Search Results for: "Ephesians 2:"

Balance — Or …

Monday, February 19, 2024

There is balance to a life of faith. Our Reformed ancestors sought to re-establish such a balance centuries ago as they placed emphasis on "faith" and not so much on "works", so much so that Martin Luther called the book of James "an … Read more

Let God Be God

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

I am not a doctor or a nurse. I am an English major with a minor in journalism, and I received my master's degree in counselling and psychology. I went the education route and ended up working as a newspaper reporter for more than two … Read more

Ambushed

Sunday, September 3, 2023

On a beautiful day last week, I had occasion to enjoy an outdoor lunch with my wife, my daughter, and her husband, here in Canada on a visit from New Mexico, USA. We were eating at a restaurant on Granville Island, in Vancouver, British … Read more

Around The Bend

Monday, March 27, 2023

Years ago, Larry and I were chaperones on a teen trip that left us sleeping in many different abodes. If my memory serves me, we slept at a hostel, in beautiful college dorms on Lake Michigan, and in many campsites. But the most memorable … Read more

By Grace Alone

Sunday, March 19, 2023

I grew up in the church. My father was a pastor and I was the dutiful first child, so I was at church every time the door opened. That meant Sunday School, Sunday morning church service, Training Union (helping church members grow in their … Read more

The Dots

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Many years ago, during a trip to Canada's capital city, Ottawa, I visited one of their fine art galleries. Among the many beautiful pieces, the only ones which have stuck in my mind were all by the same artist. Though I do not remember … Read more

The Barking Dogs

Sunday, October 30, 2022

Our dogs were barking and barking. Every time I went out to speak to them about this, they would calm down but begin barking again as soon as I turned back into the house. Watching them through the window by the door, I realized that … Read more

What To Do

Sunday, October 23, 2022

In my recent reading of Ephesians, the phrase, "created in Christ Jesus for good works", reminded me of some good examples of what to do — and how — shown to me by staff members of the residence where I am privileged to live. Emelyn … Read more

God Has Us Totally Surrounded

Monday, August 1, 2022

Recently, I was sitting in my van at Elliot Lake looking out over the water. Being retired allows one to take time to enjoy nature and learn the lessons that God wants to teach His children. At the water's edge, I had gingerly parked the … Read more

Connected Together

Friday, October 29, 2021

Recently, a friend loaned me a jigsaw puzzle. In the past, I'd considered working jigsaw puzzles to be a waste of valuable time. Finally, during a seemingly aimless part of a day, I decided to tackle it and dumped the pieces on a table. … Read more

Interrupted

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Do you ever lie awake at night, unable to sleep because you're thinking about all of the foolish mistakes that you've made? Do you ever relive those stupid moments in your mind and regret the things that you've said or done? Do you wish … Read more

Our Citizenship

Saturday, May 1, 2021

My husband and I moved from Canada to the Azores in September 2020. We had lived in the same house since our wedding day on October 4, 1996. I couldn't take everything, of course, so I gave much away to a downtown ministry, to neighbours, … Read more

Location! Location! Location!

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Who doesn't know these three priorities in real estate: Location! Location! Location! That's it. Nothing matters more. It's true for spiritual real estate also. I'm referring to God and His kingdom reign. That's a genuine, specific … Read more

From A Donkey's Point Of View

Sunday, March 28, 2021

Years ago, I wrote a devotional for Palm Sunday entitled, "Donkey Business". I did not realize it at the time, but since then, I have had the opportunity to hear several inspired teachings that … Read more

Need A Stretch?

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Ouch! After once again trying to wear my new — but too tight — pair of slippers, I retreated to my comfortable, well-worn ones, thankful for the bit of support that they still had. As I pondered the new, rarely worn, rather tight, … Read more

Reality

Friday, December 18, 2020

Charles Dickens, author of A Christmas Carol, once visited Kingston, Ontario, Canada, where I live, on his way to Montreal to act in a play. At that time in the 1850s, Kingston was the capital of Canada. Kingston is a charming, … Read more

Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing!

