But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 What does it mean to wait for the Lord? waiting expectantly – trusting that we’re not treading water, or wasting time. God hasn’t forgotten about us. He hears; and this waiting is part of His answer focusing on His faithfulness in the past. Looking to His …Read More
Guest post from Glen… Tuesday night, 11:30pm. After 5 hours at A&E, Emma and I were putting a screaming toddler to bed. The doorbell went. “Who could that be?” asked Emma. Somehow I knew. Clarity pierced through the cloud of tiredness, set-upon-ness, and noble sufferer-ness that I’d been nurturing all evening. Suddenly I realised I was guilty – of a crime that, without the doorbell, I’d have blithely ignored. But with the bell came instant conviction. And rest. You see, …Read More
Today I planned to write a blog. I planned to do some washing. I planned to read the Bible and have a good pray. I planned to phone a friend I haven’t spoken to in a long time. I planned to send an (overdue) birthday card I planned to pay the bills and phone the dentist and reply to email and wash my hair and de-flea the cats and buy milk and take the recycling. … Mondays can be overwhelming – and …Read More
There have got to be better ways of motivating yourself than wall hangings and Disney quotes. Most of ’em make me want to trample on fairy wings. Plus, they don’t make sense. I give you; Be Bold. Be Brave. Be You. I can do the third one. But I don’t see how it’s linked to the first two. You’re the One who Can Fill The World with Sunshine. On a typical morning, I struggle to fill my coffee cup. Choose A Life Less Ordinary. 1.I like …Read More
It’s ok to feel overwhelmed. But before you listen to lies or reach for old habits, try some of these: 1. pray 2. stop and breathe 3. read the Bible or listen to it read to you 4. scribble on sheets of paper. 5. pray for someone else 6. write a list of things that worry you. Pray them through, then bin them 7. be with other people. 8. watch your favourite TV show. 9. post on web boards or try answering other people’s posts. 10. phone …Read More
Lent is traditionally the season of abstinence. We ask each other, ‘what are you giving up?’ But the real question is this: ‘who are you giving it up for?’ I say this as someone who’s very good at self-will and saying ‘no’. But I’m learning there’s a world of difference between fasting for the Lord and fasting for yourself. Both look religious, but are centered round very different gods. One is Jesus. One is me. If you’re not …Read More
Late for church today (again). Couple of reasons: 1. sickness as the ivf drugs start leaving my system. 2. general rubbishness (I’m late every week). 3. baby/family squishiness. 4. fear of going Inappropriately Crazy. (I’M SAD SO I NEED YOU ALL TO STOP SINGING). I didn’t, (tho I didn’t sing either). And one of these days I’m gonna! Maybe… Thing is, however bad it gets, there’s rarely a time when church isn’t right. And by ‘right’ I don’t mean “horrible …Read More
I want an iPhone; I need conversation I want to be perfect; I need to be real I want beauty; I need to see His I want a penthouse; I need an open home I want to be Jane Austen, Bridget Jones or Rhianna. I need to be me and to know that’s enough . I want to change the world; I need to be changed myself I want a new body; I need to love the one I’ve got …Read More
Back to the baby doc today. We’re reviewing Cycle 2: What Went Wrong, (tagline: ‘The Final Chapter?’) Guest-stars: Mad scientist consultant. His desperate, inexorable search for progress has blunted his social skills and made him crazy with power. Hickster Fundamentalist Christians. Comedy couple – reared by dingos in the outback/potato farmers in Peat bog land. Him: Nice Vicar who Finishes Last. Her: Feisty Irish Rose Nettle with Big Gob. Nurse with Heart of Gold (winces/emits spontaneous clucking noises when Mad Scientist …Read More
Glen and I are hoping to start IVF fairly soon. I say hoping, because it’s been a long, long process and I’m utterly convinced I will do something to stuff it up. That probably sounds stupid as, at this stage, there’s not much I can do except take the hormones, try not to go (even more) bonkers, pray and wait. But – I have Eating Disorder Guilt, I don’t think I’m an adult let alone a Woman and frankly, after …Read More
