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#38 Advent 2022
The Christmas season is here again. Whether we’ve been eagerly counting down the days or surprised by the sudden appearance of Christmas trees in stores. This year I wanted to avoid getting pulled into the modern and very commercial rush that stresses many out. I slowed down a little this year to give my life some margin space. I have enjoyed the calmness it’s brought me. So I’m taking time each day to pause and reflect on the scripture passages surrounding Advent and what they can mean for me in my life today.
What does Advent mean?
The Advent season
#37 Why knowing our true identity is so important
As you may know, I started this website and blog as part of my expression to obey what God has asked me to do—to help encourage and equip new leaders and their local leaders. Here, I share topics God has put on my heart whilst working on my first book in this Who me a leader series. This book looks at being a leader from the inside out. The current chapter I’m wrestling with (because it’s so big for my mind to get around) is our identity – who we are in Christ. For non-Christians, this isn’t a subject they
#36 Commitment
I’ve just come back from my niece-in-law’s wedding. It was a beautiful weekend full of different gatherings so both sides of the family and friends could meet one another. Although a wedding brings two people together to commit to one another for the rest of their lives. It’s also a joining of two families. These families are unique as they are scattered worldwide and haven’t met much during covid. So precious for the different groups to catch up with one another and continue developing friendships between the extended families. Not to mention celebrating with the happy couple their marriage!
It
#35 If you are struggling, what could you do to help yourself?
When I asked God this morning what He would like me to write about today. The thought that immediately came to mind was, what do I do when I’m struggling to help me get through it, not just live with it. So if you’re struggling today, I hope what you read below will be what you need at this time.
We all go through times when it’s tough for various reasons. From waking up and feeling tired and heavy about something you’re not totally sure why—to having a lot of things going on in your life or your loved ones
#34 Things to consider to help you finish well
Over the past few weeks, several of my BLP (Basic Leadership Practicum) students have been finishing their time with us. Some will continue to be staff with YWAM here in Burtigny; others are moving to a new country.
When an end date is approaching, or you’ve decided to finish what you are doing and move on to something new, you move into a transition phase. A place of limbo where the current isn’t yet finished and the new hasn’t yet started. But things shift. So there are some things to consider to help you finish well.
How do you communicate
#33 How do you pray for Ukraine?
Over the past week, many of us have heard and seen countless social media postings and news reports about what’s happening in Ukraine. Of course, as Christians, we want to pray for all those affected by this horrible situation. But how do you pray for Ukraine and everyone involved in a Christ-like way? So whether you are praying alone, with a few folks or a bigger group. I hope these thoughts and verses will help you partner with God to pray with boldness and confidence.
What is Intercession
When we pray on behalf of others, we call this intercession. To
#32 How can we show grace when it hurts?
Recently I had the opportunity to show/ give grace to people in situations where I would have partly been totally justified to say no, enough. But it’s painful and they need to feel my pain! So how can we show grace when it hurts amid our pain response to someone else’s decisions?
What is grace?
To describe grace, I would say it’s receiving something we don’t deserve/haven’t earned.
Or receiving mercy when we deserve justice. It’s a gift we haven’t paid for but been given out of love.
Ephesians 2:8+9
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through
#31 Sadness and joy – can they live in partnership?
As you may or may not know, I experienced great sadness and shock on Boxing-day morning. When I found out that my Dad had died from a heart attack. This may not have been as much of a surprise to medically minded people as it was to my sister and I. My Dad – Archie Marshall, was 82 and had several health issues. But the finality of death means you can’t get even a second more time with them to have one last conversation. So the various waves of grief continue to ebb and flow as I walk through the
#30 What are my values?
Each of us has values, whether we realise them or not. Often they are ones we’ve learned from our parents or ones we’ve consciously decided to have because of something we’ve experienced. So take a moment to think—what are my values?
What are values?
Maybe you are wondering what values actually are. A value is something you hold as important, worth more than something else, or set as a priority. It is something that you have as a higher standard and compare other things to it. It’s something you have an emotional attachment to. If it’s broken or disrespected, you
#29 What does Advent mean to you?
When I was praying in November about what topic to work on next with God, I realised Advent was fast approaching, and now was the perfect time to prepare a special time of Advent for this year.
For a lot of the world, the word Advent is only associated with the Advent Calendar. At this time of year, we begin the count down to Christmas with a daily reward of chocolate (or even more recently, the adult alternatives of various alcohols, beauty products or hot drink selections). Which is special in itself.
However, for Christian believers, Advent comes way before
Latest posts
#35 If you are struggling, what could you do to help yourself?
When I asked God this morning what He would like me to write about today. The thought that immediately came to mind was, what do I do
#34 Things to consider to help you finish well
Over the past few weeks, several of my BLP (Basic Leadership Practicum) students have been finishing their time with us. Some will continue to be staff with
#33 How do you pray for Ukraine?
Over the past week, many of us have heard and seen countless social media postings and news reports about what's happening in Ukraine. Of course, as Christians,
#32 How can we show grace when it hurts?
Recently I had the opportunity to show/ give grace to people in situations where I would have partly been totally justified to say no, enough. But it's
The Bible Project new App
Tim Mackie and Jon Collins, with their ever-growing fantastically creatively gifted team, continue to bless us with more excellent resources. Therefore I can now highly recommend The
#31 Sadness and joy – can they live in partnership?
As you may or may not know, I experienced great sadness and shock on Boxing-day morning. When I found out that my Dad had died from a
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