I’ve been thinking these days about how our perception of people changes when we allow ourselves to get to know them. Prefer to read? The content continues below: I read about a woman who was wrongly convicted of murder and spent a number of years on death row. She said the guards weren’t allowed to speak to her because if they got to know her as a fellow human being it might have affected how they treated her. As I’ve volunteered with ex-offenders and with those in prison, my perceptions about ...
Mar 04, 2021•3 min
When we bought our house it was listed as a fixer-upper since it was so long since it had been properly cared for. Once we started cleaning, we discovered many high-end feature that the builder had included, but because of neglect and abuse, it was hard to tell. Prefer to read? The content continues below: The book ‘Misfits Welcome’ by Matthew Barnett tells such a story, about a broken man named Barry. Barry had an abusive childhood. He had been locked away in at attic until he was seven years o...
Feb 03, 2021•3 min
These days, many of the conversations around me center on questions about Covid. What are the numbers for today? What phase are we in? What about school and work? What about..? What if ….? I don’t know about you, but those conversations make me feel like I’m on a little, storm-tossed boat and the circumstances are going to be the end of me. Would you rather read? The content is below: Even though God has said He will never let us be shaken, it’s so hard to cast our cares on the Lord when we feel...
Oct 14, 2020•3 min
Have you heard of Jessica Cox, the world's first licensed armless pilot, as well as the first armless black-belt in the American Taekwondo Association. Prefer to read? The text continues below: Jessica was born in 1983 and due to a rare birth defect, she was born without arms. In spite of that, Jessica flies airplanes, drives cars, and otherwise lives a normal life using her feet as others use their hands. Jessica’s mother often said, “There are no limits to what you can do and who you can be.”...
Jul 29, 2020•5 min
I'm reading a book about the Depression called 'We Had Everything But Money'. One chapter is titled 'When the Banks Closed, Our Hearts Opened'. Even though the hard times our world is experiencing right now are different from those of the depression, there are a lot of lessons we can learn from the courage and endurance of the people in those days. Prefer to Read? Content continues below: Hard times forced many to sell apples on street corners to support their families. Those who still had jobs ...
Jul 22, 2020•4 min
60 years after the war ended, two old men emerged from the dense jungle of a Philippine island and declared they were soldiers. What does that have to do with us today? Prefer to read? The text is below: The Japanese men, both in their 80s, said they had been hiding on the island after being involved in fierce battles with U.S. forces. The soldiers had remained in the jungle and mountains since then, unaware that the war had ended 60 years before, and afraid that they would be charged with deser...
Jul 08, 2020•3 min
I do a lot of reading and gathering stories, and I’m afraid that this time I forgot to write down the original source so I can give proper credit. This story has two parts and I’ll finish off with one of my own. Prefer to read? Here ya go: While a man was driving down a country road, he lost control of his car and wound up in the ditch. He walked to the closest farmhouse and asked for help pulling the car out. The farmer agreed to hitch up his old mule Dusty and pull the farmer out. But the firs...
Jun 24, 2020•4 min
The following story about the duck comes from the book “Will Daylight Come” by Richard Hoefler. It goes like this: Prefer to read? A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot. Johnny practiced in the woods, but he could never hit his target. As he came back to Grandma’s backyard he spied her pet duck. On an impulse, he took aim with his slingshot and let fly. The stone hit the duck and it fell dead. The boy panicked. Desperately he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only...
Jun 11, 2020•4 min
Have you ever heard the story of The Mouse Trap ( author unknown)? It goes like this, with my thoughts added afterwards: Prefer to Read? A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. "What food might this contain?" the mouse wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap. Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning: "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The chicken clucked and scratched, ...
