This month, I started on a project that has been on my heart, and part of a life-long dream of mine. If you’ve been following my social media, you may know that I have started writing a book. An exploration of the liturgical year of the church from a Southern Hemisphere perspective. They sometimes say that you should write the book that you want to read, and that’s definitely what I’m doing here. I’m writing the book that I have not been able to find, I’m stepping into the gap with my own humble offering and giving my Southern Hemisphere voice to the liturgical world.

It’s an exciting venture, but I must admit it’s also a little daunting. Especially as I am writing in the gaps between parenting three little kids and working. Progress has been slow, although I’m pleased to say that I’m already on to chapter 5.

I really believe that God has called me to write this, and what he calls us to do, he equips us for. I would love to have the book in my hand right now, but I have to write it first. But I know God’s hand is upon this process, every step of the way.

What I wrote

Meditating on One Sacred Question

Eventide, A.M Daylin

What I read

How Great is our God, Louie Giglio | I read through this with my boys, one devotional each night, over the course of a few months. Aimed for primary school kids, it reflects on a whole range of scientific facts, from astronomy to biology to geology, and connects them to something about God’s character. My eldest son, our little science whiz, loved this one.

The Twisted Sword, Winston Graham | The second last book in a twelve book series, by this stage it definitely feels like visiting old friends. This book does focus more on the younger generation as well as the original main characters, although I love following their story too. Full of all the drama I’ve come to expect from the Poldark series, with some devastating events happening towards the end.

What I loved

Our winter tradition | Each season, our family has a little tradition to celebrate its arrival. For winter, we went to a local park and spent some time walking around. We’ve found with our boy that short and sweet outings work best, so they enjoyed a little play on the playground equipment before going home.

Holiday playdates | I asked my boys what they wanted to do in the school holidays, and one of them said he wanted to play with his friends. We invited two of his friends from school (brothers) and their parents over to our house. It was nice to get to know the family a little more. My son has taken a long time to develop his social awareness and it is the absolute best to see him making friends!

My new keyboard | My husband gave me an amazing present for my birthday - a keyboard (the one you play, not the one you type on)! I haven’t had an instrument like this for a long time, and it’s been beautiful to be able to play. I’m a little out of practice, but I love playing hymns and worshipping God in this way. And my middle son loves to add his own little notes as well.

Morning frost | Winter is well and truly here. We’ve been having frost on our lawn most mornings, and the ‘feels like’ temperature has been dipping below zero. There was even snow on the mountain one time! I still sometimes can’t get over the fact that I now live somewhere that has such a distinct winter.

Life in pictures

Over the last few years, I’ve had the privilege of connecting with the exceptionally gifted Christian writer, A.M Daylin. Eventide is the fourth of her books that I have read and reviewed, and I believe her books just keep getting better!

Eventide has many of the elements I’ve come to expect from Daylin’s writing - complex but admirable characters, deep faith themes, emotional poignancy and plenty of twists and turns. Eventide tells the story of Lessi and Relic, childhood sweethearts who reconnect under the most tragic of circumstances. Living in a dystopian world where people are regularly selected as human sacrifices, Relic has the ability to bring peace again - at the cost of his own life. His resolve to do this is complicated by reuniting with Lessi, making him hope for a future together that cannot be.

From the beginning, Daylin imbues her words with a sense of tragedy, which grows stronger as the plot deepens. As I was reading, it felt like the emotions were grabbing me, railing against the seemingly impossible circumstances. The emotional resonance is carried along by the strength and vividness of the characters. Relic and Lessi complemented eachother perfectly, the cynical loner and the innocent hopeful in love with eachother.

Eventide deals with heavy themes such as grief, abuse and suicidal thoughts, yet they never dominate the story. Rather, they serve as the dark backdrop against which the light of hope and redemption can shine. This is an inherently Christian book, with themes that are authentic to the story and profoundly relevant to real life. Holding on to hope and beauty in the midst of dark times, finding your self-worth as an image-bearer of God, laying down your life out of love for others.

This novel starts off slowly, exploring the relationship dynamics between Lessi and Relic, but those final few chapters were breathtakingly action packed. Although I can give you no spoilers here, I had to take a step back when reading to really absorb all the events that had happened.

If you’re looking for romantic fantasy that is refreshingly free from ‘spice’ (there is kissing but nothing further) and beautifully expresses deep, relevant faith themes, you are going to love Eventide by A.M Daylin.

This month, I joined in with a contemplative exercise from my dear sister-in-Christ, . Each month, she asks One Sacred Question, a question drawn from Scripture to help align our hearts with God and what he is doing in our lives.

The question for July was from Luke 15:8

Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

My thoughts, when first reading this verse, were drawn towards my children and my own sacred responsibility to disciple them. It was convicting, and maybe a little overwhelming, placing myself in the role of the woman searching for the lost coin. Especially as I thought of my eldest son, who has put his trust in Jesus but is still learning what it means to live in obedience to him (as we all are).

But, as I continued to read Lahni’s reflections on this question, I realised another dimension to this parable that the feminine imagery had somehow blinded me towards.

The woman searching for the lost coin was, primarily, a reflection of God. Not me.

It is God who upturns heaven and earth to find us and bring us home. It is God who does that for me, and for my children.

Any work that I do towards this mission is simply a partnering with what he is already doing, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Another aspect that Lahni drew out from this was that God is still searching within his people, for those parts of our lives that are lost. Those parts that we try to hide or keep from God, those parts which are wandering, those parts where we struggle.

And here is where God met me, like a cascade of relief flowing over me.

Those things that I see in my son’s life, that I would love to smooth out but feel powerless to control - God’s got them. He is working his sanctifying power in his young life, searching and gathering up all the wanderings and struggles.

As he is doing that within my son, he is also doing that for me.

One unique element of Lahni’s contemplative exercise was to use colour as a prompt, the colour for this month being yellow. Every time we saw the colour yellow in everyday life, we were encouraged to remember the truth we had gleaned from this Biblical question.

God is working in my son’s life and in mine.

Winter time here in Australia, we don’t have a lot of flowers blooming, and in my region most of the trees have lost their leaves. The first yellow I saw was not from the natural world, but a box of dishwashing sheets in my kitchen. (God breaking into the mundane!)

But we do have one iconic tree in full bloom - the wattle. We were taking our boys to the park a few days after reading this prompt, and I came across a whole collection of wattle trees, covered in vibrant yellow flowers!

God is searching for us, our entire self, and he gives us beautiful reminders.

I have a very exciting update to share with all of you lovely readers.

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I am writing a book!

