Daily Scripture: ‘Let us therefore no longer pass judgement on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling-block or hindrance in the way of another.’ (Romans 14 v 13)Daily Reflection:When we meet someone for the first time, we make an assumption about them. It may be because of the way they are dressed, the way they speak, or the style of their hair! That assumption leads to an “unconscious bias”, and will colour our thinking about that person, either positively or negatively. We tend to think positively about people who are the “same” as us. Paul tells us here that we must not hold others to our own standards, or try to “change” them to be more like us! We are all totally unique in our thinking, our behaviour and our beliefs – God made us that way, and God loves us for exactly who we are – not what others think we should be! Vicki Young
Daily Scripture‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.’ (John 3:16)Daily ReflectionSometimes a few words can say so much. This is one short verse from the Bible that sums up everything we need to know. God loves the world. In fact, He loved the world so much, that he was willing to give us his Son. Imagine that! Would we be willing to give up our sons or daughters out of love? 'Gave' in this context carries so much meaning. It stands for the sending of Christ into the world, and the giving up of Christ unto the cross. But it doesn't stop there, for the reason God gave us his Son, is so that we should believe in him. If we believe, we will not perish, but have life with him forever. That is really all we need to know. Ylva Blid-Mackenzie (Curate Designate)
Daily ScripturePeter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.’ (Matthew 18.22)Daily ReflectionHow long we can be expected to go on forgiving somebody who persists in wronging us? Peter’s suggestion of seven times is pretty generous, given that we are sometimes quite reluctant to give somebody even a second chance. Jesus is not, of course, suggesting we should keep a record, and at the seventy-eighth offence feel free to retaliate! He is saying rather that knowing ourselves to be forgiven by God, whose patience with us is endless, we must also forgive others. (He goes on to illustrate this in a parable). Forgiveness brings healing, not only to the one who is forgiven, but to the one who forgives. As Shakespeare says of mercy, forgiveness blesses ‘both him that gives and him who takes’. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.Revd Rosemary
Daily Scripture‘While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.So being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.’ (Acts 13 2-4)Daily ReflectionIt must have been quite a daunting prospect for Barnabas and Saul to be sent to a far flung country to proclaim the word of God, to tell the story of Jesus to those who may never have heard of Him. I wonder how many times we are put in a situation where we feel less than prepared for or not even equipped to deal with - we may have feelings of apprehension, fear of the unknown or just plain scared!! However, both Barnabas and Saul had been equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit - they put their full trust in the Lord and through them many others came to believe. When we put our full trust in the Lord it is amazing what He will help us achieve.Lyn Hayes ALM
