Reasons to believe in the power of the Bible
Rhesymau i gredu ym mhŵer y Beibl
'I manage the Glo bookshop in Motherwell. It’s an independent Christian bookshop and part of a wider mission organisation.
'Before lockdown, bookshops had been struggling anyway. Because we own the building, we were insulated from some of the trials on the high street, where rents and rates have been going up. But we have been fighting for every penny.
'Then coronavirus hit. We took the view that we needed to close the bookshop and the coffee shop that we run. All the staff, including me, went on furlough for two months.
'We re-opened at the end of June. We know that the rest of the year will be a real struggle for us. We normally do a lot of external events and conferences during the autumn, which, by and large will disappear. We have to take it as it comes and ensure that people have a good experience when they come here. People are still nervous about coming out.
'A really significant and helpful text for me over these months has been Isaiah 49.8-9 which is about the restoration of Israel. It’s intensely emotional to read it. It had a context for the people of Israel, but also a context for people, like myself, in lockdown. It’s full of promises that I have been able to hold onto and trust.
'Right in the early days of lockdown, when we didn’t know how things would go, this kind of gave me a longer context to the whole thing, that meant I was able to draw breath and look to the future and know that God was still making these promises today. Now, as we recover the business, it makes me take the long view and look to the days ahead.'
'Rwy'n rheoli siop lyfrau Glo yn Motherwell. Mae'n siop lyfrau Cristnogol annibynnol ac yn rhan o sefydliad cenhadol ehangach.
'Cyn y cloi, roedd siopau llyfrau yn ei chael hi'n anodd beth bynnag. Oherwydd mai ni sy'n berchen ar yr adeilad, roeddem wedi ein hamddiffyn rhag rai o anawsterau’r stryd fawr, lle mae rhenti a threthi wedi bod yn codi. Ond rydyn ni wedi bod yn ymladd am bob ceiniog.
'Yna tarodd coronafeirws. Roeddem o'r farn bod angen i ni gau'r siop lyfrau a'r siop goffi yr ydym yn ei rhedeg. Aeth yr holl staff, gan gynnwys fi, ar y cynllun seibiant am ddau fis.
'Fe wnaethon ni ailagor ddiwedd mis Mehefin. Rydyn ni'n gwybod y bydd gweddill y flwyddyn yn frwydr wirioneddol i ni. Fel rheol byddwn yn mynd i lawer o ddigwyddiadau a chynadleddau allanol yn ystod yr hydref, a fydd, ar y cyfan, yn diflannu. Mae'n rhaid i ni ei gymryd fel y daw a sicrhau bod pobl yn cael profiad da pan ddônt yma. Mae pobl yn dal i fod yn nerfus ynglŷn â dod allan.
'Testun gwirioneddol arwyddocaol a defnyddiol i mi dros y misoedd hyn fu Eseia 49.8-9 sy'n ymwneud ag adfer Israel. Mae'n emosiynol iawn ei ddarllen. Roedd ganddo gyd-destun i bobl Israel, ond hefyd gyd-destun i bobl fel fi yn y cloi. Mae'n llawn addewidion rydw i wedi gallu dal gafael arnyn nhw ac ymddiried ynddyn nhw.
'Yn nyddiau cynnar y cloi, pan nad oeddem yn gwybod sut y byddai pethau'n mynd, rhoddodd hyn rywsut neu’i gilydd gyd-destun hwy imi i'r holl beth, a oedd yn golygu fy mod yn gallu tynnu anadl ac edrych i'r dyfodol a gwybod bod Duw yn dal i wneud yr addewidion hyn heddiw. Nawr, wrth i ni adfer y busnes, mae'n gwneud i mi ystyried yr effeithiau pell ac edrych i'r dyddiau sydd i ddod.'
Do you have a story to share? Email mybible@biblesociety.org.uk
Oes gennych chi stori i rannu? E-bostiwch mybible@biblesociety.org.uk
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‘I have been spending a lot of time in my garden. I find gardening very therapeutic. To be in contact with nature, with God’s creation, is important. If I have a bad day, I dig. It’s very good therapy. I’ve been dealing with 10 years of neglect ...’ Read story | Darllen y stori yn Gymraeg
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Want to share how the Bible has impacted your life? Email mybible@biblesociety.org.uk
Hoffech rannu sut mae’r Beibl wedi cael effaith ar eich bywyd? E-bostiwch mybible@biblesociety.org.uk
