Daily ScriptureBe patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You must also be patient. (James 5 7-8) Daily Reflection We sometimes want everything to happen at once - as soon as we have an idea or an opportunity presents itself, we want to jump straight in and take the bull by the horns! We launch headlong into a situation, only to find that, because of our impulsive actions, things do not turn out to be how we thought they would. Patience is a virtue, the farmer knows that he cannot hurry his crop, he plants the seed and then hands it over to Mother Nature to do the rest. We shouldn’t stop having ideas or making plans - but we should do it prayerfully - handing over our hopes and dreams and our worries to God and waiting patiently for His answer - which may or may not be in tune with our initial thoughts - only God knows. Lyn Hayes ALM
Daily ScriptureInto your hands I commend my spirit, for you have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. (Psalm 31:5)Daily ReflectionThese words of the psalmist David convey his complete trust in God. Jesus used the same words, dying on the cross – showing his total dependence upon God. Stephen, the first martyr, spoken these words as he was stoned to death – confident that in death he was simply passing from God’s earthly care to his eternal care.At the end of our lives, we might have the courage to think (or we may hope this will happen), “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” But don’t leave it until then, we should trust God with everything, now, in this life! “Into your hands I commend……my family, my vocation, my possessions; all of my life.” This is the God of truth; you can trust Him with your whole life…..your spiritual life and your physical life; “Into your hands, God, I commend my life.” Revd David
Daily ScriptureDo not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters…. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbour? (James 4.11-12)Daily ReflectionIt is all too easy to condemn others. We do have to make judgments, about truth and falsehood, about wisdom and folly, about what is good and what is bad, but we do not have to, and we should not, pass judgment on one another.David Harmsworth
Daily ScriptureSo also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. (James 3:5-6a, 9-10)Daily ReflectionJames compares the damage the tongue can do (the things we say) to a raging fire. A forest fire always starts small, but see how quickly it can get out of control and the devastation it can cause. A simple yet powerful analogy. And why is it that out of the same mouth with which we praise and worship God also come words that put down the very thing that God has created…..our fellow human-beings, our neighbour?A few throwaway words spoken in anger can destroy a relationship. Our contradictory thoughts and speech is very confusing and damaging. Another verse at the beginning of this chapter simply says, “For all of us make many mistakes.” Perhaps if, before we speak today, we remember that our words can be like a raging fire we might not make so many mistakes. Let the words you speak today be pleasing to God. Revd David
