Paul’s chains advance the gospel, do mine?

I have been really challenged by Philippians 1:12-14 where Paul talks about how being in prison has served to advance the gospel. This is through him: (1) having access to a different group of people such as his guards (v13); (2) other believers hearing about his ministry whilst in chains and being encouraged to speak the […]

‘Church at work’ includes you!

Have you ever heard someone talk about ‘church at work’? At my church there is a specific group that meets with this name for people to encourage each other as Christians in a work place. Now this is good, it is clearly important how Christians conduct themselves at work. However from my own experience; as […]

Difficulty and Discouraging Situations: The Little Picture

As a Christian how should we tackle difficult and discouraging situations? This is something my husband David and I have thought a lot about in the last few years. We think it is important to have the right perspective when looking at the big picture by focusing on God’s greatness and purposes without losing sight […]

Difficult and Discouraging Situations: the Big Picture

Come Holy Spirit

I am exploring Acts and what has struck me is that we need the Holy Spirit each and every day. This means that you can know God’s presence in whatever situation you are in, even if you are ill and at home on your own because ‘…the Spirit of God dwells in you…’ (Romans 8:9). I […]

Difficulty and God’s re-direction/re-commissioning

Difficult times such as illness force some reflection on what is important in life and how to spend one’s energy, time and money. God can in fact use difficult times in our lives to recommission us or redirect us in the way he wants us to go. God has redirected me from work in International […]

Prayer Ideas: What Has God Put Directly In Front Of You?

Sometimes I find it hard to know what to pray about, the world is so vast and there are so many needs, it can be hard to know where to start. Or sometimes with my fatigue I struggle to think of anything to pray for. In these situations one thing I find helpful is to think […]

Jesus Our Good Shepherd

Recently I have been thinking a lot about the references in the Bible to sheep; specifically Jesus being our good shepherd (as outlined in John 10:1-21) and what this means for those of us in tough circumstances. I find it pretty humbling to be compared by Jesus to a sheep (John 10:3); if you have […]

God’s gentle reminder of his providence on a bad day

I’m really tired today (when I wrote this a few weeks ago not when it was published) and also depressed. Not a great combination with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as they make each other worse… I find it really hard when I’m like this. Well meaning people remind me that this would have been a good […]

Our daily bread: God’s provision

Matthew 6:8 says: ‘…for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.’ I have found that what I think I need and what I actually need are often different. I have begged God on so many occasions to heal me and I’m not completely well yet although I believe one day in his […]

Where is your identity found?

As detailed in my post entitled Identity with Chronic Illness, I had to confront and wrestle with the fact that getting sick showed me my identity was closely linked to my academic/career success and not just to the fact I was a Child of God (John 1:12). The truth is that as a Christian, whether […]

Strategies to engage in sung worship when sick

My last post was about ‘The Importance of Worship’ particularly sung worship. Now if you have a chronic illness engaging with sung worship may be difficult, here are some of the strategies I have used, please let me know some of yours: If you are able to, listen to worship songs or even parts of […]

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; […]