Last month, my friend, Anne, and I chose Jesus Loves Me as the topic for our children's sermon. It has been said that Jesus Loves Me is one of the best-loved Christian children's hymns around the world. So many interesting stories … Read more

In previous devotionals, I have mentioned that I frequently co-author children's sermons with my friend, Anne. Because we share our sermons with other writers, they share with us. This week, I received a copy of a children's sermon that … Read more

While driving to an appointment across town, I was listening to my favourite Christian radio station. The pastor was teaching on the topic of prayer. He caught my attention when he asked the following questions: Are your prayers becoming … Read more

In November five years ago, these two Scriptures took on a tremendous significance for me. I love reading the story of Jesus healing the blind man by putting clay on the blind man's eyes. I read this story as Jesus placing the substance … Read more

My friend, Anne, has the reputation of being an excellent story teller. She tells her stories at the museum where she volunteers and at various group meetings. She is also on the schedule to give the children's sermons several times a … Read more

It was in the early evening hours of the second Monday in May this year when the emergency alert system sirens began blaring. The radio announcer warned everyone to take cover. A severe hail storm was moving fast toward us and a tornado … Read more

For the past five years, I have been attending a Bible study with a friend, in the church where she is a member. Although I am an "outsider" in the group, I continue to enjoy this class because its members are warm and welcoming. The … 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

Recently, I received an invitation to one of those milestone birthday parties for a friend. However, my excitement regarding attending was dampened by the fact that the party was to be held in a home in a new subdivision of our city. I … Read more

For the past few months, I have been trying to return to my pre-surgical level of fitness. It has required a great deal of patience. At times, it has been very frustrating and discouraging. Often at the end of my hour of exercise, I felt … Read more

One Sunday last month, I decided to watch a televised church service that I tune in to occasionally. I enjoy this particular pastor's sermons because they always deal with the challenges of everyday living. What made me listen that … Read more

Years ago, when my children were growing up, I learned that there is real power in homemade baked goods. The way a glass of milk and a couple of homemade cookies revived my children and their friends after a challenging … Read more

On a recent car trip, my friends and I set out to visit churches which had been built in the mid-1800s by pioneer immigrants. Three of the churches made lasting impressions on me. However, what I remembered had nothing to … Read more

Driving with friends down some old back roads, I felt a kinship with the host of one of my favourite series on the History Channel, "In Search of…". I, too, was on a quest. I hoped to reconnect with the … Read more

About a month ago, for the first time this year, I saw an advertisement for the sale of garden seeds. It was a sign that soon it would be time for spring planting. Every gardener knows that the most important … Read more

One of my favourite pastimes is reading about how the plants of the Bible relate to the history and traditions of our faith. One cannot read about palm trees without discovering the tradition of burning the palm fronds from the … Read more

Creating table decorations for various events at my local church is something I really enjoy doing. My interest in the plants of the Bible and their symbolism helps me to create a hidden message and provide an element of surprise. … Read more

Have you tried using one of those new sponges to erase difficult stains and marks from walls, floors, and other surfaces? These sponges easily remove stains that previously could not be removed. It is so simple and easy to do … Read more

Each spring, the gym where I exercise sponsors a fitness challenge called "The Ironman". It is open to all adult members regardless of age or gender. With the encouragement of several of my instructors (though I am a senior citizen), … Read more

Each spring when the grass turns green and those pesky little yellow flowers appear in my lawn once again, I am reminded of my mother and of the dandelion greens she served for dinner when I was growing up. However, … Read more

"Stay under God's umbrella." These were the words of a pastor whose television program I was watching one Sunday morning as I was dressing for church. He was teaching his congregation about God's plan to protect us from the storms … Read more

A friend told me recently that she had visited Nashua, Iowa, USA. "Why?" I asked her, "What is so special about Nashua?" She replied, "That is where the 'Little Brown Church' is located. It is also where in 1857 William … Read more

For the first time in twenty years, I visited the town where I grew up. A great deal had changed. However, en route to the banquet I was attending, I passed the block where three funeral parlours still stand. Memories … Read more

"Eerie" is how I'd describe my reaction to seeing Stonehenge. Walking around its perimeter in the rain last June was surreal. So many questions came to mind. How did the ancients move these huge stones? How did they raise them … Read more

Sorting through the messages in my inbox, I discovered an e-mail regarding the fifty-year reunion of my high school graduating class. Attached was a list of my former classmates who had registered to attend. I struggled as I read those … Read more

Why palms before the Lord? That was one of the first questions I wanted to answer when I started reading about the plants of the Bible. How, I wondered, did all those Passover celebrants coming to Jerusalem from near and … Read more

Seeking the warmest, brightest sunlight, I moved my small bulb garden from window to window. As I looked out each window, I began to realize that this little basket of bulbs had been the perfect Christmas gift. The bright flowers … Read more

My experience with fellow crafters is that we will go to great lengths to engage in our craft. Such was the case with my friend and me as we drove into the countryside midwinter. The manager of a nearby vineyard … Read more

It has always seemed strange to me that God sent an angel to the shepherds in the fields to announce the birth of the Christ Child. Weren't shepherds considered to be on the lower rungs of society? Their work kept … Read more

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. It is the start of the season most Christians look forward to all year. For me, it is a bittersweet day and a bittersweet season. November 27th is the anniversary of my late … Read more

What do an English-speaking grandma and a little girl who only speaks Spanish have in common? Not long ago, I would have answered, "Not very much." This summer, however, I found the courage to step outside my comfort zone … Read more

Time has not been kind. There are severe dents and chips on the surface marring its original beauty, and exposure to the elements has eroded the very heart of its character and charm. My current "fix-up" project is to restore … Read more

It was a dry, windy day when I tilled my small vegetable garden plot. Upon completion of the tilling, I discovered that I was covered in dust. Even my eyeglass lenses were dust-covered. Looking at the world through dust-covered glasses, … Read more