I am an over-thinker. I fall victim far too often to giving my thoughts far too much time and attention. I replay past conversations or events over in my head, or get caught up worrying over something in the future – even an insignificant or imagined one! In particular, when it involves things beyond my control, my overthinking mind goes into overload.

Being an over-thinker is part of who I am; I can’t change how God wired me up, but I often get frustrated at myself. When I spend too much time in my own thoughts I usually feel myself spiralling down a road of negativity. It is at times like these I know I need to get my Bible out and reflect on God’s Word.

“Sometimes you have to get out of your head and into His word”

The Bible is filled with so many verses of encouragement and reassurance – they remind us of God’s constant presence, that He is in control, and He is there to help us.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7

“The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

Exodus 14:14

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Matthew 6:34

“This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

“Your mind is a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers or you can grow weeds.”

Fill your thoughts with the Words of God and plant those ‘good seeds’, which will allow you to flourish and grow; whether that be in confidence, in faith, in strength etc. Next time you find yourself overthinking a situation, picture yourself as a gardener: prune away at your insecurities, dig up those doubts and pull out those weeds of negativity. Water and nurture your ‘flowers’ of faith, by feeding your mind with the truths and promises of God. Before you know it, your mind will be in full bloom and you’ll find yourself seeing things more clearly.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Now may the Lord of peace himself gives you His peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.”

2 Thessalonians 3:16

January: The time of year I’m waking up in darkness, going to work in the dark and then driving home in the fading dusk. Motivation is at an all time low for me on weekdays during the winter months. It’s no wonder at this time of year we often say we have the ‘January Blues’. Therefore, one of the highlights of my weekends is escaping into nature and when I’m lucky enough, soaking up the glorious sunshine! There’s no better restorative feeling than standing in the sun, with the warmth glowing on my face, and the crisp, cool air filling my lungs! Without fail it brings me such a smile, lifts my mood and makes me feel truly alive!

I don’t know about you, but for me the sun brings so much joy during the dark, damp winter season. I recently came across a post on Instagram, and I fell in love with and felt a connection to the caption used:

“Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.”

Almost instantly, I felt inspired to write a blog post centred around that phrase. Not only did it make me think of the enjoyment I have from exploring the outdoors and making the most of the winter sunshine, but also from a Christian perspective.
When we turn our attention towards the ‘Son’, looking and focusing on Jesus, the shadows of our struggles, our sins and our difficult circumstances will fall behind us. This enables us to then move forward and leave our past behind, allowing our burdens to be fully diminished.

“Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you.”

Psalm 55:22

As I consider this new year, despite the remaining uncertainty and stress surrounding the continuing pandemic, I am in fact feeling much lighter. Although I still have my struggles and fears, rather than allowing myself to be consumed by them,  I’m learning to focus more on the Son rather than my shadows. The burdens I have carried over recent years have weighed me down and prevented me from fully opening myself up to new possibilities. However, there comes a time where the past needs to be fully put behind you; to be left well alone, instead of being brought back to make you feel guilty or anxious or like a failure etc. or any other negative emotion or belief about yourself.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Isaiah 43:18-19

Now is just such a time for me, where I made that decision. I have finally come to terms with the experiences, situations and events in my past, and rather than dwelling on what has been, I am now more focused on what could be. Once you finally allow yourself to leave your past behind, you can look ahead to what is to come – and God says its all good!

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8:28

Hope. That’s the word that I keep coming back to. For the first time in a long while, I am filled with hope for the future. Not towards MY hopes and desires for my life, but the hope I have in Christ. I know God has my best intentions at the forefront of everything, that whatever is to occur next in my future is for good; whether I fully understand that at the time or will do in later years, who knows! But ultimately, I know God has everything mapped out perfectly for me, so I need not worry! Instead, I am feeling excited and ready for the next chapter in my life, and am filled with hopefulness and joy. Now, I know it’s not going to be a smooth process, and there’s still going to be many hiccups along the way, but I will tackle such moments with a changed mindset and a stronger faith. I don’t feel as scared of the unknown as I used to, but more ready to face the new challenges ahead, with a greater sense of peace and courage.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

So my challenge for you all in 2022: Choose to leave the past behind, and begin living a life filled with new possibilities!

God Bless! x

“May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13

Yes, I know! It’s been quite a while since I last shared a blog with you all!

Since my last post at the beginning of summer, I will admit that I’ve been caught up with other things, particularly going back to work, that my blog writing has been neglected. I’ve also found I’ve been struggling for some real inspiration of what to focus on, so quite often I haven’t taken the time to really sit down and tune into God’s word and listen to what He is saying.

