When I was young, our family lived next door to brothers who had a gorgeous apple tree in their yard. The apples looked so good and juicy, and we all wished that we could have one. There were five sisters in my family at this time. A …( read more )

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 )

Her smile seemed to envelop her from head to toe. Whenever I saw Abby, she seemed to radiate a smile that showed in her face, her eyes, and her body language. When she stood on the church platform to give announcements, read Scripture, or …( read more )

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 )

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 )

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 )

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 )

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 )

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 )

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 )

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 )

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 )

At the beginning of anything that is new and unfamiliar, like a new community to live in, or a new job with more responsibility, one can feel sort of scared, wondering about what is to come next. It is helpful to know that Jesus' Spirit …( read more )

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 )

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 )

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 )

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 )

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 )

Let's read again the account of Christ at Gethsemane just before His arrest, but this time, watch the words "nevertheless" and "but". Luke and Mark also recount Christ's "nevertheless … but" prayer. In our English Bibles, two different …( read more )

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)

My young adult son needed a ride to a warehouse in an industrial park. He was going to the storage space used by a volunteer organization which our family supports. There was a scheduled work party in preparation for Summerfolk, … (read more)

If you were to find the photographs of kids and grandkids in my purse, you would also turn up an old postcard. Originally, it came inviting me to attend the ordination service of a student minister friend. The picture side … (read more)

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)

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)

"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)

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)

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)

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)

A number of years ago, my wife and I were attending a function in Maine, USA, just over the border from where we live. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The fellowship with friends was wonderful. At one o'clock, they … (read more)

As I was washing the dishes, I looked out the kitchen window and noticed a bird in the backyard. The starling was flapping about in an awkward way. As I gazed at him, seeking to figure out this puzzle, it … (read more)

Years ago, when I ministered to the Scottish fishing village of Dunure, some people stopped coming to church. Eventually, they were asked by a couple of elders about why they had become non-attenders. They replied, "He's too evangelical for me." … (read more)

One of nature's greatest sights is the hundreds and thousands of birds gathering in autumn for their winter migration. Another of nature's great marvels is how they reach their destination. Among the best known of the migratory birds is the … (read more)

Israel's incident at "Marah", which means "bitter", can be compared to many of life's experiences as we journey through the wilderness of this world. If you are like most people, there probably have been hardships in your life when you … (read more)