On February 24, while visiting in California, USA, I fell and shattered my patella (kneecap). Due to a number of circumstances, surgery was ten days later. But right from the beginning, I was blessed. I fell on concrete in a parking lot … Read more
Search Results for: "2 Corinthians 1:"
Unexpected Blessing
The unexpected blessing came from … well … an unexpected place. "___________ said he would help you move some stuff," the email from the guidance counsellor stated. The student's name stuck in my mind like a fly to flypaper. I had … Read more
Let's Be Encouragers
Many years ago, a young girl in my grade one class stood out from the other students in a few ways. To begin with, her speech was hard to understand, and her actions belied her actual age. She often had tantrums, and would sometimes run … Read more
The Ability
Three-year-old Lindy is a late talker. Lindy hears and understands, but the part of her brain that hears sounds and interprets them into speech does not function as it should. It will thus take her much longer to learn to speak than most … Read more
Where A Yes Can Take You
A news service interviewed me after I returned from Africa, asking about life in ministry, to which I answered, "I've never been bored. I've found that when I say 'Yes' to things, doors open. The more I say 'Yes', the more doors open. … Read more
Pandemic Post
Throughout this pandemic, I have been collecting British stamps. I am doing this for two reasons: firstly, I'm gathering them in several albums to give to my grandson in years to come. I hope that he appreciates the stamps as something … Read more
Life's Best Comforter
My wife and I are quickly moving towards being patriarch and matriarch of our family. Though I try not to think about it, I know that the time is approaching when my mother and my in-laws will die. I remember the sorrow that I felt when … Read more
Sharing God's Grace
As I ponder this journey called "life", I wonder what on earth God has in store for me. What possible purpose does He have for me that I would still be here, while my Bob, who had a clear calling to share his faith through music, both … Read more
When The Sirens Go Off
The first thing that those who visit me remark on is all the sirens! The "Get out of the way, quick!" shrieks of fire engines headed for my neighbourhood's under-repaired housing. The life-or-death screams of ambulances attending victims … Read more
I Almost Missed Out
I almost missed the happiness that God has had for me in life, when I decided to end it at the age of 17. Miserable, lonely, and friendless, I could not see this changing in the future. What good is my life? I questioned, not realizing … Read more
God's Comfort Continues
Today, our firstborn would have been 60 years old. I wrote about that a few years ago in devotional called God's Comfort . In it, I explained in some detail the events of the day when our first child was born but did not live. Over the … Read more
No Way! Ya Way!
My friend and I had quite a conversation the other day. I remember her saying, "There is absolutely no way that I am going to do this! No way!" To which, without thinking, I replied, "Ya way!" What I meant to say was "Yes way!" We both … Read more
High Wind – Higher Faith
A 100-kilometre-per-hour wind seemed like a lot more on my seventh-floor balcony when I struggled to get out to remedy a situation that had the two chairs on the balcony in the gusting wind. One was securely tied into the … Read more
Hurricanes
In the southern United States, we are in the time period known as Hurricane Season. At this time, we are more likely to have devastating weather. But even if some areas of the land, the coastline, and the Caribbean receive … Read more
Amens From Our Hearts
In three most important ceremonies in my life, I gave my solemn promises, vows, and agreements. I gave assent to, and made my marriage vows from my heart to the boy I loved, I made my renewed covenant vows to … Read more
The Robber
Ginger and Joey were brothers, and much like human brothers, these two cats had their spats. Ginger is a quiet, unassuming creature, placid and amiable. Joey, on the other hand, was quite the opposite: loud and boisterous, a regular … Read more
A Father's Lasting Love
At the end of my dad's funeral service nine years ago, my mom gave me his personal Shona language hymn and prayer book. It is neatly bound in leather, and contains some bookmarks with his handwriting and underlining of his favourite … Read more
Rose Of All Roses
We bought our first home eight years ago, and being in a new area, it has taken time to get the gardens in place. One of the last gardens to be done was the one that had been dug when we moved in. I finally decided that I wanted to try my … Read more
God's Special Child
For some parents, the worst fear is having a child who is handicapped. I have often asked the question, how does today's Scripture apply to raising a child with a severe disability? As a mother of a son with autism, I understand the … Read more
Times Of Sorrow
On the 9th of December, 2007, my father-in-law died. My wife had just returned four days earlier from a visit to her parents in British Columbia, Canada, and though her dad was declining and having some difficulty, his death was … Read more
Promises, Promises
My grandmother, Rachel Stuart, whom we all called "Grandma", was a great wee person. She looked like Dorothy's mother, Sophia, from the television show "The Golden Girls". She raised a large family of seven and had umpteen grandchildren and great-grandchildren. … Read more
Comfort Zone And Comfort Clothes
I am sure we all have them or have had them at some time in our lives: "comfort clothes" — that shirt that one's spouse has tried to throw out or that pair of shoes that fits like no other. … Read more
God Provides Comfort
Recently while I was in hospital for a surgery, though the stay was only three days, it was a stressful time for me. I am a person who likes to be able to see outside a lot, and the Lord … Read more
The Mountain Climber
I have a friend who says she's a mountain climber, because she's always climbing out of deep valleys. Trouble seems to seek her out. There's always something painful going on in her life. Don't get the idea she's a pessimistic … Read more
God Promises Hope For His Children
Many people have asked me how I cope with the death of a loved one. Well, it is overwhelming — there is an emptiness and numbness that is impossible to describe. Every death is different, and we react differently to … Read more
Comfort Cushions
God has many beautiful ways of directing us to ease the pain of others. One very simple way He has directed me is in making "Comfort Cushions". It all came about when one of our hospice volunteers told me the … Read more