May the Journey be full of grace, Its highways travelled in faith, See road junctions signposted love, Directions are highlighted with trust, Every completed mile finds peace - Kept moving by the powerful fuel of hope. ©️Sarah Joy Holden

Scruffy and Penny were the last two dogs to be sold. They had been moved to the local kennels as Mr Brown had sold his farm and would be packing all the farm equipment and taking it to the local ‘Sale Yard.’ Before moving into a new townhouse in a few weeks’ time, everything on the farm would have to go! Penny was a beautiful dog, she had a chestnut-coloured coat and deep brown eyes. The advert in the local weekly newspaper said that she was ‘’Very placid and good company.

Before I had even entered the house, I felt something was not right. A feeling of dread filled my whole being. The hair stood up on the back of my neck. Yet, I still turned the key and walked through my front door. I saw him, before he saw me; he was wearing a black hoodie. His hood covered all of his face. He was sitting cross-legged on my lounge floor. I froze, dropped everything I was carrying. They say your fight-or-flight response will kick in. Mine did not. I stood as i

Do you know what love can undertake Do you hear what love has to answer Do you witness what love can see Do you understand what love can hear? Do you witness what love can teach Do you get how love is able to share Do you know how love can reach Do you sense how hard love can be? Do you appreciate how profound love is Do you know what love can truly bring Do you recognise that God first loved us Do you know we love only by first loving. Do you stand and watch love fight Do yo

I've never known a time when it wasn't there. A refreshing drink in the dry heat of the wilderness, A warm hug in a mug that reminds me that there is comfort, Even on the cold, dark days of winter. The shower that refreshes and renews, Washing away the dust and dirt of the day, cleansing and cleaning. The flush of the waste that has nothing more to give, The guilt, shame, and toxins removed as far as East is to West. The bath that restores, relieves the aches and pains of t

I’m not sure how she got in. I think it was through an open window, but she sneaked in and made herself at home. Self-loathing was her name. She was a large presence; she filled up most of any space. She would show me all my flaws. Telling me I needed to be thinner, younger, fitter. I could never please her. Soon, her close relative, ‘comparison’, barged her way in. At least she sat quietly in a corner most days, but when I let her speak, she had an incredibly loud voice. Com

Dear child Yes you! I love you. You who have wandered away and are struggling to find your way back. I love you. You who have looked into other religions, trying to find purpose and scared to come back to me. I love you You who have been hurt by the people calling themselves followers of me. I love you. You who have been hurling insults at me. I love you. You who feel unseen and unheard. I love you. You who have been faithful to me all of your lives. I love you. You who have

Love extended their arms to me, Suspended right before 'thee - In the place I was destined to be, Exchanging my place at Calvary. Love that shook the ground beneath, Its power brought me to my knees. Love that illuminates the darkness, Provides compassion in varied times. Love that runs so deep and wide - No words can tame, no time erase. A love that brings me true peace, Love so amazing - so divine. A love that cannot be measured, Neither weighed nor eva

Dear child, each day I make the sun rise. May not always see it in all its glory. There may be clouds covering it. You may not have been awake to notice it, yet it's still there at the start of a new day. A new day means a fresh start, a clean slate. It means fresh hope. It's the beginning of new opportunities. Leave yesterday behind. Leave behind any regrets. Leave behind any hurts. Leave behind any failings. This is a new day. Let's walk through it together. Look up to me f

Written by Sarah Joy Holden The cross of Jesus is life The cross of Jesus is honest The cross of Jesus is true The cross of Jesus is relevant The cross of Jesus is authentic The cross of Jesus is love The cross of Jesus is steadfast The cross of Jesus is grace The cross of Jesus is powerful The cross of Jesus is timeless The cross of Jesus is monumental The cross of Jesus is forgiveness The cross of Jesus is sacrifice The cross of Jesus is personal The cross of Jesus is hope

In the crowd - we held our breath - as the nails pierce into his flesh; We heard His mother's anguish, And stood in the darkness of earth. "They arrested him and broke him Then hung him there alone to die." A crown of thorns on his head King of the Jews, the sign read As we watched his body bleed Even now, crowds still mocked. "They arrested him and broke him Then hung him there alone to die." This is the day of Jesus plight Three hours, Earth saw no light The temple curtain

Our house feels like living inside a musical. Not necessarily in the song quality, but definitely in quantity. It’s hard to say "Hello," "You're welcome," or "We're halfway there" without someone breaking into song. And it’s not just music. Our days are packed with lines from films, adverts, and TV shows. “Coffee, coffee, boy, do I need coffee!” “Bacon is good for me!” I’m not sure it’s entirely normal (which is why I try to restrain myself in public), but it’s definitely n

I chose you to be my adopted son, Yes its true, all the work has been done. Your name written in heaven's book, Let me show you, let's have a look. Really, there is no room for doubting it, No longer an outcast or a misfit, Given a name marked out as royalty, A reward, my child, for all your loyalty. Yes, bought out of slavery, redeemed, Something that you never would have dreamed. And now with Holy Spirit in you sealed, Prostrate on your face, have you kneeled. And no

The old oak kitchen table Stood on the uneven floor. She slid down the bench seat. Rubbed her hands on the table top. She smiled and remembered. The day her 2-year-old grandson Had danced on the tabletop. The day her whole family had played Monopoly How they had laughed and complained How her youngest usually won. The Sunday morning her future son-in-law Asked for her beautiful daughter’s hand in marriage. When her crazy friends had a posh tea party. The tears, the laughs, th

Love..... It is the true element found in everyday. Love..... It is found in everything we do and say. Love..... It is there even if we try to hide it away. Love..... It is wherever it intends to stay. Love..... it is the human vibrational energy. Love..... it is necessary but often not easy. Love..... it is our own story on our own journey. Love..... It is the greatest thing we can give away. Love..... It is both painful and happy. Love..... it is often the price we have to

I'm on a journey at the moment. It's a hard journey, a journey full of pain and grieving, but also a journey which includes touches of beauty and moments of grace. Someone very dear to me was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer and hasn't got very much longer to live on this earth, although thankfully, she has an eternity to live in heaven. So why have I called my blog Fields of Grace? Well, last week I was worshipping God and praying about the situation and the journey

She struggles through the shopping. She doesn’t want to be here But She knows everyone wants a part of her She hides behind a mask. She knows just what to say But they don’t understand Her pain. They don’t know the empty, hollow hole at the centre of Her. She can hide in a crowd She can make everyone else feel good But who notices Her She copes, well, they think She does She just gets on and does what is expected of Her All around She observes life But frequently She does not

Love is already here. In fact, she has always been here, since the very beginning. She does not announce her presence loudly, but your heart can already sense her. She speaks softly but with a voice that is sure and strong. She moves slowly and gently around the room in a beautiful and graceful dance. She is not in a rush. To begin with, you may not see anything other than the faintest flicker of light, or feel a peace and softness in the air. But know that she is there.

Dear child Every person that you come across is my sheep. They have not yet encountered their good Shepherd. Each person you struggle to love, the ones that get under your skin. The outspoken ones, the angry ones, the unkind ones , even the ones that say they hate me. They are all my sheep. They need a Shepherd. Most are unaware of their need for me. You’re my sheep and you recognise my voice. You walk close to me. Keep close, and as you keep responding to my whisper, others