“Make certain that you do not forget the LORD your God; do not fail to obey any of his laws that I am giving you today…. be sure that you do not become proud and forget the LORD your God who rescued you”                                                   Deuteronomy 8 : 11 & 14

Bible readings this week (Harvest Festival) : Deuteronomy 8: 7- 18 Luke 17:11-19

Thought for the week

It has long been our pattern to celebrate Harvest Festival on the first Sunday in October. In a changing world some things remain the same!!

Although this year has been so incredibly difficult in so many ways, we are still celebrating today We are celebrating because God is good all the time and all the time, God is good! We celebrate because despite all that has happened and is happening God has been faithful and blessed us over and over again with all we need.

Both Deuteronomy 8: 7- 18 (indeed the whole of Deuteronomy) and our gospel reading in Luke 17 cause us to look further than the gifts we have received. They are reminders to us to remember that the good gifts we have come from the One who has made all things and ensured that there is enough for all when we live as the Giver of all good gifts designed us to.

In a time when life has been so chaotic, where there have been so many extra challenges along the way we can rejoice in God’s unchanging, ever present love. And as we come today to celebrate God’s continuing goodness to us, let us not only be thankful for the gifts, but filled with awe and praise to the Giver who has given all in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rachel

Prayer for this week

Gracious God,

you call us to fullness of life:

deliver us from unbelief

and banish our anxieties

with the liberating of love of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen