Rediscovering the Miracles of Jesus Through Verse
‘More than a book of poems, it is a resource that allows us to pause at the end of each miracle and chapter and encourages us to activate our faith and our prayers with the Word of God.’
Alison Key, pastoral care lead, Hope Church Rotherham and founder of Heart and Skill Worship Discipleship School
With poetry continuing to enjoy a remarkable revival in Britain – more than one million poetry books were sold in 2025 alone – a new collection of poems invites us to encounter every Gospel miracle afresh in verse.
Every Then and Now is poet Lorna Beedham’s second anthology. While her first shone a new light on the fruit of the Spirit, this new book revisits every one of Jesus’ healings and miracles. The majority are seen through the eyes of the person who was healed, with insightful perspectives into how their life was before – the ‘then’ – and after – the ‘now’ – their encounter with Him. Other poems explore the impact Jesus’ miracles had on those who witnessed them, bringing hope and stirring belief.
Many of us know these stories from the Gospels so well. But the medium of poetry has a unique capacity to help us slow down, embrace the mystery and explore the emotional truths of these life-changing encounters. Lorna’s accessible poems lend the miracles and healings a dynamic personal element as they reflect on how hearts and minds were healed, as well as bodies. Each pair of poems – the ‘then’ and the ‘now’ for each encounter – also comes with thoughtful questions to help readers, in groups or as individuals, to think through their meaning for our lives today.
‘I have read the Gospel stories many times over,’ comments Lorna, ‘but, just like many others, I followed Jesus on His journey without giving much thought as to how things changed for those who experienced His miracles. This collection gave me the chance to stay with the people and imagine what life was like before, during and after the miracle they experienced.
‘And why in the genre of poetry? Not just because it is my favourite form of writing but because, by its nature, it creates space for imagination. Not just mine, but that of the reader as well, to create an engaging, relatable and personal story. My hope is that Every Then and Now gives readers both permission and opportunity to ponder what an encounter with Jesus looked like in the flesh, and to realise encounters with Him can still happen today.’
‘Each poem lingers beyond the final line, prompting reflection: Where has Christ met me? When has He intervened just in time? Lorna masterfully bridges Scripture and contemporary faith, allowing the “then” of the Gospel to become the “now” of our own lived experience.’
Danny Murphy, lead pastor, United Church, Bedworth
Every Then and Now by Lorna Beedham (ISBN: 9781917941013) is published by Instant Apostle on 17th July 2026 and is available from bookshops and online retailers. Poetry, paperback, 272pp, £12.99.