Psalm 33:11 – [God's] plans endure forever; his purposes last eternally. (GNT)

The older I get, the more I start to think of my own death. Don't get me wrong: I don't have a horrible disease and I'm not, like some say, "homesick for heaven". What I mean is that every day, it becomes more of a reality to me. It is not a morbid thing but reality! I think that the Lord starts to introduce this eventuality to us as we age. It was very important to my mother and my mother-in-law to make their own funeral arrangements. I'm glad that it wasn't left up to me, because with my scattered brain, I surely would have forgotten something. My mom tries to get me to listen to a song that she wants to be sung, but I can't bear to hear it because it makes me sad.

As I thought of this the other day, I decided that I was going to find the funniest picture that I have of myself to sit on my casket. I have one in mind of me with a funny hat and a big smile on my face. That's what I want people to remember.

I also planned the music, and among the songs was The Hokey Pokey — yes, you read it right. I thought that it could be slid in there as an ice breaker. I could imagine the smiles as people stood and put their "right hand in and their right hand out, right hand in and shake it all about. You do the hokey pokey and turn yourself around. That's what it's all about!" That stopped me in my tracks and in my funeral arranging: "That's what it's all about"? I remember reading a bumper sticker that made me laugh even though it was also sad. It said, "What if the hokey pokey is what it's all about?"

I am so glad that I have a hope that is beyond The Hokey Pokey. I'm glad that although this world seems hopeless at times, I have a hope and a purpose and a promise of an eternity in Jesus Christ.

At my funeral, I do want people to know that the Lord has blessed me with much joy in my life, but since The Hokey Pokey is out, I am requesting the Chicken Dance instead!

Have a joyous, purposeful day, and remember that The Hokey Pokey is not what it's all about!

Isaiah 46:3b-4 – I have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you. I will carry you and save you. (NCV)

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that the silly things of this world are as nothing compared to the prospect of the joy of being with You eternally. Thank You for Jesus, Who opened the way to heaven for us! Amen.

I enjoy listening to non-fiction books, daily devotionals, and Bible Gateway. I usually close my eyes while I listen to the words being read to me. Many years ago, I learned the benefits of listening to God's Word anytime and anywhere.

Psalm 119:11 – I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (NIV)

On our long yearly road trips to the American south, it gives me immense pleasure to be able to take my Bible and Bible Gateway along for the ride. I listen while we cruise through the mountains and countryside along the scenic American Interstate Highway 75, a 1,435 mile (2,310 kilometre) journey which takes about 24 hours one way, including one overnight stop.

Whether I am the driver or the passenger, I listen to Bible Gateway hands-free on my phone or on my tablet as our car eats up the miles. I find it relaxing and comforting knowing that we can have God's Word surrounding us in the car on the trip. Although I have read parts of the Bible several times, I usually start each journey there and back at the beginning — Genesis — and finish my listening at the end of the trip.

Matthew 11:15 – He who has ears, let him hear. (NIV)

Recently, I shared with someone that I listened to the daily devotionals. The response was, "Thank you, Yvonne. That's interesting that you listen to the devotionals instead of reading them." I replied, "I listen to the devotionals, then I read them right after." I love listening to daily devotionals and to Bible Gateway. I believe that I developed my love for storytelling because I love to listen to stories being read to me. God wants us to connect with Him whether we listen or read His Word.

God wants us to be better listeners. James, Jesus' brother, writes, "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak" (James 1:19a NIV). Isaiah records God's words: "Listen, listen to me; … Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live." (Isaiah 55:2b,3a NIV)

The Word of God is powerful. "They are not just idle words for you — they are your life." (Deuteronomy 32:47a NIV)

Psalm 119:130 – The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. (NIV)

Listening to and reading God's Word daily will keep us on the right path, and in a continuous relationship with Him and everyone around us.

Are you a good listener? Try listening to the daily devotionals or to the Bible on Bible Gateway. Listen with your ears — and hear with your heart. It is fun!

Prayer: Gracious God, thank You for giving us ears and hearts to hear You, and the ability to understand Your instructions as they are written in the Scriptures. It is in Jesus' precious name that we pray. Amen!

Psalm 139:23-24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (NIV)

Years ago, I ran across a framed certificate of recognition that I had been given a year or so before by my congregation for my leadership of the Youth Group. As soon as I turned it over, I remembered why it was stored away in a box rather than hanging on my wall.

