Books – Mum in Zone One

Upside-Down Christmas

Introducing ‘With Heart and Soul and Voice’ by Tim Chester

I know it’s still November, but as the Christmas adverts begin emerging and we see more and more portraits of Christmas on social media – with tips or recipes or wrapping advice or just shameless plugs – I wonder if you feel inspired, or burdened, or envious, or excited?

I hope you’re feeling excited and full of anticipation. But sometimes it’s tempting to feel a little inadequate. Maybe your home doesn’t look like the ones that are so inviting and cosy and joy-filled in the Christmas movies. (Mine doesn’t look like the one pictured above, if anyone is wondering.) Or maybe you can’t afford the gifts your children would really like. Perhaps your children really struggle with their emotions over the Christmas period. Maybe someone in the family is sick this year and you’re not really feeling the joy.

Well as ever, the Lord Jesus has good news for us. In fact, He is the good news. Which means Christmas, too, is good news for us!

I mentioned last week that I enjoy reading an advent devotional each year. This year I’m enjoying Tim Chester’s ‘With Heart and Soul and Voice.’ You can get it here. Here is an encouragement for those of us who are feeling a bit ‘unimpressive’ this November. (Sorry if this idea offends. Maybe I’m the only one who feels unimpressive!)

Mary said “[God my Saviour] has brought rulers down from their thrones/ But has lifted up the humble.”

‘Your church may not look very impressive – but that’s the point! God has chosen the weak and lowly to shame the wise and powerful (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)…
And it can begin in your home. Just as the meals of Jesus were a sign of his upside-down kingdom, so our meals should display the same upside-down grace. Your Christmas can be a little sign of Christ’s coming kingdom as you welcome the lonely and provide for the needy.’ Tim Chester, With Heart and Soul and Voice, p. 33.

In the economy of the Kingdom of God, he can take our meagre, weak-looking efforts and do something with them that lasts into eternity. If we serve our families and others with humility, offering it all up to Christ, he will be honoured. We need to see this with eyes of faith.

How wonderfully refreshing it is to know that the coming of Christ was the start of this new topsy-turvy Kingdom, where the poor and the simple are honoured and made wise. As we go into advent trying to serve others and honour the Lord, he can do more with our work than we can possibly ask or imagine. No wonder Mary sang!

More about the book:

The book goes through four songs found in the Bible and also quotes the traditional hymns inspired by them. They are as follows – I’ve included links to my favourite Christmas songs based on these Bible passages:

Mary’s Song (The Magnificat)
Zechariah’s Song (The Benedictus)
The Angels’ Song (The Gloria)
Simeon’s Song (The Nunc Dimittis) – I don’t have a fun version of this to share with you, but my daughter did sing the Nunc Dimittis earlier this year with her choir at St Paul’s Cathedral in London at Evensong. Up until then I’d never heard of it and I still think Nunc is kind of a funny word. But at least now I (and you) can nod knowingly if anyone brings it up over Christmas! (You never know.)

Here’s the link for the book again. Have a blessed day!

Christmas Gifts 2025

“Jesus gotta be top of the list at Christmas;
Jesus gotta be top of the list all year.”

Colin Buchanan is right as usual. But if you need gift ideas, either for your own children or other people’s, here are a few from me. We got most of these last year and they’ve been a success. I’ve saved the best for last, which I think is what bloggers are supposed to do.

As always, there are no affiliated links here. And if you’d like to see my previous suggestions, they are here, here, here and here. These might be especially useful if you are buying for younger children, as my children used to be younger than they are now.

Play:

Exit the game – If you know a child who likes escape rooms, these games are good. They can only be played once, but for me that’s a bonus as our flat is very much full of games. My son received one last year (it was the Enchanted Forest one) and we played it as a family. It took us about 2 hours, which I think means that strictly speaking we should still be trapped in the forest, but we enjoyed it nonetheless.

A more expensive game but one my boys have really enjoyed this year is Hero Quest. I don’t pretend to know what it is, but I do know that adults and children alike enjoy it. My son says it’s called a ‘dungeon crawler.’ It involves mini figures and dice. I think if you like Dungeons and Dragons or Warhammer then this is a good choice.

If you’re looking for a more active gift, a rebounding trampoline is a great way for children and teens (and adults?) to expel energy. There are loads of rebounding workout videos online. These are much more compact than full size trampolines, but I can say from experience that if you’re keeping it indoors you might want to think about where you’re going to put it. (I’ve sometimes put mine in the bath but that’s not a permanent solution.)

Make and do:

If you haven’t come across Eugy toys yet, I’m not sure how that’s possible. So I’m sorry if this is old news but my youngest two children (12 and 9) LOVE them. Some children love things they can collect, and these are sweet little things which keep them occupied for a good half hour while they build them! There are so many as well, that if your child likes them it can be their stocking filler for the next few years at least. (These are currently 3 for 2 in Hobbycraft. A great deal!)

Last year we gave our daughter a sewing machine for her 15th Birthday. It’s an expensive gift but one that we hope will last her many years. A sewing box is also something that can last a lifetime. John Lewis sell really beautiful William Morris print sewing boxes.

If you have children who enjoy games with mini figures, then paints and maybe an airbrush set would also be a welcome gift.

