Daily Scripture “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. (Romans 10:8-10)Daily Reflection Your salvation - your way of being saved – is right in front of you; God comes to us wherever we are. “Wherever we are”; physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually…. however you want to look at it….God is so close; just waiting for our response to his love. All we need to do is respond to his gift of salvation. “Yes, but how do I do that; it must be complicated?” “You don’t know what I’ve done in the past; God won’t save me.” “I’ve never been to church; God won’t save me.” “I don’t know how to pray; how can I be saved?” It actually is very simple: if you believe in your heart and say with your mouth that Christ is risen, you will be saved. It is about having faith. Don’t try to make it any more complicated. Revd David
Daily ScriptureI trust in the goodness of God for ever and ever. I will always give thanks to you for what you have done. (Psalm 52 v8-9)Daily ReflectionThose of us who know God can look back on certain situations in our lives and clearly see the ‘hand of God’…. Times when He has given us exactly the right words to say, times when He has saved us from mishap, times when he has sent us the right person at just the right time. A friend of mine uses the phrase ‘God-incidences’ as oppose to ‘coincidences ‘ for just such times!When you look back on your life, can you remember a time when God has felt close to you? It may have been in a quiet moment by yourself, a beautiful picture or piece of music, a kind word from a friend. Be assured that these happenings were not ‘coincidences’ - they were generously orchestrated by the God who loves you and wants the best for you. Go about today with your eyes open - don’t miss those intricate moments that God has made happen especially for you. Vicki Young
Daily Scripture “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. (Matthew 5:38-42) Daily Reflection This teaching of Jesus’ is hard for us to understand. It goes against the grain, runs counter to everything that seems natural to us. If someone wants to hurt you, or take away what is yours, or take you to court, it is surely only right to resist? But the truth is, that we often just end up hurting both ourselves and the other, and nothing changes. Jesus is teaching us “soft power”. The more we stall, and bridle, the more we fight back, the more power the other has over us. As we ‘kill with kindness’, wearing our forbearance lightly and going the extra mile (or two), we are smothering our enemy with love, giving them no purchase on us. And in the process both them and we are transformed. Revd Ylva