However, today I decided to read back through some of my old blog posts from previous years, and I started to notice how things I’d wrote about back then, have been or are being answered now. For example: You may be aware of my struggles with anxiety but God has really supported me to overcome this and instead of getting anxious as often, I find I have a greater peace towards unexpected moments. I’ve also shared before about the challenge God gave me to have greater patience and to trust in Him, to wait on His timing rather than taking control myself – and I feel now like God is rewarding me for accepting his instructions. Overall, I can see a difference in my outlook on life and how much I’ve matured in my faith. I’m not saying things are now perfect; I’ve still got so much I know I need to work on, but that’s why a relationship with God is referred to as a journey: it’s ever changing and growing, developing and strengthening.

My main point is this: I can see through my blogs the way in which God has especially provided for me, comforted me, encouraged me, and directed me over the past few years. I find myself moving into a new season of happiness and hopefulness. I better understand the character of my Father, and my need to depend on Him. I am hopeful because He has my future in His hands, and knows exactly what’s in store, so therefore I need not fear. I am aware of the blessings and goodness that God showers me with each day, and this gives me such joy.

Nevertheless, it is all too easy to forget the amazing things God has and is doing for us when things are going well. I know during the ‘good times’, I rarely praise and thank God, and acknowledge His greatness; like today, it’s only when I stop to consider and reflect back, that I realise just how much gratitude and admiration I should be pouring out to God! That’s when it hit me! The reason why I haven’t had any inspiration for my writing recently, is because I haven’t involved God as much in my daily life.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

As the verse above says, we should remember to rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give thanks in all circumstances – that means in the good times too! For me, my thoughts are often most captivated by God when I am in need or despair. It’s when things are going better, and I’m not struggling so much, I’m not reminded daily of my need for God. But whether we ‘feel’ like it or not, we need God always! We need to be in conservations with Him through prayer, dwelling on His ways through reading His word, and seeking His purpose each day. God is never absent; He is there at all times, waiting for us to seek Him. And what better way to do so, than when we come to Him with thankful hearts for all the good things he is doing in our lives! God loves to hear from us just as much in the good times as He does when we are in need.

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.”

Psalm 9:1

So, my encouragement for you reading this today is to remember to include God in every moment; the good and bad. God does amazing works within us and is always present, and He deserves to be praised and acknowledge for His works. We should draw close to God even in the good times, because our need for Him is constant.

God Bless 😊 x

“I will be your God throughout your lifetime – until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”

Isaiah 46:4

• Are you a risk-taker?
• Has God put a dream on your heart or a vision in your mind that feels too big?
• Are you longing to find your purpose and walk in your destiny?
• Is there something you have always wanted to do for God, but have been too afraid to try?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then please keep reading!

Becoming a risk-taker:

Stepping out of your comfort zone is a scary and daunting thing to say the least. However, knowing God’s got your back, should give you that courage to take your first step.

One example of a risk-taker in the Bible is Abraham. He completely trusted God, and although the risks Abraham took were huge, they were measured and balanced, because he knew the character of God. Let’s consider the risk Abraham accepted:

“The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him.”

Genesis 12: 1-4

In summary, God told Abraham to leave his home, his family and his country for the unknown. Imagine that! Is there a greater risk than leaving somewhere you feel safe and secure, for a place of uncertainty and instability? I know what my response would have been! I would have been overwhelmed with fear and doubts, and would most likely be as stubborn as possible! However, Abraham’s attitude towards this request is one to be admired. Rather than coming up with excuses or wanting to know exactly what was in store, what did he do? Abraham agreed and did exactly as God instructed. He trusted that God would be true to His promises and so followed His direction.

That was only the beginning of Abraham’s risk-taking. Later on in Genesis 22:1-18, Abraham is presented with a situation in which he had to risk the life of his own son, Isaac. Again, Abraham obeyed God’s voice, without any objections, and went up to the mountains to offer his son, demonstrating just how strong his faith was in God.

“It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith – for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.”

Hebrews 11:8-10

Taking measured and balanced risks is proof of our faith in God. We should not fear taking risks when God asks us to. We do not need to fear if the risks we take are based on our faith in the God who can do all things.

No dream is too big:

Nothing is too big with God involved; anything is possible!

