Choosing Kindness

Choosing Kindness is an invitation to explore the narratives of some Biblical characters and some ordinary people who have been blessed, transformed, and healed through kindness. With a sustained Biblical focus, these relatable, truth-filled devotionals will stir you to live out love in tangible ways that demonstrate the goodness and kindness of God. Ideal for both personal and group study, Choosing Kindness will make a great addition to church and home libraries.

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Contributors

Aimee Augustine

Aimee Augustine is a creative professional, expressing her interest through cooking, hairstyling, staging/decorating homes and more recently writing. She is fiercely devoted to her family, supporting her entrepreneur husband and their five sweet/spunky daughters. She balances her home and work life with diligence, a pursuit of excellence and desperate dependence on the grace of God. Aimee uses her life to pursue Jesus and point others towards him, and this manifests in her passion for healthy families, healthy lifestyle and commitment to her local church. She cares greatly about seeing people live their best, most fulfilling joy filled life.
www.steveaugustine.com

Davina Boerefyn

Davina Boerefyn moved to Canada from India in 2004 when she married the love of her life, Timothy. As a pastor’s kid, she grew up reaching the socially disadvantaged and forming mission partnerships. She is an MBA graduate with a background in finance, broadcasting, and journalism in India, Europe, and Canada. Davina serves her local church as a ministry elder, a deacon on the board, and together with her husband as a marriage mentor. She is convinced that chocolate, coming from the cocoa plant counts as a daily serving of vegetable! www.facebook.com/davina.boerefyn

Jessica Bowen

Jessica Bowen is the second of five children in a busy family who moved to Canada from Barbados when Jessica was just five years of age. At twenty-four, she enjoys people, pasta, pizza, potatoes and any opportunity that presents fresh possibilities! The church has always been a close love and she is presently completing her first year of ministry internship with Lakemount Worship Centre in Grimsby, ON. Here she serves in youth ministry both hands on with the youth and in an administrative role with their welcome committee. Her career goal is to complete an MBA in order to serve the body of Christ from a business perspective. Jessica is always up for a good hike where she can enjoy friends, nature and the majesty of His creation. www.facebook.com/jessicarebekahbowen

Jennifer Clark

Jennifer Clark has been married to her husband Dale, for an incredible twenty-six years. She is a mom of five and a brand-new grandma. Together, she and Dale manage their 350 acre Arthur, ON farm that produces corn, canola, wheat and beef cattle. Farming is their part time job (if you can imagine!) as her husband is the Road Superintendent for their township and Jennifer is the proud owner/operator of a natural health and beauty company called Heaven Scent Natural Products. Jennifer is a whimsical romantic dreamer with an entrepreneurial spirit who loves to help catapult others forward into their unique dreams and their destinies. Jennifer readily invites others to catch her ultimate passion to get closer to Jesus and generously shares out of the abundance of the love and kindness that God has shown her. She believes that everything we need has been provided by God, we just need to be diligent to seek and find it by pursuing Him with our whole heart!
www.heavenscentnaturalproducts.com

Edna Crooks

Born in Kingston Jamaica, Edna Crooks immigrated to Canada in 2007 with her husband, Leroy, and their 1st daughter Asha-Lee; then came the long-awaited second daughter, Abrielle. Edna is devoted to family and is anybody's helper. As a social service worker, her empathetic nature pushes her to advocate for and protect the vulnerable. She is a disciple of Jesus Christ and a forever student in the classroom of the Holy Spirit, learning to love the Lord with all her heart, mind, soul, and strength. Edna lives the fasted lifestyle which presses her toward greater worship and intimacy with God. She aligns her walk with THE WORD, who, in her life, is the final say. She serves her home church in hospitality, prayer and small group leadership. www.linkedin.com/in/ednacrooks

Rebekah Dalgleish

Rebekah Dalgleish has been married to husband AJ for ten years and is a stay-at-home mom of two and one dopey, attention-seeking, love you no matter what, golden doodle pup. This year she has courageously added to her full time mothering the joy of attending the first year Lakemount Ministry Internship at her home church. Rebekah is a passionate worship leader and song writer and loves anything creative. While family, church and health are priorities, you might also find Rebekah curled up with a good book, planning a unique home decorating project or digging into anything Disney. Sunshine and summer bring out the best in Rebekah, though her friends would say it’s hard to imagine her any sweeter. www.facebook.com/rebekah.dalgleish

Sheela Duraisami

Dr. Sheela Duraisami is the Co-founder and Senior Pastor of Church on the Rock International Ministries in Toronto. She also serves as Professor of Christian Education at Canada Christian College, Toronto. She is a passionate lover of the Word and a compulsive sharer of the gospel. Sheela hosts a weekly television program called “Eagles Voice” broadcast nationally on YesTV. A prolific speaker, Dr. Sheela Duraisami preaches the word of God with passion and clarity. She carries a unique prophetic mantle that brings refreshing and hope to all who hear. As a seasoned intercessor, her desire is to see revival sweep across the nation of Canada, and to see people come into salvation and fulfil their God ordained destiny. Sheela lives in Toronto with her husband Peter, and their two sons Yohan and Joshua.
www.eaglesvoice.ca www.peopleontherock.com

Stacey Forbes

Stacey Forbes is mother of four, grandmother of five and proud “mom dog” of two. She has been married for twenty-six years to her wonderful husband Craig. She lives in Stoney Creek Ontario and works full time as a Hum. As a new boat owner, she is certain that spending time on the lake will soon be added to Stacey Forbes her list of favourite past-times as well. She serves her home church in prayer ministry and visitation of new moms.
www.facebook.com/stacey.sulyok

Julia Garratt

After thirty plus years in aid, training & community development in southeast Asia, Julia and her husband Kevin were falsely arrested as spies in 2014. Their horrific 775-day imprisonment story as pawns in a multi-nation geopolitical dispute, is detailed in their book, Two Tears on the Window (twotearsonawindow.com). In 2017 the Garratts founded Nation to Nation (nation-to-nation.com) to continue working with vulnerable conflict-distressed communities in southeast Asia through redemptive compassionate community development initiatives focused on clean water, coffee and food security.