Monday, December 7, 2020

It happened overnight: a seasonal change ushered in by a thick blanket of snow obliterating all remnants of autumn. That was early November. Yet, I felt myself launched into the mood for Christmas — with the rich reds, twinkling lights, … Read more

Seeds

Monday, August 3, 2020

In first grade, I made a plant. Everyone in class did. We placed potting soil into styrofoam cups and tucked tiny seeds beneath the soil. Then we lined up the cups on the counter in the sunlight, and each day, gave the seed a bit of … Read more

Why Are You Still Here?

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Two years ago, in April 2018, a troubled young man drove a van erratically down Yonge Street in Toronto, Canada. He veered on and off the sidewalk, killing ten people and seriously injuring fourteen others. It was a terrible occurrence … Read more

Frayed Jeans

Friday, May 22, 2020

I was folding my husband's jeans and checking the hems for frays. That's how I determine at a glance which are his work jeans versus his dress jeans. The thought came to me that when we live our lives in Christ, we become like a pair of … Read more

Jesus' Joy

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Have you ever had joy in doing a difficult task? Was your joy related to the expected outcome? The writer of the Biblical letter to the Hebrews tells us that Jesus had joy in His perspective even when enduring the cross, in what we see as … Read more

The Writeoff

Sunday, February 9, 2020

During recent extreme weather, when our temperatures dropped down to between -35 and -40 degrees Celsius, my old mare, Mama died, no longer able to withstand such temperatures. We do not know for sure how old she was, but after speaking … Read more

Where The Trail Leads

Saturday, February 1, 2020

I enjoy walking through forests, especially old ones, which are rich with sounds and smells. I tend to stick to the paths that I know. Sometimes, however, I may be on a favourite path that I have followed many times, but get myself turned … Read more

Wormy Apples, But Some Great Applesauce

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Last fall, the apples from my only apple tree were terribly riddled with wee worm tracks, but I managed to salvage enough good apple parts from half a pail of apples to get a big jar of great applesauce. I read of a man who felt that his … Read more

The Lettuce

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

As I grabbed my ringing telephone, I heard my daughter saying that Frank was in the greenhouse. Dropping the receiver, I made a dash out of the house, arrived at the greenhouse, and confirmed that Frank had indeed broken in and was … Read more

Alone In The Universe

Sunday, August 25, 2019

This title, from a children's musical, reflects a common theme for kids' songs: the search for meaning in an unwelcoming world. Each year, I discover such lyrics through my involvement in Summer Music Camp. The lyrics may not resonate with … Read more

Serving As A Bad Example

Saturday, August 24, 2019

In the spiritual life, there is an important action called "The Sacred Pause," part of two-way prayer. Before proceeding, we stop and ask God whether the way that we are heading is the way that He intends us to go. Then we pause ("The … Read more

Addictions

Sunday, June 2, 2019

I don't drink or use drugs, but I do admit that I have an addiction: using food to numb my reality, effectively committing suicide with a knife and fork. Being overly impulsive and compulsive goes along with that. Right after … Read more

A Trip To Walmart

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

God seems to prepare things for us in even the simplest of ways. Recently, a neighbour shared with me her upset and then her happiness from incidents that occurred during a shopping trip. Having completed her task of picking up a few … Read more

Servant Leadership

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

The famous preacher, Charles Price, wrote: We talk a lot about leadership, and rightly so, but our role is never to lead. It is to serve, and God is the one who makes leaders out of servants. If we want to know who our future leaders … Read more

Dropout

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

I hated school, so I decided to quit. Elementary and middle school, I enjoyed, but when I got to high school, a sudden distaste evolved. By the time I reached my senior year, I'd had all I could take. I had no interest in learning, … Read more

The Men's Work Crew

Sunday, March 24, 2019

Our church has a group of volunteers — the men's work crew — who meet at the church every Wednesday morning from September to June to do odd jobs and minor repairs around the church building. Over the years, they have saved the church … Read more

Memorable Gifts To Share

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Years ago, my uncle walked from his workshop — the behind-the-hedge kitchen piece of the former old farmhouse — then he came out across the grassy house yard and into the kitchen of the newer house. He held out his hammer to me. He knew … Read more

Search again:

 



PresbyCan is a community of faithful, Holy Spirit-filled, Christ-centred, God-honouring Christians.