Having begun training my young colt, Jesse, I am amazed to watch Jesse's brother Frank's behaviour toward his sibling. Frank is a cart horse. Since I desire Jesse to be a cart horse, too, so that he and his brother may eventually become a … Read more

One Sunday in November, we had a reception after church to recognize the members of our congregation who are over 90. There were ten of them; some were in attendance, others were not. And looking at the age of the members of our … Read more

It seems that this winter has brought storms and weather in severity that some places haven't seen before, or for many years. The Great Lakes in North America contain one-fifth of the world's fresh water. For the first time in decades, … Read more

I was told by medical personnel not to be surprised about some symptoms that I was asking about. They said that at 85, one can expect signs of memory loss, pains that were not there before, or dimming eyesight. At one point, a healthcare … Read more

A few years ago, we had a family reunion. The place where we held our reunion was in a beautiful park that had a large, walk-in swimming hole with a concrete floor. It was a very hot day. We ate lots. We toured the park and even visited a … Read more

As a piano teacher, my job involves training students to work less. That's hard work for them! It sounds like a contradiction, but it's not. For example, overworking arm muscles interferes with finger development. The student must "make … Read more

For the first time ever, this winter, I strapped on a pair of snowshoes and hiked off at speed over head-high snowdrifts into our scrubby wetlands. It was giddy. As I made those initial strides, the thought came, "I am walking on water — … Read more

Materialism, or fixation on earthly possessions, is one of mankind's strongest temptations. During the past several months, with the help of friends, I have been going through a process of scaling down my personal belongings. My part in … Read more

When it's easy or suits my purposes, I normally don't buck it. But when it goes against my grain and costs me? Well … There have been many occasions when I've struggled to discover God's will. But there have also been times when I knew … Read more

I enjoy word puzzles. One of the puzzles that I enjoy the most involves finding words within a grid. A list of words is given, and those words can run up and down, sideways, or diagonally within the grid. Words can run forwards or … Read more

Unlike its summer counterpart, I prefer watching the Winter Olympics because snow and ice are great equalizers when it comes down to individual performances. Even the best winter athletes can slip on the ice or fall on the snow, so you … Read more

One Sunday morning, our pastor introduced his sermon by referring to a ministry known as "Cat n Dog Theology". Having two cats at home, this idea naturally aroused my curiosity. Then, I heard the following quotation: A dog may look at … Read more

I have been writing for the PresbyCan Daily Devotional since January, 1999, when I first was led by the Spirit to put words onto paper (via the computer). I still have a copy of that first devotional and the four responses that I … Read more

By seven o'clock in the morning, I am on my way to the kitchen, whereas Caroline has already washed, dressed, eaten, read a book, and is well on her way to work. Consequently, it falls to me to round up the children, dispense breakfast to … Read more

The last time I looked for a wedding dress was in 1970. I was 19, the dress was pink, and the wedding was at city hall. I was a typical sixties-thinking, cute gal, and a white dress didn't have much meaning for me then. But this wedding … Read more

Several years ago in Colorado, a cow confronted a bear. The young cub was trying to help itself to some apples from a tree at the corner of the cow's field. The cow was annoyed (she's called "Apple", by the way) and proceeded to eject the … Read more

Eye surgery. It seems like every time we turn around, someone is having it: eye surgery for their cataracts. I surgery. It seems like every time we turn around, someone ought to get it: I surgery for their selfish attitude. With eye … Read more

It was a beautiful sunny day. The sun's rays were piercing through the front window of my living room. Instead of the usual routine of grabbing my lunch and going into my computer room, I decided to sit in my favourite recliner, put my … Read more

My wife and I, along with her dad, decided to visit her mother in the hospital following her surgery. Before I left home, I pulled out a couple of frozen prime steaks and placed them on the kitchen counter to thaw while we were away, … Read more

I admit it! I love to watch the Olympics! Call me an Olympic junkie. Today, watching the opening ceremonies, I am soaking it all in. I wonder what it is about the Olympics — summer or winter — that draws me in. From an early age, I have … Read more

I discovered recently that one of the strategies used to tuck a large amount of information into human memory is to visualize an imaginary "memory house" where each room gives a place to store specific, important details. In preparation … Read more

She was a shut-in; he was her only son. They were both pessimists. They attended a church I pastored. The mother had been a shut-in for a number of years. The son had suffered a failed marriage some years before and had lived with his … Read more

When we open our hearts to God, and position ourselves physically and mentally in a quiet place, God sends us messages of guidance through the Holy Spirit, our Comforter. Sometimes, the messages are clear to us; sometimes, we miss or … Read more

I think of the many situations where, looking back, it was obvious that something supernatural was taking place, but I didn't know at the time that it was God with me. Each situation was a stepping stone to walk with God more closely, … Read more

I didn't want to, but God was telling me, "Take the boat." Tuesday was a beautiful, blue-sky day, again, and the kayak lay out in the courtyard, its wheels tucked up under its keel, beckoning to be used. But I had a Bible story to prepare … Read more

I was eager to get to my mother's hospital room as she recovered from breaking her hip. During the visit, I began a conversation with a dear lady named Inga in the next bed. She had been admitted for a serious digestive problem and had … Read more

Snow and ice covered the roads as well as sidewalks. I chose to visit a friend, whom I had not seen for many months. There was a fair amount of ice on her driveway, which I managed to manoeuvre without any problem. However, leaving … Read more

I guess that most everyone is familiar with the William Holman Hunt (1827-1910) picture, "The Light of the World", painted after he became a Christian. If one is not, there are various links on the Internet. Of note is the fact that … Read more