Read:

Murdle – My older son really likes these books. They’re for children and adults. They’re puzzles. To be honest I’ve never done one but I know they’re hugely popular so you probably know more about them than I do!

In a similar vein, these Sherlock Holmes Escape Books are really good for children who like puzzles and riddles and escape rooms and that sort of thing.

Abigail – for children (dare I say, girls?) aged 7+, these books are a great gift. I have a 9 year old daughter, so these overtly Christian (and American) adventures of a 9-year-old girl are fun and easy to read. I’ve read some of the Christmas book with her, and it’s oh-so-realistic depiction of a family Christmas helps children to process the ups and downs that can come as an extra special (so, so extra and special) Christmas gift each year. The excitement, the high hopes, the crowded house… what could possibly go wrong? The somewhat far-fetched thing is the way Abigail processes things, which I feel is the way we hope our children’s process their emotions etc. but I’m not convinced is realistic. However, my daughter really enjoyed it and I think Abigail is a great role model for her!

Green Ember – I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but these fantasy stories about rabbits have really captured my son’s imagination. He is 12 and I’ve been reading them aloud to him but he could definitely read them himself. They have Christian themes but are not overtly Christian – not yet anyway and we’re on Book Three.

Hot off the press! Jane Austen is really rather good. Last year I got ‘Mansfield Park’ from Classic Novels and it’s really lovely. I thought it was great value so I’m just giving them a little shout out.
Did you know, she may have had Addison’s Disease like me (google says it’s her cause of death) and she almost has my Birthday? (One day off!) I feel like I deserve a prize: if anyone reading this works for a publishing house – do reach out!

Advent Gifts

If you’d like to give families you know something a little different, it’s a nice idea to give advent gifts at the beginning of December rather than at Christmas. I recently bought these advent candles with the name of Jesus on them. You could give those to a family at the beginning of December, maybe with a little candle holder. It’s a great gift for godchildren (my daughter’s godparents bought us our first one).

It would also be really thoughtful to include an advent devotional for any grown-ups or older teens in the family. This year I’m reading With Heart and Soul and Voice (shown above – I’ll post a more detailed review of this next week.). Tim Chester is always an encouragement. In previous years I’ve also enjoyed Sinclair Ferguson’s devotionals. The great thing is you can always re-read an advent devotional, as the wonderful news of the incarnation is the same every year!

In the past I’ve also given people homemade Christmas bunting and a ‘Russian doll’ nativity set (the same as this but not from this website), which are good to give in early December so they can be enjoyed during advent.

Budget-friendly gifts

I’m aware that some of the above are quite pricey. My previous posts have usually had some more affordable ideas. I do recommend trying to find things in the January sale which you can then give next year. But it’s too late for that now so here are a few ideas:

A framed photograph. You can get cheap white photo frames in the supermarket and they do the job perfectly well!
A baking kit so they can make some cookies or muffins in that in-between time before they go back to school.
Some shower gel and a shower puff like this. My son got that for his teen sister last year and it was a lovely gift for about £2.50 if I remember rightly. We put it in a gift bag and it was perfectly presentable. (The puffs are currently £1 in Tesco, just saying.)
If you’re giving to relatives or family friends, you could give the children a ‘baking lesson’ – i.e. take them off their parents’ hands for an hour while you bake some cookies! Your time is a precious gift.
Sorry to generalise but most young girls (I’m guessing aged 8 to 18) love stationery. If you’re going down this route, I recommend your nearest big supermarket. I always raid the bargain stationery shelves for our Christmas Shoeboxes and I’ve found some incredible bargains.

Winner: Best Gift of 2024

Last year I was given the Salter Milk Frother/Hot chocolate maker. (Mine is black but otherwise I think it’s the same.) This is the gift we have used every day. I wouldn’t say it’s amazing for hot chocolate – it just mixes and heats it but I can do that with a kettle and a spoon.

However, it does make beautiful frothy milk which we have used in coffees and hot chocolates, and in the summer it makes frappe milk which can be used for iced coffees when we’re so hot we want to cry.

The only downsides are: it’s quite expensive (I think mine was £30) and you have to hand wash it.

But if people in your family like hot chocolate and/or frothy drinks, this is a luxury worth buying.

I’d love to know your ideas! Don’t be shy, please let me know.

Seven Myths about Hospitality

Can you remember a time when you were on the receiving end of some generous hospitality? I bet you can. Hospitality can cover a range of things, and I believe that Christian hospitality is about showing the welcome to others that the Lord has shown us. Put another way, we move towards people, because our God has moved towards us. Often those receiving a warm welcome will remember it fondly, long after the person offering it has forgotten all about it.

Is your Sunday church gathering welcoming? I hope so. That’s a form of hospitality. But if we look in the Bible, I think it’s clear that we’re expected to open our homes to people and share with them, as a way of showing them love. There are some people who cannot do this – but not many. So assuming you are like most people, I want to encourage you by sharing seven myths I think we often wrongly believe about hospitality.

When I searched ‘Hospitality’ on Biblegateway, it came up with seven times the word is used in the New Testament. Coincidence? (Yep.) So I’ve interspersed my ‘myths’ with quotes about hospitality, so you can see for yourself. (NB: Myths and quotes not necessarily especially related!)

