Reviving Hope

Kia Ora,

This Reviving Hope podcast episode I’m introducing my friend Bron Tait. This is a new recording that you can also listen to on Apple Podcasts or where you like to listen to your podcasts.

Bron and her husband Phil have been pastors for decades. They have an adult son who is profoundly autistic. This life experience along with her nursing background has enriched Bron’s pastoral care in the area of mental health. Here Bron shares her story with empathy emerging from a difficult childhood. Bron tells of how she came to have faith in Jesus.

Bron and Phil have three adult children and six grandchildren who they adore. In 2012, the Tait’s moved to the Kapiti Coast where they planted a church. Bron and Phil are currently part-time pastors to the church leaders at Grace Vineyard in Christchurch, Aotearoa. They also have a mentoring and pastoral care role for church leaders nationally in the Vineyard movement. Bron and Phil both speak regularly at the Grace Vineyard Church campuses around Canterbury. Grace has an online ministry called Grace at Your Place.

Bron helped me greatly throughout my recovery journey. For more about this you can listen to episode one of the podcast. Bron is a valued contributor to Reviving Hope. This episode helps form the background for the podcast. Do share this with friends who could be encouraged by Bron’s story.

Lastly, a huge thank you to Marc Wilson from Marc M Wilson Photography for the beautiful photos taken for the website.

Blessings,

Bronnie Tressler

This episode of the Reviving Hope podcast can be found on Spotify (below), Apple Podcasts and Podbean. Be sure to subscribe for more great content.

Bronnie Tressler and Bron Tait

Dear Friends,

It’s out!! The Reviving Hope podcast has gone live.

My Story is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean and all major platforms.

Almost fourteen years ago I experienced a trauma that brought on a bipolar epiosode. I needed extensive hospital stays and rehabilitation. It was life changing. I have been well and stayed well for many years now. Have a listen to some of the different aspects that made for a great recovery. I am interviewed by my close friend and mentor Bron Tait (we share the same name).

The Reviving Hope Podcast

No podcast is formed without great effort that deserves words and gratitude to supporters. The podcast has been some time in the crafting. Two years ago I started incorporating audio interviews into blog posts. It has morphed since that time. Both my blog and podcast have come from a heartfelt response to people who are suffering from mental health distress or mental health challenges. Now being a podcast and with your help sharing it, we can reach people in new ways. I have had my own mental health journey of hope which I discuss in this first episode with my friend Bron Tait (another Bronnie). She was an agent of hope for me. As you listen you will hear why. This is a new recording. Many people know Bron and Phil Tait from their current ministry at Grace Vineyard Church Christchurch, and around, Aotearoa, NZ. Bron will continue to contribute to the podcast.

Reviving Hope arrives monthly with various guests. You will be  inspired by stories, wisdom and expertise on topics relating to mental health and Christian faith. The many different aspects of wellbeing will be explored.

A heartfelt thank you to every friend and family member who have been cheering me on along this project. My husband Jono and the boys have supported me greatly over this season of learning and growth. It has stretched me – all in good ways!

Thank you to Bron Tait and those interviewed who have contributed to the podcast (fabulous content to come!).

Thank you to generous sponsors, for the gift of excellent sound equipment and other things have made this all possible. Ngā mihi nui to Andy Dickson, and Ryan Chin for their tuition in audio editing and sound engineering.

Credit to Tanya Jack for going beyond with her beautiful graphic design work. Song credit and thank you to Grace Vineyard Music for permission to use the stunning theme song, ‘Blessed Are They’ written by Bazi Baker, Benjamin MacGregor Produced by Joshua MacGregor and Joel Sangster.

I love all the mahi you have all done in supporting this project.

If you are new to Reviving Hope I encourage you to subscribe to this blog to find out more about episodes. If you are new to my site, have a look around. I have been blogging for the past four years.

Please do share my story with those who could benefit from hearing it.

If you are facing mental health challenges, this podcast is for you. Please let me know by comment or contact if you have been helped by what you hear.  

If you support a family member or friend experiencing mental health problems, I trust you will find encouragement in this podcast too.

Thank you again, to you my supporter. I really appreciate your part in this launch!

