I suspect that the hardest ongoing battle that I have in my Christian life has to be my acceptance that I’m loved. Deeply, unquestioningly, unchangingly treasured. In fact, it is probably less of an ongoing battle that I have, and more of an ongoing battle that God has with me. So many times I have... Continue Reading →
We live in a world where everyone has something to say about pretty much everyone. The news headlines are jam packed with comment on individuals and their actions; their failures, their successes, and of course, we are encouraged to decide whether we ‘like’ or ‘approve’ of them from the perspective of our own lives.
I’ve met the guy several times, bought him a coffee and a bacon sandwich, and had a chat with him. He seems like a nice enough guy, tells me that he was in the army and pensioned out after injury, tells me that he’s made mistakes and got what he deserved, but that he’s sorted... Continue Reading →
I’ve talked about grief before. The grinding, end-of-world kind of grief that shatters lives. No promises are made to contrary – the one thing we can all know is that there will be pain,, hardship, suffering. The best we can hope for is that we might be spared it for long enough to reach our... Continue Reading →
Rose was an ageing friend of the family who I never got to meet. Up until I was about ten years old, there would be presents from Rose, every Christmas, for my two sisters, my brother and myself. Nothing big, but dutifully chosen every year, reliable as rainfall. Until she died... I never saw a... Continue Reading →
Just next door around the world... I’d like to introduce you to two of my children. Their names are Musa and Anahi and they are thirteen and eleven years old respectively. Musa lives in Tanzania with his Grandmother who is a subsistence farmer; his mother died of HIV/AIDS when he was seven years old, we... Continue Reading →
I know this... It is by Grace that I am saved, that today I don’t need to feel guilty or condemned, no matter how frustrated I get with my own failings. I have received His free gift of righteousness through faith in the saving blood of Jesus Christ. And I know that no matter how... Continue Reading →
Hope in your backyard... Sometimes it can be really hard to raise significant amounts of money for local causes; for two reasons, the first being that we don’t tend to be very good at seeing what’s in our back yard, and the second being that we struggle to believe that someone who lives just a... Continue Reading →
Gentle Reminders The more we pray, the closer we get to God. Christians, just like people of many faiths, are taught that if we want to enjoy a close relationship with God, then we need to spend time in his presence and this is something that can take more discipline than we perhaps have. I... Continue Reading →
What to keep and what to let go.... This year, rather than make promises to myself as the chimes started at twelve o'clock on New Year's Eve, I prepared in advance. Nothing new, just part of my ongoing battle to get closer to God... I’m learning to let go, to give in to His plan,... Continue Reading →
The Blog of Penny Lyon 