Blog
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“Consider your death” – Ash Wednesday reflections
“Whenever the journey to Easter begins, it must always begin right here: at the contemplation of my death, in the cold conviction that I shall die.” (Walter Wangerin, Reliving the Passion, p 21) Sobering words for the beginning of Lent. Even more sobering as I consider the deaths of two people, one whom I’ve never…
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Review: Feeling Empty, Being Filled, The Book of Ruth
“In 2010, I gained a baby, and lost the ability to walk more than twenty metres.” So begins Tanya Marlow in this thought-provoking look at the book of Ruth. She interweaves her story of life with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME – or chronic fatigue syndrome, as it’s commonly known Stateside) with that of two women from…
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Review: Austen-Inspired Fiction
I just finished Katherine Reay’s latest engaging novel, and before I add my review, I thought I’d better post my thoughts on her first book, which was published originally in Woman Alive. When I finished this novel, I sighed in satisfaction and thought about turning back to the beginning, reading in the light of the plot…
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Guest Post with Evelyn Bence: Redeeming the Time with Thyme
My very first guest post! I’m thrilled to host the lovely writer and editor Evelyn Bence today, whom I know through the Christian publishing world. She lives in Virginia, where I used to live, though we didn’t know each other well when I lived there. Yet I can picture her in my former stomping grounds,…
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A song in a foreign land – a poem
This morning I’m digging into one of my favorite activities – writing some Bible reading notes. This will be a set for Inspiring Women Every Day, for the month of November 2015, on the theme of foreigners and strangers. After the Garden of Eden, we’re all strangers now. Here’s a little poem I wrote as…
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Interview with Celtic writer Ray Simpson
Here′s an interview that appeared originally in Woman Alive with Ray Simpson, the founding guardian of the international Community of Aidan and Hilda. He lives in Lindisfarne and has written over 30 books. The Community of Aidan and Hilda is a dispersed new monastic community which includes Anglicans, Catholics, Orthodox and Evangelicals in four continents.…
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Interview with Michele Guinness – She Wears Purple
Today I received the paperback edition of Michele Guinness’ page-turning, magisterial novel, Archbishop, in which she explores the issues facing women in leadership. For your reading pleasure, here’s an interview with her, originally published in Woman Alive. When my husband and I were at theological college, we met so many strong women, many of whom have gone…
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Celebrating Life – a Poem
You formed me My insides You knitted me together In my mother’s womb Fearfully I am made Wonderfully formed I praise you, Lord Wonderful your works I know it well You hid not my frame You saw me made Secretly formed Intricately woven In the depths of the earth In your book All…
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A Dream Shopping Trip – An Abundant God
Have you ever gone on a dream shopping trip? Like one of those televised free-for-alls where someone can keep whatever they grab in thirty minutes? Well, I’ve not been on one of those – thankfully, I think, for I can only imagine the specter of my consumerist heart going mad. But a few years ago…
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How to Keep a Spiritual Journal: A Treasure Trove of God’s Love
This article originally appeared in Woman Alive in January 2014, and I presented its contents at All That We Are, the Woman Alive/BRF retreat at the Christian Resources Exhibition in May 2013. The next Woman Alive/BRF day will be 6 June 2015 in Woking. Join us! “I hate my life.” “Why am I so stupid?” “Will…
