I struggle with my faith versus my thoughts. There are things that I believe in my heart about God, but I also have doubts in my mind. For instance, I believe that God is infinitely powerful and just, but doubts arise when I see so much … Read more

I am not a systematic house cleaner. I tend to clean as I go, or set time aside for a larger task. Sometimes, finding an unexpected cobwebbed corner will push me into action, but it's a not a favourite activity. Cleaning up my spiritual … Read more

One day in 1947, my dad mentioned that he had not seen his father for over a week. So, the two of us went over to see him. He was sick in bed — really sick. Dad went and got the doctor to see what was wrong with him. The doctor went … Read more

Sixty years ago, I was with a major accounting firm and was responsible for the auditing of a large Canadian retail chain. Spending several months each year at their main store, I had an office there and frequently rode in one of the … Read more

I recently had a colonoscopy, as many others have had. It's described as a medical test that is used to detect changes or abnormalities in the colon or large intestine. During the procedure, a tiny video camera allows the doctor to view … Read more

After living in 34 different rental accommodations, my husband and I finally managed to buy a house. Since 1840, it had been zoned commercial, with the business on the ground floor, and living space on the top floor. The upstairs had … Read more

For many years, I played a brass instrument. Originally, I played small instruments like the cornet and horns, but over the years, I "graduated" to playing the largest, called a bass or tuba. Occasionally, I would hear comments that I … Read more

Back in the day, a housewife doing her weekly laundry the good old-fashioned way knew when her clothes were clean. Through various iterations of laundry methods — from washing clothes on the riverbank, to using a washtub and scrub board, … Read more

Praise God for the gift of music! Singing songs of praise can lift our spirits and fill us with His joy. I love to sing and give glory to God through praise songs and hymns. I play my favourite CDs when we are in the car. Lately, I have … Read more

God rarely opened His storehouse of snow in the place I lived at six years of age. But snow had been predicted for Christmas. I pressed my nose against the small window and watched in anticipation as the white snowflakes began to fall … Read more

I think that I'm a good housekeeper. My house is always neat; cabinet tops aren't cluttered; I vacuum and mop on a more-or-less regular basis. But in November, I was seized by the urge to do what is usually called "spring cleaning". I … Read more

When I was a child, Ivory soap advertisements claimed that its product was 99 and 44/100ths percent pure. I do recall that this soap sloughed the dirt from my hands and feet just fine. Ivory also had the amazing property of floating on … Read more

One Sunday recently, as our pastor prayed at the start of worship, he asked God to fill each one of us, and to do His transforming work in every part of our lives. As we prayed this, suddenly a thought shot through my mind: "All of me … Read more

Perhaps this Christmas, you'll be giving at least one present because you feel obligated. Your better judgment reminds you that gift-giving should come from your heart, not from someone's expectation. However, if you had been the Magi … Read more

Together with a few friends, I had the privilege of visiting a small town in the mountains of western Canada. As part of the visit, we decided to find a local park for eating our lunch. After following signs to a picnic table, we arrived … Read more

Lying in bed in the hospital recently for days, fighting pneumonia and enduring night sweats and other miseries, I was feeling so in need of a cleansing shower. As I was attached to machines and very weak, I could not make my way down the … Read more

We all have triggers. A cubicle adjacent to my work area was kept intentionally unkempt. It became increasingly overgrown with open boxes, to the point that it would encumber my own workspace. Some would question me about it as if it were … Read more

Since we moved into town a couple of years ago, I am now, when the weather permits, able to walk in a populated area of the town. Late last summer, on my walks, I would see a number of residences where the yards were not well kept. Some … Read more

Last year during Lent, a friend of mine who sometimes attends church complained that the pastor's sermons contained too much about God and Jesus and sin, and not enough that's "uplifting". Actually, I think I get that — because many of … Read more

Here's a question for ladies (and men, too): What if we were required to dispose of every piece of fake jewellery in our homes and keep only what is solid gold or pure gem? What would remain? Probably very little. But here's the real … Read more

In my local social circle, I am often with Christians, but I have family and friends who are not Christians. It's difficult for me to explain to those non-believers that my "religion" is not like others such as Buddhism or Judaism. It's … Read more

One Friday, a work colleague spoke to me regarding a stray dog which she had found on the grounds of her church the previous Sunday. I thought, Perhaps the dog was left by the owner who didn't want to care for it. The colleague was … Read more

Recently, I felt like I had totally and completely lost control over every aspect of my life. Even though I didn't really realize what was happening, I had become angry at everything and everyone (including myself), and to be honest, with … Read more

Did you know that we people of God require regular maintenance, much like cars do? Car oil needs changing because it gets contaminated with acids, burnt fuel, carbon particles, and sludge, which reduce the efficiency of the engine. The oil … Read more

R.J. had a physical and mental condition resulting in loss of feeling. He was a college mate struggling to make the grade. I distinctly remember him coming to a midwinter class with no shoes. Loss of touch created many dangerous … Read more

King David sinned with Bathsheba. The Bible story tells us that King David saw Bathsheba bathing, and he wanted her. So he summoned her and slept with her. When she became pregnant, he tried to cover things up. When that … Read more

I am sure that by today's title, readers are thinking to themselves either "ughh" or "great". I am in the "ughh" camp when it comes to oatmeal. As we were growing up, mom tried all kinds of ways to get … Read more

My husband and I often visit flea markets, yard sales, and "junk" shops, just looking to find something of special interest that someone else has discarded. The old saying, "One man's junk is another man's treasure", takes on a new … Read more

The fresh snow on the small hill behind our home was a magnet drawing a group of children, sleds in tow, for some winter coasting. The sleds were of varying sizes and styles, but the children's sole purpose was to … Read more

My coffee maker is winking at me! Honestly: on and off, on and off goes the little red light. It's actually telling me that the machine needs cleaning, but what it isn't recognizing is that I have cleaned it — … Read more

The bird bath, in our backyard, attracts a lot of wildlife. Sitting outside on a warm fall day, I watched in fascination as a wasp gently landed on the edge of the birdbath and began drinking the water. I'd never … Read more

In the park where we live, there is excellent garbage pickup service. Every other Friday, we can put out any items, large or small, that we need to get rid of. It is so liberating to be able simply to … Read more

This past Wednesday night, we were in the crowd of 100,000 watching on several JumboTrons in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, as the hometown Canucks lost to the Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League Stanley Cup final. As we … Read more