At the end of January this year, we had a warm spell with brief flurries that deposited a thin mixture of snow and almost frozen water on the ground. Then, the temperature started to drop. That thin mixture was still a bit soft when we had … Read more

"My goodness, these glasses are dirty! I can barely read." I'd just grabbed a pair from the table to help me read the paper. I pulled them off and realized that it wasn't dirt that made them blurry — I'd picked up the single vision … Read more

It seems like only yesterday that my sister gently cradled a small box in her hand and gently lifted the lid. Inside, for her Christmas tree, rested heirloom ornaments, her inheritance from our grandmother. One by one, she raised each … Read more

When we are zipping along the Alaska Highway, my granddaughters love it if I open the power-operated windows in the back seat so that the exhilarating air rushes in. They yell and scream with delight, especially during the winter months … Read more

Have you noticed how our protective face masks have become useful as identity markers? We're seeing them designed with logos, symbols, flags, or colours representing various group identities: sports teams, activist movements, social … Read more

"Do not postpone for the future what you so greatly need in the present." (attributed to Hudson Taylor) Her vintage dishes showed little wear. Of course! She had considered them too precious for everyday use, so she carefully preserved … Read more

The glorious, unshakable, objective foundation of our being Christians is that God chose you and me to be adopted and share in His inheritance, bound together by God's grace and love in the one body of Christ! The deepest and strongest … Read more

In our rural community, we experience power outages during severe winter weather. We prepare by placing ice bags in our freezer, and no one lifts the lid. We hunker down next to the fireplace, play board games, and heat our dinner on the … Read more

With the importance of the moment smiling through his bushy red moustache, Grandpa eased into his chair at one end of the long, full table where the jars of red cranberry sauce nestled in poinsettia skirts — the final touch of Grandma's … Read more

I don't drink or use drugs, but I do admit that I have an addiction: using food to numb my reality, effectively committing suicide with a knife and fork. Being overly impulsive and compulsive goes along with that. Right after … Read more

An inheritance is something passed down from parents to their children or other persons named in their will. As a child of my parents, I inherited their cottage when they passed away. When my husband and I retired, almost twenty years ago, … Read more

During the winter months in the north, it gets very dark. In the mornings, it stays dark until 9:30, sometimes 9:45, depending upon the weather. I hate the dark, so I have lots of large windows, as well as lights. I also work best in the … Read more

It's that time of year again: time to go through drawers and closets, sorting out, downsizing, and organizing. It's something that I like to do about this time each year, before the good weather comes when I would rather be outside … Read more

Each Christmas, we acknowledge a royal birth. Baby Jesus was, after all, born to be King. He was destined for a throne "far above all rule and authority, power and dominion." (Ephesians 1:21 NIV) What can be said about royal births? … Read more

Have you come to a point in your life as a Christian where you feel that you can give no more to the Lord's work? You feel spent. You've given and given, but not enough is given back to replenish you. More is expected from you — in time, … Read more

I have a plaque hanging on the wall in my dining room. The beloved verse up there keeps catching my attention as I eat my meals. Here is the verse that we all love: I can't recall when I first heard or read John 3:16. I must have been … Read more

Our backyard with its many trees is a heaven for squirrels. I enjoy watching the squirrels frolic high up in the black walnut branches. I imagine the squirrel's view from high up in the trees. From there, the neighbourhood dogs are of no … Read more

When I think back on my childhood, I remember playing all kinds of games with neighbourhood children, like baseball, British Bulldog, and Red Rover. Many of the games began with choosing sides. I can still remember the agony of waiting … Read more

Have you ever done something that you were ashamed of and felt that you could never be forgiven for? Like most people, I suspect, I have been guilty of things that I'd hate to admit to. Not everyone has come from a loving, nurturing home, … Read more

I once heard a story about a child who was taught a special tune in his native village. His teacher told him that if he forgot it when he grew up and went out into the world, he should come right back home and learn it all over again. We … Read more

What a glorious day it was when I discovered the undo button on my computer! "Undo" is a command in many computer programs that allows us to undo almost anything that we have done. With a click on the button, I can undo my last action or … Read more

As I go through each day and get to an advanced age, I tend to be more mindful of the blessings that God bestows on each of us. He has sent showers of blessings to us over the years, just as He has promised. One of those blessings is the … Read more

Guarantees can be the difference between misery and enjoyment. Only once in my lifetime have I purchased a car without a warranty. In fact, only once in my lifetime have I purchased a car from an individual whom I didn't know. My wife and … Read more

I've been reading a lot about grace lately, and the more I read, the more I realize how amazing God's grace really is. G – God's R – Riches A – At C – Christ's E – Expense Grace, grace, God's grace, Grace that will cleanse and pardon … Read more

Smell is a big deal in the animal kingdom. It's a big deal in God's kingdom, too. Scent marks our authenticity as Christians. What does this mean for you and me? I got thinking of that after hearing a chinchilla rancher explain how she … Read more

Either today or next Sunday, many Christians around the globe will observe the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. This practice not only comforts those who are suffering, but it unites believers worldwide in taking a … Read more

Much of life is mere surfing: we skim from one surface to another. However, in the process, we miss many precious details. We surf the flowers, but miss their intricate beauty. We surf past neighbours, but never really know them. We surf … Read more

Power can be used for good or harm. German physicist, Otto Hahn, discovered how to split the atom in 1938. Scientists feared that Nazi Germany might use the knowledge to continue their attack on Europe. World-renowned scientist, Albert … Read more

Recently, my husband and I purchased a new living room set. The following day, we noticed that my cat Nikkie had a piece of paper stuck underneath his body. So I carefully removed it, along with some of his fur. The label read, "Under … Read more

Internet habits have stirred many to think about our quality of connectedness. We see that we superficially surf, not only websites, but also people's lives. We don't get to know each other well. Such shallowness has become the norm. Many … 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

Many years ago following the death of my dad, I was having a chat with my mother, when all of a sudden, mom said to me, "You know, June, Vernon has turned out to be such a blessing for me since your dad passed away." I looked at her, but … Read more

Imagine your neighbour popping over every morning to beg for a scrap of bread. Meanwhile, you know that she has a stash of food supplies in her basement, because you donated it to her. In fact, you've given her a generous supply of … Read more