Liane Hadley, Conwy

After thinking there is no way I could contribute to this, having never been a ‘blogger’, I want to thank you for the opportunity to remind myself of how wonderful God’s grace and mercy has been over the years. Time to sit and ponder these questions has been an encouragement and blessing; I hope it may be for anyone reading too.

Which verses would you take to the desert island?

I have never considered being limited to a few select Bible verses. What a privilege that, at the click of a button, I have access to several versions of the Bible in my pocket and can search through it with ease. However, there are some particular verses that stand out to me for various reasons.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10

I was saved whilst I was at Bangor University in 1999, but had very little Biblical literacy. At baptismal classes, the foundations of the Christian faith were laid out methodically. It was the Bible verses that we were encouraged to learn by heart that made the most impact; they still remind me of the joy of those earliest moments of salvation. Whenever I am struggling with doubts or insecurities I can refer to these words and be reminded how awesome the gospel is and my position in Christ.

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

The next verse became very memorable to me when we were living in Bolivia. We were at a bit of a crossroads; earnestly seeking whether to stay in Bolivia or return to the UK. I was desperately sad and homesick but fought it constantly, believing that I wasn’t serving God properly if I gave up. Our dear neighbour, Anita Cook, a long term missionary, wrote to me sharing these encouraging words. I felt the burden of the decision making lift and rejoiced in the freedom to know that our mighty, compassionate God takes great delight in His people and even rejoices over them with singing. It still encourages me to this day, especially when I get sucked into self-pity and negative thought patterns...He is mighty to save!

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23

Psalm 23 is so well known but has a particular poignancy for a certain time in my life. In October 2007 I went for a routine 18 week pregnancy scan. The midwife was having trouble hearing the heartbeat so sent me into the hospital for an emergency ultrasound. I remember on the journey asking the Lord to be with me and help me. Sadly, our baby had died and I was to be induced 2 days later to deliver it.  During that time, I know many prayers went up for us and we felt an amazing strength to face the trial knowing God was with us. Following this event, a close friend presented us with a painting with Psalm 23 on and it quite honestly depicted a lot of our experience at this difficult time.

Who would you like to find on the island for company?

Having grown up in a non-Christian home, I would really like to have the opportunity to take my great-grandad Bert to the Island. He was the minister of a United Reformed Church in Rayleigh, Essex, where I grew up. He married my Mum & Dad, although we didn’t worship at his church or follow Christ as a family. My brother and I were relatively close to my great-grandparents as they were local and we would go visit them once or twice a week. Grandad Bert (Albert Syrett to be exact!) was always cheerful, smiling, with red-rosy cheeks and time to spend with us. He died when I was 7 or 8. It was not until I came to know the Lord Jesus myself, 13 years later, that I wondered how often he had prayed in anguish over our salvation, the reason for his cheerfulness became clear. Even in death, I vaguely remember visiting him in a hospice and he was still smiling - I guess he knew where he was headed and that was a comfort in his last moments. I would love to meet him on the island so that we can glorify God, rejoicing over answered prayer and listen to his ministry that I never had the chance to hear. So readers, please keep praying for your grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even if you do not live to see their transformation yourself!

Which song would you take to the island?

This was possibly the hardest one of the three to decide upon. I love listening to music and have found life's big moments defined by listening to certain pieces. I often turn to music when I am struggling emotionally and/or spiritually and I find it resonates with me in a way that sometimes just reading alone doesn’t. Having not grown up in church, I’m not always at ease with some of the old hymns and generally listen to more contemporary worship music. However, if there was one song to remind me of the essence of the gospel and to focus my mind on Christ, it would have to be Horatio Spafford’s ‘It is well with my soul’ - albeit sung in a more contemporary style! One of my favourite covers is by Jimmy Needham. I can’t completely imagine all the writer went through when he wrote it but I can testify to some of the amazing comforts and kindnesses in dark times that are expressed in this song.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin — oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! —
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.