I'll never forget one Easter morning in my childhood. My dad carried our pet rabbit into the house and let it roam freely on the breakfast table. We siblings gleefully watched our cuddly pet hop amongst bowls of coloured eggs. That was …( read more )

A friend texted me one morning, "What nail salon do you go to? I need a new one." I quickly replied, "The one by Safeway. There's a young girl who does a good job. I don't know her name." Several hours later, I received this text: …( read more )

Being a C.E.O. meant that my husband worked 9-10 hours per weekday, spent 79 percent of his weekend days on conference calls, and went on numerous out-of-country business trips. Between his demanding career and my feeling like a single …( read more )

Do you ever wonder how many spiritually lost people you pass each day? It was December 2018. I needed to run to the store to finish Christmas shopping. I felt a strong urge to grab a tract and a coupon that I had just received in the …( read more )

One day, as the tale goes, an atheist hiker encountered a formidable grizzly bear slinking towards him. Terrified, the hiker broke into a run and tripped. As the bear descended upon him, he cried, "O God!" Instantly a voice spoke: "You …( read more )

"Mommy, my kitty is so soft!" exclaimed the child as he gently stroked his cat. "Honey, you're worshipping God — because you're enjoying what He made!" responded his mother. Through witnessing that brief interaction in my friend's …( read more )

When I was a child, I loved the sound of mail being pushed through the letterbox and landing whisper-soft on the doormat. I had several pen pals all over the world. I did not know their language, but they all wrote fairly good English. I …( read more )

Vena Poole was totally British, even though she became a Canadian citizen years ago. I wonder how she is taking to her new citizenship in heaven. I hope that they serve high tea there! At one time, Vena and her husband Ronald sailed a …( read more )

Have you ever been assigned a responsibility, and then others took over? They wanted to run the show, and you were pushed aside. You felt sad and frustrated because you could not do what you were assigned to do. You could not be who you …( read more )

The above texts remind me of The Three Little Pigs story, specifically the foolish piggy who built his house with straw. The big, bad wolf easily toppled his house — all because of faulty building material. That's essentially the …( read more )

Have you ever examined the seed head of a dandelion before you puckered your lips together, blew, and watched its seeds scatter and rise into the air to fly away? Have you ever seen a double rainbow? Or have you ever examined a snowflake …( read more )

The week before Christmas, one of my sons dropped by to make some adjustments to my computer. It was a quick visit without much conversation. But on his way out, he turned around and said to me, "There were three terrorist attacks today, …( read more )

In advance of the 20th anniversary of the PresbyCan Daily Devotional on May 25th, I designed an appropriate poster and submitted it to Facebook. It was there that I heard from some of the people whom I had known, and still know, as …( read more )

It seemed as though my well had run dry regarding devotional material, because I have only so many experiences to draw from. But I had an email today from a sister in Christ. After commenting on one of my devotionals, she wrote, "I pray …( read more )

One week prior to my high school graduation, the Pennsylvania State University awarded me entrance into the College of Art as an applied art major. As an upstart, studying the masters of art, from the classics to the contemporary, was …( read more )

During His trial, Jesus was asked by Pilate, "What is truth?" (John 18:38 NKJV) It seems that in today's world, the subject of truth is a rather slippery one. Many prefer to live in a world of relativism where there are no absolutes. …( read more )

Contemplating the glorious scene at the empty tomb, I am intrigued by the positioning of the two angels, one at the head and the other at the foot of Jesus' sepulchre. Years ago, I heard an interesting illustration that has stuck with me, …( read more )

The message on the billboard caught my attention as we travelled the highway to home. It read, "STAY AWAY FROM POWER LINES", in large bold letters, along with an icon of a power pole. The message was obvious: the local power company was …( read more )

The day came to seek consultation for a lingering health issue that is not of the life-and-death category, but is nevertheless disabling and life-changing, causing limitations. Arthritis is well known to many who silently suffer in its …( read more )

Recently, we had a couple join our church during the worship service. They have been coming to our congregation for over a year. They were brought to us by God through the Creative Expressions ministry that our church presents. Their …( read more )

In Old Testament times, the servant who was loved by his master and who loved his master in turn was marked for life. Wherever he appeared, he was known, by the mark of the awl, to be bonded by love … (read more)

Ten days ago, for the first time in more than a century, both the United States and Canada allowed a man to walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope. The event was televised during prime time, and as people tuned … (read more)

Several times a day, I reach for a pair of reading glasses. I keep five pairs handy in different places where I am likely to want to thread a needle or read fine print. The lenses in my reading glasses … (read more)

On Sunday, on my way to worship, I pass many different flags fluttering in the morning breeze. This weekend, I saw many of our nation's flags. During springtime, I occasionally saw a banner adorned with tulips or coloured eggs. Last … (read more)

I belong to a writers group, and each month, we meet for a time of prayer, fellowship, and encouragement for one another with our writing. We have a schedule for the year, and each month, we are asked to bring … (read more)

I never tire of watching Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments, especially during the Passover and Easter season. My favourite line in the movie is not heard until the end when Pharaoh, played by Yul Brynner, referring to the God … (read more)

It was the stillness that hit me first. You know the kind I'm talking about — the kind where you can focus on the smallest of sounds, like the buzz of the bees. As a matter of fact, sometimes that's … (read more)

Some time ago, my late husband and I had the pleasure of visiting Jamaica — not as tourists, but as visitors sharing our Christian experience in a small Christian seminary. On these occasions, Ron and I would make the most … (read more)

As Christians, we have a tendency to accept rather reluctantly the designation as "saints". We consider such a title suggestive that we have passed our final exams with honours and are ready for heaven. According to Paul, though, we are … (read more)

All right! I confess! As a child, I used to hide turnip by smushing it into any leftover gravy on my plate. Since my plate looked to be clear of the stuff, I qualified for dessert! It didn't take my … (read more)

We recently gave in and allowed our twelve-year-old son to have gerbils. I was quite clear that if he was going to get two, then they must be of the same sex. After he saved his money, he purchased from … (read more)

Seven hours in a plane is too long a time for my body not to protest. By the time I'd sat there for a few hours, I found I was playing mental games just to keep myself from protesting vigorously … (read more)

I was scheduled to preach the other night, but, sadly, I had a bad headache, and was under pressure from the throbbing in my head. As we drove to collect my daughter on the way to the church, my wife … (read more)