Today, two things stood out to me. Firstly, as I drove into my driveway, two butterflies circling each other flew before my car. My mind was thrown back in time to when the world changed in 2020 with our first lockdown. It was a time of uncertainty for all, and we didn’t really understand what... » read more
Times have certainly changed rapidly in the past couple of years. I don’t think anyone has been untouched by this new way of life. It’s almost as if the turn of 2020 also turned on a switch that changed normal into unnormal. Such times have required much from us: to stretch, grow, test, and think... » read more
During the years of my children being at school, there have been a few days or more when they have lacked the desire to go to school. Comments like, “Do we have to go to school today?” and “I think I might be sick and need to stay home” (when obviously they weren’t) — the whole dragging the feet... » read more
Lately I’ve been signing a lot of permission forms. With school comes excursions, school photos, subject changes, extra-curricular activities, camps…all of which need the authority of a parent’s permission. I’m glad that, though my youngest children are in high school, they’re still young enough that I get to sign things for them, yet this time... » read more
A friend sent me a video recently by Christa Elisha where she talks about a vision she had of Jesus walking in front of her, but the distance between them grew and he was leaving her behind. This upset me, it really did—not because of anything offensive, but for the urgency for others to know Jesus, which... » read more
“A thing of beauty” is how the Christian Today Chief Editor has described the new release Anthology from the writers of Christian Today Australia, God In Life. God In Life: Anthology was released for sale at the beginning of May 2020. It is a collection of inspirational, thought-provoking articles stemming from reflections of everyday experiences and some not-so-everyday... » read more
Having lived for almost a century, my husband’s 96-year-old grandmother, Dorothy Moore, has seen an awful lot, has experienced an awful lot and is still surprised at new challenges facing the world daily. But never before has she witnessed anything like the Covid-19 virus that is sweeping the world as we speak. The global effect... » read more
‘Let’s celebrate’ sounds like a pretty weird title for this season of isolation we are living in, but why not kick up our heels a little? Just because we’ve all been restricted for so long doesn’t mean we have forgotten how to celebrate. Over social media of late, I have seen many lonely celebrations, but... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia 21/4/20 https://christiantoday.com.au/news/god-in-life-hope-from-young-columnists-of-christian-today-australia.html Press Service International are pleased to announce a first of its kind publication, ‘God In Life’—an anthology from the columnists of Christian Today Australia and New Zealand. The team behind this remarkable tome are publishers—Tony and Rebecca Moore (Rebecca is a fellow senior writer, Sunshine Coast), and editor—David... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia 16/4/20 https://christiantoday.com.au/news/can-someone-please-tell-me-what-day-it-is.html While isolation is good for everyone at this time, it does pose some interesting conundrums (besides the obvious). For instance; a common question that floats around our household of six in these strange times is—”what day is it?” Previously, my day would be bookended with school drop-offs... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia 06/04/20 https://christiantoday.com.au/news/its-life-jim-but-not-as-we-know-it.html It seems the world’s done a bit of a flip, gone a little crazy, is feeling a little unsafe, and though we hope this is a short-lived interruption to our lives, the emotional and economic effects of the global corona virus crisis, are more than likely going... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia 26/3/20 https://christiantoday.com.au/news/the-grass-is-greener-said-the-goat.html I often find myself writing about our pet goat. It’s not that I’m particularly fond of him—the Lord knows how many times I’ve had to chase that goat away from my roses and the neighbour’s garden when he escapes! He can be very infuriating, and threats of... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia 12/3/20 http://christiantoday.com.au/news/life-empowers.html On the 24th January 2020, the President of the United States of America delivered a speech at the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., that shone a light on the value of women like no other President has done before. The theme of that march was Life Empowers. President Trump... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia 18/2/20 http://christiantoday.com.au/news/break-in-through-the-roofthe-great-jewel-heist.html Have you ever known something so valuable it would be worth breaking through a roof for? Some of you may be imagining a scene from a movie of a great jewel heist that has led to the pinnacle of the story line (after much planning, danger and... » read more