Note that a couple of people are commended in God’s word for their hospitality. What an honour! God must think it’s worth mentioning.

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2

You have to be good at baking
I think I used to believe this, but it is frankly ridiculous. There’s nothing in God’s word about having to be good at cooking or baking. People in the Bible did work hard at it, as far as I can tell. However, they didn’t have the mod cons we’ve got. As my mam says, ‘Grandma used to say that homemade is always best, but she didn’t shop at M&S.’

Having said that, I do think that the more love and time we invest in getting good at making something to bless people with, the more we’ll enjoy sharing it with those people. There is something special about eating something that someone has lovingly prepared with their own hands, even if it’s chocolate crispy cakes. (I’ve decided they’re one of my all-time favourite cakes, by the way. Give me an easter nest over a swanky French macaron any day of the year.)

But if you hate baking, don’t have the equipment, or don’t have time, then shop-bought with joy is still an absolute delight.

2. You have to entertain
As far as I can tell, entertaining is a performance. I’m showing my guests what I can do. That means that if they perform well for me when I go to their home, I’m obliged to perform just as well – or hopefully better! – when they visit me.

This is a lot of pressure. It’s also quite self-serving, when you really stop to think about it. If my aim is to impress my guests, and even make them feel inferior, then I’m not loving them. When we’re inviting people into our home, we’re not putting on a show: we’re inviting them to join in with something beautiful, which is a household living by God’s grace. “Come and see,” we’re saying to them. “The Lord is good.”

Even if you’re ‘entertained’ by someone else, why not try inviting them over and just serving them selflessly? If your home is small and scruffy compared to theirs, it’s an opportunity to boast in Christ. He’s all we need in our homes to have a good time.

No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. 1 Timothy 5:9-10

3. You have to have money and space
Hospitality does cost money, there’s no denying it. But God knows our means. He can use what I offer up in hospitality and bless people with it. Inviting someone in for a hot drink is probably something we can all afford to do. You could even ask them to bring the biscuits! (Shop-bought is fine.)

Let’s remember that the early church were poor. If God can enable them to be hospitable then he can certainly do it for us. We can pray and ask God to multiply our food so we have enough. We can put others first and see how the Lord provides everything we need.

Don’t underestimate the power of simple, humble hospitality offered in faith.

I’ve written before about how blessed I’ve been when people with very little space have invited me into their home. Not to put down anyone with lots of space, but when someone in a tiny one bedroom flat invites my entire family over for dinner, it’s the kind of humble, Christ-like selflessness that sticks with me.

We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. 3 John 1:8

4. It’s a cultural thing
Some cultures are more hospitable than others. I recently visited a country which is known for its hospitality. I’m also northern, where people tend to pop round for a cup of tea without warning. But now I live in London, which is known for being inhospitable and where you have to book cups of coffee weeks in advance. So yes, hospitality is a cultural thing.

But the Kingdom of God is a hospitable culture. Our King welcomes anyone! So if we live in a community – like London – that’s not hospitable, it’s really easy for us to shine like stars by opening our homes to others. And if you’re not from a background that values hospitality, then you can rejoice! The Holy Spirit has made you new. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our family and friends noticed how much more welcoming we’re becoming, year after year?

[Publius] welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. Acts 28.7

5. You have to be an extrovert
It’s great that people nowadays are often aware of how they’re energised, whether it’s by being alone or being with others. But God doesn’t command just the extroverts to practise hospitality. And he also knows us and what we need.

We all need to be around people, whether we find it draining or not. And remember that being hospitable doesn’t mean you have to be the life and soul of the party. You can go and wash the dishes while everyone else chats, if that’s what you need to do.

I’m not trying to burden anyone, but just as extroverts need time alone, praying and reading God’s word, so introverts need to spend time with other people, loving and serving them. And the Lord is so kind – he thwarts our plans when they would do us harm! (He’s cancelled many of my plans which in hindsight would’ve tipped me over the edge!)

Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Romans 16:23

6. It’s just not for me.
Some people will find hospitality comes naturally to them and others won’t. Some people find prayer easier than others. Some people are naturally joyful and positive; others aren’t. But we’re all called to joy, prayer and hospitality. I do know some people who actually can’t invite people over for different reasons. But there are other ways to be hospitable, and I’ve seen these people find creative ways to show hospitality. You can invite people out for coffee or food. You can organise a social. You can invite yourself over to someone’s house and offer to cook. These are all ways to move towards people with love.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:12-13

7. It’s not important
Satan hates hospitality. If you don’t believe me, invite some people over. See how many ways you’re tempted to sin against your guests, your family, and anyone else who you come across. Or see how the thing you’ve cooked thirty-seven times before collapses or gets dropped. Or notice how plans have to be cancelled and rearranged over and over.

God’s word says, “How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalm 133.1
I’m convinced that hospitality is one way that unity is nurtured and maintained. Remember that the early church”devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2.42.
As we eat and drink with people, we’re either sharing fellowship or inviting people into the fellowship they could have in Christ. We’re imitating our generous God to those who know him or those who don’t. Satan hates this and the Lord loves it. Don’t underestimate it.

So if you consider yourself a pretty hospitable person or if you’ve never tried it – please be encouraged. Put on the armour of God and go out there and take the next step.

