Tag: hope
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Advent Reflections: Something About Mary
When I was ten, I played Mary in my school nativity; and I’ve remembered the words of my solo ever since (twenty two years at the last count!) “Lord as you’ve spoken, let it be, may your will be known through me” Just a few years younger than it’s believed Mary herself was when she…
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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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Holding Out Hope
Whether or not you’ve ever watched anything that the late Caroline Flack presented, it’s unlikely that you won’t have heard that over the weekend, Caroline died by suicide. News of her death has filled column inches, clickbait articles and provoked debate around everything from the existence of shows such as “Love Island”, to press intrusion,…
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Present Tense Testimony
I’ve been sharing my testimony since I was thirteen and I first stood in a church pulpit. On that blisteringly hot day in July 2003, I spoke about the God I serve and the calling I felt. Since then, I’ve been sharing my story in blog posts, seminars, sermons and talks. It’s something I feel…
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Speak of Suicide and Speak Hope #WSPD2019
“You aren’t going to do anything silly, are you?” “Can you promise you won’t do anything stupid?” A member of staff at my secondary school asked me these questions countless times during my sixth form years. They weren’t talking about me bunking off lessons, getting into trouble or talking back; they were talking about suicide…
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Tracing the Tears – Resurrection #OurHolyWeek
This Holy Week, I’m going to be blogging each day, tracing the tears Jesus shed for Jerusalem to the tear filled eyes who first saw the Risen Christ. Throughout I’ll be following prompts from #OurHolyWeek “Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying.” John’s account of Jesus’ resurrection begins with tears. The tears of Good Friday…
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Tracing the Tears – Holy Saturday #OurHolyWeek
This Holy Week, I’m going to be blogging each day, tracing the tears Jesus shed for Jerusalem to the tear filled eyes who first saw the Risen Christ. Throughout I’ll be following prompts from #OurHolyWeek No one likes to talk about days like today. There is no drama, no battle, no victory. The grave is…
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Reflections
I’ve just listened to Rick and Kay Warren being interviewed at the HTB leadership conference. I was hesitant to listen to it. I knew it would hurt. I knew it would poke me in the parts of myself that are still raw and still painful. I was right. It is full of the most profound reflections…
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Trap or Treasure?
Ever since I can remember, I have felt “called” into a specifically “christian” ministry. I toyed with the idea of being a singer and actress for a while, quickly dismissed the idea of teaching primary school children, rejected the idea of nurse because it involved science etc etc. All the ideas I considered were never…
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I want to change the world
There. I’ve said it. I want to change the world. I want to every child born to have enough love, clean water and food to live and thrive. I want to see governments that use their resources wisely. I want a justice system that truly rehabilitates drug users instead of letting them get sucked back…
Rachael Newham 