Daniel

My last blog (for now…!) There are times when words alone can’t fully capture the story of our lives—the mountain tops and the valley bottoms. Often songs come into my head that help me better articulate what I’m experiencing, and this past weekend I’ve been singing these words; Jesus, What a Saviour You Are “ You are my strength When all my strength has ended You are my hope When all my hope is gone You are my joy When my world is full of sorrow You’re the peace in my tomorrow For I know that You’ll be there… ” These words summarise my testimony. The past 18-months have been fairly traumatic for me, filled with more change, pain, and growth than I ever could have imagined. I write my thoughts and reflections down because I find it helpful—and I hope that, in some small way, sharing my experiences might help others too. This is my last blog (for a while…!), as taking a break from writing is for me a symbolic act of closing one chapter and starting another. Recent months have been marke...

Boundless Salvation: A Holistic Journey It’s Mental Health Awareness Week. As I reflect on the importance of this week, I am reminded that as a nurse and a Salvation Army officer, I can never disconnect spirituality, mental health, and physical health. We are holistic people, with holistic needs, holistic thoughts, and holistic feelings. Our health and wellbeing are interconnected, whether spiritual, mental, or physical. Scrolling through social media over the past few days, I have been encouraged to see many expressions of The Salvation Army engaging with this holistic spirituality. Churches across the country are finding creative and diverse ways to connect with people and care for their whole selves. From pioneering boxing sessions designed to support those who have experienced trauma, to walking clubs, arts and craft groups, karaoke church, coffee mornings, and so much more — there’s a sense of innovation and community spirit in the air. It makes me wonder: What is God saying to Th...

It’s Jesus I Need, Jesus Indeed This morning, I woke up singing a song that I hadn’t thought about in a while: It is Jesus I need, it is Jesus indeed Who will make my faith beautiful and bold; And with Jesus in me I need no longer be So afraid of what future days may hold. My slightly off-key tones were drifting out of the bathroom window as I sung in the shower, much to the likely bemusement of my neighbours. To them, I offer my apologies! I love this song because the lyrics are so true, especially in this season of my life. Sometimes, life can feel like a relentless slog—bringing challenges, uncertainties, and days where hope feels a little further away. But in the middle of it all, I know one thing for sure: it’s Jesus I need. I was particularly struck by the chorus: O Jesus, Jesus, You are the One who can make my life complete. O Jesus, my peace restore. It’s Jesus I need, Jesus indeed, Jesus in me, more and more. That’s my prayer. May there be less of me and more of Jesus in my li...

Always Be Joyful, Never Stop Praying Today, I took a day off work. I needed a break. I needed space. I needed Sabbath rest. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 says: “ Always be joyful, never stop praying. ” This morning, after the school run, I found myself sitting by the shimmering Thames Estuary. The sun lit my face alongside the gentle sound of waves breaking on the shore. As I sat in stillness, I sensed a reminder from God: Always be joyful, never stop praying. This verse linked to the message from our Corps (church) meeting just yesterday—a reminder of the joy that comes from following Jesus. Life inevitably brings its ups and downs—what I like to call the mountain top and valley bottom moments. It’s okay; that’s life. We go through it, we come out the other side, and we are never overcome or defeated when we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. No matter what season we’re in, that call to joy and prayer remains the same. So, today, I choose joy. I choose to pray without ceasing. I choose to trust ...

Grace and Embrace: All for Jesus! There are two little phrases that I use on repeat—“ Grace and Embrace ” and “ All for Jesus! ” If you’ve worked with me, ministered alongside me, or just bumped into me, chances are you’ve heard me say one (or both!). Sometimes they’re just catchphrases. A quick, light-hearted mantra to break the tension or bring focus. But let me tell you a secret… they’re more than that. You see, these two phrases are not just my go-to words—they’re the reality of my ministry. They’re the “ why ” behind my “ what .” They’re my compass when I feel a bit lost in the demands of ministry and leadership. And they remind me that everything I do is all for Jesus. Let’s start with “Grace and Embrace.” It’s more than just a nice rhyme (though I do appreciate a bit of poetic flow!). Grace is that beautiful gift from God—undeserved love, unrelenting mercy, unshakeable forgiveness. Embrace is the outworking of that grace—a welcome, a belonging, a hand to hold, a shoulder to cry ...

I Lift My Eyes – Psalm 121 Psalm 121 is a beautiful piece of Scripture. I won’t say much because this Psalm speaks for itself. It is a song of trust. A song of protection. A song of relentless faithfulness. Wherever you are today—on the mountain top or in the valley bottom—hear these words. I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121, GNT) I pray these words over us today. All for Jesus.