Sunday 19th July 2020, Shared by Sheila

Reflections and Prayers: a nation of gardeners – by John Bell

This is the 7^th of a series of weekly Reflections and Prayers being offered to the Norley Methodist Church congregation and to colleagues and friends in many places near and far. They are sourced from a variety of people. You are invited to use them for personal reflection and to share and retain them as you wish.

Morning has broken……

You are awake, you have drawn back the curtains, perhaps looking out on your garden: God has created a new day and the birds are singing in innocent and unconditional celebration. Now join in and sing (you know the lovely tune, Bunessan, named after a village on the Scottish island of Mull): [first verse starts ‘Morning has broken like the first morning’]

‘Sweet the rain’s new fall sunlit from heaven,
like the first dewfall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
sprung in completeness where his feet pass.’

Gardens and gardening – some reflections

The title this week is taken from an article in The Economist newspaper (May 2^nd 2020) which suggests that gardens and gardening can play an important role in sustaining physical and mental health during this time of crisis and lockdown: surveys indicate that between eight and nine Britons out of ten have a private garden. Perhaps those without them cultivate in window boxes and the like, as the Swiss do on their south-facing chalet balconies.

 The prime minister has just announced a very modest relaxation of the lockdown which permits us to spend time in parks (why ever were some closed?ditto, garden centres) and we look forward to the day when National Trust and similar gardens may re-open. Normally, people would now be flocking to attractions such as Bodnant in North Wales, Nymans in West Sussex andCragside in Northumberland to admire the vast arrays of stunningly colourful rhododendrons. All is not lost – this photowas taken on Norley Road, Cuddington, last week.

Last Sunday, May 10^th, was Garden Day, when people had to visit each other’s gardens virtually rather than in person, or perhaps inspect them from the road whilst on their once daily exercise outings. Most garden owners had plenty of time to prepare them this year: lawns beautifully manicured, edges and hedges trimmed to the centimetre, flowers and plants lovingly coaxed and tended, paths free of alien weeds and moss. 

It is evident that many people have turned to their gardens as a solace and a therapy because they offer a purposeful and optimistic activity. Imagining that those unremarkable seeds will be transformed into bright, blooming flowers requires some faith in the future and perhaps offers some consolation when other pleasures, such as family get-togethers, are denied. For those, like me, who have no pretence to green-fingers, there is still a sense of modest achievement as parts of the garden begin to look slightly more presentable. In truth, gardening and gardens make most of us feel better, whether crawling on our knees with a trowel or sitting on a bench in quiet contemplation. And so, to the next piece…….

Gardens in poetry, hymns and scripture

Gardens and flowers have always been a rich vein for poets and hymnwriters. Think of some – go on, recite or sing them out loud, in the kitchen or front room or back garden. What springs to mind? Never mind that some may sound dated: they contain beauty, insight, memory, truth and a sense of God’s creation and purpose.

My earliest memories are of A A Milne’s ‘The Dormouse and the Doctor’ published in ‘When we were very young’ which began its fifteenrather repetitive verses with the immortal lines:

There once was a Dormouse who lived in a bed of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red),

And all the day long he’d wonderful view of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).

From the age of four I have always known the colours of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue) in that order.

Perhaps you have brought to mind William Wordsworth’s poem ‘Daffodils’ which were ‘beside the lake, beneath the trees, fluttering and dancing in the breeze’. Or Jimmie Rodgers’ popular song ‘English Country Garden’. Or Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Glory of the Garden’ which ventures into the Garden of Eden in its last verse, beginning ‘Oh, Adam was a gardener….’ Which brings us neatly to biblical gardens. 

Three stand out: the Garden of Eden, Gethsemane and the Resurrection Garden (belonging to Joseph of Arimathea), each a dramatic scene in its own way, but connected by the narrative of creation and human sin, the inescapable cross of Jesus and his triumph over sin and death, so that we may know forgiveness and life.Gardens, yes, but none were, in their moment of ultimate significance, admired for their beauty. Eden became synonymous with the fall of humankind; Gethsemane with the heart-wrenching struggle of Jesus to remain obedient (and being cruelly let down by his sleeping friends); and Joseph’s private garden, a provision for his own tomb, pressed into urgent service to lay the body of Jesus before the Sabbath began at sundown, and on the third day, to become the scene of the most extraordinary revelation in history to Mary, Peter and other disciples.

