(Note: I shared this at the Christmas Eve Service on December 24, 2018. It includes some of the thoughts that I had written in a previous Blog Post “Steve” ) The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23 I didn’t […]
Christmas Holidays are hard. There I said it. It’s like being a person who doesn’t like pumpkin spice in the fall. It’s just awkward, Let me clarify that a bit. Christmas when I was a kid was a lot of fun. I remember the pre-Christmas celebrations we used to have with another Dutch family in […]
IDEAS FOR ACTS OF KINDNESS Pay for someone’s gas.Keep a giveaway bag stocked with snacks, toiletries, and socks for the homeless you may encounter.Take out the garbage for an elderly or handicap neighbour.Leave an encouraging note or surprise in items you are donating, selling, or returning.Deliver fresh-baked cookies to a neighbour or co-worker.Bring fresh flowers […]
I have always been moved by the roll call at the Cenotaph. The calling of the names. Names that I didn’t know. But all though I am unfamiliar with them, they are names that were significant to someone. Names that had families who loved and cared for them. Names that reflected lives. Lives that loved, […]
THANKSGIVING 2019 It’s time to count our blessings and thank our Lord and King For how we are loved and cared for, so let our praises ring. We are so very thankful Lord, for this country where we live For the bounty of the harvest, all the blessings that you give. For the beauty of […]
“I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” John 12:46 Dear Friends, The poem by Christina Rossetti, In the Bleak Midwinter, was first published in Scribner’s Magazine in January of 1872. It was put to music in 1906 and choir directors […]
FIRST PRINCIPLES In the sermon series on Habakkuk called Trusting God in Turbulent Times, I introduced some concepts called first principles. These principles based on God’s Word should serve as anchors to hold us secure in the struggles of life. I would encourage you to read them over daily or memorize them. First Principles God […]
On Friday (Sept. 21) there was a wind warning in our region. The weather was wild that day. Multiple tornadoes landed in the Ottawa area, but for us it was mainly wind. It was gusting between 70 and 90 kilometres per hour. It’s not hurricane force gales but for our area it was, to quote […]
I didn’t know Steve very well. He was the guy who use to bring my brother home on weekends from Bible College. His home was a small city about forty-five kilometres north of us. He had stopped in a couple times, when he came to pick up my brother. He seemed like a nice guy. Steve loved […]
The Very First Christmas The day had seemed long As they reached Bethl’em town, At last they’d find shelter And get settled down. Joseph felt some concern As Mary knew the time was near, For the pains were increasing They were finally here. As they stopped at the inn Joseph helped her alite From the […]