Facing a new, uncertain year? Needing some inspirational good stuff?

Of course, none of us knows what actually lies ahead. But it’s uncertain just because we DON’T know. And I for one tend to worry about the unknown and then it gets magnified beyond all reasonableness. You too?

I’m often looking for some inspiration, support, suggestions & ideas - good stuff that doesn’t cost a fortune, is easy to read or follow, and doesn’t require a small mortgage.

Isaiah 46:9-11 tells us that God knows how things are going to turn out, even before they happen. He declares the end from the beginning and things that are not yet done. What a relief that He knows, and we don’t have to. Most of the future things I worry about don't actually ever happen or at least not in the way I envisaged or worried about!

We can trust the unknown future to a known God, as someone once said. The Living Bible translation of Romans 8:28 says: “And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.”

I’ve put together some helpful resources for you as you go into this new year, new season. Some small, some larger. All to inspire, encourage, support and enthuse.

• A five session retreat

• 2 compact but powerful ebooks to download (extremely affordable!)

• a downloadable journal to cheer up February

• one-to-one sessions: time with someone to pray with, to cry with, unburden to, to chat to about faith, help you reflect on what God may be saying to you in this season, and encourage you to go deeper.

the SPICE RETREAT

The Spice Retreat: 5 sessions to do at your own pace, perhaps once a week, or over a weekend. Your choice.

You can read more about it and sign up here.

Three downloadables including a Journal

Three downloadables to help you in your everyday walk with the Lord. Click on the titles to order and download.

The FAB FEB JOURNAL - Cheer up February with this 42 page journal, designed to help you not just survive but THRIVE during the dark days of February! Newly updated for 2023 and packed with suggestions, meditations, reflections and fun ideas for you to enjoy. Just £3

ENCOUNTERING GOD - NEWLY UPDATED AND EXPANDED EDITION. 35 pages of easy-to-practice ways of drawing closer to God as you walk either out in the countryside, around the block or even mentally in your armchair! With ideas for adapting these to use at home or in your small group. Spiritual Exercises rewritten for everyday use in the 21st century. £3

BECOMING YOUR BEST YOU - Here are some of my top tips to help you become your best YOU as God intended. A short, easy-to-read and easy-to-implement guide of 6 simple steps you can use in your everyday life. Things that you can slip into your daily routine that make a real difference. Includes ideas for gratitude, work and rest, praying, and more.  Small investment for great growth! Only £2

Check them all out here

Or maybe you just need a listening ear?

Someone to listen, to pray with, to cry with, unburden to? Or you’re looking for someone to chat to about faith, who would listen, help you reflect on what God may be saying to you in this season, and encourage you to go deeper in prayer and Bible study?

A ‘Spiritual Companion’ or ‘Spiritual Accompanier’ - the traditional title is Spiritual Director. Spiritual Direction is a one-on-one session, when someone, who has specifically trained for this, offers a safe and confidential space for you to talk and think and discuss; and to think about what God might be saying and doing in your life. A safe place, with total confidentiality, and the opportunity and space to reflect on God’s presence in your life. A typical session lasts just under an hour, is totally confidential, and takes place usually once every 6 – 8 weeks, although some people prefer termly and sometimes people need once a week. Or even a single session as a one-off. Whatever is helpful right now. Your choice! 

I have been offering Spiritual Direction for nearly 20 years; I currently have space for you if you’d like to try a session with me. You can read a little more about it here; then email me if you’d like to book a session.

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All this for your new year. To help turn ashes to beauty, water to wine, broken to restored.

Because our God is a God of making all things new, of making a road through the desert places and bringing hope to the broken hearted.

Have you looked back with gratitude and looked forward with grace?

It’s easy to get caught up in the craziness of life and how life is right now. Although, honestly? 

Life is often not what we expect, 

          doesn't go as planned, 

goes on fast-forward most of the time. 

 So I want to encourage us - you and me both - to let go of our regrets, the what-might-have-beens, the if-onlys - and actually look forward with some anticipation. Yes, really! Why not get hold of the inspirational resources, and commit just a little time to reset and renew and restore, ready for whatever 2023 has in store!

The SPICE RETREAT Resources 1

The Spice Retreat: helpful resources for participants.

The books below have each been of enormous help and I do recommend them.

You’ll have other books you’ve read that have helped you - please add them in the comments below and tell us what’s been helpful about them for you.

And I’ve started with some ideas for keeping your SPICE RETREAT journal, so that it becomes a special and memorable resource for you to keep, refer to (find easily?!) and use again and again.

Recently published, this is a wonderful resource full of ideas to help us to embrace the wonder and joy of a God who delights in us. It will help you to develop a deeper spirituality of fresh exuberance and imagination! I loved it and have used it as a resource for the SPICE RETREAT.

Ruth Haley Barton writes beautifully and helpfully in ways that invite us into the presence of God and make that seem possible even in daily life. The first one was published some years ago, the second one very recently.

It does what the title says! Great resource for groups especially but you can use a lot of the ideas personally for imaginative and creative ways to pray.

Sheridan’s book is a reflection for when you find yourself saying “I don’t know who I am any more.” When you walk with shattered dreams, wondering if you’ll ever find purpose or joy again.

‘Finding God in Disappointment, Doubt and Delay.” Tanya writes, ‘My whole life has been a long wandering, a long hunger that hasn’t yet been satisfied’ and she explores disappointment, doubt, perspective and purpose through the lives of four Biblical characters. David Lamb says that the book will help you to renew your strength, refresh your soul, and reconnect to God. I used it as a daily devotional during Advent, but it can be used at any time.

I find The Passion Translation of the Bible by Brian Simmons a refreshing and inspirational way to read Scripture with fresh eyes. He hasn’t yet finished the whole Bible, and Isaiah has just been published as a separate book; but this edition is the whole NT plus Psalms, Proverbs and Song of Solomon.

“The TPT is a new, heart level translation that expresses God's fiery heart of love using Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic manuscripts-merging the emotion and life changing truth of God's Word. God longs to have his Word expressed in every language in a way that unlocks the passion of his heart. If you're hungry for God and want to know him on a deeper level, The Passion Translation will help you encounter God's heart and discover what he has for your life. This edition includes: In-depth footnotes with insightful study notes, commentary, word studies, cross references, alternate translations, and more Extensive introductions and outlines for each book.”

This lovely book was written out of pain and long illness, out of being bullied as a child, out of difficulties and disasters; yet in and through it all Liz has found the contentment she craved: God-given.  The book covers four types of contentment: Confident, Courageous, Captivated and Contagious. Under those headings, there are sections such as Hope, body image, all littered with her personal stories, her prayers and poems, her knowledge of God and his word. Highly recommended!

“Do you want to feel confident and comfortable in your own skin? When we decide to improve ourselves the ripple effect to others is contagious. When we feel comfortable in our own skin the benefit can be redemptive for those we love. What does your ripple look like? Unpacking your personal journey and seeing what is really going on emotionally at a deeper level, is a challenge, yet also a privilege that each of us can go through. Reading this book can turn confusion into clarity, fear into peace, anxiety into creativity, doubt into trust. You will discover confidence in your path ahead and find new freedom in your everyday life.” Written by Sarah Grace, who is a psychologist and trained counsellor, this is an extraordinarily helpful book. Sarah is also my publisher and I can recommend her writing and her wisdom! There is also a journal to accompany the book which you can find here: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/journal-with-grace/9781912863303?aid=2413

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There are some affiliate links in this blog post. If you click through to buy one of the books, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! But absolutely no pressure and it’s great if you can order these from your local Christian bookshop.