As we reflect on the biblical gardens of old, we rejoicein the glory of gardens as we see and enjoy them now. After references to some who pot begonias, some who bud a rose, some hardly fit to trust with anything that grows [that’s me], and half a proper gardener’s work is done upon his (or her) knees, Kipling reaches a crescendo in his poem’s eighth verse:

‘So when your work is finished, you can wash your hands and pray

For the Glory of the Garden, that it may not pass away’.

Amen to that, .Enjoy the garden and may it be a blessing to you when so much else is forbidden.

 And a final prayer

Almighty God, we thank you for being the gardener of our hearts.  As we look around our world at many signs of beautiful growth, we pray that you would give us grace to open our secret gardens to you and encourage you to replace the unholy with your wonderful.  We place this request in the name of Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. 

Amen.

Thursday 21st May 2020, Shared by Fiona

Over the last few weeks, I have been reading Adam Bede, by George Eliot. No doubt many of you have read it. If not, I would heartily recommend it.

It is a fictional narrative, of great brilliance, about the lives of rural folk living in 19^th century Staffordshire, amongst whom the influence of the Methodists was very prominent. It features a young lady preacher, Dinah Morris and the story is woven around a true event, told to George Eliot many years before she wrote the book, by her Aunt Samuel. Her aunt had been a Methodist preacher and told her the story of a woman, Mary Voce, a young woman with a very murky past, who had been condemned to death at the Lent Assizes in Nottingham and executed on the gallows, on 16^th March 1802, for the wilful murder, by poisoning, of her infant child. 

This woman had denied the charge, despite overwhelming evidence and had a hardened and implacable heart. George Eliot’s aunt and other ladies from the Methodist chapel had remained in the prison cell with Mary Voce from the time of her sentence to the time of her execution, even travelling in the cart with her to the gallows. 

In the book, Adams Bede, Dinah Morris, the lay preacher goes through a similar experience, with a young servant girl called Hetty Sorrel. At the end of the book, the Penguin version contains appendices which give contemporary accounts of Mary Voce’s trial. One of the accounts is by members of Aunt Samuel’s church, who remained with Mary Voce throughout her last few days on earth. 

A few days ago we read this from Spurgeon, as part of our Thought for the Day:

‘The thief upon the cross was justified the moment that he turned the eye of faith to Jesus;’

The story of Mary Voce’s life and death is a moving example of what Spurgeon speaks of and of the compassion of God and the power of the Gospel, as we can see from the extracts below of the gripping account subsequently written by the chapel members of what transpired between the Friday of her conviction and Tuesday, the day of her execution:

“… it is evident that all the anguish she experienced on Friday was merely worldly sorrow, but very early on Saturday morning her conscience was truly awakened, and she declared she was now convinced that Hell must be her portion, unless she both confessed her guilt and obtained pardon through Jesus Christ. 

… About two o’clock the same morning she confessed the Murder, but remained still much distressed with a load of guilt on her soul, for she became very sensible that she was under the condemnation of the law of God; all that forenoon she manifested real penitence and earnestly sought the Lord, but in the afternoon, her distress on account of her sins increased very much; she frequently said, she had such a weight of guilt upon her soul, that she thought her heart would certainly break, exclaiming, Oh, my heart will break! my heart will break! 

… About five o’clock her mind was much softened, and she freely and fully confessed with real penitential contrition of soul all the sins she recollected being guilty of, continuing in earnest agonising prayer to God for mercy. 

Miss UNWIN and Miss RICHARDS were shortly after engaged in prayer imploring the mercy of God in her behalf, when she suddenly stopped them, by exclaiming in a surprise of gratitude and joy, ‘Oh, what has the Lord done for me!’ 

On being asked what he had done for her, she replied, ‘He has forgiven me all my sins, I feel it in my heart!’ Her load of guilt and misery was instantly gone, peace and resignation flowed into her happy soul! She immediately exclaimed, ‘How happy I am, I don’t wonder at your taking such pains with me, if you feel as happy as I do, I could not have thought it possible, what happy lives you must live! 

