Some years ago, we went on a "Cities of the Reformation" tour. One of the places that we visited was Eisleben, Germany, where Martin Luther was born on November 10th, 1483, and died on February 18th, 1546. Luther boldly protested against … Read more
Archive for October, 2019
Refined By Sorrow
Never had I witnessed sorrow bring such a transformation. When times of deep sorrow strike, many choose the road of bitterness toward God. "If God's as good as you claim, why did … ," they ask. And I've wondered the same thing when … Read more
Too Much Worrying, Not Enough Believing
Lately, my life has become one big worry. Off work on medical leave, I worry about how I will feed my family and pay the rent and bills. Not knowing what the future will hold is very difficult. I am very much aware that we Christians are … Read more
The Windscreen
Towing a caravan in the remote parts of the Welsh countryside, combined with fans blowing onto the windscreen, resulted in a distinct film of the outside dust attached to the inside of the windscreen — not that it is that noticeable in … Read more
When I Was Lost
I've always been geographically dyslexic. My family used my inability as a reverse GPS. They'd ask me which way to go, and the opposite direction was always right. But I never thought that I could become spiritually dyslexic. It started … Read more
Ignoring Warning Signs
One Saturday afternoon, my car suddenly shut down; all the yellow warning lights flashed at me. Conditioned by a similar problem last year with another car, I focused on the battery lights, as I knew that I had just put gas in the … Read more
A Call For Action
A major USA bank has recently been running television advertisements with the theme, "I Can." It has caused me to think about how frequently we are tempted to add the three letters "n-o-t" after the word "can". In fact, it is so common … Read more
A Lifetime Of Firsts
Have you ever thought about how many "firsts" that we all experience in a lifetime? Some of those firsts we don't remember at all: our first breath, first step, first birthday, first tooth … . But the years tumble along, and we begin to … Read more
The Fear Of What Might Be
A member of our church called me one day in September to ask if I could help her. She was born in the Netherlands and followed her Canadian soldier fiancé to Canada shortly after the war. They married and had five children. Her husband … Read more
God Forgives Me
I love the whole of Isaiah 53. It reminds me of why I became a Christian in the first place. At that time, I needed God to forgive me for many things and a whole host of mistakes. I felt ashamed of who I was, what I had done, and where I … Read more
Overwhelmed!
There are a lot of old sayings in my memory bank that pop up at appropriate moments in my life. It's a legacy from my grandparents, with whom I lived for twelve years. Recently, one came vividly to mind: "Eat what you can and can what … Read more
The Surprise Party
This summer, I received an unexpected and surprising email. It was from the husband of one of the writers of the PresbyCan Daily devotionals. In Walmart, he had met my cousins, with whom he had been friends for many years, and he had … Read more
My Soul Will Be Still, For The Lord Is In Control
One of my favourite experiences in church is praise and worship at the beginning of each service. Our church worship team plays contemporary songs with concert flair, complete with visual effects and loud beats, which enhances my worship … Read more
Balm In Gilead
It was one of those lazy, hazy August Sundays when more folks decide on the beach than sit on the bench at church. The smattering of folk warmly welcomed the summer guest preacher, who offered a sermon and gave us food for thought. There … Read more
The Ear Of Gossip
When I think of the word "gossip", I think of Rachel Lynde from Anne of Green Gables. She constantly snooped, made judgments, and then scattered her version of the "news" to other people around the town of Avonlea by flapping her … Read more
Wondering Why
Wondering why often leaves us wondering. I sat in the car with my daughter's two children while my wife underwent a physical test. The three-year-old sat in the front seat with me, biding his time and asking questions. "Pop, what is … Read more
Thanksgiving: The Mark Of A Christian
One day, as the tale goes, an atheist hiker encountered a formidable grizzly bear slinking towards him. Terrified, the hiker broke into a run and tripped. As the bear descended upon him, he cried, "O God!" Instantly a voice spoke: "You … Read more
Drip, Drip, Drip
When God suggested that we move, I wanted a house that was new. After all, I had suggested to God, "This is what You should want for us, right?" God heard, but had different, better plans. It is an older bungalow with an attic which has … Read more
Bitter Water And Living Water
One Sunday in August, we went to a rural church. In the bathroom, there was a sign that said, "Do not drink the tap water". There are various reasons why water is not fit for human consumption. For example, although the water may taste … Read more
Stumbling Block
Even though I regularly ask God not to allow me to be led into temptation, it never occurred to me that I might lead someone else there. In my senior year in Bible school, I was ignoring the 9 p.m. curfew imposed on dorm dwellers. … Read more
Weeds: No Vacancy!
While on a road trip many years ago, before AAA travel guidance, smartphones, and auto-court directories, my parents had not planned ahead of time to reserve rooms. As darkness set in, neon signs glared, "No Vacancy", so dad drove on … Read more
Knowing His Voice
Those words may cause us to wonder how we recognize the voice of God. How do we know when He speaks? God speaks to us clearly through the words of the Bible. He also can speak to us through the action of His Spirit contacting our spirit … Read more
The Pulley
It seems that from a young age until death, life is not very peaceful. We are continually being either pushed or pulled, sometimes by others and sometimes by our own desires. I was reminded of this recently when I listened to a number of … Read more
The Last Word
I love the last verse of the book of Acts. It is full of encouragement and energy, showing us that Paul continued to preach and teach the gospel for the rest of his days. His faith absolutely captivated him, and we should be thankful for … Read more
Partnership
I am now on the other side of the communion table. What I see and hear are different from presiding at the table. Instead of an assemblage of heads, I see a cup and a loaf of bread. Instead of the memorized ritual of holy communion, I … Read more
If They Could Talk, What Would They Say?
"If these blueberries could talk, what would they say?" asked my 13-year-old granddaughter as we busily picked. With insightful imagination, she answered her own question: "They'd say, 'Pick me!' wouldn't they?" Her answer provided an … Read more
Treasures Of Darkness
Have you ever been lost in the dark? You may have been afraid and unsure, and had to trust your memory of where things were and should be, so as to steer around them. It is an uncomfortable situation to be in! The Bible speaks of God … Read more
Take A Breath, And Allow God To Make A Change
This past month, I have known little peace. It feels like one thing after another is changing in the lives of me and my husband. Each day brings something new to deal with, and I feel like my head is spinning uncontrollably in an effort … Read more
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