I was asked at my church to share a 3-minute story about how my faith has helped me cope with stress and it seemed to strike a chord with people. The most stressful times in my life thus far have been when I was most unwell and although my health is much improved, this is … More Stress: when my expectations were both too much and too bland
As I arrived at the beach this morning, I found myself asking, Why is being by the sea so restorative for the soul? After sitting and resting by it, I had a few answers. It’s the big open space; the awareness that there are things bigger than my little world of worries and concerns, that my ups … More Why is being by the sea so restorative for the soul?
I was cuddling sweet baby James, my good friend Rebecca’s cute wee baby, when it hit me afresh: I will never get to experience this. I will never have the joy of feeling a baby growing in my womb, the hardship and wonder of giving birth, the close bond of breastfeeding, the privilege of nurturing … More A Denied Joy Surpassed
Have you lost hope? Perhaps like me you’ve found the news to be too overwhelming, that it burdens you down with the sadness of it all. And now that sadness is coming into your life, family members who are struggling with the isolation, friends who are sick, your job on the rocks, your career or … More Hope in the grief of coronavirus
A stunted prickly bush or a green flourishing tree. What makes the difference? Begrudgingly resigned to circumstances or contentedly accepting of circumstances. What makes the difference? Resentful, glum and frustrated or content, at peace and cheerful. What makes the difference? Perhaps it comes down to what we expect in life. Jesus’ words in Mark 8:34-37 … More A stunted prickly bush or a green flourishing tree?
It’s a basic fact we all know isn’t it? I’m not in control of the weather; I’m not in control of the traffic; I’m not in control of politics. We know that and yet there are lots of things we like to think we are in control of. I’m in control of my money and … More I’m Not In Control
When you have a chronic illness, it can feel like people don’t know the real you. I remember when one of my flatmates made a passing comment about how I wasn’t a particularly sociable person – she wasn’t being rude or mean, just making an observation. At the time I was working half days, so … More Not the Real Me
This is especially for you if you suffer from severe endometriosis (and those of you don’t but want to understand more). I wanted to write this because for so long I struggled to know how to express what I was going through. It took me a long time to realise this is a different kind … More Overwhelming, Oppressive Exhaustion
What do you expect when you find yourself going through a tough time? I think as Christians many of us have come to realise that we should expect suffering, that it’s not only a part of living in a fallen world but an expected part of the Christian experience on this earth. But I reckon many … More What Do You Expect?
I’ve occasionally been asked by different local church leaders how they can support student ministry, and my answer is: teach the gospel to the students in your church. Teach them that the gospel is not about a decision made at a particular point in time, but about a whole life transformed. Teach them that the … More Teach the Gospel!
Kaponga 