Thought for the Day 2025

19th June 2025

Ephesians 4:29 Let no bad talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

If you stopped and thought about what you had said today how much of it would be encouraging and positive, how much would be negative and unhelpful? I was always told if you cannot say something good then say nothing. We need to be people who speak encouraging and comforting words to everyone around us. If we love Jesus and love others as we should, speaking words of blessing to everyone, then we will show God’s love to the world.

18th June 2025

1 Timothy 5:8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith.

Across the year there are those occasions when family comes together. Birthdays, Anniversaries, Christmas, we come together to celebrate and enjoy being together as family. When we come together as the family of Christ we celebrate Jesus together! We tell others about Him and we worship Him! We sing hymns and songs of worship together, sometimes with beautiful harmonies and descants. We read together, listen together and take communion together, as family. We look after one another and provide for one another.

17th June 2025

John 13:33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, Where I am going you cannot come.

Picture Jesus there in the upper room with his disciples. He had walked with them for over three years. He taught them many things. He performed miracles before their eyes, and in the sight of others. They believed that he was the Christ, the Saviour of the world, and as such they expected him to remain forever. But now he is talking about going away. The disciples were troubled at these words. They were greatly distressed. Why does he need to leave? Will they see him again? How will they possibly get along in this world without him?.... But we know, with hindsight, that He had to go so he could defeat death so we could have eternal life. 

16th June 2025

John 17:20 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.

Most of us have a family picture in our homes, on our desk at work, in our wallet or purse. We are proud of our family, we enjoy being together, we try and help one another, support each other, that’s what families do. In the Bible, Jesus prayed for His friends, His family, us; that they and we would be united with Him and with each other. What does that mean? It means we all work together to follow Him and love others. One way we can do that is to pray together like Jesus prayed. Praying for others, praying to be one, for unity, love and care. Praying at church, praying at home, praying wherever we are. 

15th June 2025

John 17:21b May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

I’m always glad to see folks in church each week, it is a real blessing and encouragement.  Each person brings something different when they come, and this adds to our special time together. We learn from the Bible that when we’re all united together in Jesus, that’s one of the ways we show God’s love to the world. We’re all different, but God works through all of us, and when we are all excited and working toward the goal of loving people together as one big family, others will see God’s love and want to join in. 

14th June 2025

Luke 5:5: Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Sometimes we feel just fed up. We’ve had enough study, enough cooking, enough routine, enough cleaning, enough work. We want to just walk away. For the disciples, their first meeting with Jesus happens after a bad night's fishing and they just want to pack up and walk away. Jesus meets them where they are and gently encourages them to let down there nets on the other side, one last go, just try once more. A miraculous catch of fish happens. For us to, when we want to walk away, to give up, that gentle whisper of Jesus, try there, speak up again, try that book again, just try and finish that, just once more. Jesus meets us exactly where we are and encourages us to keep trying, He is with us, we are not alone. Things change; things happen! Jesus is always with us, side by side, encouraging us, strengthening us. In the depths of despair, anger, hurt, failure He says just try again, don’t give up, I am right here with you. 

13th June 2025

Acts 16:34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

I wonder if you are excited about going to church each week? I hope you look forward to it, to being together, to worship, to sharing fellowship and refreshments. Think about what you do when you are really excited about something. The joy and exuberance, the expectation, the excitement. That’s how we should feel about God, about being in church about coming together. Coming together in Jesus means we pay attention to everyone in Jesus’ family, like the people to our left and our right. We stop and comfort them when they’re down. We’re helpful and encouraging to them and share in their joys and their sadness. Everyone matters to God so everyone matters to us.

12th June 2025

James 1:1 Friends, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

I believe there is a real challenge today for all of us, to be just and fair in our dealings with everyone, even those we struggle with and may even dislike. We need to be people of mercy and impartiality, to show forgiveness where we can, to realise and recognise our own faults and in doing so, to be people who are humble, who do not brag, who do not belittle others but recognise we are only who we are because of others who support us and teach us. Where we end up in life is not because we are more special than another, we do not deserve any more than another. Often, we are blessed for many reasons but that is not something to crow about. Humility in our relationship with God and with each other will make a difference so profound to our world and to each other. There is a challenge to change, will we accept that challenge?

11th June 2025

John 13:15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

Everything that Jesus did here on earth can be better understood looking back, after the events that took place on Good Friday and Easter. That is what the disciples did, and that is what we need to do. We live, as Jesus’ disciples, forwards. But we learn by looking backwards. As Soren Kierkegaard says “Life can only be understood backwards, but must be lived forwards.” The amazing good news for us is that even when we fail, and we will, Jesus will still love us. Even when we doubt him, deny him, and even betray him, He will still love us. Because that is what true love looks like. It looks like Jesus. Kneeling at our feet, loving us, and asking us to do the same.

10th June 2025

Micah 6:8 What God requires of us is to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.

We are required to walk humbly with God. Walking with someone means we are together; we support each other and listen. Walking with God is both amazing because God is treating us so well but also demands us to be worthy of that. To be good people who are humble. Humility makes us those who are willing to help others, to show mercy, to seek justice for the right reasons and to admit our own faults and mistakes. The marginalised of this world, be it by gender, religion, disability, culture, politics, poverty, life choices, age, skin colour are all judged unfairly, written off, disrespected. They experience no mercy, and they see little or no humility from those who marginalise them. We cannot speak of justice, mercy, humility and walking with God if we constantly marginalise others because they are not like us or do not fit into our ideas. Not one of us has more right to justice and fairness than another, not one of us deserves more mercy than another, and not one of us should be anything but humble in our attitude to life and what we achieve.

9th June 2025

John 13:16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

When you do something for someone else, do you expect anything in return? You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours! Jesus teaches us to love without expecting anything in return. He washes the disciples’ feet, a servant’s job, with the full knowledge that they would soon abandon him, and that He will die alone on the cross. His love is unconditional, with no strings attached. He loves without agenda. If we love like this, then the world will know that we are Jesus’ disciples. If we love unconditionally, without agenda, and without expecting a single thing in return, people will know that we are God’s children, that we are Christians who follow Jesus and love others like He does.

8th June 2025

Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

Today is Pentecost one of the great festivals of the Church. It marks the coming of the Holy Spirit on the disciples and their transformation from frightened and confused people to those who would face anything for what they believed. Pentecost means 50, the 50th day after Easter Sunday. Also called Whitsun or white Sunday, a day of Baptisms when people wore white. In the Old Testament, Joel 2:28, says "I will pour out my Spirit on all people". In the New Testament Jesus says he will send another Counsellor, the Spirit of truth in John 16. The Spirit is the third part of the Trinity, who came to give us all we need to live our lives for God in the best way possible.

7th June 2025

John 5:8 Then Jesus said to him, “Rise! Pick up your mat and walk.”

Jesus said to him, "Rise, pick up your mat  and walk." at the words of Jesus there came faith and a sense of healing that caused the lame man to get up and get moving. Jesus didn’t need the water to make the man whole. Jesus doesn’t need our ideas of how things need doing to make things right. Immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. Jesus said RISE; a word of hope; Jesus said TAKE UP YOUR BED; words of faith. Jesus said WALK; a word of direction to move forward and away from what where we are. The question to us today is: DO WE WANT TO BE MADE WELL? Be that physically, spiritually or mentally. Do we want things to change? Do we want God to work in us? If we do want that, then the answer is YES! A resounding YES! May we say yes to God and let Him work in us right now, right here and change our life.

6th June 2025

Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.

Justice is central to life. Justice, fairness, equity should apply to all and no one should escape justice when they have broken the rules made to keep us safe. Justice is also necessary in our relationships, our treatment of each other, our fairness in sports and games, our honesty in how we react and treat others. Also impacting on justice, we are to love mercy, to be merciful and find forgiveness. Let’s face it, none of us really gets what we deserve. We are all guilty of manipulation, lies, distractions, influences, bad language and thought, bullying, upsetting, hurting, misleading……. None of us are perfect and we all deserve justice and punishment. God’s justice comes with mercy and so should ours. When we are angry and want revenge, justice is not served, there must be mercy, as we are shown mercy by others and by God, we need to show that mercy to others. 

5th June 2025

Luke 18:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. You are required to sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Requires is a strong word, it means essential, vital, necessary, even compulsory. In the last months many of us have had the requirements of Easter and the things we need to do as part of our celebration and commemoration of these events. As each of us have or are studying we have the requirements of the curriculum, what we will need to know for exams, for each entry to university or further study there will be the requirements of grades and certain personal traits. There are the requirements for jobs and applications. Being required to do things or have certain requirements is part of life. It is vital to relationships as well as our relationship with our God, with our family and friends, these require certain things. The question is, are we willing?

4th June 2025.

John 5:7 “Sir, I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. Someone else goes down ahead of me.”

Humans are really good at playing the blame game. We blame everyone else and every other circumstance rather than face up to the truth. Here the man blamed people for not helping him, he blamed the angel or God for not stirring up the water often enough, he blamed people for being so self-focused on their own needs. His focus was on the pool instead of on God and Jesus. In effect the man was saying, “I’m this way because of God, of others and bad circumstances” He gave excuses. The man had given up hope. We all do. BUT, Jesus comes to us and sees us in our condition. He knows how long we have been dealing with everything going on and all He asks is a simple question: DO YOU WANT TO BE MADE WELL? We offer Him all the reasons why it won’t work, and we do not answer the actual question. Do we want to be made well? The correct answer is Yes!

3rd June 2025

John 13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Loving family and friends is expected and happens even when we struggle with them. Jesus goes further, He taught us to love even our enemies. Just as he did. Now, this does not mean that we accept or agree with what they are doing. Love according to Jesus doesn’t mean accepting actions that are wrong. Jesus met people where they were, but didn’t leave them there. He called them to repent. He loved them, and forgave them, but also invited them to change their ways. Jesus never loves sin. But he always love the sinner. He wants us to do the same, and shows us how to do it. Loving as Jesus loved is not easy. Jesus didn’t say it would be easy. But it is certainly possible, or he wouldn’t have commanded it. He gives us the strength to do it.

2nd June 2025

Luke 13:234 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”

It many come as no surprise to know that people ask me about Heaven and who will be saved. Where, when, how, why and how do I know I am going. This question of how many and who are saved is centuries old and will rage on. The answers are in the Bible although our interpretation of this may be more or less specific. God’s intention has always been for everyone to find Him, everyone to be part of the heavenly kingdom BUT it is our choice. God does not force us. We are given the opportunities every day to find God as humans. Those of us who do know Him are given the opportunities every day to share what we have found with others. But always out of love not fear. God does not offer eternal life through fear but through the love of Jesus on the cross. We share our faith through love, others have the choice to listen or not. We share our faith and let God do the rest.

1st June 2025

John 5:6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

Sometimes we think we have suffered for too long, our circumstances are not fair and we want change. When Jesus meets those who need His help in the Bible, Jesus sees them, Jesus knows their condition and how long they have suffered. Jesus asks “Do you want to be made well?” Jesus sees, Jesus knows, Jesus asks, and right now the same things are true for us: Jesus sees us as individuals. Jesus knows all about us and how long we have been in our situations. Jesus asks us: DO WE WANT TO BE MADE WELL? Mentally, physically and spiritually. It is a simple question that seems obvious enough, yet so often we do not answer Jesus ’question, we only give excuses. We have our reasons, our justifications, our excuses on why we are in our current situation of life, we are not honest with Jesus, we just offer excuses. It is only when we come clean that things can and will change.

31st May 2025

John 13:34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

We often struggle to understand how Jesus loved those who let Him down. Jesus loved Judas, who betrayed him. He loved Peter, who denied knowing him. He loved Thomas, who doubted him. He loved those who abandoned him, and even those who crucified him. “Love one another,” Jesus said, “just as I have loved you.” Loving in this way is without agenda. It leads us to love people who are not like us. Jesus loved people who were not like him. He loved people who disagreed with him. He loved people who looked at the world very differently from him. There is no one that Jesus does not love. 

30th May 2025

John 5:4 From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.

In our country there are millions of disabled people. Through no fault of their own they suffer with physical and mental ailments. By the pool of Bethsaida lay a great multitude of disabled people waiting for the moving of the water to make them well. Sick and disabled people have always been treated badly by society, which only prizes the healthy and strong. Unjustified blame is directed at them, "it must be their fault, they aren’t trying hard enough, they're lazy, why should we help them?" Even now disabled people are being treated awfully by this government, misleading the public, blaming them and seemingly wanting to get rid of them through a cost cutting disability bill and an assisted dying bill. It is no coincidence these are in parliament at the same time. If we are following Jesus then we will treat the disabled and vulnerable with respect and care. We will challenge those who seek to hurt them.

29th May 2025

Matthew 23:12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

In any story we can identify with any of the characters. Jesus used this idea in many of His parables. We can be those who are not informed, or those who are easily misled, or those who follow the populist ideas or those who are cunning in our manipulation of others. In everything we do, how we act or react, our foremost example must always be Jesus. It is He who we should follow, be like, look to for leadership and wisdom. Prayer offers that opportunity, so does reading and knowing our Bible, asking relevant questions and challenging whenever things don’t sit right with our Christian Faith.

28th May 2025

Matthew 23:3 So you are told you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

I try not to be negative or alarmist about what is happening in our world at present, but I do want to encourage all of us to question, to challenge, to ask questions and not be side-tracked by sleight of hand, distractions or populist responses. I encourage people to do that with me. In a previous parish the local MP was in my congregation, he and I did not always agree but he would challenge me and I him. The challenge of what God would do in a situation, of what Jesus stood for and the socialist principles of Christianity which puts service first and looks after the vulnerable and disabled, protecting everyone’s rights as sacred. I valued those discussions and they kept me on my toes. Never accept at face value, always challenge and check.

