This verse came to mind as I glanced at the time displayed on my iPad as I was waiting for my aunt to finish her grocery shopping the other day. The time was 3:16 p.m. I drive my aunt to shop for her groceries, the bank, and sometimes to … Read more

Do you find yourself making lists as Christmas approaches? … things to do, places to go, and things to take … menus, grocery lists … lists of names and gifts … If you're like me, crossing off an item gives us a feeling of … Read more

The second I started singing "O, come, O come, Emmanuel," I knew that I was in trouble. It was going to be difficult, of course, but this soon? The first hymn of the first Sunday in Advent, 2015, and already I was crying. How was I, a … Read more

Every year as Advent arrives, I hear the song, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord", from the musical Godspell, playing over and over in my head. It's a loud, happy, euphoric song, and that's appropriate: what could be more joy-inducing … Read more

When my daughter and her husband picked up their kitten from the animal shelter, they were informed that the two-week-old foundling would likely die soon. Undeterred by these foreboding words, they lovingly named their black and white … Read more

In my Bible class at the local Long Term Care Centre, I usually take sections of the Bible to study for a number of sessions in a row. I have done a series on the Psalms, the first part of the book of Acts, Jesus' parables, and the story … Read more

He had proudly denied the existence of God and spewed nothing but hate for Him, but that was before he lay on his death bed. The movie, God's Not Dead, details the story of a battle between a college freshman and an atheist philosophy … Read more

I have discovered that early darkness has once again begun to descend upon us here in the Canadian north. This necessitates the use of more electricity, since I must turn the lights on as I go from room to room throughout the house. As I … Read more

I have been visually impaired for some time now, and today, I want to tell you about my struggle with not being able to see the details. Adjusting to this new normal is like being a first-grader in the school of learning! I am often … Read more

Our eighth grandchild is due in the next week or so, and though he or she already has a place in our hearts and in our family, thus far, the baby doesn't have a name. Hundreds of names have been deemed unsuitable. Our name is our … Read more

Each morning, missionary and author, Norman Grubb, would pray a simple prayer: Good morning, God. What are You up to today? I want to be a part of it. May I? Thank You, God. Amen. For me, this short prayer is like spiritual medicine. It … Read more

One of my brothers-in-law has had some serious health issues this year. He has spent many weeks in hospital, endured innumerable tests, and undergone several surgeries. After many attempts at resolution, all of which were ultimately … Read more

Years ago, a friend gave me a puppet. As it stands there beside my piano, it looks like a mouse talking to me with a protruding mouth. It has curly hair just like me, and it has a clergy robe on. It's a clergy puppet! The piercing eyes are … Read more

In November five years ago, these two Scriptures took on a tremendous significance for me. I love reading the story of Jesus healing the blind man by putting clay on the blind man's eyes. I read this story as Jesus placing the substance … Read more

I started to read the New Testament while walking on my treadmill five days each week. Some passages about Jesus being the light of hope in a dark world caught my eye and made me think of an event which happened a few years ago. One of … Read more

Recently, I attended the memorial service of a Christian friend. While I have gone to many such events, this one impacted me as no other has done. This woman's life, from the time she became a Christian, was one of service to others. The … Read more

Last week, as I was out walking the trails with the dogs, I received the most glorious, unexpected blessing. As we came around a bend in the path, there before me stood the same pine tree that is always rooted at that spot. And yet, … Read more

When I taught children of Wycliffe Bible Translator personnel in the Peruvian highlands in South America, the children would pick the raisins from their recess snack cookies and drop them into the grass saying that they didn't like … Read more

My husband and I are planning a trip to England — an exciting trip for us. We'll be celebrating my mother's 90th birthday and staying in my old hometown. It will be a special time because it's also our wedding anniversary, and there will … Read more

Many countries observe the eleventh day of the eleventh month, November, as Remembrance Day, Veterans Day, or Armistice Day, a time set aside to honour the sacrifices of the military, past and present. The eleventh hour was the time on … Read more

It was approximately two years after our two denominational churches came together and worshipped as one congregation that our pastor/priest retired, and our new church was looking for another minister to take her place. After almost a … Read more

As I perused each entry, I wondered what I'd read. I was ending my four-year stint as a middle school language arts teacher. The headmaster had selected the final chapel service as the time for me to officially inform the students that I … Read more

As I look out my window this morning, it is terribly dark, and it is raining buckets. Where is the sun? Lord, why do I feel such darkness? I put the television on and hear about a typhoon storming down on Hawaii and a hurricane coming … Read more

My daily walks include meeting people, and so it was one day, that I asked a lady if I could sit on the other side of an outdoor table at a cafe. After a brief silence, we engaged in conversation about how lovely the day was. We found … Read more

Some years ago, I purchased a "martyr's cross" to remind myself and others about the price that many have paid for their faithfulness in following Jesus. The symbols depicted are striking: they include a spike, an ichthus (fish symbol) … Read more

Just recently, I was made aware of a few people that we know who have quit believing and no longer attend church. They were raised in Christian homes, went to church on a regular basis, and at some point were involved in church work and … Read more

I've written two previous devotionals on the London transit service's slogan, "Every Journey Matters", the first focusing on the word "Every" and the second on the word "Journey". A reader of the Daily wrote to me recently and … Read more

The mornings are dawning colder, and I have needed to wear gloves the last few days when I go down to feed the livestock. This morning, even in my gloves, my fingers grew cold quickly. Time for the mitts, I thought. This episode … Read more

My friend, Anne, has the reputation of being an excellent story teller. She tells her stories at the museum where she volunteers and at various group meetings. She is also on the schedule to give the children's sermons several times a … Read more

I was sitting beneath a tree one hot day, when a big, old porcupine plodded past. He carried an extra burden: a load of old leaves impaled on his spiky back. For a moment, I felt sorry for him. But here was the culprit that had chewed on … Read more