Some stories stick with us forever. During my first year at university, a Religious Studies professor shared one with our class, and it has stuck with me ever since. The story takes place during a Special Olympics track meet. From … Read more

A few years ago, I read The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson. In the book, the author introduces the reader to Ordinary, who lives in the Land of Familiar and feels he is a Nobody. The story in a nutshell … Read more

Each morning as I watched from the balcony, a man would come out and clean his window with a cloth and Windex. Why was this so interesting? We had not had any rain, it had been sunny each day, and … Read more

As I'd not ever been to Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, we planned a stopover on our way back from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I'm sure we are a casino owner's nightmare, as we don't gamble, don't play the machines, and enjoy … Read more

About a month ago, for the first time this year, I saw an advertisement for the sale of garden seeds. It was a sign that soon it would be time for spring planting. Every gardener knows that the most important … Read more

We recently had a holiday in Florida on the Gulf of Mexico. Each morning, we saw the sunrise at the front of the condominium. Each evening treated us to a different sunset across the Gulf of Mexico. Each afternoon, … Read more

When I was a teenager, I went to visit my aunt and uncle at their cottage. They had a motor boat. The other family members were sitting on the deck enjoying the warm, sunny weather. My uncle invited me to … Read more

This year, I ordered four small Easter baskets for my grandchildren. These were no ordinary baskets. They were filled with handmade candies from the kitchen of my Amish neighbours. The young woman who makes them belongs to a family whose … Read more

You rode into Jerusalem among crowds that waved palms and shouted, "Hosanna!" Did they understand that You were the Lord, the Son of God, a prophecy coming to pass? Lord, You rode in triumphantly, majestically, and victoriously. You were on … Read more

The calendar today for the northern hemisphere says "spring", but the landscape in many places looks like winter. When the skies are so gray, many struggle with loneliness. It's just the time between. I know that one day, the snow … Read more

Have you heard of the plant named "The Crown of Thorns"? I was told that this plant, the Euphorbia Milii, which is pliable and easily intertwined into the shape of a crown, is covered with sharp spike-like leaves. It boasts … Read more

Have you ever contemplated what Christ went through for us when He gave His life on the cross at Golgotha? I have — and when I do, it actually brings tears to my eyes to think that He died such … Read more

The phrase, "I don't know Him", hits me over the head as I read. Have I ever denied Jesus? On reflection, I must admit that I have, maybe unintentionally, but, yes, I have denied Jesus. There are many ways to … Read more

I am sure that many of us have heard these words spoken at funerals. I just heard them again at a funeral. There are days when I feel that I have had to say good-bye to way too many friends. … Read more

Long ago, I began the habit of keeping a record of ailments and illnesses that had come to visit me. The list is long, including measles, mumps as an adult, viral infections, surgery, and pneumonia. I also began to keep … Read more

Every year, our church gives out resilient, green palm branches as a reminder of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We usually receive them as we enter the church. Last year, I hung mine across the top of a painting in … Read more

On a trip to Britain to visit family, my husband and I decided to spend a few days in London. There, among the pageantry and history, I discovered an interesting story. In 1670, Thomas Blood, disguised as a parson and … Read more

I went into the bathroom, and as I turned on the bath taps, a small spider which was stuck inside the bath came into view. It had obviously given up any attempt to get out of the bath with its … Read more

I accepted the Lord as my Saviour when I was ten years old. I knew that I was a sinner and that I needed a Saviour in order to go to heaven. Beyond that, I knew very little. I rode … Read more

The weeks of Lent have been for me a season of reflection. It's been a journey out of darkness, and I am thankful the sunrise is coming soon. Forty days is a long time to struggle with evil, tempted to … Read more

I have never thought of myself as being impatient, until the day I stepped outside the front door with one foot on the doormat — and the next step was about to change my thinking, as well as my attitude. … Read more

On the 9th of December, 2007, my father-in-law died. My wife had just returned four days earlier from a visit to her parents in British Columbia, Canada, and though her dad was declining and having some difficulty, his death was … Read more

By an unexpected incident, I ended up visiting in a well-kept and stylish retirement home. Standing at the nicely-carved front entrance, I waited to be let in. The plush carpets, leather chairs, sofas, and mahogany furniture were many grades up … Read more

There is a Loan Cupboard in our community, run by the Canadian Legion, and it is full of everything one might need to borrow for a time of recuperation: walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, and so on. There is everything in the … Read more

Over the last year or so, off and on, we have had shrews in the house. We were oblivious to the fact until one day, I saw "something" scurry down the hall into the computer room. I did not have … Read more

This passage is challenging in many ways, but especially when we love to be right. We talk about right and wrong as if the dividing line were clear and precise, but it isn't always. Consider the letter H. We pronounce … Read more

One day as I was sitting in a group having coffee, the talk of the hour circled around homemade bread. Hands literally acted as if making the bread — kneading, folding — dark rye, white, corn bread. One could taste … Read more

Persistence is something I struggle with, as life takes me into challenge after challenge. "Up and over" has often been my motto before I recognized that I am struggling alone instead of submitting — submitting to God's helping hand. "Why … Read more

Many of us have our favourite Bible, and it seems we can find our way more easily through its well-worn pages. Recently, I opened one of my Bibles which I do not use very often. I glanced at the kind … Read more

I use hairspray every day, and sometimes more than once a day if I am going out in the evening. I have a can of hairspray in my bedroom where I do my hair. I have a can of hairspray … Read more

The time came for me to buy a new computer, and I had some decisions to make. Should I continue with a Windows PC, knowing that I would have to obtain some new software, or should I choose something totally … Read more