“And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26

I don’t really need to elaborate on this, but I will! There are countless moments recorded in the Bible that demonstrate how the impossible was made possible with God. Moses seemed to have no escape from the Egyptians when leading the Israelities out of slavery, yet with God alongside, he parted the Red Sea. David, a weakly shepherd boy squared up to a giant of a man who was sure to squash him flat, yet with God alongside, he defeated him with ease. Daniel was on the menu for the lion’s lunch, yet with God alongside, he left the den unharmed. I could go on and on… put simply God is in control and has our best interests at heart. Therefore nothing is too big for Him to handle!! So when we put our faith and trust in the almighty God, we too can tackle anything that comes our way!

“For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:13

Discovering your purpose:

Focusing on yourself will not reveal your life’s purpose because the Bible says in Job 12:10, “It is God who directs the lives of His Creatures; everyone’s life is in His power”. But how can we determine what our purpose in life is? Think about it this way: The easiest way to discover the purpose of an invention is to ask the creator of it – the same is true for discovering your life’s purpose: ask God. By turning to God’s word, instead of the world’s wisdom, and building your life on eternal truths, you will better understand what you have been called to do.

“Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for He chose us in advance, and He makes everything work out according to His plan.”

Ephesians 1:11

You discover your identity and purpose through your relationship with Jesus. It’s important to spend time in prayer, to read the Bible and to actively seek more of Christ, to deepen your relationship and faith in Him. When you do so, you’ll better understand your calling in life and who you are as a person. In today’s society, it’s hard to not want to maintain full control and to meticulously plan everything, but we should try to follow the path God has set before us rather than our own desires. See, God planned your life before you existed, without your input! Therefore, He knows exactly the course of your destiny, including the purpose for which you were made. God gives each of us gifts, skills and talents which we can use to serve and bless others. If you’re at a point where you’re unsure what these are, then pray about it! Ask God to show you what your gifts are and for opportunities to explore them.

Leaving fear behind:

Sometimes we can be afraid to try new things that we feel led to do because of the fear of others, and what they would think of us.

“We are not trying to please people, but God, who tests our hearts.”

1 Thessalonians 2:4

Another reason we avoid starting something is the fear of failure. Failure stops us from doing what God wants you to do. If your human fears are keeping you from doing Kingdom tasks, it’s time to look at how to move beyond this fear. We can begin to leave fear behind when we seek God’s guidance. Firstly, it is okay to make sure you heard God’s voice correctly. Think of Gideon; he took time to converse with God and make sure he was on firm footing and understood exactly what God wanted him to do.

“Soon afterward the armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east formed an alliance against Israel and crossed the Jordan, camping in the valley of Jezreel. Then the Spirit of the Lord took possession of Gideon. He blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms, and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him. He also sent messengers throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, summoning their warriors, and all of them responded. Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.” And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.” So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew.”

Judges 6:33-40

It might appear that Gideon was testing God or doubting Him, but ultimately, from seeking God’s guidance and spending time in conversations with Him, this brought Gideon peace. Once we feel we understand God’s directions, it’s then time to move forward with trust and step out in faith. A good amount of failure is not trusting God with the outcome. Instead of questioning ‘What if I fail?’, the question should become ‘Who am I trusting?’. This links back to the opening of this study, when we considered Abraham and how he trusted in the character of God. God is an all-loving, all-powerful, all- knowing God. He promises to always be with us and not forsake us. He promises to give us strength and wisdom, courage and direction, forgiveness and hope. When we know God, trusting Him should be easy! The Bible is full of verses about trust, but here is one of my favourites:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

So to summarise: We need to be BOLD to dream big and have deep faith that God is in control and will direct our paths; that He knows exactly where we are headed and how we’re getting there! To be BRAVE to take risks and try new things, by trusting fully in God and knowing He is always with us; this will give us the courage to step out of our comfort zone rather than live in fear! Finally to BELIEVE in the character of God and the promises He makes; that He has good plans for us, knows the purpose of our lives and loves us unconditionally!

God Bless! 😊

My favourite flower and the epiphany of summer for me is the sunflower. I love the brightest of the yellow petals and to see a field full of them, instantly makes me smile. Sunflowers are not only beautiful, but are actually very clever! You might not know this but sunflowers are not called so just for their appearance, but actually for their ability to follow the sun. During the course of the day, the head tracks the journey of the sun across the sky. Wherever light is, no matter how weak, these flowers will find it. They gain energy and strength to grow and reach their full potential, blossoming from the light and warmth the sun provides. As they mature they will learn which direction to face to obtain the most light possible and then they will stand firm, permanently facing the direction that offers the greatest opportunity for growth.

Enough about the gardening and scientific aspects of sunflowers for a moment. As amazing and awe-inspiring as these facts are, I actually reflected on this imagery from a Christian perspective. Sunflowers follow the light in order to gain strength and to have the best opportunities to grow. As Christians we too should follow the Light; The Light our Saviour provides in order to gain strength from Him and His teachings.

