In the winter, our home gets very dry. Heating with wood adds to this problem. We therefore have a number of humidifiers around the place. Humidifiers blow moist air into the room, which helps to prevent dry, scratchy throats, itchy … Read more

Last year, we bought a new house, and this spring, we discovered that there are daffodils in our lawn! "So what?" you might ask. Yes, I do enjoy their colour and beauty — they provide splashes of sunshine wherever they … Read more

With the increasing threats to security all around the world, a passport has become a very important item to have. Most countries will deny entry by air, sea, or land, unless one has a valid passport. Since my passport was … Read more

"A rose between two thorns!" You've heard this expression; but have you ever applied it to our Christian calling? Jesus did. In effect, He called His followers to be a sweet aroma in the midst of prickly evil. This is … Read more

This past winter, I went to a long-term care facility to feed an elderly lady five or six times a week. The family that usually goes to feed her twice a day went on vacation for two months. This long-term … Read more

In my living room sits a plant that is called "The Crown of Thorns", also known as "The Christ Plant". It is a member of the Poinsettia family. It is said that the crown of thorns worn by Christ at … Read more

During President Herbert Hoover's administration, it was common to see pants pockets turned inside out. Hoover flags were symbols of the poverty many Americans were facing. It was left to Franklin Roosevelt's administration to fix the American economy. Hoover left … Read more

By now, most of the North American continent, if not the world, knows of the finding and rescue of Rita Chretien of Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. This extraordinary woman survived for 49 days from March 19th to May 6th, stuck … Read more

A few years ago, a friend of mine gave me a wooden plaque. The puzzle is that if people look at it just the right way, they can see the word "JESUS". Sometimes when I look at the puzzle, I … Read more

The good folks at the church I serve have almost finished building my new office. Only a few minor details need to be completed and when the bookcases arrive in two or three weeks' time, I think I'll have an … Read more

Initially in my early church life, I'd be most uncomfortable when anyone preached on the above Scripture. I didn't believe that I could attain to Jesus' love for every Christian in and outside my church. No, not me! Oh, my, … Read more

In the hush before dawn, birds begin singing as the dew rises from the ground. Subtle rays of light peek through the varied greens of the trees, revealing bright colours springing forth in every direction on flowers and plants as … Read more

During the past year, I had the opportunity to talk with one of my fellow PCCWeb Daily devotional writers and dear friend, Parise Arakelian. Being from the west coast, she was shocked the first day I spoke to her via … Read more

This past Wednesday night, we were in the crowd of 100,000 watching on several JumboTrons in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, as the hometown Canucks lost to the Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League Stanley Cup final. As we … Read more

Amid the honking and clamour of a downtown Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, traffic jam, my car screeched to a halt. In front of me, bumper stickers plastered over the back of a battered red pickup shouted, "He who dies with the … Read more

Of all the questions we ask in life, the "what if?" questions seem to be the most popular. What if this happens? What if that doesn't happen? What if so-and-so doesn't come through on his promise? What if she were … Read more

Whenever I check my e-mail, I see that there are numerous messages of indeterminate nature in the junk box! No matter how often I sweep them away or block them, there are still more to replace them the next time … Read more

In the quiet of the morning, while my husband and I were out walking the dog, we heard a crow call in distress several times. Off in the eastern sky, we could see two birds in flight, one giving chase … Read more

I love the wind. I love to watch the way it can transform a quiet sea into a sloshing, tossing world of change. I am awed by its power and unpredictability. I am amazed how it stirs the trees to … Read more

At a grocery store in our town, the shopping carts are locked together, but inserting a quarter releases a cart. When we are done, we put the cart back and we get our quarter back. Many times when we are … Read more

"I love you as a son!" These words fell on the ears of a little girl as she lay on her bed in a Christian hospital near her village. Her father had just told her that he valued her as … Read more

What is Hang Son Doong? To those who already know the answer: "Good job!" The rest can read the National Geographic article and see the pictures . It is no ordinary hole in the ground. It is … Read more

When I bought a new sewing machine, I had to learn all about it. The spools went on differently; the bobbins went in differently; it had a cool needle threader that I had to learn to use, and a different … Read more

It was toward the end of the day of a big family gathering. The children were at last in bed and asleep after a day of swimming in the lake and racing here and there. The dogs from two families … Read more

We live a few kilometres outside a small town. There are no street lights or tall buildings to obstruct our view of the night sky. On a beautiful clear night, millions of stars lit up the sky, and my eye … Read more

I have an admission. I'm often accosted by a complaining spirit. After all, it seems easier to complain than to look for the good in situations. When a car passes me in a downpour because I'm going too slow, and … Read more

What a thrill it is to accompany our children those first years of school, to wait outside with them until the bell rings, and, often, to help out in the classroom. The thrill is again granted with our grandchildren, and … Read more

Time seems to be the one commodity we do not have enough of — especially when it means putting aside some of it for Almighty God, our heavenly Father. We toil and struggle daily, busy with everything to improve our … Read more

I always enjoy reading the signs on church lawns. Here are some of my favourites on prayer: – You'll never get a busy signal on the prayer line to heaven. – The quickest way to get back on your feet … Read more

Periodically, we talk to people who are dissatisfied with life. Such individuals dream of being a celebrity, with fame and fortune, or being in control of a huge company, with a personal jet at their disposal. Even ministers "stuck" in … Read more