Shortly after, when JOHN CLARKE, Miss RICHARDS, and ELIZABETH TOMLINSON were at prayer with her, she felt the evidence of her pardon much clearer, her consolation was amazingly increased, she never after felt any doubt, nor the least degree of the fear of death. After she found peace, her sins appeared in their true light… She observed that her imprisonment was the best thing that ever happened to her. 

… Before her soul was set at liberty, she was much concerned at the thought of being made such a public spectacle, but ever after, all shame was banished from her mind. She could scarcely take any nourishment after her condemnation, till she experienced the pardoning love of God, but afterwards could take her food, and sleep, as usual. She frequently said that God loved her, and she felt she loved him. 

The prison was indeed a Bethel to all who had the privilege of visiting her. The few hours we were with her, were some of the happiest of our lives, she was so triumphant, so delivered from every degree of fear, so lost in wonder, love and praise, was such a proof that perfect love casteth out all fear that hath torment, that our grateful souls felt an increasing love to God for his goodness to her, and at the same time the most perfect union of spirit, and the most ardent christian affection with hers. 

Mr Bonington very humanely requested JOHN CLARKE to prepare her mind for the entrance of the Sheriff, and his Officers, she immediately said, ‘They might come forward, for she had no fear of death;’ 

… On the road to the gallows she frequently said to Miss RICHARDS, ELIZ. TOMLINSON, and JOHN CLARKE, who at her request attended her in the cart to the place of execution, ‘This is the best day I ever saw, I am quite happy, I had rather die than live,’ and frequently uttered short ejaculatory sentences chiefly of praise to God; it seemed indeed that her prayer was almost all turned into praise. – On the road she observed, ‘I am so happy, I cannot cry, I cannot shed one tear;’ when the cart arrived at the fatal tree, Miss RICHARDS said to her, We are got there, Mary; ‘Well,’ she said, ‘Bless the Lord,’ with a triumphant and heavenly smile on her countenance.

… She met the Executioner with a smile, and gave him her hand, saying, when he asked her to forgive him, ‘Bless you, I have nothing against you, somebody must do it,’ and assisted him in placing the ropes. 

She desired the people at the gallows to take warning by her, and assured them that she was happy, and that she was confident she should be in Glory directly, observing, that indeed Glory had already begun in her happy soul. After the cap was drawn over her face, while the Executioner was fastening the rope, she repeated her former exclamations of ‘Glory! Glory to Jesus!’ adding, ‘I shall soon be in Glory, – Glory is indeed already begun in my soul, and the angels of God are about me!’ which were her last words.

In the evening Mr KANE preached a sermon on the occasion, to a very crowded audience, in the Methodist Chapel, Halifax Lane, from these words, ‘Is not this a Brand plucked from the fire?’   HENRY TAFT.”

Friday 15th May 2020, Shared by Fiona

Here is a great thought for the day from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening:

“And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Acts 13:39

The believer in Christ receives a present justification. Faith does not produce this fruit by-and-by, but now. So far as justification is the result of faith, it is given to the soul in the moment when it closes with Christ, and accepts Him as its all in all. Are those who stand before the throne of God justified now? So are we, as truly and as clearly justified as those who walk in white and sing melodious praises to celestial harps.

The thief upon the cross was justified the moment that he turned the eye of faith to Jesus; and Paul, the aged, after years of service, was not more justified than was that thief with no service at all.

We are today accepted in the Beloved, today absolved from sin, today acquitted at the bar of God. Oh! soul-transporting thought! There are some clusters of Eshcol’s vine, which we shall not be able to gather until we enter heaven; but this is a bough which runs over the wall. This is not as the grain of the land, which we can never eat until we cross the Jordan; but this is part of the manna in the wilderness, a portion of our daily nutriment with which God supplies us in our journeying to and fro.

We are now—even now pardoned; even now are our sins put away; even now we stand in the sight of God accepted—as though we had never been guilty. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”  There is not a sin in the Book of God, even now, against one of His people. Who dares to lay anything to their charge? There is neither speck, nor spot, nor wrinkle, nor any such thing remaining upon any one believer in the matter of justification in the sight of the Judge of all the earth.

Let present privilege awaken us to present duty, and now, while life lasts, let us spend and be spent for our sweet Lord Jesus.

