Our church has a sewing group called The Thread Bearers. This Christmas, the group put together stockings filled with goodies and trinkets — some handmade and some bought. Our over-fifty-years-of-age group delivered the stockings to the … Read more

In high school, my teachers often told us about what they called "the Black Book". They would say that if our names were entered in the book for any atrocious activity, it would stop us from getting good jobs later in life. How we dreaded … Read more

Quite recently, I visited my leader from the church who was quite sick. You must know that I wasn't aware that the sickness was something severe until I saw him looking quite wasted. I also didn't know that he would die the next day. I … Read more

"Oh Mommy, why did this happen to me, and how long will it last?" These were four-year-old Ade's words when she caught the flu this winter. She was confused as to how she got sick and was concerned as to how long she was going to be … Read more

Lately, I have been spending more time than previously reading the Bible, doing devotionals, and going to Bible study classes. I've also been devoting more time to church activities, but I've felt that something is missing. In the past … Read more

People were thrilled when we finally got a much-needed dump of snow over a three-day period. It had been so cold and all our previous snow had melted during a warm period, leaving the ground exposed before the temperature dropped almost … Read more

Once upon a time, I lived under the illusion that we should treat people as they deserve. It was a simple law which I easily grasped: Be nice only to nice people. Thankfully, my illusion got shattered — all because of one dozen eggs. … Read more

A favourite hymn of mine is The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended, and the fourth verse never fails to move me: The sun that bids us rest is waking Our brethren 'neath the western sky, And hour by hour fresh lips are making Thy wondrous … Read more

I've been thinking of Valentine's Day and how the heart is a symbol of love. Our church has a breakfast on the first Monday of the month, and I usually try to have some kind of related treat if there is a special day in that month. And so, … Read more

Pastor Phillips Brooks was known as a great orator in his day. Ironically, though, after visiting the actual site of Jesus' birth, he was moved beyond words. For the first time in his life, he was speechless — unable to communicate the … Read more

When I was five and my brother was four, we would play church together. We'd get all dressed up, just like the grownups did. I was the organist and played my best on the old pump organ. My brother was the preacher. He would stand on the … Read more

Looking out the window first thing this morning, I see that it is snowing again. I can almost hear the moans and groans of the commuters. Normally, I would be moaning and groaning right along with them at the thought of more shovelling. … Read more

Of the many beautiful sayings in the Old Testament, this verse from Jeremiah is one of my all-time favourites. Sometimes, I find myself reliving the past and regretting the mistakes that I have made. My stupidity, selfishness, and … Read more

I know that I've told this story before, but it bears repeating until we all get it! Several years after becoming a Christian, I still struggled with the after-effects of child abuse. Fear, rejection, and poor self-esteem remained a daily … Read more

Our cocker spaniel, Candy, had gained so much weight, or so I thought — until I bathed her and realized that I could see all her ribs. Her belly, however, was huge. Later that week Candy underwent surgery at the … Read more

One of the expressions — quotations in my little treasure box, which I open at my daily devotion time — reads: "Life's pain is inevitable, but misery is optional." Yes, God never takes away the free choices we have each … Read more

There are times in my life when I cannot remember what I went to get from downstairs, or where I put something, or even what I wanted to tell someone. I just plain forget. I don't choose to do so — it just happens. I am human. There are … Read more

One of my all-time favourite movies is Mutiny on the Bounty, starring Marlon Brando and Trevor Howard. My dad took me to it when it was first released in Britain. I was six years old at the time, and although I didn't really understand … Read more

We recently drove by some garage sales in our area. It seemed like everyone was selling garden lights — the ones that are connected together with cords that can be buried in the ground and plugged into an outlet. When … Read more

I have had a stiff arm for the past few months. It doesn't always hurt — only when I move it a certain way. I went to physiotherapy and it kept getting worse. I went to my doctor, and she … Read more

I visited Mary at the women's shelter several times, but she was still very passive and withdrawn. She rarely looked me in the eye and never appeared happy to see me. Many people had hurt and disappointed her, so it … Read more

My granddaughter, Sierra, now six years old, came to visit her grandpa and grandma during the Christmas holidays. "Magga," (her name for Grandma) "would you come to the bathroom with me?" she asked me. "Of course, I will," I answered. … Read more

Recently, I took a trip with my daughter and her two little ones. They aren't used to travelling long distances, and so became very restless on the way there. They slept most of the way home. I was sitting beside … Read more

Today I saw a presentation by a representative of the Gideons. He told about the miracles he sees all over the world when he does one simple thing: placing the Scriptures in the hands of ordinary people. Sometimes he only … Read more

Have you ever seen anyone be happy because they saw a teardrop? The arrival of a teardrop is part of the recovery story of a young man who had a mishap with a tree. Fifteen months after his accident, Darrick … Read more

Have you ever wanted to bring comfort to someone you cared about, yet after listening to his or her situation, you were left with a feeling of helplessness? Recently that happened to me. The phone call was so upsetting. As … Read more

Recently the Board of my church arranged to paint our manse. In order for this to happen, I had to clean out my office. If you had ever seen it, you would know what a job that was! When I … Read more

While standing by my kitchen sink one morning, God walked by. It was 8:00 a.m., and in just a few moments I would be heading out the door. Car pool! My baby, three other children and I were due to … Read more

It has been just a short time since my husband of 24 years initiated and successfully extracted a divorce from me, shattering my life and separating me from my two teenage sons. My youngest child, a multihandicapped daughter, has remained … Read more