Jun 03, 2020•5 min
Fear is a very present part of our lives at one time or another and can't be avoided. But how we deal with fear can make all the difference. Wishing you peace and joy in spite of everything going on around us, Carol
Apr 22, 2020•3 min
On this Good Friday, my hope is that you will take your eyes off the black dot, no matter how big it may seem and appreciate the reason this is called Good Friday. Prefer to read? Most of the content is below: The Black Dot – Author Unknown One day, a professor entered his classroom and asked his students to prepare for a surprise test. They all waited anxiously at their desks for the exam to begin. The professor handed out the exams with the text facing down, as usual. Once he handed them all o...
Apr 10, 2020•6 min
These days I think we all need a little encouragement. On this podcast I mention how I start my mornings to add some positivity to my life and I mention a hymn that has helped me many times. The words for it are written below. God hath not promised skies always blue, Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through; God hath not promised sun without rain, Joy without sorrow, peace without pain. But God hath promised strength for the day, Rest for the labor, light for the way, Grace for the trials, h...
Mar 29, 2020•3 min
These days it’s cold and dreary here in Southern Ontario, Canada and I’m wishing I were somewhere else. It reminded me of something I read in a book called "Calm My Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow It goes like this: Prefer to read the content? “It was spring but it was summer I wanted; the warm days and the great outdoors. It was summer but it was autumn I wanted; the colourful leaves and the cool dry air. It was autumn but it was winter I wanted; the beautiful snow and the joy of the holiday sea...
Mar 23, 2020•3 min
Have you heard the story of the little bird before? Here are my thoughts on it and our reactions to the things that happen in our lives, especially now, as we make choices about the ways we respond to our circumstances. Prefer to Read? The podcast content continues below: A little bird was flying south for the winter. He got so cold that he froze up and fell to the ground in a large field. While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped manure on the little bird. As he lay there in the manur...
Mar 23, 2020•4 min
Often we hear things repeated, or we read about them online and we take it for granted that whatever it is must be true. But in this age of rampant false information, we need to take the extra time to check our facts. Prefer to Read the Rest of the Content? For instance, I found a quiz that I thought would be good for this podcast. In many places online it's mentioned as the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip. But before blindly following and repeating what ma...
Feb 19, 2020•4 min
Have you ever considered how much the things we think about affect our lives, either positively or negatively? Prefer to read the rest of the content? Famed physician Ben Carson had an uncontrolled temper as a young man, to the point that he almost hit his mother. Ben did hit a boy in the hallway at school and another time threw a rock at a boy and broke his glasses. Every time he told himself that he didn’t mean to hurt anyone and could control his temper. Finally, he got angry with his best fr...
Feb 06, 2020•4 min
A few weeks ago I turned 71 and now find myself much more reflective than ever before. Where has the time gone? Did I waste it or use it wisely? Do I even remember how I spent all those years that are now behind me? Prefer to read the rest of the content? Sometimes there’s regret for things I didn’t do when I had the chance or things I’ve done that I wish I hadn’t. But I can’t change the past and I don’t want to waste whatever time I have left daydreaming about the future and missing what I have...
Jan 31, 2020•2 min
Have you noticed how much we can learn from birds? In this episode of Purpose For Your Life, we can learn some lessons from ducks and geese and how they take care of one another. Then we look at eagles and some of the many times eagles are mentioned in the Bible and why. I hope when you finish listening to the podcast you'll agree with me that if God cares for the birds the way he does, we can be sure that He loves and cares for us so much more! Like Luke 12:6-7 "Are not five sparrows sold for t...
Oct 09, 2019•4 min
Hi there, I finally got around to creating another podcast. I think I need to take some lessons in perseverance myself. I hope you enjoy this week's story of Richard Montañez, and his journey from poverty to success. Do you have your own success story? It may not be as drastic of a life journey as some may have had but that does not mean that it is any less valuable or worthy. We all have our own life lessons to learn and our own purpose in life. And we are all here to share and help each other....
Aug 08, 2019•7 min
I get so excited by all of the possibilities that technology offers, especially for people who may feel at a disadvantage because of their health, background, or age. I had the chance to talk about that at the LEAP online summit where I was interviewed and wanted to share part of it with you. Scroll down to listen. And this is the quote from Steve Ballmer: "The number one benefit of information technology is that it empowers people to do what they want to do. It lets people be creative. It lets ...
