Daily Scripture1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. 3 You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. (Psalm 139:1-3)Daily ReflectionWe often don’t let people get to know us completely because we are afraid they may discover something about us that they won’t like. Here is the psalmist saying - of God – that He knows us completely…..absolutely everything about us. This could be quite worrying for each of us, when we think of some of the things of which we might be ashamed and don’t want others to know! Yet although God knows everything about us, the great news is that He still accepts and loves us; He does so: completely, absolutely, and unconditionally. He is with us in every situation, in everything we go through; He is there: protecting, guiding, and loving. Thank God that He is there; that he cares. Revd David
Daily ScriptureIn the day of my fear I put my trust in you, in God whose word I praise. In God I trust, and will not fear, for what can flesh do to me? (Psalm 56.3-4)Daily Reflection Poetry touches deep thoughts and emotions. This poet’s spirit is threatened as he faces crises in his own and his people’s lives, and the worst threats are the ones that make him fear that his faith in God is misplaced, that there is no goodness, no help. This is a cry for help that will resonate with anyone haunted by mental illness or spiritual despair. The cry comes with a determination not to let physical harm spill over into loss of hope and trust. Am I able to hear such a cry and will I be ready to be God’s response? David Harmsworth
Daily ScriptureAgain Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’ (John 8:12)Daily Reflection If we walk into a room looking for something and it’s completely dark: we wouldn’t be able to see anything, we’d bump into things, we’d find it difficult to find what we were looking for, it would take a long time and we’d get very frustrated. We would literally be “fumbling around in the dark”. Put the light on and all becomes clear, and we can find things much more easily; the task becomes easier all of a sudden. When we follow Jesus, the “light of the world”, we can avoid walking through life blindly. He lights our path; He shows the path through life; we can see how to live life. This Lent learn how to let Christ be your light; then there will be no more stumbling, no more fumbling your way through life. All will become clear. Revd David
Daily Scripture:“Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8 v 7)Daily Reflection:A woman caught in adultery is brought before the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the city. “Moses commanded us to stone her for her sin, what do you say we should do with her?” they ask Jesus. The verse above is Jesus’ answer. We would do well to remember that none of us are perfect. At times in our lives we have all hurt someone with our words or our behaviour, whether we meant to or not. Therefore we have “sinned”. How do we react when someone hurts us? Do we “throw stones”, and let our thoughts and behaviour spill over into judgement and unkindness? The Pharisees, hearing Jesus words, could not justify throwing any stones, and went away. No human being could condemn the woman. Neither did Jesus. Our ever-loving, ever-forgiving Father asks us to remember Jesus’ response today. Next time someone hurts you, speak to God about it before you react. You will bless someone in the process, and God will bless you in unexpected ways. Vicki Young
