“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:1-2 NIV My stepfather was an impulsive, eccentric, no-nonsense, but intelligent man. Once he got … Continue reading Becoming Fruitful
I quickly glanced at my watch to confirm the date was the 16th, and that is what I saw. But it didn’t jibe with my devotional reading for the day. I rechecked my watch, and it read the 17th. Things aren’t always how we first perceive them. I was a nurse for many years. Once, … Continue reading Assumptions
A new year. 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days. It feels like a fresh slate, a horizon of possibilities spreading out before us. But it is just another day. No magic to it, or much different from the day before. There is nothing more special about New Year’s Day than any other day. Each morning … Continue reading Fresh Starts
Recently, my sister sent a cartoon meme. The picture is the nativity scene, but instead of three wise men, there are three women with diapers, formula and casseroles. The title is ‘if there had been three wise women instead’. While amusing on the surface, a red flag went off in my soul. Several lies lurk … Continue reading Good Gifts
The day was like any other, despite the butterflies and spontaneous smile that crossed her lips whenever she thought of Joseph. Soon they would be married, and she would begin the life she had dreamed of since she was a young girl; a godly husband, her own home, and children, by Yahweh’s grace. Her little … Continue reading Mary Most Favoured
I love the changing seasons. They each provide unique beauty and gifts. Fall spreads a change of colour to the trees and plants. Some shout their beauty, while others remain muted. Without the one, however, the other becomes mundane. Pewter skies and cooler air bring an appreciation for the rarer days of blue, and the … Continue reading Changing Seasons
“Oh, Lord, please help me get there on time!”, I prayed aloud as I sped along the city streets to get home. My firstborn son, in kindergarten, was due to be dropped off. Daniel was a shy, anxious child. I knew if I was not home to greet him, it would cause him stress. The … Continue reading Forget Not
Ghosts, witches, goblins, spirits of the dead wandering, and evil spirits lurking. It's the time of year when there is a lot of talk about spirits. Most of us don’t believe in these things and laugh it off. But the Bible tells us that there is a real spirit world. In 2 Kings 6:13-17, we … Continue reading Do You Believe in Spirits?
Soft, pliable dough squishes through my fingers as I massage it into a round ball. Pleasure sings in my heart as I sense the smoothness of it under my rolling pin. Using the right amount of pressure, I stretch the elastic mass at different angles, slowly forming it into a circle. I drape the unwrinkled … Continue reading Perfection
Obedience is not a four-letter word. For many of us, however, it has the same connotations as those well-known derogatory ones, and submission is right there with it. I was quiet and obedient, as a child, with a rebellious heart. I followed the rules but inside I chafed and grumbled. Mostly inside. As an adult, … Continue reading Four-letter Words