To Overcome by Mary Bourne

“Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” — Romans 5:2–4 (NLT) Lately, I’ve been on a journey—one of learning, healing, and finally accepting that some things in life require more than just pushing through. For years, I believed that if I just kept going, if I stayed strong, I could outrun my past. That if I ignored the thoughts and the weight of what had happened, it would somehow disappear. But trauma doesn’t work that way, does it? No matter how much time passes, pain that isn’t healed finds a way to resurface. And I’ve learned that healing isn’t about “just getting on with it.” It’s about allowing yourself the space to be cared for, to be...

Finding Strength & Peace in Loss This February I will be taking up the challenge of Running/Walking a mile a day to raise awareness of a charity that supported us when we lost our daughter.  I know i have mentioned this time in my life before back on previous blog's, but maybe today  its the words that you just needed to hear.  Back in 2003, at just 39 weeks pregnant, we sadly lost our daughter, Alice. A time no parent should ever have to go through. How do you even prepare for that? The pink room was all set, the fresh smell of baby clothes ready to be worn, and then—the most heartbreaking news: the baby we had carried for nearly nine months had died. No medical reason, no explanation, just the devastating words that the cord had broken. Giving birth and then heading home without our baby in our arms, replaced instead by overwhelming grief and heartbreak, was something I never imagined I would face. It was a grief so deep that it felt like it could swallow me whole...

Looking back on a blog that is now nearly 11 years old, it’s remarkable to see how much has changed—not just in my life, but in the world of technology. Back then, creating video content for my blog would have seemed foreign, almost unthinkable. Yet today, it’s part of my everyday life. Over the years, I believe I’ve truly found my voice. I live each day with a purpose: to share faith, express love, and offer encouragement. This world is filled with brokenness and hurt, and if I can bring even a glimmer of hope to someone through the way I live and act as a Christian, that is enough for me. My faith is the cornerstone of my life. For so long, I hesitated to speak up about it, but now I embrace it fully. I believe in the Trinity: God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—three in one. In a world where the concept of God is often misused and the Spirit misunderstood, I hold firmly to the belief that they are inseparable. To reach God, you need Jesus. To truly experience the Spirit, yo...

Happy New Year,  Here we are, stepping into a new year filled with fresh opportunities to welcome a different season. It's time to cast off the old, shedding any unnecessary baggage that might be holding us back. As we ponder the questions of "What's next?" and contemplate what this year may unfold, I acknowledge my need for planning. However, there's a newfound excitement in embracing the uncertainty and entrusting God with the direction of my life, eager to discover what revelations He may unveil. Today, I extended a challenge on my social media, inviting anyone interested to spend the upcoming week reconnecting with God. Below is a link to a highly recommended Bible app. I encourage you to take a leap and give God a chance in this first week of the year. What do you have to lose? It might just be the key to something transformative. So I leave you with this simple Prayer: Father Help me to Live this day to the full Being true to you in every way  Jesus help me ...

Hi their, well yesterday I stumble across my blog that I had totally forgot about, so I thought I would leave a little new blog post.  Life has been storming ahead, celebrating that I am over 11 years clear from cancer and embracing all that life throws at me, good or bad, easy or hard.  Life is a journey and we all have those obstacles to navigate. You know that for me I have Faith in God and so thankful that I don't need to carry the burden, I can give it all to him.  My Life has changed over the years, but the foundations still remain the same, faith, prayer, worship, family, and friends, but now experiencing a whole new level of work, projects and opportunities. I have found a world outside of my own little life that I never knew existed, and have had the privilege to make good friendships that have gone beyond my imagination. I have steeped out far from my comfort zone on public speaking and now share my life and faith in ways that I never knew I would. Learnt new sk...

As a Church we have been learning from our pastor the importance of spiritual disciplines. One of those disciplines is a key to overcoming the stresses and strains of this world. God didn't design us to be busy, rushing people, but birthed us originally into a garden filled with wonder and creation. All that God had supplied in that Garden was all humans ever needed. Unfortunately, sin entered, and man then had to then rework his relationship with God. Sin came between us and only allowing Jesus to take that away can we enter a place of rest again. I'm not here to preach to you but give a little biblical background on how entering the rest can happen for Christians and all who allows themselves to want enter rest.  Over resent years people are seeking this sense of Calm any which way they can, this may involve downloading apps, reading books on meditation, finding happy places, exercise or anyway that helps to empty the mind of the crazy life we lead...

