Be Immersed Anew in the Fruit of the Spirit
‘Each poem lodges a droplet of God’s life into your soul, which will strengthen, encourage and inspire.’
Peter Read, Vice-Principal, Regents Theological College
Did you know that one-third of the Bible is made up of poetry? From the richness of the Psalms to the passion and challenge of the prophets, the biblical authors often found poetry to be the best medium for conveying God’s heart to His people. And with poetry experiencing a resurgence in popularity, could it now be the means to help Christians engage with well-known truths in new and life-changing ways?
In A Piece of Orange, life-long poet Lorna Beedham does just this with the biblical metaphor of the fruit of the Spirit. Through accessible and easily understood poems, she takes each part of the fruit in turn and helps us see it in a new light. Encouraging us with the unique revelation of God’s heart each expresses, she also shows how God seeks to nurture them in our lives.
Have you ever wished for more patience? Have you ever put yourself down because you lacked the self-control to say no? Have you ever yearned to know true peace? We all know that patience, self-control and peace are aspects of the fruit of the Spirit, but we can all struggle to live them out. By letting Lorna’s Spirit-filled poems wash over us, and reflecting on the questions she asks at the end of each chapter, we will be empowered to better partner with God in seeing His fruit grow in us.
‘I am using a method of writing that I find the most comfortable to express myself through,’ says Lorna, ‘one through which I sense the Holy Spirit taking me deeper in my understanding and expression of who God is, and one I enjoy exploring storytelling through. Every poem was only written when a line or a title was given to me by God.’
Peter Read, the Vice-Principal of Regents Theological College, comments, ‘What poignant and emotive thoughts and pictures are conjured up by the words of these poems. Sometimes speaking to God, sometimes God speaking to us, always rooted in Scripture, each one helps us reflect again on the goodness of Jesus in our lives. Each poem lodges a droplet of God’s life into your soul, which will strengthen, encourage and inspire.’
With its creative insights and thought-provoking questions, A Piece of Orange is a unique and refreshing take on this familiar theme – one that will point you to Jesus, and inspire you to grow in the life-changing fruit we can all be known by.
‘Lorna has explored in depth what it looks like to fully embrace the character of God in how He feels about us and gently leads us into a space of reflecting that in our walk with Him.’
Naomi Murphy, Senior Pastor at Lifechurch, Bedworth
A Piece of Orange by Lorna Beedham (ISBN: 9781912726868) is published by Instant Apostle and is available on 21st February 2025 from bookshops and online retailers. Poetry, paperback, 272pp, £12.99.