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
Daily Scripture‘One generation praises your works to another;they tell of your mighty acts.They speak of the glorious splendour of your majesty—and I will meditate on your works.They tell of the power of your awesome works—and I will proclaim your great deeds’. (Psalm 145.4-6)Daily ReflectionThe Psalms are often sung or recited antiphonally, with two voices or choirs taking alternate verses. This great psalm is a wonderful example of this form of ‘call and response’, where King David’s overflowing praise joins with that of those who have gone before and those who will follow. Across the generations they are bound together in joyful celebration of the nature of God, the mighty creator, and their experience of him at work in their own lives.How much we owe to those who have shared with us their wisdom, their values, their faith. Old and young, we learn from each other, giving and receiving, in a glorious intergenerational antiphony of praise.‘Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the LordTo children’s children and for evermore!’Revd Rosemary
Weekly news and services for the Benefice of Benenden & Sandhurst, Kent.Sunday Services: Sunday 20th September8 am Holy Communion St Nicholas, Sandhurst St George's, Benenden led Ylva Blid-Mackenzie & Revd David Commander10am Holy Communion at St George's, Benenden led Ylva Blid-Mackenzie & Revd David Commander
Daily Scripture'The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company’ (Act 15 v 39)Daily ReflectionHow many times in our lives have we disagreed so badly with someone that we have never spoken to them again? In our reading today, Paul and Barnabas have such opposing ideas concerning another fellow believer that it leads to them parting company for good.We are only human, and we all have differences of opinion and ways of doing things - we generally agree to disagree and happily jog along together accepting the other’s point of view. But when a situation arises that is so bad that it causes a huge rift, that is when forgiveness becomes so hard - but to forgive is what Jesus would want us to do - to accept that we are all different and to forgive others as we have been forgiven.Lyn Hayes ALM