Friday 8th May 2020

Today Tarporley rememberers those who fought and died for our freedom during the Second World War. In a video shared today ‘Tarporley VE Day Video‘ our pastor Nic shares Psalm 31, a pslam of thanks giving.

Pslam 31

Thursday 4th May 2020, Shared by Fiona

I regularly read a blog from an Anglican who styles himself ‘Archbishop Cranmer’. This weeks post on the subject of rest is a good read.

From creation, God has gone to extraordinary lengths to emphasise to mankind the importance of rest.

https://archbishopcranmer.com/enforced-sabbatical-rest-and-be-thankful/

Tuesday 5th May 2020, Shared by Gill 

Cast your mind back – a couple of months ago. We were just learning and hearing about the new Corona Virus and its devastating affect on lives.

Like many, I am sure, I turned one evening to God’s word. Hoping to find peace and to quite my beating heart and mind.

I was going to turn to one of my favorite passages in the bible which talks about God’s faithfulness, but instead I opened my bible where I had put a sticky marker. The marker had written on it a passage in 1 Timothy – but was attached to a page in the Psalms.

It was Psalm 66

Shout for joy to God, all the earth!
²     Sing the glory of his name;
make his praise glorious.
³ Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power
that your enemies cringe before you.
⁴ All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you,
they sing the praises of your name.”^[a]

⁵ Come and see what God has done,
his awesome deeds for mankind!
⁶ He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the waters on foot—
come, let us rejoice in him.
⁷ He rules forever by his power,
his eyes watch the nations—
let not the rebellious rise up against him.

So through these weeks this has been my comfort – our God is an awesome God. Let us praise Him.

Thursday 30th April 2020, 

Wednesday 29th April 2020, Shared by Peter

This isolation has been very good for me, I am blessed to have a wonderful talent that I enjoy. I have been painting a lot of pictures of my holidays and of  Tarporley but I seem to have hit a sweet spot during lockdown and I am thrilled by the results.

I can’t wait to show everybody (possibly in November). So I say to you all, get your paints or crafts out and have a go, creativity is a wonderful gift from God.

A prayer for times of isolation

‘For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come… will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Romans 8:38-39)

God of heaven and earth,
in these times of isolation,
apart from loved ones
distant from friends
away from neighbours
thank you that there is nothing
in all of creation,
not even coronavirus,
that is able to separate us from your love.

And may your love that never fails
continue to be shared
through the kindness of strangers
looking out for each other,
for neighbours near and far
all recognising our shared vulnerability,
each of us grateful for every breath,
and willing everyone to know the gift
of a full and healthy life.
Keep us all in your care.

Amen.

Colossians 3:2 (Amplified Bible)

When giants are in the land, when doubts swarm your mind, turn your thoughts to God. Your best thoughts are God thoughts.

“Do not be afraid”

You may have heard that one of the commands that appears most often in the Bible is, “Do not be afraid.” This tells us something very significant: God knows we need to hear it!

Have you ever noticed that in most of the situations these words are spoken in Scripture, the people hearing them often have every reason to be afraid? Whether it’s in the face of powerful armies or mighty angelic beings, from a human perspective it is totally understandable that they would be afraid!

Click here to read more

Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way: walk in it”

He Knows the Way

“What is God’s will for me?” Everyone asks that question at one point or another, especially during decision making times. People try to be very conscious of God’s will because they fear disappointing him and missing his blessings.

God’s will is for you to be so close to Him that you are confident that He is always leading you. True, the way may sometimes seem confusing or obscure. But God knows the way – the best way – to take you.

Today, listen to God, and he will make his will know to you. Then obey him as he reveals the path. You may find that you are already walking in it.

Dear Lord, thank you for teaching me your will. Help me to be so close to you that I always know I am going when you want. Amen

“Last December one man in China ate a bat and now we have a pandemic”
That line appeared in a newspaper column a week or two ago. Whilst it may not be strictly true (perhaps it wasn’t a bat) it is almost certain that Covid -19 started off in the animal kingdom then transferred across to humans, probably through the food chain.

Now this may seem a strange way to start a spiritual reflection, but bear with me – we will get there in the end.

