God is omnipotent. It always amazes me that He has chosen to allow us mere mortals to choose to obey Him, even though He has the power to make us do so. From the start, He has given us a command but leaves us the choice. In the early … Read more

My parents loved the Lord, and they both used their gifts in service to others. For example, they would take homemade soup to hoboes, and when the orchard was ripe for picking, they would take apple pies to people who were in need. Many … Read more

Have you ever witnessed a large flock of Canada Geese flying overhead? It takes one's breath away. Their perfectly synchronized flight pattern leaves even non-believers asking themselves, "What kind of higher power could orchestrate such a … Read more

As a student, I participated in a job experience program for a few weeks at a local newspaper office. One evening, I took the stairs down to the building lobby instead of the elevator, but as the heavy door latched behind me, I found that … Read more

I love sailing, and I love racing. We have dedicated positions as part of the crew. I am on the mainsail. Others can be found in the cockpit around me, others are at the mast, while still others are responsible for the bow, and of course, … Read more

Three-year-old Ade wanted pickles with her lunch. I found a new jar in the pantry and tried to open it, without success. I whacked the lid several times. No success. I gave it a few more good smacks with the handle of the knife. Still no … Read more

One day when Mother and I were walking the fields on the farm, we came upon one section of the rail fence that was down. We knew that the cattle would get out, so it needed to be fixed. I said to Mother, "I can't fix the fence; I hear the … Read more

My barely school-aged children decided to become independent in a big city when we had to ride a streetcar home. Instead of standing beside me, they spread out, taking whatever seats were available. So, they weren't paying attention at … Read more

I remember my first job interview for a post in the bank. The interviewer looked at me and asked, "Are you honest?" This was a question that got me smiling for a moment before I answered, "Yes, I am honest." The thought that ran through … Read more

Today, I'd like you to meet Chippy and Red, our regular dinner guests this summer. Chippy is a chipmunk; Red is a red squirrel. They live in our backyard and join our evening meals on the deck. It didn't start smoothly, however. Red kept … Read more

Historic Molly Butler Lodge and Restaurant is in Greer, Arizona, USA. At 8,356 feet in elevation, it's a refreshing retreat from the ferocious Arizona heat. Established in 1910 by pioneer Molly Butler in the wilds of the White Mountains, … Read more

The evidence was overwhelming. We followed something that we feared. Panthertown Valley is just outside Cashiers, North Carolina, USA. Those who are looking for a directional sign will be disappointed. But my brother and I had … Read more

I believe that I was eight years old and that it was 1956 when a severe storm came upon our small town of Fenwick, Ontario, Canada. Just past our house, we had a greenhouse, then a workshop, and then another greenhouse. My dad was in the … Read more

I am a busy piano instructor, who had to adapt fast to online lessons in late March. I wrote in my journal on my smartphone, "I hate this! Let me back into my piano studios." By May, I started to adjust and began to think, *Remember when I … Read more

Her smile seemed to envelop her from head to toe. Whenever I saw Abby, she seemed to radiate a smile that showed in her face, her eyes, and her body language. When she stood on the church platform to give announcements, read Scripture, or … Read more

Have you ever looked back at something from childhood and wondered, What in tarnation was I thinking? As children, we had a blast trying to catch enough fireflies to make a night light for our bedrooms using a canning jar. Sometimes, … Read more

We require power to do anything. Sometimes, the power comes from within, but often we need external power. In many cases, this external power is supplied by electricity, and we are connected to that source. However, when a direct … Read more

I could hear the giggles of my friends, my confidantes, my extended family from across the parking lot as I approached our favourite outdoor café. They were discussing a newly published article about how spending time with good friends … Read more

When I first became a Christian, I gave my heart to Jesus at a weekly Gospel Club which was held in an old Gothic church in my hometown of Glasgow, Scotland. At the club each week, we sang many gospel hymns and choruses, all of which drew … Read more

I have had many friends in my life — ones from childhood, my school years, university days, and adulthood. Many of these friendships waned, not for bad reasons, but simply because we moved on with our lives in career, location, and life. … Read more

The dogs were barking insanely, racing along the fence from one end to the other. Frank, my gelding, and the three goats stood in the corral looking frightened. My mind was on the grizzly that had been hanging around. As I left the … Read more

My relationship with money has always been complicated. We were always short of funds when I was a child, and when my father died, leaving no insurance, we depended on government assistance until I was old enough to get a job to help … Read more

On top of an old wooden box telephone hanging on the wall in Mother Rowe's veranda, a robin built her nest. She faithfully set on the eggs and hatched all four. When the babies were just two days old, tragedy struck. A cat got the mother … Read more

Countless times, Christians feel like giving up in our daily pursuit of God and happiness. Especially when discouragements and frustrations crop up along the way, that's normal for all of us. At times, some of us even feel that God has … Read more

We went away with the caravan to the city of St. David's in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Where we stay is very near a long, shallow beach called Whitesands Bay. It is a place of peace. When I want to walk with God, I remember those times I have … Read more

"Oh no! What shall we do?" This, I'm convinced, is the epic question of all time. "What shall we do!?" It's not a question that we ask while we can handle things. We ask it when we're stuck. And that's when we're open to unimagined … Read more

Living a stress-free life is impossible. Women report that they experience stress because of the following reasons: contradictory feelings, changing expectations, new freedoms but fewer options, guilt over working outside the home, too … Read more

A few months ago, I had a memorable encounter with a lady who taught me the value of second chances through her act of forgiveness. I had just left a doctor's appointment and decided to pop into a shop that was adjacent to the doctor's … Read more

The reality television program, Alone, concluded this season on Thursday, August 20th. Contestants had been taken to Great Slave Lake, about 250 miles from the Arctic Circle, and were they to survive on their own for 100 days, they would … Read more

The sad news came in mid-summer 2020. Because of the global pandemic, schools in Oregon, USA, will be using online education in the fall, with in-person education being postponed until at least November. This news had a dramatic effect on … Read more