by Susan Barnes | 27 Apr 2026 | Book Reviews>Recent Reads
I feel the title of Lysa Terkeurst’s book, I want to trust you, but I don’t is a little deceiving. I assumed from the title and the blurb that Terkeurst was having trouble trusting God. Though Terkeurst does discuss this, the majority of the book was about Terkeurst’s...
by Susan Barnes | 19 Jun 2025 | Book Reviews>Recent Reads
Lysa Terkeurst writes, Good boundaries and goodbyes, in the aftermath of divorcing her husband due to his unfaithfulness and addictions. However, Terkeurst widens her focus by including any relationship that is potentially unhealthy. Often, it’s unclear whether...
by Susan Barnes | 12 Aug 2024 | Book Reviews
The Fifth Letter by Nicola Moriarty has an engaging and interesting premise. However, towards the end, the story becomes unnecessarily dramatic. I’m not keen on loud arguments, even in books! The story concerns four women who become friends when they start high...
by Susan Barnes | 4 Dec 2023 | Spiritual Lessons from Children
“They haven’t replied.” The mother sighed as she looked at her phone. We ache over a fractured relationship with our child, regardless if they’re a teenager or middle-aged. Resolving conflict is never easy especially if our children choose to reject our values and...
by Susan Barnes | 16 Oct 2023 | Bible Study
It seems the writer of this proverb is going through a period where he feels like he doesn’t know God. “I have not learned wisdom, nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One” (Proverbs 30:3). In human relationships sometimes a friend will...
by Susan Barnes | 9 Oct 2023 | Spiritual Lessons from Children
“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” said my teenager with a wink, after announcing his selection as captain of the basketball team. It’s a phrase often quoted when someone clinches a good job, gains an early promotion, or beats a...
by Susan Barnes | 20 Jul 2023 | Short Devotion
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15 Jesus distinguishes friends from servants, by the information...
by Susan Barnes | 17 Jul 2023 | Spiritual Lessons from Children
“Look Mum, my puppet’s waving.” “Look Mum, his mouth opens and shuts.” “Look Mum, now he’s dancing.” However, the strings soon became tangled and he grew tired of it—a puppet that was enjoyed one minute and forgotten the next....