With joy,

Bronnie Tressler

Kia Ora,

It’s Matariki public holiday today in Aotearoa New Zealand! It is so good to have another public holiday in winter and one rich with meaning.

I was recently walking through the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and came across these beautiful furry magnolia buds. They reached out to be touched and make me smile. Good things happen in dormant seasons. I’m enjoying the break from gardening while working on my podcast (for a sneak peak revisit last post’s recordings). An older friend has reminded me that it is good to reward yourself and to do this in creative ways. I think by focusing on things that bring us pleasure in winter, it can foster hope in what can be a difficult season. I’ve been rewarding myself more with a treat drink and have found myself more motivated to get things done.

Q: How do you reward yourself in winter?

On a different note, I have friends who have had babies this year. It has reminded me how those early years were precious and busy. Sometime ago I wrote a reflection on living in that season and doing this when unwell. I’ve revisited it and thought I’d share it with you.

Messy Busy Season

Our Father gives us what we need for every stage of our lives. There is always fresh hope for our lives no matter what state we’re in.

Amidst the season of having a young family, there is the messiness -the busyness of caring for babies and young children. Then there can also be the unplanned events such as sickness, physical or mental health challenges, deaths, disappointments, earthquakes, financial hardships, and the list can go on. The truth is we sometimes have to live with more than one major life challenge in any stage of life. Having a mental health challenge doesn’t change our likelihood of suffering in other ways. If only it did! This may sound strange, but I’m honestly thankful we were in a busy season of life when I became mentally unwell. When I was home from hospital, life demanded that I get up each morning and care for our baby and toddler as well as keep the house running. These routines such as laundry, food, getting to and from kindy and school helped with my recovery. I was also comforted by having the kids physically close to me. If my acute illness and recovery had happened in another season we would also had the grace and strength needed to manage it. The busyness of that season in my life helped me, while it was also demanding when I was suffering. God provided a way through the valley for us as a whānau. Our Father gives us what we need for every stage of our lives. There is always fresh hope for our lives no matter what state we’re in.

Quiet Times?

To be a mother as is to be constantly connected to the heart of God. It involves less quiet as children drop daytime sleeps. Changing expectations for what a ‘quiet time with God’ looks like is vital if you want to share in the pleasure God takes in you, and your pleasure in what you do. You probably already know this but – many people who don’t have a baby aren’t reading their Bibles. So why not take the weight off and enjoy Him? Perhaps you could write down one verse that stands out to you, place it where you’ll see it, and be reminded of those words. Pray naturally about your feelings and thoughts as they comes to mind. Short and simple prayers are good – even simply being present to feeling love for a child can be prayer.

Making Connections

If we are open to new possibilities we can have needs met within our limitations.

Meeting with friends can be a challenge in this stage of life too. I remember praying with a friend when we would meet with our little ones. We had a thing going that we would catch up on life, and then pray together until our voices were drowned out by some child’s cry. Then we would split like a banana. I came to enjoy the suspense of how many more words we could fit in before a baby lost the plot!  It was so refreshing to pray with a friend, as too often it fell in the too hard basket. It didn’t need to be perfect. Fish and chip dinners with friends can be a hit with low fuss, cost and clean up. I was all for easy food during those times of low energy. I knew of a small group that took week about for the men and for the women to go – so as everyone got to participate. Jono and I hosted a small group before I became unwell. It it was a wonderful time that worked because we could host our friends who were single or without kids. Talking with someone a season ahead of ourselves has been helpful too. If we are open to new possibilities we can have needs met within our limitations. Let your church know if there are factors are preventing you from connecting with others. We need to trust God to make a way through and connect with others in the stage we are in.

Q: Do you have friends you who can pray with? If not what’s a step you could take towards this?

Please share this if you know someone in this busy messy season who would benefit from the encouragement.

Have a great Matariki weekend,

Bronnie Tressler

Psalm 33

Hello friend,

I hope this finds you well. It’s been a rough start to the year for many. I feel for those affected by severe weather events.

It’s been a little while since I’ve posted. I am currently working on material for future release. It may be a while before posting again as I focus my efforts!