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.’” 

John 8:12

If sunflowers remained stationary and waited for the sun to pass-by them, they would only receive a little amount of light and would spend considerably longer in darkness. This would mean their growth would be at a much slower rate or even stunted altogether. We can be like this at times as Christains. Sometimes we wait for God to come to us, instead of activitely seeking and following Him. I know I am guilty of this; when I look at myself I can see that I do not actively follow Jesus in my everyday. Unlike the sunflower that tracks the sun constantly during the day, I would honestly say I probably neglect my relationship with Jesus much more than I should. When you evaluate your own relationship, could you say you’re actively following the Son?

It’s not at all surprising when I’m experiencing difficulties, feeling low or struggling with sin, it’s because I’ve been living in the darkness rather than looking to the Son. You might have noticed the lack of blog posts lately; I’ll admit my bible studies have become none existent and I haven’t invested any real time into my faith, instead I’ve been caught up in outside distractions, and it’s only now as I’m writing this I can see how unhealthy my relationship with Christ is becoming. I’m not saying we need to spend hours and hours reading our bibles or praying (although that would be a really good thing), in order to be a follower of Christ; what I mean by following the light of Christ, is to gain a daily dose of Him, not so much the quantity but the quality. Spending some true focused time in prayer or reflecting on a few bible verses each day, will help us keep on track in our relationships, and we will less likely fall into ‘darkness’.

When we live in the Light of the Saviour, learning from His teachings and listening to Him in prayer our strength is renewed, our uncertainty is made clear, our weaknesses are targeted, in short we are more nutured and therefore will grow and flourish more in our faith. We become rooted in Christ which enables us to stand firm in our beliefs when we encounter opposition or hardships.

“Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”

Colossians 2:7

It’s not just ourselves that greatly benefits from investing more time in our spiritual relationship. When we are actively following Jesus, others will be able to see His light shine through us and be drawn closer to Him. We are called to be witnesses of Christ, displaying his love through our actions and words each day, to think of the needs of others and to serve Him where we can.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” 

Matthew 5:16

All in all, this blog post has mainly been a firm reminder to myself that I need to be more proactive and should prioritise developing my faith and relationship with Christ above all else. It’s all to easy to come up with excuses and get distracted with outside things, but following Jesus should be the centre of everything; in each action or decision during the day, I should be considering how I am reflecting Jesus or seeking his wisdom and guidance. As the sunflowers look to the sun for strength and nourishment, I too should look more to the Son, to gain such things too. I challenge you to evaluate your current spiritual relationship: you may be in a good place at the moment, or like me things may have started to head into an unhealthy state. Regardless of this, we should all strive to focus daily on Christ, actively following Him in all that we do, so we can remain in His light instead of living in the darkness.

So, let’s learn from the Sunflower and remember to:

• Follow the Light the Saviour provides
• Gain strength from Him and His teachings
• Stand firm in your convictions
• Share His light with others

God Bless! 🙂 x

A phrase that I’ve heard on numerous accounts lately is ‘There’s light at the end of the tunnel.’ Which is somewhat true; things are certainly looking up, and the end of this pandemic does seem to be in sight.

However, I have recently experienced for myself what it is like to walk inside a tunnel, and I can honestly say although light could be seen at the other end, it felt like I’d been trudging on for ages without it getting any closer! A couple months ago as a family, we decided to walk through the Netherton Tunnel, somewhere that is fairly local to us, but we’d never previously explored (I now reflect on whether it was worth it haha). The Netherton Tunnel is the longest canal tunnel in the West Midlands, at almost 2 miles long, built in 1858 during the Victorian Era, and is still used to this day. Anyway, one of my fears is the dark, so walking through a tunnel in the complete pitch-blackness was utterly frightening. We walked for an hour along a narrow passage way, sloshing through deep puddles and tripping on uneven ground, heading towards the dim pin-point of light ahead. I’ve never felt so anxious and scared before, and it really was a test of my nerve to do it. But being inside that tunnel, made me think about the situations where we feel like we are walking through the darkness; full of fear, feeling disoriented and stumbling blindly onwards.