The unopened Present Recently I had the opportunity to share an experience in my life that happened long before my cancer Journey. This time may have been over shadowed in recent years by that journey, but seems to now be the right time to allow the experience to come into the world and help others in similar situations. Back in 2003 after being a mum to Philip. My Husband Matt and I decided to have another child. To our delight, I fell pregnant and the 9 months of sickness begun. A pregnancy of no complications, a healthy baby, and a home being filled with Pink. We found out that we were to have a baby Girl and named her Alice Mary Bourne. The excitement set in as we prepared to meet our baby girl due in Early September 2003. At 37 Weeks I had seen the Community Midwife at home, and all was well, the following day I had a scan Booked at the local Hospital just to check that all was ok. That day in the scan room we found out that our beautiful baby Girl had died. In a space ...

Happy Friday world, trust that you are all well.         As a church we have been challenged recently that we are called to GO. This got me thinking that how do I do that? I don't think Jumping on a plane will be the answer at this time, but how do I still live out the way Jesus words so clearly spoken to the disciples back in Acts 2 be accomplished in my life.       You all know my story, and I do shy from a constant talking about it as I  really do not want to lift  ME up. Jesus has opened my eyes in a various ways to see real compassion . Jesus needs to be shar ed to all, and steeping out of the 4 walls of chu rch and home can do this. I'm so thankful I have experienced this first hand this last year. My eyes will weep quickly as he shows his love in the unlikely of places and people       I must use what's God has placed in my hands and serve him with all my spirit, soul and body...

When you hit the mile stone of 3 years remission, I guess a blog entry needs to be written.  First thank you Jesus for the healing miracle that Happen and I can live today. I never knew that still after all this time, I still get hits and comments every day on this blog. I'm not a good writer, and spelling is far from my strong point, but like Moses you just have to be obedient and serve in Gods plan.   My life is fantastic and everyday brings wonderful challenges. God has blessed me with so many new open doors. So if you are in the storm and you don't think you are ever going to get out of it, trust me you will and life changes for the better. x

What if...... What if you did stop and just spoke to that homeless person.? What if you put thr spare change in the collection box? What if you just stopped to say hi to the friend across the street? What if the elderly on the bus had your seat? What if the bad things that happen were because you made the wrong choice? What if the sickness was because original sin? What if the good was shinning greater that then bad? What if the world might have just had been created? What if you just prayed and then something happened? What if there was a God of love not of hate? What if you just stopped and thought that life has to have a meening? What if the love you feel actually was created by a God that loved us first? What if.......... (Before you settle on what you think, ask yourself what if...) 

Life for most of us  is a race to always moving on to the next thing on the to do list. I love a list and my family will find post it notes dotted around to make sure the day to day keeps ticking over. Sometimes tho you just need to stop and take time out. I love to have those salah moments. A time to stop, pause, and breathe. They do not happen as much as   I like but when they do, it's important to use the time wisely. I'm very good at sleeping! I can quite often sneak away and have a power nap, sometimes I need to be just still and think and listion than to full asleep! Within us all we have a inner soul. This will define who we are inside and out. If our thoughts are not pure then what comes out of our hearts will be hard and unkind. Having souls that feed our hearts and minds with compassion, love and a servant hearted outlook will make our life's much more attracted for others to rely and trust in us.  Take a salah moment when you can to examine the inner you. ...

2012 was the year of extreme madness, it has been nearly 3 years since I had my first scan and diagnosis. Time has somehow wizzed by and cancer seems like a distant memory.  A life changing season for me and my loved ones, it really did open my eyes to see things in more detail and love.  Love will outshine everything in the end. If you find it hard to believe this just look around you and I promise you will find one thing that love is sparkling through. 

Nearly two years in remission :))). Time defentaly is a healer. I'm strong, happy, seeking new oppertunities and living the dream. I'm finding new things about my faith each day that blows my mind. We must always keep growing and learning. Never stand still keep searching for ways to bless and pour love out to others.  I'm still so very blessed to be working with some amazing people in my day job. Having a job gives you great oppertunities to get to know many different types of people, God makes us all so different and we must learn to accept and encourage one another. Be the one who gives that little bit extra and raise others up.  My heart still longs to worship my saving God. Day by day I see more of his love. In a world that shines to much hate and distraction, try and look for the good. I promise you it is there and it will shine when you see it. Life is hard and challenging for some of us, just keep going, place good friends around you and find peace in the middle of ...