One thing is clear. Man (by which I mean mankind), has a problem. With all his knowledge, experience, ingenuity and technology he has been caught out by something so small that you could get millions of them on a pinhead. Man was not prepared and what we see today is the result. At the end of all this will mankind come to the conclusion that, despite all our confidence, we cannot control our own destiny? Human nature being what it is, the answer is ‘probably not’. But we are not yet at that point anyway. The problem still exists and now dominates life across the world. As Christians, we should bear in mind what the Bible has always told us. God is in control of this world, man is not, despite what he thinks. But mankind has a problem, and as members of the human race, so do we. But think back to the Children of Israel and learn a lesson.

As the people stood on the borders of the Promised Land their spies reported that the current inhabitants of that land were giants, and there could be no hope of defeating them. Suddenly the people decided that Egypt may be a good place to live after all. Certainly, return seemed to be a better option than defeat or worse still, annihilation. You see, they lost sight of one important fact. No matter how big the problem, God is always bigger. He was fully aware of the issues and had they trusted him he would have enabled his people to face and overcome them – which is exactly what happened 38 years later when a new generation came along

The same applies today. God is fully aware of our problems, and he will enable us to face them. How he will do that is down to his sovereignty but be sure of one thing – he is always bigger than the problem. We may be members of the human race, and we currently have to live with the consequences of that, but more importantly, we are born again citizens of the Kingdom of God and he is there for us. The most repeated promise that comes to us from God appears in numerous forms in scripture, but it can be summed up as “Do not be afraid. I will always be with you”. Let’s take heart from it, live by it, and be seen to live by it.

Mike Newbold

‘A heart at leisure from itself’.
A hymn by Anna Laetitia Waring

Father, I know that all my life is portioned out for me,
And the changes that are sure to come I do not fear to see;
But I ask Thee for a present mind intent on pleasing Thee.

I ask Thee for a thoughtful love, through constant watching wise,
To meet the glad with joyful smiles, and to wipe the weeping eyes;
And a heart at leisure from itself, to soothe and sympathize.

I would not have the restless will that hurries to and fro,
Seeking for some great thing to do or secret thing to know;
I would be treated as a child, and guided where I go.

Wherever in the world I am, in whatso’er estate,
I have a fellowship with hearts to keep and cultivate;
And a work of lowly love to do for the Lord on whom I wait.

So I ask Thee for the daily strength, to none that ask denied,
And a mind to blend with outward life while keeping at Thy side;
Content to fill a little space, if Thou be glorified.

And if some things I do not ask in my cup of blessing be,
I would have my spirit filled the more with grateful love to Thee,
More careful, not to serve Thee much, but to please Thee perfectly.

There are briers besetting every path that call for patient care;
There is a cross in every lot, and an earnest need for prayer;
But a lowly heart that leans on Thee is happy anywhere.

In a service which Thy will appoints there are no bonds for me;
For my inmost heart is taught “the truth” that makes Thy children “free”
And a life of self-renouncing love is a life of liberty.

In yesterdays service Nic told a parable of the poor man who met the king, it’s not from the Bible but helped Nic to make his point. The poor man was expecting to receive from the king but yet the king asked him for something. He reluctantly gave the king 3 grains, after the king left him he looked down and saw three pieces of gold. If only he had give more! Read a more detailed account here

And how often do we treat Jesus the very same way? We keep back many important areas of our lives, instead of entrusting them to His care – and then we wonder why our lives are so lacking in abundance, power and healing.

But the good news is that, unlike the king in the story above, our King does not leave town, never to return. And because of this, my friends, NOW is the time to repent for our self-centeredness, unbelief and spiritual miserlyness, by placing our lives once again on the altar of God. And when we really do this, we can expect His blessings to once again begin to flow in our lives.

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)

A Prayer for the Front-liners

Heavenly Father, thank You for the frontliners caring for, protecting, and serving our communities, our families, and us. Thank You for these servant leaders, called to this work, trained for such a time as this, daily risking their own health and safety for others.

Please protect them from harm. Give them courage and strength. Draw close, Lord, and let them feel Your presence throughout the long hours they are working.

Father, please provide everything they need, both for the people they are serving and for their loved ones. Surround them with people who will help and support them and their families, even as they selflessly care for others.

You said we would face troubles in this world, but also that You had overcome it. Please work together with our frontliners, Lord, to ultimately bring about the best outcome possible.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Persistence

This morning I read the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8).