This pandemic has been a dark season for many, but as we move towards the end, we begin to see a more hopeful outcome. We all go through difficult times; times where we feel in the darkest of places, unsure of finding a way out. Walking through life can sometimes feel like it did walking through that tunnel: ambling through the dark unsure of where you’re headed, which can be very scary and worrying. However, we are not alone. Just like when I was in the tunnel, my anxiousness was calmed by the fact my Dad was there walking beside me. In the same way, we can be comforted through our darkest moments, through life’s uncertainties, in every aspect of our lives, by the presence of our Father. God is always with us, and will never forsake us.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

Through your persistent faith and trust in God, you will reach the other side, and step out again into the light. When we go through difficult times, it is not always clear why we had to endure such things. However, I believe that sometimes we have to go through darkness in order to appreciate the light. It is all to easy to take for granted the good times, that until we encounter some hardships, we don’t realise how blessed we truly were. Sometimes God needs to shake us up, in order for us to remember just how much we need Him daily, regardless if we are in a good or bad situation.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

James 1:2-4

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Romans 8:18

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1Thessalonians 5:16-18

Consider this past year: What lessons have you learnt during this lockdown season? What areas of your life has God been working on?

For me, I’ve developed a greater appreciation for what I have in life: my family, friends, work, stability, all the opportunities and experiences I have had etc. I’ve become more thankful for what each day brings, including all the trials and hardships, as I’ve discovered they are just as important as the joyous moments; every experience holds a place in helping me to grow and change as a person for the better. I’ve focused in on the smaller things in life and being truly grateful for things like nature and the outdoors; God’s creation is so awe-inspiring and I am so lucky that I am able to explore it so freely, it really has been such a sanctuary for getting through these lockdown periods.

As well as the points mentioned above, a big lesson I have learnt is to be patient. The timing of the lockdown came at a moment in my life where I was feeling restless and agitated with where I was currently at. However, spending the past year unable to go anywhere and do most things, I’ve been able to see that what I thought was the right time for my plans were in fact the complete opposite. God knew this pandemic was on the horizon, so inevitably the things I wanted then would not have worked out; the timing was not right. But not just that, the things I wanted then, were not intended for me. I have learnt that waiting on God’s directions and plans is so much better than pinning my hopes and dreams on what I think is best, and in fact when I wait on Him, the things that do come along within His timing are even greater than what I could have envisioned. Although I still do resort back to my old habits of over-thinking or trying to gain back some control, I have seen a difference within myself, that now I’m taking things more slowly, living more in the moment and focusing more on the present, instead of concentrating on the future and always looking ahead to the next thing.

So, when everything eventually goes back to normal and this pandemic is all over, I want to remember the changes and growth that have shaped me into a better person, and I don’t want to fall back to my previous ways of living. Instead, I want to carry forward the appreciative outlook I have developed and to show greater gratitude towards others. To seize each day and enjoy the little moments. Above all else, to continue waiting on God’s directions, strengthening my faith by seeking Him more, and trusting in Him to show me where I am headed.

There is light at the end of this tunnel, but there will be more ‘tunnels’ along life’s journey. However, each time such a one arrives, God will be there will you, taking your hand and leading you through the unknown. We must simply trust in Him and remember all the times God has been with us before. With God alongside us, anything is possible, nothing is too difficult to overcome; remember a tunnel always has to have another end, and likewise the end of your hardships will come to. Therefore, I would encourage you to reflect on the time of this pandemic: as we exit the darkness and move towards the light of normality, consider what fresh outlook, thoughts or lessons you will take with you.

God Bless 😊 x

Easter is the season that reminds us of new beginnings. Spring is happening, colours change, new life is growing, flowers are breaking through and the days are getting lighter. It is the time of change; a moment where things seem brighter and more hopeful. When we think back to that first Easter, the disciples were overwhelmed by what had just happened. Their friend had been taken from them and killed. The one they thought would rescue them was gone and I imagine all hope had too.

However, just three days later, the view became so much brighter and hope returned – their lives changed in an instant. Jesus was alive! The tomb was empty, and the darkness and despair gave way to hope and joy. They turned around to a better view; one with a new beginning.

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life, the one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”

John 11:25-26

We too can celebrate and stand in the hope of a new beginning this Easter. We can reflect on the crucifixion of Christ; when the view seemed so dark, but then with the glorious resurrection, things suddenly were much brighter and better. A new beginning that bought hope to everyone and still does today. It gives us courage to turn from the empty tomb, to change our perspective and to look out on the view that is before us. The first Easter teaches us that life never ends and love never dies!

“Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too many live a new life.”

