The Importance of Sung Worship

Worship is how we show our adoration and thankfulness for God. How we live our whole lives is worship to God, as Romans 12:1 says: ‘…offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship.’ Therefore what we think about, how we spend our time and how […]

Identity with Chronic Illness

Something I have had to wrestle a lot with since becoming ill is my identity. I have loved God for many years but when I got ill an uncomfortable truth I had to confront was that my identity was closely linked to my academic/career success. I’m still very much on a journey with this and […]

Some Thoughts on Psalm 62

I have been looking at Psalm 62 and have been greatly encouraged by it because it shows how God is the best place to come to when life is tough. Below are some thoughts on a few verses from the psalm. Seek refuge and shelter in God: ‘Truly he is my rock and my salvation; […]

Testimony is powerful!

Every Christian has a unique testimony and this is such a powerful resource for sharing with others about God’s love. As it says in Revelation 12:11: ‘They triumphed over him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.‘ I absolutely love hearing people’s stories, how they have faced the highs and […]

Some ideas for getting the Word of God into you!

Focus on familiar scripture/individual verses. Highlight key verses: I was not keen when someone first suggested this to me, I didn’t want to mark my Bible. What changed my mind was when I was at a meeting and people were asked to share their favourite verses from Ephesians. The people who shared all had verses […]

Ask and it shall be given to you

I have just worn myself out over a couple of hours by finding the number and then texting each person I could think of that would pass my house on the way to church. This was to find out if they could give me lift tomorrow. Every ‘no sorry’ or delay in response made me […]

Some tips for interacting with people who are sick

Do you wonder how best to interact with people who are sick? Or maybe more to the point what not to say and do? Clearly everyone is different so there are not hard and fast rules but here are a few of my thoughts after 3.5 years of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome an ‘invisible illness’ where […]

Not Letting Disappointments and Difficult Times Define You

Yesterday I heard an excellent sermon by Roger Bye which was focused on the story of Caleb as told in the book of Joshua. Specifically how he clung onto God’s promise that he would enter the promise land for 45 years! (Joshua 14:6-13) During this very long wait, Roger mentioned he probably felt at points bitter, […]

Repeat words of truth

I have challenged myself to say these verses to myself whenever I feel low during the day: ‘This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.’ Psalm 188:24 (ESV) ‘…the joy of the Lord is my strength.’ Nehemiah 8:10 I find these verses super challenging. The last […]

Ideas for how to be salt and light when really unwell

We are called to be Jesus to those around us, to love like he loves us, to fight injustices and bind up the broken hearted (for example see: Matthew 5:13-16, Mathew 25:35-36, Luke 4:18). But how do you do this when you are so ill you barely leave the house and when you have limited […]

Utilise Digital Christian Resources

Sometimes when reading the Bible or a Christian book has been very challenging I have found other forms of Christian media really helpful. This post is going to explore a Christian film I watched and how it challenged me and also how Christian radio has been a brilliant help to me. War Room I recently […]

A bad day… verses God encouraged me with

I have not felt at all well today. I have had some unexpected demands on my energy yesterday and woke up feeling dreadful and so unable to do my usual work or schedule. When my energy is bad I have a big battle in my head with depression especially when on my own for hours […]

Pray for Christians to take the journey with you and support you

The Bible in One Year day 52 encourages us to pray for a ministry partner if we are an isolated Christian in our day-to-day life. This is because Jesus in Mark 6:7 sends the disciples out ‘two-by-two’ because as Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 explains ‘two are better than one…if one falls down, his friend can help him […]

What is the purpose of this blog?

Hi my name is Lucy, I’m a Christian. This blog is about purpose, identity and strategies for engaging with God when facing a difficult situation such as illness or bereavement. It is for those facing tough things but also for friends and family who are encouraging them in the Lord. I draw on my own […]