A dear friend at church seems to sense when I am becoming discouraged, and she comes to my rescue at just the right time. The Spirit of God brings Scripture to her mind and mine to encourage me when it is needed most. Believers have a blessed hope in knowing Jesus Christ. Here are a couple of passages that have helped me the most:

Hebrews 12:2 – Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (NIV)

John 14:1-4 – Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (NIV)

Our bodies are precious. Sight is precious. We should never take it for granted. Fanny Crosby was blind from a very young age, but with her hope in Christ, she was able to sing, "Face to face".

Face to face with Christ my Saviour,
Face to face — what will it be
When with rapture I behold Him,
Jesus Christ who died for me?
Face to face I shall behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all His glory,
I shall see Him by and by!
       Carrie E. Breck

1 Corinthians 13:12a – Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. (NIV)

Despite our physical problems and worries, let us — like Fanny Crosby — fix our eyes on Jesus!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your goodness to us on a daily basis. Thank You for Your Son going to the cross to die for our sin. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, and to show Your love to family, friends, and neighbours. Amen.

John and the hired man were working in our shop making ductwork for our heating business. As I was baking cookies, the kitchen door opened abruptly, and John rushed in saying, "Jim's new barn is blowing down. I have to go and see if I can help save it."

When he arrived on the scene, a strong wind was indeed slowly blowing down the unfinished barn frame. The men were standing and watching the wind catch their work, but they could do nothing. John had taken his extension ladder and a long rope used around our farm. He quickly climbed the ladder to the peak of the end wall and tied the rope around the frame. While he was up on the ladder, each gust of wind lowered the wall, and the top of the ladder slid down the side of the barn by two feet with each gust. Fortunately, John was also the telephone lineman at that time, so he was accustomed to heights, and movement in high places did not cause him any distress. The men pulled on the rope and managed to get the frame vertical again. The barn was saved, and John was the hero.

Jesus spoke of the wind in regard to the work of the Holy Spirit:

John 3:7b-8 – You must be born again. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (NIV)

Jesus was saying that we cannot see the wind itself, but we can see the destruction of a hurricane, or see leaves falling, or see pollination of plant life, or feel a gentle breeze. So it is with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in a believer. We do not see the Spirit, but we do see the life lived by the believer.

Jesus continued to talk about God's love:

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)

Once we are born again, the Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in believers, who have a blessed living hope in Jesus.

The barn is still standing and is still in use. Likewise, salvation through Jesus is still available to all people.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love that sent Your Son to die for our sins on Calvary. Be with our government and our loved ones, friends, and neighbours. Help us to live so that others can see Your love in us. Amen.

When John and Murray arrived, the wind was starting to carry sparks over into the pasture field — government land used by farmers to graze their cattle through the summer. John filled the water barrel that he had taken in the back of his truck and hurried to the field. There were a lot of juniper and hawthorn berry shrubs in the pasture land. The men used their shovels to turn the soil over and drench it with water. John and Murray chased sparks as long as the barn was burning. They were able to stop brush fires before they got a good start. Both men were exhausted when they got home.

At the time of writing, there were 52 wildfires still burning in Alberta, Canada, from last year, and already 17 new blazes in 2024. British Columbia has now had 7 wildfire starts this year. Most forest fires are due to hot weather and not enough rain, but some are caused by human error. We see reports of the devastation on the news. We are so thankful for the men and women who fight the fires.

James 3:5b-6a – A whole forest can be set ablaze by a tiny spark of fire, and the tongue is as dangerous as any fire, with vast potentialities for evil. (Phillips)

A single spark can set a forest afire, but it can also light a hearth fire or a campfire to warm us up. Likewise, our tongue, just a small part of our body, can do a lot of harm, or it can be used to edify and encourage others. Scripture tells us that we are to love our neighbour as ourselves and tell people the message of the gospel.

John 3:16 – For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that every one who believes in him shall not be lost, but should have eternal life. (Phillips)

We are to tell people that Jesus loves them and died on Calvary for their sin to be forgiven. People need to hear the good news of Jesus' love.

As children at Bible camp, after supper and round the campfire, we used to sing a song by Kurt Kaiser:

It only takes a spark to get a fire going
And soon all those around can warm up to its glowing
That's how it is with God's love
Once you've experienced it
You spread his love to everyone
You want to pass it on

May God help us to use our tongues for His glory to witness to family, friends, and neighbours.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we pray for Your help to use our tongues to let others know of Jesus' love. Help us to be kind to our family, friends, and neighbours. Amen.

While we were looking at this parable of Jesus at a Bible study, I was asked the question, "Do you think Santa Claus is God?" I said, "No, I do not." The person then asked me if I had anything of Santa in my home. I gave a negative response to this question as well. My miniature Christmas village has only nativity scenes in the house yards.