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9

Further reading: ‘Extraordinary Hospitality (For Ordinary People)‘ – read my thoughts on it here. Also ‘The Ministry of a Messy House’ by Amanda Robbie is a classic I keep coming back to.

5 Affordable Advent treats

(plus a couple which are less so)

Most of these ideas are not especially Christian as such, but are a way of celebrating the season of advent and Christmas that the whole thing is full of joy and the children have happy memories of family Christmases. I want my children to associate advent and Christmas with excitement and joy because the Lord Jesus is our Emmanuel – God with us in the flesh.

Amidst all of this silliness and pretty, sugar-plum cosiness we always try to make the Lord Jesus the focus. We read Scripture every day with our kids and we have a family nativity play – which essentially involves the children reading out Scripture whilst wearing homemade costumes. Please don’t think I’m suggesting you lose focus on Christ. Without him, all of this is just tat.

Here are just a few ideas of how we do have festive fun in our family, which might give you some ideas that you haven’t tried before. I’d love to hear your ideas. If you can’t comment below (?), send me a message on Instagram!

A Christmas lights drive. This is actually one of my favourite things to do in the run up to Christmas. It does require a car, which admittedly night not feel affordable. But of course you could go for a walk around some Chrsitmas lights. Most places have a street where the people go all out with their Christmas lights. I like doing this in the car because we can eat snacks and listen to Chrsitmas music and everyone is contained. The streets are always absolutely heaving, but it’s the one time it doesn’t really matter as our sole purpose for being out is to look at the buildings. (If you’re in London, beware the congestion charge!)
Hot chocolate with marshmallows. I always hide a tray of hot chocolate somewhere silly, like in the oven or in the bathroom, and the children love it. (I got this idea from Rachel Jankovic at Canon Press.) Last year I found some M&S gingerbread men that sat on the edge of the mug, which were fun. (I think they were called – somewhat inappropriately – hangovers?) If you don’t fancy hot chocolate, you could have “festive” s’mores* – especially if you have a BBQ or fire pit. But I’ve been known to toast marshmallows on our gas hob. It’s less picturesque but children don’t care! If you use chocolate orange segments I’m sure that makes them festive.
*If you’ve never had s’mores, in the UK we tend to toast a marshmallow and stick it between two chocolate digestives. In the USA they use something called Graham crackers which we don’t have here, but I’d say a digestive is just as good. With these things, it’s your enthusiasm that will make such a simple thing into a treat. Plus, you know, the sugar.
Christmas Workshop: I once bought a paper crafts Christmas book from the book people, before that company disappeared forever. It was a cheap book but now seems to be unavailable. I can’t tell you how many hours of fun we had with that book. It was simply a book of different patterned craft paper, with five or six ideas for what do to with it. But without that book, we can still have laods of fun making paper chains and ‘snowflakes.’ You don’t need to use festive paper but you could do it with some cheap wrapping paper and the children will really enjoy it. You could always suggest they decorate their own bedrooms with their creations! Unless you’re happy to string up their paper chains around your living room, which I’m sure would look lovely. As with everything, listening to Christmas music makes this a party.
Fun fact: In Norway it’s traditional to invite people over to make festive crafts and do your Christmas baking. They call it Juleverksted (or Christmas workshop). Of course, in Norway everything looks beautiful and smells of pepperkake (gingerbread). But I’m sure your children will love your version!
Read a Book! In December 2020 when we couldn’t see our relatives, my husband printed out copies of CS Lewis’ ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ and we read it together as a family. Each person had a different character to read out. Although we haven’t done this since, I think I’m going to try it again this year.
If you think your children wouldn’t go for this, you could always just embrace a Christmas movie night by making popcorn and cosying up under your favourite Christmas film – The Star is a really good Christian one. (I also recommend A Muppet’s Christmas Carol, which is remarkably faithful to the text! More so than the Old Vic’s production of A Christmas Carol, which I do not recommend.)
NEWSFLASH: If you’d like to try ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ this year (which I’m excited to watch), it’s available to stream for free on Apple TV+ on 14th and 15th December. You do not need a subscription. This film ends with Linus reading Luke 2.
Another fun thing we often do is a sort of festive photo booth. You might have been to a party where they have a big selfie camera and some props with a fun background. But you could do this in your house with some Santa hats or some silly glasses etc. My children love using the photo booth app on my computer. You might (might) even end up with some nice photos to send to your relatives.
A similar thing which our kids find hilarious is the Elf Yourself app. They can spend ages making a hilarious video and then when it’s done you can send it to friends and family. It’s very silly indeed.

Bonus: Ideas for when you can afford to spend a bit more:
– Ice skating: I do recommend this if your children can manage it. There are some beautiful spots and there’s something very satisfying about doing something so active and then ending with a nice hot drink. (We go home for the hot drinks, we’re not made of money!) If you’re in London, the Battersea Power Station ice rink is worth a visit.
– The theatre: It’s a great time of year to get your children into a live show of some sort. If you can’t afford a big pantomime (they are pricey), there are local plays and pantos all over the country that are a lovely night out. Some places have a ‘pay what you can’ policy – just Google ‘Pay what you can’ and your town/city name. There also might also be some music concerts happening in local churches etc. that your children might be able to engage with. I think live performances are inspirational for children and if you’re able to do it, it’s really worthwhile. But if you can’t, please don’t feel sad. Your children only really need God’s word. Anything else is a bonus.

