Daily ScriptureBlessed be the Lord, for he has heard the voice of my prayer. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart has trusted in him and I am helped; therefore my heart dances for joy and in my song will I praise him. (Psalm 38:7-9)Daily ReflectionThere are occasions when everyone goes through a time - or times - of doubt; times when God seems very distant. There can be times when we cannot hear God in our prayers; when we cannot feel God’s presence in our lives at all; times when we can feel completely cut off from God. I have been there myself; it is a sad place to be. But from my experience, I also know that feeling can and does pass. God is bigger, God is more constant than my feelings; God is always there. In those times of doubt, it is good to hear the words and conviction of other believers. So please speak to someone you know and trust; voice your doubts; listen to your friend. And also listen to the voice of the saints who have gone before us. Listen to how positive this psalmist is. Words written by another human being, living life just as we are. Draw strength from these words. Revd David
Daily ScriptureVengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip;because the day of their calamity is at hand, their doom comes swiftly. (Deut 32.35)Daily ReflectionThe drive for revenge is not just a theme from Greek tragedy or Eastenders, it’s a real life issue that can dominate the lives of individuals and communities. St Paul, writing to Christians living under persecution in Rome, quoted today’s Jewish text : “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’”. When Jesus quoted the old rule about proportional justice, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’, he told us “but I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.” Would doing that be a sign of weakness or of strength? David Harmsworth
Daily Scripture: For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. (1 John 3:11 & 17-18) Daily ReflectionThe apostle John, in one verse, succinctly sums up the message (and actions) of his friend Jesus: love one another. What a simple summation; but what challenging words! In another verse, John then poses a challenging question: if anyone has material possessions and money and sees someone in need but has no pity on them (does not help them), how can the love of God be in that “rich” person? All there is in that person is a love of their material possessions. They are not rich in the eyes of God; in fact, the very opposite, they are poor. They have forgotten – or perhaps never knew – these three simple words: love one another. John then speaks to us little children – so that we understand: let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. Put the love you have for God into action today.Revd David
