Author Archives: Hannah Grace

For Christians, Lent is a time of sacrifice. A time of going without or giving something up in order to focus on the Lord ahead of Easter. The Bible tells us Jesus went 40 days in the wilderness without food to spend time with God, and as Christians we can also look at how to work from this model to be more open to what the Lord is saying to us. Just as Jesus gave up everything for us at the cross, we can also sacrifice something in return. But sometimes there are practical reasons why we can’t give up certain things. Instead, we can look at what we can start this Lent – use Lent to start something new, something positive to grow closer to God.

“If music be the food of love, play on.” wrote William Shakespeare. Music has the power to be inspiring, emotive, and moving, as well as fun and cheering. Whether you’re looking for a first date with a fun soundtrack or a special outing to make memories, there are lots of enjoyable musical date ideas that can help you be in tune with each other. Music can set a scene and create memories. Music is so linked to love, the great romantics among us have even been known to serenade their potential mates! It’s a feast for the senses; listening to it can be intimate and mood changing, as well as joyful and releasing.

Have you ever tried watching a movie without the score playing? It’s empty, dry and just not the same. The sweeping violins, gentle flute and tinkling piano of a romantic film all help to create an atmosphere and take you on a journey. Music is a language in itself. It’s personal, inspiring and sentimental. It’s a wonderful time traveller, creating and sparking memories. Most importantly in dating, it’s something to bond over: music and dating go together! My husband is a musician and a talented composer – funnily enough, I fell in love with his music before I even met him on Christian Connection. He even composed a theme for me that we walked down the aisle to at our wedding. Music can add so much to your dating life!

Trust is a very important issue in all of life, and that’s especially true in the online dating world. We message and arrange dates with people we’ve never met, we show up and spend time with a stranger and have to decide how things will develop from there. We have to be wise, savvy and make sure we are safe, and we need to know if we can or can’t trust someone for the long term. Dating is about opening up, telling people about yourself, being vulnerable – we can only do that if we truly trust someone, otherwise we will be guarded, have a barrier up and the dates will grind to a halt. But we also need to balance our boundaries and sensible self-protection. So how we can take those first impressions of someone new and grow trust while dating?

Sometimes when dating, you just know someone isn’t right for you for the long term and letting down gently is the next step. You find your conversations going through the same small talk – again; you seem to be too different in key areas; practically it won’t work; the timing isn’t right, or that all-important growing connection just isn’t there. However, if you decide not to pursue a relationship, it is healthy to give someone closure, to finish well and be honourable in your actions. How can you do that safely and well?

It seems that most people these days are already in a committed, loving relationship… with their phone. Who can live without it? It’s the go-to form of communication, office, relaxation station, camera, social life – everything. It can be easy to feel empty without it, if we ever allowed that to happen – wherever we go, our phones go too. It’s addictive and can suck us into an insular world. Of course, there are many pros to having a phone. It can make communication and dating much easier for a start! So, what are the things to consider when dating in the smartphone age? What does good phone etiquette look like?

Easter is a time when we remember what Jesus did for us, His death and resurrection. Yes, it’s also a time when there are many happy, fluffy lambs, Easter eggs, chocolates and bunny rabbits, but the true meaning of Easter is all about Jesus and always will be. It is a solemn time, but also a time full of hope, excitement and a fresh start. We can go through a range of emotions as we remember this significant time in Christ’s life. What can we learn through this period of Easter to help us to be more Christlike and what can we bring into our dating lives and our relationships?

Easter is a time for reflection but also a time for joy. As Christians we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus and the new life that offers. Alongside this are lots of new traditions involving chocolate, food and fluffy animals! If you’ve met someone you want to get to know better or you’re looking for something to do that makes the most of the season, here are some fun and rewarding Easter date ideas to consider. Bunny ears optional!