An Adventure in Ministry

Last week I spent a few days at The Salvation Army’s William Booth training college, as I began training to become an officer. One morning, I had a wonderful time wandering, praying and eating my way along the South Bank of the river Thames. After sampling the delights of Borough Market (there is a beautiful gluten free cake stall there!) I wondered along to tower bridge and crossed over to the other side of the Thames as I made my way back along, I found myself needing to cross over the millennium bridge to the south side and it was there that God shared with me a beautiful truth.  One of the things I love about God is he shares his truths with us in the most unlikely ways and often in a way that brings a smile to my face!! . Now I have a bit (a lot!) of an irrational fear of bridges! I absolutely hate walking over them, and the millennium bridge is a pretty scary bridge in my books. Its always the one in those end of the world films that collapses like a flimsy rope bridge! As I was

  One day this week, after taking my daughter to school in the morning, I decided to take advantage of being alone by listening to my Lectio 365 app. In preparation for my studies I have been reading a lot about spiritual formation and spiritual disciplines and so have been trying different spiritual disciplines, including lectio devino. As I walked along, I attempted to focus wholly on my time with God. However, as I walked along I spotted a woman walking towards me who I knew was struggling. I became distracted and paused my phone to chat and encourage her as she went about her day.  I returned to the app and was a little annoyed with myself for ‘ruining my spiritual flow.’ A few moments later, as I got back into the rhythm, I notices another woman coming towards me, a mum from the school gate who I knew was in a tough season. So I paused the app once again to invite her to come and have a cuppa with some of the other mums before pick up. I once again returned to the app, feeling som

  I love singing! My husband laughs often as in the midst of conversation a word or phrase will bring to mind a song and I can’t help but sing it! Our house is always full of singing and music whether it is Paul’s, mine or our daughter - whose love for music is a strange and eclectic mix of The Wiggles, worship music, classical music and bagpipes!  I love singing in worship too and have enjoyed singing in choirs, worship bands and being a part of corporate worship. Worship and singing is pretty important in the bible too, with over 185 songs penned by a variety of writers and three books devoted to them in Psalms, Lamentations and Songs of Solomon.  The songs in the bible have many different topics including; Victory in battle, formation of covenants, lament, the death of friends, praise, romance, prophecy and waiting, to name but a few.  There are four beautiful songs in the bible that were written by powerful women of God. The songs of Miriam, Deborah, Hannah and Mary. Each of these

  It is now the back to school season With photographs taken at doors And wide happy smiles in clothes still too big And kids who are babies no more! As a woman who longs to have children This time is so conflicting and tough For I long to be the one taking photos As I have waited for long enough! Each picture is ever so painful And sometimes it's so hard to breath As the grief and the sadness they overwhelm And I think that it might never leave. Each picture brings a great sense of longing And so many what-could-have-beens And I wonder what it must feel like To be the one inside that scene But I choose not to sit in the bitterness  Or the jealousy rising inside And thank God for each little miracle On earth or on the other side And I feel the Lord’s arms bringing comfort  And hear him whisper so clear That he knows just how I am feeling  And that he is drawing near.  And though the pain is still bubbling And the grief won't fully go away I know that I never will be on my own A

  This Summer has been marvellous We’ve really had some fun, We’ve explored, adventured, laughed and played  In rain, and wind, and sun. But now comes a different season, And I can feel that sense of worry. For school is starting once again, And life will soon become a hurry! You will be back with your teachers Who make you laugh and grin, And teach you to be confident and strong And celebrate each little win. You’ll be back with your friends and classmates With whom you learn and play, You’ll be learning all about life and the world In a fun and creative way.  And when the house is once more silent, And your not always asking for  food, I’ll sit and reflect on our summer together And remember the hard and the good! I will miss your lively company, And our days full of cake and ice cream The memories contained in photographs And that giggle and that beautiful beam!  But I will also embrace the quiet And a whole biscuit and hot cup of tea And the fact I can sit for 5 minutes peace Witho

  My husband and I love being out in nature, and an ideal day for us involves a walk in the countryside where we don’t see another soul! When we are out walking, we like to identify plants and trees that might have edible fruits and are always on the look out for wild herbs that may have some medicinal use. This is known as foraging. I find that it is a wonderful reminder that God has provided us with everything that we need in this world…but that is another blog post for another day!  One dictionary definition of foraging says that it means: to search about; seek; rummage; hunt or to wander in search of provisions One of the things I love about walking at this time of year is blackberry picking and last year we found a beautiful walk with a spot that was just bursting full of blackberries. It has been a funny summer this year, and some of the fruit and veg we have attempted to grow hasn’t done too well due to the damp conditions, However we came to our blackberry patch last week with