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For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a writer. It has been a long-standing dream of mine to one day publish a book. And now, it feels like God has given me the topic he wants me to write it on.

My book is going to be about the liturgical calendar from a Southern Hemisphere perspective. Almost all of the liturgical material that I’ve read, inspiring as it may be, comes from the Northern Hemisphere, meaning there are some things that don’t hit quite right. While the theological significance is the same, the traditions and natural symbolism are inverse. As far as I have found, the Southern Hemisphere voice is underrepresented when it comes to liturgical living.

So I am stepping into the gap and bringing my own humble offering. It’s going to be a journey through the liturgical year, from my Australian perspective. That means Christmas not in bleak midwinter but blazing midsummer, and Easter in autumn rather than spring. I’m going to share some ideas and recipes that make sense with our seasons, and offer reflections on how the natural world in Australia brings light to God’s truth in each liturgical season.

I’m also collaborating with some other Christian ladies from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, to hear some other Southern Hemisphere perspectives and experiences.

If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, I hope this book will provide a much-needed resource to help you authentically engage in the liturgical year. If you’re not in the Southern Hemisphere, this book is for you too. The final section of the book will look at how we can apply the universal truths of God’s character and plan of salvation to whatever context you find yourself in.

This is the book I was looking for but couldn’t find, so I feel God leading me to write it myself.

I’m so excited, but it’s a little daunting as well. Please pray for me as I take on this massive task!

This month, I turned 41. As I find myself another year into my 40s, I feel the reality of aging making itself known. I have more lines on my face, a testament to life lived. The strands of hair that frame my face are turning blonde, a promise that they will one day be silver. My body aches and groans a little more than it used to.

I’m not quite middle aged yet, I think. My kids being still infants-school or younger keeps me from that for a little longer. But I definitely can’t class myself as a young adult anymore. I’m an adult, in the thick of adult responsibilities, and I realise that I am heading solidly towards middle age and the elderly years after that, if God gifts me so.

We have an aversion towards aging, in this society. So many of us want to colour our hair and hide our wrinkles. And, of course, there is nothing wrong with caring for your appearance. But, I do not want to be ashamed of the fact that I’m getting older. I want to age with grace. That’s why I’ve chosen to be open about how old I am, and to embrace the grey hairs as I see them appear.

There is so much honour that comes with age, especially as Christians. I want to be one of those wise old ladies that speak words of truth and encouragement to everyone and exude grace. And I see myself now as a wise old lady in training, practicing those habits of grace, wisdom and life-giving words. No matter our age, may we all be wise old ladies (or men) in training.

On the blog

Why Praying the Daily Office is Life Giving

The Way of the Wildflower

Some Ways To Get Help Or Assist In Our Communities Without Adding To Our Workloads (collab with Katie Sampias)

What I read

Sparrow in the Sun, Danielle Bullen | This was a gentle, slow paced fantasy book. Eness is a herbalist in hiding from the queen’s soldiers because of her deeper healing powers. She finds sanctuary and purpose in a new community, yet the tension of being discovered is always present. This book was filled with noble, honourable characters and inspiring allusions to faith.

The Way of the Wildflower, Ruth Chou Simons | A simply beautiful read, likening believers to wildflowers - provided for, loved, and blooming wherever they are planted. I wrote an article about it this month, with more of my thoughts and some favourite quotes.

Emil and the Sneaky Rat, Astrid Lindgren | I read this one with my boys and it was an absolute delight for all of us. Like in the first book in the series, Emil is mischievous and causes trouble without meaning to. But he is also very kind-hearted and there was a touching moment where he invites all the people from the local poorhouse to his place for Christmas dinner, reminding me of the parable Jesus told.

Eventide, A.M. Daylin | I received an ARC for this book, written by a lovely Instagram friend of mine. The story of Relic, destined to bring peace to his world at the cost of his own life, who reconnects with his childhood sweetheart Lessi. This was a poignant, beautiful novel, with tragedy and devastating feels all the way through. Even so, there was light, love and hope woven throughout. No spoilers, but the ending was deeply emotional and perfect, in my opinion.

What I love

Winter meals | It’s no secret that I love winter. And one of the best things about the colder weather is the hearty winter meals. I’ve been getting the slow cooker out at least once a week and cooking up some favourites - beef casserole, goulash, Japanese curry. Warming, comforting and delicious. It’s such a shame my boys have never been fans of this kind of meal.

Movie and pizza night | We’ve recently started a new weekly tradition with the boys. Every Friday, we make pizza and watch a movie together. Usually the boys choose Thomas and Friends movies, which barely go for an hour, but it’s been a fun way for all of us to end the week. One week, we watched a movie called Emil i Lonneberga, based on the books we were reading together. It was in Swedish, but I’ve never enjoyed a movie so much without understanding a single word!

Cosy pyjamas | Another fun thing about winter is cosy flannelette pyjamas. I bought two new pairs of pyjamas for myself this season, and I’ve been changing into them as soon as the boys go to sleep. It’s so lovely to sit in the couch in my PJs with a blanket around me, in front of the fireplace.

My birthday | Right at the end of the month, I turned 41. Even though I was working that day, it was still a very full and blessed day. The class I was teaching was well behaved, and it was also the birthday of one of the girls in the class, so I got to eat cake. Back at home, we had Italian food for dinner and I’m very excited about my present - a fullsize keyboard (the instrument, not the typing tool)!

Life in pictures

The thing I love most about Ruth Chou Simons is her exquisite artwork that she weaves into her books. And this book, maybe above all her others, with its central theme of flowers really lends itself to art. Each chapter featured a different wildflower, stunningly displayed in her beautiful watercolour style. Sitting down to read The Way of the Wildflower, cup of tea beside me, was like a little sanctuary of peace and beauty.

But the real strength is not the artworks on their own, beautiful as they may be. Through her book, Ruth integrates her art with profound, Biblically based, deeply relevant truth about God and our relationship towards him. We are like the wildflowers, and over the course of 30 chapters, Ruth explores what ths means in different seasons of life. This is incarnational theology, using the lessons of the natural world to illustrate spiritual, divine realities. And I am all for that!

Wildflowers do not strive or meticulously plan, they simply bloom where their Creator has planted them. They are resilient, often growing in places that surprise us, in God’s timing. They grow towards the sun and they bring glory to God through their simple, joyful beauty. Us believers, in connection to God, are called to be the same. Running through this book was a call to deep, radical trust in God. That he knows what we need and would provide physically and spiritually at the right time. That wherever we find ourselves, we are where God wants us and where he can use us for his glory.