27th May 2025

John 5:6b Jesus asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

When we go to the doctor, we are looking for something to make us well again, to take away pain and discomfort. To give us back our quality of life. In John 5 Jesus heals a man who had been sick for 38 years. Jesus came up to one man and asked a pointed question; DO YOU WANT TO BE MADE WELL? The question reveals the man’s frustrations, disappointments, and discouragements, but he never directly answers Jesus’ question. Jesus was asking if he WANTED to be made well, Jesus began with a question and I believe that same question is still as true for us, DO WE WANT TO BE MADE WELL? Do we want all that God has for us, or do we feel we are hopelessly stuck in our situation, blaming other people, blaming our circumstances and blaming God?

26th May 2025

John 13:12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.

We have various pictures of what love looks like; flowers, rings, love hearts, diamonds but if you want a picture of true love, picture Jesus on his knees, washing the feet of his betrayer, Judas. Washing the feet of His denier, Peter, that’s real love, isn’t it? And Jesus tells us that this is what we need to do for one another. Love one another, as he has loved us. We are commanded to love one another just as Jesus has loved us. That means loving those who doubt us, and deny knowing us, and even those who betray us. Because that’s what Jesus did for us. He loved us, and loves us, even when we doubt, deny, or betray him. And now he asks us to do the same for others. It’s not easy. But He commanded that it should always be done.

25th May 2025

 Luke 13:33 In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!

We are currently witnessing huge backward steps in our democracies. Taking rights from women, children, opposition leaders, parties and those who disagree, is the fascist politics we are now experiencing. The rights of so many have been reduced to supposedly provide their version of democracy, a democracy where only one opinion matters. That is not democracy! Jesus does not take anyone else’s word for things other than God the father. He does not listen to those who are trying to silence Him, trying to get Him to take shortcuts or make deals. He does not allow Himself to be side tracked by those who want to devalue what He has come to do. There are so many around us who will prey on our insecurities, who will lead us astray for their own gains. At times these can be people who we should be able to trust. People who we have even been told are in authority over us. Be aware.

24th May 2025

John 13:14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

How humble are we? We might think we are very humble; others might tell a different story depending on how we treat them. Jesus regularly humbled himself, and in washing the disciples’ feet he did the work of a servant. Think about what that means now, in the light of Easter. Jesus washed Judas’s feet, knowing he would betray him. He washed Peter’s feet, knowing he would deny knowing him. He washed Thomas’s feet, knowing he would doubt him. Jesus knew all this would happen, but he still got on his knees and washed their feet. Humility in action, an example for us to follow.

23rd May 2025

John 21:15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

Sometimes life with Jesus can be really exciting… miracles, healing people, feeding the five thousand with last night’s leftovers. But more often than not, it is as simple as breakfast in the kitchen, or for the disciples by the sea. It is the ordinary daily life mingled with the miraculous, every now and again. In the daily ordinary life God reminds us of how our story with Jesus began, who we are in Him, what we have learned along the way, how we are forgiven and loved. They say Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, spending it with Jesus would really make it so. We are invited every day to be with Jesus, as we are, where we are, and that never changes. Will you take your invitation or not?

22nd May 2025

John 10:31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him.

At times in life, we may become unpopular, particularly if we make a stand for what is right against those who are protecting their own interests. Jesus challenged the status quo, the religious leaders who were powerful and wealthy and kept the people in check. When He challenged them they were unhappy, they wanted to get rid of him. It is amazing how far some will go just to keep their wealth and status. Ultimately, they had Jesus put to death. We are unlikely ever to be called to go that far, but when we challenge others will look to discredit us and try to lie about us. Making a stand is not easy, but we are called to challenge our Government, MP’s, Councillors, utility providers, big business, anyone who should be serving the people but are in fact serving themselves. They are not untouchable and in God eyes when people suffer because of their actions we are called to hold them to account, honestly, truthfully and respectfully, but hold them to account.

21st May 2025

John 13:5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

John 13 takes us back to the night Jesus ate the Last Supper with His disciples and later was betrayed. It begins in the upper room. Jesus is there with all of his disciples. Thomas, who will doubt is there. Peter, who will deny knowing Jesus is there. And Judas, who will betray Jesus and hand him over to those wanting to kill him, is there. And Jesus, knowing all that is to come, washed each of their feet. Jesus unconditional love for them and us challenges us to think again about Jesus’ teaching on love after the events of Good Friday and Easter Sunday and how that needs to change us.

20th May 2025

Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

The Scottish poet, Robbie Burns said “The best laid plans of mice and men leave us nought but grief and pain.” The most careful planning doesn’t necessarily ensure success. The poem shows that even after his home is destroyed the mouse builds back again. Resilience. The Bible makes clear that when our plans for God, of God, they will succeed. But success isn’t always what we think it should be! God’s pans are completely built around truth. We all like to have plan A for our lives but most of us end up being products of plan B, C, D, even M or N. We grow, we change, we develop into our chosen precious self, we become a blessing to others. But we can also squash that, chose to turn away. Our potential is God given. Our choice is; is this for me or for God? Is it about what is best for me, more money, wealth, status; or what is best for others and for God? Our calling is to do the best with what God has given us, to fulfil our potential in Him.

19th May 2025

1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith.

How good are we at sharing information with others and listening to information shared with us? Jesus shared all He knew and had with those around Him and He never misled them. He always gave the offer of exploring for oneself, testing out His claims. Many people today are so invested in their interpretation of things, that they are completely misled and then mislead others into danger. There are many around us who are misled, incomplete in their knowledge and their version of things and by using certain language, brief catchy slogans and popularist ideas those with a dangerous agenda can mislead and take people into real danger. This is happening now as people are led into lies, falsehood, misinterpretations of scripture, even violence and aggression by those who only want to exploit things for their own gain. We must be on our guard and not allow ourselves to be misled.

18th May 2025

Luke 13:32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, Herod ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’

Jesus was always well informed; He knew the situation around Him physically and spiritually. He knew the history of His people. He knew who wily fox King Herod was and what was going on. He knew what was expected of Him by God and by humans who saw Him as a threat. Many people in our world are not well informed, they jump on misinformation and assumption. They succumb to slogans and false claims. They are far too easily misled. We must be informed. We need to know what is going on around us and what our response as Christians should be. That means we must test things, check them against the Bible, pray about them and make sure we act accordingly. 

17th May 2025

John 20:26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

Agoraphobia is a condition where people are frightened to go into public spaces and so become fearful of leaving their home. It is where they feel safe. Many things that happen each day are the ways the doors of our houses get locked and we can be fearful of facing life outside. Whatever we are struggling with it is where God meets us. The great tragedy is not that the disciples are in the same house behind the same locked doors a week after Jesus has risen. That’s just their starting place. The great tragedy would have been if the disciples refused to unlock, open the doors, and refused to leave the house. What are the locked doors in your life? What are the things that have kept you stuck in the same place? Remember, that’s just the starting place. Don’t judge it as good or bad, right or wrong. It’s just where you are and it’s the place Jesus meets us.

16th May 2025 

Luke 13:31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”

I wonder if you know the story of Chicken Licken and Foxy Loxy? Also known as chicken little. She believes the sky is falling in and misinforms friends, Henny Penny, Goosy Loosey and Turkey Lurkey who go with her to tell the king. On the way the fox lures them into a trap and eats them. Foxes are known to be cunning; foxes are known to use their cunning to exploit others because they are quite physically weak creatures who use lies and cheating to manage their position. They prey on the weak and try to manipulate the powerful through cunning. King Herod was such a character. A puppet leader who exploited those under him while trying, unsuccessfully, to manipulate those above him. If we look around the world right now this same thing is happening. Puppets are obeying their puppet masters whilst exploiting those beneath them for personal gain. The situation with Ukraine, Russia and Putin, Trump and the USA and other Baltic states being suppressed. It is hard to establish who is the puppet master and who are the puppets.

15th May 2025

John 21:3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.

Most of our lives are ordinary and normal. We have routines and family traditions we follow. The breakfast interaction between Jesus and the disciples on the beach is really normal. The risen Jesus is going about a mundane morning task as if everything is the same. God is so good to us, because after Easter, we tend to feel a bit low. The Alleluias and Easter eggs, finished for another year. Like the disciples, we have returned to our everyday lives. But we are reminded that God is right there, too. God is in every part of our lives, the highs and lows and the normal every day. 

14th May 2025

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

The ultimate sacrifice of giving one’s life for country or family is not likely to be in our future but the sacrifices we may need to make for other’s, for freedom’s, for universal provision for those in poverty, those who are disabled and vulnerable, for fairness and equality, these are key! God given life in all its fullness for everyone means everyone sharing the load, everyone helping each other, sometimes giving out of what we have to make someone else’s life better. We need to look inside ourselves and see what we are willing to do for others, what sacrifices we are willing to make and why, and to never lose sight of that. If we look and find we are not willing to make sacrifices then perhaps we need a deep examination of who we are, what our values are and where our compassion and empathy is. 

13th May 2025

John20:14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realise that it was Jesus.

We all have to begin somewhere. What is your starting place? It is actually wherever you are right now. So, if you’re dealing with deep loneliness, sorrow, and loss, that’s your starting point. If you are locked in a house of fear, confusion, or darkness, that’s your starting point. If illness, old age, disability, or uncertainty are facts of your life, that’s your starting point. If you feel lost, betrayed, disappointed, overwhelmed, that’s your starting point. If joy, gratitude, and celebration are the facts of your life today, if you have just been baptised, become a God parent, that’s the starting point for your story of resurrection. Where you are, where I am, that’s where Jesus meets us risen from the tomb, lovingly He greets us. From here we move forward with Jesus by our side, through all the ups and downs of life.

12th May 2025

John 21:7 The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.

We are all very different as people. Some of us are very passionate and jump in with two feet in everything we do. Peter was a passionate type of person, When Peter, who had betrayed Jesus by denying Him, hears it is the Lord, he jumps into the water in his haste to get to, and see his Lord again. Peter wanted to be on good terms with Jesus again, to be forgiven for what he has done and to start again. It is the same for us. When things get on top of us we return to what we know, where we feel in control; but we long to be with Jesus again, to be forgiven, to start again. Jesus is always willing to forgive, to let us find Him again. He never gives up on us, in His strength may we never give up on Him.

11th May 2025

John 20:21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

Sometimes we lock people out of our lives and then we can lock Jesus out of our lives and hide away from God, because we are afraid. The walls and the locked doors of the disciple’s house could not keep Jesus out. The walls and locked doors of our houses will not keep Him out. Jesus steps into the midst of our lives, our houses, through the locked doors, and breathes peace, life, hope, courage and strength into us. And that breath of peace is the key that unlocks the door. Friends, take a deep breath, take it all in, let it fill and enliven you. Let it be the starting point. Let it give you the hope, courage, and strength to unlock and open the doors of your life, and then get out of the house in God’s strength. 

10th May 2025

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.

I struggle with the concept of things going wrong for me as a punishment for my sin or mistakes. When bad things happen, I still look for something I have done wrong that is now being used against me. Things go wrong and it seems like nothing I do, can change things. I have to be reminded that God does not look at me and try to come up with some arbitrary punishment for me or my family because of a wrong word, a misunderstanding, neglecting someone or something, because I or anyone else lied when we were 17 or 20. This world is a fallen one, it contains evil, it contains illness and accidents happen. It is not punishment for our wrongdoing, it happens and by the grace and strength of God we have the strength and resolve to continue, to persevere and become resilient. I still struggle but I also remind myself of God’s love and care for me, daily.

9th May 2025

Matthew 7:1 Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

Changing things for the better can be a real challenge to us all. The desperate need in our world is for us to be people of compassion and not people of arbitrary judgement. We must not allow our judgement of others to be dictated by the status quo, to just continue the flawed norm, but rather our judgements need to be dictated by wisdom, experience, compassion and empathy. We must never fall into the trap of making decisions based on wealth or power, based on gender or disability. We must never make decisions based on someone’s skin colour or life choices. We must never make decisions based on someone’s culture or religion. Instead, every judgement and decision we make must always be made through wisdom, compassion, honesty and integrity. Pray for the wisdom of God as you make decisions and always try to think “What would God do in this situation?”

8th May 2025

John 20:27 Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

We like to judge others, to criticise their opinions and reactions. Others like to do that to us. Sadly, none of us knows exactly what the other is going through. We tend to be hard on Thomas for his reaction of not accepting what the other disciples have seen, but he simply wanted proof, to see for himself. Jesus doesn’t condemn him, Jesus treats him with love, respect and patience. Thomas went on to take the gospel of Christ to India. He died a martyr. Thomas story was one of growth and change, someone for whom the resurrection of Christ was real, someone for whom the empty tomb made a difference. Meeting the resurrected Jesus was a starting place for Thomas, it just took a little time, as it does for most of us. None of us become perfect Christians but we grow and change and become better as time goes on and Jesus works in our lives.

7th May 2025

Luke 12:12 The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.

How good are you at speaking up about things, about your faith and what you believe? Telling others we are Christians can be difficult. We worry about what they might think of us, whether they will laugh at us, joke about it, ignore us or embarrass us. We need to be clear who we are and what we believe in. We don’t need to badger people or talk at them; but to own up to our faith. To challenge when we might be asked to be involved in things which are dishonest, cruel or hurtful. We might be worried about what we should say but the Holy Spirit will guide us. We can read up, pray, ask guidance from God and others. As Christians we must have honesty and integrity otherwise what we say and do will be invalid. In the end all God requires of us is that we do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with Him. Be who we are in Jesus.

6th May 2025

John 21:9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.

