God’s Guidance and Restoration in the Spring Season

At this time of year, it is easy to see God’s love and care reflected in the awakening spring world around us.

The fields around our home are filled with freshly born lambs. They frisk about, leaping and headbutting each other with such carefree abandon. Their mothers watching and calling when they stray to far. A guiding motherly voice that her lamb recognises. Even though that mama sheep watches over her lamb, it does not mean that she always makes sterling decisions in watching her own ways.

A Straying Sheep: When we Lose Our Way

Just last week I was driving home and noticed a ewe stuck in a barbed wire fence. She had scrambled over a drystone wall in an effort to get to the green grass in a small adjacent field only to become entangled in the barbed wire just on the other side of the wall. I don’t know how long she had been there, but she was well and truly stuck.

Hind legs scrabbling to get a grip on the now collapsing dry stone wall. Her middle caught securely between two strings of barbed wire, fleece caught up, ensuring that she was not going anywhere. Her head and front legs on the other side trying to pull herself through.

She was certainly in a tricky situation and all because she was focused on what she wanted rather than on what she had in the rolling fields behind her.

Fortunately, the field in question happened to be right opposite the farmers house, so I pulled in and informed the farmer’s wife of the ewe’s predicament. She was soon rescued although it could have been easy trying to disentangle the fat, struggling ewe!

Chasing What Lies Beyond the Fence

There have been many times when I have been like that ewe. focused on what is ahead of me. Worrying that I need to find a way to provide for my own needs or perhaps convinced that I should be in an alternate field to the one I am in. I listen to voices other than that of the good shepherd, only to find myself stuck.

The Good Shepherd: God’s Gentle Rescue and Restoration

We have all been there. It is usually about that time that we start looking for the shepherd to come and rescue us from trappings of our own making…and he does. His concern is for our well being. He wants us to be safe, provided for and content. He does not wish for us to become entrapped and struggling unable to get free.

I can picture the farmer of that struggling ewe coming out and seeing her in that predicament. “Not again! What a silly creature”, he would have muttered as he rolled up his sleeves and set the struggling animal free.

Is he angry? Disappointed? Fed up?

Does he turn his back on the silly creature and say, well she will just have to find her own way out, serves her right?

Of course not!

Not Abandoned, But Pursued in Love

He recognises her vulnerability and her ignorance. He knows that his ways and thoughts are so much higher than her own simple frailties.

He does not hold a grudge against the ewe. He simply comes to her rescue, concerned that she is well and unharmed. Perhaps he hopes that that she will not undertake such a venture again, but if she does, he will once again roll up his sleeves and release her from her prison. He is a good farmer, he cares for his sheep and will do what needs to be done to ensure that they are well.

Guarding Our Hearts: Choosing Whose Voice We Follow

It is the same for us dear friends. In today’s modern world where there are competing voices and messages, especially with the advent of social media, it is easy to consume information and messaging that is wrong for us.

Psalm 1: A Life Rooted in God’s Guidance and Restoration

Blessed is the one who does not walk in the step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers

Psalm 1:1-3

What the Righteous Do Not Do

In today’s verse, the Psalmist explain why a righteous person (one who is in a right relationship with God and has a heart that responds to him and his word), is blessed, first negatively and then positively.

In verse 1 he declares that the righteous are blessed because of what they do not do.

The do not live in way that results from following the counsel and advice of the wicked.

Who are the wicked?

Anyone who does not align themselves with people who rejects or is scornful of God’s ways. People who are willing to do anything to advance themselves or find enjoyment at the expense of others. Those who say, “look after yourself” or, “it’s just business”. People who live contrary to God’s ways.

It is easy to seek counsel from these people, they are closer than you think. You potentially spend hours scrolling through their social media accounts where they are counseling you in sharp bite-size form on what you should be aspiring to or how you should be living.

Be cautious about what you consume.

Delighting Daily in God’s Word

The verbs in verses 2 and 3 we see how we are affected positively should we take this very defininate stance of NOT walking, standing or sitting in the ways of the wicked, sinners and mockers. We see that nothing about the life of the righteous withers and that all who see this person’s life behold his/her ‘fresh leaves’ and observe the abundance of his/her life.

The thought is not of prospering physically in the sense of becoming rich, but of achieving God’s ends, of doing well what she sets her hand to so that God causes it to prosper for the advantage of all. It is of having a fulfilled life, a worthwhile life, contributing to the good of mankind. She is like a fruitful tree. She prospers in fruitfulness.

