Grace in dangerous places

On Monday night I went out for a drink with some friends, one of whom happens to be gay. Brought up in the church and a follower of Christ, albeit in ‘another’ place on his journey at the moment we had some fascinating and revealing discussions about how the church (not just our church) can converse with those in the gay community.

A touch from God

Last summer life seemed to be like living in two differents worlds at the same time. We were experiencing such an outbreak of God’s Kingdom, heaven touching earth every day, seeing healings and people set free, lives transformed and people coming to search for and then know God. It was a truly wonderful time walking in anticipation of what God was going to do next and then being even more surprised as He far exceeded our expectations. At the same time we were having difficulty in a few relationships with friends, two of our parents were ill and then in one day we lost a much wanted baby and my brother was rushed to hospital with a suspected heart attack.

Where has all the trust gone?

Have you noticed recently a big question that’s hidden in the headlines of so many journals and newspapers around the globe “Where has all the trust gone?”. I was recently stirred and provoked to think about this question when I read a business article published by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), called “The Truth About Trust”. It caught my attention and in an extraordinary way refreshed my thoughts on ones perspective of life in the business world and reminded me of the reality of the world that we live in but even more so what my world would be like without God in the centre - without a God whom I trust with my whole life and whom I believe holds the times and the seasons of life in the palm of His hands.

Rollercoaster ride

2009 has so far been a bit of a rollercoaster for my family and I. As I sit and think about some of the circumstances we have experienced I feel quite overwhelmed with emotion. I can’t deny that a lot of what we have faced has been tough going but what brings tears to my eyes is how our friends at Redeemer have supported us.

Peace through it all

I find it amazing how life can throw us into turmoil due to a phrase spoken. I went to see my Doctor the other day who said “You need to have more tests”. Only 6 words which have put me on a journey of further revelation into more of God’s character. For about 30 seconds I felt utter despair then I felt a voice breaking through saying “You are My child, I am here and have gone before you. Trust in Me” (yes, I did write ‘felt a voice’ - it wasn’t an audible voice).

'Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" Romans 8:35

The end of poverty begins here

I like being in Belfast city centre. I love it on winter evenings, when I can get all wrapped up, plug in my earphones to music suitable for an urban stroll, pull my hat down over my ears, and walk along in my own little world through the crowds of people. I love Christmas market. I am pretty excited that it will be back in front of the city hall in just a few short weeks, and I can go and spend extortionate amounts of cash on mulled wine, cheese, sliced meats, olives, and all kinds of stuff that I can usually get much cheaper in my local supermarket. I like the atmosphere of the city on those nights; people seem a little friendlier, the world seems a little slower, and the mulled wine always hits the spot.

In the every day things

Since becoming a wife and a full-time mum I found it increasingly impossible to have a set space of time to read the bible and pray. There came a particularly busy time in my life and I was getting frustrated because i loved to be on my own with God for a good hour or so in complete quietness without interruptions.