Daily Scripture:The God who made the world and everything in it… is not far from each one of us. For “In him we live and move and have our being”. (Acts 17.24,28)Daily Reflection:As we struggle to find our way to live, humans have developed widely varied coping mechanisms. Many in the west have given up on God, or at least on religion. Worldwide, religions exercise enormous influence for better and for worse. St Paul in ancient Athens was challenged to explain his new religion to people who no longer accepted the old myths about the Greek gods, but still sacrificed at their altars and honoured their statues. His response was sympathetic, quoting the insight of their own wise thinkers saying the divine - God - is one, not many, and not distant but present. Then he went on to speak of the man - Jesus - who was and is the living image of the God we are all looking for. God with us. David Harmsworth
Daily ScriptureI sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.This poor soul cried, and the Lord heard me and saved me from all my troubles. (Psalm 34:4&6)Daily Reflection Here we are entering another period of more restrictions; the effect and the uncertainty caused by Coronavirus continues. The implications to our normal lives and the things we all naturally want to do as social people are huge. It would be very easy to feel despondent. If you feel like that, then use the words of the Psalmist today: Seek the Lord; Cry out to God…… Let Him hear how you really feel!A few verses later he says: “The Lord is gracious; you will be blessed if you trust in Him.” Try it.Send your holy angels to watch over us, O God, that on our lips will be found your truth and in our hearts your love; so we may ever taste your goodness in the land of the living; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Revd David
Daily Scripture‘They shall be satisfied with the abundance of your house; they shall drink from the river of your delights.’ (Psalm 36 v 8) Daily Reflection:It’s a lovely word – “abundance” isn’t it? It’s not just enough, satisfactory, it’s overflowing.. no limits.. never-ending! “They” in this passage is “us”, each and every person. Try putting your name into the words above, instead of the word “they”. This is the promise God makes to those who are willing to put “self” aside and put their trust in Him. Jesus says in John 10 verse 10 “I have come to give you life, and life in abundance”. God is a God of abundance – ask anyone who knows Him, and they will tell you about God’s overflowing, never-ending blessings, readily available, right now. Peace in the middle of confusion, hope in the middle of uncertainty, and joy in the middle of anxiety…God’s “river of delights”.Vicki Young
Daily Scripture:‘Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding,for her income is better than silver, and her revenue better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy.’ (Proverbs 3:13-18) Daily Reflection: Wisdom is such an outmoded word, so old fashioned, and yet so precious. It is so much more than knowledge; it is like a distilled nectar compared to mere information or factual competence. To be wise is to have laid hold of that which is truly important, to have grasped what is essential for our lives, and to have sifted reality and found that which is really worth keeping. And this means leaving many lesser things behind. This is why "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace". The truly wise person is not fighting others, at least not in a spirit of anger and hatefulness. If some things need challenging, like injustice or discrimination, the wise will work in a spirit of peace and reconciliation.Ylva Blid-Mackenzie
