Daily ScriptureChrist did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. (Hebrews 9.24) Daily ReflectionHeaven is… well, somewhere beyond where we are now, a dream picture, a vision maybe of the very best of the not-perfect life we know. The natural association was with the heavens above, until the science became clear, but never seriously as anything other than a way of locating the hoped-for and unknown. In the Bible we find alternative pictures of heaven - Paradise, the perfect garden, or a golden city, the new Jerusalem. Whatever heaven we might be longing for, whatever our present earth-bound situation, we can trust that God – Father, Son, Holy Spirit – is 100% there and here, with us. "Lift up your hearts"! David Harmsworth
Daily Scripture:And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:5b-7)Daily Reflection: We often worry about our position, our status. We hope that we will get the proper recognition from those around us that we think we deserve for what we do. Here Peter reminds us that we should be humble in the way we live with one another, and remember that – at the end of the day – it is recognition from God for the things that we do that really counts; it counts far, far more than human praise. We should seek to obey God and be guided by Him. And if we worry about what other people think, we should cast those anxieties upon God…. because He cares for You. Try it today: cast the things that are worrying you upon God. Humble yourself; tell Him you need His help. Revd David
Daily ScriptureThe river of God is full of water;you prepare grain for your people,for so you provide for the earth.You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges;you soften the ground with showers and bless its increase (Psalm 65 v 9-10)Daily Reflection Sunday 9th May was Rogation Sunday, a day to be thankful for the earth that God created, in which we can grow food and marvel at the diverse wildlife it contains. The verse above tells us that God provides everything necessary for the sustaining of life. As human beings we are so often concerned with the future - what we will have, how we will get it, and how happy it will make us. The truth is that God is in the here and now - the present moment you are living. If we are so concerned with tomorrow, we will miss the great blessings of today! Little wonder that the Bible reminds us that even the birds of the air flourish and thrive with no concern for their future providence! Living in the present, knowing that God has given you all you need for today brings freedom and peace. Tomorrow will take care of itself. God will be there too. Vicki Young
Daily ScriptureAbove all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:8-10)Daily Reflection‘Love each other deeply’. What a charge! This is not just a bit of love, a token friendship, but the real stuff, from the bottom of our hearts. It is not romantic fellow-feeling, but the sort of love that will go above and beyond. The love that Peter commends to us is so profound, so all-encompassing, it blots out our weaknesses and covers up our mistakes. Its chief hallmark seems to be hospitality, the extending of invitation and service to all, and the sharing of gifts, whether spiritual or material. Knowing ourselves to be utterly dependent on God, we are only too happy to share what is not ours to hold on to anyway, with others, and in that sharing, we are ourselves enriched beyond measure. Deep love! Revd Ylva