After I had received it, I put it in the trunk of my car. When I next saw it, I noticed that the writing had become smeared, and I assumed that some water had gotten under the glass and ruined the certificate. At the time, things were not going well with the operation of the Youth Group, and the smearing on this once-distinguished recognition seemed all too appropriate.

However, after I had run across it again and had had a closer look, I realized that the smearing was just some ink on the outside of the glass. The certificate itself was not harmed at all, and a little water wiped away the problem. By that time, things were running extremely well with the Youth Group.

The incident left me to wonder at just how easy it is to focus on the negative smears in our lives and forget the good that we have done. In a society that constantly demands us to be our best and to avoid failure at any cost, it is too easy to forget the good that God has placed in us as part of His creation. Yes, we are sinful; yes, we make mistakes; but YES! Let us rejoice that we have a heavenly Father Who blesses us and walks with us despite our failures. Pray with me:

Prayer: Thank You, Father, that You know me for who I am, even when I'm not sure. Thank You that You believe in me, even when I can't believe in myself. Thank You that Your love wipes away the smears that darken my soul, so that even I can catch a glimpse of the beauty that lies beneath. Amen.

Psalm 55:22 – Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. (NKJV)

She wasn't any good at rod-and-reel casting, because she never did it. Instead, my maternal grandmother was a cane pole caster. Weather permitting, she fished every time she got a chance, but she didn't take a rod and reel. She cut cane that grew in the swamps around their farmland and made her own fishing poles.

Occasionally, when I'd fish with her, I'd take along a rod and reel. She'd dip her poles near the boat, and I'd cast my line out into the middle of the lake. I can't ever remember catching anything with my rod and reel. I knew how to cast, but I undoubtedly wasn't casting in the right place or with the right lures.

Another type of casting has also been difficult for me — the kind that the psalmist refers to — the type where I take my cares and anxieties and throw them to God. Although the Bible assures me that God cares for me and doesn't want me to be anxious over things occurring in my life, I tend to let my feelings win out too many times. I forget God's promise to sustain me.

Whatever cares I have, God has them, too. If I'm His child, He's concerned about every detail in my life. He's even concerned about those who aren't His children. His love reaches to all, but especially to those who've chosen to follow Him.

How God can handle all the cares that we hold onto at any given moment is beyond understanding. But, after all, He is God. He's the sovereign ruler of the universe. He controls, guides, and sustains. All those traits equip Him to shoulder whatever concerns us. We can handle only so much before we have a nervous breakdown, emotional burnout, or turn to substances to help us to get through. But if we'll let God handle those things, we won't have to experience any of that.

Trying to handle our own cares shows a lack of trust in God. He never tires of our casting our cares on Him. Unlike my casting that never resulted in anything, casting on God always has results. We'll reel in His peace, comfort, wisdom, and guidance to face whatever causes our anxiety.

Try casting God's way. You'll never be disappointed.

Prayer: Father, we cast our cares on You, believing that You are able to give us comfort and peace, regardless of our circumstances. Amen.

Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)

One of my hobbies is paper quilling. This involves taking thin strips of coloured paper and rolling them around a spool into a tight circle. After the finished circle is removed from the spool, the coils can be released to the size needed, then configured into various shapes. There are approximately a dozen different shapes that can be made from the original circle. The shapes are then glued to a card to form pictures. It is a tedious, yet rewarding, hobby when I view the finished product.

Working on this hobby reminds me of life. We all possess life; it is the common denominator, or "circle" in all of our journeys in this world. Each life, however, is moulded and shaped on a continuous basis due to the circumstances and people who enter it. These experiences and relationships have the power to create something beautiful and fulfilling, or the opposite, depending upon how we allow them to affect us.

There are times when I feel that events or people in my circle of life are crushing, oppressing, or influencing me in unhealthy ways, and I become angry or distraught, confused or frustrated, trying not only to make sense of what is happening, but also to determine how to handle it in such a way that these negatives are turned into positives. At such moments, turning to today's Scripture verse becomes a pivotal point as I remember and trust in God's ability to work these negative life events into something good in my life. I am reminded that, when I turn everything over to Him, He is able "to bestow on [us] a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of the spirit of despair, [that we might] be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:3 NIV) Knowing and trusting in God's power to make a negative into a positive assures me that the various shapes into which my life is sometimes twisted can all turn out to be beautiful and for my best by the time He is finished with them, even though in the moment, it is hard for me to fathom such a transformation.

