One part of the Christmas story has recently come to speak to me – and it’s not even central to the story! It could almost be considered as an aside comment from Luke. You will find it in Luke 2:19, where he writes, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her […]
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Taste and See
I don’t know how you plan your shopping, but if you ever do a big shop in a supermarket, you’ll probably come across someone offering samples of this and that. If you time it right you can eat a pretty good lunch just by wandering up and down the aisles looking lost (which happens to […]
Read MoreThe Father’s Presence
My office sits at the end of my garden. Often, when my children get home from school, that is where I will be. Working on a sermon, or perhaps doing some planning of some sort or another…my head in several books. As they enter the house, their Mum reminds them to not disturb me. “Daddy’s […]
Read MoreSanctity of Life
Just how widespread is the practice of abortion? Are we making much ado about nothing, or do we have a full-scale issue deserving of our immediate attention? To begin with, let’s understand that medical authorities determine a person to be “alive” if there is either a detectable heartbeat or brain-wave activity. With that in mind, […]
Read MoreRoutine Maintenance
Tyres – check! Seatbelts – check! Mirrors – check! Ignition – click, click, click . . . nothing. There’s an old proverb that says “a stitch in time saves nine.” It’s a proverb about preventive maintenance. It speaks about needlecraft, but the wisdom it contains applies elsewhere. Take care of things while they’re easy to […]
Read MoreLet’s Be Thankful for Angels
As I’ve said for years, it’s thanksgiving, not thankskeeping. So, let’s go there. Autumn…harvest…it is the best time of year to give thanks . . . to count our blessings. Have you counted your blessings lately? If not, allow me to prime the pump. Start with broad categories, such as family members, close friends, and […]
Read MoreLive Beyond the Daily Grind
It isn’t pretty, but it’s here to stay. It occurs in every life and in every season of the year. I call it the “daily grind.” Homemakers face fourteen-hour days with ever-present children and an endless grind of responsibilities. Students endure the grind of assignments, classes, deadlines, and exams. Salespeople have quotas to meet. Musicians […]
Read MoreWill You?
There were many things that I admired about my father, but one thing that stands out was his attention to detail…not only in the now…but for the future as well. As cancer took its firm hold on his body, he knew his time on this earth was nearing the end. But long before this he […]
Read MoreTrue Stewardship: Managing the Life God Has Given You
In recent years, carpe diem—“seize the day”—has become a motto for living each day to the fullest. That’s actually a biblical concept. We only have a limited time on earth to fulfil God’s purpose for our lives. We must seize every opportunity God gives us “as long as it is still called ‘Today’” (Hebrews 3:13). […]
Read MoreWhen Hope Returns
Hope is a buoyancy word. It takes a tsunami-like surge to keep it submerged. It’s difficult, I know, to hold on to the life preserver of hope when storms rage in your life, but let me encourage you to tighten your grip. Perhaps this poem, “When Hope Returns”, will help. Despair, oh despair, you’ve taken […]
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