Helen Francis

The joy of Spring is beginning to burst all around us and what an exciting, hopeful time it is. After the dark, cold, dead of winter, the lengthening daylight and spreading warmth is coaxing fresh green shoots to push upwards through the soil.

Louise Harris

At this time of year I am careful observing the change of the season. I track a little bit of extra light each day before the sun goes down and the developing buds on my Magnolia tree, my favourite thing in my garden. I’m impatiently saying “Come on Spring!”

Jennifer Fletcher

How do you measure success? A “good job”, wealth, material possessions, thriving children, happiness? Early on in my faith, a guest speaker defined success as “hearing God and obeying”. I love this! It levels the playing field.

Isobel Akers

Shrove Tuesday used to be known as the day when pancakes would be made with all the “fine ingredients from the household larder.” These were to be consumed on that day, allowing abstinence from delicacies of all kinds until the end of Lent.

Elaine Utting

Where I live there is a tree growing in the pavement outside my house. We love watching the seasons change - new growth in spring, full leaf in summer, the falling leaves in the autumn. But one of the downsides is those falling leaves clogging up our little front garden.

David Francis

When I’m involved in sour dough breadmaking, I see in it many comparisons with what God has done for us in Christ. On one occasion, as the baked loaves came out of the oven, I said: ‘Here’s one I prepared earlier!’

Joy Revie

January is a time for reflection and resolution, as we have read over the last few Mondays. However, my reflective musings started after reading a book about the life of Joseph, by Charles Swindoll.

Jennifer Fletcher

On Saturday afternoon something captured my girls’ imaginations, and they spent 20 minutes persisting in asking me to do a treasure hunt for them.

Ian Revie

This year in some personal time, Joy & I have been led to think around significant changes in our lives. This change has made me Pause and Reflect on last year, looking forward to this year with a different viewpoint – reflecting more on Gods purpose in our lives

Helen Francis

That feeling of failure can come whenever we feel we've fallen short, not lived up to what we thought we were capable of. But we can find comfort and encouragement in the knowledge that the Lord knows we are weak, and  is full of grace and compassion toward us.

Louise Harris

Life can be tough and feel rather gloomy at times but God’s ability to pierce the darkness with his brilliant light never ceases to astound and encourage me.

Jennifer Fletcher

I love Christmas time! The lights, decorating the tree, time with family - and it has become especially magical in recent years with having young children. Starkly contrasting with the joys of advent and Christmas, is the deep sadness and concern at the fragile and war torn contexts of so many other families & individuals around the world.

Isobel Akers

It is good to be reminded that, no matter what we do or how others may treat us, God is our Saviour, our Shield and protector. As we spend time in His presence, His voice becomes ever more familiar. 

Elaine Utting

I’ve been using the Lectio 365 app to guide my daily time with the Lord recently. One phrase has stuck with me for several weeks: ‘a long obedience in the same direction’

David Francis

Myopia (nearsightedness) is on the increase due to more phone use, screen work and close-vision tasks. Providing for this means opticians are flourishing. We need better vision.

Joy Revie

I have always wondered how Jesus could sleep so soundly in the boat with that storm raging around him. What sort of peace did Jesus have that He was able to sleep so  deeply and how do you get it?

David Fletcher

As long as I can remember, I have always loved the changing seasons from the glorious, long, sunny days of summer to the cooler, shorter days of Autumn. In this context I have been thinking upon Psalm 27 recently.

Ian Revie

Many of you will know that Joy and I are spending a lot of our time with our daughters and their boyfriends renovating their houses.

Jennifer Fletcher

For many years as a Christian I felt (and at times still do!) like I needed to be the person with the answers, the one who others could come to.

Louise Harris

My grace is sufficient for you.

This wonderful and comforting phrase from Corinthians came into my head several days ago and just seemed to settle there.