Here is a short message based on a psalm I’ve been enjoying. I trust it encourages you to hope in God’s love and presence that fills every inch of the earth.

‘…the earth is full of His unfailing love’

Psalm 33:5

Arohanui,

Bronnie Tressler

Captions in photos are from Psalm 33 (NIV). Photo of southern aurora taken in Invercargill 28th February this year. Other photos by Bronnie Tressler.

Dear Friend,

I hope you have had a nice break connecting with family and friends this summer. It has been a strange holiday period weather wise, particularly tough for those up north experiencing severe weather events. Whatever you situation I hope you have found refreshment over this time.

Something new

With the beginning of a new year I am wrapped to be able to share with you a beautiful new logo for Reviving Hope! Tanya Jack is the local graphic artist behind this artwork. I have so enjoyed the collaboration of ideas on this project and how Tanya has brought these to life.

At the beginning of the design process we talked about symbols for mental well-being and an holistic image that represented the whole person; physical, spiritual, social and mental/emotional. These things are represented in the face/mind and then the wider holistic circle.

 The sprig of leaves with flowers pictured in the logo depict the mānuka plant, native to Aotearoa, New Zealand. Here is it used to symbolise healing and the beauty of well-being. When looking for a native plant to incorporate in the design I didn’t need to look further than mānuka. Some years ago I visited a mānuka farm on the East Cape of the North Island. I was amazed by the health benefits of our native tree. Here are some fun facts about mānuka/leptospermum scoparium that may impress you too!

 Mānuka/kahikātoa can grow up to 10 meters tall and blossoms with white or pink flowers. Historically Māori had many uses for the red wood of the tree including making tools, homes and using the bark for waterproofing roofs. Māori also used the plant for many medicinal uses. Mānuka was also named tea tree by Captain Cook as it was used for drinking tea.

Settlers viewed mānuka as unwanted scrub to clear. It has often been burned and poisoned on farmland. In our times many farmers are planting mānuka on the land again for its many uses such as preventing erosion, providing shade, for honey production and the plant’s healing properties. This special shrub is also known for being a nursery plant. It protects other forest plants as animals generally don’t like to eat it.

Mānuka flowers have five petals and are super sweet attracting nectar for native bees other insects and geckos. It is probably best known for the production of mānuka oil with it’s medicinal uses and most famously for its highly prized mānuka honey. High quality Aotearoa mānuka honey is sought after internationally for many health benefits such as aiding wound care.  

All this to say mānuka is a special plant to have as part of the Reviving Hope logo.

I look forward to using the variations of this image for coming work.

Be blessed as you start into this new year,

Bronnie Tressler

Photo: Shutterstock M Rutherford

Source of information about mānuka: https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/manuka-kahikatoa-and-kanuka/

1. 

   Nice Jean! 😊

2. 

   Yes, I’m asking Him for this ! Jean

3. 

   Hi Sarah, thank you for reaching out with your message. 😊 Yes Anne really was a treasure! God bless you.

4. 

   Thank you for your thoughtful message Karen. God painting people into our lives, is a neat way of thinking about…

5. 

   Kia Ora Jean. Thank you for sharing in your message. It sounds like a big transition you have made coming…

Tips for thriving this Christmas

Dear friend,

Summer brings with it many benefits. I enjoy the change of season with the produce to grow, pick and eat – especially the raspberries and boysenberries. The changes in the garden bring me real satisfaction. It is also a time of many events, especially with children. Most of the time I enjoy the activities but there is a lot we pack into this time with break ups, finishing school, preparing for Christmas and going on holiday. When I’m feeling out of balance I can feel stressed and ‘take the jumps’ looking forward to a more restful time. I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. A psychiatrist once talked with me about how people with bipolar can be affected by family demands and pressures. I think those of us affected by a major mental health challenge can appreciate the achievement of keeping well amidst the demands of life. I was talking with a friend recently about ‘mother guilt’ and we exchanged stories. I was comforted to hear someone else’s experiences. Sometimes I look back on a day or years and have a moment of false guilt for what I think I should have done better for our kids. And then I am often reminded that I have enjoyed this year, mostly thriving. When I think back to how unwell I was when they were small – I take a holy pause and am grateful for God’s provision and faithfulness.

