On two separate occasions recently, I was asked to help a friend and a family member prepare for their driver's licence renewal for individuals aged eighty and over. Due to the inevitable changes in our bodies as we age — our vision, … Read more

You've probably said one or more of these sayings in your lifetime: – He's as old as Methuselah. – You're the apple of my eye. – I just escaped by the skin of my teeth. – It's time to put your house in order. – It's like the blind leading … Read more

Recently, one of our leaders led the church community's "all-age spot". She held up a piece of string as a visual aid and asked some children to come up and help her to hold it as a representation of time. They stretched it out across the … Read more

A childhood memory that has left a permanent imprint on my heart is my father and mother pulling me in my wooden sled through the town streets to purchase our yearly Christmas tree from the downtown Boy Scout lot. As I peered out from … Read more

I live in Nova Scotia, and to be precise, I live on the eastern shore, which is dotted with small fishing villages. The architecture here is often just a tad different from what most people are used to: we have a large number of widow's … Read more

Recently, my husband and a friend were outside cutting down trees on our property. The area where we live is surrounded by many maple trees and silver birches. Unfortunately, many of the birch trees are dead and need to be taken down. They … Read more

We have various inscriptions around inside our church and out the front on the lawn. They are there as a celebration and remembrance of various people who have given their lives in service, whether in membership, war, or leadership over … Read more

Isn't it interesting that the Bible begins and ends with the light? God is goodness and light. Darkness is equated with sin and evil. As a new immigrant in Canada, I walked home alone one evening in the dark. I was confident because I … Read more

I have a goji berry bush, the fruit of which is highly antioxidant, long used in Chinese medicine, and also used to make jam. The plant is now as tall as I am. I fertilize it, but I've yet to see any fruit. Those at the nursery suggested … Read more

It was pouring rain: eavestroughs channelling water from the roof, directing it downward; water shooting out of downspouts in a torrent; rain-barrels sputtering with the overflow; puddles everywhere. As I watched the water swirling away, … Read more

A few years ago, I took a class on the subject of genealogy. Written in my notes was the suggestion that the holiday season provides a good opportunity to dive into family history. For example, round-the-dinner-table gatherings at … Read more

I have always loved parties. As a child, nothing excited me more than a little piece of paper that said, Come to my birthday party. Nothing much has changed in that respect — I still love get-togethers. I have had more than my share of … Read more

One year, my husband and I gave our children a telescope for Christmas. It was a gift that the whole family enjoyed as we took turns observing the beautiful night-lit sky. This experience reminded me of King David's words: Then, I … Read more

While growing up in Westmont, New Jersey, USA, I was like every child anxiously waiting for Christmas to arrive. Part of every celebration was to have a decorated tree. I remember repeatedly asking my dad when we were getting our tree. The … Read more

We who regularly endure the clutch of winter's deepfreeze know what it's like to crave for spring. As each day passes, we look forward to spring with intensified longing. We may even come to the point where we cannot handle another day of … Read more

One Sunday before the service began, everyone in church was given a eucalyptus leaf. The plant was meant to represent the tree of life mentioned in today's Scripture. I thought that it made an interesting illustration, since the … Read more

I have a friend who reads the last chapter first when she starts a new book. She has always been a very inquisitive person, enjoying the process of analyzing how the story and characters are developed along the way. Knowing how the story … Read more

Now, I'm not suggesting that you all go out and buy a bottle of wine; that sort of thing is between you and the Lord! But years ago, I worked in the field of medical research, and I stumbled on a research paper on a study done at the … Read more

The brilliant mix of reds, oranges, and yellows silhouetted against the blue background of the sky almost takes my breath away. Our heavenly Father, the Great Artist, has splashed a panorama of colours across the canvas of His creation, … Read more

The stars have been God's masterpiece for centuries. They have always thrilled me, especially on a beautiful starry night. One night, years ago, we were at Camp Douglas on such a night. We just had to get the campers up … Read more

While driving in my car the other day, I heard an old Tim McGraw song, Live Like You Were Dying: I went sky diving, I went Rocky Mountain climbing I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named "Fu Manchu" and … Read more

I love seeing the moon and the stars in the night sky, but I guess that I'm going to miss them in eternity. This verse from Revelation makes it quite clear that night and darkness will have no place in … Read more

Recently, I have been part of a program of severely restricted water consumption in the community where I live. This situation has been in progress for several weeks. We were advised that a bacterium, which had invaded our water supply, … Read more

It is a beautiful, but brisk, evening here on Manitoulin Island in northern Ontario, as I am writing. In contemplation, I am sitting in our parlour in front of our wood-burning fireplace. In the fireplace, a maple log is burning … Read more

We live in a new development area that once was farm land. Once the homes were built, it was up to us to plant trees and landscape our properties. It has been neat to watch over the past seven years … Read more

One day, when we all get to heaven, we're going to meet people from the past, as well as the future, because in eternity, past, present, and future come together. Some people may come up to us and say, "Thank … Read more

I am sure we all have them or have had them at some time in our lives: "comfort clothes" — that shirt that one's spouse has tried to throw out or that pair of shoes that fits like no other. … Read more

After I had finished a game of golf, I sat down on a bench next to a flower bed. Here, I observed a caterpillar as it stalked the leaves of a plant, munching them into oblivion. I knew that one … Read more

I was recently given a survey to fill in about a car that we had purchased. I was moving along quite well until I came to this question: Tell Us About Yourself Your age – [_] Box 1: under 25; … Read more

There are times in our lives when we just need to be obedient in our walk with the Lord. We will at times find ourselves in dark days during our walk with the Lord. We may entertain a whole host … Read more

Sometimes, though not very often, I get up just before sunrise to look at the sky. I enjoy the transformation of the light and colours from indigo to blue, with a mixture of grays, yellows, oranges, and reds. On cloudless … Read more

We used to have two Sheltie dogs. We got the second one a year after the first one. Tramp, the smaller one, would always follow Lady. Wherever she went, he was right behind her. I never thought much about it. … Read more

For a few months now, I have been struggling with sleep. Each morning from 4:00 a.m. onward, I am wide awake and ready to start my day. I recently attended a workshop where we were given some passages from the … Read more