Reading it was both beautifully reassuring and deeply challenging. I was reassured as I was reminded of God’s sovereignty and his great love for me, yet also challenged as I realised that I do not always trust him in the way of the wildflower. But, as Ruth reminds us in this book, the more we behold and understand who God is, the more we can willingly and joyfully trust him.

Keep reading for my favourite quotes from The Way of the Wildflower.

‘We don’t have to strain and anxiously work to take care of ourselves when we have a God who cares for us better than we ever could.' p.20

‘God has placed you, purposefully, right where you are, so you might know where true hope comes from and point others to him as well.’ p.32

‘Weakness isn’t accepting insufficiency with defeat but surrendering to God’s sufficiency in victory.’ p.46

‘The grace that offers forgiveness for your wrongs and mine is the very grace that enables us, day by day, to embody graciousness toward others.’ p.68

‘We don’t need to perfectly understand a perfect plan when we walk in the way of a perfect Saviour.’ p. 80

‘We are creatures designed by a loving Creator who made us step courageously into our callings by his power, not our own.' p.90

‘The gospel binds our hearts together to a lifeline of grace.’ p.123

‘The Master Gardener who melts the snow, lengthens the days, and causes the sun to warm the earth so wildflowers can grow is the same God who orchestrates your days and your seasons.’ p.141

‘The more we are in awe of God’s faithfulness as provider, the more we grow in gratitude of his provision.’ p.146

‘When we set our minds on the impossible goodness and mercy of God, nothing seems difficult in comparison.’ p.171

‘You’re right where you need to be for God to use your faithfulness in such a way that he gets maximum glory and you experience all the good.’ p.212

‘He is the dwelling place that will never change, regardless of how we feel or where we go in this life.’ p.217

Over the last few months, I have established a new spiritual practice in my life - praying the Daily Office. Morning and evening liturgies based on the Book of Common Prayer, incorporating prayer and Scripture reading. I read the liturgy on my e-reader, blending modern technology with ancient words. With the reality of life, I don’t pray this way every single morning and evening, but when I do I find it absolutely peace-bringing and life-giving. You may be a kindred spirit who also prays the Daily Office, or maybe it is unfamiliar to you. Today, I’m sharing my reasons why it has become a treasured practice for me.

The Daily Office is steeped in Scripture

Before adopting this practice, my quiet time consisted primarily of reading a passage of the Bible and maybe a short devotional reflecting on it. And I still incorporate this as part of my rhythm. But, the Daily Office presents me with such a broad range of Scripture each day. Each liturgy includes an Old Testament reading, a New Testament and a Psalm. On top of that, many of the canticles (or songs) are drawn straight from the Bible and the prayers are strongly shaped by it. If I engage with all those readings, I am getting far more Scripture in my life than I otherwise would.

The Daily Office leads me to a breadth of prayers

When it’s solely up to me, my prayers lean towards asking for things, or ‘supplication’ prayers. With the Daily Office, each liturgy begins a prayer of confession, acknowledging our sin and rejoicing in the assurance of forgiveness we have through Christ Jesus. And as I work through the liturgy, it is absolutely drenched with prayers of praise and adoration, declaring God’s character and his wonderful works. From the Te Deum in the morning to the Phos Hilaron at night, I am led far deeper into glorifying God than I would in my own prayers. (Of course, if spontaneous prayers of adoration flow naturally for you, please do so!!)

The Daily Office gives me words when I am tired or distracted

Life is busy, and I’m often mentally exhausted first thing in the morning or by the time I go to bed. Having the Daily Office as a framework provides me words to lean on when I might not be able to come up with my own. It’s something to come back to when my own thoughts are scattered. Of course, these liturgical prayers are not meant to fully replace spontaneous prayer. In fact, the liturgy itself includes a space for personal prayers within it. I find, also, that when I start the morning with intentional time in God’s presence, I am more attuned to pray to him as the day progresses.

The Daily Office connects me with believers across time and space

This reason lifts me beyond my own immediate context and reminds me that I am part of something much bigger. Many of the prayers used in the Daily Office are ancient and have been spoken by people of many different Christian traditions for hundreds of years. And even now, I connect myself with people praying the same liturgy in countries all over the world. My relationship with Jesus is not merely inward looking. It is something that also unites me with all other believers, and this is one way to celebrate this unity.

The Daily Office is beautiful

Beauty has been downplayed as unimportant by some Christian traditions, but I believe beauty in its many forms is a way of connecting with God and reflecting his glory. I appreciate the beauty of writing, and some of the words used in the liturgy are simply beautiful. These are words that stir my heart towards God’s beauty and lead me deeper into adoration. And they are words that I can revisit again and again, each time with the opportunity to connect in a new way.

I know the Daily Office or other liturgical practices are not for everyone and, indeed, are not necessary for our salvation or Christian growth. Yet, for me personally, I have experienced it as a life giving way to keep coming back into God’s presence.

The weather has been cooling down here, in just a few days it will be officially winter. We’re solidly in the middle of the year now, the summer haze of the new year long gone, the unfamiliar rhythms of 2026 becoming common place and settling into routine. One day after the other, trusting God for daily provision and relying on him for strength.

In the mundane moments of everyday life, in the challenges of parenting and work, I am realising in a fresh way how much I need God. Not only in the lowest points and near impossible situations, but in the daily grind. In the opportunities for holy decisions rather than sinful ones. In the invitation to trust him rather than our own security.

All of life, when it is lived well and for his glory, is empowered by his Holy Spirit. May we see this more and more.

On the blog

Eastertide and Hidden Resurrection Life

What I read

The Soldier’s Daughter, Fiona McIntosh | A sequel of sorts to one of my favourite books, The Champagne War. Set in Australia, Scotland and France during WWII, it follows the children of The Champagne War characters. While that book had a sad ending, this one, while still with its fair share of grief, is resolved with a lot more hope.

Bonded, Brendan Lamerton | It’s not often that I know the author of a book I’m reading in person. This author is from my church, so it was fun to be able to tell him my thoughts on the book straight after I read it. This was a fun adventure fantasy drawing strongly from Asian mythology, and that final showdown at the end of the book was gripping!

What I loved

Mothers’ Day | The joy of Mothers’ Day is not about expensive gifts or a perfect day of luxury. Instead, for me, it’s about those little gestures of gratitude and spending time with my boys without having to do the hard bits of parenting! With lots of help from Daniel, they made me breakfast in bed which I ended up sharing with them. Then there were the sweet but slightly clueless gifts they bought from the Mothers’ Day stall. And lunch from my favourite fried chicken place - a simple but lovely day.