If you are having challenges, I pray that you know God’s comfort and peace right now. Getting though a day or even an hour can be real work when you are struggling. Others may not understand this but Jesus does. You can ask Him to help you. The Father’s mercies and compassions are new every day into the new year and beyond. Consider asking Jesus to make himself known to you this Christmas. Many Christmas carols tell the story of the hope found in Jesus. You could read or listen to something of the Christmas story in the book of Luke in the Bible online.

Here are some of my thoughts for navigating through this summer season:

1. If you aren’t coping and need rest, consider postponing an event or crossing off something on the ‘to do list’ that isn’t essential. At this time I am saying to myself, “it would be nice to have this done but does this really need to happen this week? Can it wait until another time?”.
2. Ask for support if you need it amidst this Christmas and holiday season. It could look like updating support people by text and call. Knowing someone is thinking of you and praying can mean a lot.
3. Maintain a habit that helps keep you in balance. You may need to grab a moment to make it happen. Enlist support where you can. This may allow you time to go for a walk, nap, read or do whatever keeps you in balance. I find combining walking and prayer go well together. The ‘Lectio 365‘ app is a great way to do this in the morning or in bed at night.
4. Take time to focus and be mindful about the things you like about this season. These days can be precious times with family and friends. For us in Aotearoa it’s also summer to be enjoyed.
5. Too much sugar isn’t good for my mood or body. It’s pretty hard at this time of year. I do eat too many treats but one thing I am making a point of doing is drinking less sugary refreshments when it’s not an occasion. Which leads me to…

Lazy Berry Tea

Over the past weeks I’ve been making a favourite iced berry tea in my large teapot, steeping it till cold and putting the whole pot in the fridge to chill for hours. You could use any berry tea but I particularly like Chanui’s Summer Berry tea. I’m drinking it as I write this! My teenage boys enjoy it at home or in a flask to take out on a hot day.

Chanui’s Summer Berry tea can be found on New World’s online shopping. You can buy a box for $4 directly from the Chanui website. They are a Christchurch company. I use 2 tea bags in the bottom of the teapot with the strainer placed in next, then boiling water. This seems to improve the taste. My teapot holds 500ml of tea costing only 20 cents a glass! The tea contains stevia as a natural sugar free sweetener.

I hope this post has encouraged you in some way. I’ll leave you with my favourite Christmas verses from a prophesy given about Jesus from Scripture.

“Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace”.

John 1:78-79 NLT

This light has broken upon us. May you know the hope and light of Jesus both now and into the New Year.

Arohanui,

Bronnie Tressler

1. 

   Nice Jean! 😊

2. 

   Yes, I’m asking Him for this ! Jean

3. 

   Hi Sarah, thank you for reaching out with your message. 😊 Yes Anne really was a treasure! God bless you.

4. 

   Thank you for your thoughtful message Karen. God painting people into our lives, is a neat way of thinking about…

5. 

   Kia Ora Jean. Thank you for sharing in your message. It sounds like a big transition you have made coming…

with Bron Tait

‘Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need’.

Hebrews 4:16

Dear friends,

Do you know someone who is feeling low or like they have failed and couldn’t approach Jesus? Perhaps that’s you right now. This conversation with Bron Tait may be encouragement you need for yourself or someone you care about.

On Friday I published the first part of our conversation where we talk about themes found in the book by Dane Ortlund called Gentle and Lowly. In this second half of the conversation we touch on other topics including compassion for those who experience disturbing thoughts. We finish talking about knowing the love of a dependable Father. Bron leads a prayer for the person who would like to approach our loving Father with confidence and experience how gentle Jesus is.

I feel strengthened and encouraged in my faith by listening to this message. I hope you do too.

Have a great rest of your week,

Ngā mihi nui,

Bronnie Tressler

P.S Some parting words from Gentle and Lowly on my board and a song to soak in.

Book details:
Gentle and Lowly, The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund. Crossway Publishers, Illinois, 2020.

Hebrews 4:16 is from NIV

Photo by Bronnie Tressler