Advent 2024: Christmas Gift Ideas

My Christmas gift idea posts have been extremely popular in the past. And I’m OK with that! Even though my blog is really supposed to be about following Jesus. You can find my previous posts here, here, here and here. I can’t remember what I said but I assume I still stand by these recommendations!

Here are 5 ideas for 2024, in no particular order:

This may seem an unusual idea for a Christmas gift but I do highly recommend Brad Franklin’s book, ‘When Sorrows Like Sea Billows Roll.’ The book review can be found here and you can buy it here. (It’s in the sale! I paid twice that a few weeks ago for my copies which I’m giving as gifts.)
Every year I give my mum a photo calendar full of photos of our family. I always get myself a copy, too. I enjoy making these and I especially love looking at them. This is a great gift for grandparents.
I also made a photo book this year after a wonderful time hosting my brother and his family. I ordered a second copy and gave it to my niece for her birthday. Maybe you know someone who’d appreciate a photo book! I use photobox but I’m sure there are other good sites.
Portable charger – my eldest asked for this for her birthday and I imagine many teens would appreciate one! You can buy ones with built-in cables which seem to be very handy. This way hopefully their phone won’t die when they’re out and you’re trying to call them!
Bop It! This is an oldie but a goodie. But only if you can stand the noise – unless it’s for someone else’s child! In which case just go for it. Personally I don’t mind noise if it’s keeping children occupied and doesn’t involve a screen.
Splendor – This is a board game my sister-in-law bought for my children last Christmas. A family game is a great gift idea and this one is easy to pick up and my children really like it. My 10-year-old enjoyed it but I’d say 8+ could probably get into it.
Bonus: Stocking filler ideas:
To me, stocking fillers are not expensive. Perfume is not a stocking filler. These ideas may be obvious to you but I hope they might spark some inspiration!
– Fairy lights
– A baking kit from the supermarket (like 12 cupcakes or cookies etc. To be done on 27th December when you’ve run out of ideas!)
– Any sort of small puzzle or build-it kit eg. fake Lego or fake Meccano-style things. Gives the kids something to do for 10 mins on Christmas morning. (Flying Tiger is good for this kind of thing.)
– A book of paper aeroplanes (you can get origami versions for those who feel they’re too grown up for this!)
– A little card game to play at the table – they sell these in the supermarket.
– Pants and socks
– A hot chocolate bomb or “spoon”.
– Nail varnish
– Lip balm
– A new toothbrush
– An ‘erase your face’ cloth – bamboo cloth for removing makeup
– A magazine or comic, rolled up
– A Puzzle book
– Sweets/chocolate
– Fruit!
– Stationery

I hope you found this helpful. I love giving gifts. It truly is a blessing. And in doing so, whether it’s a small, homemade gift or something expensive, we reflect our Heavenly Father, who has given us the most precious gift. As my man Colin (Buchanan) says, ‘Jesus is the greatest gift that there could ever be!’

Book Review – When Sorrows Like Sea Billows Roll

I’ve been reading a brilliant book that I think you all should read. You can buy it here. I’d suggest you by 5 copies and give them out to people you love.

It’s an extraordinary testimony of how the Lord sustained a family through the unimaginable. It’s the sort of story that would keep you awake at night, worrying it might happen to you. Except that if you read the book, you won’t do that. You come away with a bigger view of God’s goodness, faithfulness and generous provision.

The chapters are short, so this could be read by a new parent who’s not getting enough sleep, or even by someone who is suffering a hard time themselves. Brad Franklin is honest and down to earth and clearly has a pastor’s heart. He’s full of encouragement. Every time I’ve picked this book up to read a section, I’ve come away feeling encouraged. It’s quite miraculous.

If you don’t want to know the story, just go ahead and buy a copy here. As always, I’m not getting anything for telling you this. I was given a copy of this book by a lovely lady who actually reads my blog (Hi Catherine!) who I met at a wedding. My decision to recommend the book to you was entirely my own.

SPOILER ALERT: Read on if you’d like to know the context.

Brad Franklin’s wife Megan died very suddenly at the end of December 2019. She was eight months pregnant with their seventh child. The child survived, but as Megan went to be with Jesus, Brad was left alone with seven children, including a newborn.

Except he wasn’t alone. This is the story of how God provided for him and his family. I know some of his boys because I work in their school. They are a delight. I wish this hadn’t happened to them, but I trust that God in his wisdom is working for their good. And reading more about their story has helped me to see that even when the unthinkable happens – yes, even then – God is good.

If you’re having a hard time right now and just trying to keep your head above water, here are some words from Brad:

Christian, if the sun goes down and you still trust in Christ for your salvation, if you still love God and want to serve him – that day is a success. Whatever else happened that day, God has kept you. That’s a good day. (p.138)

We will all suffer in this life. Jesus said we’ll have trouble. Books like this can help to prepare us for hardships, and equip us to help others through those times, too. God gives us church family, and he displays his glory through them. This is largely a book about the glory of the church. Brad writes, ‘I so desperately wanted God to be glorified in healing Megan. That didn’t happen, but he was glory in ways I didn’t anticipate.‘ (p.93) I know, this brought tears to my eyes as I read it in an A&E waiting room a couple of weeks ago.

