Tag Archive | onwards and upwards

Healing In The Potter’s House by Lizzie Hunt

Dec23

Never Alone

Healing In The Potter’s House by Lizzie Hunt is a powerful Christian allegorical tale that deals with grief. The author wrote it following the death of her husband.

Grief is a journey. It is a process. We may feel alone but Jesus walks beside us. We may not sense Him but that doesn’t mean He isn’t there.

This is a beautiful book. We ‘follow’ the author into a series of rooms where she meets the Potter, the Friend and the Prince Of Peace. Within each room, there are lessons to be learnt as the path of grief is trodden.

We see the importance of knowing the Word of God. “All those chapters and verses you have committed to memory are like a gold reserve in your heart.” When we are lost, lonely or afraid we can draw on the Word of God and we will be comforted.

Whatever we face in life we know “your Friend the Holy Spirit will help you.” We will never be left alone.

With grief comes many questions. We pray for healing but still our loved ones die. “I so wanted him healed.” We need reminding that when our loved ones stand with Jesus, they are healed and they are whole again, and one day we will be too.

There is the Japanese art of kintgugi where broken pots are mended with gold and are even more beautiful. We are reminded that our lives are like that – Jesus takes the broken pieces and mends them with His love, and we are even more beautiful.

Continue reading →

How Can God Hear A Man Like You? by Glenn Walsh

Feb18

The Prodigal & The Faithful One

How Can God Hear A Man Like You? by Glenn Walsh is a powerful story of redemption as we see a soul walking from darkness to light.

There is power in hearing people’s stories and the author’s story is incredibly powerful. He is honest as he shares his battles with demons and his addictions to drugs. Glenn Walsh’s life was washed up but God had big plans for him. “Even before I came to know Christ as my saviour, He had time and again sent His angels to protect me.” God knows us and cares for us even before we say ‘yes’ to Him.

As a child the author was brought up in the Catholic faith. His childhood was difficult and God seemed silent. “The God whom I cried out to each night just remained silent.” No evidence of God answering prayers meant that the author walked away from God – but God was not done with him. “When I was utterly lost, He [God] was there for me.” God showed up time and time again.

When the demons shouted that Glenn Walsh was no good, worthless and God would not want him. God told the author that he was loved. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” When the demons cry out, the name of the Lord will silence them. “In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to get out.” There is power in the name of Jesus.

Continue reading →

A Question Of Loyalty by Gillian Poucher

Jun4

An Angel Watching Over

A Question Of Loyalty by Gillian Poucher is a powerful contemporary Christian suspense that totally consumed me from the start.

Gillian Poucher has created a set of very realistic characters who are easy to relate to and empathise with. We see characters who are struggling with various aspects of life that are relevant to us all today. The characters have realistic flaws making them believable.

We see the light of Jesus shining through a character. No matter that life has been tough for him, he still looks out for others. Sometimes angels are just humans in clothes with kind hearts and Jesus living in them and through them.

God sends people across our paths for a reason. “The retired priest was convinced that individuals come into our lives for a reason.” God knows just who we need, where and when.

The attitude to a homeless man by various characters speaks volumes about the hearts of others. “’How do you know his name?’ ‘I asked him’… ‘Well it’s one thing giving them spare change but isn’t it a bit … familiar to find out their names?’ ‘They are people.’ For too many, the homeless are invisible. It warms the heart to see characters look beyond the outward appearance to the man underneath. It reminds the reader that Jesus is far more interested with the state of our hearts than the labels in our clothes. God created us rich and poor alike. He knows each and everyone of us and He always calls us by name.

Continue reading →