April Yamasaki

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The Problem of Prosperity

When I was first invited to contribute to The Message Women’s Devotional Bible, I had no idea that I would end up writing on Amos 4: “Listen to this, you cows of Bashan grazing on the slopes of Samaria.You women! Mean to the poor, cruel to the down-and-out!Indolent and pampered, you demand of your husbands, ‘Bring us a…

On Every Occasion and Opportunity

Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known and well-loved passages of Scripture. But when Mel Sawatzky read his Psalm 23 in L, I heard the psalm in a new way. (Image by wisconsinpictures from Pixabay) Since then, I and others have meditated on Psalm 23 and written our own paraphrases, focusing on different letters.…

Do You Have a Dream?

In the last three years, I’ve taught my on-line course on dreams three times: twice as part of Canadian Mennonite University’s Xplore program and once on my own. I’m excited once more to offer Dreams and Dreaming in the Bible and in Our Lives Today—this time as a Winter 2027 course for the Ottawa School…

The Gift of a Broken Heart

“When you care enough to send the very best.” —Hallmark Cards When I choose a greeting card to send to someone, I don’t choose the card with the corner already torn off. The card might get roughed up as it goes through the postal system, but I at least want to start with one that…

God Has More for Us

At the end of John 20, the gospel seems to be drawing to a close. Jesus’ tomb was empty. The risen Christ had already appeared to Mary Magdalene and twice to the group of disciples, once without Thomas and once with him. The last verse of the chapter says, “These are written that you may…

God’s Patient Work Continues

“Those are a couple of fire-on-the-mountain bushes,” the gardener said to me. She looked after the common areas around our townhouse community—mowing the grass, pruning the bushes, and generally keeping the grounds looking healthy and well kept. But each household is responsible to take care of the garden area next to their own unit. As…

Hope Beyond Our Sorrows in Conversation

For some of my previous books, I’ve been interviewed in print—with questions sent to me in advance and the opportunity to write out my answers and send them back. But with Hope Beyond Our Sorrows, I’ve been learning how to be a podcast guest, and it’s been a steep learning curve! As a writer, I’d…

Psalms of God’s Protection

A reader asked for Psalms that speak to God’s protection and guidance. She and her adult daughter live an ocean apart, and despite the distance and different time zones, her daughter calls her every night. She prays for her daughter every day, and sends her verses of encouragement from the Bible. Her comment made me…

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