Toby possessed single-mindedness like no other dog I have ever known. Once he set his sights on something, there was no stopping him. It didn't matter if it was a particular place on the couch or figuring out how to rifle a locked cooler … Read more

One morning while driving to church, I noticed all along the edge of the highway bags of litter that volunteers had cleaned up the previous day. Sad to say, in the centre of the highway along the route were dead raccoons. They had … Read more

In the Scripture preceding today's verses, when Joseph was falsely accused of adultery and unjustly imprisoned, he must have felt that his life was cursed and that God had abandoned him forever. Previously, his brothers had abused him and … Read more

I wasn't then, but I wanted to be. I'm still not, but I no longer care.

I was an ordinary kid. Not oooed- and ahhed-over by the girls. Not the teacher's pet. Didn't make straight As or have perfect attendance. I was skinny, freckle-faced, … Read more

I found yesterday's devotional interesting, because my experience parallels Isabel Allison's in the confusion we experienced when comparing our conversion to the apostle Paul's. In a children's crusade when I was seven years old, the … Read more

Among my treasures I have a letter.

The letter is from a lady who was the young wife of a student minister. I was a very young teacher when I received it, and had been home for a weekend or two when the young couple was ministering in … Read more

On the first morning of our holiday in Hawaii, we hurried to the beach, eager to enjoy the surf. But as we approached the water, we noticed a group of women, each standing beside one of a number of wheelchairs, each of which was adapted in … Read more

We are blessed to have a walking/biking trail around our lake. The path is paved and has a yellow line down the middle to help walkers and bikers be safe. As I was riding today, there were not many people around, so I took notice of the … Read more

Years ago, on Thanksgiving Day, my sister gave me a book which included a number of traditional stories, poems, prayers, recipes, and games. Some of the games looked rather interesting, and I thought that it would be a great idea for … Read more

Bobo is a cuddly-looking donkey whose main job is to guard sheep. I met Bobo one wintry day while visiting a farm. He was standing near a flock of sheep, which were grazing contentedly at an outdoor hay feeder. Bobo looked quite placid … Read more

I was reading a little devotional by Norval Hayes entitled "How to get your prayers answered". He tells the story of a woman in the congregation challenging him about her continual prayers not being answered — prayers for her daughter of … Read more

As a frequent user of e-mail and a frequent maker of prayer, I began to liken prayer to e-mail. I saw that my prayers are always "To: God@heaven.org". Sometimes I send "Cc:" — copies of my prayers to my friends by asking them to pray as … Read more

When I was fourteen years old, a book fell off a shelf that I was dusting, hit me on the head, and landed face up, open on the exact date of my birthday. It was a birthday book, the kind with various words of inspiration or advice. The … Read more

The Internet is an amazing tool of communication. The World Wide Web was an unimaginable concept last century, yet today, the Internet's capabilities are almost taken for granted. At the push of a button and with the stroke of a key, we … Read more

I was just about to turn off my computer when the phone rang. I looked at the clock. It was 11:00 p.m. It is truly amazing how many anxious thoughts ran through my mind. I could feel my stomach churning. Reluctantly, I answered the phone. … Read more

I had been busy baking for an upcoming social event. I was also caring for an eight-year-old who was eyeing the goodies as they emerged from the oven. Once the baking was finished, the decorating began. I painstakingly spread raspberry … Read more

When I was a child, my mother worked at the church we attended. Sometimes, I would go to work with her. I would usually stay in the office and play with the toys I had brought or look through the cupboards at the cool things, like boxes of … Read more

The fish pulled hard as I reeled it in. Had it not been for the occasional jerk and tug, I might have thought I had hooked another water-heavy old log.

Nearer and nearer I drew it toward the large rounded rocks to which my rubber-soled … Read more

"Where has the time gone, anyway?" I was wondering out loud, looking at the date while routinely opening the restaurant for another day. Coffee was hot and ready, and in silent devotion to God, I sent a prayer heavenward: *Dear God, … Read more

As this is the day when we remember those fallen for peace and those involved in the search for peace in different places, we realize how elusive peace is — personal peace at times, and world peace almost always.

The word "peace" has … Read more

I've never liked them and have only ridden a couple, and then, only because someone I loved encouraged me.

With names like Thunder Road, Mindbender, Avalanche Run, and Afterburn, roller coasters frighten me. In fact, almost all rides at … Read more

Being in the world of technology that now surrounds us, we have a choice to avoid it or use it. For me, it has become a part of my life. I take my phone with me when I bike, as it provides music for me to listen to as I bike. I can also … Read more

The other day I tossed some clothes into the dryer. Soon, I heard some disturbing thumps coming from the laundry room. It sounded as if a shoe were in the dryer. I rushed to stop the dryer and discovered that the clothes had twisted … Read more

Hurricane Sandy barrelled up the Atlantic coastline of the United States during the weekend before All Hallows Eve, earning it the nickname "Frankenstorm". This monster storm lived up to its name as it wreaked destruction all along the … Read more

Have you considered what "the secret place of the Most High" could be?

Last year a colleague gave me a copy of the little book, The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, who was a seventeenth-century French Carmelite … Read more

Yesterday was a glorious fall day. It was the kind of day that invigorated one's senses, a day that caused one to marvel at God's handiwork. The maple tree on our front lawn stood like a torch, its mighty flame of vibrant, orange leaves … Read more

Every year, the church that I serve undergoes a six-week stewardship campaign. Like most churches, we are presently going through some lean times. A major part of the problem is that our congregation is now competing with hundreds of … Read more

I sometimes think that we Christians can get a little too smug about what we would and would not do. It's not surprising. After all, we have the benefit of hindsight. We have our Bibles and two thousand years of Christian tradition behind … Read more

The brilliant mix of reds, oranges, and yellows silhouetted against the blue background of the sky almost takes my breath away. Our heavenly Father, the Great Artist, has splashed a panorama of colours across the canvas of His creation, … Read more

Ministries like Voice of the Martyrs and Open Doors are working to raise awareness of the tremendous problems affecting the lives of thousands of Christians around the world. Image galleries, personal testimonies, and monthly … Read more