Are you a breakfast person? If so, what do you like for breakfast? Cereal, toast, a cooked breakfast maybe? The disciples, having gone back to fishing, suddenly find themselves at breakfast with Jesus, on the shore, a B B Q of fish and bread. It reminds us of another time with Jesus on the shore, where there were no fish, then catching loads of fish on Jesus’ instruction, it is exactly how Jesus called the first disciples. At this difficult, lonely and low time they go back to what they know. We do the same. We take comfort in what we know, in what is comfortable for us, and just like with the disciples Jesus meets us exactly where we are.

5th May 2025

John 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

After Easter we often feel a bit low and let down. The joy, the chaos and excitement, the empty tomb, our first “Alleluia. Christ is risen” on Easter Sunday seems distant. It was the same for the disciples, one week after the resurrection the disciples are in the same place. They are in the same room behind the same locked doors. If the resurrection is such a big deal, such a life changing event, why are they still stuck in the same place? What difference has the empty tomb made? Sometimes we wonder why life seems difficult and why we can’t live like Easter Sunday all the time. By the grace of God, we evolve into resurrected people through our relationships and the circumstances of our lives. It’s not always easy and some days and weeks are just plain hard. The fact of the empty tomb is the starting point for the resurrection story. Whatever we wake up to each day is simply the starting point for our story of resurrection.

4th May 2025

Luke 24:5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men(angels) said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?

When all the others had fled and hid, these women stuck it out. They waited over the sabbath, at risk to themselves, to go and look after Jesus body properly as their traditions demanded. They are fearful but know what is required of them. They summon God’s strength in the middle of their grief and find an empty tomb. Why are you looking for the living among the dead? Jesus is not here, He is risen, just as He said He would. They had not understood, they do now. They remember, Jesus brings things into our hearts and minds when we need them, through the Bible, through prayer and through others. We live as Easter people, who know who Jesus is, who know He is risen. We live with Him alongside us every day, we face nothing alone. That is the fulfilled promise of Easter.

3rd May 2025

2 Corinthians 1:4 God who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

This verse reminds us that God is the father of compassion who comforts us that we may be compassionate to and comfort others. In the same way as God we need to opt for compassion and comfort before judgement. It is too easy to judge others for not being like us, not from our culture or religion, judged by disability, gender, life choice, status and wealth. Because someone is in a position of power they are not above the law, just because someone is wealthy they are not above the law. Every human must be subject to the same justice as everyone else. Judgements must not be arbitrary. As we move on in life we will meet those who will judge us based on appearance, gender, skin colour, background, religion and disability instead of our ability. Each of us can change this by not judging others based on these things but rather showing good judgement through wisdom, compassion, honesty and integrity. I remind us all, including myself, that we have the power to change things. Please use it well.

2nd May 2025

John 15:9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

Have you noticed how society quickly blames those in need for their predicament, but we all know that is not the truth and we need to stand up for that truth. If hard work was the answer most of those now struggling would become the wealthy straight away. Self-sacrifice is part of the human experience. Sacrificing self for the needs of others, for freedoms, for health, education. Many hundreds of thousands gave their lives in wars to make the world a better place. Many still give over their lives to work in war torn countries, in famine’s, in countries ravaged by terrible disease. We sacrifice because we love. We have our God given capacity to love as He loves us. We love our families, our children, we love our fellow humans, we have compassion for those less fortunate and want to do something about it.

1st May 2025

John 15:10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

If anyone asked you what sacrifices you have made to be where you are, what would you say? If we asked your parents and family, we would probably get a different answer. Often without us knowing or realising until we are much older, our parents particularly, make sacrifices for us in order to improve our lot and our opportunities. Things like second or even third jobs, going without food, clothes, holidays, treats, technology, transport so as to give children the best they can. I hope you aware of the increasing amount of parents going without food so they can feed their children. How many children now in poverty. The increasing amount of elderly choosing between heating their homes or eating, they can’t afford both. If we follow Jesus example of love then we must do something to change this, to challenge this. It may mean making sacrifices but that is what we are called to do as Christians in our world.

30th April 2025

Ezekiel 18:20 Children will not suffer for their parents’ sins, not parents for their children’s sins.

In the Old Testament, the people came to believe illness and disability was a punishment for family sins and for sin generally. The book of Job explores the idea of punishment and reward. Again, it is made clear that nothing Job or his family have done, have caused the bad things to happen. We so easily look at others and blame them for their illness or disability. Society blames them and calls them lazy for needing help to live. Politicians are stripping back benefits for the disabled at the same time as introducing an Assisted dying bill which will see people be able to take their life without family or friends even knowing, because society tells them they are a burden. How have we come to this? Illness and disability are not a choice, they happen and people deserve a God given quality of life, a flourishing life, no matter their disability or illness.

29th April 2025

John 9:3a Jesus answered, “It is not this man’s sin or his parents’ sin that made him blind."

We love our NHS, we are saddened that it has been allowed to deteriorate through neglect and privatisation. So much can be done for us through medical research and discovery. There are many Bible stories of Jesus healing the sick and disabled. He heals Jairus daughter, the women who is bleeding, the lame man by the pool of Siloam, the lepers, blind Bartimaeus to name a few. Again and again, Jesus heals without prejudice, without judgement. He never blames them or their family. Jesus is clear in John 9 that the blind man is not blind because of his families’ sins. Jesus completely dispels the blame and punishment narrative. God provides for healing; He has given us bodies that can heal and minds to discover healing techniques and medicines. The NHS provides so much for us and is a definite blessing from God to be appreciated and treasured. 

28th April 2025

Romans 2:1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

I wonder how much of your life is about judgement. I know mine has been; we are judged good enough for this job but not that one. Good enough for the team this week but not the rest of the season. Not good enough for that exam or that university place. Judged too clever or a failure, judged to be handsome or attractive by the world’s standards, or not so. Judged by social media because we speak up about good causes or do not support the status quo. Of course we need judgement, but for the betterment of society, not for its arbitrary requirements of keeping the status quo. God is often referred to as Judge, this has a lot to do with holding the status quo, particularly in the Middle Ages, where Kings and the church ruled by fear. If you do not do as we say, you will suffer the consequences of judgement and Hell. Yet the God I have come to know does everything to enable people to live away from fear, to find peace through love and comfort. God is not a tyrannical judge but rather a compassionate God who offers comfort and salvation.

27th April 2025

John 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

One week after Easter, what has Christ’s resurrection done for us? What difference has the empty tomb made in our life over the last week? When we look at the world it looks pretty much the same as before. It's easy to hear today’s gospel and be critical of the disciples, stuck in the same place. But we really need to look at our own lives. Why isn’t my life different after Easter? Why am I still stuck in the same place? I should be doing better than that. Let’s just remind ourselves: Christ’s resurrection happened; The empty tomb is a life changing event; The resurrection does make a difference in our lives; and it keeps making a difference day after day, after day. Resurrection is something that we grow into, a process. 

26th April 2025

John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Many of us are already involved in groups, charities and societies that help others. Thank you. Please don’t give up. All of us can actively write to our MP’s, challenge our local councillors, make a stand on issues which will mean sacrificing some time on our part, maybe sacrificing some funds or even sacrificing our top spot in order to remain honest and principled about things. We have just celebrated Easter. A central Christian festival which involves the self-sacrifice of Jesus. This reminds us about how important our principles, honesty and compassion for others are. God’s own sacrifice in sending Jesus was done out of a love for humankind. That love prompts compassion, prompts action and that God given love is within us as Humans to care for each other. 

25th April 2025

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A person reaps what they sow.

Choice in life lies with you and me, all of us. We can choose to be those who are selfish, entitled, arrogant, rude, unpleasant or choose to be people of goodness, compassion, kindness, helpful, to always see the best in others, not to blame but to encourage and bless. Choice is ours to make and if we are not careful with our treatment of each other and what we read and listen to, we can so easily be led into making unwise and dangerous choices. Quite simply, in daily life, courtesy, treating each other well, being people who do the right thing by each other, are the right choices. The choices God requires of us, the choices that mean we will reap what we sow. Let us sow good things.

24th April 2025

Romans 14:12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

The idea of blame and fault readily exists in society, we are currently witnessing a real aggression towards disabled and vulnerable people because of a government narrative, based on lies, to justify cutting help for those most in need. By telling folk their taxes are paying for help for lazy people, by making dishonest claims about cost, by massaging figures and changing how they are interpreted, they get folk to turn against the disabled, because they say it is their fault, turn against the elderly, because they say it’s their fault, turn against the migrant, because they say it’s their fault and so on. Jesus never blames anyone for their illness. Jesus heals without judgement. It is Jesus who takes the blame for each of us on the cross. Blaming others instead of caring for them and helping them is the sinful world that we live in because we have turned away from God and become inherently selfish.

23rd April 2025

Colossians 2:14 Jesus cancelled the debt, which listed all the rules we failed to follow. He took away that record with its rules and nailed it to the cross.

I grew up being told and so believing that good people do well and bad people suffer. The view that if someone was poor, disabled, had a terrible accident, lived with a difficult situation, it was somehow their fault, or the fault of their family. I have found over the years that this is not at all true. Even so I struggle to believe it sometimes. We can feel that we are doing the right thing, working hard, being kind and good and yet bad things happen. For many years I believed that it was punishment for the things I did wrong. The Travis song, why does it always rain on me, very much resonates with this idea, that line…was it because I lied when I was seventeen. We often see things as going wrong because of something we have done wrong, somewhere, somehow, sometime. It is not. We live in a fallen world and that means things go wrong.

22nd April 2025

Ephesians 6:15 With your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace

I have incredible admiration for Bomb disposal experts and land mine removal people, who stand in the way of explosions, they have limited protection but they believe in the protection of others, in doing good and they have a courage far beyond most of us. That courage to protect others should be part of all of us. We need the courage to stand firm when things happen to us and those we care about. The courage to stand firm because we know we have protection from God and from each other. We have the armour of God, to protect ourselves with truth, honesty and right, to protect ourselves with peace, faith and salvation and to add to that protection by having the courage to get help, standing with others, together, making us stronger and even better protected. 

21st April 2025

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

With the world as it presently is things may not be as we would want them to be but we cannot give up. Even when we are struggling to keep going we need to remember that our forebears did not give up and their prayers changed things. We must not give up praying or being God’s people in every situation. Challenging injustice, seeking fairness and living the gospel we proclaim. Let me encourage you to be blessed in your situation, to be assured of your future in Christ and use that superpower to bring change for the better. In God’s strength, in prayer and in faithfulness we can change things.

20th April 2025

1 Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is worth nothing, and our faith is worth nothing.

It is Easter Day! We celebrate Jesus rising form the dead and so securing our eternal future. We give and receive Easter Eggs as a symbol of the empty tomb and new life. On that first Easter we believe that Jesus rose from the dead, and that means He is who He said He was, that what He said matters more than anything we could ever hear, and that we need to make a personal response to Easter Day by giving our lives back to the one who gave His life for ours. This sure and certain hope of resurrection is not simply just personal and private, like our individualised society wants things to be. It is a corporate experience, we come together as Christians to share in the Resurrection of Easter Sunday. It is why we gather together on Easter Sunday morning and proclaim; He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!

19th April 2025: Easter Saturday

Mark 15:47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

After Jesus was taken down from the cross, He was wrapped in borrowed linen and placed in Joseph’s unused tomb, all before the sabbath began. Those who had loved him were seemingly left without hope. The men who had lived with him during his public ministry, were frightened and went into hiding. The vigil was left to the women, for this is what women did and continue to do. Those Jewish women who had loved him stayed with him while he struggled on the horrible cross, when his agony was so intense that it was unbearable to watch. The same women now stayed near the tomb that hid him, waiting to offer him the rites prescribed by their tradition. The burial had been hasty; He deserved better. His body deserved washing and anointing with the finest oil and perfumes, to be wrapped by loving hands in clean linen. The women wait through the sabbath and the Saturday night to go to Him first light on the Sunday morning.

18th April 2025: Good Friday

John 19:21&22 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”  Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

However we view Jesus, be it an historical figure, a prophet, a healer, a miracle worker or as many of us do, the son of God, it still remains that Easter is part of the Calendar across the world. It marks a point in time when something, considered nothing special at the time, becomes momentous and changes world history. Big world religions hold their status because people and events have shaped the world and made a difference. The story of Easter is a story of the defeat of death, the enabling of humans to have an afterlife, to have hope that all they have done, all they are is not in vain. The story of Easter is a story of hope, hope for everyone whatever their background, whatever their mistakes, whatever has happened to them at the hands of others. Hope that goodness prevails, hope that life continues, hope that Spirit lives on and hope that we are loved and accepted for who we are not what the world tries to make us be.

17th April 2025: Maundy Thursday

John 13:5 Jesus poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

On Maundy Thursday Jesus did something very unusual at the last supper with his disciples. He washed the feet of Judas who betrayed him; he also washed the feet of Peter who denied him; he stooped to wash the feet of the rest of the disciples who fled and deserted him when he was arrested. This gesture of Jesus teaches that those who believe in him should serve not only families and friends but should also serve those who oppose and betray them. Holy Thursday sets the stage for Good Friday. After the last supper Jesus spent the night in prayer and at that crucial moment his disciples were too weak to accompany Him through his last night of struggle. He asked his disciples in a voice full of anguish: “Couldn’t you stay awake with me one hour? (Matthew 26:40). This is why many come together on this night, to provide an opportunity for people to spend some time in prayer and reflection in preparation for Good Friday.

16th April 2025

John 19:19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the jews.

This Holy week, we will celebrate the last supper, tied in with the Jewish festival of Passover and the beginning of the Christian Communion service. We will recall Jesus’ trial and appearance before Pilate bringing into question the authority of the leaders who condemned Him. On Friday we will place Jesus on the cross, still considered one of the cruellest, barbarous and torturous deaths there is. Even here Pilate seems to want to express his doubts in the system which has put this man here and so he declares Jesus King of the Jews. Jesus kingship extends far beyond that, His defeat of death means we are given life in all it’s fulness by the king of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus.

