Dreams are so bizarre. Our minds have these entire experiences that are worked out while we sleep, consolidating memories, processing the day and sometimes, giving us what feels like divine insight into the challenges of our waking hours.

But how do we distinguish between regular brain function and spiritual revelation?

For most of her life, media entrepreneur and filmmaker Paige Collins thought her vivid dreams were just part of how her mind worked.

“I dream almost every night,” Paige said.

“That’s been a very normal thing for me my entire life.”

Everything shifted about eight years ago, when she woke from a dream to the sound of her own voice praying.

“I was asking God to give me an interpretation for what it was that I had just dreamed [and] that was the moment that I realised my dreams might not just be mind-clutter,” Paige said.

That moment marked the beginning of what Paige now calls being “a God dreamer.” Before then, she hadn’t considered dreams as spiritual.

“I grew up in the church, but I didn’t grow up in a church community that really emphasised the supernatural,” Paige said.

“He’s going to give people business [ideas in dreams], he’s going to give them creative works, he’s going to speak into our personal lives as well as our professional lives in this way.

“I feel very strongly about that. And if we’re not listening, we might miss some things.”

Since Paige began journalling her dreams and praying through them, “God just began to take me through a season of training in my own dream language” using scripture as an anchor.

“God speaks in dreams throughout scripture,” Paige said.

“He gives warnings [and] He gives really beautiful prophetic images.”

Having that Biblical grounding is vital, so you know it’s God shaping how you interpret the dream.

“We have to allow the Lord to bring the ultimate revelation and clarity,” Paige said.

“We don’t need to jump to conclusions.”

Over time, Paige believes God teaches each person how He communicates with them, revealing things about calling and destiny, but also personal wellbeing.

“There are very personal conversations happening between us and Him,” Paige said.

“Some of the most important dreams in my life, although they were a bit uncomfortable, brought about healing.

“They showed me unknown things I needed to deal with, and I think anything that’s going to lead me into intimacy with the Lord is something I want to say yes to.”

Paige Collins’ Awaken Dream Journal is out now.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

About the Author: Laura Bennett is a media professional, broadcaster and writer from Sydney, Australia.

Feature image: Supplied

When actor and writer Dan Widdowson saw a newspaper article declaring “humanity was dead” he rebelled against the idea that goodness had become extinct, embarking on a mission to reinvigorate kindness one small act at a time.

In Humanity Isn’t Dead: How to Change the World in 40 Days, Dan celebrates good in the world and details 40 ways we can create more if it.

“[After seeing that headline] I got really angry,” Dan said.

“How can a news agency promote that as their number one story?”.

The claim struck him as not only untrue, but harmful.

What followed was months of reflection about “why I don’t believe humanity is dead [and] I do believe goodness still exists.

Dan kept returning to one simple conviction: “all of us have the capacity to change someone’s life”.

“If you do a small gesture for one other person that day, you’ve positively impacted their world,” Dan said.

Rather than offering a challenge, Dan describes the book as “40 opportunities laid ahead of you,” each one a chance to practise kindness in tangible, grounded ways.

Day One?

“Write a letter to someone,” Dan said.

“Not to get anything in return [just] a pleasant hard-copy letter. Someone opens it, reads it, keeps it. Nothing bad can come of that.”

Other days invite readers to care for another living thing or simply notice small opportunities to step toward compassion.

“I’m turning a corner [and] I’m choosing optimism,” Dan said.

Life experience may rub off the innocence of youth, but Dan’s learning that there’s evidence of good “all around us if we choose to see it”.

Humanity Isn’t Dead also invites readers to track their experiences and see how simple kindness can be.

“There’s space to write your journey down,” Dan said.

“You can look back and see what landed, how people responded, and how it made you feel.”

Humanity Isn’t Dead is out now.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

Feature image: Publicity Image Used With Permission

Romance? Check. Minimal drama? Check. Christmas? Check.

Need I say more? Mary-Anne O’Connor has written my perfect novel!

Christmas Joy introduces us to a young woman, Miss Joy Parker, who has a vibrant, contagious love for life. 

Everywhere she goes, Joy exudes kindness and generosity and suffice to say, when Christmas time comes around it lifts her spirits even higher.

While she may not have much in the way of material possessions and wealth, and even though her employer seems determined to try and steal her sparkle, Joy doesn’t let that get her down as she continues to care for those less fortunate than herself.

Things take a turn for Joy when she is introduced to the new Earl of the village, and she finds herself pulled into the world of debutante balls, gossip, and scandal.

