Praise for Dwelling in the Psalms

 Every now and then

you come across a book that just blesses your socks off!

It’s an unfortunate truth of the writing life that we don’t always know what impact our books are having once we release them into the world.  So when someone writes with a comment like the one above, it’s a real encouragement.

Thank you to fellow Kingdom Story Writer, Joy Margetts, who kindly offered a beautiful review of Dwelling in the Psalms on her website, her glowing words saying more than I could have said for myself.  What I love about Joy’s thoughts is that they demonstrate that fresh words can bring unexpected blessings to those who know the psalms far better than I, and may have been steeped in them for years.

It’s so good to hear that the book is continuing to be valued in the world.  Do take a look at what Joy has to say - and bless her by taking a look at her books too.

You’ll find the review here - 

https://joymargetts.com/2026/06/24/dwelling-in-the-psalms/

Thank you, Joy!

Two Minutes & 99p

Have you ever tried to explain something really important in just two minutes?

That was the challenge offered to me at a recent Kingdom Story Writers event.

 Here’s what I said. …

My whole heart is to help people to heal, so it’s been a great privilege to write ‘Healing Life’s Wounds’.

It’s a self-help book with a difference - and the difference is Jesus.

We sit here as a community of the Walking Wounded. Because we all carry hidden emotional wounds.

Someone once said to me, “As long as I’m alright on the inside, everything’s alright on the outside, even when it’s not”. This book will help you to feel ‘alright on the inside’.

It looks at the very simple teachings of Jesus and shows how to live into the statements which often seem like reprimands but are actually invitations:

Don’t worry. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be angry. Forgive others. Lay your burdens down. etc …

 

‘Healing Life’s Wounds’ will give you an understanding of why your mind and body reacts in the way that it does, and will help you to soften and process those reactions.

It will guide you through a simple step-by-step framework that’s based on the teachings of Jesus, intertwined with insights from modern psychology and physiology, and drawing from 20 years of lived experience as a leader of healing retreats.

The book addresses forgiveness, fear, anger, pain, worry, and the stories we tell ourselves. And it will teach you how to find acceptance and healing, so you become ‘alright on the inside’.

It’s simple, accessible, and written for people of any faith or none.

‘Healing Life’s Wounds’ is a life-changing read - I know that because people are telling me so.

Has that sold it to you?

Have you looked at it yet?

I'd love you to read it.

Or better still come and explore it on retreat with me.

It’s now at no 45 in the Amazon rankings for Christian Spirituality!!

Pick up a copy here. … or wherever you usually buy books.

If you're a fan of e-books, it's 99p on Kindle during Mental Health Awareness Week

 

 

Help your mental health - for just 99p!

For Mental Health Awareness Week, May 11th-17th, 

Healing Life's Wounds will be just 99p on Kindle!

Whether you’re struggling massively, or simply aware that you are not as at peace as you’d like to be, Healing Life’s Wounds was written for you. I had you in mind when I wrote it. It’s a simple, easy read, based on all I’ve learned through 20 years of leading healing retreats.

It will walk you gently through the tensions in your mind, the strange sensations in your body, and the negative stories you tell yourself. It will show you how to let go of hurts that have wounded you. And it will help you to forgive. And a whole lot more.

 It’s a self-help book with a difference. And the difference is Jesus. It’s not heavy with scripture, but it looks at some of Jesus’ simple teachings and will help you to actually live into them. Teachings like - Don’t worry. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be angry. Forgive others. … and more - behaviours that sound like great ideas, if only you could do them. Healing Life’s Wounds will gently show you how. It’s for anyone, whether or not you have a faith.

 Already, two readers have told me that it pulled them back from the brink of suicide. Even if your thoughts are not that troubled, this book can help you to feel happier. It’s a book to come back to, again and again.

 

Check out the reviews and pick up a copy: your mental health will thank you.

And if you’d like to have some personal support from me   ...

I’ll be down in East Sussex, leading a gentle Healing Life’s Wounds Retreat, in August. It's almost fully booked: there is just one place left, and you can find more information on the Penhurst Retreat Centre website. I’d love to help you to help yourself take steps towards improved mental wellbeing.

 

World Poetry Day

Do you ever find it challenging to follow God?

In honour of World Poetry Day, here is the very first poem from the very first book I ever published.  

As God calls me to something new and unexpected, it feels as relevant today as it did all those years ago ...