The cooling weather | We’re in the last month of autumn, and the weather has steadily been cooling down. We’ve put the electric blanket and flannelette sheets on the bed and the night temperature has dipped down to zero more than once. I know not every one likes winter, but it’s the season I feel most peaceful in and I’m so excited for it to arrive.

Church calendar days | It’s no secret that I love the liturgical church calendar, and this past month has been very rich with days to celebrate. Each Sunday during Eastertide, we’ve been having dessert together while reading a Bible story about Jesus. Then, we had Acension Day and Pentecost one week after the other - with more desserts and fun celebrations. It’s been such a beautiful, joyful way to honour Jesus and the Holy Spirit before the quieter season of Ordinary Time.

Life in pictures

We are coming to the end of Eastertide, the season where we celebrate Jesus’ victory over death and the resurrection life he has won for us.

The reality of my Lenten and Eastertide experience involves a transition from summer to autumn. Just as the Northern Hemisphere’s natural world serves to highlight liturgical truths, so we get our own message. Instead of celebrating Easter Sunday in the emerging spring time, our seasons speak the same truth from a different angle.

At the beginning of Lent, we find ourselves at the end of summer; stifling heat and seemingly endless sunshine. I can’t speak for everyone, but by that time I’m well and truly ready for the season to be over. As the weeks of Lent go by, the intensity of the heat mellows and we start to feel the relief of autumn. In many parts of Australia, this transition takes time - for the heat to loosen its grip and relinquish its power - but something that reminds me of God’s power to restore and renew.

Yet, moving to a cooler climate last year, I’ve found the changing season lends another edge to the Lenten landscape. As I looked around, in the weeks leading up to Easter, I saw the leaves changing from green to yellow, red and brown. I felt a chill in the air, setting in stronger each day, with the promise of colder weather to come. Piles of fallen leaves beneath trees with near-naked branches reminded me that this is a season of lessening rather than lengthening. A season where we reflect on our mortality and human weakness, where we acknowledge our deep need for God.

The common imagery for Easter Sunday involves blooming flowers and the new life of spring. While I absolutely adore flowers, Easter for me is a completely different landscape. We celebrate the season of resurrection in a time where nature is shutting down and dying back.

How can we incarnationally proclaim resurrection life in the natural world as we approach winter? This is the question I asked myself last year, and God gave me a powerful, ongoing way.

Easter Saturday last year, we went to Bunnings and bought some tulip bulbs. We took those bulbs home and planted them in our front garden. This was a beautiful way to get my boys involved, they love anything hands on. Once we had planted the tulips, the ground in our garden looked barren and bare. There were no signs that the promise of new life existed underneath the soil. Rather that spending Easter surrounded by freshly grown flowers, we were planting them in the ground, committing ourselves to the wait and trusting the the promise that they would bloom in the right time.

It was a slow process. For weeks, we saw nothing. In fact, for all of Eastertide we saw nothing except bare ground. Then, in early September, I saw the first shoots emerging from the ground. The dawning of the promise after the waiting.

Over the next weeks, I keenly watched my garden as the shoots grow taller, while the weather grew warmer. Blossoms flourished and new leaves appeared on trees, a symbolic testament to Ordinary Time, the slow but sure growth of our ordinary Christian life. By the very end of September, I saw the first tulip, standing tall and among its yet-to-bloom sisters. A week later, the garden was full of vibrant colour, each tulip opening bright to the sun.

The resurrection life Jesus won for us is a certain spiritual reality even now. Yet, sometimes it seems hidden, like a bulb planted in bare winter soil. Eastertide in the Southern Hemisphere speaks to the slow, secret work God does, in sanctifying us and liberating us from our sin. He is working to bring life to our situations, to our relationships and our innermost being. We may not see it at first glance, but over time, the blossoming of resurrection and the fruit of holiness will be made visible to all.

It’s been a long time since I put out a monthly newsletter! I gave up social media for Lent, which meant I wasn’t posting anything on Substack. I sometimes wondered if it even counted as giving something up, because I very much enjoyed having that break. The complicated relationship between human beings and social media is well attested to, but it is still goo to be back in this space.

When I took my social media break, it was among the last weeks of summer. The weather was hot, although we had passed the extremes of it, and the trees were full with lush green leaves. As I type this now, I look out my window and see the vibrant colours of autumn leaves, and imagine the chill in the air if I was to step outside.

This is only my second year in a cool climate town and I am getting excited about every little milestone towards winter. The first leaves starting to change, the first frost, the first night with our electric blanket. Yes, I’m a winter girl and I am so excited to step forward into this new season!

What I read

A Piece of Red Cloth, Leonie Norrington | I’ve been wanting to find something like this for a long time. A book about Indigenous Australians set in the time before European colonisation. Although it was set in Australia, it still felt somewhat foreign with all the richness and complexity of traditional Indigenous culture. It deals with some heavy themes such as assault but also a beautiful exploration of love and kinship.

More Than This, Krystal Marquis | This is the second book in the Davenports series, about a wealthy African American family in Chicago in 1910. It’s got all the drama of forbidden love and romantic misunderstandings but also each of the characters has a passion outside of romance whether it be hairdressing, automobiles or civil rights. A light, feel-good piece of escapism.

Emil and the Great Escape, Astrid Lindgren | Another childhood favourite that I shared with my boys. This is a classic Swedish children’s book translated into English, and is all about the adventures of a mischievous but sweet little boy called Emil. My boys loved it, and often asked me to keep reading after our usual reading time was finished. Sharing my old favourite with my boys is such a special thing.

What I loved

Our 10th wedding anniversary | On 9th April, it was our 10th anniversary. The day itself was a pretty normal work day, although we did get some takeaway to eat after the boys had gone to bed. It was the weekend, a few days after, that was really special. We went back to Sydney and dropped the boys off at Daniel’s parents’ place. That meant we had two nights at a nice beachside hotel by ourselves. We took walks along the promenade, ate at a fancy (super expensive) restaurant, had some delicious gelato and simply enjoyed being together without kids around. The sort of holiday that comes once every 10 years!

This audio Bible | In the mornings, I am cultivating the habit of listening to an audio Bible while I get breakfast ready. I have found this one narrated by Kristyn Getty and it is a delight to listen to. I love listening to Scripture read out in her gentle Irish accent.

A new keyboard | A couple of months ago, the keyboard I used with my tablet stopped working. After too long of trying just to type on the tablet itself, Daniel got a new keyboard for me. I like it much more than the old keyboard, the keys type very smoothly and its so compact but still big enough to be functional. These are the things that writers nerd out over, I guess!