How about you? Are you struggling with events that are seeking to shape you in ways that are causing distress and anxiety? Have life's circumstances turned your positives into negatives? If so, take a step in faith by turning them over to God, Who is ready and waiting to work all of them for good in your life, if you will only allow Him to do so.

Prayer: Father God, thank You that You are a God of transformation and positive change. Take our negatives this day and work them for good in our lives. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.

Isaiah 43:2-3a – When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (NKJV)

Have you ever been close to death, or thought you were?

Several decades ago, a car accident in Canada left me immobilized and away from home. The doctor said, "You may die in the next two days!" I was faced with impending death, suffering, and my unfinished business with others, not to mention the realization of the unimportance of prestige, political power, and material goods. What an impact!

Partly as a result of my near-death experience and the motivation, the strength, and the call that God gave me, I went to El Salvador for a short term under Presbyterian World Service and Development to enable the poor to become self-sufficient. After that, I stayed on for ten years of "tent-making ministry", doing consulting contracts to support myself. Many people feared violence and death following the Salvadoran Civil War (1979-1992). It was dangerous, and I would not have gone had I not learned to completely trust in God to protect and lead me. With a well-developed trust in God and in Jesus as my Saviour, I was able to discern and to do His will. Letting Him have control over my life and death brought me liberation and peace.

Luke 6:20-23 – Then [Jesus] lifted up His eyes toward His disciples and said: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets. (NKJV)

Let Jesus have control over your life and death, and find your peace in Him!

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us voluntarily to stop and to become aware of Your gifts of forgiveness and salvation. Teach us how to trust in You for our eternal life and to respond today as Jesus would, in response to all opportunities. Amen!

Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. (ASV)

Sometimes, we may wonder how well we really know a friend or a member of our family. Sometimes, we find out more a little later, and it serves up an opportunity to reflect on the events and the people that construct our tale.

One of those many instances jumped out at me a couple of days ago as I was riffling through a drawer of old greeting cards, notes, and assorted memories. I rediscovered a weathered, well-presented little card written by a brother-in-law, who passed away many years ago from cancer. He had been orphaned as a youngster when his parents died, and he was raised on a ranch in the Chilcotin country of British Columbia, Canada, by an uncle and aunt.

My sister, Ruthanne, took him as her husband, and we came to know and love him as a remarkably loyal and sensitive man who was dedicated to his family. But we really didn't always know how deeply talented and thoughtful he was until later when we found a stash of poetry which reflected a love of Christ. Peter, a poet? we thought.

From my memory drawer, I share with you some thoughts from one of our favourite kin… the late Peter Lea.

The Fruit of the Spirit

What is the fruit of the Spirit
As we read in God's Word this day?
Is it the fruit hanging on the vine
Picked by us from our garden each day?

I'm thinking there must be more to these words
Than a perishing fruit from the tree
So I went to God's Word, the Bible,
To see what His Word said to me

And there I found these words expressed
So very clear and bold
The fruit of the spirit is "Love"
And it's manifested in this way we are told

Joy is Love's strength, in Him we are strong
Peace is Love's security we have all day long
Longsuffering is Love's patience God gives us to bear
Gentleness is Love's conduct in view everywhere
Faith is Love's confidence we have in our Lord
Meekness is Love's humility — in His strength we're restored
Self control is Love's victory we have our life through
All this fruit is God's sign of Christianity in you

So check out God's Word in the Bible today
Ask Him to help you with this fruit when you pray
For Love is His blessing He has given to you
Our triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit too.

Prayer: Lord, in days of chaos and confusion, we thank You for reminders of the precious words of Scripture which Peter has so poetically presented for us, that Your central message is and always remains — Love! — to love You with all our heart and to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. We find it in Your Word and in the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Ephesians 4:22-24 – As for your past life, you are to cast off the old man who is being corrupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And put on the new man, who has been created according to God for righteousness and true holiness. (RGT)

How many of us remember Clark Kent running after he heard a cry for help, grabbing his suit jacket, and removing it as he changed into Superman? He was leaving the mild-mannered, weakling Clark behind and becoming the powerful superhero. He acted afraid and confused as Clark Kent, but once he became Superman, no one could defy his strength and ability to solve any crime.

