There are times in our lives when everything seems wrong. A workplace that demands everything; but gives nothing back. A relationship on the rocks; or no relationship at all. A baby who refuses to sleep; a scowling teen who won’t meet your gaze. Maybe it’s something you can’t talk about – or something you can’t see. Bruises; inside or out. Loneliness; depression; pain or grief. Sadness that smothers; thick crests of anger that die, quick as they surge. Hold on, friends …Read More
Thank you Sharon, for another great post – this time on depression. Make sure you look out for her powerful book, “Wrestling with my thoughts” (A doctor writes about her own mental health struggles), which will be coming out in January, published by IVP. Autumn Days Comfy hoodies, pumpkin spice lattes, cosy evenings indoors, rustling leaves, spectacular colours… For some people, autumn is a favourite season. But others have a different experience. The darker mornings and earlier sunsets squeeze …Read More
How do you know when the Holy Spirit is working in your life? you have incredible dreams and visions you’ve given up on all your old sins and are temptation-free. Things you’ve wrestled with in the past are completely resolved you know you’re exactly where God wants you to be and doing precisely what he wants you to do you’ve never felt closer to God others look to you as an example of faith and strength. you go to a …Read More
Guest post by Glen “I can’t pray. Where would I begin?” I understand this sentiment very well. I have thought it and felt it often. But it’s not right. The truth is I can pray, I do pray, I am praying all the time. I don’t need to start praying. In reality I can’t stop. What do I mean? Well consider these famous verses from Paul: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with …Read More
I’m reading a great devotional for busy mums. It talks about the importance of coming before God in silence and stillness. Yes, I think. Yes. But how? Noise is the tapestry of my days. Toys that sing when you step on them. The hum of the washing machine; car horns honking; the chatter and clatter of dishes and children. No breaks and no off switch. No time for anything else. That’s not quite true. It is possible to carve out …Read More
Everything I’m reading at the moment seems to point to the necessity of Christian suffering. It’s not a message I’ve been seeking. In fact, I keep trying to post it back. I turn the pages of the bible. I put on a different song. I pray, ‘Ok God – but not for me. Not now and frankly, not ever.’ This week I even picked out a book entitled ‘Joy’ as an antidote. (It turned out to be about the joy that comes …Read More
We’ve recently adopted a little boy and are in the early stages of settling him in. The wee man is doing well, and we are so thankful to be at this point. We wouldn’t swap him for the world! We are also however, very tired. This is when stresses get under the skin and start to itch. Molehills tower over the stack of dishes and dirty nappies; it’s easy to feel like everything is too much. I have no time to …Read More
you are not a mind reader. No-one else is thinking about how weird you are. Odds on, they’re thinking about how weird they are. you do not have a crystal ball. It might feel like catastrophe is imminent, but you’ve had those feelings before (many times perhaps), and you’re still standing. Daily bread is what you need. And daily bread is what you have. Don’t worry about tomorrow. it’s really ok to have mental health struggles. That makes you one in …Read More
There’s a certain kind of tiredness that no amount of sleep can touch. Where does it come from, this weariness? it’s the news – a steady stream of sadness that drips drips drips till you’re leaking soundbites and you can’t tell what matters and what’s just noise it’s polite chit-chat and stabs behind the cup-cakes it’s the magazine articles that tell you to be yourself and what that self should be it’s the queue at the post office and the …Read More
One from the archives…. God’s time-frame is not ours. And sometimes, He answers our prayers, a little later than we expect. When I was nine or ten, I entered a competition that our primary school was running with Belfast zoo. To enter, you had to write a poem about the new baby kangaroos. The winners would then get to visit them with the class, and – get this – give them kangaroo names. I felt sick just thinking about it. So, I got to work crafting the …Read More