Praise God for his manifold wisdom. Brad isn’t just saying these things because they sound like the right things to say. You can tell that he really means them.

When things get serious, or even tragic, knowing Jesus really does make all the difference in the world.

‘When peace like a river attenders my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.’
Horatio G. Spafford

“In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world.“John 16.33

Just Be Honest

“How’s your week been?”

This is a question we get asked at church. It’s a good question! I wonder how you feel about answering it? It might depend on who is asking and whether they seem genuinely interested.

Sometimes your week has been so terrible that you’re not sure if you can talk about it, or whether the person innocently asking the question is ready to hear it.

I recently asked someone how their week had been and he said, “It’s been a really hard week.” Then he told me something really upsetting that had happened. I felt really sorry for him but I was so glad he actually gave me an honest answer!

Depending on what kind of church you go to, you may or may not feel comfortable expressing deep emotions in church. It might be that you can be totally honest with your church family, especially those closest to you. You might not feel that you have to put on a brave face for church and tell people “God is good” even when you’re feeling crushed. But sadly many Christians do. And if believers are not prepared for the reality of suffering, they may even walk away when things get really tough.

That’s why I love this book.

‘Just Be Honest’ is written for Christians who are hurting and for those who know someone who is.

Clint Watkins is very honest about his own experience of losing a child and how he struggled with God and with the weight of the grief. He gives us, from Scripture, permission to wrestle with the Lord, and to struggle. Many years ago my pastor said to me, ‘struggle is a sign of life.’ Dead things don’t struggle. Struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing. It’s a normal part of the Christian life:

God welcomes his people to worship through tears and pray without pretending. Aches, questions, and tears are a heritage of faith handed down to us through the generations. We belong to a legacy of lament. p.18

God’s people have always suffered. This book helps us to be honest about it and take our pain to the One who can heal us.

As well as being honest with God, this book is also about being honest with each other. He addresses those who need support and how they should let others in, as well as those who want to help but don’t know what to say and don’t want to say the wrong thing. He gives practical advice as well as spiritual encouragement, drawing on his own experiences:

This is the simple power of Christlike compassion. Show up. Shed tears. Lament, listen and love. p.143

Even while I was reading this book, I had several conversations with people where the words of the book came to mind. I suppose one reason for this is that, when you really stop to look around, there are people struggling and suffering everywhere. Yes, this is a wonderful, beautiful world. Yes, we have the victory in Jesus! Hallelujah!

But we’re also in the world that’s blighted by sin and Satan. We’re in the world where hopes are dashed, sickness thwarts and death separates. So we need books like this to help us shed God’s grace and light onto the path when grief or trauma is blocking the view and our loved ones can’t see a way forward. And when we’re the ones struggling, we need to go to the One with whom we can and must be truly honest.

Our grief was not ours alone to bear. Through lament, our friends and family took hold of our heartache. They made our sorrows their own. Our questions became their questions. Our groans became their groans. Their cries on our behalf resounded: we were not alone. p.113

Christmas Shopping 2023

In previous years people have quite enjoyed my Christmas gift ideas, so I’ve tried hard again this year to make some good suggestions for you. I hope you’re excited about Christmas and not feeling stressed about the shopping. My previous years’ posts are here, here and here.

I’ve been reflecting on how amazingly generous God is, and what a privilege it is to be able to celebrate him by showing generosity to people we love. (Let’s try to keep that in mind when we’re in the queues or we’re behind on the wrapping!)

For Baking Lovers:

My daughter loves to bake and we’ve enjoyed a few recipes from the the ‘Fitwaffle’ lady, Eloise Head. For her 14th birthday this month her aunt bought her the ‘Baked in One‘ book and a 20cm square tin to go with it. (Every recipe in the book can be baked in the 20cm square tin.) I thought this was a really lovely gift. Maybe check out her videos to see if it’s the sort of thing your baking-lover would enjoy.

3D puzzles

My son really likes building 3D wooden things. In fact, so does my husband. They’re a step up from those dinosaur ones you get in museums or owl ones you get at the Wetland Centre – you know what I mean. There are loads on Amazon. If you’ve got a tween who’s good at puzzles they should be able to do it – perhaps with the help of a willing adult. (Not me, sorry. I’ll be baking something from Fitwaffle.)

2D Puzzles

If you know someone who likes a good jigsaw at Christmas, I think this would be a lovely gift – it’s a different jigsaw to do on each of the 12 days of Christmas. Here’s the Waterstone’s link to buy it but it is sold elsewhere. Each jigsaw is quite small but I think it’s a fun idea and could be enjoyed by little ones and oldies alike. The description says ‘Minimum Puzzle Dust’ which is a problem I didn’t know I could have. I’m grateful to have it kept to a minimum!

Cool notebooks

This website, Atoms to Astronauts, has some unusual notebooks. They’re not cheap – it’s a small business – but would be a lovely gift if within budget for a teen if you’re stuck for ideas! They’re made in the UK.