The question, though, made me realize that I had never before thought of this parable in terms of Christmas. The servants represent the prophets, the landlord is God, and the son represents Jesus Christ.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)

How incredible it is to think that God the Father sent His only Son, Jesus, through Whom the universe was created, as a helpless baby born of the Virgin Mary in the little town of Bethlehem! The angel Gabriel told Mary to call her baby "Jesus", which means, "God saves". How much more inconceivable to think that God would love mankind so much that He was willing to send His Son to save us from our sins! In the parable, we are represented by the tenants who caused Jesus to be killed and thrown out of the vineyard, so to speak. Jesus came to earth to be the Lamb of God Who died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sin.

The baby Jesus grew up to be a man Who lived among the people. He went about doing good and showing kindness and compassion. He did miracles of healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and raising the dead to life. He gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and the ability to walk to the lame. Everywhere he went, Jesus preached the good news of God's salvation. St. Nicholas was a man who practiced charity, goodness, and love, inspired by the kindness and compassion of Jesus. We should emulate these qualities, too.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You that Jesus Christ came to earth to be our Saviour. We ask that the Holy Spirit would be our guide as we live day by day. Help us to show kindness, goodness, and love to our families and neighbours, not just at this time, but all year round. Amen.

We were travelling to Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and British Columbia. The Rocky Mountains of Alberta were beautiful but the mountains of British Columbia were breathtaking. The height of these mountains was a huge surprise. We all said, "Canada is a marvellous, spectacular creation of God from British Columbia to Newfoundland."

All I could think of was this verse: "O Lord, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow." (Psalm 144:3-4 NIV)

When we look at God's creation all around us, we need to marvel that He chose humanity to care for it. The creation story in Genesis tells us that God first made everything that would be needed to sustain humanity, then He made mankind. When He looked at the land, the sea, and the living creatures that He had made, "God saw that it was good" (Genesis 1:25b NIV), but after man was created, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. (Genesis 1:31a) And He gave it all to mankind to take care of.

John, Kathy, and I enjoyed seeing the wild animals on the hills and roadways. We were in no hurry to end our vacation. Being retired made it easy to change our plans.

It is wonderful to watch the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the creatures of the land and know that they were all created by God. It is amazing to think that God loves all of us human beings, and that He made us with a spirit so that we could worship Him.

We can read of God's love for humanity in many verses all through God's Word. A favourite that I learned as a very young child in Sunday school was:

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)

Do we appreciate God's creation all around us? Are we good caretakers of all that He has made? Are we destroying creation, or are we leaving it better for the next generation?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we pray that we would care for Your creation as You commissioned us. We pray that people throughout the world would recognize their responsibility to You and care for Your creation. We pray that the leaders of our country would make the right decisions. Amen.

It was not until I was married and living on a farm that I got a horse. I had great times riding. Sometimes, the ride was for pleasure; sometimes, it was to help with chores, rounding up sheep and cattle. I had King for a number of years.

Psalm 33:17-18 – A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love. (NIV)

My years of hoping for a pony had only a possible outcome, but believers who hope in Jesus Christ, God's Son, have the certainty of His coming to take us home to be with Him. Jesus showed His love for humanity when He came to take the penalty for sin on Calvary.

Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (NIV)

Those who believe in Jesus can be thankful for God's gift of faith that helps us to put our hope in the finished work of Calvary for our eternal future.

1 John 3:2b – But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (NIV)

Until He comes, what kind of behaviour are we meant to exemplify?

Titus 2:11-13 – For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. (NIV)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to put our trust and faith in Your Son Jesus Christ. We ask for Your help to live a godly life with regard for believers, family, friends, and neighbours. Thank You for Calvary. Keep our hope centred on the surety of Jesus' coming to take us home. Amen.

One summer, our family went camping with the trailer in a recreational vehicle park a good distance from home. The men decided to go out in the boat while I got supper. John put on a life jacket, but Donald did not. I was oblivious to the dangers as they got out on the lake. John stood up (which one should never do) and tipped over the boat. They got the boat upright, but John could not swim.

Donald suggested that his dad get into the boat. The tie-up rope was still on the boat, so Donald tied it around his waist, and started to swim the boat to shore using the backstroke. There were no oars, so John could not help. They came into the trailer soaking wet. A change of clothes was done and John's wallet was emptied and put in the sun to dry. God was good to John and Donald, keeping them safe from drowning. We thanked God for the decision to teach Donald to swim.

It is interesting to read God's Word and take note of people's decisions. Young Joseph was sold by his brothers into Egypt as a slave. Instead of becoming bitter, he decided to honour God as a young man in this foreign country. In time, his brothers had to go to Egypt for food. When Joseph was talking to his brothers after his father died, he said:

Genesis 50:20 – You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (NIV)

Jesus Christ, God's Son, came to give His life as a ransom for our sin on Calvary. Jesus made the decision to bear the load of guilt for the sin of the world so that humankind could have a relationship with God the Father.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)

By faith, each one of us needs to make the decision to believe in the work of Jesus Christ on Calvary for forgiveness of sin. After that decision, believers need to live daily making decisions that honour God. God says:

1 Samuel 2:30b – Those who honor me I will honor. (NIV)

Prayer: Most gracious God and Father, help us to believe by faith in Your Son Jesus, Who gave His life for us on Calvary. Help us to make decisions that honour You. We desire to show Your love to family, friends, and neighbours. Amen.