70- 7
The Door of Hope
Hosea 2:15 There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. (Achor means 'trouble')
- 12
When You're Tired of Spinning Your Wheels.
beverlyfaye We have had a string of winter storms this February. I've experienced the frustration more than once of sitting in the van going nowhere. The wheels are spinning but nothing is happening. It is such a pointless activity. Lately my...
- 5
The 'God People'
Picture of story from "The Jesus Storybook Bible" written by Sally Lloyd-Jones and illustrated by Jago. beverlyfaye Her six year old index finger jabs at the picture. She points to the drawing of the Isrealite army. The artist has done a good job...
- 3
Life's Little Interruptions
beverlyfaye It's 4:57pm. I figure that I have about 18 minutes before I have to get real serious about finding something for supper. I'm anticipating these precious 18 minutes of free time; time that I plan to devote to delving into the book that I...
- 4
When you need to apologize
beverlyfaye I lit a candle, I have four loaves of bread rising, roast beef is roasting and filling the kitchen with a tantalizing smell and I have eaten a chocolate mint smoothie (or two). I really like all of these things and it's hard to be...
- 6
"I'm Glad You're Not Perfect"
beverlyfaye I was having one of those moments. The house was a mess. Dinner was not coming together. I was making a mental list of all the things that should be done and they weren't done. Everywhere I looked I saw failure. Failure to vacuum crumbs...
- 5
The Year of the Open Hand
It is the start of a new year. Six days into this new year and it has not been boring. Already I can see the hand of God giving, leading, guiding, taking away and tenderly holding and steadying me. Author and speaker, Ann Voskamp has written...
- 4
Backwards Night
It was backwards night at kids club; an opportunity for the kids and leaders to be a little silly and wear our clothes backwards and begin with the closing activities and work our way to the beginning of the evening routine. My children went all...
- 2
Preparing for "Soul Winter"
beverlyfaye It is November and as far as I could tell the farming season was over and done with. The harvest is in. I thought it's holiday time for the farmers. Obviously I'm not a farmer. Last week, for no apparent reason, there were suddenly...
- 0
Acorn to Oak Tree: Rejoicing in Small Beginnings
He knew that I have moved and I live in a new house on a bare lot. This elderly gentleman knew that I long for trees and gardens and plants and beauty. So, when I arrived at his house he was ready and eagerly asked if I was still looking for trees....
- 0
From the rising to the setting of the Sun
beverlyfaye I rose early. The world was dark and still. I bustled about the kitchen looking for items to make six lunches -- four peanut free, which is a bit of a disaster because I sure could have used the standard pb and j this morning. I...
- 4
The Lie We Too Willingly Believe
beverlyfaye I peel potatoes. I am pondering life. I am digesting information about those I know. Things I have heard. The ugly peels fall into the sink and the ugliness of my thoughts fall into a heap. These thoughts pile up: People do the...
- 1
"Hello, Pleased to meet you" - Thoughts on getting real
beverlyfaye How well do we let people know us? I was recently struck by this question as I sat at my neighbour's table with a piece of birthday cake and a cup of herbal tea. I was the only one drinking herbal tea. Everyone else had a bottle of...
- 5
Who do you want to be?
Do you ever wonder if you are an Aaron? You know the Bible story. The one about Moses. God called Moses. Moses declared himself unfit. God declared him able by the fact that He Himself would be with him. -- A compelling argument you would...
- 2
A Prayer of a Desperate Housewife - An Elusive Truth
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26 beverlyfaye Dear Lord, I am in awe of Your loving care over me. Do...
- 2
Favourite Dates With My Husband: Sparkle added, no extra cost
Married for sixteen years. Four kids and a dog. A rusty mini-van. A mortgage. Responsibilities. Tired. It all sounds a little boring. How do you keep the sparkle in marriage when all of the above is true? The following are a few of my...
- 5
But Will It Change You?
It was after the turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy. After the rice pudding smothered in strawberry sauce. It was then that I began asking my sister-in-law for advice. She is a personal trainer and I have some parts of me that could use a little...
- 6
What The Children Know
beverlyfaye We stopped at the booth at the fall fair and we collected elastic bracelets and balloons. The girls were attracted by the balloons, but I stopped to talk with the man with the passion. The passion for preserving life. I picked up the...
- 2
And the rain falls
It is a day of quiet, a day of grey, with splashes of vibrant colour. It is the kind of day to just curl up with a cup of hot coffee and read and reflect or it is a day to turn on all the lights and crank up the music. The outdoors can't seem to...
- 2
What's so special about Sunday Morning?
The house is still quiet and the coffee is brewing and I'm thinking about the fact that it is Sunday morning. Soon I will make the porridge, maybe even with some blueberries in it, and everyone will wake up. We will eat and get ready to go to...