For Bible-readers who like pretty organisation…

Someone bought my daughter some index tabs for her Bible and they’re just the sort of thing that many girls her age (or even women my age) find really satisfying and beautiful. They also help you find the Bible book you’re looking for. There are a selection at Cheerfully Given.

For the Home

My daughter has been making and selling macramé plant hangers and they’re lovely! They’d be a great gift for anyone with a house plant. If you’d like to buy one, you can go to Vinted or message me on Instagram.

This is an idea I wish I’d seen when my children were younger. It’s a picture frame with storage so you can store your children’s pictures inside and then just keep adding the latest picture to the front. It’s easy to open the front of the frame and add the latest picture. This would be a good gift for a toddler who’s already got enough toys, or for a family who’d appreciate the neatness of it. (I’ve put a link above but there are a few different companies making them.)

For babies and toddlers

I’m sure any parent appreciates a gift that can stack for storage. We like these stack and roll cups from Fisher Price. They’re simple and pleasing.

The other thing that’s good, although not as stackable, is this ramp. Apparently this is good for a child’s development. I’m sure that’s true. And it’s one of the few toddler toys we’ve kept.

Books

The Dreamkeeper Saga books are a good option for children who enjoy fantasy books involving dragons etc. My ten year old enjoyed ‘The Dragon and the Stone.’ He said he liked the magic in it and that ‘foes become friends.’ Mysterious!

I’ve also heard very good things about the Green Ember books so we’re going to try those out this Christmas. They’ve got rave reviews so I’m looking forward to it.

For tight budgets remember that some Christmas cookies, baked with love, are a thoughtful gift. It’s also a lovely idea to frame a good postcard, and nice white frames can be bought very cheaply in the supermarket.

Suggested by a Reader

One of my Instagram followers suggested the Yoto player. I’ve never seen one in real life but perhaps you should check it out. We do love an audio book in our house.

I hope this has been helpful for you. Do comment below if you’ve got a brilliant idea you’d like to share! Happy Shopping x

True and Proper.

This weekend Mum in Zone One is 10 Years old! Thank you to those faithful readers who have been with me since the beginning – and to those we’ve picked up along the way! Please do tell your friends about it if you think they’d be encouraged.

The reason I started this blog was to encourage people – mums in particular – and to share real life and perhaps sometimes make you laugh. I wanted to lift up our eyes to Jesus in the midst of all the crumbs and chaos of parenting littlies. My second post, (10 yrs ago minus a week) was ‘Push, Push, Glide‘ about my daughter’s 4th Birthday. It seems funny to me now that the 4th Birthday of my eldest felt like such a milestone – but I know it really was.

Now of course, she’s 14. Soon I’ll have 2 teenagers. If you have a spread of ages in your household you’ll know that this means I get woken up before 7am by a bright-eyed tot and am still up late in the evening, sipping hot chocolate and talking to a wide-awake, suddenly-ready-to-talk teen. It’s an incalculable blessing. This lifestyle also requires me to spend myself for others in ways that don’t always seem reasonable! Do you ever just lean against a wall for a minute and wonder if someone could make you a cup of tea?

I recently read a great little book called ‘Sacrifice‘ by Simon Guillebaud. It’s very short – I read it in two sittings: one on the Victoria line (which is competing for the noisiest tube line in a field of strong contenders) and one in a soft play area (um – yeah). In summary I’d say it’s a massive kick up the backside for a self-care-giving generation. (I’m really holding back in my description here; you can fill in the blanks I’m sure.)

The book focuses on this verse from Romans 12:

Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 12:1

I wonder if people often think of worship as something glamorous and public – hands raised, heart abandoned etc. But if we mention ‘sacrifice’, I think everyone knows that as something hard. Hard, but glorious. In the UK we’ve just observed Remembrance Day, when we remember those who’ve fought for our freedom in conflicts – many of whom have offered their lives in sacrifice for ours. We know that sacrifice is not easy and it’s selfless. That’s why we remember them.

God, our most loving Heavenly Father, tells us that offering our bodies as a living sacrifice is our act of worship. So we’re not worshipping God if we’re not offering ourselves. And if we are offering ourselves freely to Him and to others, this pleases Him. When we set aside what we want and live for others, in order to honour God, then he is honoured.

So it’s worth it. It’s worth the late nights and early mornings, the driving around on a Friday night when you’d rather be on the sofa watching ‘All Creatures Great and Small.’ It’s worth wiping down the table and sweeping up the crumbs, knowing you’ll have to do it again in a few hours. It’s worth the meal prep, the uniform scrabbling, keeping up with the school newsletters, the Bible crafts, the 2am Calpol administration, the unfathomable laundry. It’s worth standing on the sidelines in the freezing cold and the discipline and the gift wrapping and the list making. If we offer these things to our families and to God with joy and a thankful heart, we’re spending ourselves on what really, really matters. It’s not waste. We’re investing our time, energy, all our resources, by offering them to the One who really deserves to be honoured and, in His mercy, can really bring fruit from all of this.

We won’t get everything we want. Then it wouldn’t be sacrifice. Guillebaud put it like this:

‘Our verse tells us that we are to be ‘holy and pleasing to God.’ The issue is full, undivided consecration, which means being dedicated, set apart for God. It involves surrendering our disappointments, hurts and fears, our longings, dreams and aspirations, our finances, health and hobbies, our family, friends, the lot… Holiness encompasses everything.’ p. 30.