Walking through the final days of last year, I felt somewhat grateful. I did not revel in the gladness of seeing a bad year come to an end (though there have been years like that). For me, it had been a satisfying year in accomplishing what I’d set out to complete from the previous year’s... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia as part of the Senior Writers series http://christiantoday.com.au/news/the-rebecca-moore-story.html I was born in a small country town in Queensland called Murgon, to my lovely parents, Salvation Army Pastors (now retired) Majors Alan and Jenny Peterson. My childhood years were fun and spent largely around the church, piano lessons, books, school,... » read more
There seems to be a belief today that the idea of there being a person created to be your other half doesn’t exist: “There are many people out there suited to you and you just have to choose one that you like”. While this may be true and work for many people, I certainly don’t... » read more
https://christiantoday.com.au/news/up-the-creek-without-a-paddle.html Many years ago, we visited my parents while holidaying at a small seaside town in Queensland. While there, we spent the afternoon by the bay. We all enjoyed a leisurely spring afternoon swim, and towards sunset, my mum decided to go for a relaxing row in the dinghy by herself. With the outgoing tide,... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia 18/10/19 https://christiantoday.com.au/news/rogue-radio.html Switching the channels on the car radio recently, at a time when most families would be driving their children home from school, my daughter and I were horrified to hear a radio presenter use his platform to laugh at and mock ‘church people’ and jest, suggesting that Jesus was... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia September 13, 2019 https://christiantoday.com.au/news/stop-the-clock.html Following on from my last article entitled Becoming Deliberate, I found myself having many conversations with friends exclaiming how quickly this year is flying by without even a wind sail to hold us back. It’s predictable of course; as the old saying goes “the older you get,... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia, 6th August 2019 https://christiantoday.com.au/news/becoming-deliberate.html Who knows how quickly a week can pass and you haven’t stopped for a breath? ‘Oh look, it’s Thursday already!’ I often hear myself say, and it only feels like a couple of days since I said it a week earlier. If we’re not careful,... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia 2nd July, 2019 https://christiantoday.com.au/news/worth-waiting-for.html A good coffee is worth waiting for. Back in the day (and I won’t tell you when because it will give away my age), instant coffee was a big seller. It was quick and versatile; you could keep it in the cupboard for a few... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia 31st May 2019 https://christiantoday.com.au/news/those-who-hold-us-up-thoughts-on-an-election-campaign.html At the time of writing this, my husband’s Senate campaign has just wrapped up after months of preparation and hard work. It will be some time (three to four weeks) before we have an idea of results, but I would like to take a moment... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia 23rd April 2019. https://christiantoday.com.au/news/dirty-windowsdealing-with-sin.html At this time of year, the sun sits directly facing our front windows highlighting the dirt that had previously gone un-noticed and reminding me of what my next job is—to clean my windows! It’s a little bit annoying. Up until now, I didn’t realise how... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia 22nd March 2019. https://christiantoday.com.au/news/drama-who-needs-it.html A cyclone was due to hit my town recently and there was a little bit of nervous excitement in the air. People stocked up on food, cancelled weekend events and prepared for bad weather. News reports kept us up to date on what we could... » read more
https://christiantoday.com.au/news/book-review-pizza-and-choir.html “The sound of smooth jazz enticed the guests to the entrance doors where vines of fairy lights and white flowers hung on suspended ladders from the ceiling. The aroma of freshly baked sweets and savouries filled the senses and the visual dance of linen laden tables, shabby chic décor and friendly faces all made... » read more
https://christiantoday.com.au/news/empty-washing-baskets.html Every now and then I get a glimpse of the bottom of my washing basket. It’s an exciting moment and one that doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, I get a tiny taste of what it might be like to have that job finished. Unfortunately, clothes washing never really gets finished and... » read more
Abortion—a word that has been thrown around lately like a batter in a hot pan. In the state where I live, abortion to full term has recently been passed in Parliament. People have cried about it and others were dancing in the street over it. Some call it a great day for women’s rights (choices),... » read more