Note the change in tenses between verse 1 and verse 2.

In verse 1 the verbs are ‘definite’. The righteous [wo]man has taken up a definite attitude towards these things. [S]he is set in her ways.

In verse 2 the verbs are ‘indefinite’, indicating continuous action. [S]he continuously delights in, and ponders on, Gods Word.

Isn’t that just such a wonderful encouragement?

With the memory of our recent Easter celebrations and of the Lord’s immense sacrifice firmly in our minds, think of how you can move forward with purpose.

When we chose not to ‘walk in the counsel of the wicked’, we are making a deliberate choice to do or not do something. It is choosing to have an attitude that determines the direction we take, and then to follow it through continually.

Growing Like A Tree: The Slow Work of Spiritual Fruitfulness

This is not an easy choice, I know. It will take time and practice. Afterall, a tree that ‘bears fruit in season’ does not produce instantaneous growth and fruit. In spring we watch it flower and bud, then it takes all summer for the fruit to develop and grow before we finally enjoy the picking and nourishing.

It is the same with the word of God, it does not immediately bring us to maturity and fruitfulness. It takes time. It is a process.

Don’t be discouraged. We need to be faithful in the everyday. In the resisting. In the delighting in God’s Word, before we finally start to see the fruit and experience the flourishing and prospering.

A Gentle Invitation to Return to the Shepherd

Perhaps the time is now to re-evaluate how life is going and if there is something that needs to change.

Do you need to confess that you have strayed, got caught up in a fence and needing the intervention of the good shepherd?

Do you need to say sorry for trying to be fiercely independent and following your own path?

Accept the Lord’s help. His loving kindness. His provision.

Put your trust in him and ask him to plant you by streams of water.

Delight in his Word daily and watch how God establishes fruit in your life and how he will cause your life to flourish in ways you may never have dreamed of.

The post The Good Shepherd and the Straying Sheep: Finding God’s Guidance in Spring appeared first on Seasons of Grace and Learning.

We were no longer owners of the home that has housed our family for the past 5 years. In those four walls, we built memories, cried tears, experienced loss, dealt with health issues, faced uncertainty and change. 

It was the home that saw the end of our home educating journey, a safe haven for our girls to return each day after university lectures, a launching pad when they finally fledged the nest.

As I wrote a little “Welcome Home” card and placed it next to a box of chocolates and a bottle of wine for the new owners earlier on in the week, I prayed over the house. 

“Lord, may this be a safe and happy home for the new owners. May the experience every blessing and create a myriad of happy memories together. Bless this home and this family”.

I’ll be honest, over the past 15 months I really could not understand why it was that the door kept closing on our sale, why we experienced such an uphill battle to pass it on.

Three of my friends sold and bought houses in that time with very few problems, it was disheartening.

But there came a point when I realised that God was working out His good plans in our lives, directing our paths, and showing us that His way was infinitely better than our personal plans.

Our plans had us moving to the Lake District, further away from our children and our community. God’s plans placed us in the Welsh hills, within easy commutable distance of our children.

Our plans had us downsizing to a small 2 bedroomed cottage. God’s plans placed us in a sizable home with 4 bedrooms. Our children and their boyfriends and friends have spent a significant amount of time visiting and staying with us. More so than when we lived in Chester. This home seems to invite people to stay. It’s inviting, warm, comfortable, spacious enough for everyone.

Our plans had us moving closer to my husband’s place of work. A job that made him deeply unhappy and stressed and was having a very real impact on his health. God’s plans had my husband step back from his job, retire from the hotel industry, and move toward finally opening his dream business. Since leaving full time employment he is happier, healthier, has lost weight as he has time for regular exercise. I am no longer fearful of him having a heart attack. We are looking forward to opening our own little coffee and artisan food shop – a long held dream.

Our plans were for a quick and easy sale so that we could push on with independence. God’s plans forced us to depend on Him and His timing. That process restored my trust in God, trust that had been severely shaken after the untimely death of two close friends. 

I have since been able to let go of my own plans that seemed “the sensible thing to do” and am trusting him to lead me along a different path, a path of a ministry which He placed in my heart when he asked me to trust Him and home educate our daughters 20 years ago. I’m grateful that my training allows me to work in a freelance capacity right now, allowing plenty of time to step out in faith as He leads me down a new path.

