It’s no secret that the Omega Christian Writers conference is happening next week. Preparations have been underway for months now (OK, for two years actually, since the last in-person conference) and now it’s almost time! Squeeee! But what is so good about a writer’s conference? I’ve written about the advantages of conference before: being with […]
Author: Steph Penny
I Forgot About the Cloud of Witnesses
I had surgery earlier this year. Nothing major, thankfully, but it was nerve-wracking nonetheless. I have had flare-ups owing to surgery in the past, so any kind of procedure requiring general anaesthetic holds a special kind of terror for me. If you know, you know. The hardest thing about surgery is doing it alone. People […]
The Only Good Thing About Being a Woman…
The conversation circled around womanly issues, the perils and the woes. ‘I’ve got PCOS,’ one woman said. ‘I’ve got endometriosis,’ another replied. ‘I had a traumatic birth,’ yet another said. Around we went, lamenting the pitiful state of women’s health in Australia. Finally, one woman wrapped things up with a bombshell. ‘The only good thing […]
Almost Cancelled
I almost cancelled plans this week. But I didn’t. Okay, Steph, big deal. Why are you blogging about almost-cancelled plans? Because when you live with chronic illness, you have to cancel things all the time. And it gets a bit annoying. (For ‘a bit,’ read ‘extremely, muchly, grievously.’ And for ‘annoying,’ read ‘devastating.’) I was […]
Care to Share?
I can’t believe it’s already that time of year! World Childless Week is almost upon us. It’s a collaborative event that happens every September, and it’s a time when members of the childless community from all over the world come together for a week of sharing, solidarity and encouragement. We share stories, thought pieces, poems, […]
God in the Fog
The fog was bad this week. (Not the brain fog, the actual literal fog. Although the brain fog was up there too.) We are in winter here in Australia at the moment, and oh boy, you can really tell. The morning temperatures are freezing, there’s frost on the ground and on my windscreen, and my […]
God in the Galahs
I was driving home when I saw them. A flock of galahs crowding a pine tree. (A flock of galahs is also known as a pandemonium; how cool is that?) There certainly was a lot of chattering and flapping going on in the tree that day. The sight not only lifted my spirits, it reminded […]
God in the Ocean
I spent some time with the ocean today. The wind was quite wild and the ocean was a strange mix of teal and murky green. White caps abounded and the pine trees danced and swayed at the whim of the wind. I breathed in the fresh coastal air, grateful for my thick jumper and scarf. […]
Why You’re Not A Bad Advert for God If You’re Sick
‘How are you feeling?’ my friend asked as I walked into church. I jiggled a pair of dice in my head. When you live with a chronic illness, innocent queries after your health can backfire quickly. Well-meaning people can pray for healing that is not forthcoming, or I can get caught in a web of […]
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Why Childlessness Doesn’t Make You a Bad Advert for God
‘God wants you to be fruitful and multiply.’ ‘Sex is only for procreation.’ ‘Motherhood is the greatest gift God can give you.’ There’s pressure in Christian circles to have children. Don’t believe me? I’ve been subjected to each of the above. In fact, I’ve been told in no uncertain terms that I’m in sin if […]
Continue reading Why Childlessness Doesn’t Make You a Bad Advert for God