Autumn colours | Autumn in Orange is the most stunning time of year. At the beginning of April, the leaves were only starting to turn orange (not how the town got its name but it might as well be!) but within the space of a few weeks, the leaves had changed into vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red. Every time I’m driving around at the moment, I’m marvelling at the beauty of God’s creation and how blessed I am to live here.

Life in Pictures

Out of all the glorious benefits of our salvation, maybe one of the most overlooked is union with Christ. Yet, it is also fundamental to understanding our salvation and walking it out with assurance. It's also a doctrine that I find fascinating!

In One With My Lord, Sam Allberry introduces the doctrine of unity with Christ and the profound implications it has for the Christian life. Being united with Christ reminds us that our salvation is not merely transactional, it is relational. God not only forgave our sins, but welcomed us in to his very self. All the blessings and inheritance that rightfully belong to Christ, also belong to us if we are united to him. Justification, eternal life, relationship with the Father, the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Knowing that we have been united to Christ is foundational to the way we live as Christians. It spurs us on to pursue holiness, not because we want to earn our salvation, but because we want to live in what God has already done for us. And unity with Christ is also a guarantee that the process of sanctification will one day be made complete, even as we struggle with sin.

Being united to Christ also means being united to all those who have also been united to him. This is a profound way of thinking about our relationship with other believers. Something that transcends all earthly differences, and invites us to delight in fellowship with one another.

Allberry’s book provides an accessible overview of unity with Christ, with real-life analogies that help to bring high-concept truths home. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to explore this often overlooked but absolutely foundational doctrine.

Keep reading for some of my favourite quotes from At Home With My Lord.

‘Our union with Christ doesn’t just mean that he identifies with us, it means that we identify with him, in a-this-changes everything kind of way.’

‘We are now bound to Jesus’ death to sin, and so sin is no longer our master’.

‘The newness Jesus brings utterly transforms us.’

‘Being united to him means being united to the purpose of his coming, to his purpose in dying.’

‘We don’t get Christ without also getting his people.’

‘Unity through Christ is more foundationally transformative than anything in this world.

‘There is simply no earthly human difference of any kind that the gospel of Jesus cannot overcome.’

‘The more we anticipate our further union with Jesus, the more we lean into our togetherness in him.’

‘Whatever pain pruning may bring, the one wielding the blade is unfathomably good.’

‘How can we come into such an intimate union with him and not be changed?’

‘He gives his love to us freely and lavishly throuth his death and resurrection, and once we receive that love we are to stay put in it, to bask in it, and obedience is key.’

‘Growth in the Christian life is needing God more, not needing him less.’

This week, we've lived through the worst heatwave in years. A full week of temperatures over 35°C (95°F) and peaking at 39°C (102°F). And this is after we moved to a generally cooler climate! It has been even hotter in other parts of New South Wales. This is the type of weather that saps your energy and causes emotions to be on edge. We've been trying to get outside to play in the early morning, because most of the day we're stuck inside to avoid the heat.

At the very same time, I've heard that my friends in the Northern Hemisphere are dealing with some extremely cold weather. Temperatures well below freezing, even in areas that don't usually see this.

It might seem, at first glance, that these situations are complete opposites. But beyond the surface differences, there are actually some profound similarities.

Both situations see people living outside of their comfortable temperature zone. Both require staying indoors and making proper provisions before going out. These extremes can make you feel like you're at your very limits, beyond what you can control.

It's spaces like this that God steps into, to be our strength and grace. There is beauty sometimes in stripping everything back and resting in Him. He is there when we can't rely on the comfortable worlds we create, reminding us that he's always been in control and he always will be.

On the blog

A Travellers’ Christmastide

Gospel Mom by Emily A. Jensen and Laura Wifler

What I read

Drake Hall, Christina Baehr | The second in a series set in late Victorian England, with dragons. This magical, whimsical world widens in scope, revealing back stories, lore and new characters, and hinting at an even bigger world in books to come.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 3 & 4, Beth Brower | Another series I am growing to love. Delightfully witty and entertaining, yet with hidden depths that catch you by surprise. I love seeing the friendships among the main characters and look forward to reading on.

Apprentice, Kristen Young | Think Hogwarts meets 1984! A young apprentice joins the academy of the Elites, yet all is not what it seems. A gripping exploration of love, hate and who really defines the difference between the two.

When The Day Comes, Gabrielle Meyer | The first book I've read from this author and I absolutely loved it this fresh approach to the time travel genre. Libby lives a double life split between 1774 and 1914. On her 21st birthday, she must choose which life she wants to keep and which to leave behind. Full of drama, twists and a real affirmation of God's sovereignty.

What I loved

Annual leave

From a few days before Christmas up until 12th January, Daniel had some time off work. This was a refreshing change compared to his old job where he had to work all through the Christmas season. After getting back from visiting family, we still had a week of just being at home together. Perfect for the hotter weather we we were having.

Summer icecreams

Our family's summer time tradition is to go out for icecreams. This is our first summer in Orange so we had to look for a new icecream place. Being a cool climate town far from the coast, there weren't many options. We did end up finding one place and very much enjoyed carrying on our tradition!

My new niece

The most beautiful news we've had in a long time. Early in January, Daniel's sister had a baby girl called Amelia. After three boys of my own I am absolutely delighted to have a little niece to buy pretty dresses for. They live in Sydney so we haven't met her yet but we at least got to say hello on a video chat. I can't wait for April when we'll be back to meet in person.

Life in pictures

There are countless ways of being a mum (or mom). Countless schools of thought to subscribe to or identities to find meaning in. Crunchy mums, gentle parenting mums, working mums, stay at home mums - the list goes on.

What about for us as Christians? This book, written by the Risen Motherhood team, reminds us that most of all we should be Gospel Mums (Moms!). Mums whose lives are shaped by the gospel; being forgiven by the saving work of Jesus and living according to his grace.

The first section of Gospel Mom takes its readers on a journey through the gospel framework: Creation, Fall, Redemption and Restoration. This is the story of the Bible, that continues on into our lives and the hope of what is to come.

With this foundation solidly established, Laura and Emily look at how the gospel shapes all areas of motherhood. Disciplining and discipling our kids. Living within our own limits. Relating to mums who think differently. Dealing with challenges and suffering.

We may still prefer one parenting style over another, and God has made us with different personalities and strengths. But our primary identity comes from belonging to God and living out of all he has already done for us. Once we embrace this, there is great joy and freedom to be found in motherhood.

