brother called me to say that our mother had been killed that afternoon in a terrible car accident two blocks from her … Read more

Rainbows are a sign of God's promise never to destroy us but to give us life with Him. I pray that all of us will look beyond our dark clouds and see God's love colours for us. Rainbows are so … Read more

My wife and I have looked back on our lives and we have seen that we have not faced many hard times before. We are expecting our second child and we are very happy about this. But a test we … Read more

The last four years have been a time of great transition for me. I had two major surgeries, my dad died, my oldest daughter had a crisis in her marriage and a divorce, then she came home pregnant from an … Read more

Recently I watched a movie that contained a particular scene that I now am thinking about a great deal. It was not exactly an Emmy-winning performance, nor was it a heart-gripping scene. In fact, the scene, as well as the … Read more

We live on a circular "drive" rather than a street or avenue, and this "drive" is on the side of a slope to the ocean, so that the people living at the bottom of the slope of the circle live … Read more

(In this day of high cholesterol, diets, and diabetics, can you imagine a successful Fancy Dessert Tea? Well, we had it, and it was well attended by our members and all the friends we have made in the community who … Read more

I speak to all those saints out there who are going through a spiritual dry patch: "I am with you." The word "I", in this case, refers to me, not Jesus. I am in a emotional dead zone. For years … Read more

One thing I can do is grow a good beard. After serving six years in the navy and having to shave every day, I enjoy letting my beard grow now. My wife, on the other hand, likes me to have … Read more