15th April 2025

John 19:18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

I expect, like me, you will have noticed the increase in Easter Eggs, chocolate, Easter cakes and Hot cross buns in the shops. As much as society now mainly views Easter as a long weekend Holiday, it still appreciates the money to be made from its commercial side. The links with chocolate eggs which illustrate new life and empty tombs, hot cross buns with their cross over the top, mini eggs placed in nest cakes, all offer a nod to a celebration of Easter whilst making money. There will be some special programmes on TV, a couple of extra services televised, historians and theologians visiting Jerusalem and retracing Jesus last days. But generally speaking, the Easter Holiday as it was always called, is now spring Break and the story and importance of Easter is not appreciated. We need to be reminded to see Easter as a beacon of hope for self, family and the world. A season of hope, of new life, of change, of growth.

14th April 2025

Luke 19:38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

The people who lined those streets on that first Sunday called Jesus Son of David, Hosanna, king of Kings. At this point they see Him not as one who punishes or causes harm, but one who heals, protects and blesses. A glimpse of who Jesus really was and what He had come to do arose in this moment. It didn’t last long, the mood changed very quickly as leaders turned the blame on Him, scapegoated Him, took the attention of their lies and fraud and instead blamed someone else. They even try to get Jesus to stop His disciples and the people calling out for Jesus. This blame game of Easter goes on all year round, in our societies, our communities, out homes and families. If we can get people to blame others, they won’t blame us. Jesus took all our blame, all our wrongdoing upon Himself and took it all to the cross. It is because of that we can know that when things go wrong, it is not God, it is nor punishment, sadly it is the fallen world in which we live.

13th April 2025

Luke 9:28 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.

As children we would shine those Christmas stocking battery torches up over our faces when it was dark. It gave an ethereal appearance as our faces shone. As Jesus was praying, something very strange happened. The Bible says that the appearance of His face began to change and that His clothing became as bright as a flash of lightning. Then Moses and Elijah, two of the holy heroes from a long time ago, appeared with Jesus. They were talking with Jesus about what was going to happen on that first Easter. Sometimes when something makes us really happy our faces just seem to shine naturally. When we meet with others who love God we shine. When we seek God and find Him we shine with His love.

12th April 2025

Luke 9:13b The disciples answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.”

From 5 loaves and 2 fish Jesus feeds 5000 men, then add on wives and children, probably more like 15,000 +, because He believes no one should go hungry. Many Christians today work to end poverty, hunger, homelessness because they believe God wants everyone to have a good quality of life. No one should ever go hungry! As we approach Easter, I want to encourage you, God wants the best for you both physically and spiritually, so believe in what you have been given, your gifts and talents, believe God has given you what you have, offer it to Him and let Him do the rest. Give your 5 loaves and 2 fish to God. God wants to use you, bless you and use you to bless others. That is just amazing and exciting. Let go and let God.

11th April 2025

1 john 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

We will always be tempted to live for ourselves, to take control of our corner of the world, and to focus on success rather than faithfulness. But Jesus teaches us that through prayer and Scripture, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can live for others, we can trust God with our corner of the world, and we can be faithful. No matter the temptations and trials and tests we might be going through, we can turn to Jesus, and he will be there for us, to lead us and guide us all along the way. God just wants us to try, to make the effort, we may get it wrong, we may slip up but God is faithful and will forgive.

10th April 2025

1 Corinthians 12:17 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

As a child I was brought up to say please and thank you. It stays with you, it is almost an automatic response, but it is also a recognition of the part we all play in one another’s lives. Thanking someone for what they do recognises that they improve lives even in the most mundane things, and we should always be thankful, never just expectant or taking each other for granted. Our world would be so much better for everyone if we were more appreciative of each other. To say simple kind words, to remember those pleases and thank yous all the time. To tell our parents, friends how much we appreciate them, not just on special days but every day if we can. Thank you cards, post it messages, the odd sweet or chocolate left, the offer of a cuppa, the little acts of kindness which say I appreciate you, thank you. We are one human race and we need to appreciate each other and each others gifts and roles in enabling each other to flourish as God intended.

9th April 2025

Luke 9:31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfilment at Jerusalem.

Sometimes we don’t get why things happen, we can’t see the long-term needs and get lost in the moment. Peter didn't understand that the wonderful experience he was part of on the mountain was not meant to be forever. It was not a place to stop and set up camp, but a starting place for God's greatest gift, the gift of salvation. Following this moment on the mountain, Jesus would move onto die for all humanity on a cross, be buried, and then rise from the grave so that you and I could have eternal life in heaven. This happened because of the first Easter. If they had stayed on that mountain, they would have missed out on everything that was still to come.

8th April 2025

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

The toxicity of social media and main stream media has severely damaged how we treat each other. The respect shown to those we disagree with has been lost and yet to treat each other with respect is something we should all do, no matter what we read or get told on social media. I am no better than you, you are no better than me, none of us are any more entitled than another. Even if you rise to highest ranks of society, you are no better than another. The moment we begin to treat all equally with respect, then things change. Compassion and dignity become the priorities, not wealth and power. We recognise the value of every sacred life and we mourn when any life is taken or lost. This is what God desires of us. Respect for one another. That respect is born out of love for our fellow humans.

7th April 2025

Mark 16:15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”

How do people know what we think or believe? Usually by what they see us doing in our daily lives. That challenges us to ask, where is Jesus in our life, family, work, leisure? You might say it is easy for me, wearing my collar in school, around here, people know what it means, they expect me to talk about God and faith, to be “Christian”. Within school and this community are many others who do their jobs to the best of their ability as God’s representative in those places. Being compassionate, loving, empathetic, honest, hardworking etc. They are catching humans through their God given gifts and skills. You and I may never know how many lives we impact on each day. Maybe we will see one day, sometimes God puts a person in our path and we see how we have brought them along, but much of the time we need to play our part, be who we are in God, where we are and then let God do the rest.

6th April 2025

Mark 9:2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.

Have you ever had a day that was so wonderful that you wanted it to last forever? I know I have. We all have days like that and Jesus' disciples had days like that, too? One day, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him up onto a mountain to pray. I love climbing up mountains, the views from the top, the achievement of getting there and how much closer I feel to God and His creation. Old Man Coniston, Snowdon, The Kirk stone pass, these are places I feel near to God. Jesus and the disciples were near to God on the mountain, and that experience changed them. When we meet with God we will become changed people.

5th April 2025

Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

In an ideal world, the world which God created and wanted for us humans, protections would not be necessary, but sadly in this world as it is, protections are necessary. The protection of self, those we love, democracy and the courage needed to live well is vital for each of us. We need protection and we need help when the arrows of life come at us. When we are shot down with abuse and lies, when we are struck by insults, by social media trolling, by daily struggles at home and in school. The protection of God comes from our faith, a dependency on Him. A realisation that we are not alone and can stand with others and God on our side.

4th April 2025

Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

It is sad that so many who go on to high powered jobs and to play a huge part in society, forget where they came from, or believe because of their type of education that they are entitled and more important than others. All our senior figures in church, state and celebrity culture need to remember that they are no better than another. If you are fortunate to achieve well, please do not forget the other who is not as fortunate, and never forget they are your human equal. Doing the right thing by each other makes life better for all. It benefits us and everyone else. Following God’s teaching on doing to others as to ourself is the only way we will stop injustice, unfairness, genocide, murder, poverty, hunger. 

3rd April 2025

Luke 9:16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people.

This story of the feeding of all these thousands of people is about God’s boundless generosity and care of humans. It shows Jesus’ divinity, He can completely transform a situation, and we witness His compassion in wanting everyone to be fed and have enough. Here both spiritual needs and physical needs are met. God cares not just about our spiritual lives but our normal physical lives too. How can we expect anyone to believe in God if they are starving, hungry and thirsty, homeless, cold. Food matters. Eating together offers a unity and compassion for each other. Coming together to eat adds a family dimension and as physical needs are met in food, other things happen, matters can be discussed, resolved and company can be enjoyed.

2nd April 2025

Luke 13:18&19 What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.

What is the Kingdom of God? In simplest terms it the rule of God over all His creation, but particularly those who have responded to Him in faith. It is a Kingdom we inherit as children of God because of Jesus death and resurrection. Comparing it to a Mustard seed, Jesus is using pictures to help us understand. The tiniest of seeds grows into a huge garden plant or tree which provides birds with shelter and places to nest. God’s Kingdom grows through faith, through love, and God provides each of His loved one with shelter, protection and a place of safety. Like a tree it has roots and it grows upward towards heaven. Through Jesus, life will come for all who wish to take it. God’s kingdom is open to all but we must make that choice. Faith starts small but grows bigger as it is fed and watered. Often we don’t see the growth but I assure you, it is there, happening day by day.

1st April 2025

Proverbs 3:3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

I have often been told that it is better to do the right thing for the wrong reasons than do the wrong thing for the right reasons. Jesus response to the devil reminds us that sometimes, it is better to do something in the right way, and fail, than to do something in the wrong way, and succeed. Success is not everything. Or, as Mother Teresa famously put it: “God has not called me to be successful, but to be faithful.” We are called to be faithful, and to trust the results to God. Jesus didn’t start his ministry with a splashy miracle with the devil, because it would have been a shortcut, and it would not have worked. Once Jesus sold out to the devil he could never then be the sacrifice for our sins. God calls us to be faithful not successful.

31st March 2025

1 Corinthians 12:18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

I am quite cross at the moment, we have far too many wealthy people who think they are deserving because of who they are. Far too many people in public life who forget those who helped them and those who have supported them as soon as they are famous or in a high-powered, well-paid jobs. These people then make decisions that then hurt and punish those who enabled them. A callous approach. It has been said many times that we should be kind and appreciate those who enabled us to get where we are because we will meet those same people on the way back down and they may not be so kind to us next time round. In life we all play necessary but different parts in life and we need each other to achieve and do well. No one is more necessary or important than anyone else. We need to express that through our appreciation of and gratitude to each other. We need to treat others, particularly the vulnerable, with respect!

30th March 2025

John 19: 26b&27a Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ 27 Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’

Families are really important to God, in creation, in Jewish history, to Jesus and in the early church. Families are there to support each other, to encourage and help each other. Jesus recognised His mother, Mary, would need support after His death, He also knew John would benefit from having Mary to support and encourage him in the work he will do in the early church. On Mothering Sunday, we remember and are thankful for our mothers, and all the females who impact on our lives. Those who bring us up, teach us, care for us, provide for us and love us unconditionally. We should say thank you far more often than once a year, but this serves as a reminder that we should be thankful to and for those who God has given us as family.

29th March 2025

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

As much as we talk about giving things up and giving our lives to God, we are very good at holding things back. We are not always ready to let God take over things because we think we know better and there are parts of our lives we don’t want to give to God. As we Worship God and serve God, we need to come to realise that God is in control, not us. We can talk to God about anything and everything, and we should. We can join God in improving those corners of the world we want to keep hidden, but it really is God’s world, even our corner of it. And our task is to worship, serve, trust, and love in every part of our lives and leave the rest to God. 

28th March 2025

Philippians 2:5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.

There will be many around us in these next few weeks who are fasting, giving things up, changing things in their lives and we will know nothing about it. They will be preparing for Easter, for the future as best they can. There will be many from different faiths who will come together for interfaith IFTARs to share our common humanity together. To share in what unites us rather than what divides us. The challenge to us all is to get on and do what we are called by God to do without a fuss. To be aware of others, to celebrate our differences and encourage each other to keep on going when it gets a little hard. To seek support and help when it is needed and to know others struggle as we do and are there to help if and when it is needed.

27th March 2025

Joshua 24:15 As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

In the hallway of the vicarage, we have this verse hanging on the wall. Given to me when I was ordained. It serves as a declaration of my service and my families service to God. A home is where God is. The psalms refer to homes as a place of refuge, a fortress, a dwelling place, a place of safety where God resides with us. Proverbs remind us that our home is a place of blessing and Hebrews 3 reminds us that the builder and creator of all, including our homes, is God. I am also very painfully aware that some people are not and do not feel safe at home. For them we must always help where we can to make safe spaces for those who need them.

26th March 2025

1 Corinthians 12:18 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.

How good are we at appreciating the part others play in our development and successes? It is far too easy to think, when we do well, that it is all down to us. It is not, no one achieves without the help and support of others. We must not only appreciate that but express our thanks and appreciation. Both my sons are grown and out in the wide world and not always in contact regularly, I can feel a little undervalued. We all can. We can feel aggrieved that no one thanked us, or someone only phones or texts once in a blue moon and then to ask for something. It plays on our emotions, it makes us wonder about what we do for others. We don’t do things for others for the reward, at least we shouldn’t, but we all know how good it feels when we are appreciated. When our work is appreciated, when our effort is appreciated, when someone bothers to thank us, to praise us, to let us know that we are appreciated. This world is not one that offers a lot of appreciation. Perhaps we can start a trend of being more grateful to and appreciative of God and each other.

25th March 2025

Hebrews 3:4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.

The concept of “home” in the Bible encompasses more than a physical dwelling; it represents a place of spiritual sanctuary and a foundation for nurturing faith. Represented not just by a building but also a homeland. A place we belong. The Bible presents the home as a sacred place where families live out godly values like love, nurture, hospitality, and mutual service. It emphasises the importance of having a home and a place of belonging, where love, respect, and family relationships thrive. Additionally, the Bible refers to our bodies as a home where the Holy Spirit resides. As we find our home in God so He finds His home in us.

24th March 2025

Isaiah 32:18 My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.

When the word home is used, I think of three things: family; where I feel safe, and God. Home for me is a place of safety, where I can be myself, a place of belonging and for all of us, a place where we return to at the end of the day. It is no coincidence that the place on the phone or ipad, where we go back to, is called the Home screen, it is where we are safe, secure and can set out from. The importance of home is intensified when we realise how many people are homeless. Without a place of safety, a place to be, whether a building or a homeland or a faith. If home is so important to us then providing homes for everyone is a key priority to a better, safer, more equitable society.

