An Adventure in Ministry

  This week is the annual baby loss awareness week, where we remember the little ones we never got to meet and the lives that were never lived. While this has never been my experience personally as my walk through infertility has meant I have never been pregnant, it is still a topic so very close to my heart. I have so many friends and family members who have had experience of baby loss and I have sat with them as we have grieved the loss, not only of a life, but of dreams, and hopes too .   Some people choose to share their story of loss while others choose to grieve privately, and I am always surprised at how many people around me have walked through such tragic experiences. This morning as I was praying for those who will find this week a difficult one, God began to reveal something of his heart for them and the burden that they carry.   Psalm 34:18 says:   The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.   Maybe you are f...

Recently I have been spending some time in Paul's letters to the church in Thessalonica. The letters are believed to be the oldest of Paul and they are so rich in truth and wisdom. As I was reading 1 Thessalonians in the passage translation, I came across a verse of 6 words that encouraged me, floored me and challenges me all at once! Chapter 5 v 16 says this: Let Joy be your continual feast These words encouraged me as it showed me that a supernatural Joy is possible for God's people. Joy is something spoken about throughout the scriptures. Nehemiah 8:10 declares that “The joy of the Lord is my strength” and we are told in Galatians that Joy is a fruit of the spirit. As christians we are called to be a people of Joy as Romans 14:17 says: “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of rules about food and drink but is in the realm of the Holy Spirit filled with righteousness, peace and joy.” Joy is kingdom business and feasting of Joy is something we should take the time to do.  Th...

  We have just come back from a beautiful summer holiday travelling around Norfolk in our newly converted van that I affectionately have named ‘Tristan!!’ It was a much needed time away, but I must admit I struggled, at times, to get into the rhythm of rest and find my peace. While spending time in prayer and reflection one morning while enjoying my morning cup of coffee, I felt God whisper a phrase to me. The phrase was ‘Fight for peace’ ‘Fight For Peace’  Initially the phrase made me feel uncomfortable. They seem to be the antithesis of one another! But as I spent some time considering this in line with the scriptures, I began to see the wisdom in the phrase.  I began to read scriptures about peace and see them in a completely new way. For example: "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests t...

  This week we had the absolute joy of going on retreat and sharing with other ministers in the Salvation Army working across the North West of England. For us it was a wonderful time of affirmation and allowed time for the spirit to minister to us through teaching, challenge and healing.  While at breakfast one morning, we were sharing with someone about some of the challenges we have faced in the past couple of years and how God has been faithful throughout it all, and they made a comment that has been percolating in my spirit ever since. They said that in times of difficulty “God has a way of directing the disruption” The phrase hit me like a ton of bricks! The more I thought of it, the more I could see this principle at work in my life.  The retreat we were attending was due to have a guest speaker who had to pull out three days before the event due to ill health. I can only imagine the disruption that ensued as our leaders tried to bring it all together. However we s...