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Where Is the Joy in This?
One of the many tasks I have as a teacher is outdoor supervision for recess breaks. Generally, I enjoy walking around and engaging with the students in their various activities. Of course, there are always the moments when conflicts arise. Sadly, bullying and unkindness occur. Some of the hardest words to hear are when children approach me and says others are being mean to them and they don’t know what to do. Sometimes I have to directly intervene, but frequently my advice to these students is to go enjoy another part of the playground and remove themselves from the bad situation. I remind them that it is lovely to be…
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God Can Do Dramatic Changes in Us
A young man stands there with a smug, arrogant look on his face. There is actually delight in his demeanour as one of the followers of “The Way” (another name for the early Christian church) is stoned to death. This is what he is working for – to eliminate those in this new movement; a movement he doesn’t truly understand. Young Saul hears the words of Stephen, whose last speech was a great oracle of faith. Stephen clearly speaks of God’s plan of salvation in Jesus Christ alone. Yet Saul appears immune to all he hears. Saul quickly gains a strong reputation for his tactics to round up and arrest…
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I Remember You
The early Christian Church faced many trials and tribulations. As the fledgling Christians tried to make sense of their new way of life, they had many questions. It wasn’t an easy road they faced. There were many ups and downs as they navigated new relationships and a new lifestyle. Psalm 63 was written by David when he was facing deadly enemies. It was prescribed for daily public prayers for the early church. As the early Christians faced trials, these words offer great solace and hope: “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary…
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Take Heart
Right now, I am going through some major dietary changes with the hope of healing my gut as a result. While I eat very healthy, my body has not been responding as it should. Years of high stress have taken their toll on my system. The changes are very hard to do and mean that I must omit some favourite and staple foods from my diet. As I read the labels of the foods in my kitchen, I frequently get discouraged as I discover another food I cannot eat. The six months needed to heal my gut seem like forever. In the midst of this struggle, someone reminds me to…
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A Listening Ear
One thing most humans seem to crave is someone to listen to us. That does not mean someone just sitting with us with semi-interest. What really matters is having someone to truly hear what we have to say – without judgment or formulating their own answers while we are talking. When I think about how there are times I only half listen to people it makes me shudder. Why is it so challenging to take the time to really hear what is on the heart of another? It is very easy to get wrapped up in our own little worlds. Our needs and wants seem to take over and take…
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Let Your Heart Speak
As I sit at beside my mom my heart is in pieces. It is difficult to watch her slowly deteriorate. Her earthly shell is wearing out and her mouth is barely able to produce any audible words. Still, I carry on a “conversation” with her like I used to – telling her about her grandkids and so on. Mom does her usual mumbles. Somewhere deep inside of her she is responding to what I have to say. I notice a significant change in her when I started reading her Scripture. These particular words seemed to reach into the depth of her spirit and create a reaction: “Do not let your…
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You Lead, I’ll Follow
A woman loses her husband and grieves. She is unemployed and times are hard in her location. What is she to do? Her immediate family is not really able to offer her any assistance. It is a time of difficult choices when she is emotionally distraught. She has two possible directions. One would be to stay where she is and hope that somehow, she can make her way. It is her hometown – surely there is someone who would take her in and help her find some kind of livelihood. Even without immediate family there – it is what she knows and where she was raised. But she doesn’t take…
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God Sees Us
Commotion abounds as the area around the temple begins to fill up with worshippers. People from all walks of life are here. It is a busy, active place. Jesus sits watching the people come and go. He comments on those with obvious wealth, making their grand, substantial donations to the temple treasury with great flourish. They love being noticed. They feel important by giving in large amounts. Yet Jesus notices someone even more significant. She’s a widow of meager means. She also approaches the place to deposit her offering. Two small mites are all that she gives. Jesus makes a point of talking to his disciples and us about what…
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What Am I Doing Here?
During my long morning commute, I have lots of time to think and ponder. Sometimes that is a good thing as I process what is going on in my life or use it as prayer time. Other times I find it to be quite frustrating as I try to make sense of what God is doing in my life. At times I wonder why God has placed me in this particular school at this particular time. When I drive through bad weather, I often ask the Lord, “Why are You making me do this? There are schools closer to home. Why do You need me here? Why must I travel…
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A Woman of Merit
She is called the Wise Woman of Abel-Beth-Maacah. This unnamed woman lived in Israel at the time of King David. Her home was the historic city of Abel-Beth-Maacah. She goes without a name in Scripture but she proves herself to be a great person of merit. At this point in history, a man called Sheba was leading a rebellion against King David. When he fled from David, Sheba ended up in the city of Abel-Beth-Maacah. The commander of David’s army, Joab, came to the city in search of Sheba. Joab was ready to lead a full out attack on the city just to capture Sheba. The wise woman shows great…