Hello, I am amazed still at the amount of hits I get from my blog. This is encouraging me to keep my blog up and keep writing about the ups and downs. Life for me is full on, I'm now working in 2 jobs.  God has blessed me with a job at the only 2 places I can work. As I still have to be the mum and be their for my 3 children and have no car to leave the village this is an answer to prayer.  I love the primary school job still, but also now work at the pre school.  Studying 2 courses takes up most of the spare time, theology makes my brain work overtime and level 3 childcare is a must.  I have found comfort this last months in my body to continually to gain physical strength.  Something that hit me very hard was anxiety. Crept right up on me. Worrying about the simple things everyday and having my stomach doing summer saults. This is slowly fading but life after cancer throws up annoying things. Out of this worry I try so hard to keep my eyes firmly fixed on Jesu...

Hello, me again Before you all get worried and the wrong idea nothing is wrong I'm fine I'm not a woman of very expressive emotion and as I write my heart gets poured out in such a way that my mouth could never do. So writing this blog is allowing access to a place not many get to, so I have decided to write again and share the crazy world my feet walk in. I find that as a women doing life, I'm not the only one with highs and lows, good or bad. Typically we all sometimes hold back and just say "I'm okay" but deep down feeling all messed up inside. So I asked you to walk with me in my life's journey and somehow show you those things you thought you did is just you but really are just the norm for all of us. As you may know or not I am a Christian totally in love with Jesus please do not turn off now as I'm not going to preach to you, God will pop up now and then as my whole life is centred round him. All,that I am and all that I do, I try to do with his...

I have been waiting and waiting for so long to finally write this final blog. I have so much to say, many Thanks to give and a lot to really appreciate. I did it, ran that really difficult race of fighting cancer. It did not win. I beat it. Cancer no longer has a part to play in my body. Last may when I was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma that had spread all round my lymph system, my life changed. I had a choice to make, to fight or let the cancer take over. I am a strong women and fighting was the only option. I have a family, friends, work and a life to lead, why would I give that all up. So I went into battle with strong chemo every 2 weeks for 6 months. Chemo is horrid, just opening my eyes in the morning was to much but managed to walk my kids to school and keep I balance within the home. You may say well done Mary you made it, pat on the back, but I do not want any glory. I have a friend so powerful that deserves all the praise. With out there help I could have not carried ...

I feel totally normal, my house is ticking over as normal, just the small problem of my body inside needs to play the game. It Is nearly a year since I was walking into the doctors and starting tests. Who would have thought in under a year I found out I had cancer, had 6 months of chemo and now in a waiting game of what happens next. I start the whole process of scans again this week and then the long wait until results day. Hopefully it will be the news we all long for. remission! Many people have asked me how I can still love God so much after all that I have been through. Firstly I don't and will never understand why, but it made me realise that God is so real and faith in him is reality. When you are faced with a life or death situation, in those moments the only thing that you can rely on is faith. Heaven becomes very close and what you have on earth is like a blink. You really do question yourself to what is really after death, and thankfully I know that Jesus gives me...

And the results are in. On the whole my lymph nodes have made a dramatic improvement but still have not reduced enough to get that all clear. The question that still stands is the swelling on the nodes scar tissue or disease? The consultant is very happy with the progress but can not give me the 100% all clear. So more scans over the next 2 months as my body keeps healing and hopefully a clearer result next time. She said that I need to keep going and keep living my life as I normally would. So I'm going to get up , put my best foot forward and lock my heart and eyes onto Jesus and carry on.

Can it really be 31st December? I made it. It's been a long and bumpy ride with physical and emotional ups and downs. It's been a wonderful full week spending time with family and friends. The kids have relaxed and have had some great presents. I have been blessed today on my 35th birthday. Blown away with the amount of messages. As I head into 2013 I pray for strength and total healing. It will be great to go to my appointment at the end of the month and get some good news. Until then I have to get on and get up, take life by the horns and keep the smile on my face. I expect to learn and grow more. Life is precious. Live it to max. So tonight I'm partying at my sisters bringing in the new year with the most important people in my life. Happy new year x

The journey is still having to be continued. It was results day with the consultant after having my pet scan last week.  To cut a long story short without all the minor details, my scan still showed some cell activity, now this may or may not be cancer cells.  My body is trying to fix itself and the lymph nodes are in a process of healing. The cells are most properly scar tissue. I will have to have a CT scan early in the new year to confirm what is going on. Basically it is to early to tell what is happing within my body.  After 6 months of being knocked again and again it is going to take time to recover. If after my CT scan there is still areas of concern more biopsies will be taken. I am feeling much better and glad all the sickness has gone for Christmas. The next month again will be long and hard, but I am positive all will be ok and God knows what he is doing. One good thing is that I have been signed back into work. This is exactly what I need. An hour a day ...