Daily Scripture‘O Lord, how glorious are your works! Your thoughts are very deep. The senseless do not know, nor do fools understand’. (Psalm 92.5-6) Daily ReflectionHow little we - any of us - understand! ‘Fools’ and ‘the senseless’ may include people of great knowledge and brilliance, but who lack understanding - who are not wise. Wisdom, the Bible says, begins with recognition that we are creatures who should be in awe of our creator. There are principles behind the way the world works deeper than knowledge (‘science’) can grasp. Human history (and the biblical story) is sadly rich in examples of folly and moral failure. Yet we have the capacity to be wise, to understand what really matters, because wisdom is the capacity to recognise goodness when we see it. Jesus showed us how much deeper God’s thoughts are from ours. David Harmsworth
Daily Scripture‘Your word is a lantern to my feet and a light upon my path.’ (Psalm 119:105)Daily ReflectionThis is a beautiful image in this verse of scripture, and they are reassuring words. The lantern that we carry gives light at our feet so we don’t stumble over things immediately in front of us. The lantern also illuminates the whole path that we are walking so that we know the direction we should be heading in. What is it that helps prevent us from tripping up? “Your word”. But we can walk confidently along without stumbling, but at the same time heading in completely the wrong direction! What is it that helps us walk the right way? “Your word”. What is this thing – Your word – that is so helpful?........It is picking up your Bible and reading some verses of scripture. Make it a habit; it works; it helps..….you’ll see.Revd David
Daily Scripture‘Bless the Lord, O my soul…Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with faithful love and compassion.’ (Psalm 103 v 1 and 4)Daily Reflection How do you see God? According to some writers, the way we think about God influences everything about our lives - our attitudes, our desires, actions and even our words. Do you see God as uninterested, distant, powerless maybe? Let the words of today’s Psalm help you to see God as he really is – God who redeems you, makes you “whole” again, shows you your true potential. You are precious to Him, so precious that he “crowns” you with his love. So precious that he “crowns” you with his compassion. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, says that we can trace all our human problems back to our view of God. The Bible tells us the truth about God – He is full of love, full of compassion and longing to meet our every need. Perhaps it is not our circumstances that need changing, but the way we see God?Vicki Young
Daily Scripture‘Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us your gift of faith that, forsaking what lies behind and reaching out to that which is before, we may run the way of your commandments and win the crown of everlasting joy; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.’ (Collect for the 18th Sunday after Trinity)Daily ReflectionSometimes it feels difficult to 'forsake that which lies behind', to leave the past and reach out for the future. This can only be achieved by an act of faith. Faith that, whatever the future holds, it will be better and more worthwhile than that which we leave behind. Faith can be many things, but it is always filled with hope, the hope of a bright tomorrow and a good life and eventually of everlasting joy. Sometimes this hope seems far off, but nevertheless it urges us to press on, to 'run the way of your commandments and win the crown', as if we were sprinters in one mighty, God-inspired race, where life with God forever is the ultimate prize and in which everyone can be a winner!Revd Ylva
