My Bible

My Bible

Since the start of the first Covid lockdown, the St James family have been sharing what the Bible means to them, what it does for them, and how it inspires them with the Bible Society as part of the My Bible project - a web-based initiative that brings together people's stories of how the Bible has impacted their lives.

Here you'll find all the inspiring and true-life stories from the St James family.

‘I've always liked Ecclesiastes 1.2: “‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher” – even though it's melancholy and depressing, which I am not.

A verse of Psalm 23 became particularly meaningful to me a few years ago when I was at University and I was attacked and sexually assaulted by a member of staff. That led me to a very dark place. I felt very alone and very abandoned by God – why am I in this place, why did he let this happen to me and where is he in all this?

‘During the past year I've been struck by Psalm 121 verses 3–7, especially, “He will not let your foot slip” and “the Lord is your shade at your right hand”.

‘I love the story of the wedding at Cana in John 2, where Jesus turns water into wine.

‘Isaiah 61.1 says, “He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” That ties in with what I do with [debt counselling charity] Christians Against Poverty

‘In 2003 I went to Uganda. I was treasurer of a charity and I went to visit the work I'd been supporting. I had never been abroad before and never gone on a long-haul flight so it was a major event for me, more so because a few years previously I'd had ME and I had been off work for 10 months.

‘A verse that's meant a lot to me recently is Matthew 5.14, “You are the light of the world.”

‘I recently received a diagnosis of cancer. The scripture I read then was John 17.13, where Jesus prayed for his disciples that “they might have my joy in their hearts in all its fullness”

‘My life is quite tricky. Thirteen years ago, I had a phone call from the kids saying that their mum couldn’t move. Her spine was crumbling, and later she was diagnosed as having only half a brain.

‘I’ve written for years. I’m writing my second book. My dream is to get the book out there for people to read. I love my characters and they are part of my life, and I find it exciting finding out what’s going to happen.

‘I was cleaning my house and I kept hearing the word “Deuteronomy” in my head. I was wondering what that meant. Mostly, I use the internet to find things out. I found a video on YouTube that takes you through Deuteronomy and how God is cleansing us.

‘The verse that has meant the most to me is Jeremiah 29.11. It says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

‘During lockdown, I have become a lot closer to God. Before, I was always so busy. My great-nan used to read the Bible, but we kept it somewhere special. At Easter, I felt a lot closer to God and Jesus, so I asked my parents to get me a Bible. I wanted something that was easy to read.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS