God often amazes me. In the littlest things, like a blade of grass, I see His handiwork. In the vastness of space and the colossal starry sky, I recognize His hallmarks of creation. In the people I love, I see His image constantly before … Read more

One Sunday before the service began, everyone in church was given a eucalyptus leaf. The plant was meant to represent the tree of life mentioned in today's Scripture. I thought that it made an interesting illustration, since the … Read more

The two dogs were regular visitors, right from the start. The moving truck had scarcely pulled out of the driveway when they appeared. Mocha was large and sported a shaggy black and tan coat, while Skye, being totally black and furry, was … Read more

Bastian, a quiet boy who loves to read, is accosted by bullies on his way to school. He hides in a bookstore, interrupting the grumpy bookseller. Bastian asks about one of the books he sees, but the bookseller warns him that it is not … Read more

On the door of my refrigerator are pictures of my family and friends, but scattered amongst them are various little quotations, which mean a lot to me. I have a quotation from that wonderfully well-known writer Emily Brontë (1818-1848) … Read more

I was late doing my spring cleaning, and it bothered me, so I decided to give it a try, and gathered the necessary tools. I prayed for my hurting shoulders, wrists, and back to co-operate with me to wash at least the outside windows that … Read more

Are you a senior texter? Apparently the following terms might be more familiar to us than the ones younger folks use: ATD – At The Doctor's BYOT – Bring Your Own Teeth CUATSC – See You At The Senior Centre FWIW – Forgot Where I Was GHA – … Read more

I grew up in a home that had a china cabinet with a row of china cups behind the glass. They were brought out once a year to be dusted or washed, and maybe one other time to serve tea in. Recently, I was talking to a friend about going … Read more

One day when I was downtown, I saw a young girl I know hugging three guys, and then before she left, I heard them all say, "Love you", and they went their separate ways. I asked my daughter about this, for she knows more about young … Read more

Recently on quiet summer mornings as I walked our country valley road, I was aware of sounds made by creatures and machines that I could not see. I heard engine noises from jets and propeller-driven aircraft. Truck and car tires hummed, … Read more

She had never met him before, but she cared for him as if he were the most important person in the world. "Ann" knew that she was going to be a single mother in eight months. While she regretted the unfortunate decision that produced the … Read more

Following my father's death earlier this year, family and friends found themselves reflecting on his life. My own memories were stirred when I took a walk through my parents' former farm on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. For about … Read more

At the age of 65, I am simply amazed at the number of adults who still blame their parents for so many of their own issues. They harbour both real and imagined mistreatment they received at parental hands many years ago. Even though they … Read more

During the late 'sixties when I was a musician and singer in a band, I received many requests for the tune, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, the song characterized the attitudes of a youth generation of … Read more

I felt the slightest whisper of its touch as it lit on my arm. A mosquito! Instead of swatting it, as I normally would, I blew it away. This happened three or four times as I was walking my dog, Sparky, along our favourite trail beside a … Read more

At the beginning of summer, as my job as a crossing guard is shelved until September, and various church and school activities and other social gatherings shut down for nine to twelve weeks, God has repeatedly drawn me to this verse: I … Read more

Because our generous neighbour continually shared the bounty from her pear tree, I had to come up with ways of using the things. You can only eat so many pears. Anyway, I found a recipe for pear mincemeat and made it every summer when the … Read more

The Californian Gold Rush of 1849 is surfacing again, though in a reduced form. It pales in comparison to the real thing in the mid-1800s, when prospectors sometimes just bent down and plucked nuggets of gold off the dirt. It is more than … Read more

I failed only one test when I was at university. It happened in my first semester, and of all things to fail, I failed New Testament. The professor and I didn't see eye to eye, so I think that I was marked out for a humbling experience. I … Read more

In Bird's Hill Park north of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, I rested one mid-summer evening on scruffy grass by the side of irregular rows of tall trees. Suddenly, I saw by my feet an ugly, blackish-brown, seemingly almost dead bug half the … Read more

Have you ever tried your best and come up empty? I've fished many times and come up dry, but my grandmother rarely did. Had you seen her on the Santee River in her wooden boat and traditional garb, you would have assumed that she was a … Read more

Just after Christmas, a young teenager came to his grandparents and asked if he could stay with them for a little while, as things at his home weren't going well, and he had nowhere to go. No doubt there was a conversation with his … Read more

The rain continued its onslaught, so I decided to make use of this inside day by setting up our tent in the back room. We bought this tent many years ago and had lent it out to others but had never used it ourselves. Unfortunately, the … Read more

We all know about labels and what they are meant to do: They tell us what's in packages, how to use their contents, and any number of details that we may or may not want to know. Often what we do want to know is not there, but that's … Read more

Many years ago, when my husband and I sailed up the inside passage of the west coast of Canada to the border of Alaska, we had charts and maps to enable us to be aware of rocks and projecting land masses, but there could not be any … Read more

Our daughter, who is deaf, has a special way with animals. She's had a variety of pets over the years: hamsters, ferrets, a rabbit, several dogs and cats, and two horses. While she was working on a horse farm, two stray cats were dumped … Read more

During the past few weeks, I have been reading some historical novels about the time of the Roman occupation of a considerable number of countries in the Middle East and Europe. One book in particular dealt with the capture of Christians … Read more

Mondays seem especially difficult. Then, I notice the emptiness more for some reason, and my heart is especially heavy today. So instead of eating, I write. The television blares behind me, but I don't really pay attention to *America's … Read more

With what glory and holy innocence Father blesses each one of His children! That includes you and me. Recently, I heard the pure, pealing bells of loving sanctification fill a busy barbershop, revealing and heralding our Lord's loving, … Read more

Recently, visiting a cherished friend in the north, I was talked into going for a paddle in their frontiersman canoe. A solid thing, a comfortable thing, I finesse my way into the forward seat and manage to shove us off the pebbly beach. … Read more

I have always believed this promise, simply because it is the Word of God. However, when it started becoming real in my life in a practical way, almost as a weekly occurrence, I was totally blown away. His promise moved from my head to my … Read more