It may not be an easy option, to respond to God's invitations, but experience has taught me it's the most life-giving way to live.

                Not An Easy Option

    Stirring the easy slumbers

    of my consciousness,

    he jolts me

    from the cosy rut

    I’d channelled for myself.

    Breaking the mould of others’ expectations,

    he questions once more

    the status quo in me.

    Prompting me to steer my route

    across uncharted ground,

    he challenges me

    to set my feet on pathways new.

 

    It’s not an easy option, following God.

 

    For he calls me in directions

    where I had not thought to go,

    requires of me

    a courage which I did not think I had,

    turns on their head

    my preconceived ideas and plans.

 

    It’s not an easy option,

    following God.

From 'Whispers of Love', available from my online shop.

You can read more of my poetry on my Poetry Pages.

.

Journeying to Easter

 Looking for a creative resource to bless your Easter?  

                                                                                    Look no further!

The Gift of a Cross 

is a collection of poetry based on the Gospel stories of Holy Week.

Through 70 poems, the book mirrors the journey of Jesus from Palm Sunday to the empty tomb, and beyond; inviting you to put yourself in the heart of the story, as if you were there.

The book is on offer now at the special price of 

                            £7.75 inc. postage. 

 You can order it here: 

                           https://shop.patmarsh.co.uk/

I just have a few copies left ... 

Sweeter than Honey - Psalm 19

For those who haven’t seen the book yet, here’s an extract from 

Dwelling in the Psalms

Who cannot fail to bow down in wonder at the beauty of God’s world? It speaks of the glory of God more powerfully than any words can. His radiant beauty and intricate care shine forth from every aspect of creation. His love in the details is apparent wherever we look. And that same One who birthed all this into being breathed his life-giving words into Scripture. When we feed on those words and allow them to sink into our soul we will recognise them as sweeter than honey, purer than purest gold; another facet of God’s perfect plan.

God of the swirling cosmos,

thank you

for the countless ways

in which you speak to me.

 Help me

to stand in awe

before your natural world;

feed me with its beauty,

stun me with its artistry,

help me to recognise your hand

in every tiny detail.

 Give me an appreciation

of the unimaginable love

woven into creation

and the love

breathed into your Word.

 Deepen my desire

to know you more

and to live

as you designed me to.

 Amen

For more reflections and prayers like this, 

together with contemporary interpretations of each psalm, 

"Dwelling in the Psalms" can be purchased through Amazon, my online shop and all good Christian bookshops.

This lovely book makes the ancient psalms more accessible. 

Verses from each psalm are interpreted, reflected upon and a prayer offered. 

If you have found some psalms difficult to fully understand,

then this is the book for you.

Barbara Dodd

.

An Epiphany Through Music

How to put into words an experience that was beyond words?  That’s my dilemma today.

My whole heart is to help people find healing, whatever that means for them. This longing has shaped my ministry for over twenty years and led to the development of retreats and resources to enable that. 

There are many different pathways to healing and last week I was privileged to experience the very special ministry of the musicians of Epiphany, on their ‘The Space’ retreat at Launde Abbey.  I experienced first-hand the transformative power of music to take us deeply into the healing presence of God, anointing inner wounds that are hard to access through words alone. 

Unique to the ministry of Epiphany is their creation of ‘sound portraits’.  These gifted and deeply prayerful musicians, guided by impressions given them through the Spirit, play spontaneous improvised music over an individual, creating a ‘portrait’ in sound of what they believe God wants to say to that person.

The immersive experience leads the listener to a powerful and profoundly personal healing encounter.  We find ourselves standing on holy ground.  And it is truly transformative.

epiphany

1. a moment when you suddenly feel that you understand, 

or suddenly become conscious of, something that is very important to you

2. a powerful religious experience

definition from the Cambridge Dictionary

On both counts above, my recent retreat experience was indeed an epiphany for me. I felt immensely loved, gently healed, deeply known, and powerfully guided towards the next step in my journey with God.

The group of people who call themselves Epiphany are classically trained musicians at the highest level but also, more importantly, followers of Jesus at the deepest level.  Retreats are only a small part of what they do. They generously take their beautiful ministry into a wide variety of secular settings too, reaching out to others with God’s healing love. 

Do check them out and support or invite them.  And join them on a retreat if you are able; I guarantee it will be special.

You can find them later this year at Scargill House and Ashburnham Place.

.