Daily Scripture:‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.’ (Psalm 19:14)Daily Reflection:Oh that I might live by this today, rather than all the thoughts that flash into my head as if from nowhere! Oh that the words that I speak today to other people – all other people that I meet today, the people I like, and the people who wind me up……that all my words and thoughts are acceptable and pleasing to God! Try and hold this verse of scripture with you all through the day. And during a conversation, or immediately after, reflect upon it; “Were my words / was the meditation of my heart - pleasing to God? Did it bring glory to God?” See a little bit of Jesus in the eyes of the person you are speaking to…..that might help your meditations and your words today.Revd David
Daily Scripture:‘The Lord has looked down from heavenupon the children of earth,to see if there is anyone who is wiseand seeks after God.But every one has turned back;all alike have become corrupt:there is none that does good; no, not one.’ (Psalm 14.2-3)Daily Reflection:The writer cannot have conceived of our age - in which we humans can look down and scan the earth from heaven. We have satellite images of stunning natural beauty alongside others of burning forests, war zones, deserts and wasteland. The psalmist pictures God looking not just at what we are up to on the surface, but into our hearts and minds, and utters words of despair. For many, it must read like a poem for our times. Christian faith and hope do not downplay the situation: Jesus was crucified. Hope is about holding fast to that vision of what is good, trusting even at the worst of times that honesty, integrity, justice, love matter more than anything else and God is right there, with us. ‘I believe; help my unbelief’. David Harmsworth
Daily Scripture‘I will meditate on your commandments and contemplate your ways. Open my eyes, that I may see the wonders of your law.’ (Psalm 119:15 & 18) Daily Reflection:The Psalmist speaks of meditating and contemplating God - His commandments and His ways. That is a very good thing to do; but it can’t be left there – the Commandments and Ways have to be put into action not just studied. We can know the laws and rules of the Highway Code, and still effortlessly and frequently break them; some people even boast at how fast they can drive. Many people can recite the Ten Commandments; but that doesn’t mean they live by them!God’s Commandments and Ways are good. Jesus simplified things for us: “Love the Lord your God, and love your neighbour as yourself”. In the words of Aleksandr Orlov, the Meerkat, “Simples!” Open our eyes to that truth today, Lord……that we may see how wonderful life is living your way.Revd David
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