Have you ever heard the phrase, “I could’ve kicked myself!”? It’s a funny phrase, especially to visual people who can imagine what that would look like. It’s usually used when one regrets something they’ve done e.g. “I could’ve kicked myself for not getting that when it was on special!” or “I could’ve kicked myself for... » read more
It was a busy school morning. I managed to get the kids out the door but with only minutes to spare. As all four children bundled into the car, I turned the engine on only to have the petrol light appear on my dashboard! The petrol was low—it was very low. With only minutes to... » read more
As published on Christian Today Australia 3/8/2018. https://christiantoday.com.au/news/life-is-good.html I can count on my hand the number of times when I thought I was going to die—and I’m not talking about when I let my husband drive! (Though he’s never had an accident in Australia he says). One near-death experience was when as a teenager, I was... » read more
As published in the Salvos Warcry Magazine 14th July, 2018. http://www.warcry.org.au/single-post/2018/07/14/“Squark”-is-not-the-sound-a-car-should-make The sound of my grinding ignition was too loud to be muffled. Each time I started up, my little blue bomb of a car would give a good screeching and a squeal, and I would pray to God that no-one was nearby (though that was... » read more
The picture tag looked nothing like the seedling that I had planted. The seedling was gangly, small and looked like it might fall over at any moment. But the promise of the tag told me that this weak little plant would one day stand strong with firm green leaves, growing a beautiful tall blue flower... » read more
Published in the Salvation Army WarCry 26 May, 2018 http://www.warcry.org.au/single-post/2018/05/26/Yes-my-darling-you-will-fly Ever been so excited you could jump out of your skin? Many years ago, my three-year-old raced into the house after playing in the garden, beaming from ear to ear and grabbing our arms to pull us her way. “Mummy! Daddy! Watch what I can... » read more
Published in Christian Today Australia, May 22, 2018 https://christiantoday.com.au/news/where-is-god-when-our-prayers-dont-seem-to-be-heard.html Driving on a road I knew well, I had typed a location into my maps app. The street I was looking for wasn’t far, but I had just never needed to find it before. The good old maps app took me on a detour. It wasn’t... » read more
“Honest, raw and intelligent, while smacking a punch to the heart.” The God’s Not Dead series third offering: A Light in Darkness brings the return of Reverend Dave Hill, Josh Wheaton and Reverend Jude, as well as a special appearance by the News Boys. This time we find Reverend Dave Hill is in the spotlight and has... » read more
My husband is a very intelligent and capable man—but when it comes to spiders, it becomes another thing altogether and intelligence swiftly succumbs to emotion! Many years ago when we were dating, we were driving to the wedding of some good friends of ours. I was working towards sitting for my driver’s licence, so I... » read more
Sometimes, I have a little giggle on the inside when somebody says something like: “Oh, your kids are so well behaved”. At that moment, my mind wanders to many things, one of which is a special moment many years ago when my eldest two children were around the ages of two and three. My husband... » read more
Some days, the cars on the road all seem to be in the way, phone calls are an interruption, the voices around us seem to be complaining about one thing or another, and we have a mountain of work in front of us that we just can’t seem to get to. Feeling heavy? Most of... » read more
It was not until I was sitting on the ski lift that I realised I would have to get off. It was my first time skiing and we were on our honeymoon in New Zealand. I had my gear on and managed to plonk myself onto the lift, skis and all. It carried me up... » read more
https://christiantoday.com.au/news/billy-graham-finding-a-place-to-call-home-and-ageing-with-purpose.html “It doesn’t matter how old we get, if we are still on this earth, we haven’t finished what God has purposed for us.”
Things are seldom as easy as they seem. For instance, standing in line six or so years ago to board our very first cruise, my husband and I were filled with excitement. This holiday couldn’t have come at a better time. We were exhausted and fatigued and with one week before we moved house, this... » read more
I was a soccer mum for only a little while before we realised it probably wasn’t our four year old’s “thing”. I distinctly remember finding the games to be endlessly amusing while watching these little tots in their big shin pads and oversized uniforms pad their way up and down the field trying to... » read more
Anyone who knows me, knows by the number of photos on my social media account that I like roses. I have two rose plants that emit delicious fragrances, surpassing the fragrance of any Turkish Delight sweet I have come across. The only problem with my rose plants, is that they tend to flower around the... » read more