It’s not one of the most famous parables; but Jesus talks about a widow persistently asking for justice from an unjust judge, and it reminds us to persevere in prayer, particularly for justice, and of how God will, indeed, ‘bring about justice for his chosen ones’.

Whilst I was reading there was a huge kerfuffle going on outside. There are several birds nesting in the hedge out the front, and the young ones were clearly hungry (or starving as my children would say!) well what a noise! And it went on for about an hour… what a beautiful illustration of persistently asking for something!

The Lord is my Keeper

In recent days, as someone who shares responsibility for the care of an elderly person, I have had not a few sudden thoughts of panic, related to things like – did I remember to wash my hands before… whatever task I was in the middle of; or did I remember to thoroughly wipe over the items I just bought in the shop? The thought of being responsible for bringing a potentially deadly virus into someone else’s home is one which I have been finding totally unnerving.

I have been much comforted by meditating on the first verse of Psalm 127 and have found peace in the reality that I can only do what I can do and that, in the final analysis, I depend on God entirely for His covering and protection.

Psalm 127

1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.

As I often do, I went to Spurgeon for his thoughts on this verse. This is what he says:

“Note that the Psalmist does not bid the builder cease from labouring, nor suggest that watchmen should neglect their duty, nor that men should show their trust in God by doing nothing: nay, he supposes that they will do all that they can do, and then he forbids their fixing their trust in what they have done, and assures them that all creature effort will be in vain unless the Creator puts forth his power, to render second causes effectual.

“Holy Scripture endorses the order of Cromwell—”Trust in God, and keep your powder dry”: only here the sense is varied, and we are told that the dried powder will not win the victory unless we trust in God. Happy is the man who hits the golden mean by so working as to believe in God, and so believing in God as to work without fear.”

Spurgeon, in his ‘Treasury of David’ also draws on the experience of Madame Jeanne Guyon: He tells us:

One important lesson which Madame Guyon learned from her temptations and follies was that of her entire dependence on Divine grace. “I became”, she says, “deeply assured of what the prophet hath said, “Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”

“When I looked to thee, O my Lord, thou wast my faithful keeper; thou didst continually defend my heart against all kinds of enemies. But, alas! when left to myself, I was all weakness. How easily did my enemies prevail over me! Let others ascribe their victories to their own fidelity: as for myself, I shall never attribute them to anything else than thy paternal care. I have too often experienced, to my cost, what I should be without thee, to presume in the least on any wisdom or efforts of my own. It is to thee, O God, my Deliverer, that I owe everything! And it is a source of infinite satisfaction, that I am thus indebted to thee.”—From the Life of Jeanne Bouvier de la Mothe Guyon, 1648-1717.

I am learning to rest more deeply in the knowledge that “The Lord is my keeper”, or in the words of the Welsh hymn: “Mae’re Iesu yn Geidwad i mi.”

I was also blessed to discover this ancient Celtic prayer: “What need I fear?”

Alone with none but you, my God
I journey on my way.
What need I fear, when you are near
O King of night and day?
More safe am I within your hand,
Than if a host around me stand.

My destined time is known to you,
And death will keep his hour;
Did warriors strong around me throng,
They could not stay his power:
No walls of stone can man defend
If you your messenger will send.

My life I yield to your decree,
And bow to your control
In peaceful calm, for from your arm
No power can wrest my soul:
Could earthly omens e’er appal
A man that heeds the heavenly call?

The child of God can fear no ill,
His chosen, dread no foe;
We leave our fate with you, and wait
Your bidding when to go:
‘Tis not from chance our comfort springs,
You are our trust, O King of kings.

Source: Attributed to St. Columba, 521-597.
Source of this version: http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/hymn-lyrics/alone_with_none_but_thee_my_god.htm

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Whose Voice Do We Listen To?

In these days, when we have the internet, giving us news instantly from near and far, social media groups and pages, emails, texts and so on it is easy to become confused and anxious. The internet and in particular, social media gives everyone the space to have their say (which obviously can be a very good thing indeed)  But all too often, these are people’s own opinions or even the internet equivalent of Chinese Whispers or worse Fake News.