My angst has faded. I don’t have any assurances as to what the future holds but I do know that I am back on the path that God has planned for me, for us, because I know God’s peace that suparsses all understanding (Phil 4:7), and I have not had that peace since our home educating days came to a close. 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways”, says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. ” ~ Isaiah 55:8-9

While hindsight is a wonderful thing, the process of walking through difficult times is a refining and necessary process if we are to grow in our faith. 

While I couldn’t see it at the time, am grateful that our journey was not a smooth and easy transition. It was not what we needed and our Heavenly Father knows best. He knew exactly what we both needed, and for all our kicking, screaming and tantruming – He patiently loved us and revealed His good and perfect way for our lives.

Whatever season you are in, lean into God and trust His ways. He loves you deeply and wants good things for His children. Sometimes our understanding of what ‘good things’ are may not be the ‘best’ things.

Wishing you every blessing this week.

The post Closing the Door on a Life Season appeared first on Seasons of Grace and Learning.

One of the small yet meaningful ways I mark this season is by showering our home with autumnal touches—simple decorations that speak of warmth, abundance, and the comforting rhythm of God’s creation.

My hops garland arrived from Huskin Hops on Friday. I absolutely love decorating my home with natural material, usually gathered from nature on my walks.

I had seen hops garlands in various places over the years and really wanted to have one for my own home. However, our previous home just did not lend itself to a hops garland. We didn’t really have a natural place where it would hang.

Our new home has a lovely inglenook. The moment I saw it I knew that I would be ordering a hops garland for my autumn decor. It has not disappointed! I absolutely LOVE it!

Of course, I have added a few other autumnal touches because September 1st is autumn for me. There’s no waiting until the autumn equinox in my home. I want to get every ounce of autumnal goodness from the season before we transition into the festive season.

So the candles are out and the house fills with the scent of apples, cinnamon, pumpkin and spice each evening.

Autumnal pictures have been hung…

Corners of my home are lit with fairy lights and adorned with garlands and much loved homespun decorations have been brought out of storage and now take pride of place for another autumn season.

Books are being gathered in preparation for longer nights and cozy days. I’ll share my autumn book basket in another post. I have added some lovely books to my home library over the last few months that I am excited to share with you.

I love the changing light at this time of the year, it comes in gently and pools in little puddles of warmth throughout the house at different times of the day. What a lovely small blessing!

I have always paid attention to the simple, small things and I love making my home a haven for my family and for those who cross the threshold. Last night, I overheard my husband telling my daughters boyfriend that after a long day at work, he always got excited about coming home because it was his ‘happy place’ and it was made so because of the love lived within its walls and the care taken in making our home a haven. 

I was so touched by that. That is exactly why I do everything I do, and why I place such value on the simple things that go into running a home.

 I want my Biblical womanhood, love and faith that I hold in my heart for my Lord and for my family shown in practical ways through the canvas of my home and it appears that my husband has felt that. It touched my heart hearing those words. 

Thinking about it later on in the evening, I was reminded of the importance of the woman in the home. We set the tone, we are the thermostat to the atmosphere of our home. We can bring blessings in so many ways. Be encouraged. I know it can often feel like a thankless and overlooked task. But what we do matters. It brings blessings!

Before I go, I wanted to share a beautiful playlist that I came across the other day. I hope you enjoy listening to it as I have and may it be a blessing to you.

May your homes be filled with faith, love, peace and joy this next week.

The post Autumn Home Decor Ideas 2025 For a Cozy and Elegant Vibe appeared first on Seasons of Grace and Learning.

This week, I’ve been leaning into that sense of intention and simplicity—creating with joy, prayerfully preparing for the seasons ahead, and grounding my days in gentle rhythms. I’m delighted to share a few of those things with you today: a cheerful handmade rag wreath to brighten your home, beautifully decorated candles ready for gifting, and a free printable to help you map out your own peaceful summer.

✽ Creating a Home that Whispers “Welcome”

I started the week with a simple, satisfying craft: a fabric rag wreath. This is the sort of project that feels timeless and comforting—no fancy tools required, just your hands, some fabric scraps in soft summer hues, and a bit of time to tie and tuck.

Each scrap carries a story—a memory from an old sewing project or a remnant too pretty to part with. As I knotted them around the frame, I found myself praying quietly for my home and those who pass through its doors.

