When I get a moment (they are few and far between, but few is still something, right?), I tuck into a book, read an article, come across a thought-provoking message and think, this needs to be shared. Ruth’s Roundup is a post released once a month where I will share with you some content I have been engaging with over that month, or that I have written. You may laugh, cry, get mad, dig deeper, unfollow… who knows. Maybe it will be of use to you or someone you know. Happy browsing!
Articles
The UK needs confident Christians – Pastor and school caretaker Keith Waters took a stand on ‘freedom of speech, expression and faith’. This article is a reflection on what he has learned and the implications for those who follow Jesus.
Books
The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality by Glen Scrivener – Delighted to have received a copy of this book from The Good Book Company. A fascinating read and hard to put down. I love how this book addresses readers who have no faith in God, readers who have walked away from faith in God and for those of us who are following Jesus. Glen has such a gift in writing and engaging the reader on the key issues of life in a way that is down to earth, but without compromising the hope of the gospel. Fundamentally, the values we hold highly in the West today are inherently Christian and the Christian ‘revolution’ has shaped the culture around us. You don’t need to be a Christian to benefit from this book. But, I can’t promise you that you will get through it without seriously contemplating Christ more.
Teaching From Rest by Sarah Mackenzie – An excellent little book to encourage those who homeschool their children to do so from a place of rest, and what that practically looks like. It might surprise you! This has actually helped me as a parent and as a Christian as I often feel stressed, worried and anxious (shock horror!). It’s given me a lot to think about as I step into home education, but it also has placed my eyes back on Jesus in my daily life as a mother and believer too. Highly recommend.
Am I Just My Brain? by Sharon Dirckx – Fascinating read about the brain, the mind and consciousness. It really gets to the heart of the matter of what it means to be a human being and the inner voice within us all as individuals. As we consider our identity and our very life’s meaning, this book has solid arguments drawn from philosophy, science, psychology, and theology, whilst revealing deep truth and pointing toward a bigger picture for our existence.
Podcasts
Revive our Hearts Podcast: Gods Faithfulness in Times of Trouble – A wonderful series by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth focusing on Psalm 107. It points to God’s faithfulness in times of suffering and encourages listeners to seek Him in it.
Hope With Ruth Podcast – Episode 5 – The Accidental Podcast: The Story of ‘Hope With Ruth’ – Ever wondered how I came to create a podcast? The clue is in the title… listen in!
Social Media
Videos
My Blog Posts for May
The Mustard Seed Mum: A Letter to Special Needs Mothers – ‘We don’t all experience the same obstacles or feel the same frustrations. Our individual children with their unique needs, personalities and attitudes (plus our own as parents!) may be different. But we do share some common ground, even if we’re wearing different shoes on the journey.’
The Mental Health Coal Mine – ‘I felt like I was in a coal mine deep underground, with nothing but darkness all around. Maybe it’s all of the grief and loss experienced in the last two years rupturing to the surface as creases of pain on my face. In those moments that roll in like a storm, reason seems out of reach as I take the weight of every struggle upon myself. In those moments I don’t want to open the Bible. I can’t bring myself to think beyond the struggle. But in those moments, I am learning to surrender and trust God in the dark.’
I Can’t Get This Song Out of My Head – ‘What we sing matters. What is coming out of our heart? Are they songs about us? All that the Lord will do for me and my needs? Or do they cause us to look to Jesus? Do they teach us more of Him and His Word? Do they reveal all that Jesus Christ has already done and is doing and will do in the future? Maybe we are best making a joyful noise from the sincerity of our heart, and leave the lyrics behind if we cannot sing praise of who He is.’
An Anchored Hope 