Over the years I’ve lived in Chelsea, I’ve had to let go of some of my dreams. I’ve had to trust God and be willing to obey him. I’ve been disappointed. I’ve longed for things I wasn’t allowed to have. But even for that, I’m grateful. Idols give us what we want – for a short time. Because idols don’t love us. They’re like an unkind parent who leaves their child in front of a screen all day and lets them eat sweets until their teeth fall out. But not my Father. My Father loves me. He has set boundaries. He tells me ‘no.’ I dread to think where I’d be now if he’d given me what I wanted.

So let’s keep going. Let’s rejoice in the unseen ways we can serve others, offering it all up to God as our true and proper worship. Let’s trust God more than what our eyes can see. Let’s make our own cups of tea and be cheerful about it.

(If you’d like to hear a podcast episode on the topic of worship, featuring my husband Mike and myself, you can find it here or search for Delight Podcast Episode 12.)

The (Indian) Summer Series Finale

Dear readers, I’m very aware that I left you hanging with my summer series about Dads Behaving Badly. I fully intended to end with a flourish but instead l just vanished from public view. (If you do not care about my pre-amble, feel free to scroll down to the heading ‘Father of Mercies.’)

I remember I’d planned to write my final blog post the day before it was due to be posted, because I had to spend an entire day in hospital and assumed that this would afford me ample time. However, it turns out that being in a hospital ward with various goings-on around you and having your blood drawn repeatedly does not in fact get you in the right frame of mind for a good old blog-writing session.

Then I went to France on holiday and thought ‘surely I’ll do it then.’ But we didn’t take the laptop and our iPad screen is smashed so that if you’re not careful you get a sliced finger so I didn’t risk it there. Also it was very hot and I was enjoying reading Dane Ortlund’s Gentle and Lowly, which turned out to be very much applicable to my blog post. (I did also read Bring Up the Bodies which I’d been meaning to read for about 8 years.) Incidentally, we had a lovely time but I got about 200 mosquito bites (more blood drawn!) while my husband got zero. Does every married couple have a mosquito-immune and a very-much-not-immune party?

Then it was the beginning of term, i.e. the mad rush to purchase and label bits and bobs and to work out the new weekly schedule – and the unwelcome surprises that come when you’ve failed at one or both of those things. Despite my years of experience I still had to queue at the school uniform shop the day before term started. And as we continue with scheduling malfunctions I’m very grateful to live in the city where my children can just bus themselves around the place and not rely on my taxi services.

But anyway, God is faithful and as a Calvinist I believe that this is the very day He planned for me to write this post, which I humbly pray will bless you today by glorifying Him.

Father of Mercies

We’ve looked at dads behaving badly in the Old Testament. I hope that as we look at them we can be encouraged that God is not like that, and also that God really does save wretched sinners like Jacob – and me.

One of my favourite dads in the New Testament is Jairus, who comes to Jesus begging for help when his daughter is close to death:

²³He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”²⁴So Jesus went with him.

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. ²⁵And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. ²⁶She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. ²⁷When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, ²⁸because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” ²⁹Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

³⁰At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

³¹“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

³²But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. ³³Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. ³⁴He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” (Mark 5)

Jesus here draws a suffering, outcast woman into the centre of the crowd so that he can give her much, much more than she’d ever hoped for. She was desperate to be healed, but she came away with peace as well: the peace of a restored relationship with her maker.

And as he’s standing there next to Jairus, who’d do anything for his little girl, what does Jesus call the woman? ‘Daughter.’ Because as good a father as Jairus is, he’s just a faint shadow of the type of father Jesus is. Jesus would do anything for this woman.

Jairus was willing to humble himself to get help for his daughter. Jesus humbled himself to death, even death on a cross!

I know that Jesus is not God the Father, and yet here he calls her daughter. (He’s also called ‘Everlasting Father’ in Isaiah 9v6.) And he shows us exactly what God the Father is like:

‘In [Jesus Christ] we see heaven’t eternal heart walking around on two legs in time and space. When we see the heart of Christ, then, throughout the four Gospels, we are seeing the very compassion and tenderness of who God himself most deeply is.’ Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly, p.133.

What kind of a Father do you have? What kind of a Father can we introduce people to – even those who have no earthly father? He is one who sees the needy and fills them; who touches the ‘unclean’ and makes them clean. He doesn’t just want to heal you; he wants to forgive your sins and give you everlasting life. He became unclean for us. He became sin for us. He was abandoned by his Father on the cross so that we never will be. He died and was raised so that he could raise us from the dead. We get a picture of that with Jairus’ daughter whom he woke from death with a gentle word:

He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). ⁴²Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). (Mark 5)

So going back to how I began back in July, thinking about those who don’t have a dad: there is such hope in the gospel for this world:

‘Some of us had great dads growing up. Others of us were horribly mistreated or abandoned by them. Whatever the case, the good in our earthly dad is a faint pointer to the true goodness of our heavenly Father, and the bad in our earthly dads is the photo negative of who our heavenly Father is. He is the Father of whom every human father is a shadow.’ ‘Gentle and Lowly’ p. 132.