- 0
Ever feel turned around and upside-down and just plain lost?
We were on our way to the beach. My husband was driving and I was 'navigating'. I am not a great navigator and that is the truth. I'm not exactly sure what is so difficult about it, but I am well aware of my shortcomings in this area. My husband...
- 9
Finish Your Work
Unfinished project #??? beverlyfaye I've been thinking a lot about the need to finish things. Perhaps it is the embarrassing number of unfinished projects that stare at me from every corner of the house. The ONE crocheted slipper. The knit...
- 5
The Piano Tuner
beverlyfaye When I booked the appointment he asked me if my piano was very out of tune or not too bad. I said it was definitely out of tune but I wasn't sure how much. It turns out that it was a half tone off. That's pretty significant. It...
- 3
The Weight of Sentiment
Straining under the weight of the box he was carrying, my son asked, "Mom, what is 'Sentimental stuff'?" Those words were scribed neatly onto the side of the box in bold, black marker. I explained that the box contained memories of the past, gifts...
- 6
A Prayer of a Desperate Housewife - Out of Order
Dear Lord, I glance around the house and I don't know if I have the courage to finish this day. So many things are out of order. We couldn't find the can opener for half an hour. It turns out it was in the laundry basket. Who put it in the laundry...
- 4
A Childlike Faith
I turned the key in the ignition and instead of the usual sound of engine roaring to life, there was a click. Oh no. Here we were in a hot parking lot. The five of us, the groceries and a van with a dead battery. No jumper cables. Parked...
- 3
A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath - Tried and Found True
My eight year old daughter came storming into the house in a torrent of tears and flung herself onto the couch. My son followed her, his face was flushed and his eyes showed a mixture of feelings - comfort and calm being decidedly absent. The...
- 3
A Prayer of a Desperate Housewife - Too many crumbs.
Dear Lord, There are so many crumbs! Today there were bread crumbs, toast crumbs, cracker crumbs and unidentified crumbs. There were crumbles of dried mud and the dog dragged garbage out of the waste basket. There were eraser crumbs and paper...
- 1
The Importance of Using the Right Words to Express Ourselves.
On the weekend of our 16th anniversary my husband and I found ourselves in a little roadside greenhouse. I love greenhouses. I gushed about the pansies. "Oh, I love these pansies, they look so happy." He would look and nod. "Look at these...
- 0
So many types of dirt - The soil of friendship
There are many adjustments to make when one moves. It takes time to find the best grocery store, hardware store and gas station. It takes time to feel settled in a church, to meet your neighbours and turn the many new acquaintances into some good...
- 3
Integrity - a Tale of Tuna and Truth
My new laundry post had a definite lean until my husband packed the dirt in around the bottom that is sunk several feet into the ground. He added some concrete to anchor it because it is going to carry many heavy loads. He braced it while everything...
- 2
How to Make a Sauna When Camping
Camping is an excellent activity, but let's be honest, sometimes it loses a bit of its appeal simply because you are cold, bug bitten, smelly and unwashed. A few years ago, my husband and I were shivering around a campfire wearing winter coats in...
- 5
Delicious Banana Slush - a Refreshing Summer Drink
This is a refreshing drink to have on hand this summer. The slush is kept frozen and when you want to serve it you thaw it slightly, then place a scoop in a glass and pour ginger ale over it. The recipe makes about 25 cups of slush. I froze mine...
- 3
The Summertime Boredom Buster
Too often I have been the victim of 'lack of foresight'. I have discovered that things go so much better when I have a plan in place. With this life lesson in mind, I developed a plan for the summer holidays. I created the "I'm Bored Bag". ...
- 10
Painting Over Yellow - How Fear Affects Our Life
A few years ago I made a very poor paint choice. I painted the walls of our rec room an angry yellow. It was supposed to be gold, but it looked exactly like mustard. I had vague plans to paint over it, but then I found out it is difficult to...
- 4
A Happy Marriage-Anniversary Thoughts
Marriage is such a learning experience. We just don't know everything the first year or even the second year of marriage. And then, just to keep things interesting the stages and phases of family life keep changing and with these changes the...
- 0
Walking in the Bush - Discovering Plant Life
Beyond the corn field and into the bush we trooped, a little band of hikers, following Cousin Jamie. We entered the woods, dark and cool. We sniffed the faint aroma of skunk. No worries. Cousin Jamie lead us straight into that scent to the little...
- 0
Snacks for Children
Let's begin with a few words of advice about snacks. Children do get hungry more often than adults. They have smaller stomachs and eat smaller portions at a time, and they are burning off WAY more energy than your typical adult. Therefore, it is...
- 0
Lightening - Does it really help my grass grow?