As Christians, we must also remove "the old man", who is weak and living in corruption and deceitful desires. The corrupted, deceitful, "old man" depended on pride, a job, money, success, intelligence, and his instincts. We must remove the "jacket" that keeps us from letting God change us into the new creation who lets God work through us with His superpower. God is never going to lead us where He hasn't already prepared the way and obtained the victory.

As we let go of the "old man", which makes us weak and confused, we can allow God to work in us — renewing our mind — and go out to confront our enemies in His righteousness and true holiness. He has given us the superhero "suit", the armour of Christ, which helps us to withstand the power and wiles of Satan and to stand firm in the Lord.

Ephesians 6:10-11,13 – Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceit of the devil. For this reason take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on the evil day. And having finished all things, stand fast. (RGT)

We are not asked to fight the battle ourselves. We are asked to stand firm, believing in His power and might to fight and win the battle for us. God is the superhero, Who cannot be defeated.

Prayer: Father, help us to take off the old man and be clothed in the new man. Help us to let go of our own might and strength and put our entire being in Your hands. Help us to remember that we are weak, but we don't have to depend on our own strength when we have You, the Lord of heaven's armies, the almighty God, by our side. Amen.

We were a young family living on a single income when I was still a stay-at-home mom, and I had fallen into the familiar trap of "just a little more". I convinced myself that if my husband's paycheque were only a hundred dollars more, life would be much easier. We all know, however, that this line of thinking is foolish.

In an old folktale about an enchanted fish, the wife of the poor fisherman learns a bitter lesson about greed and dissatisfaction. Her beleaguered husband keeps returning to the fish with his wife's ever-increasing demands. She ultimately wants to be queen in a castle on the hill. With this out-of-control wish, the fish loses all patience and poof! the couple find themselves back in their dirty shack.

Our own greed and dissatisfaction may not be that extreme, but we may still need to temper our desires. It is easy to think that if we had just a little bigger house, just a little newer car, just a little better job … and on and on … life would be much better.

The apostle Paul has some biting words to help remind us to keep our desires in check. He assured his young friend Timothy, "True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content." (1 Timothy 6:6-8 NLT)

It may not be just material possessions that leave us discontented. We look around us and are unhappy with life in general. Our neighbours are irritating us, our taxes are too high, and our city government isn't doing its job. Indeed, the world is falling apart. With all of the dangers and deprivations that he himself faced, Paul had every right to complain. But he showed by example how to live the Jesus way. He told the Philippian church, "I have learned how to be content with whatever I have." (Philippians 4:11b NLT)

Let's step back a bit and look at our own situation. Let's look outside of our own bubble to see needs around us, rather than focusing on what we want or think we need. Remember that want and true need are very different things. What do we already have for which we need to be grateful? Life is too short to be wasted wishing and wanting.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, You give us every good and perfect gift, and all that we have comes from You. We can trust You to give us everything that You know we need. Grant us grateful hearts, full of thanksgiving for the many blessings that You give us. Amen.

Psalm 116:17 – I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord. (NKJV)

I have a vivid memory of one particular day when I was ministering in Trenton, Ontario, Canada. The doorbell rang, and it was Lottie Jones Florist with a big bouquet from a member of the congregation. As if in answer to my unspoken question "Why… ?", the card read simply, "Just Because." The lady who sent it had no idea that I was going through a very distressing period in my ministry, and that I desperately needed encouragement. I took it as a sign of God's love, that He would motivate her to express her appreciation for my ministry at just the right time. How valuable it is to say, "Thanks!" And when it comes "out of the blue", when it's not expected, it vastly increases in value.

The "Thanksgiving" time of year reminds us to express gratitude to God for all of His good gifts. I'm sure that it's very encouraging to Him when His people actually remember that we deserve nothing from Him, yet His abundant mercies never cease. I pity those members of our society who recognize no God to express appreciation to. How do such people say "thanks" for a beautiful sunset?

What are you thankful for? Now retired, I'm grateful to God that I attend a congregation with wonderful people, warm-hearted, co-operative, generous, with such good morale and harmony. And I'm grateful for a Saviour Who loved me and you so dearly that He would lay down His life for us.

What can we do in return? Recently, I read about a woman who discovered that the man in the car ahead had paid her toll at the booth. He was already gone, so she couldn't pay him back. But she could have paid for the car behind her. God has paid the price for our sin and has been so good to us; we can't pay Him back, but we can do good to someone else. "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord". (Colossians 3:23a NKJV)

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for all Your precious gifts. Give us the opportunity today to pass on Your generosity to someone else. Amen.