Romans 6:4

God has given us a wonderful gift called grace; and because He loves us so much and is merciful towards us, by His grace He gives us something we don’t deserve and we cannot earn. A whole new life! Your past or present circumstances do not have to determine your future or your identity anymore. Easter is a reminder that no matter what you have encountered in life, God will take you as you are and let you start your own new beginning. God is love. He sent His son to the grave because He loves us so much! What an incredible display of overpowering, irresistible and constant love! Jesus died for you knowing that you might never love Him back: that’s an act of true love!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

This Easter, remember the gift you have been given of a new beginning. Whether this is a new decision to follow Christ for the first time, or renewing your commitment to the relationship you already have with Jesus, we have all been given the opportunity to live a new, fresh life as a child of God. A new start in which God will support and guide you in the right directions, mould and shape you into the person you were created to be, and strengthen and comfort you throughout all of life’s ups and downs.

As you take in the beauty of springtime, remember the promise of brighter days to come, and the everlasting love God has for you. I pray you may experience the many blessings of Christ throughout this joyful season. I would encourage you, if you do not already know Jesus, to take up this gift of a new beginning and seek more of Him for yourself. Likewise, if you are already a Christian, I would encourage you to reflect on your relationship with God and focus more on Him, and listen to what He is speaking to you at this time.

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter! May you be filled with such hope, joy and peace!

God Bless xx

I think we’re all secretly pleased when we get a new follower on Twitter, Instagram or similar platform, and we watch that number increase. It’s natural to enjoy feeling important or popular. Sometimes though it can become almost like an obsession! I saw a quote the other day which really got me thinking:

Our focus can often be on ourselves and who is taking notice of us, rather than who we are taking notice of. Consider this from a spiritual perspective: how closely are you following Jesus? How much of your attention do you fully give to Him?

“If we want to grow closer to God, we’ll have to distance ourselves from whatever is distracting us.”

Lysa Terkeurst

In all honestly, I know lately I haven’t been spending as much time reading my Bible or in prayer. And there are no excuses for this: nothing is more important that my relationship with God. Following Jesus should be my top priority, but too often this just isn’t the case. Whilst I’ve been dwelling on this fact over the last few weeks, I was reminded of a sermon shared one year at Soul Survivor on this subject of following Jesus, titled ‘Leave like Levi’, and thought I would share some of the key points with you, in the hope it will encourage and motivate you, as much as it has done with me.

“After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed Him.”

Luke 5:27-28

Levi left everything! He simply left his job and followed Jesus, just like that; no questions asked!! Although it seems he left everything behind, he didn’t lose anything: in fact he gained far more. When we enter into a relationship with Jesus, we are told to leave behind all our old ways and begin a new walk of life alongside Jesus, following in His example. I know this isn’t always as easy as Levi made it look. Following Jesus is about forgetting our interests and desires, which goes against our natural mindset. We often cling to the things in our past or our comfortable, familiar place of security, but being a Christian is meant to be a leap of faith. Jesus beckons us to a different way of life, that puts aside self to seek God and serve others. Jumping into the unknown with both feet and trusting that God will show us the way. We won’t get it right one hundred percentage of the time because we are human, but our aim is to live a life that honours Him. Our focus should be set on God first; everything comes after Him. When Jesus calls you to follow Him, nothing matters as much as your relationship with Him, so just as Levi did, we should prioritise Jesus above all else. We need to forget the former things and fixate our eyes solely on Christ and follow in His footsteps.

“But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:33

One way of doing so is sharing the gospel. Levi told everyone! He gathered everyone to a feast and made Jesus the guest of honour (Luke 5:29). Through us, we can introduce people to Jesus. Think about it: They know me: I know Jesus = Opportunity to meet Christ. Jesus called us to be a ‘fisher of men’, to point people to God. We need to strive to be open about our faith, sharing the love of Christ with others, as we go about our day-to-day. I have been guilty of doing the complete opposite, boxing Jesus up during the week, and only getting Him out on a Sunday. In the society we live in today, it is difficult to stand up for our faith and it takes courage to be different and not engage with things that go against our beliefs. However, we are commanded to “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), by sharing what Christ has done, to others. When we testify to others about our own experiences of personal faith, we are reminded of the amazing work God has done in our lives, which deepens our love and understanding of Christ. We also don’t need to be fearful or worried about sharing our faith because God is always with us.

Levi went everywhere! As one of the disciples, Levi witnessed more of Jesus’ life and ministry than most others. Levi is also known as Matthew, who wrote one of the gospels. Matthew was a loyal follower of Jesus and followed Him wherever He went. In the same way, we each have a calling and purpose for our lives. God assures us that He has good plans for us. Just like Levi, we must be willing to follow Jesus in whichever direction he leads us. It might not always feel like a drastically big moment, like physically uprooting and leaving everything behind (although this could happen!), it can also be those smaller decisions, those subtle nudges we feel when our circumstances begin to alter and new opportunities arise. It’s all about denying our wants and desires and instead pursuing the intentions God has for our lives. We just need to follow Jesus, and trust that He will lead us to where we need to be.