Julia says, “Life is a journey of character and community. Each of us is designed by God for own unique story. Our daily choice is whether or not we will live every chapter in partnership with Him.” Passionate about spiritual formation, Julia has authored training, courses & seminars, most recently Rhythm Has a Name and Living Grace, a Lenten Journey. In her free time, Julia enjoys nature, flowers, watercolour painting, and digging deeper in the Bible.

Janice Grek

Janice Grek is a retired teacher, mother of two sons and grandmother of two. She resides in Buffalo, NY with her husband, John. Janice is a member of Vanguard Church in North Tonawanda, NY, USA, where she serves on several teams and leads the Welcome Team. The joy of the Lord is her strength, and she loves to encourage others. Janice enjoys swimming, puzzles and spending time with family and friends. A deep thinker, she often wonders why angels, since they are ministering spirits (Hebrews 1:14) don't do housework.
www.vanguard.church

Rosemary Hiebert

Rosemary Hiebert, a resident of Niagara Falls, Ontario, serves with passion alongside her husband Dale, the pastor of Dwelling Place, in worship and prayer. Rosemary is accomplished in both vocal and instrumental music and her personal career, in her free hours, is working as a music teacher. She loves seeing the presence of God manifest on earth through people rising up in destiny. Rosemary has served the body of Christ beyond her home church in various areas of mission and music and in interdenominational prayer gatherings and women’s ministry events. On the home front, Rosemary especially enjoys spending time with her family, two grown children, their spouses and grandchildren. www.dwellingplacenf.com

Becky (Rebecca) Lang

Becky (Rebecca) Lang was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Having grown up in a strong Christian family, her parents instilled in her a love for the local church. It was a natural progression for her to feel a call into ministry and pursue Bible College, then a one-year Discipleship Program prior to assuming a staff position at First Assembly in Calgary. She served here for eight years before joining the team at Lakemount where she has served since 2007. From a young age she had a love to make things beautiful, and with a little help from the Lynette Jennings home design show, experimented often on re-styling her bedroom. Interior decorating continues to be a favorite past time! Becky has been married for thirteen years to the love of her life, Tom, and is Mama to three gorgeous souls. She continues to love the local church and presently oversees Life Group and Missions. www.facebook.com/tombec.lang

Judy Lundrigan

Judy Lundrigan’s home address has changed many times through her journey spanning the miles from Atlantic Canada to the north of Ontario and then to the land-of-her-calling, Honduras. Along that route Judy has worked in Federal Government taxation and has served in various areas of ministry from facilitating life groups to leadership in Aglow of Canada Northern Ontario and Laurentian Section Women’s Ministry. Judy was administrator and founder Schools of Hope Honduras and Director of Child Care Plus Honduras. She is a ‘master planner’ and a life-long learner having recently completed her second level in Christian Coaching. Currently Judy and her husband, Randy, live in St. Catharines, Ontario, sharing life in Central Gospel Church where Judy is on part time staff. They both enjoy time with their adult children and their grandchildren.

Endorsements

" Choosing Kindness will encourage and motivate you to be kind, caring and compassionate during these uncertain times. These inspiring stories of kind words, deeds, gifts and actions will inspire you to bless those around you; those in need, lonely and struggling. The stories are unique and heartfelt. They will touch your heart with the power of the love and kindnesses of God. This book has re-ignited me with creative ideas for a renewed kindness that will bless and help others. "
~ Jane Raymer | Former Women’s Pastor and Prayer Co-ordinator

" Ruth Teakle’s devotional, Choosing Kindness is a truly authentic, relevant, and thought-provoking daily translation of God’s Word. An easy to read, boldly articulated and practical devotional that will help us to run our race with endurance. "
~ Dr. Anne Nwebube | Consultant Paediatrician/ Neonatologist

" Ruth Teakle has eloquently and yet simply woven into Choosing Kindness important truths from selected Bible stories and testimonies of kindness. Each devotion sets the stage with a scripture verse and closes with a short, powerful reflective prayer. This devotional will touch your heart and soul. In a day where everyone has something to say on every social media platform, this devotional is a gentle reminder that the world is changed by kindness and not opinion. This beautiful devotional will touch your heart and inspire you to be more like Jesus. If you’re in search of a devotional that you will look forward to reading every day, then put this one down on your must- read list. You will be tempted to read the whole book in one sitting. Yes, it’s that good! "
~ Angela Wesley

" Encouraging and inspirational! Choosing Kindness reveals how simple acts of kindness can have significant impact on the lives of others as well as your own. The choice of kindness, as shared through testimony and Biblical review, will most certainly motivate you to grow and mature in this fruit of the Spirit. "
~ Rev. Lena Nicholson | Uplift International, Agape Ministries