Alison Birtle recounts God’s still small voice and its impact on one patient and his family. It was hard to ignore – Like Samuel hearing that quiet voice in the night. That was certainly my experience of the voice I least expected, especially on New Year’s Eve. In the middle of a pandemic. Whilst on call. […]
No one can take away the power of a personal encounter with God. In the story below, we see a raw and honest look at how faith provides a foundation even when life’s circumstances feel insurmountable. This testimony is shared with permission from TestimonyShare.com, a platform we admire for its commitment to amplifying authentic stories of […]
Discovering that true survival requires a faith that defies all human reason What do you do when your absolute worst-case scenario becomes your reality? For years, Dr Shaun McCarthy lived a life of perceived invincibility, navigating demanding careers in special forces and intelligence while keeping God at a comfortable distance. He reasoned there would be […]
Finding words to pray when energy, time and clarity are in short supply Prayer is often presented as something spacious and unhurried, carefully carved out quiet times, beautifully written journals, and long, reflective conversations with God. But for many of us, especially in seasons of exhaustion, long shifts or emotional overload, prayer can feel hard […]
This time of year is one where people show friendship, often in the giving of gifts. The first Christmas was an act of the deepest friendship where God moved towards us in giving the most precious gift He had to give – Jesus, His Son. He made the first move to us. There are many […]
Trusting God When Life Takes an Unexpected Turn When staring into the indiscriminate face of cancer, fear and questions quickly follow, but so too can the comforting presence of God and the prayers of fellow believers. In sharing her story, Angie reflects on the reality of shock, grief, and uncertainty, yet also on the deeper […]
The quaint old phrase ‘fellow feeling’ is not used much these days. The word ‘empathy’ is more in vogue if you are trying to explain something beyond sympathy. Those kind condolences, that sad smile or hand on a shoulder may convey sorrow that you genuinely feel for a person in grief. Such sympathy may be shown with flowers, a baked cake or a cup of coffee but it is something less than empathy where that sorrow is deeply known and understood because it has been part of your experience too. You’ve walked that walk along that path and in those shoes, fully engaged, feeling the slope of the hill of sorrow and the hard ground through the soles. Comfort from a friend who truly empathises is akin to someone walking with you and carrying your backpack to ease your load. These swaying reeds speak of God’s empathy with us.
What do you see in the picture? People perceive, analyse and imagine in different ways but for this challenge there is only one right answer. Enlightenment will come as you read on! The very word ‘enlightenment’ can be taken in three ways – simply, it could be the process where someone is given greater knowledge and understanding about a subject or situation. It can also refer to a spiritual opening of the eyes or to a European movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries. More of that to come but first, how much of life is shaped by conspiracy theories, shadowy speculations and secret societies, some of which were created during the ‘Age of Enlightenment’? There are those who claim to have special knowledge which can lead to cults being formed, rituals being practiced and controlling power being wielded. Human beings are drawn to these darker things.
What do you see as you look around you – blessings or curses? Is that glass half empty or half full? Do you recall the old song with the line, ‘Count your blessings name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done’? Blessings look like family, peace, flowers, bees, butterflies, people, food, freedom, life, breath, health and of course those wonderful fresh tomatoes – we all have many of these and some have all of them. We start with nothing and then God just keeps pressing blessings into lives.
‘If I can centre down and strengthen the core of who I am, and the core of who I am is my relationship with God, then that helps me maintain peace deep down. If I can maintain a healthy spiritual core, I think that’s enormous for helping the stress.’ – Anne Graham Lotz
