Archive for January, 2014

Abide With Me

Friday, January 31, 2014

A friend of ours at the Meaford Long Term Care Centre died on December 28th, 2013. She was 105 years old. We got to know her through our involvement at the MLTCC over the years. She was an amazing woman with an unbelievable memory. I knew … Read more

Clydeside Preacher

Thursday, January 30, 2014

My hometown of Glasgow, Scotland, used to have a magnificent shipyard industry on the River Clyde. Thousands of men were employed in the building of some of the biggest warships and ocean liners in the world. When I was growing up, it was … Read more

In The Blink Of An Eye

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

My daughter had been suffering for quite some time with discomfort and pain, and finally, she made an appointment with the doctor to have it checked out. The day arrived when I drove my daughter to the hospital for surgery. An exploratory … Read more

The Copycat

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

My young colt, Jesse, is the shadow of his brother Frank. At nine weeks of age, he copies Frank's movements both within and outside of the corral. When we take Frank out to be harnessed to his cart as we prepare to go for a ride, Jesse … Read more

Grin

Monday, January 27, 2014

The Spark Sunday School Curriculum lesson plan for preschoolers focused on how the Old Testament story of God providing manna, quail, and water for the children of Israel throughout the forty years they wandered in the desert teaches a … Read more

The Benefits Of Belonging

Sunday, January 26, 2014

He loved to stray, and it often got him into predicaments. I once owned a stubborn rooster that loved to stay outside his pen more than he loved to stay in it. But when it was feeding time, all I had to do was open the gate, and he headed … Read more

His Peace

Saturday, January 25, 2014

What comforting words those are, especially in these troubled times. About four years ago, my dear husband suffered a major stroke while he was driving. He was not able to move the entire right side of his body, and he had to be airlifted … Read more

Heaven Is For Real

Friday, January 24, 2014

I have been reading a wonderful little book called Heaven is for Real. It is the story of a little boy, Colton, who, when extremely ill in hospital with a burst appendix, had experiences of being in heaven. His father, Todd Burpo, … Read more

Tremors

Thursday, January 23, 2014

It has become difficult for me to position my left hand over the keyboard. I keep on finding new words coming out that do not make any sense. It is like having a strange limb that does not know what it is doing. I am, of course, asking … Read more

Lest We Forget

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Knowing God on a deeper level is the topic and aim of the Bible study which I am currently teaching. When we resumed in October, we were privileged to have a new lady join us. From the outset, her wide-eyed wonder and excitement over … Read more

The New Language

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Midge, my fourteen-year-old miniature long-haired dachshund, went through a long period of depression and sorrow a few years ago after she lost her hearing. She could no longer hear my voice. She didn't know what I wanted. She was missing … Read more

With God's Guidance

Monday, January 20, 2014

There are many such places in the Bible where God speaks to people directly, or through an angel, or by way of the Holy Spirit. But not all of us get such clear instructions. Let me explain. In December of 1966, the company that I worked … Read more

New Beginnings

Sunday, January 19, 2014

As a little girl, for a time, I kept a journal. In it, I would write about the ups and downs of my days, scoldings I didn't deserve, maybe, or picking strawberries down the road at our neighbour's house. Each day was a new beginning, an … Read more

Zoned Out For God

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Comfort zone: a behavioural state that doesn't fabricate anxiety because we're using patterns that we've learned will deliver an expected level of performance without risk. I wasn't in mine. Having recently graduated from Bible College … Read more

False Alarms

Friday, January 17, 2014

Have you ever had one of those days when you walked in the house and forgot to switch off the burglar alarm? Or you had the alarm on, and went to take the garbage out late at night, only to panic when all the sirens, bells, and whistles … Read more

Aliens And Strangers?

Thursday, January 16, 2014

One of my dearest friends left for Russia for a return mission trip. We first went to Russia on a mission trip in February of 2012; a time when God especially showed awesome faithfulness to us! One of my duties on that trip was to teach … Read more

Precious – Costly – Beautiful

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Perhaps you are familiar with this little song of praise and adoration to God: Lord, You are more precious than silver. Lord, You are more costly than gold. Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds, And nothing I desire compares to You. … Read more

The Edge

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Recent storms that brought rain, freezing temperatures, and large amounts of snow have made keeping the roads clear a challenge. Today, we entered a new phase — rain and warmer temperatures, which may at a later date be called the January … Read more

Chastened By A 12-Year-Old (2)

Monday, January 13, 2014

More than a few parents have felt themselves cowering before the rolling eyes of a self-assured teen, who, in a cocky tone, proclaims, "Really, Dad! Don't you know that …!" Of course, we'd be mistaken if we pictured Jesus treating His … Read more

Chastened By A 12-Year-Old (1)

Sunday, January 12, 2014

These two probing questions, spoken by Jesus to His fretful parents, are found in the one and only account of Jesus' youth. I admit, for years, it seemed to me that Jesus was rather sharp toward His parents. Now, I find myself … Read more

The Earnest Of Our Inheritance

Saturday, January 11, 2014

"Earnest" might be your name. Or the shortened form, "Ernie," might be the name of the boy you went to school with. Words used for names of people often have meanings. "Earnest" can mean "serious." When we say, "He was earnest when he … Read more

A Gift Of Rest

Friday, January 10, 2014

Inspiration comes at all hours of the day or night, from many different triggers. I went to bed and read a book which featured the verse on which this devotional thought is based. After finishing the book and turning out the light, I found … Read more

Blizzard

Thursday, January 9, 2014

As I write, Environment Canada has reported that a combination of dangerous snow squalls with extreme wind chills of -35C to -40C will produce frequent blizzard conditions for this afternoon and evening. The combination of a fresh, heavy … Read more

No Extra Credit Needed

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

"Is there anything I can do for extra credit?" I considered the source and the question, one that I had been asked quite a few times. Occasionally, I consent, but most of the time, I utter a simple "No." What I really want to say is, "If … Read more

To Russia With Love

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

About two years ago, in February, 2012, God called me to go to Russia on a mission trip. I have several illnesses (rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, Ménière's disease) so when I received the phone call to serve, I had … Read more

Not Just January

Monday, January 6, 2014

I guess you've never experienced the January blahs, but I am well acquainted with them, and not just in January. They come on when we least expect it and eat up all our joy. They strand us in an ocean of tears so thick that we can't swim … Read more

Satan's Field Day

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Many years ago, Edmund Burke, a British statesman, said, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." One just has to watch the news on the television, read the newspaper, or listen to people's … Read more

The Instruction

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Raising two large puppies at the same time is quite an adventure and a real challenge. At present, I am seeking to instruct them to heel when we are out walking. As the one pup, Sophie, is two months older than Bonnie, I sometimes … Read more

Rituals

Friday, January 3, 2014

Exceeding abundantly? Above all that I ask? Beyond what I can even imagine? How can that be? These are questions I asked. Each year end, I used to take some time to reflect on the closing year, to take stock of accomplishments, review my … Read more

A New Beginning

Thursday, January 2, 2014

The table is set in the dining room of the seniors' assisted care facility where I reside. Three of us ladies share this table each day. After the meal one day, we got into a conversation noting that there were several in our community … Read more

Two Prayers

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

I wondered whether it would be just empty words if I wrote "Happy New Year" to PresbyCan Daily readers. Then I remembered the two prayers written by the apostle Paul to the Ephesians. I pray those prayers almost every morning for loved … Read more

 



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