Keep reading to read my favourite quotes from Gospel Mom:

‘The purpose of our motherhood is ultimately rooted in God and his good design.’ p.18

‘He is a loving Father who wants to keep his children safe and near - to see them have abundant and thriving lives, full of joy and purpose.’ p.42

‘Each book of the Old Testament moves history closer to the promised Saviour while it displays what he will be like and what he will accomplish.’ p.67

‘Observing what it cost God and knowing that we received this free and extravagant gift by faith helps us to appreciate and extend grace to others.’ p.73

‘The very best thing we'll have in heaven is being fully in the presence of God for eternity, totally unencumbered by any hint of guilt and shame.’ p.87

‘The stake of spiritual disciplines is meant to tether us to Scripture the way a vineyard is tethered to a trellis.’ p.105

‘Nature deepens our appreciation of the fact that the God who made the mountains and seas and canyons is the same God who knit us in our mother's womb.’ p.123

‘Our limitations can feel frustrating, but they're actually wonderfully designed by God.’ p.128

‘A Gospel Mom thinks about not just what God wants her to do but who he wants her to be.’ p.134

‘It's so important that we devote ourselves not to a certain method or identity but to Christ himself and the unchanging identity we have in him.’ p.149

‘As Gospel Moms, we're not just seeking to have our own way; we're seeking to love one another in Christ.’ p.183

‘We give God glory precisely because we aren't able to strong-arm our way into an awesome life by doing a bunch of good things; instead, we walk humbly by faith as he does his transforming work in our hearts.’ p.193

Moving hours away from our home city last year, I wondered what the Christmas season would look like for us. We were going to travel back to Sydney and stay with family. We would hardly be at home for any days of Christmas. My holding space for Christmastide is still fairly new, but this would be something different altogether.

I have learned recently that travelling and visiting were an integral part of Christmastide in eras gone by1. While the concept of mumming and door-to-door caroling may not be my thing, the very nature of our Christmas away from home leant itself to a focus on visiting.

For the first section of our time away, starting on Christmas Adam (does anyone else call it that?), we stayed at my in-laws place. Encompassing the immediate surrounds of Christmas Day, it involved numerous family gatherings and much feasting. A lunch with friends from uni days, now with kids in tow, and an unexpected meeting with Daniel's friend who was also back home for the holidays. But most precious was our visits to Daniel's grandma, 96 years old and a recent widow. We were very intentional about spending time with her.

After these days, we headed north to stay with my parents. I have a number of friends who live in that same region, so our days were dotted with visits and catch-ups. And within this were moments with my parents, watching Christmas movies, singing carols and enjoying a slower pace of life together.

Over the course of our travelling, we naturally encountered challenges, including:

• getting stuck in traffic when our boys were well and truly ready to get out of the car

• navigating the Sydney CBD in the busyness and chaos of Boxing Day sales, when we were simply meeting my parents for lunch

• our boys having fun on the staircase at the church we attended for Christmas Day (and of course, us running up and down after them)

• family tensions involving lots of female hormones

• the daily realities of looking after three young boys

Still, even with all of that, it was a wonderful way to keep Christmastide. We didn't have the festive activities running non-stop for twelve days. Instead, we integrated our celebrations with the joy of seeing family and old friends. Each new person we saw, we said Merry Christmas, a way to keep the season going rather than let it fade into dust.

We will be travellers this time of year, as long as seeing family and friends is important to us (i.e. always). What a beautiful way to celebrate the birth of Christ and make this celebration linger on.

We had a very busy weekend ahead of us. A Christmas party, dinner with friends, our regular church service and a carols night on top of that. All good, enjoyable things in themselves, but combined over only two days, they were hinting at a frantic rush of overwhelm.

Then I got the message from my parents. They'd been staying with us the week before, and just let us know that they'd tested positive for Covid. Daniel and I had been feeling a little under the weather over the last few days, but when you're in the stage of life we are, you tend to ignore it and push through. But, with the possibility of Covid brought to our attention, we got ourselves tested. And with that, the busy weekend we had planned was suddenly looking a lot quieter.

Neither of us were feeling very sick, only a few cold-like symptoms. But we didn't want to risk passing it to anyone else, so the whole weekend would be spent at home. A throwback to the stay at home days of the early 2020s instead of the usual busyness of December.

It wasn't what we expected, but God gave us exactly the weekend we needed. It was disappointing to miss out on those events, but staying at home and spending time together was lovely. My husband, working in healthcare, was required to isolate for a few more days still, so our time together extended into an almost idyllic week. We still had our three kids with us, so I say almost!

On the blog

A Summertime Christmas

5 Ways Australian Christmas is different (and 1 way it's the same)

What I read

Last Stop on the Winter Wonderland Express, Rebecca Raisin | A fun bit of Christmas escapism set on a luxury train ride around Europe. I loved all the wintery European sightseeing. I only wish the romance plot between the two main characters was a little more complex.

The Plan, Kendra Adachi | A followup to her amazing The Lazy Genius Way, with a focus on time management (although it seems wrong to call it that). There were some helpful ideas here, and I appreciated the balance between planning and adjusting things when the need arises. I even liked the acknowledgement of how our monthly cycle actually affects things!

The Unselected Journals of Emma. M. Lion, Vol.2, Beth Brower | I enjoyed the first book but this one has me hooked! In Emma, we have a delightfully witty heroine with her fair share of adventure, mystery and eligible young bachelors. My only critique is that it was too short!

What I loved

Summer fruit | This is one of my favourite things about summer - all the juicy stone fruit and tropical fruit. Mangoes, peaches, cherries, watermelons and pineapples. One of those little things that make the hot weather a bit more joyful.

Evenings spent outdoors | The days have been mostly too hot to comfortably be outside, but by evening the outdoors is very pleasant. Warm but not hot, with a cool, gentle breeze. We've been eating dinner in the backyard a few times a week.

Lessons and carols | I was delighted to discover that the church we now attend was doing a lessons and carols service for Advent. It was such a beautiful service of classic Christmas hymns and Bible passages leading through the Old Testament and nativity story.

Christmastide | This year, I've really put in thought on how to celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas as distinct from Advent. For us, we've headed back to Sydney and then the Central Coast to stay with family, so our Christmastide has been lots of visiting people. My family, my husband’s family, old friends from school and uni. We've definitely had some challenging moments, but it has been a beautiful season so far.

Life in pictures

Naturally, celebrating Christmas in the heat of summer leads to some different traditions. This is a pretty light-hearted look at some of the ways Christmas here differs from the stereotypical ‘white Christmas’ (which isn't even a reality for everyone in the Northern Hemisphere). And, of course, there is one way that our celebrations are absolutely the same.

It's hot outside

This seems like an obvious one, but it does make a difference. Rather than wintery cold, we have heat. Sometimes oppressively so. I can't say too much more about this without repeating my previous post - A Summertime Christmas.

