Grandma, grandpa, and the drumsticks
I knew a pair of grandparents whose home was furnished with antique armchairs, ornate flower arrangements, and burgundy carpets. Aside from being an experienced homemaker... »
Li Lian
Natalie’s Sunday school
I first met Natalie years ago at a large construction company where she worked as an accountant. A colleague of hers had shown her the Activated magazine, and then told u... »
Ordinary days
In Ann Kiemel’s book I'm Out to Change My World, there’s a section in which the author is explaining to her mom about an ongoing difficulty she is experiencing in her lif... »
Sharing your faith
Sharing our faith is something that many of us feel we should do but sometimes don’t know where to start. Here are some helpful tips I gathered from a topical Bible guide... »
Peace and good will
On the night of Jesus’ birth, angels appeared to shepherds keeping watch over their flocks. “Glory to God in the highest,” they proclaimed, “and on earth peace, good will... »
10 ways to increase your self-confidence
Make a list of all the good things you currently have in your life. Always give thanks for everything to our God.—Ephesians 5:20 TLB Take some time to tell Jesus about ho... »
Solving life’s puzzle
For as long as I can remember, I never liked doing puzzles. Viewing thousands of sky-blue, nearly-identical little pieces scattered over a wooden table was enough to make... »
The baby in the other incubator
Charity, an Activated reader for many years, had a well-paying job in the banking industry. She had recently finished her second master’s degree from a prestigious intern... »
Exercising humility
After a disagreement, take the first step toward reconciliation, and be willing to apologize if you discover that you’ve made a mistake. Don’t hold grudges.—Leviticus 19:... »
The man in the grey suit
John sighed as he pushed his cart forward in the queue and glanced at his phone’s clock for the third time. 40 minutes already! How long can this take? A technical issue... »
Resolutions and results
I watched an online video outlining several factors that are key to living an active, healthy life. One of the points was to compare the effects of sitting for long hours... »
The dancing traffic controller
On a late Saturday afternoon, traffic crawled towards the congested, narrow intersection in the large metropolis. Pedestrians zigzagged through the lanes. Lines of cars w... »