by Marie | Aug 25, 2025 | Archives, Inspiration
There was a man who was the richest farmer in the valley. He was not a God-fearing man but was instead a “self—made” man who worshipped His creator (himself!). He had in his employ a humble gardener who loved the Lord. One day the richest man in the valley opened the door to his godly servant who stood outside on the doorstep holding his hat awkwardly in his hands. “What is it?” his master asked him. “Sir,” the man replied awkwardly, “I had a dream that tonight at midnight the richest man in the valley would die.” “Why, my man,” the richest man in the valley replied, “I’m in excellent health—don’t you worry about me!” Then gently, “It’s all that religion you go in for—makes you think morbid thoughts.” The man shuffled away and the master went inside the house again. However, he couldn’t get over the man’s words and he decided to stay up late and ask his friend’s doctor to come over and play bridge with him—just in case! The doctor complied and the evening passed with the richest man in the valley glancing at the clock every half hour or so and insisting the doctor stay and play just “one more game.” At half past midnight the doctor left and the richest man in the valley chided
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by Marie | Aug 23, 2025 | Archives, Inspiration
I was looking forward to the long train ride home after an exhausting weekend of speaking and challenging the hearts of women, engaging and ministering amongst them. Knowing the effects of such weekends, months earlier I’d booked a train ticket with a seat by the window so that I could mindlessly stare into space and eventually close my eyes to the lulling clickety-clack of the train on its track. But upon boarding, I discovered someone else sitting in my seat. I came to find out that due to overbooking, nobody was in their designated seat. Fortunately, there was another one available nearby that remained unoccupied. While it was not my desired window seat, I politely asked the woman seated there if she’d mind if I joined her. “Of course not.” She smiled back. “I’m not in the right seat either.” As I made myself comfortable, she asked, “Do you have any exciting plans in Toronto?” (our destination). I replied, “I hope not! The only excitement will be not having enough time to catch my connecting train headed home to Ottawa.” To be polite, I asked, “How about you?” She then went on to tell me that she was on her way to participate in a radio interview on addiction. Picking up on the sensitive topic at hand, but recognizing a
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by Marie | Aug 22, 2025 | Archives, Inspiration
Claire was singing along, in sync with the Choir, when, upon looking to the back row, she saw a space where, until only a moment ago, her teenage daughter Ann was seated. It took effort to hold back the tears of frustration, or was it guilt, self-blame…that welled in her eyes. She had failed to tame her teenage daughter as any Christian mother would hope. But God, I have tried, she inwardly quarrelled… I have been an example, always praying, always here, always sharing the bible… Once a church devotee and member of the local Parish choir, her teenage daughter had lost her way and drifted away from Church, from God. Claire had to talk her up the previous six days, to convince her to attend today’s service. Now she had left… And what’s more, she had abandoned the new bible she had bought for her only yesterday, there on the bench. “Whoosh,” Claire sighed, gathering the strength to reach the bible. She noticed a chit protruding from its pages. She read it. “My dearest and nearest. I know I have been far from you lately. I am sorry. I’m back, in your arms, to your comfortable embrace. To your wet love, where I truly belong.” Ann had abandoned service to go and see her boyfriend… Now Claire’s eyes welled;
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by Marie | Aug 21, 2025 | Archives, Inspiration
A man’s daughter had asked the local pastor to come and pray with her father. When the pastor arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows and an empty chair beside his bed. The priest assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit. “I guess you were expecting me,” he said. “No, who are you?” “I’m the new associate at your local church,” the pastor replied. “When I saw the empty chair, I figured you knew I was going to show up.” “Oh yeah, the chair,” said the bedridden man. “Would you mind closing the door?” Puzzled, the pastor shut the door. “I’ve never told anyone this, not even my daughter,” said the man. “But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it always went right over my head..” “I abandoned any attempt at prayer,” the old man continued, “until one day about four years ago my best friend said to me, ‘Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here’s what I suggest. Sit down on a chair, place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It’s not spooky
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by Marie | Aug 20, 2025 | Archives, Inspiration
Thousands of candles burned on the green branches, and colored pictures like those in the printshops looked down at her. The little girl reached both her hands toward them. Then the match went out. But the Christmas lights mounted higher. She saw them now as bright stars in the sky. One of them fell, forming a long line of fire. “Now someone is dying,” thought the little girl, for her old grandmother, the only person who had loved her, and who was now dead, had told her that when a star fell, a soul went up to God. She rubbed another match against the wall. It became bright again, and in the glow the old grandmother stood clear and shining, kind and lovely. “Grandmother!” cried the child. “Oh, take me with you! I know you will disappear when the match is burned out. You will vanish like the warm stove, the wonderful roast goose and the beautiful big Christmas tree!” And she quickly struck the whole bundle of matches, for she wished to keep her grandmother with her. And the matches burned with such a glow that it became brighter than daylight. Grandmother had never been so grand and beautiful. She took the little girl in her arms, and both of them flew in brightness and joy above the earth,
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