Category: Life
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An Encouragement for 2023? Don’t Despise the Small Things
It is rare that I get a specific word of encouragement for a year; in fact I think the last one was 2018, which considering the events of the years since then, seems like a distant era. At the end of 2022, however, I began to feel the stirrings of something, noticing a theme in […]
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Mothering Sunday: The Mothering of Moses
Exodus 2:1-10 It’s some story, isn’t it? And it’s one of those stories that gets told in children’s bibles almost minus the horror. The imagery I have is drawn straight from the Prince of Egypt film (as well as the theme song which has been in my head all week!), a wicker basket floating casually […]
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Faith, Strength and Weakness: Guest Blog by YouBelong
(Please note: I have used the term ‘He’ to describe God because this is a pronoun I am comfortable using but please replace it with whatever pronoun/s you feel more comfortable with when reading it that enables you understand God in all their fullness). When Rachael asked me to write something for the blog, she […]
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How Do You Teach ‘difficult’ Bible Stories to Children? Guest Post by Lucy Rycroft
“She put WHAT through his forehead?!” “The FAT closed over the SWORD??!!” The Bible is full of colourful stories. Some of them seem to have ended up in a sort of ‘children’s canon’, a repertoire we are happy to teach to our kids, stories which publishers are eager to bring to life again and again […]
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Sacrifice in a Strange New Land – Guest Post by Karen Costa
We all may consider that we know what it is to sacrifice something of worth. Those of us with children and vulnerable family members make sacrifices each day, including sacrificing sleep and giving up time to ourselves to meet their care needs. During Lent we may decide to sacrifice our love of chocolate or crisps, […]
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Baby Change, by Anne Calver – Review
Usually these days I find myself reading books in fits and starts, frequently having to re-read the pages as I’m snatching moments when my own baby (well – racing toddler is more apt) is asleep. As it happens however, I read this in just over a day as I was stuck in bed unwell and […]
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At Least
There are many ‘at least(s)’ flying around. ‘At least you don’t live alone’ ‘At least you don’t have a pre-existing condition’ ‘At least you still get paid’ Of course, all these may be true. Some of us are more privileged than others, that can be recognised without minimising struggle. Because whether you’re self-isolating, social distancing, […]
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Words for Worrying Times
In the uncertainty and fear, The panic and the path ahead unclear. Breathe in for seven, Breathe out for eleven. It’s okay to be unsure and frightened. And yet. Philippians 4.6 used to be my least favourite verse, it felt patronising, heaped shame upon pain. But then I learned that anxiety isn’t a sin, it’s […]
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Breaking the Mould by Jules Middleton: Book Review
As someone still early on in the journey of motherhood and my own multi-hyphenated job title, I was intrigued to read Jules Middleton’s reflections on life as a “ministry mum” ordained with the Church of England and leading a church on the south coast. “Breaking the Mould” is part memoir, part navigation guide for the […]
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Cold Cups of Tea and Hiding in the Loo – An Honest Conversation About Motherhood
Before you become a Mum, you’re told lots of things: “Don’t rock the baby to sleep – it’s a rod for your own back” “Never let your baby use a dummy” “Breastfeeding is the most natural thing ever – it’s a breeze!” “You’ll never sleep again” But no matter how much advice (helpful or otherwise), […]
Rachael Newham 