Sometimes, I get frustrated with God, especially when my prayers of concern take a while to be answered. I'm usually a patient person, but when I get anxious, I can't help feeling that God is either ignoring me or doesn't understand the … Read more

The first line of the email read: "Have you ever felt the weight of the world pressing in, drowning out the gentle whispers of God's love?" It was an email from a Christian clothing company, so I figured that it was some kind of pitch for … Read more

When I was a child, one of my favourite games was hide and seek. My cousins, my sister, and I would play it at our house, or at my grandma's house when we were all visiting there together. Friends and I would play it on the playground at … Read more

When announcement time came at the end of our worship service, he proudly proclaimed that he had just celebrated his ninth birthday for the ninth time. John's birth weight registered just shy of two pounds — not necessarily a thing to … Read more

I love to read, and I especially enjoy reading biographies. These accounts give me a real sense of connection with people of the past, and help me to see how history unfolded during their lifetimes. So many people with fascinating lives … Read more

Earl Grey came to me after two other families had failed to collect him. He is a grey tabby, and he loves to get into everything. I have discovered him everywhere from inside my mop pail to inside a cloth bag that had been left on the … Read more

God has prepared for us things beyond our imagining. Our hope is for a renewed world and for fullness of life in the age to come. As Jesus taught us, we pray: "Thy kingdom come." – *`Living … Read more

The Tarahne is an historical boat in dry dock on the shores of Atlin Lake in the town of Atlin, British Columbia, Canada. Once upon a time, she sailed upon the waters of the lake, full of tourists, and being useful as she delivered goods … 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

When I was a young parent, I made a rule that my children hold my hand when crossing streets or in crowded places. I wanted to make sure that they were safe or that they didn't wander away. I've often seen children just automatically … Read more

We just celebrated our 53rd wedding anniversary, so I have been inundated with memories from the past, sometimes making me somewhat sad because of times gone by. Since the celebration is over, I continue to remember things from those first … Read more

In the summer of 2014, my husband Jim was the lay minister at K-Bar, a recreational vehicle (RV) resort in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona, USA. He was also suffering the side effects of chemotherapy, so he sat on a stool to … Read more

When I was a very young girl, until I heard the lonesome steam whistle, I didn't know that a section of California's Northwestern Pacific Railroad tracks were six miles down the mountain from my grandparents' sheep ranch. The wind … Read more

The other morning, I was reading in Mark, and when I came across this verse, it got me thinking. What would I ask for? Would I be so bold? Then, more questions came flooding into my mind. Do any of these questions come to mind? If … Read more

It was a long month and more for me — and probably longer for those around me! A sudden fall on my 39th wedding anniversary changed my life. (Sorry Jeanne — it wasn't the day that we had planned!) I think that I adapted rather well to … Read more

Hallelujah! Today is my birthday! First, I wish to thank God for His steadfast love towards me and my family in all these years. However, a few days back, when I sat down for a quick review of my journey thus far, one truth was impressed … Read more

If I didn't pay, I couldn't talk. As my wife and I sat on the front porch of the hundred-year-old home that we rented, we often heard it ring — a pay phone situated next to an old country store across the road. Each night around the … Read more

What kind of sin steals a carefree childhood and spirals it into a world of alienation, shame, and secrecy? An evil that defies the very hope that Christ stands for, leaving hopelessness in its wake. Could it harm a child growing up in a … Read more

Part of my spiritual journey was working towards a B.A. degree in Religious Studies. During that period, our family moved and settled into a new church, which was an ideal fit. One particular morning, I asked God for clarity on what He … Read more

Dear friends of mine, who had previously enjoyed a prosperous lifestyle, savings, and a fine home, experienced job loss and successive calamities of workplace injustice, ensuing legal struggles, dwindling savings, loss of their house, care … Read more

Recently, while I was at a local restaurant, I kept feeling a nudge in my spirit to go to a clothing store when I finished eating. As I arrived there, I recognized a homeless man named Mike. We struck up a conversation. "I can't give you … Read more

This was my Scripture on the day when we flew to England this spring. It was very encouraging! Our plan was to visit several places, but not to rely on family — separated by considerable distances — to drive us. The plan included … Read more

Our house burned to the ground when I was a young teenager. At that time, clear across town, the city was planning to build a highway through a fancier neighbourhood, which meant tearing down every house that stood in its way. With our … Read more

The sound of the violent wind roaring around the house was terrifying. As I peered nervously out into my backyard, I could see the wildly swinging branches of the trees tearing at my eavestrough as they whipped back and forth along the … Read more

I once counted up the times that I have moved through my life — a total of 35. That meant moving everything — pets, books, dishes, furniture — sometimes to another country, city, province, or state — changing mailing addresses and … Read more

There have been times in my life when I have listened to the nudgings of the Holy Spirit, like in the early 1970s when we sponsored our first foster child, Marilou, from the Philippines. I was very faithful in writing letters and sending … Read more

Recently, we had a church picnic planned for a Sunday afternoon at a local conservation area. The weather forecast for the entire weekend wasn't good. Saturday was dull all day. The forecast for Sunday didn't look much better. Early … Read more

I believe that God is continually eager to use us to help others if we are ready and willing. On June 29th of this year in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a blind gentleman stumbled and fell from the subway platform onto the tracks. A brave … Read more

Almost two decades ago, a young girl from Zimbabwe won a scholarship to study at a university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. This was quite an accomplishment, and she was understandably very excited. However, three weeks before she was … Read more

In mid-April, we in Ontario, Canada, experienced an ice storm that lasted three days and covered the previously showing grass with snow and then freezing rain. Over that same period, our mountain ash tree was inundated with robins that had … Read more

My toddler granddaughter loves prune plums. My daughter buys the canned ones, as they are much softer and easier for the baby to eat. Not long ago when I was minding the baby, I had to open up a new can of plums for her breakfast. I … Read more

Our grey tabby cat, Joey Been, was so called as it truly seemed that he had been everywhere — a born adventurer. We never knew where we might find him next. One day, however, Joey and his whereabouts really took me by surprise. It was … Read more

This past summer, friends of ours flew in unexpectedly to nearby Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, for a holiday. By the time that we had found out about their visit, they had already rented bicycles and cycled all around the lengthy … Read more