Daily Scripture:‘For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.’ (1 Thessalonians 4 16-18)Daily Reflection: It’s an everlasting promise: One day we shall be reunited with our loved ones in the glory of God’s eternal kingdom. We long to love and be loved. And whether it’s a son or daughter, a brother or sister, a father or mother, a husband or wife, when we come into a genuine loving relationship with another person we want to hold on to it and make it last forever. And it’s this very gift of loving relationships that sets the stage for the inevitable grief and loss we experience when those who are nearest and dearest to our hearts are taken from us. The Good News is that Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins and was raised from the dead that we might receive the gift of eternal life. Through faith in Jesus Christ we have the promise of another dimension of life beyond this world that’s complete and perfect and timeless. Encouragement indeed. Lyn Hayes ALM
Daily Scripture‘I will listen to what the Lord God will say, for he shall speak peace to his people and to the faithful, that they turn not again to folly. Truly, his salvation is near to those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.’ (Psalm 85:8-9)Daily ReflectionDo you ever think, “I’ve never heard God speaking to me?” You wouldn’t be alone if you did. How do we listen to what God will say to us? Do we even expect God to speak to us anymore? If He used to speak to the psalmist and the prophets all those years ago, He still speaks to people today. God is constant, He does not change; so He must still be speaking to people. “But how do I hear Him?” By reading your Bible; by praying; by speaking to other Christians about God; by going to church and worshipping God. By giving yourself time and space to listen. Two weeks today we celebrate once again the birth of Jesus; give yourself time to really listen to that wonderful message of love and hope afresh this year. His salvation is near to you. Revd David
Daily Scripture:Jesus said to Peter, James, John and Andrew, ‘It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake’. (Mark 13.34)Daily Reflection:When we look back and ask ‘how did that happen?’ it can feel as though someone (maybe ourselves) was sleepwalking when a choice was made. Here’s a fine prayer written by Richard Baxter (author of ‘Ye holy angels bright...’) in 1691: Keep us, O Lord, while we tarry on this earth, in a serious seeking after you, and in an affectionate walking with you, every day of our lives; that when you come, we may be found not hiding our talent, nor serving the flesh, nor yet asleep with our lamp unfurnished, but waiting and longing for our Lord, our glorious God for ever. Amen David Harmsworth
Daily Scripture‘Wait on God alone in stillness, O my soul; for in him is my hope. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken. In God is my strength and my glory; God is my strong rock; in him is my refuge.’ (Psalm 62:5-7)Daily ReflectionLife can be a very fickle thing at times. And when things are not great (e.g. living through a pandemic), then it is very easy to be anxious. We’ve heard that a vaccine has been started to be administered….and so we start to have feelings of hope for the future; our anxiety starts to dissipate. But life is very fickle. After this cause of anxiety has passed, another thing to worry about will come along at some point; human-beings have an ability to be anxious about things! But there is one hope, one saviour, one source of strength that is absolutely sure…..God, your rock.Revd David O God, teach us to seek security - not in money or theft, not in human ambition or malice, not in our own ability or power; but in you, the only God, our rock and our salvation. Amen.
