Appreciating the beauty of God's creation can truly feel like a heartfelt prayer of gratitude, whether you're wandering through serene woodlands on a warm day or gazing up at the twinkling stars.
Praying by playing music, or by dancing.
Praying outside the box: part 2b Advent 2024 I have a conflict of interest here. I am a musician, but I am not a dancer. Even before I was disabled, my dancing was notorious for stiffness. My lack of grace on the dancefloor is not a problem here. This blog post is for those with …
Listening to music/watching dance
Praying outside the box: part 2a Advent 2024 When I’ve spoken with others about incorporating music into prayer, they often share their experiences of singing words of praise or listening to uplifting praise songs while focusing on the lyrics. I truly appreciate that approach; it’s wonderful to engage in practices that direct our thoughts toward …
Artistic prayer
Praying outside the box: part 1b Advent 2024 "But I'm not artistic," I hear you say, "This has nothing to do with me," But you're wrong, which is why I am concentrating on colouring and doodling in this post. If you have the skills to be the next iconographer, El Greco or Henri Matisse, then …
Praying through art
Meditating on art can beautifully ignite a spirit of prayer, or it can serve as a joyful form of prayer itself. As you engage with a work of art, invite God to speak to you. You might find yourself inspired to intercede or even confess, discovering pathways to connection that your usual preparation may not reveal.
Praying without words
Praying outside the box day 1 Advent 2024 It's like the earworm of a catchy song you don't particularly like and can't shake. You know the thing, it can be embarrassing if you suddenly break into the song where you can be heard and the earworm is from the Bodyform advert. If you have no …
Scars are beautiful
God created humans in his image, so it is natural for us to carry the nature of God within us as humans. As Christians, we are blessed with the presence of the Holy Spirit within us. We also can demonstrate forgiveness and grace.
The Song of the Well
In the desert, God provided the Israelites with fresh water. It was not their doing. The song of the well, asking for God's water, is a song of praise for this provision.
But…
John 1:12-13 Who is Jesus? part 10 (Written for publication on 18th November 2024) We may be far from Christmas, but we're knee-deep in the season of gift-giving contemplation. The thrill of wondering "What am I going to get?" is still a month away, but for now, it's all about strategising "What am I going …
Rejection!
This is like a Gothic Horror reversal, where the creator, Victor Frankenstein, snubs his creation without even giving it a name! I'm totally on the side of the so-called monster in that tale.
Making an ass of myself 