Dealing With the Storms of Life

The disciples are in a big storm on the Sea of Galilee and they are cold, wet and scared. In the last watch of the night they see a figure in the waves. They are terrified and think it is a ghost ‘but Jesus immediately said to them ‘take courage! It is I. Do not be […]

Lessons From Moses: Are Your Eyes On You or God Today?

In Exodus 3-4 God calls Moses to go to Egypt and rescue the Israelites. The Lord Almighty does this by speaking to him out of a bush, revealing wonders of who he is and demonstrating his power through signs. Yet during this incredible encounter with God, Moses does not focus on the wonder and majesty […]

Learning the secret of being content

The world tells us that we can only be content when we are healthy, successful and rich. This is thankfully not what the Bible tells us, as Paul wrote in Philippians 4:12: ‘I have learnt the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or […]

Having a range of tools to engage with God: getting creative

When I was really sick I often couldn’t read more than a verse or two of the Bible at a time or attend church meetings. I had to find some different ways to engage with God, I needed more tools in my toolbox. One of these was painting with worship music on, I had never […]

How Does God Respond When We Go Through Traumatic Experiences?

I came into the kitchen and a bird smacked into my window. I ran outside and it was lying on the ground stunned. I set it on its feet and sat with it (a cat was lurking in the garden) until 45 mins later when it flew off. The reason I’m telling you this story […]

My Healing From Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

During my illness when I heard of healings (especially from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which I had) it would either give me hope or demoralise me. I was often left with questions such as: why them and not me? Why do I still continue to face this daily physical and mental battle? God, why am I […]

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

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]