Our yard was newly seeded and looking pretty depressing. My new neighbour saw me surveying the yard and he said all we would need is a day of thunder and lightening. Not the short-lived thunderstorms when the rain comes down in torrents and washes...
- 0
Christian Unity - Re-membered by Remembering
Remembering Christ’s death Levels us. It smoothes out the peaks and valleys of ourselves. Equally lost. Equally forgiven. Equal recipients of His grace, Christ lives in each of His children. Christ lives in me. Christ lives in...
- 1
Loved and Cared For - God's Extravagant Love
All week I had wrestled with an idea, a thought that kept fluttering away whenever I got close to sorting it out. It was a basic thought. One that I should have figured out by now. I’ve been a Christian since I was very young. I know the...
- 2
The Flip Side of the Messes in Life
Every day we encounter so many messes. What is our response? Some days I tend to growl and snarl and pretty soon the whole family is growling and snarling right along with me. I become the pace setter and everyone joins in. It is the easier...
- 0
Entertaining young dinner guests
We have had the privilege of being guests in a number of homes in the last few months. It is always a rather intimidating event for my children but I have noticed that some people have a wonderful knack for entertaining children and are able to...
- 0
Rainbows Symbols of Promise
In my kitchen window I have hung a prism. When the sun shines through my prism, there are rainbows on the floor, the walls, the cupboards and all the messes. They remind me of God's promised presence in the noise and chaos of raising children, the...
- 0
The Unexpected Joy of Whole Grains
The Unexpected Joy of Whole Grains. September 2010 I've been pondering the joy of nutritious eating. Specifically as it relates to bread. I wasn't always a whole grain girl. As a child I definitely preferred the wonderful soft white...
- 0
The Unexpected Joy of a Bad Cold
The Unexpected Joy of a Bad Cold April 2009 This seems ridiculous to even write about. How can I possibly be happy about a bad cold? A very bad cold has hit our home and we are all taking a turn with it. It includes a fever, headache,...
- 0
The Unexpected Joy of Cold, Hard Floor
The Unexpected Joy of a Cold, Hard Floor March 2009 How can a cold, hard floor hold any joy? Especially when you are sitting on it, in the dark and it happens to be a cold, dark, bathroom floor. It doesn't seem to be a setting for...
- 1
The Unexpected Joy of Cold Tea
The Unexpected Joy of Drinking Cold Tea. April 2008 I do not enjoy drinking cold tea that is meant to be hot. Iced tea on a hot day is a treat. Hot tea on a cold winter day is a treat. Hot tea that has become cold is not a treat. But...
- 0
The Unexpected Joy of a Very Normal Life
The Unexpected Joy of Living a Very Normal Life January 2008 My life is not terribly exciting. I can't see anyone requesting to write the story of my life and if on the off chance someone decided to do such a thing, I doubt very much that it...
- 0
The Unexpected Joy of Imperfection
The Unexpected Joy of Imperfection August 2007 Striving for imperfection doesn’t really seem like something to teach your children. But as I have discovered there are definite benefits to embracing imperfection at times. I don’t think...
- 0
The Unexpected Joy of a Very Big Puddle
The Unexpected Joy of a Big Puddle April 2007 Spring has been slow in coming this year. There were mountains of snow that simply were not leaving. And then one beautiful week the weather warmed up and there in front of our house was a big,...
- 0
The Unexpected Joy of Sensible Shoes
The Unexpected Joy of Sensible Shoes I am not an extremely fashion conscious individual. Most of my clothes are very old or come from a thrift store. If they are new, they were probably picked off the clearance rack at the end of the season....
- 0
The Unexpected Joy of Chaos
The Unexpected Joy of Chaos September 2006 In the course of seven years our family unit has grown from my husband and I, to now include four lovely children. This has changed the dynamics of our home in a big way. We used to enjoy sleeping...
- 0
The Unexpected Joy of Solitude
The Unexpected Joy of Solitude February 2004 I am a mother of two. I have a two- year old and a eight-month old baby. My husband and I have one vehicle, which means that when he goes to work I am left at home with no method of...
- 0
The Unexpected Joy of Baking
The Unexpected Joy of Baking December 2004 Baking is not my first love. I tend to turn it into a huge ordeal. I figure that since I am making a mess anyway, why stop at just a batch of cookies? Why not also make some muffins? Maybe a...
- 0
October Rose and Other Unexpected Joys
October Rose And Other Unexpected Joys October 2004 It has been a dreary autumn. The days have been mostly grey, wet and cold. With two small children I have not been leaving the house very often and therefore my flower beds have...
- 2
A poem of the transforming power of faith and the work of God in our lives
Little butterfly Floating on the breeze, You are so lovely. You are weightless and free. A worm you used to be. Anchored to this earth by winglessness and form. Ugly. Stubby. Unadorned. But then In secret you were transformed. ...