23rd March 2025

1 Corinthians 12:12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

How much do we appreciate others? Family, friends, partners, neighbours, colleagues? Some more than others probably. Sunday week, 30th March, we get the chance to appreciate our mother’s and those special women in our lives, to say thank you for all they do for us. But, outside the special days do we say thank you, do we appreciate what other’s do for us? From the moment we are conceived we are dependent on parents to care for us. Without food, love, compassion, care and teaching we would not develop. If no one feeds us as babies, we cannot feed ourselves. If no one talks to us we cannot learn to communicate. If no one shows us the world and what things are and how they work, we will never learn. We need each other and we need to appreciate each other.

22nd March 25

Philippians 2:7 Jesus made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

In Philippians chapter 2 Paul writes about servanthood, obedience and humanity. The fact that Jesus, even though He was part of the Godhead, does not seek special treatment but rather takes on human nature in order to restore the broken relationship between God and humans. Jesus never shouted about who He was, He never tried to claim special treatment but just got on with the job, often very quietly and without a fuss. It was others who were loud, attracting attention, trying to make out they were more important than they were. Jesus accepts the incorrect judgements, the lies and dishonesty and takes it all to the cross so that we have hope and salvation.

21st March 2025

Luke 13:34b How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!

Jesus is our mother hen, gathering us to Him. And when danger appears, he will protect his chicks. It is a very moving image. A maternal side to Jesus we don’t discuss very often. In a classic hero’s tale who would cast a hen in the starring role. This is not an eagle or a falcon. She is not the fighter who always emerges victorious. She can only stand in front of the danger, spread her wings, and offer herself out of complete love, in defence of her young. Jesus is writing this story, the hero is not an avenger, righting wrongs, vanquishing enemies, freeing them from their captors. He does not even carry a sword. Instead, our hero spreads his wings on a cross and offers himself out of love, to save his children. Like a mother hen would do.

20th March 2025

Matthew 23:27b How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.

I like images, things I can picture, they help with understanding. Here Jesus describes His sorrow with one of the most tender and loving images in the gospels, a mother hen caring for her wayward chicks. God is like a mother hen. We are like chicks in need of gathering. Chicks move swiftly in whatever direction strikes them as interesting at that moment in time. Totally random. They are the essence of free will. I think most family members can relate to a mother hen. When kids are toddlers, it is a constant battle to keep up with them as they run in every direction, on a playground, in a park or at the store. As they become young adults, we try as best as we can to keep track of them. Like a mother hen, we run in circles trying to gather them in, circles that grow wider and wider until we can no longer keep up with them. We too have our moments of lament, as our chicks stop listening and go astray. But no matter where they go or how far they may drift, we are still prepared to step in front of them and spread our wings to protect our loved ones against any danger. This is a wonderful image of how much God loves and cares for us.

19th March 2025

Matthew 23:27a Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!

For hundreds of years, God has watched as his prophets made the journey to Jerusalem only to meet their end in Jerusalem. And so just as Frodo’s story doesn’t stop on the road to Mt. Doom and Harry Potter’s doesn’t end on the train to Hogwarts, the climactic scene for Jesus isn’t going happen out here in the provinces. It will end in Jerusalem. In a classic heroic epic, our hero would be driven by anger, perhaps revenge, and settling scores on their journey to the final battle. Jesus has seen how the prophets were ignored and killed. He knows what his enemies have planned for him, but there is no anger. No attack. No revenge. Instead, Jesus laments. The sadness of such a situation.

18th March 2025

Luke 13:32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.

The Gospels readings during Lent follow the physical journey of Jesus starting at the Jordan river, as he moves through Galilee and Judea on his way to Jerusalem. It is an epic story; one we know well. We’ve read the book. We’ve seen the Hollywood movies. Along this path ahead lies pain, suffering and death. As Jesus is passing through Galilee, in the territory of Herod. He is warned by the Pharisees that he should leave because he is in danger of being killed. But Jesus has no intention of leaving. He keeps doing what he does, healing and teaching. He knows he has nothing to fear because the final act hasn’t started yet. Jesus knows what is about to happen and He knows the time frame and the ending.

17th March 2025

 Luke 13:34b how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.

I love heroic stories, where the protagonist journeys along a difficult path, with adversity waiting at every turn. Stories like Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter. I have lived through them all with my boys. Each of these stories have an epic arc, usually starting humbly but building over time as the hero travels to the climactic finale where good vanquishes evil. On Ash Wednesday, we began a six-week spiritual and liturgical journey, Lent. We are early on but it is a familiar path and we know where we are headed. Waiting for us at the end is the climactic finale of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. As we travel with Jesus along His heroic path this Lent, let’s try to keep this image in mind. The hero as a mother hen. It is not how Hollywood would do it. But this not a Hollywood epic. Jesus is writing the script here.

16th March2025

Luke 21:36 Be on watch and pray always that you will have the strength to go safely through all those things that will happen and to stand before the Son of Man.

Be on your guard, watch out, look out are warnings, to be ready what is coming your way. This is a challenge to not let our faith become so familiar and ordinary that we let it be overshadowed by everything else. We are reminded of the need to commit every moment of every day to God. To pray for all that concerns us, commit our families, loved ones, studies, daily life, friendships, hobbies and activities to God. This might seem a little too much but God is interested in every part of our lives, what is on our minds, and He does not want us to be weighed down by worries and concerns. Prayer is vital, it is great to have quiet times alone with God as Jesus did, but Prayer is also those few words as we walk into or out of somewhere….I lift this to you, Lord, please help me, give me the words to say, show me what to do… Any time, any place we can share with God our situation and He is right there with us.

15th March 2025

John 14:2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

Heaven is portrayed in the Bible as our ultimate home, a place of dwelling with God for eternity and John 14 reminds us that it is place of many mansions and homes where an eternal residence is prepared for us through Jesus’ death and resurrection. A home should be centred around our faith, around our God. A place where families live together well and are an example to one another. Parents are living examples to their children, all of us are living examples to family and friends of our physical home and our spiritual home being rooted in God. If home is where the heart is, as is often said, then our hearts should be set on our Heavenly home, where we will be forever with God.

14th March 2025

Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross!

With any festival or event we celebrate, there are reasons behind them and preparations to be made for them. Lent is preparation for Easter, a time of self-reflection, evaluating our lives and making changes where necessary. Not so we can show off, be seen to be good people, but rather to quietly get on with becoming better people in the world. Learning lessons about how to make ourselves better and how to make the world a better place for others. This is a good time for charity, helping those less fortunate than us out of the abundance we have. Lent is a good time to remember the abundance we have and to give thanks to God for that while seeking to help others.

13th March 2025

Luke 4:9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here.”

The Third Temptation, If Jesus does a spectacular miracle, then everyone would believe in him right away. Right? The Pharisees, Scribes, Tax collectors, fishermen, they all would have known who Jesus was, all sorted! Surely the end justifies the means…….no, never. Jesus did many amazing miracles and they still did not believe in Him. But aren’t there times when we are tempted to let the ends justify the means? Aren’t there times when we can see a shortcut to accomplishing something good, and it seems like it might be worth a trade off in the end, even if we have to break the rules now? Selling our soul to the devil never works, he holds all the cards and our honesty and integrity is lost. The end never justifies the means.

12th March 2025

Luke 4:6&7 I will give you all their authority and splendour; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.

The Second Temptation is about… You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. This temptation is for Jesus to take a shortcut to achieve His goal, to make a deal with the devil. The world would be better off if Jesus were in charge, but He wouldn’t be in charge! The Devil would. God chooses to rule the world not by force, but by love. That means sometimes things can go wrong. That is the result of free choice for us. We are tempted to take control of our little corner of the world. We know how to fix our little corner, right? We know how to fix our family, our friends, our school or workplace. There are simple things we could do and it would fix them, right? But it doesn’t! Unlike God, we can’t see the whole picture. And we aren’t perfect. We do not have all the answers. It is always better to trust things to God. No Shortcuts, no deals!

11th March 2025

Luke 4:3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

The First Temptation of Jesus is about food. Jesus has fasted for 40 days and nights. He is hungry, the devil approaches Jesus and says use your divine power to turn a stone into bread. This is a temptation to use His divine power for Himself. Not for his heavenly Father. Not for humanity. But for Himself. If the Devil could get Jesus to think about himself, even just a little, then the devil has won. Because there is no way that Jesus will be crucified for our sins, if he begins thinking about Himself first. For us, once we decide to live for ourselves, and not for God, even just a little, we have begun wandering away from the faith. Because there is no way that we will do anything sacrificial, for God or for others, if we are thinking about ourselves. Being Selfish. It happens to us all, every day. Our lives are about much more than eating and drinking and working and sleeping. They are about our relationship with God that Jesus came to restore. Jesus is reminding us, that when we put that relationship with God first, then everything else makes sense. 

10th March 2025

Luke 4:1&2 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,  where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.

We remember, during Lent, the devil testing Jesus, tempting him. The devil is desperately seeking to stop Jesus from doing the work that our heavenly Father sent him to do. He knows Jesus will defeat him and death on the cross so he will stop at nothing to stop Jesus becoming our salvation. The Devil will also do the same to us. He will always try to convince us that there is an easier way, his. We can learn from Jesus how to spot these temptations and resist them. The key is the Bible and knowing what God says and does. If we know what God says and teaches then we will always know how to answer the devil and turn him away.

9th March 2025

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

While thinking about giving things up for Lent and fasting I was reminded this week that going without is a major issue for at least a quarter of the world’s population, many of whom have no option but to go without food or housing and clean water. For many today’s decision will not be about what to give up for Lent, or about fasting, it will be about survival. Will there be any food or water to enable them or their children to survive. Famine and drought are major killers in our world. This is a time to reflect on that. God does not intend people to die from these basics but general greed across the world has brought us here. Lent offers us the opportunity to both pray for and practically help those in need.

8th March 2025

Matthew 6:1 Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

We are now in Lent, we are also in the Islamic Holy month of Ramadan. These both have links to self-evaluation, self-discipline, fasting, preparation, prayer, giving up bad habits, devoting oneself to our faith, charity, suffering, and how we live our lives. As with most things there are two ways we can react. Being loud and proud about what we are doing, or just getting on with it quietly, without a fuss. I know folk who want to tell you how much they have given up for Lent, or how hard it is to fast, and I know others who quietly do what their faith demands of them only speaking up in a general fashion about what faith requires of them when they are asked. Our righteousness is between us and God!

7th March 2025

Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.

Today armour plating comes in the form of Kevlar, polycarbonate shields, bullet proof glass and bomb proof metals. It is all about protection from increasingly terrible weapons of aggression and war. St Paul used this practical, physical idea of amour to help us understand about protecting ourselves physically but also spiritually and mentally. Having faith in God means we are open to attack, open to insult, lies, condemnation and criticism and sometimes physical attack. I am regularly abused verbally in the street and have received very unpleasant and threatening letters and emails. Paul offers us ideas on protection of ourselves, through the armour of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and the Bible. The very opposite of violence, aggression and the horrors of battle. These are tools of protection that we have for daily living, tools which we courageously use daily to defend ourselves. Being people of truth and honesty, people of right, of peace, people of faith who live by the promises of God.

6th March 2025

Luke 9:33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

I grew up with Action man, we had several in the house. The idea of the strong hero who was a soldier, an airman, someone who got stuck in. I see the disciple Peter as a bit of an action man, always jumping in with both feet, often before weighing up the right response. When Peter saw the Transfiguration, he could not believe his eyes. How could Moses and Elijah be here, standing and talking with Jesus. The whole thing was so incredible, Peter told Jesus that he thought that they should stay up there on the mountain and build three tents, one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. I know how he felt, I often don’t want to come back down from my favourite places because I love being up there, on top of the world it seems. But if we don’t come down and share God’s love with others, no one else will ever have those blessed experiences. 

5th March 2025

Jeremiah 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”

As Christians in our world, can we do better? Yes. Can we change things through prayer? Yes. Can we ever do enough, probably not, but we should never give up trying. If our letters to local councillors and MP’s don’t illicit a response first time, write again, and again. If we are not happy with the response we get, challenge again. Pray as we write those letters and as we post them or email them. If our places of work are unpleasant, difficult, then we need to challenge, to pray, to make them better places by our presence, our words, our behaviour, by being the very presence of God where we are. Being the best we can be where we are for God.

4th March 2025

Luke 17:1 Sin will come but woe to the person who causes others to sin.

Would you describe yourself as a good friend? Do you cause upset or grief to others? Do you cause despair in your family? The world has sin or wrongdoing a plenty but we can and do sometimes play a part by being the cause of another to do wrong or be wronged. How we behave matters! If we cause others to struggle, get into trouble, lose faith, then we are not good or nice people. The effect we have on others really matters. Our actions, words, lies, cover ups, pranks can cause others distress, hurt, anger and sometimes punishment for them. Our actions and words have consequences. We need to be people who act wisely, who do not cause others to sin or struggle. We will get things wrong, we can be forgiven when we are sorry, but the difference is when we deliberately get things wrong, deliberately hurt others, misinform, cover up. How we live matters not only for ourselves but for others. We need to try and be the best of ourselves as we can be.

3rd March 2025

Luke 9: 28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.

You and I will have many wonderful experiences as we follow Jesus. When we have great "mountaintop experiences" like Peter did on the mount of transfiguration, we might wish that it would never end. But we need to remember that when we follow Jesus and accept Him as our Lord and Saviour, the best is yet to come! This week we begin Lent, Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and then we walk with Jesus towards Easter. We recognise our need to live in our world as forgiven sinners who try to be better people and share the wonderful things that we have found in Jesus with others. Don’t miss out on what God has for you by staying on mountain top!

