I have several beautiful cutwork tablecloths — a fabric design that incorporates embroidery or lace with parts of the fabric cut out to accent shapes. When they are folded up in the drawer, they don't look much different than any of the … Read more
Search Results for: "John 16:"
Bare Cupboards
At one time, brightly coloured classroom bulletin boards displayed nursery rhymes that were used in primary and elementary schools to teach children the sounds, patterns, rhythm, and rhyme of reading. The following rhyme represented a … Read more
Waiting Under His Wings
A most difficult thing for me to deeply comprehend is that a loving God allows troubles into my life. He tells us to be prepared at all times by faith, knowing that He has a plan for each of us, and that includes both easy and difficult … Read more
Alone, Yet Not Alone!
I'm living the new normal! No one said that life was easy, and honestly, this journey without my husband is anything but easy! However, Christ encourages us with these words: As I travel this road alone, yet not alone, I give thanks for … Read more
The Realignment
Agnes, my goat, was limping along over the icy path. I decided that this called for investigation. After a thorough look, I opted to call the veterinarian for some advice. "Keep an eye on it, give her some medication you have on hand, and … Read more
A Time Of Uncertainty
What is happening on our planet? Wildfires are raging in one part of our world, devastating hurricanes and tornadoes are destroying buildings and lives in other parts of our planet, and protests and an impending war are headlining the … Read more
The Sacred Place Of Loneliness
One morning, while I was at my computer, my 15-year-old son interrupted my thoughts with these words: "Mom, do you know what the biggest problem in society is? It is loneliness!" He had no idea that at that very moment my fingers were … Read more
Simply For The Asking
My parents were very close, in love all their married lives, and it showed. They also had great faith, and that showed as well. At age 65, my dad was killed. A few weeks after his funeral, I asked my mum how she could keep going. With … Read more
The Missing Piece
They stream out of the store, carts crammed with piles of groceries, assorted Christmas items, wreaths, toys, candy canes, chocolates, huge frozen turkeys, and the occasional clinging child. A few people notice me standing beside the … Read more
Be Of Good Cheer
One of my brothers-in-law has had some serious health issues this year. He has spent many weeks in hospital, endured innumerable tests, and undergone several surgeries. After many attempts at resolution, all of which were ultimately … Read more
Call On The Expert
Occasionally, my husband and I argue over a matter that neither of us knows enough about, like our current roofing issue. Wrestling over such matters is a silly waste of energy and a needless source of strain. These are times to simply … Read more
Coincidence Or The Holy Spirit?
Last Sunday during the worship service in my local church, our pastor was preaching about the importance of sharing our faith with one another. At one point in his sermon, he stepped down from the pulpit and began to walk slowly down the … Read more
For My Name's Sake
Today marks the one-hundredth anniversary of the Armenian genocide, an event that occurred during the Ottoman Empire. It was on this date, April 24th, 1915, that several thousand Armenian intellectuals in Turkey were rounded up, arrested, … Read more
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
I was out on my back deck enjoying the cool air that followed the heavy rain that had just fallen. It was such a welcome break from the humidity that we had been experiencing. As I stood there, I noticed a tiny spider crawling into the … Read more
My Heart Sings
Last night, I was listening to the late news, and it was all doom and gloom: wars, devastating floods, murders. Why did I bother to listen to all of this upsetting stuff just before bedtime? I turned to a channel where I knew a good … Read more
Rocks, Tree Stumps, And Crevices
It was a dreary, windy, and cloudy day as some of us went for a long walk to "Gerry's Point". Gerry was one of the friends with whom we had gone camping on Manitoulin Island and who had passed away. One day a few years before, as he went … Read more
The Way Of Life
Don't you just hate it when it appears that evil has won at the game of life? The guilty party gets off on a technicality; the person always causing problems on the board refuses to step down, which leads to the loss of good leaders; the … Read more
All The Difference In The World
A twelve-year-old boy I will call Joey was transferred into our school able to read only a dozen or so words. His speech and language were like that of a much younger child. From an early age, this red-blond lad … Read more
Spiritual Skates
My walks take me by a skating rink, and I enjoy watching the young and old pleasure skating to music that swells from speakers. A young one who barely walks is in good form with small skates and loving hands … Read more
Encryption
For most of my life, I have found the subject of languages a fascinating field of study. So, as a hobby, I try to learn a few new words in various languages. I also recently joined an online stenography class … Read more
The Sacred Place Of Solitude
"I cherish the sacred place of solitude … an abyss opening up in the center of my soul." – Peter Feldmeier Have you ever found yourself utterly alone — perhaps through rejection or exclusion, or simply through exhaustion from doing … Read more
Ride Of A Lifetime
Life can feel like a thrilling roller-coaster ride. A day can be filled with "scream-provoking" or "fear-filled" moments that overwhelm us by their intensity, or they can be mere side-show distractions that draw our attention and keep our mind focused … Read more
Holy Spirit
Some people think that the work of the Holy Spirit is just to infuse everyone with dynamic energy so that worship services, ministries, and missions can be made more effective, positive, and amazing. Far too often, we have this idea … Read more
Something For Nothing
I get lots of unsolicited email. I view their subject titles and origins, just in case a genuine email is found, like a needle in the proverbial haystack. If only these communications were true and I gave them my bank … Read more