I still remember my great-aunt from the hills of Kentucky, USA. Aunt Anise had an old, covered water well in her backyard, which was absolutely amazing for a city boy like me. She also wrung chickens by the neck, plucked their feathers, … Read more
Search Results for: "Psalm 23:"
God's Medicine Bag
Some of us recall those days when a doctor made house calls, carrying a black bag stocked with medicines. After he assessed our trouble, we'd be offered a suitable remedy. Today, house calls have been replaced with clinic visits or perhaps … Read more
Follow Your Guide
My son-in-law Marc would make a great tour guide. My daughter's family has included me in a number of their trips, and it takes much skill and patience to wrangle our group of five — my daughter, my son-in-law, two college-age … Read more
When Tears Are Not Enough
Although age is a privilege that many poor souls are denied, age is certainly not kind in numerous ways. Pain, critical health issues, and loss of loved ones come along, uninvited, to hinder our lives and deny us peace — so much so, that … Read more
The Good Shepherd
When I looked at the Old Testament Psalm 23, I realized that those ancient words of David would be very reassuring and valuable to us in our present circumstances. The sole purpose of a shepherd is to look after all of the sheep under … Read more
Doing A Kindness
Do a favour for a person, and the world will reward you with a flat tire — or so it seems! The last few flat tires have had the same scenario: call the tow truck for a ride home, just after I had done a favour for a friend. My … Read more
My Strength Comes From The Joy Of The Lord
Going through ups and downs in my convalescence from burnout and depression has been a stressful time for me. When my circumstances start to change and I experience growing pains, it can affect my ability to see the situation for what it … Read more
Thinking Thoughts About God
I turn God into whatever I think of Him. Dad was a harsh disciplinarian — at least when I was young. I'm not sure where his ideas of discipline sprang from, because he didn't copy the pattern of his parents or grandparents. Dad went by … Read more
Reflection
As we prepared for our long trip, my husband purchased a product to put on the windshield so that rain will bead up on it. He got the car ready as I packed. When we travel, we always take turns driving. As we left, with my husband driving, … Read more
Brake Failure
Today's devotional title may remind you of a bad dream: the nightmarish experience of losing control. What I have in mind is no dream. It's the actual world that we experience: the horrifying absence of brakes on sinful desire — like … Read more
Walking In The Valley
My story has a "happy ending"; not all do. There are no easy or trite answers in the dark, obscure valleys which comprise parts of our lives. Although it took years before I saw this time in my life through eyes of faith, I do now … Read more
Disappointment, Guidance, And Comfort
For the past 25 years or so, I have been a pastoral care volunteer at the local Long Term Care facility. During that time, I have led Bible discussions and worship services when needed. Because of my involvement, I have met many people who … Read more
The Shepherd's Voice
During the time when I lived in the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, I saw many flocks of sheep in the desert area where we were building a 175-mile pipeline. On several occasions, I had to fly to our field office in the interior of the … Read more
From Darkness Into Light
I started to read the New Testament while walking on my treadmill five days each week. Some passages about Jesus being the light of hope in a dark world caught my eye and made me think of an event which happened a few years ago. One of … Read more
Why Me, Lord?
Have you ever felt sorry for yourself and asked that age-old question "Why me, Lord?" I hope that some of my readers have been there, so that I don't feel all alone. As some of you are probably aware, my life has been turned upside down. … Read more
Expanding Awareness
When I was a little girl, maybe about three-and-a-half years of age, some of my family and some visiting cousins, children, and adults were on a patch of grassy-green yard just beyond our kitchen doorsteps. It was a beautiful, … Read more
Post Tenebras, Lux
In 1972, while studying at Montpellier in the south of France, I played tourist one weekend and went exploring the countryside farther east. On that trip, I discovered the ruins of an old town, perched high on a rocky promontory. During … Read more
Listen To The Voice
Our daughter is "horse crazy". She has been since she was ten years old, when she went with a friend to his riding lesson for the disabled, as they were both deaf. Shortly after that, she began taking riding lessons, too. Over the years, … Read more
Green Pastures, Quiet Waters
Living in a tiny, remote, northern community requires that we travel a minimum of two hours each way to the closest city in order to access many vital services that our small town is unable to provide. We normally make this trip twice a … Read more
Walking In Shadows
I sauntered along beneath a canopy of trees, rays of sunlight periodically penetrating the thick overgrowth and slithering to the ground, giving a checkered effect beneath my feet — a mixture of sun and shadows. As the day grew weary, the … Read more
Mighty Bobo, The Guardian Donkey
Bobo is a cuddly-looking donkey whose main job is to guard sheep. I met Bobo one wintry day while visiting a farm. He was standing near a flock of sheep, which were grazing contentedly at an outdoor hay feeder. Bobo looked quite placid … Read more
Going Home
I have recently watched a few television shows about dying or death and what happens afterwards, ranging from the secular Dr. Oz to the spiritual 700 Club. We are all interested in it, even though we say that we don't … Read more