Where are you getting your nourishment?

A verse that has guided my life is Proverbs 3:5-6 about putting my trust in God. But this year I have been drawn to verses 7-8 which expands on theme: Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.Proverbs …

Devotional | Holding up your hands

So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.  As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.  When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and …

Devotional | On Trust, Rest and Uncertainty

This devotion was originally written for my newsletter subscribers. But I felt God called me to share it on this blog, in our current times, with a good part of the country in lockdown. I hope it speaks to you whatever your circumstances,Jodie The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.Exodus …

Devotional | You can’t rush balance

I extend my arms and move slowly through my exercise routine. As I come up on to my toes my instructor says, “You can’t rush balance.” I exhale and lower arms and legs slowly for the next rotation, holding the words tight in my mind for they speak not just to my body, but to …

Devotional | For when you need strength

My writing year starts in February with the school term, as school holidays and writing time are not compatible for me. And yet, February has come and gone and still I have found it hard to settle properly into a routine. Maybe it was the snap lockdown at the beginning of the year that delayed …

Devotional | Prayer of Peace

The start of a new year brings with it hope and new dreams and, after the epic marathon that was 2020, we are all in need of this. Yet, barely weeks into 2021, already there have been lockdowns in a number of states of Australia, and let’s not talk about how Christmas looked for some. …

Devotional | What are you thinking on?

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with …

Devotional| Daily Bread by Jodie McCarthy

2020, what a year! What have you been learning? What has this year been teaching you? This year I have learnt how to make sourdough bread. It is quite a process over a number of days, feeding the starter, stretching the bread, proving the dough. It is a slow process, nothing can be hurried, everything …

Devotional| What are you doing here? by Jodie McCarthy

How have you felt over the last few months? How have you reacted to the ups and downs of isolation, and now the relaxing of restrictions? Have you asked the question, “What am I doing here?” I have recently been pondering a passage from Kings which details Elijah’s escape from Jezebel after he defeats the …

Devotional | On Boundaries by Jodie McCarthy

In this new year, I keep coming back to Psalm 16 and the verses that say: LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup;you make my lot secure.The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;surely I have a delightful inheritance. Psalm 16:5-6 (NIV) We knew this year was going to be busy, …