May 17, 2019•13 min
Have you ever thought of technology as a blessing ? There are times it is, as you'll hear in this short podcast episode. What is your favorite piece of technology? Why? Do you have any exciting or funny experiences you could share with us about dealing with technology? Just comment below so we can enjoy your memory along with you. Carol Your Chief Encourager
May 07, 2019•6 min
This week's podcast talks about the fact that we often see only the immediate situation, but God's thoughts and planning for us, embrace eternity. The story of the stolen van is one I read in a book called "Voices of the Faithful" by Beth Moore. I hope it encourages you, no matter what your present view appears to be. Carol
Apr 22, 2019•4 min
This time of year can be hard for a lot of people. Too much rain, not warm enough, not enough sun. At least in my part of Canada, that's the case. So I created a quick little podcast about what we can do when we feel unmotivated . I'd love to hear your thoughts. Carol
Apr 16, 2019•3 min
What happens when we take our eyes off of ourselves and our aches and pains and start to look at the needs of those around us. You will grow and change in the process. If you prefer, you can watch the video by clicking here. Have a great day, Carol
Feb 26, 2019•4 min
Podcast Episode Highlights: The Sun Does Shine is the true story of Anthony Ray Hinton, convicted of murders he did not commit and sentenced to die. Ray spent almost thirty years on Death Row until finally being found innocent and released in 2015. His story is one of endurance and faith in the midst of a terrible situation; of his decision to make a home where he was instead of wishing he were somewhere else. In this podcast, I talk about some of the key points I noticed....
Feb 19, 2019•6 min
These are the notes from today's podcast: Perseverance Quiz – Who are these people based on the hints about them? Listen to the podcast to find out who they are. 1. ? Too short and clumsy to play basketball ? Cut from the varsity basketball team ? Missed more than 9,000 shots and lost almost 300 games ? Considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time 2. ? Was a shy, timid teenager ? His drawings were rejected by his high school yearbook ? Is now considered on of the most influentia...
Sep 18, 2018•5 min
Have you ever thought about what people will say when the day arrives that you leave this earth? My mother passed away exactly one month ago now and it made me consider again this quote by Lin Yutang: "Belief in our mortality, the sense that we are eventually going to crack up and be extinguished like the flame of a candle, I say, is a gloriously fine thing. It makes us sober; it makes us a little sad; and many of us it makes poetic. But above all, it makes it possible for us to make up our mind...
Jun 07, 2018•5 min
Notes From the Podcast episode: Excerpt from ‘ Come Away My Beloved ’ daily devotional: “Will you be like an instrument with broken strings from which the musician can bring forth no music?” The important thing isn’t that we stay so strong that we never break How do we react when we feel broken? How would a rare violin be treated? Why we are like that violin and how should we respond? Second Chances First of all, thank you to those of you I know have been praying that I find my direction going f...
Mar 07, 2018•2 min
Download the episode here Notes from this episode: Have you had a dream for your future that you think is lost because of things that have happened in your life? Story of Moses: born to an Israelite family, raised by Pharaoh’s daughter in the palace as her son. at 40 years old, lost his temper and killed an Egyptian guard ran away to the desert to live became a shepherd at 80 years old, God told him to go to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let God’s people go Israelites finally freed then Moses job to...
Jun 21, 2017•3 min
Notes from this podcast episode: Portion from 'The Finishing Touch' by Charles Swindoll , called 'Who Cares'. Tells the story of a derelict who was found on the streets and later died The surprising name of who that drunken bum really was. I won't spoil it for you, you'll have to listen to the podcast The story reminded Mr Swindoll of a poem about stooping down and restoring a lost soul's glimmer of hope. Deep within many a forgotten life is a scrap of hope trying hard to return. Because of my v...
Jun 05, 2017•5 min