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

Matthew 16:24

Not sure where to begin? If you’re not already a follower of Jesus, I’d like to share a few things with you now. Firstly, I want you to know you don’t need the perfect moment to come to Christ. Regardless of the situation you find yourself in right now, or how you view yourself, none of this matters to Christ; He simply asks you to come as you are: Jesus will take care of the sin. To follow Christ is to have a simple, honest conversation with Him, confessing your sin, repenting and asking for His forgiveness, inviting Jesus into your life and committing to following Him. It’s essentially turning away from your sins and proclaiming to truly follow Jesus the rest of your life. Following Christ isn’t promised to be easy, and I can vouch for that, but what I will say is journeying through life with God is so much better than without Him. Through all the joyous moments and the hardships, God promises to be with you, helping and guiding you every step of the way: Scripture is full of the promise that God is with your always. Trust your life into the hands and care of a loving God.

Want to know more? There are so many different online church services available now, especially since the beginning of the pandemic, where you can discover more about God and Christianity. Also feel free to leave a comment or message me, I’d love to discuss things with you or pray for you! 🙂

So, who are you following? Where is your attention?

Whether you are currently following Christ or are exploring what this means to you, I would encourage you to leave like Levi and follow Jesus wholeheartedly! Our attention should be concentrated upon strengthening our relationship with Christ, spending our time in His presence, and seeking His will for our lives.

God Bless! x

You might not have been aware, but it has been Children’s Mental Health Week. So, this week with my Reception class we have been talking about what this means, how we are feeling, and exploring how we can express our emotions through colours. I used the children’s book ‘The Colour Monster’ by Anna Llenas as a stimulus. The story is basically about a Colour Monster who is feeling very confused, as his colours are all mixed up, due to feeling all emotions at once. To help him, a little girl shows him what each feeling means through colours. After reading this to the children we then discussed what feelings had been showed in the book and the colours associated with each one, ie. yellow for happiness, blue for sadness, red for anger etc. I decided to ask the children about some emotions that weren’t mentioned and the colours they thought would suit them. One particular question I asked, resulted in a very unexpected response from one of my children – the conversation went as follows:

Me: “What colour would loneliness be?”

Child: “I don’t think it has a colour.”

Me: “Oh, why?”

Child: “because it would just be see-through. Like an empty space.”

Me: 😳

Needless to say, I was speechless! The answer given be this certain 4 year old took me completely by surprise! It’s such a deep analysis over what I had planned to be a simple question with a random reply of “purple…because I like purple” or something along those lines. This passing comment has really played on my mind since. Loneliness is like being see-through or empty; consumed with a void space, and a feeling of being forgotten.

I know that many of us, including myself, are finding this second lockdown so much more difficult than the first. We are all feeling frustrated and exhausted at having to yet again remain at home for much of the time. Combined with the winter months too, it’s no wonder our moods are rather low. We are all yearning to be with and feel connected with others. However, we need not feel alone when we realise the connection with have with God. We can find comfort in the relationship with have with Him and seek company in His constant presence. Yet, I acknowledge this is sometimes hard to believe when circumstances and situations appear hopeless, and we feel weary and isolated.

Nevertheless, there are countless occasions in the Bible where we can see God’s goodness towards his people, and the truth in the promise that He will never forsake us. I will be honest now and say that whilst I can read these accounts, I am often still left wondering, does God really remember me?

Consider the story of Noah for a moment . The wind, waves, rain and thunder would have tossed the ark around for 40 days and nights, which I’m sure would have been extremely difficult and frightening, but I think the worst part would probably have been the silence, right? When the rain subsided, I can only imagine that Noah would have started to feel abandoned by God, as the days continued to pass by, with the floodwaters still surrounding them. However, this was not the case, Noah had not been forgotten. God was there in the midst of it and remembered him.

“But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.”

Genesis 8:1

Sometimes we feel we have been neglected by God, but God will never leave us. Those times when we feel God is distant from us, in reality we are the ones that have probably created that distance from ourselves and God, resulting in us feeling alone. It’s never an absence of God’s presence, but the absence of our focus on our spiritual faith and dependence on God. David was not exempt from the pain of loneliness, and we can read in the Psalms his honest cries to God. In Psalms 25:16-21, we see of David’s longing to be connected to God and his reliance upon that relationship.

“Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress. My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins. See how many enemies I have and how viciously they hate me! Protect me! Rescue my life from them! Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge. May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you.”