It gets dark late

Have you thought about the implications of this? My kids hardly get to see Christmas lights. By the time it's dark enough to really appreciate them, or even by the time they're turned on, its well past their bedtime! One of our seasonal traditions is to let them stay up late one night and experience the full glow of the lights.

Also, carols nights are a fun family event, but the ‘candlelight’ part doesn't usually come in until the very end, when families with young kids have already gone home.

The traditional Christmas aesthetic doesn't really fit (but we sort of do it anyway)

You’d think that pine Christmas trees, warm, glowing lights and Santa in full attire wouldn't fit with summer, but the European influence still hangs around. There are some things we do that feel Christmassy but just don't help with beating the heat.

A pine tree decorated in tinsel and lights, although it's more likely to be artificial. Singing Christmas songs about snow and sleigh rides and bleak midwinter. And spare a thought for those poor guys who dress in classic Santa outfits in our sweltering weather!

Ugly Christmas sweaters aren't weather-appropriate

Of course, they're still available in the shops but I don't know who buys them. The weather is far too hot to wear anything resembling a cosy sweater. Don't feel like we're missing out, though. We may not really do tacky Christmas sweaters, but we more than make up for it in tacky Christmas Hawaiian shirts!

Pavlova instead of Christmas pudding

Although some families still bring out the full roast dinner, our Christmas meals are often more summer-appropriate. Cold meats, prawns and a whole range of salads. For dessert, the classic pavlova - a meringue topped with fruit and cream.

If you've seen the Bluey episode Christmas Swim, that actually gives you a pretty good idea.

But, even with all of these differences, there is one thing that stays the same. One earth-shaking, for-all-people reality.

Jesus is born

And that's what all of this is for, in the end. Even when the aesthetics and practical realities are different, even among all the diverse traditions of the world.

He came into our world, as one of us. He took on fragile human flesh and entered into the joy, suffering and chaos of life.

He came for people of all nations, for the bleak midwinter and the blazing midsummer. Jesus is God made flesh. The endless cause for celebration.

As we approach Christmas time, I see more and more people sharing pictures of first snowfall or cosy decorations around crackling fireplaces. I hear people talking about how the message of Christmas is the perfect remedy for the cold and darkness of the winter season.

Yet, in my part of the world, the seasons are inverse. Rather than snow or chilly air, Christmas for me is experienced in stifling, oppressive heat. Daylight so long, my children have gone to bed before they can appreciate the twinkling of fairy lights against the night sky. Hot weather that saps my energy, leaving me too tired and listless for all those Christmas crafts and baking activities I planned to do. That old song ‘Dreaming of a White Christmas’ hits differently when its 40°C outside.

People have reflected on how Christmas can break into the winter season. He is the light of the world, illuminating the long, dark nights. He is the flame of love, bringing warmth to the bitter cold.

Yet, Jesus is also the living water, quenching our thirst when even the cold water taps run hot.

He is the breath of life, a cool wind that refreshes us when we are oppressed by the heat of the day and the weight of our world.

Whatever season we find ourselves in, Jesus came to redeem us. He came to sustain us and give us hope. He came into our world to be God with us.

This reflection was originally posted on Over the Teacups on 14th December 2023

Late this month, we had a storm hit our town. It came in very quickly, only moments after I'd hung the washing up. It lasted no more than twenty minutes, but it was intense. The sort of storm you stand by your open door watching, deeply thankful that you are safe inside. Heavy rain and even stronger wind, roaring through the streets.

We’re all safe and thankfully there was no damage to our property, we were just without power for most of the day. I’d planned to do a slow cook for dinner, which was impossible without an oven!

But some places in town (and I believe it had swept across the whole region) were hit pretty hard. I picked my eldest son up from school early because tree branches had been falling in the playground and it wasn’t safe. Driving through town, I saw fallen tree branches everywhere, the calm aftermath of destruction. Even the day after, my youngest boys’ daycare was closed because they still had no power.

As far as natural disasters go, this one was pretty minor. From what I’ve heard, there were no fatalities. But it’s a reminder of how little control we have. Even with all our plans and organisational structures, we are powerless to control natural phenomena. These things belong to God.

He is bigger than the storms, and even more beyond our control. But he is also the one who calmed the storm. He is the one who holds all things in his hands and works all things for good for those who love him. This same God invites us to trust him with the unknowns of life, and to lay our longing for control into his hands.

On the blog

5 Questions with Kayslee Womack | Fandoms and Faith

Christ The King Over All

What I read

Little Women, Louisa May Alcott | This, of course, is a reread of a childhood favourite, and it is just as lovely as I remember. A classic coming of age story with beautifully flawed but growing characters and endearing sisterly dynamics. I read it slowly so I could really appreciate it.

Gospel Mom, Emily A. Jensen & Laura Wifler | From the Risen Motherhood team, this had an amazing balance of theology and how that flows out into everyday life. Starting out with a gospel framework, it invites us to apply that framework to different aspects of motherhood. It is both convicting and filled with grace.

What I listened to

Journeywomen, Gospel Hope in a Digital Age with Brett McCracken | This was a hugely convicting episode, talking about how much social media and other digital habits have taken over our lives. It's the sort of episode that has actually resulted in real changes and guardrails put around my own phone use.

The Ruth Chou Simons Podcast, Non-Negotiables When Life Gets Busy | Another thought provoking episode, where Ruth shared her non-negotiable habits of daily self care. It got me thinking about my own non-negotiables and came up with time in the Word, connecting with people, getting active and a tea break. These things don't all happen everyday but it's a work in progress.

Her Theology, Beyond the Echo Chamber: Philosophy, Apologetics & Hard Conversations | I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this one, and it tackled a bit of everything. The inherent problems with post-modernist ideologies, different theological viewpoints and the value of getting out of your echo chamber. And some really interesting insights on the Abraham and Isaac story.

What I loved

Summer fruits | It's not quite summer yet but our fruit and veggie boxes lately have started to contain mangoes, pineapples and papayas. Tropical fruit is one of the best things about summer, something that makes my least favourite season a little more joyful.

Fairy lights | As much as I love the church calendar and the proper order of things, we put our lights up well before Advent! It was Daniel's idea but I absolutely love having those lights come on each night. They bring such a magical, wondrous atmosphere and are a beautiful reminder of Jesus bringing light into the darkness.

New blooms | Now that we're getting closer to summer, I have noticed some new plants coming into bloom. Every time I see this, it fills me with so much joy. I've never been a summer person, but I love seeing the natural beauty that each season brings.

