I used to love going "paddling" in the Firth of Clyde before it connects with the Irish Sea. Each summer, Evelyn and I would take our kids down to the beach to build sandcastles, look for shells, and go "paddling" … Read more

In the evenings before sunset, I love walking up the road with my dog, breathing in the fresh, spring air. I relish the scent of the blooming flowers and the peaceful tranquility of a nearby pond. My dog also loves … Read more

Walking together, hand-in-hand, over the bridge, rain slowly drenching our pant legs, Grace and I are making our way to Giant Tiger to buy her Saturday treat. I prattle on about the obsession of the day, to satisfy her desire … Read more

Many years ago, we moved to a small instant town on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It was situated in a beautiful valley with majestic mountains all around. Everything was new, the people, houses, and streets — a true … Read more

At church the other Sunday, one of our deacons tapped me on the shoulder, pulling me from the service, just as we were ready to share our "Joys and Concerns" prior to the pastoral prayer. She whispered in my ear, … Read more

Some of my family and friends quite like reunions. While I'm not a proponent of regular reunions, attending one once in awhile is a good thing. It connects us with those with whom we may have lost touch over the … Read more

We recently took up boating, which has opened up a whole new way for us to view the area in which we live. Using a map to negotiate roads is something we all grow up to do in one way … Read more

I love being a Christian. I love the experience of being a sinner saved by Christ. Without Christ's grace and mercy, I don't know where I would be right now. Without God's compassion, I don't know where I would end … Read more

I have surrendered to temptation again: the temptation to wrest control of my life from God, to whom I have previously entrusted it. It is easily done — and, sadly, not for the last time. I hope I am getting … Read more

Recently, during our morning walk and talk, a friend told me that her little four-year-old grandson, who used to love being in church before going on to Sunday School, had been different the past two Sundays. In their church, prior … Read more

I've never been in a car equipped with GPS (Global Positioning System), but it must be fascinating. Recently, I was travelling to a funeral in a remote part of East Tennessee, and I was worried about getting lost. I looked … Read more

I once read a tidbit on the Internet about a morbidly obese man who was trying to lose weight. He weighed over 1,000 pounds and was bedridden. He cut down on calories and tried to exercise. Exercise was a challenge; … Read more

The warm weather brings people out from their homes and into their gardens. Turning over the soil to prepare it for planting is always a daunting task for me. Living in a country in which we experience snow, I find … Read more

One morning I was in a hurry. I was scurrying to get out the door to be at church early. The last thing on my list was to get myself ready. As I pulled a pair of nylons from the … Read more

There's a beautiful song based upon this Bible verse which is called "Here I am, Lord." I love singing it in church. The first time that I heard it was in Scotland when a choir member at the Maybole Church … Read more

During the winter it is not uncommon to find us sitting in our living room, anxiously waiting for the sun to move around the house and into our front window. On my way to the living room, I passed by … Read more

What is "sailboat fuel"? The first time I heard that expression, I had to stop and think about it. Motor boats use gas, which is expensive. Gas in the motor gives the boat the power it needs to go zipping … Read more

While waiting for the information to come through about posters I design for a Christian organization, I thought I would tell you a little of what I do. Once all the details come to me via e-mail, the first thing … Read more

I gave up salting my food years ago. I felt like all I tasted was salt, and no matter what type of food I ate, it was too heavily layered in salt for me to get to the heart of … Read more

Driving back from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, we stopped at several beautiful little towns, and had decided to spend the night at one, a couple of hours out of Los Angeles. Our thinking was that rather than going right … Read more

Athletes train to become faster and stronger. We endeavour to bring as much power to our sport as we can. We may engage in a weight-training program. We might go out and run. Some will attend a sports camp. Our … Read more

It was Mother's Day, and my son was in first grade. He was very upset because his dad was away on a trip and it was Mother's Day. He said, "What good is Mother's Day if I can't buy you … Read more

The children in our church recently put on a Christian musical called "Promise U". It was amazing. They put a lot of practice into their performances, and it was wonderful to watch them sing and act, dance and quote Scripture … Read more

In a hospital where I worked, there were many invisible people. They were people the institution could not have functioned without — but they were invisible, even to other employees. These were the cleaning people, the security guards, the kitchen … Read more

Ivie Bozeman's devotional, Sentimental Treasures , published on April 3rd, spurred me to write further on our sentimental treasures — what others call clutter. For some time now, I have felt guilty about my clutter. While it's not nearly … Read more

I feel so guilty. The other night, I ate a whole giant bar of chocolate. I should have left some for my family, but I wanted all of it for myself. I even felt a bit nauseated before I finished … Read more

Recently, I felt that I had lost a sense of peace and balance in my life. Life was coming at me way too fast, one day blurring into the next, and I realized how long it had been since I'd … Read more

In Ontario, as the ice-covered streams and lakes begin to melt, we call it "the spring break-up". This year, it came with ease. Many of us are glad to think, "Off with winter and all that snow!" Yet, how damaging … Read more

Psalm 73 is one of my favourite psalms. It deals with jealousy and envy. The writer feels that he is losing out on the spoils of life and the riches of success. He is faithful to God but not wealthy. … Read more

The new soon-to-be-completed conference centre in our municipality has been plagued with problems since its inception. Some people are against it, more seem for it. Glitches — some big ones — have kept cropping up along the way, and of … Read more

On our way to the grocery store, we pass a hot tub store. One day, I noticed that the name of the store was no longer on the building. At first glance, I said to my husband that the store … Read more