Because sometimes, God's grace in our lives, starts first with an ugly story.
Last night, as news about the tragic death of another celebrity filtered in, I read the headlines with shock and sadness. Within hours, online, many were asking, ‘how could this have happened?’ ‘Who was to blame?’ Was it social media? The Press? The courts? Everyone was asking if this could have been prevented? I know…
Read MoreIf you’ve seen the movie, ‘The Shack’, you’ll probably remember the scene, where standing on a hill with God, Mack, the hero of the film sees line after line of lit up, glowing forms on the horizon. As Mack looks more intently, one of the figures walks toward him and he discovers he knows this…
Read MoreHave you ever had a defining moment, where everything in your relationship with God changed? Shifted in some almost-intangible way? It might have been the moment when things finally ‘clicked’ for you, the point someone prayed for you? Or it might have been a dream, a vision, or particular church service or experience. But somehow…
Read MoreA few weeks ago, I moved house (I might have mentioned this!). In the run up, there was all sorts of throwing-out-of-things and also buying-of things. I also decided I needed a new comfy, sink-yourself-into-it armchair. And so, the search began. I knew exactly what I wanted (think: light grey, huge, super comfy wingback) and…
Read MoreWhen my dad was 42 years old, he had a heart attack. After some recovery time, he was soon on the mend, but a few years later, he began experiencing chest pain again. He was referred to a specialist and after tests, was told his arteries had become so blocked, he was to avoid any…
Read MoreI grew up in the church. Church has always been my home and my safe place and I knew from an early age the dangers of becoming a ‘church hopper’. There was a frequently used analogy, ‘a coal out of the fire, on the hearth, quickly goes cold.’ And I think that’s true, being part…
Read MoreBack in November, I wrote about an amazing experience I had, Surprised by God. And at the time, if I’m honest, a little part of me thought, ‘well, that’s amazing…now it’s time to get on with it’. So, I dug deep, found my ‘Dunkirk spirit’, donned my British stiff upper lip and decided to march…
Read MoreYears ago, I was part of a thriving, lively church, with a lovely pastor, who had an affair. I arrived at church one Sunday morning, all expectant for a great service, but there was an unexpected somber tone to the meeting. At the end, it was announced that one of the pastors had admitted to…
Read MoreIt was hard, dusty work. The men were using their bare hands to scrape away at the roof. They were tired, a bit thirsty, but in good spirits as they worked away, grabbing chunks of mud, straw, tearing, pulling up, trying to create a hole big enough. They didn’t have much in the way of…
Read MoreYears ago, I had a strange and unusual experience with God; an experience that changed everything. At the time I was an annoying, anger-filled teenager. I’d grown up in church, and believed deep down that everything I’d been taught was true, but I was still filled with irritation at the petty, pointless politics and all…
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Ugly Grace