2nd March 2025

Ephesians 6:13 . Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

If you went into any school today you would find students in school uniform or in appropriate clothing for school life. Our dress reflects who we are and what we do. The green paramedic uniform. The scrubs or white coats of doctors, Army, Navy or Airforce uniforms, the clerical collar, uniforms of pilots, nurses, concierges, chefs and so on. Armour is the uniform covering used to protect the body from physical injury in a harmful situation. Early armour was made from leather skins and wadding made from wood. Once metal working came chain mail and plate became suits of armour. A person could have some protection when in a harmful situation. God’s armour comes from truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and His word, the Bible. These are what protect us in daily life as Christians.

1st March 2025

Ephesians 2:19 "Therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God."

Today is St David’s Day in Wales. People will wear a daffodil or a leek to remember St David who lived around 500 years after Jesus. He was a popular native Welshman who became Bishop in Wales. David treated people well, fought for the vulnerable, poor and sick, challenging injustice and unfairness. There were those who tried to kill him and discredit him but David lived his life for God and for others. He founded churches and monasteries and is linked to the rebuilding of Glastonbury Abbey. His shrine is at St David’s, Pembrokeshire. He believed in a simple life serving God by serving others. His famous saying was “Do the little things well”

28th February 2025

Luke 5:11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

How did you come to Jesus? Through friends, family maybe. Can you pinpoint a time when Jesus called you to follow Him? When Jesus calls the first disciples by the lake, they leave their jobs and follow Him. He calls them, they follow. Sometimes God will call us to change our lives, to give up something, to follow Him. For some the calling will be full time, for others part time, for others it becomes a new job, for others it is a call to be the person they are in their present life. Each is different. For us the call can come at any time, we have to recognise it, recognise our own unworthiness and recognise God’s miraculous work in the ordinary. Let me encourage you, do what you do to the glory of God, use your skills and talents to share God’s love with everyone and then let God do the rest.

27th February 2025

Philippians 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Nelson Mandela said: “Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” St Paul is very honest with us, we will face struggles, we will be knocked down, we will face difficulties but in God’s strength we will always have help, have assurance, build resilience and determination to get back up and keep going because we believe in what we are called to do. Our faith helps to build the determination and resilience we need. God gives us friends, family, colleagues, helpers to encourage and enable us. We are not alone. Be inspired to keep getting up and to build your story of resilience and determination that will inspire and help others.

26th February 2025

 1 Thessalonians 5:13 Hold each other in the highest regard in love. Live in peace with each other.

As children we so often react in a tit for tat manner. You did this to me so I will do this to you. These things easily get out of hand. In later life groups of people do the same, they try and excuse it but it never works, only escalates and gets out of hand. Poor, aggressive actions are used to justify dehumanising the other. We make excuses. No one deserves different treatment because of their gender, their religion, their life choice, their culture, their place of birth. Each one of us is a human being, the same and equal to one another. None of us chose where we were born, none of us choses our culture and none of us have to right to disregard another because they are different to us. Instead we should hold one another in high regard.

25th February 2025

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Often the last thing we do in any situation is pray, yet it should be our first option. We have nowhere else to turn but prayer. Knowing, through experience of self and others, that Prayer does change things, reminding ourselves that so often prayers have been answered and things changed when we thought they could not. Do we pray enough? No. Do I pray enough? No. Yet the key is prayer. Our relationship with God which encourages us, which blesses us and those around us, which enables us to do things we would not otherwise do and makes us people who believe in our God and His never-ending love for us.

24th February 2025

Mark 1:17 And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’

What is the first thing you remember? I have heard stories of people remembering Christmas or birthdays when they were young, a special day trip or holiday. We all have the ability to remember, the happy times in life and the sad ones. The disciples will have remembered their first meeting with Jesus on the shore of the lake and how and why they followed Him. The Disciples will go on to remember Jesus being crucified even though He had done nothing wrong. We remember big events in our lives, Births, deaths, weddings, hospital stays, parties, sickness. We have the ability to remember and so not repeat the mistakes of the past. The child who burns their hand on a fire does not touch again. The adult who is hurt by someone they trust may find it hard to trust again. We make a mistake; we learn from it and we try to correct it. God has given us memories to use wisely.

23rd February 2025

Matthew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him.

At times in life everyone of us will feel aggrieved and hurt when someone does something wrong to us or those we love. Remember that everyone we hurt, that we maltreat, they feel the same. None of us have the monopoly on being offended or hurt and it does not justify mistreating others with malice. If we do not want or like things done to us, then others will not like it either. Therefore, do not do it or say it. We need to see those around us as equal and deserving of goodness just as much as we are. We are not entitled to any more than anyone else no matter who they are. Revenge is not justifiable in any circumstance, but love is. God did not exact revenge on us but rather gave His own Son out of His great love for us. We must do likewise.

22nd February 2025

Luke 6:26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

Jesus teaching in Luke's account of the Beatitudes, tells us that being poor, hungry, weeping and reviled means we will be looked after, God will reward us in the end. The older I get, the more I feel aggrieved at being expected to wait until heaven for a better life. Life should not just be pie in the sky when we die! I fully believe we should be fighting for a better life for everyone here and now. We should get steak on the plate while we wait! This is the life in all it’s fullness that Jesus told us about. I do take great comfort from the next few verses, woe to the rich, woe to the full, woe to those enjoying life at the expense of others and obtaining plaudits and awards for being wealthy, in a certain club or for being the right gender or colour skin. I also take comfort from Psalm 1, those who cannot stand before God in their wickedness, who will perish. In the depths of my despair at our world, at the wars, the genocide, the ugly fascist politics, the greed and power, we have nowhere else to turn but to God. Nowhere else to go for help, strength and support than to God and each other in our faith.

21st February 2025

Matthew5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

The pain of death, and the grief that comes with it, affects each of us in different ways, and we each have to walk through it in our own way. There will be days when the burden is light, and others when the burden is heavy, but whatever day today is, we also know that we have a God who walks with us, brings comfort to us in our sadness and shares the joy that we have in recalling the happy memories and times we shared. I encourage us all to draw on all the memories we cherish, and perhaps over time smile, and even laugh as we recall the way they enriched our lives. Let us be assured of God’s love, care and comfort for us throughout our lives, until that time when he calls us home and we are reunited with our loved ones.

20th February 2025

Mark 12:31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself. ’There is no commandment greater than these.”

We are witnessing some of the most awful treatment of groups of people across the world. The dehumanising, the pretending others are less than another group because of gender, race or colour, where you are educated, your background or belief system. We dehumanise people because they are disabled or sick or poor. Blaming others for things because we believe we are special and are better than others. This is simply not the case. Our treatment of the other is crucial to the sacredness of all life, to God’s creation of all as equal, and to the peace and goodness God wants for the world He created. 

19th February 2025

Psalm 1:3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, whatever they do prospers.

Fruitful trees by fresh water, or dry, shrivelled desert. Where are we? We are challenged about which side we are on. The side of wickedness, selfishness, greed, arrogance, aggression or the side of good, honesty, compassion, fruitful, sharing and peace. I long to be on the good side but freely admit I am feeling some of that aggression towards those who are treating the poor, vulnerable, sick and disabled so appallingly in order to assert their strength and increase their wealth and power. I am currently in despair of our world. I have been taken back to my younger years where I dreaded the threat of nuclear war and hated going to sleep in case I never woke up. I see injustice and unfairness everywhere and everything I can do seems to bear no fruit. This verse promises whatever I do will prosper, so we must not give up yielding our fruit in season, it will make a difference.

18th February 2025

Luke 5:5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

There is something about Jesus that even though it’s the wrong time of day, the fishermen have not caught anything all night, they still do as Jesus asks, a little reluctantly, but they do it. What happens next is a miracle. It goes against the norm and so the disciples know that Jesus is definitely someone special. Simon Peter recognises he is not worthy. A lesson for all of us in humility. Jesus simply takes their life skills, the thing they know and understand and says now I am going to teach you how to use these skills to catch humans. Not literally as in throwing a net over them and hauling them in, but use their skills and talents to spread the news about Jesus and encourage people to come and find Jesus for themselves. Find Jesus in their jobs, in their lives and families, find Jesus in every part of their life.

17th February 2025

Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

We have all heard the saying Do the right thing! The choices we make every time we make a decision, we decide on what is right or wrong. A couple of weeks ago we remembered the horrors of the Holocaust, where the right thing was not done. This verse says do to others what you would have them do to you; If we applied that phrase to the Holocaust then the Nazis too would have been tortured, interred, experimented on, and murdered. But what actually happened, and is still happening, is those chosen to be picked on and scapegoated are dehumanised, made out to be less than us and therefore any punishment is wrongly excused and seen as justified. If we put ourself in the position of the other, just as God did for us in Jesus, we will see that how we treat others matters. All human, all equal.

16th February 2025

Luke 5: 31,32 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

I have to say I am not a big fan of HMRC or tax collectors, not because of paying tax, I believe very strongly we all should. It does appear that because the very wealthy seem to pay a lot less tax, are rarely ever chased up while poorer folk are chased for every penny, often only a few pounds, it all seems very unfair. Fairness is a big thing for me! Tax collectors have always been unpopular, so when Jesus eats and drinks with them, and calls one to be His disciple tongues begin to wag, accusations are made. His reply is to remind them that only those who are sick need a doctor. If all Jesus did was to mix with those who already believed, no one else could come and find the joy, He came for everyone. For us to, if we do not mix with and share with others, regardless their views and opinions, we cannot share the good news with them. Mixing with people does not mean we condone or agree with everything they do, it means we care enough about them to want them to find God and His love for themselves.

15th February 2025

John 2:11 Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

This wedding narrative transcends time, inviting believers to reflect on their own celebrations and challenges. It encourages individuals to approach life with faith, trusting that God is present during both joyous occasions and tough times. As we navigate through modern-day experiences, this story inspires us to embrace hope and abundance. For many Christians today, it reinforces the idea that miracles can occur when we invite Jesus into our lives. Whether it's a family gathering or a personal struggle, there's significance in knowing He cares for every detail. This timeless account continues to resonate deeply within the fabric of Christian belief—reminding us all about love, community, and divine grace woven throughout life's journey.

14th February 2025

Luke 5:4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

If Jesus appeared at your place of work or at your place of expertise, how would you feel if you were told by Jesus to change how you do things, would we think it was a bit of a cheek? Probably! But that is exactly what Jesus does, He steps into our lives, our world, our experiences and challenges the norm. He turns our lives, our experiences on their heads. He challenges and equips us to use our skills and expand our horizons. To use the things, we know and are good at to share His story with the world. The best evangelism comes from stories, life experiences, friendship, being who we are where we are as God’s representatives. Every one of us needs to keep on top of our skills, be willing to be challenged and be willing to grow and learn. We are never beyond improvement and God will always bless us and encourage us as we seek to do our best for Him.

13th February 2025

John 2:7 Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim.

The story of the wedding at Cana serves as a powerful reminder of Jesus’ presence in our everyday lives. It shows that joy and celebration are integral to the human experience, and that Christ desires to be part of those moments. The miracle of turning water into wine illustrates not only His divine power but also His willingness to meet our needs, even in seemingly trivial matters. The miracle serves as a reminder that Jesus cares about our daily lives and celebrations, intertwining the sacred with the mundane seamlessly. This narrative encourages us to recognise moments where miracles might occur within daily life. By embracing faith and being open-hearted, we can find joy even in ordinary circumstances.

12th February 2025

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

To be independent and free we cannot force another to do as we want. We cannot want freedom and independence for ourselves if we are not willing to allow it for others. Differing views and opinions are what keep us in check, in balance. Once all are forced to think the same and act the same, dictatorships abound, and all freedom of thought and action is lost. God has given us the incredible ability of independent thought and action. It is to be valued and treasured not misused. That is why we need a spirit of wisdom and revelation and why we need to be educated on a daily basis and awake to those who will try to take it away. May we value our freedom and independence, use it wisely, fight for it, challenge those who would take it away and be gracious in accepting that others need their freedom and independence too.

11th February 2025

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Over the years my view of loss and death has altered considerably, and much of this has been through the privilege I have had of walking with countless families as they have prepared for their loved one’s funeral. Every time I meet a family, I don’t know what to expect, sometimes they are overcome by the grief of loss, and at other times there can be a feeling of peace. I sometimes meet a family who are able to laugh because of the character of the person who has died, but more often than not I see the tears of love and sadness in their eyes as they begin to come to terms with their loss. It is through all of these experiences I have learnt the healing power of the memories that are held within a family. Memories which allow families to cherish loved ones in many different ways. Memories which enable us to see things in perspective, memories given to us by God.

10th February 2025

Luke 5:2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.

What do you know about fishing? I know about taking a net and catching tadpoles in the local pond. My son has rods and lines and fishes sometimes. We all know that many of our seas have been overfished and that fishing rights are a contentious issue in our country. The four disciples were fishermen, it was their living, they understood tides, weather, best places, best times to fish. Into this expertise comes Jesus. He first uses their boat to escape the crowd pressing in on Him and then He teaches them. He then proceeds to tell these first Disciples to take their boats further out and then to fish. Simon points out that this does not fit in with their expertise and knowledge. It is like Jesus coming into my classroom and telling me how I should teach. In fairness, we all need reminding how to improve, but questioning our basic knowledge and experience, a bit much maybe? 

9th February 2025

Luke 3:22b Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “You are my Son, whom I love, and I am very pleased with you.”

