Archive for July, 2007

Joyfully Depressed

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Most times, I find it very hard to be joyful when I'm depressed. Does that sound like an oxymoron to you? I don't mean the outward expression of joy, but the joy that comes from having the living God liveRead more

The F5 Command

Monday, July 30, 2007

On most computer systems, several computing tasks that are done by the mouse can also be accomplished using the keyboard. In any particular software, the effectiveness of the keyboard in carrying out tasks that could also be done using the … Read more

Acedia

Sunday, July 29, 2007

I came across a new word the other day: acedia. It means "spiritual languor". I guess it's like belief burnout or compassion fatigue. It's when we lose our connection to God, His church, or His people, and we end up … Read more

Highlight Of My Week

Saturday, July 28, 2007

To some, seeing a little boy waving wouldn't add up to being listed as the highlight of your week. But to me it was. "I saw you," he said, as I drew closer to where the nine-year-old was standing in … Read more

In My Father's Footsteps

Friday, July 27, 2007

I remember a song called Me and My Shadow. I was my father's shadow. Every Friday evening, we would go for groceries. Often we would have to walk because the car was not working yet again. We did the same … Read more

On Loving Children

Thursday, July 26, 2007

We live in a world where children are too often left alone and are so much in need of parental love that it's hard to believe, unless you carefully take stock of our times. A casual observance of the daily … Read more

Castle

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

I've a beautiful painting hanging over the fireplace in my home. It's a picture of Dunure Castle, an old medieval fort that sits above a cliff on the west coast of Scotland. At one time, it was owned by the … Read more

Whose Will?

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

At first, her story shocked me. "Yes", she said. "God did do a miracle in my brother's life. Even as a child, he was a very gifted artist. Realizing that an unexpected illness would kill him, our prayers refused to … Read more

Submit

Monday, July 23, 2007

Every month, I order a product online. At first, it was a learning experience to know what to do, what to click on, and what not to click on. Each time became easier and easier. Then one day, the company … Read more

Letting Go

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Part of my seminary training was spent dealing with people who had emotional problems. A group of our senior students were tutored by professional social workers who were attached to a local hospital. The purpose of the tutoring was not … Read more

Serving Others

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Running up the church steps, I stopped abruptly, partly because my way was blocked and partly because of the intense emotion I experienced when I saw what was happening in front of me. A well-dressed woman huddled over an elderly … Read more

Covered By God

Friday, July 20, 2007

We used to live near a brook that was home to many ducks. One particularly blustery morning, my dog and I were walking by the brook and saw an unusual number of tiny ducklings in the icy water. At the … Read more

Run Silent, Run Deep

Thursday, July 19, 2007

A ship wrecked long ago served as a marker for shallow water, and showed what could happen when we venture into waters that are too shallow. The ship was covered with barnacles, and the birds used it as a place … Read more

For The Children

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

I was involved in a radio debate a few months ago, regarding an issue about a local church having an evangelical crusade during school hours. Kids were taken out of their school for two hours, over a period of three … Read more

Tender Mercies

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

One morning as the sun began to light the skies over South Carolina, USA, I heard the chirping of several birds. This seemed odd, as it was a rather cool morning. Wanting to muffle their song and snuggle in bed … Read more

Praising God

Monday, July 16, 2007

How easy it is to praise the Lord when everything in our life seems to be going great! We all know how difficult we human beings find it to praise rather than to grumble when things are going wrong. It … Read more

Amazing Agents

Sunday, July 15, 2007

I'm always amazed at the amount of good that church people do in the world. Congregations are full of individuals who like to give of themselves to causes and charities over and above what they commit to their own church. … Read more

The A-B-Cs

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Remember when we learned our A-B-Cs as little children? You know, the traditional: A is for apple; B is for ball; and so on. It has proved quite beneficial, hasn't it? I began to wonder if there could be a … Read more

Sacrifice Or Donation?

Friday, July 13, 2007

A couple of times recently, I've heard a make-believe story about a pig and a chicken. According to the yarn, the two animals were travelling down the road together, when they saw a sign out in front of the local … Read more

Heavenly Currency

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Frances Ridley Havergal is perhaps one of the most well-known hymn writers of the nineteenth century. Her hymn of consecration and service, "Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee," is included in most hymnals. During her … Read more

Water Brings Renewal

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Outside my kitchen window, I have a view of the pasture in the early morning. It is a little lower than the yard, so the dew gathers there as vapour. Frosty crystals dance with light in their brief and brilliant … Read more

It's Free

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

How greatly the word free is used to grab our attention — on postal flyers, in newspaper or television advertisements, and even on the Internet! We are enticed to try new cosmetic products, cereals, and gourmet foods being offered free!Read more

Shortness Of Life

Monday, July 9, 2007

My dad passed on about six years ago now. He had lived a good long life, bloomed where he was planted, and left a legacy for his children and grandchildren. There was sadness and grieving and pain, though; my dad … Read more

The Rock That Glistens During The Storm

Sunday, July 8, 2007

Not long ago, I read the novel, No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod, with interest, perhaps because his characters were so much like some of the people I had met while I lived in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. The … Read more

Rag And Bone Man

Saturday, July 7, 2007

When I was a boy, the rag and bone man used to visit our street every summer. He came with his old chestnut-coloured horse and a cart filled with castaway clothes. He usually wore a cloth cap, checkered shirt, and … Read more

The Famous One

Friday, July 6, 2007

Christians can easily fall into the trap of being bored with God. I know it would be really hard to vocalize that thought. Who would want to admit to being guilty of thinking that God is boring? Think about how … Read more

Inspirations In The Key Of "J"

Thursday, July 5, 2007

I have been writing devotionals for a few years now. It all started rather innocently. I was subscribed to the Presbyterian Church in Canada's Daily devotional which I read every day. At the end of each devotional, there is a … Read more

My First Bible

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

My husband, Bill, and I went down to a church here in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, to their Vacation Bible School to distribute Bibles to the children, on behalf of the Gideons. Having lived with Bill all these years, I still … Read more

A Question

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

"Is it wrong to sin ten percent of the time?" The question recently came to my mind after I overheard a conversation where two Christians were discussing the limitations of the posted speed along the highway. "I always drive within … Read more

A New Journal

Monday, July 2, 2007

I love journals and nice notebooks. I enjoy writing out my thoughts and then transferring them to the computer. When I first get a new journal, I marvel at the white, empty pages, and I visualize them filled with my … Read more

Our Heavenly Home

Sunday, July 1, 2007

Two years ago, our local television morning show asked for the definition of a Canadian. The winner coined this phrase: "A Canadian is an immigrant with authority!" It is true that at one time, most Canadians came from somewhere else. … Read more

 



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