Whatever lies ahead, here’s what we know for sure… We have a loving Father who is working all things together for our good. Sometimes we’ll feel angry or sad or overwhelmed or unsafe or crazy. These feelings are not the truth and they will pass. Our circumstances will change. Suffering has a “used by” date and there is hope. Only Jesus’ future is forever. Whatever mistakes we make, there is always more grace in Jesus than there is sin in us …Read More
Ring the bells that still can ring, Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything, That’s how the light gets in. Leonard Cohen, Anthem The world is broken. Systems are broken. The government is broken. The environment is broken. We are broken. And with it, we are brokenhearted. Amazingly—given how universal brokenness is—we never seem to make our peace with brokenness. It continues to outrage us, even though we’ve never known anything different. But our hearts break for …Read More
by Glen We were talking about singleness but we could have been talking about anything. “Finding someone” was the way into the conversation but the way out requires us to set aside “finding someone”. Hopefully we’ll be able to do that in this post, even though we’ll begin with that issue. Really I want to talk about “satisfaction in Christ” and “finding your identity in Jesus” and all that stuff that trips off good Christians’ lips. What on earth does …Read More
One from the archives… This year. You can have Hope. Whatever you’re facing; (and even if you’re refusing to face it). Not a wishy-washy sense that everything will be okay. Not a feeling or a temperament. Not a stake in something that can be torn away. Hope. Not something you work up by yourself. Not dependent on those around you. Not about your house or your health or your happiness. Hope. Not for other people. Not for when you’ve earned it …Read More
Thanks so much to Sharon, for this wonderful advent meditation for those suffering from mental illness. She writes; …. I suffer from depression, a symptom of my schizoaffective disorder, and, if I’m honest, I find these few weeks leading up to Christmas difficult. As I write, I am sitting in my kitchen. It’s mid-morning, but it’s dark, with heavy cloud pressing down upon the house. The low pressure makes me feel claustrophobic, and part of me just wants to go back …Read More
James Cary is Mr Podcasts and I was fortunate enough to be inquisitioned (is that a thing?) by him for The Inquisition Podcast. Listen in here as I talk about my story and the difference Jesus makes. And do subscribe to the Inquisition — a fab new podcast. Share…FacebookTwitterTumblrPinterestStumbleUponDiggemail
In the last post we thought about how God is not primarily a law-giver or an abstract ideal of goodness. He’s an eternal Father. We know this because Jesus — in all His grace — reveals Him to us. Here’s how: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9) Loving Fathers give their children gifts. But the gift of Jesus is unlike any other. He’s given to us in …Read More
We all want beauty; something so bright we fall to our knees before it. Something bigger than us; the kind that makes us shield our eyes but look and look and look again. We never grow out of this yearning; but it takes different forms. The newborn reaches for her mother’s earring. The toddler, transfixed by Christmas lights. Teens, scrolling furiously through pages of Insta-perfection. The bible says we’re made to worship and it’s beauty that captures our hearts. But …Read More
…in our weakness we can learn certain strengths: humility: suddenly, the plug is pulled. You’re not who you thought you were; and it hurts. You can’t think yourself out of it or get your act together. But with it, a savage freedom; a letting go – because it’s been taken from you. And in your emptiness, a new understanding of grace. God does it all – He always did, but now you see it. dependence: to survive, you must learn …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
