As Halloween arrives, the stores are full of costumes. I like the pirate ones that come out every year. They're not as scary as some ugly ones which glorify gore and violence. Pirates are like your lovable rogues who say … Read more

Where we live, there are about six months in which we can and will have snow. I am one of those people who count down each day from about the end of October and say, "Well, we are one day … Read more

A friend underwent surgery, and on her first day back in church, I asked how she was feeling. Turning to me with a warm smile, she answered, "I was carried through. I almost feel embarrassed saying that," she went on, … Read more

Some years ago, a co-worker and her daughter were having lunch with me at a coffee shop. We were discussing Christmas preparations. This would be my first Christmas in the empty nest, and I was finding it hard to get … Read more

Today while I was combing my hair in front of the mirror, the image before me was in sharp, clear focus. When I turned to the side, though, the image reflected back from the glass front cabinet was hazy and … Read more

This past summer, my friend and I were camping at Seal Bay Recreational Vehicle (RV) Park, when a new family moved onto the neighbouring site. They had two small boys, obviously brothers, aged three and five years. Those boys put … Read more

As a boy, I used to play soccer on a red gravel football field. Such fields still exist, and one can see them all over Scotland wherever local schools have soccer fields. The gravel was the colour of Tennessee red … Read more

Being of British background, I grew up with "Show a stiff upper lip", "Be strong in times of adversity", "Be tough", "Press on", "Just be strong". When I came to the Lord six years ago, the Lord began a restoration … Read more

At my son and daughter-in-law's home, my husband and I and her parents waited excitedly and patiently for the arrival of our new granddaughter. My son and his wife had waited four years to adopt a child. Now the blessed … Read more

October is the month when the swallows fly from San Juan Capistrano, California, to winter in South America. They return regularly on March 19th the following year. They have done this for hundreds of years. Can we possibly imagine what … Read more

I recently attended a retreat at which I was blessed to be a part of the ministry team for the event. As people were coming forward for prayer, I recognized two of the ladies. It took me a few minutes … Read more

This past summer, I was treated to a cruise, which is something I had never done before. One early morning as we slipped into port, I noticed the sign that was a warning to all the boats in the harbour. … Read more

There is nothing more frustrating than searching hopelessly for the lost: keys, pen, passport, ticket — you name it, it is lost — again. I know this is an age-related thing. To counterbalance the lost with the found, we leave … Read more

"I heard that," a strident voice announced. Oh, yes, we had been caught out. Our grade school teacher had overheard some not-so-complimentary statements about both her personality and her teaching methods. From then on, no matter what we ever said … Read more

I attempted to water a large potted plant from above, considering that's how rain would initially greet it in the wild. The leaves repelled the water and doused both windowpane and windowsill. Amazingly, the lit votive candle stationed nearby remained … Read more

We often hear of the "will of God" and often talk of trying to "find" it. We are told in Scripture to be in a constant mode of prayer, but also to be careful what we pray for. When we … Read more

One Sunday during his sermon, our pastor took water in a glass, dry whisky (popularly known in some parts of our country as afawfaw) in another glass, and an earthworm. In the glass of water, he put the earthworm, and … Read more

Some years ago, one of my children sent me a cassette tape with a sermon he was sure I would appreciate. The sermon was good and appropriate for the time it was sent, but my favourite part was a song. … Read more

For the first nine years of my work in ministry, I pastored a beautiful area in the southwest of Scotland. The countryside was stunning, and as I travelled throughout the area in my car, I often saw the farmers working … Read more

Last Thanksgiving, our pastor spoke on being thankful, which, of course, is common on Thanksgiving Sunday. He spoke about the blessing of a relationship with Jesus Christ. He spoke of the blessing of family — young and old — and … Read more

Have you ever had one of those days when everything seems to be upside down? I surely have. At those times, my world is in turmoil, and peace eludes me. Then out of nowhere comes a friendly face, a listening … Read more

Over the past eighteen months, I have gone through a number of changes. Some were good and some not, but all, both good and bad, brought a certain amount of stress and took their share of my mental energy. In … Read more

Years ago, I can remember hearing a street preacher giving a solemn message about death and judgement. It took place in the centre of my hometown of Glasgow, Scotland, on a Saturday night during the football season. I was playing … Read more

One of my uncles bought apple seeds and raffia palm seeds. He planted these seeds on same day on the same farmland, divided into two plots, each with enough manure. After a short while, the apple seeds germinated and grew … Read more

Are you afraid of dying? As we look deep into our souls, do we see fear there, fear of the future, fear of the unknown? Why am I here, and for how long? Surely, this is the fundamental question of … Read more

I am constantly amazed each week by the number of magazines at supermarket checkouts that announce to the world a brand new diet that will help us all lose twenty pounds a month. Every week, they publicize a brand new … Read more

That's how both recipes start out: "Take an old hen." (Modern supermarkets label these as "stewing hens".) "Put it in a slow cooker and add 3 coarsely chopped carrots, onions, celery stalks, 1 cup sliced mushrooms, 2-3 cloves of garlic, … Read more

I'm sure there are many stories of fortuitous circumstances, when we were assured that God cared. But what about when it appears God has forgotten us? When my husband was dying from cancer, the members of our church rallied around … Read more

After reading the devotional for August 12th, I was happy to discover that readers could listen to the accompanying hymn. "Unto the Hills" happens to be one of my favourite hymns. Over the several decades of my lifetime, this hymn … Read more

I am a terrible hoarder. I keep things in my two studies that I will never use ever again. I've got pens that have dried up, pieces of paper with messages written long ago, notebooks full of half-baked ideas, cassette … Read more

A friend of mine was approached by a sheriff's deputy, who served him with a warrant. The friend was then handcuffed, placed into a cruiser, and taken to a makeshift jail, where he had to serve time until he could … Read more