Feel A Little Less Alone
What I originally intended to be a three-week break turned into a ten-month hiatus. The last time I wrote to you was 13th July 2018 – I’m sorry. There have been times I’ve come to my computer or started to make notes, and not followed through. But here I am. 17th May 2019, and I’m back…I hope. [Click title to read more]
If you’ve been in the UK over the last few weeks, it’s very likely you’ll have heard (or have at least seen on Facebook) the words “It’s coming home”. Football fever and the World Cup have well and truly taken over. I wouldn’t call myself a football fan, but the buzz and excitement surrounding this year’s World Cup tournament has been unavoidable. People have changed plans, taken time off work, businesses have made arrangements to close early, and churches have cancelled meetings…doesn’t sound right, does it? [Click title to read more]
I first heard Jamie Grace on a family vacation in Florida when local Christian radio station Z88.3 played one of her songs. For anyone who doesn’t know, Jamie Grace is a Christian singer, songwriter and musician (and pastor’s kid!) and, in my opinion, she is one of the most positive influences out there. If you are a parent, a guardian, a grandparent, an Aunt, an Uncle, a sibling, a cousin, or just a friend or trusted adult in a child or young person’s life, I could not encourage you strongly enough to make sure and introduce the children and young people in your life to Jamie Grace. [Click title to read more]
Grief is a funny thing. It completely flips everything on it's head. I’m lucky to have had to experience it only a small number of times. These last four weeks, I have experienced the most intense grief I’ve ever felt. There are things I have learned and truths I have been reminded of that I want to put on record. Things that I want to share with you for your own experience, but also as a reminder and comfort for my future self should the time come when I’m revisited by grief. [Click title to read more]
Dear Dad, Happy (Belated) Father’s Day! Today, like every day, I am thankful for you. For you as Father, but also as Pastor, because for as long as you’ve been my Father, you’ve also been my Pastor – these two things have always gone hand in hand. But, growing up as both your daughter and one of your congregation, I saw a side to your role as Pastor that not many others will ever see. [Click title to read more]
Everything I’ve learned about marriage, I’ve learned from my parents. Everything that I think makes a good marriage has come from watching my parents. Everything I hope for in a potential future marriage I have seen exemplified in my parents. I don’t claim to know very much about marriage, but there are some things I do know. Things that I hope to carry with me if I ever were to get married myself. [Click title to read more]
Two weeks ago, I wrote a blog post about friendship. I talked about Aaron and Hur in Exodus, holding up the hands of Moses when he grew tired, calling for the Aarons and Hurs of the world to step forward and be counted. In the days that followed, whether my friends knew it or not, whether they had read my blog post or not, I experienced deeper than I ever have before what it means to have an Aaron or Hur holding you up. When I hit the publish button on Friday 25th May, little did I know what the next 24 hours, and the subsequent days and weeks, would hold. [Click title to read more]
Today it is 1st June 2018. Today we turn 24! (How crazy is that?!) I hardly feel like we’re adulty enough to be able to be classed as an adult. It wasn’t an easy road to get here, not by any means, but we’ve made it, and we have learned a lot. Obviously, we still have an awful lot to learn. But here are some pieces of advice that I’d like to share with you. [Click title to read more]
They say that friendship is about quality, not quantity. I say, true that. However, Christian friendship is so hard to find. I can testify to that. [Click title to read more]
In last week’s blog, we looked at what it means to stand for something – to believe in something so much that you’re willing to fall, even die, for it. This week, I’d like to follow that up by exploring how to take a stand. As we mentioned previously, taking a stand doesn’t necessarily mean shouting the other person down, or having a big fight. Not at all. You don’t have to be loud and aggressive to make a point. You can take a stand just as you are. Even the meek can take a stand that is powerfully gentle and sensitive, and yet have it make a difference. [Click title to read more]
Letters From A Pastor's Kid 