We all like being praised, being told we are wonderful, reliable, trustworthy and most of all to be told we are loved. It often surprises people to know that God wants us to know how much we are loved by Him. He tells His son Jesus how loved He is and these words were not just for Jesus. Imagine what it would mean to hear God saying to you, ‘You are my children, with you I am delighted’. You are mine!` That is exactly what God does say to us. That is exactly who we are, God’s sons and daughters, precious and lovely in his sight. God loves each one of us. God delights in each one of us. As Jesus is baptised; He prays; and receives the assurance of God’s favour, so too we are baptised and born again in the Spirit; so too we pray and are blessed and receive assurance that we are children of God, beloved and well pleasing in his sigh

8th February 2025

Isaiah 42:1a Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights. I have put my Spirit upon him’.

Sometimes I am asked “so, who exactly is Jesus?” I usually talk of Him being God’s son and that God is well pleased and delighted with Him. This lovely passage in Isaiah, is a prophecy of the coming Messiah, in which God identifies Jesus as the one whom He upholds, the one in whom God delights, the one on whom God’s Holy Spirit has descended, the one who will become our Saviour. The Isaiah reading goes onto tell us that God says to us "I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine". It is no coincidence that these words are used by Bishops at our confirmations. We are part of the family of God. Joint heirs with Jesus, our Saviour and Lord.

7th February 2025

Luke 19:41 As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it

What makes you cry or weep? As much as we try to say “nothing really, I don’t cry”… we all do and need to. Weeping or crying is God given way to express God given emotions. To realise hurt and upset. Not crying, not letting our emotions out stifles our feelings and means we lose the ability to empathise, to show compassion. We lose our emotional intelligence. Creating a brave front, damages us inside emotionally, mentally, and physically. Weeping allows us to express our sadness over loss, physical loss of friends, family, pets, but also loss of opportunity. Grieving for what might have been. Jesus wept over Jerusalem, over His friend’s death, in the garden at the coming of His arrest then death. His humanity, His love for others expressed in His weeping. It is okay to cry, to weep. I do it, I could not do my job if I didn’t. I could not be a mum, wife, daughter, friend if I did not weep or cry. We all need to weep or cry, God gave us this ability to enable us to be better people, it is good for us!

6th February 2025

Luke 11: 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.

How often do we say prove it, show me, I want to see it. We like proof, we want to know if what we are being told or believe is actually true. Jesus was constantly asked to prove himself and He did. People were healed, helped, fed, even raised from death. They still wanted more. When Jesus spoke here he was referring to Jonah and Nineveh, how God sent help, the people listened and things changed for the better. The signs are clearly there, the pointers to Jesus in the prophets, Psalms, in their teaching, but still the religious leaders refused to see. How often do we refuse to see because it does not fit with our narrative. The signs are there, it is our choice whether we believe and whether we act on that belief. 

5th February 2025

John 2:6 His mother, Mary, said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you”.

Apart from at Christmas we often forget the vital role Mary plays in Jesus’ life. At Cana faith emerges as a crucial element when Mary directs servants to follow Jesus' instructions without hesitation. Their trust leads to an incredible outcome, highlighting how belief can unlock potential beyond our understanding. This highlights practical faith. Mary’s request reflects trust in her son’s capabilities, encouraging others to believe as well. This moment invites us all to recognise that belief can lead to extraordinary outcomes, even from ordinary circumstances. Another vital lesson lies in obedience. Mary’s instruction to the servants highlights the value of listening and acting upon guidance when it comes from a place of love.

4th February 2025

Luke 2:26 Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he saw the Christ promised by the Lord.

What promises have you made? Tidy your room, pick up your clothes, be good, not take mum’s chocolate, not to tell on a friend, not to lie ……. Have you kept these promises? Maybe one or two but we so easily break promises. Why don’t we keep them? Human nature, we do what is better for ourselves. What excuses do we make when we break promises? I forgot, wasn’t me, slipped out, better this way. Thankfully God keeps His promises! No excuses. It may not happen instantly but if God promises something, it will happen. God promised Simeon and Anna they would see the saviour. They did! They had to wait many years but God kept His promise. God keeps His promises! Sometimes it takes a while. Try to be patient.

3rd January 2025

Luke 2:34b God has chosen this child to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel. He will be a sign from God that many people will not accept.

There is an old tradition that Candlemas, 40 days after Christmas Day, is the day that ends the Christmas season, when everyone’s nativity scene and decorations should finally be taken down. This is because on that day we turn from Christmas towards Easter; from Jesus’ birth to Jesus’ death. Candlemas, also called the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, is kind of a pivotal point for the new year, the day when we turn from cradle to cross; birth to death. Simeon’s prophecy in the Temple contains this pivot. He speaks of the pain and hurt to come but also the fulfilment of God’s promised Messiah through Jesus Christ. 

2nd February

John 2:1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.

In my life family is really important. God put us in families with people to love and care for us and us for them. Family and community also play vital roles in this story of Jesus at the wedding. By performing his first miracle at a wedding, Jesus underscores the importance of relationships and celebration within communal settings. This act clearly underscores Jesus' connection to humanity. By performing a miracle during a joyful celebration, He affirms the importance of community and relationships. The choice of wine symbolises richness and life, central to Jesus’ mission. The story of the wedding at Cana offers timeless lessons for today’s readers. It reminds us of the importance of community and celebration. Life's milestones, like weddings, are meant to be shared with others.

1st February 2025

Luke 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened.

How often do you pray? How do you pray? Do you ever find things happen when you pray? Luke tells us that while Jesus was praying God’s voice is heard from the heavens. Jesus would often go into the desert to be alone with God. Prayer is key to the Son of God; it is key to us as well. It’s in these moments of prayer, these moments of intimacy between Jesus and his Father, that the heavens are opened and the voice of God confirms him and us: You are my child; in you I am well pleased. It is also in the moments of prayer, of intimacy between us and God that things can happen. God can bless us, use us, affirm us, but we must spend time with Him for this to happen.

31st January 2025

Luke 4:40 At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.

We all get ill sometimes, some more serious than others. We long to get well, go to see whoever can help us, take the medication, accept the treatment. Healing is that miracle that so often occurs when we cut ourselves, break a bone, beat off an infection. These miracles are happening every day across the world. We are used to them. We rarely give God the credit for these amazing bodies that so often heal themselves. Yes, sometimes we can’t heal, sometimes an illness is too much but these are a lot less than they used to be as God given science moves forward. Jesus healed so many, overruled creation as it was then. He showed that God’s perfection does not want suffering or illness. Our role is to pray for the sick, to use the God given cures and treatments. To encourage the research and discovery and allow God to work. It isn’t easy, especially when it affects us personally. God only wants the best for us, we must allow Him to work.

30th January 2025

Luke 5:36 He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old.”

We all love new things, new clothes, books, shoes, games and so on. We also treasure old things. I still have my first teddy bear, my first proper fountain Pen, my first bible. As with everything it is about finding a balance between the old, we treasure, and the new things God is doing. Jesus became very unpopular with religious leaders because he questioned their devout fixation on the old and the lack of seeing what God was doing now and being part of that. Ordinary people had become imprisoned in traditions for tradition’s sake. Jesus came to bring freedom and life in all it’s fullness. Sometimes things need to change, not for change’s sake, but because God is at work, doing new things and we need to be looking, listening, learning and joining in His work and His ways.

29th January 2025

Matthew 20:16 The last will be first and the first will be last.

We tend to think that talking about things is okay but meddling, getting involved, is not. Religion has no place in politics, we declare! We easily blame the ones Jesus says we should be helping; it is their fault for being homeless, poor, in debt. The papers say it is; the government says it is and even the news coverage says everything is their fault. We use the church as an escape from, rather than an engagement with, the world. We are content with just having a quiet friend in Jesus. Well, here’s the thing; Jesus doesn’t just talk, He meddles, He gets involved. He raises a question waiting for a response. Jesus is trouble for the status quo and an interruption to business as usual. His world is one in which the hungry are filled with good things and the rich are sent away empty. Jesus promises a new life and a new ordering of that life. And we are the keepers or breakers of that promise. There is no neutral stand when it comes to Jesus. We all have to take a stand. The only question is for what and with whom do you and I stand? 

28th January 2025

Romans 12:5 So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Once we become Christians, we become part of God’s family and part of a church family. Within this family will be those who are widows and orphans, people without immediate families. God has placed us in a family through faith. As a spiritual family the church is supposed to protect people from the dangers in the world. We should help each other grow into healthy, productive citizens of the community. We urge each other in our development as mature Christ-like adults. We teach how to eat the Bread of Life. All this is done within this caring community called the family of God. We protect each other. That is why God sets the lonely within families. We need to protect each other. It’s obvious that it’s the nuclear family in which the physical provisions of food, shelter and clothing are made. But, a healthy church becomes the family of God to us, supplementing and complementing contributions of a good home and helping us to make good the deficiencies of a poor home. They help us cope with life, enabling us to live well in community.

27th January 2025

Luke 4:21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

How far will we go for this gospel we claim to love and follow? What are we willing to do and what are we not? Those are choices we make every day. The gospel asks us to make a choice, to take a stand, and sometimes that will inconvenience us, be contrary to our self-interest, or put us in conflict and even opposition with others, ourselves, our family, our country, our religion. It is not easy. No turning back now! We all have fears and concerns about taking stand, about living the gospel. We know how easy and tempting it is to let the gospel go in one ear and out the other. We also know that if Jesus’ words are to be fulfilled then we will have to change.

26th January 2025

Luke 4:18b He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.

Social media has been full of the Bishop of Washington who spoke truth to power and asked the new president to show compassion to the vulnerable. As you can imagine he did not like it. When God’s truth is spoken to rich and powerful people, they do not like it. That is not a reason not to do it! Are we actively bringing Good News to the poor; release to the captives; sight to the blind; freedom for the oppressed? Are we speaking truth to power? That’s Jesus’ way. It’s a way of living and relating, are we willing to do this? How far are we willing to go? We cannot be certain of where this will lead, what will happen along the way, or what is coming toward us. And yet, we are being asked to make a stand. For God’s sake are we willing to speak out, to speak truth to power.

25th January 2025

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.

Being able to imagine is a fundamental aspect of human life. It enables us to look beyond the world as it is. To see the bigger picture. Imagination helps create different lenses through which we can view the world. To see things from other perspectives. Our imagination can make it possible to think about alternative realities from “what is” and think about “what could be.” It is the ability to “see” something that does not presently exist. Focusing only on what we already know can limit our ability to think more broadly. To see the bigger picture. To think about not just what God has done and is doing but what He can do, what He will do if we will only let Him.

24th January 2025

John 2:10 “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.”

Jesus' first miracle at the wedding in Cana holds profound significance. It marks the beginning of His public ministry, revealing His divine authority. Transforming water into wine was not just a display of power; it illustrated His ability to bring joy and abundance. To bring life in all its fullness. Jesus transformed water into wine, showcasing that there is always more than enough if we trust in God’s divine provision. This can inspire us to look beyond scarcity and embrace generosity in our lives. This is God's abundance. Jesus didn't just provide enough wine; he ensured there was more than enough for everyone present. This reflects a generous spirit and should encourage us to embrace God's plentiful blessings in our lives. 

23rd January 2025

John 2:2 Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.

Have you been to a wedding recently? I am actually holding a wedding rehearsal later today and very much looking forward to it. It is a real privilege to be part of such a wonderful occasion. Weddings are times of joy and celebration, family and friends come together. The story of the wedding at Cana presents several key themes that can resonate deeply with us. One prominent theme is transformation. The act of turning water into wine symbolises a shift from the ordinary to the extraordinary, reminding us that change is always possible. Reminding us that God can take the ordinary everyday things of life and turn them into whatever is needed, those special answers to prayer, moments of joy, moments of blessing.

22nd January 2025

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

We live through differing times as we grow up. I have watched and fought for women’s rights all my life, I have seen them vastly improve, but now I am watching them retreat and be dismissed as more and more misogyny is peddled. We have witnessed a huge attack on women’s rights in America and it is only going to get worse under the new administration. This is where independent thinking and living is taken away by laws introduced to make people behave in the way those who lead want them to. These restrictions of independence will face us more and more in coming years and we need to realise that if we want independence of thought and action then we must afford others the same, even when they disagree with us. 

21st January 2025

Luke 3:16b I am not even worthy to untie His sandals. He will baptize you with fire, with the Holy Spirit.

Remember only a few weeks ago Luke’s description of the angels announcing the good news to the shepherds in the field. The heavens were opened, and the angel’s declared peace to all those on whom God’s favour rests, those in whom God is pleased. Luke is making a deliberate link between the Christmas story of Jesus’ conception and birth, and the story of Jesus’ baptism. It’s the same Holy Spirit at work, opening the heavens and descending upon those in whom God is well pleased. It’s not surprising that Luke is making connections between Jesus’ birth and his baptism. After all, baptism is a kind of second birth. In baptism, Jesus himself tells us, we are born again of water and the Spirit. When we are baptised, we are symbolically washed of our sins and made new or reborn. 

20th January 2025

Luke 3:22a And the Holy Spirit came down on him in the form of a dove.

It seems odd that in the season of Epiphany, just a few weeks after Jesus’ birth we are now suddenly onto His adult baptism. It is as if the telescope has been stretched open and we have jumped from birth to adulthood. At Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove. This is the same Spirit that hovered over the waters of chaos at the beginning of Genesis. It’s the same Spirit that will shortly fill Jesus with the power of God and drive him out into the wilderness to prepare for his ministry. Think back a couple of chapters to Luke’s account of the beginning of the story of Jesus. The angel Gabriel tells Mary that the Spirit will descend upon her and overshadow her – hover over her. It’s the same image, the Spirit descending. That same Spirit is ready and waiting to descend upon us if we are willing.

19th January 2025

Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

The process of self-discovery can be uncomfortable. It can mean confronting parts of ourselves that we may not like. But how can we learn to love those difficult parts of ourselves or find a way to change them if we do not acknowledge they are there? Self-discovery also involves trying new activities. Getting out of our comfort zone and challenging oneself to explore new things, this will help us discover more about our likes and dislikes. Once we learn more about ourselves, we will live with more purpose. We will make choices more aligned with who we are in Jesus and who we want to become in our Christian lives. We are reminded that we are given strength in our weakness by God’s Spirit within us. That Spirit working with us to find out who we are and how we should live. Discovering that as we approach our God given life as truly self-aware people and learn from it, things will work out for the best.