Will Joy be able to stay true to herself and her family values, or will she be caught up in the drama of high-end society and royalty, especially when the heart gets involved?

In a world where discouragement can easily creep in, having something festive and wholesome to get lost in is very important, and Mary-Anne O’Connor gives us that gift within these pages.

I highly recommend adding this to your Christmas reading list, or gift it to someone you know who loves getting lost in all-things-romance! It is an easy read that will leave you encouraged to step out and give to others, whilst taking note of all the wonderful things happening around you.

Psalm 118:24 (ESV) – This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

For combining all the elements I love in one package, I give this book 5 stars.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

Feature image: Publicity Image Used With Permission

‘Isn’t It Nice We Both Hate the Same Things’ explores how we build, and rebuild, friendships with others later in life.

Sustaining meaningful friendships in adult life can feel like a pipedream: people have work, family commitments and less energy to be always available for spontaneous catch-ups.

We know we need connection though, so how to do friendship as adults?

Following on from her debut novel Perfect-ish, author Jessica Seaborn’s new book Isn’t it Nice We Both Hate the Same Things delves into how we build, and rebuild, friendships with others later in life.

“I knew I wanted to explore adult friendship, specifically making new friends as an adult,” Jessica said.

“That was the starting point of the book [because] I just related to it.”

Jessica moved to Sydney at 21, knowing only two people.

“They left soon after,” Jessica said.

“It took a really long time to make any kind of friends.”

That experience of loneliness stayed with Jessica and resurfaced during the pandemic. Emerging in her thirties, she realised she was craving more than the daily routines of work and home.

“I have a small pool of quality people and that’s great but I needed to be more intentional,” Jessica said.

It’s a sentiment many adults share. Research shows that while strong friendships are essential for well-being, adults often struggle to form and maintain them. A 2023 YouGov survey found that nearly one in five adults reported having no close friends, and psychologists suggest that time constraints, vulnerability, and life transitions (like moving, marriage, or parenthood) make friendships harder to build after our twenties.

“You have to be vulnerable to reach out,” Jessica said.

“It feels a little bit like dating – especially when you’re meeting new people.

“You’re putting yourself out there.”

To reconnect, she joined running groups, reached out to former colleagues, and even experimented with Bumble BFF.

“That really felt like dating,” Jessica said.

Still, she found moments of real connection.

“For me, great friendships [where there’s] quality over quantity can make me happy,” Jessica said.

She also began to notice patterns in how friendships evolve – or don’t.

“If I’m always the one reaching out, that friendship may not last,” Jessica said.

“I’ve learned to ask, would this person be there for me if I needed them?”

Those questions about reciprocity, effort, and vulnerability are woven through Isn’t it Nice We Both Hate the Same Things which follows the character Charlie as she navigates guilt, grief, and the quiet ache of disconnection. Like Charlie, Jessica is interested in what happens when we reach out, and what we risk when we don’t.

“There’s no shame in wanting connection,” Jessica said.

“And someone else probably needs it too.”

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

Feature image: Supplied

For more than 30 years, Anthony “Harries” Carroll has been a familiar face on Bondi Beach, saving over 6000 lives as part of the Bondi Rescue team.

All of it, in spite of a dyslexia diagnosis that threatened to hold him back from a such a high-pressure role.

As he shares in the children’s book Harries: The Lifeguard from Bondi Beach, Anthony struggled with dyslexia all through childhood, bullied for his inability to read and write, and now he’s using the experience to encourage kids to see their own strengths.

“I couldn’t read or write as a kid,” Anthony said.

“My twin brother and I [both] struggled so hard, and we were made fun of and bullied.

“I’m just using this to really help kids out there because I know there’s so many kids that struggle with different conditions and difficulties.”

Like so many kids of a similar generation, the bullying was relentless and there wasn’t much consideration for the mental health effects of treating a child that way.

“Bullying is a confidence killer,” Anthony said.

“There was a picture of a brick down at the beach, and it said, ‘This is Harries brain.’

“That brick literally was there for 35 years. I thought, well, you could either look at this brick and let it bring you down or go to your strengths and work on everything to be a better version of yourself.”

The resilience Anthony developed as a kid has shaped his career as a lifeguard and also heightened his perception for dangerous situations – which is vital for his role.

“Fear is a natural thing that everyone is faced with,” Anthony said.

“I’ve preserved human life for 30 years. I’ve never lost someone on my watch.”

For Anthony, dyslexia is not something to hide, but something that has helped him thrive.

“One person might call it a disability, but it’s not a disability,” Anthony said.

“This is my ability that’s given me the greatest opportunity in life.”

Anthony’s hope is that children will know they are not defined by their struggles and that they find joy in something that gives them the same outlet he’s found in the water.

“The ‘ocean is lotion’,” Anthony said.

“Once you’re moving, everything just feels so free.”

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

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“I see for the first time that for all the mystery and luck in a game of cards, there are things that I can learn to increase my chances of winning. I realised Gami isn’t just lucky or talented. She’s trained her brain. And I can too.”

Source Code; My Beginnings is the story of a young boy who doesn’t see the limitations and barriers that come with being a child in a grown-up’s world, but rather he gives everything a try and remains self-aware through all the experiences.

Is this interesting? No. Will it help him get closer to achieving his goals? No. is there anything he can learn from it? Yes!

The first half of Bill Gate’s Source Code focuses mainly on Bill and his upbringing, his family dynamics and influence, and the development of his love for all things computer and code. 

The second half of the book, however, is for a more specific audience. 

The computer lingo increases drastically, there is less family and friend discussion, and unless it’s something you have an interest in, some parts can be a mission to get through.

It is worth reading the whole thing though, as there are formative events that occur throughout his story that greatly influence his view of the world and the paths he takes.

I think it’s also important to note that, even though opportunities seemed to fall into Bill’s lap, whether it be through the influence of his parents or his simple inability to accept resistance, not everyone will have the same opportunities presented to them.

It won’t be so easy for some children to pursue their dreams due to the realities of their specific situation, maybe their parents don’t have the same sized bank account or circle of friends – and that is ok.

Scriptures such as Psalm 37:4-5 remind us to “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” 

In Christ, we have access to everything we could ever need, and we must remember that He can open any door He wants; propelling us into a position we had only dreamed of.

Main Take Aways

My main take-aways from this book were:

Education Matters

It is crucial to be well-read, pursue good education and self-improvement.

Friends Matters

Surround yourself with people who are moving in the same direction as you, who can encourage and challenge you along the way.

Flexibility Matters

A one-size fits all approach doesn’t work when raising children – just because your child isn’t conforming to the status quo of the mainstream classroom doesn’t mean they won’t go on to achieve great things.

Encouragement Matters

Give children the space and encouragement to pursue their own interests and dreams, helping them as much as you can.

Failure Matters

“The axiom that you learn more from your failures than your successes is trite but absolutely true”.

While this book is very well written and informative, giving us a glimpse into the beginnings of this world-renowned businessman and philanthropist, I feel it is best enjoyed by a very specific audience therefore I give this book 3.5 stars.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

Feature image: Canva

“Were I to fall in love, indeed, it would be a different thing; but I have never been in love; it is not my way, or my nature; and I do not think I ever shall.” ~Jane Austen

Emma Woodhouse has made her first love-match. 

The marriage of Mr Weston and Emma’s governess and dearest friend, Miss Taylor is a source of great happiness for the community, and a dreadful moment for the forever worried Mr Woodhouse.

Now believing she has a knack for joining people together, Emma sets her sight on finding a match for her new friend, Harriet Smith. 

However, it soon leads to consequences that makes Emma examine her arrogance and selfishness.

A witty, comical novel, Jane Austen writes about a character of whom she thought “no one but myself will much like.” 

But ‘Emma’ remains one of her most popular works (after Pride and Prejudice of course) because of its complex and unique characters and sparkling story.

Finding the Christian message in ‘Emma’ is easy.

It showcases the importance of self-reflection and leading a better life. 

Throughout the novel, we watch on as Emma transforms to become a better person. 

Her initial arrogance and belief she can control and tamper with the lives of those around her leads to Emma striving to become a much better person. 

This novel emphasising seeking forgiveness from others and one’s own personal growth.

As I was reading ‘Emma’, I was also reminded of the Bible verse from Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.”

I feel like this verse captures the message of ‘Emma’ perfectly – reminding us to put others first above ourselves, something Emma learns as the novel progresses.

‘Emma’ truly is a lovely book, and I enjoyed every moment of this novel. If you haven’t read a Jane Austen book, let this be your first. 

If you have, let this be another one you read by one of the most famous authors in history.

I give ‘Emma’ 4 stars out of 5.

Happy reading everyone!

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

Feature image: Book Cover Used with Permission

About the Author: Joni Boyd is a writer, based in the Hawkesbury Region of NSW. She is passionate about the power of stories shared, to transform lives.