Psalm 25: 16-21

Jesus can empathise with the challenges of loneliness, as He too experienced it on the cross, when he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” – Mark 15:34.

Depression, loneliness and anxiety tell us we are forgotten. God says, no. You are not forgotten. Just as God remembered Noah, He remembers you. As a foundation, God’s word reminds us that, despite our loneliness telling us that we are alone, as His beloved children, we are never alone. Focus on establishing and strengthening the connection you have with God, by exploring more of the Bible, and concentrating on the truth of the words within. These key verses ofter encouragement of the fact that God is always with us:

“This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!”

Psalm 139:1-6

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

“Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:20

I would encourage you to also reach out to others. You are not the only person feeling isolated or alone; so why not drop someone a text message or give them a call to check in on them this week? Even though we cannot physically meet with others, we can still offer the same support through prayer, so why not write a list of a few people you can really be praying for? If we maintain some form of social connectivity, this will help to reduce our sense of being alone, but most importantly developing our relationship and faith in God will greatly remove that deeper feeling of isolation and loneliness. Just like David, be honest with God – He already knows exactly how you are feeling, but you can still cry out to Him. Call on God to give you the comfort, love, strength, encouragement, hope etc. that you are needing.

One of my favourite songs that relates to the feeling of loneliness is an old one by Kari Jobe, ‘I am not alone’. I felt the words within this song is so relevant to the situation we find ourself within again in this lockdown. Why not take a listen to it, and reflect upon the truth that God will never leave you, He will always be there will us. We are never alone.

God Bless 🙂 x

What a start to 2021! Yet another national lockdown!! My day has been spent planning out six weeks worth of remote learning, organising activities and adapting lessons for key worker children, and just getting my head around the idea that we are now back at the beginning, where this all started. To say I’m feeling overwhelmed, stressed and devastated is an understatement. I wish for nothing more than to be working as normal within my classroom, teaching and supporting the children, just simply doing the job that I love, but sadly that is not going to be happening anytime soon. Entering into lockdown again has filled me with much anxiety, panic and despair.

However, after a busy and tiring day at work, I came home and noticed the calendar on my wall. This year my Calendar in my room features a bible verse each month, and January’s verse is this:

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”

Philippians 4:13

A very apt one in my opinion! As we enter into this period of lockdown once more, I think we are all in a desperate need of drawing on God’s strength. The weight of uncertainty, loneliness, and stress can become unbearable at times, but we must remember that we are not facing these things alone!

This verse in Philippians shows how Paul joyfully declares his confidence that God will allow him to endure anything. We can witness Paul’s discovery that his sufficient strength was in Christ alone. He understood that he could live a triumphant Christian life, no matter what troubles came his way – not because of his own human strength or charismatic character, but through the indwelling Spirit of Christ, who provides the strength and wisdom we need in every daily situation. We know we are relying on our own strength when we find ourselves exhausted and worn out. God does not want this for us; He intends for us to enjoy His presence and not live in anxiousness, no matter what we face. Instead, we should become dependent on God, seeking more of His strength rather than trying to manage by ourselves. This means taking our hands off our situation and giving it to God. When we learn to give our worries to Him, His peace will then guard our hearts and minds.

Remember: Nothing is impossible with God! There are numerous accounts of this perspective throughout the Bible; When the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, or when they entered into the promised land, or when David defeated Goliath, or when the walls of Jericho fell…all these things seemed impossible but with God they happened.

“O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!”

Jeremiah 32:17

“I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you”

Job 42:2

In Judges 6, we see how Gideon overcame his battles because of God’s strength, and not by his own. God assured Gideon’s victory by His presence; just as God is the only assurance you need to fight your battles, He will sustain you through any storm. As the verse says, “I can do ALL things, through Christ who strengthens me” – it doesn’t say some things or the easy ones, the word ‘all’ is the promise from God that He will be within each and every circumstance, as He is with us always and is in control. When we recognise this, and fully trust in God, we can become empowered by his Spirit and enjoy that joy and peace that follows.

This month I challenge you, as I am challenging myself, to lean on Jesus and depend on Him, even if our circumstances do not get better. We need to allow Jesus to become the source of our joy, regardless of whether our problems or situations are being solved or improved. Just knowing He is always with us, that he will never leave us nor forsake us, should produce all kinds of joy and hope. Whatever happens this year, whatever difficulties or trials come your way, you can and will overcome them as Christ will be right beside you, supporting, guiding and strengthening you with every step.

All you need to do is call out to God and ask Him to give you strength!

God Bless 🙂 x