Life in pictures

Christ the King Sunday was added to the church calendar in 1925 (very recent by church calendar standards!) by Pope Pius XI. The world at this time was still feeling the aftermath of World War I and a changing political landscape. This feast day served to remind and reassure the church that Jesus was still King no matter what was happening.

The world in which we live today has almost endless influences grappling for kingship. Political leaders and movements. Parenting and lifestyle philosophies. Denominational frameworks. Social media algorithms and Instagram accounts. The lure of pleasure and success and comfort. Each of these can take the place of king in our lives if we let them, overtly or subtly shaping our priorities and our actions.

These things may have value in themselves, we may find in them meaning and inspiration. But as highest authorities they are ultimately unstable and deeply unsatisfying. Imperfect systems from imperfect people that will eventually let us down if we elevate them above their rightful place.

For me, social media is king in my life far more than I like to admit. I offer my worship in the hope of entertainment, connection and recognition. It is a vain hope and a fickle king, ultimately leaving me dissatisfied.

But, in Jesus we have a better King. A King who rules with our very best interests at heart, who loves us with a tender, unending love. A King who does not change but remains perfect in wisdom, justice and power. A King over all, that is worth following with our whole life.

No matter what we see happening in our world around us, we can be reassured that Jesus is still King. No matter what worldviews call for our attention, we can embrace the good in them without allowing them pre-eminence in our lives.

Christ the King Sunday is a day for reclaiming Jesus as King over our lives. We lay aside those other ‘kings’ and focus once again on the majesty of our true King. He is worthy of all worship, of all honour and praise.

In my 5 Questions series, I have invited Christian women to share on an aspect of faith that they're passionate about. My guest today has such a unique perspective and ministry, finding the truth of God in ‘fandoms’ - the movies, tv series, books and music of our secular world.

Kayslee Womack (K. S. Decker) is a future librarian, ‘mom’ to a very feisty tortoiseshell cat, and wife to the most wonderful MMC (Male Main Character) ever to exist in this world. After years of memorizing Bible verses for church but feeling unsure of how to apply them in real life, she began discovering connections between the Word and her favorite stories and songs and hasn’t looked back since. Her website, The Fangirl Fulfilled, is devoted to exploring and celebrating these connections between sacred and secular, using them to build a deeper faith and a platform to share the Gospel with fangirls, geeks, and Disney adults worldwide. Her allegorical fantasy story Heart of the Sun is published in the Caught in the Flames anthology.

1. How did you start connecting secular fandoms with God's truth?

I grew up in church in an era of Bible Drill, which had us memorizing at least one Bible verse a week for prizes. So I knew the words of Scripture from a very young age, long before I fully understood what they meant. I have a core memory of sitting in a cafe my senior year of high school and hearing an Adele song (it’s called Remedy) and something about it just felt like a prayer to me. Like a two-way prayer! It was amazing! From then on, many of the songs I already loved and some I heard in public places would remind me of a particular Bible verse or theme, and I started exploring that more seriously in college. I truly believe this was a way the Holy Spirit chose to bring to your remembrance everything I have said to you (John 14:26).

2. Can you give an example of how a fandom reflects truth?

I could gush about this for hours! It’s so hard to pick just one! But I’ll use the Adele song I mentioned. After the first verse, which is in first person and talks about wanting to escape the life the singer feels trapped in, she says ‘right before my eyes I saw/my heart, it came to life.’ This is almost a direct parallel with 2 Corinthians 5:17, which talks about becoming a new creation (and there are so many other verses that talk about this too!). Then the chorus sounds like the voice of God to me! It says ‘When the pain cuts you deep, when the night keeps you from sleeping/ Just look, and you will see, I will be your Remedy.’

There are a great many verses that talk about God as a loving Father who wants to comfort us in all our affliction (2 Corinthians 1:3-5, for example), and Psalm 121 directly says I will lift up my eyes to the hills; where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.

This absolutely beautiful song about the comfort found in true love is also a stunning picture of God’s love for us. I wrote a whole post about this in 2021 that is still some of my best work.

3. What is your purpose for your ministry The Fangirl Fulfilled?

The purpose behind The Fangirl Fulfilled has always been to point out the truth behind the fandoms that I love and that are popular in an effort to share the Gospel in a way that ‘my people’ (fandom culture) can understand and relate to. There are people who would never darken the door of a church, and would scroll right past a social media post that only quotes Scripture, but I might be able to reach a few of those people with a post about the new Hunger Games book or vintage Taylor Swift song.

And for the people who are believers, I love to point out the fact that humans, created in the image of God, can’t help but emulate His creation (Genesis 1:27), and that all things were created through Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16). Noticing the echoes of Biblical truth in every story and song draws us closer to the Lord and gives us an infinite number of tools to share the Gospel with. I actually started using an explanation of the Gospel in three parts (‘I am, with you, always’) that I can connect each fandom to and share the Gospel in every single post!

4. What does the Bible say about engaging in secular society?

Pastors and theologians would refer to the idea of ‘contextualization’, which is basically putting the absolute truth of the Gospel and the Bible in the context of a particular culture. Paul did this in Acts 17 when he spoke to the people of Athens. He actually quotes from secular sources a few different times in his letters! So clearly he didn’t have a problem with engaging in and even utilizing such things in his ministry.

Colossians 4:6 says to Walk in wisdom towards outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer each person. And 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 describes believers as ambassadors for Christ.

To me, that sounds a lot like using the songs we hear and the stories we engage with to speak Gospel truth to others in whatever ways we can. But we can’t do this if we don’t know the message we’re seeking to spread! So the Word itself should always come first.

5. How can we as Christians be discerning about the media we engage with?

One of the foundational verses of The Fangirl Fulfilled has always been Philippians 4:8, which tells us to think about things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.

I’m in the process of diving deep into the meaning of each of those, both in the original Greek and in Hebrew. But the gist of it is to look at the media we engage with through the lens of what God says is good. Sacrificial love, kindness, bravery, encouragement, hope in darkness: all of those things are green flags.

I will read stories that interest me for their own sake (like the newest Percy Jackson books!) and find little nuggets of truth that I learn from (there was a quote about making a ‘small wave’ that has stuck with me). That being said, I do stay away from explicit songs and any books that mention ‘spice’ or ‘smut’ (if you don’t know what those words mean, you don’t want to!)

Bonus question: If you could meet anyone in the Bible (apart from Jesus), who would it be?

David the poet! The guy who went through a lot of different seasons of life and was able to work through all of his emotions in a Godly way— and then compose the most beautiful poems and songs about it! Also, I would love to meet Peter’s wife or Priscilla and Aquila as it would be super cool to hear from married people who were part of the early Church.

Connect with Kayslee:

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