✽ Preparing for a Season of Giving

While the warmth of summer wraps us in sunshine, my thoughts often stray to Christmas. Yes, really! I love to use these quieter months to prepare small, thoughtful gifts that can be wrapped up with care when Advent arrives.

This week, I dressed a few candles with a collar of brown craft paper and seasonal trims—tucked away for December gifting. There’s such peace in this kind of quiet preparation. It feels like sowing seeds of love in advance, ready to bless someone months from now.

Perhaps you’d like to make a few too? Pop on a hymn or soft music, brew a cup of something soothing, and let your hands create beauty.

✽ A Printable to Help You Plan a Peaceful Summer

To accompany your slow summer days, I’ve created a Summer Peace Plan printable, designed to gently guide your heart and home toward peace. It’s a one-page resource you can tuck into your journal, pin on your fridge, or keep near your Bible.

It includes:

• Daily Anchors for Peace like prayer, time outdoors, and creative moments

• Soul Prompts to reflect on what God may be inviting you to release or embrace

• A Gentle Summer List of soul-nourishing ideas—from pressing flowers to reading under a tree

  This is not a to-do list, dear friend, but an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and dwell in the quiet, nurturing presence of God this season.

✨ Click here to download your free Summer Peace Plan printable

PS. You can download this plan anytime from the FREEBIES page on this blog.

✽ Homemaking as Worship

Whether you’re stitching, baking, tying ribbons or simply sweeping the kitchen floor, I believe these acts can be a form of worship. When we make our homes with love and intention, we reflect the heart of our Creator—who made all things good, and called them beautiful.

So as summer unfolds, may you find peace in the small things. May your hands be blessed in the work they do. And may your home be a haven of grace.

With every blessing…

The post Making Home with Your Hands & Your Summer Peace Plan Printable appeared first on Seasons of Grace and Learning.

I’ve found myself in one of those drifting places lately. The quiet rhythm of meeting with the Lord each morning had slowly unravelled. Not in a dramatic way—just a slow slipping of intention. The Bible sat unopened on my desk. The journal gathered dust. And my soul began to feel it.

But here’s what I’ve also found: the Lord never turns away. His invitation to come away with Him remains open, unchanging. No matter how far we’ve wandered, we are always welcome to begin again.

A Gentle Return

I’ve started to return, slowly. Not with strict routines or grand intentions. Just small, meaningful moments—like lighting a candle before the house stirs, whispering a prayer as the kettle boils, or sitting quietly by the window with an open Bible and expectant heart.

No guilt. No pressure. Just grace.

I think that’s the key, really. Coming back to the Lord isn’t about performance. It’s about presence. It’s about remembering who we are, and whose we are. And often, it begins with one small choice—a simple act of turning our heart back towards Him.

Little Touches of Beauty

As I ease back into a rhythm, I’ve been drawn to creating a little space that feels peaceful and lovely—a quiet corner with my Bible, a notebook, and my favourite mug. Nothing fancy, just comforting.

A candle flickering nearby. A vase of garden flowers. Even the gentle hum of a hymn playing softly. These small touches speak deeply to my spirit, drawing me into rest and worship without words.

It reminds me that beauty and faith are not separate things. They are woven together in the fabric of daily life, gently pointing us back to the Creator.

When Quiet Time Isn’t Quiet

If you’re in a season where quiet is a luxury, I understand. I’ve had many of those years—years of nappies and homeschooling, full sinks and full hearts. And I know that quiet time with the Lord doesn’t always look like sitting serenely with tea and Scripture.

Sometimes it’s praying while pegging out the washing. Sometimes it’s listening to Scripture on audio while doing the ironing. Sometimes it’s just pausing in the middle of a messy kitchen to whisper, “Lord, help me.”

And that counts. More than we know.

No Shame, Only Grace

If, like me, you’ve been feeling a little distant, I hope you’ll hear this: you are not behind. You haven’t failed. You are simply human. And you are beloved.

There’s no need to fix everything overnight. Just begin again. One verse, one prayer, one moment of stillness at a time. The Lord is already there, waiting to meet you.

With You in the Starting Again

So today, I begin again. Not perfectly, but prayerfully. With a quiet heart and open hands. If you’re in a similar place, know you are not alone. We can begin again together.

May this be a gentle season of remembering, of drawing near, of basking once more in the beauty of His presence.

With love and grace,

The post Beginning Again: Reclaiming Your Quiet Time with the Lord appeared first on Seasons of Grace and Learning.