18th January 2025

Luke 11:34 Your eye is the lamp of the body, if it is healthy your whole body is full of light, if it is not healthy your whole body is full of darkness.

Sometimes we refer to someone as a shining example. They exude certain qualities which attract others to them. We all desire to have that quality. The Bible teaches that our eyes are the lamp of our body, they are also called the windows of our soul. What we see matters! If we are constantly watching violence, aggression, lying, cheating then we will reflect that in ourselves. What we see and experience affects us for good or for bad. So, we need to think about what we allow into ourselves and thus about how we live. Are we people who shine, shine out goodness, peace, love, compassion, care. We need to be full of God’s light, full of Jesus the light of the world so that we can shine as God’s people in everything we do. If we do this then others will be drawn to us and to God because of the light they see emanating from us. 

17th January 2025

Isaiah 49:15 Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.

I like to remember events, times, people and I will often note things down to aid my memory. One of the greatest gifts that God has given us is the Gift of Memories. Memories are particularly important when someone dies whether our loved one died recently or in years gone by, we now treasure the memory of those times that we had together. Times of joy, times of sorrow, times of sadness and times of fun, and the memory of how they enriched our lives continues. The Bible is a book of memories. Memories of God and how he nurtured his chosen people in the good and bad times in their lives. Much of our lives, especially as we get older, is built in memories. Memories which we treasure, memories which rekindle joy, relive experiences, offer comfort and sometimes even offer a clearer way forward. God holds us in His memory, never forgets us. He remembers us even when we forget Him.

16th January 2025

Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

On a daily basis we want to live well, to have a good day. There is a phrase that says "Today is always yesterdays tomorrow." In other words, every day is a new day, a day when we can make right the mistakes of the past, where we can arise and shine in the light. The present, here and now, is the best place to practice the hopes of the past. To start again. One bad day does not make a bad week, month or year. We have the opportunity to make the most of each new day, as Winnie The Pooh reminds us, that is why we call it the Present. It is a gift to us. Each new day has the opportunity to start afresh. There is a poem called the Land of Beginning Again by Louisa Fletcher. Well worth a read. It speaks of wanting to drop all the mistakes of the day away like a shabby coat. That is exactly what God offers. To let go of the past and start new every day. God does not want our mistakes to define our story, neither should we.

15th January 2025

Psalm 4:6 Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity? Who will fight for justice?” Let the light of your face shine on us.

I remember when Star Wars: A New Hope came out. Excited to see it, to become part of this heroic story we watched and cheered as a mixed bunch of people from planets and races joined forces to make a stand against an evil empire. They were called the Rebel Alliance. They succeed in their mission because of teamwork and perseverance. They fight for each other no matter their culture or race. Their thoughtful action has an impact, as does ours. We are called to be people who make a stand against injustice, who work with others who are different to us and yet desire the same justice and freedoms we do. We have the opportunity to make an impact on our world by how we work with others, how we work with those things which unite us and make us stronger. Thoughtful action is God working amongst us to change things for the good of all.

14th January 2025

2 Corinthians 4:9 There are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed.

The recent news that the Taliban have stopped all education for women, treat them as slaves and disrespect them reminds me of Malala Yousafzai’s incredible courage and resilience which continues to inspire people worldwide. Despite facing unimaginable adversity from the Taliban, who sought to deprive girls of their right to education, Malala fearlessly stood up for what she believed in. In 2012, her unwavering determination led her to be targeted by a Taliban gunman, resulting in a life-threatening injury. However, Malala’s strength and perseverance shone through as she miraculously survived the attack. She continues to fight for the education of girls worldwide despite continuing threats to her life. It is fair to say we, in the west, have let down these women and girls and that is not the Christian way to behave. God values them and so must we. Keep praying for them and for change. These wonderful people who have overcome disability, imprisonment, torture, gender and culture barriers, people who have made a stand because of the inner strength, their belief in right, in honesty and fairness. Their faith in God to change the world and His use of them to do so. We might not be known for what we do, but every day we fight for what we believe in, we struggle against the odds, we overcome disabilities, culture and gender stereotypes, unfairness and injustice. So often we seem to make little progress and yet In God’s strength, in God’s timing and purpose things do change and we must not give up praying or standing up for what is right in Him.

13th January 2025

Exodus 35:31 He has filled us with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills.

If I asked you how rich your life experience was, how would you reply? The richer our personal experience is, the richer the ingredients for imagining and seeing the bigger picture. Our creativity and imagination is nourished by various resources on which we can draw. Through books and reading, art, discussions with others, and our education, we can build our knowledge of events and places to widen our experiences for the future. Imagining events from a distance encourages abstract thinking and that boosts creativity and big picture thinking. The Bible challenges us to think creatively, to think on the things that change lives. The Spirit is given to help us, to broaden our understanding, knowledge and skills. As always it is up to us to tap into what God has for us.

12th January 2025

Ephesians 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you.

We can only learn independence when we have been dependent. When we know what it is like to depend on others for our basic needs. As we learn to provide for ourselves, we learn to be independent. For many the full experience comes when we go off to university, live away from home and suddenly have to cook, clean and wash our own clothes. What a shock that can be for some of us. Our independent thinking has come much earlier, as we push the boundaries, learn about society, its values, its functions, listen to social media, follow people and develop our opinions. That independence is a gift and one we need to treasure and defend as many would try to control our independent thinking for their own gain. The hope to which we are called offers us the independent choice to follow God’s ways or those of the world.

11th January 2025

Psalm 68:5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. God settles the solitary in a home…

Quite simply God put us in families. Dr. Ted Ward, a professor at Michigan State University and Trinity Seminary, in his work on the family, refers to this verse when he discusses the three basic functions of a family. The first function is protection, protecting the widows and orphans. When he explains this function, John Huffman says that being part of a family helps the individual, both child and adult, become more competent to deal with social realities. The very way we are held, fed by bottle or breast, talked to, prayed for, nurtured or not nurtured has a profound future impact on how we view ourselves and others. Healthy parenting provides a secure base of acceptance from which an individual can move out into the world. We achieve competence. We become better able to reach out. God provides family for widows and orphans; we are part of that family as Christians and we have a role to play in protecting each other as we grow.

10th January 2025

2 Corinthians 4:10 At all times we carry in our mortal bodies the death of Jesus, so that his life also may be seen in our bodies.

Women have not exactly had it easy across the centuries or the world. Still treated as second class or worse, women are so often key in life’s discoveries and often do not get the credit. Marie Curie, a name synonymous with brilliance and remarkable scientific discoveries, continues to inspire generations of aspiring scientists. As the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize, her ground breaking work in “radiation phenomena” has left an indelible mark on the scientific community. Born in the Russian Empire, Curie’s path towards greatness was paved with immense challenges and obstacles that she fearlessly overcame. Her unwavering determination and relentless pursuit of knowledge revolutionised the field of science and shattered gender barriers. Working for the good of humanity she persisted at cost to herself so others could benefit. There is often a very high cost to serving others and society.

9th January 2025

Romans 8:28 We discover and know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

As we explore the world around us, we may forget that there is a unique world inside each of us. There are hills and valleys worth exploring. Like all good adventures, the journey of self-discovery can be scary. It requires us to confront our fears, habits, and other things that are holding us back. Self-awareness is the key, developing a deep understanding of our character, feelings, and desires. Good self-awareness gives us greater self-control, empathy, creativity, and self-esteem. It also offers us increased work satisfaction, collaboration, and confidence when making decisions. In understanding who God has made us to be we are able to fulfil our potential and in doing so change the world for good.

8th January 2025

Ecclesiastes 3: 1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.

Something we all have in common is that we have suffered bereavement and grief, the loss of loved ones, the sense of loss that we still feel so raw within our lives. We can draw comfort from one another in our losses and we have the opportunity to reflect on the many memories we cherish, treasure and hold onto as we let go of our loved one’s presence and entrust them to our loving Father in heaven. For some it is still very much a time to mourn, still a time to weep as an expression of our sorrow, and this is perfectly right and natural to do. For others it may be a time of healing as we have passed through the initial grief, and are now beginning to come to terms with the loss. Although we know that our loss will never fully leave us, in time many of us will come to a time of laughter, where recalling the happy memories brings us joy and happiness rather than the feeling of total loss which can at times feel all consuming.

7th January 2025

Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem, though you are least among the clans of Judah, Out of you will come One who is to rule over Israel.

Have you ever thought something just cannot be right in your experience or opinion, you think you know best? Herod though he knew best about a prophecy concerning Jesus’ birth. “Nonsense!” Herod thought. “Rulers don’t come from little places like Bethlehem!” To him Bethlehem had no value or importance. Herod learned that the Magi were royal advisers to the king of Persia. They were certainly wise men. Their main job was to study the stars and interpret the signs so their king would know what to do. They knew the importance of the prophecy. Their story threatened Herod’s Kingship so Herod smiled a fake smile and sent them to find this precious child, asking then come back and tell him where he was. His plan was to get rid of the child. Bethlehem is so important to us in the Christmas story but to Herod it was nothing. There is a clear lesson for us in not deciding what has value and what doesn’t. God uses the unimportant, the least likely to achieve his ways. God always knows best.

6th January 2025

Matthew 2:3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him.

I was once eating dinner in the city, a birthday treat, when a minor celebrity came in and became angry that there was no table for him. He shouted, “Don’t you know who I am?” He had a very high opinion of himself. In the story of the Three kings following the star, King Herod was furious! “How dare these Magi come into my city and ask, ‘Where is the King of the Jews?’ I AM KING OF THE JEWS! Don’t they know who I am, my achievements; my fame; my wealth? I am Herod the Great, second only to Caesar.” For Herod it was all about power and prestige, achievement and wealth. He was willing to do whatever it took to keep those things. Tricks, bribes, lies, cheating, violence. His motives were totally selfish. As we enter a new year, we should always examine our motives in everything we do and say. If we are acting selfishly then we need to challenge ourselves and change.

5th January 2025

Matthew 2:12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

As we remember Herod and the Magi, think about this: Which one are we? Herod was all about power and wealth, and the things of this world. The Magi had the things of this world, but they understood that there had to be more. Herod knew what he had could be taken away from him. The Magi were at peace, because they had found Jesus the saviour. Herod was a driven person who wanted success more than anything else, who did whatever it took to get what he wanted, even if it meant hurting other people. He insisted on being in control. Is that us? Or are we one of the Magi? People who know that there’s more to life than the things of this world? Who are willing to follow God’s call wherever it leads? Willing to humble ourself and worship fully? Willing to open our treasure chest and give Jesus the best we have? Herod or Magi. Which one are we? Which one would we rather be?

4th January 2025

Matthew 2:1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.

As we come to Epiphany, we think of the Magi or Three Kings journey to find the New King. When they found Jesus, without any hesitation, they fell down and they worshipped. They encountered the presence of God and they responded with total surrender. These wealthy, well-dressed men from the royal courts of Persia fell to their knees before a tiny little child on His mum’s lap. How humble were these Magi. They saw this child and saw a king more powerful than Herod. They were so moved that they threw open their treasure chests and they gave Jesus their all. These Kings, these Magi were changed. They heard God and went home a different way; they went home different people. God changed them, will we let God change us?

3rd January 2025

Luke 1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

The recent events in France and the sexual abuse of a woman by her husband and so many men show us that we still live in a world where politicians, judges and men can belittle women and treat them as property and less than them. We still live in a culture which thinks it can tell women (and men too, for that matter) what to eat, how to look, how to behave. The radical vision of Mary’s Magnificat is not a song for just women. It’s a song by a woman, which has and should become the song of every person who shares that vision of a better world, where the hungry are fed and the powerless enabled, where wealth and influence are equally distributed, and nobody is made more perfectly in the image of God than anyone else. Mary’s song isn’t a fantasy, it isn’t a fairy tale. The evils of anger and greed are as much of a threat now as they ever were, perhaps more so. Change that began with Mary continues with us.

2nd January 2025

Luke 1:30 The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.

A great deal of nonsense has attached itself to the figure of Mary over the centuries. Popes and church leaders have made proclamations with no evidence or knowledge. She sums up the inconsistency and contradictions of a Church which took 600 years, to declare officially that women had souls, and another 600 years, after that, to begin to take seriously the theological implications of Jesus’ humanity. That debate lies at the heart of the confusion about what exactly it is that we celebrate each Christmas. The very point with Mary is that she is indeed human; for if Mary isn’t human then nor is Jesus, and if Jesus is not human then we are not saved. Jesus is both fully God and fully human. Mary’s existence as a human physical woman has been problematic for the church too. Mary’s virginity and her motherhood have been used down the centuries to limit options for all women: and even today in the 21st century there’s still a judgement about those women who are neither a virgin nor a mother. Look how long it took to allow women in ministry and even now they are not equal with men.

1st January 2025

Romans 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

As we move into 2025 and a New Year, we have the opportunity to make changes. We can each do our bit to make the world a better and kinder place for all. We can know Peace ourselves through giving freely and joyfully to those around us; that giving can be in the form of time, patience, company and material gifts. We can give to charity, help our fellow human beings and free ourselves from the binding chains we have forged from our poor past behaviour and choices. Repentance, the turning round of life, is offered freely by God to all. Jesus coming that first Christmas was to do exactly that, offer us the chance to turn our lives around, to become forgiven people of peace and joy in our communities and to spread that peace and joy to those around us. It is in living out peace and joy in our homes, families and communities that makes a difference and will change people’s lives for the better. Have a happy and blessed new year!