On the positive side, technology has played a fantastic part in keeping people in touch, highlighting needs, getting people from across the globe and even small communities working together. And my absolute favourite, the Chapel Sunday Service!

But, and maybe it’s just me, it can feel a little overwhelming with so many things to read, reply to, keep up to date with, let alone trying to decipher what’s actually true. Amidst all of this I am reminded that we have an opportunity to spend, quite possibly, more time than usual listening to our Father’s voice, reading His Word, which we know to be the absolute truth, worshipping him and focusing on what he has to say to each of us. I am certain that if we listen to His voice, we won’t be disappointed.

Further to my earlier contribution to ‘Thought for the Day’…I was thinking more about what it would actually be like if Jesus turned up at our bungalow and permanently moved in with us and the parallels for our spiritual walk with him.

Now while I know in my head and heart that we are temples of God’s Holy Spirit…I was reminded of the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy of Holies in the actual temple in Jerusalem. Such specific instructions went into the building of both, such beautiful craftmanship, ornate decoration and purification offerings to ensure it was a fit place for God’s presence to dwell. What implications could there be for our lives, our hearts?

I had previously felt we could do nothing by ourselves to change things but rather needed to cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit. This had been very reassuring…for we all want to do that don’t we? However, I felt the Lord reminding me and us all of a scripture:

Amos 7 verse 8
“I will set a plumb-line in the midst of my people”

and feeling that this is a time of cleansing and preparation for his people. A time to come out and be separate…a time to consecrate ourselves to Him.

Now this can be a scary scripture…for a plumb-line is definitely straight and unyielding and application of a spiritual plumb-line would absolutely involve some pruning and changes…but once again I felt the Lord reminding me that a plumb-line is in fact a tool, a guide to help builders/decorators keep a straight line…its nothing to fear rather it’s eagerly to be desired…we all need one!!

Now…where to find this plumb-line?? Thankfully we all have easy access… as all we need to know about how God would have us live our lives is contained in his word…the sword of the Spirit which is; “living and active and sharper than any two edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit…and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart”.

Thank you Father that as we go about our daily lives we can rely on the presence of your Holy Spirit of truth and power, the Comforter, the Advocate to lead us by straight paths and help us not to conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed to reflect the glorious likeness of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Vanessa

‘You’re priceless’

One Christian charity doing amazing work in the UK is The Message Trust, they do incredible work in schools and prisons. This is an interesting article about identity.

Identity. It’s a small but very powerful word. The bedrock of how we think and feel about ourselves, it’s the value we place on what we do and it affects almost every single part of our lives. But one harsh comment, a ‘dislike’ on social media or friends turning against us and, if we’re not secure in who we are, it can so easily be rocked.

Joe, our Respect ME worker in the North East was in a school recently running a lesson for Year 11’s about how precious and valuable their lives are, pointing them all the time to the love of Jesus.

As part of the lesson he held up a box and said ‘inside there’s something of incredible value, I would even go as far as to say it’s priceless.’ He then asked if anyone would like to look inside. Unaware that the inside of the box was mirrored, a Year 11 lad put up his hand to volunteer. As he opened it up Joe said ‘It’s priceless. Do you believe that?’ To which he replied, ‘I do now!’.

Read more of this story

2,000 years ago Jesus walked the earth, so He knew what it was like to be us. He also knew what it would cost Him to save us… and yet He chose to do it anyway. Today, we celebrate His power over death. Because He lives, so can we!

Why do you look for the living among the dead?

Nicky Gumbel writes in The Bible in One Year –

Years ago, a young member of our congregation at Holy Trinity Brompton had a job working in the library of a major national newspaper.

This newspaper kept files of old cuttings about every well-known person.

The files were kept in rows of long shelves and were separated into ‘living’ people and ‘dead’ people.

One day, the young man was looking through the files of dead people and came across a large file marked ‘Jesus Christ’. He glanced over his shoulder to check that no one was looking and quickly moved the file from the ‘dead’ people section to the ‘living’ people section.

Jesus Christ is alive.  He is risen from the dead.  To anyone looking for him among files of dead people, the angels would say, ‘why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!’ Luke 24:5-6

Victory is not a dirty word. Jesus is the great Victor. As Bishop Lesslie Newbigin often said, ‘The resurrection is not the reversal of a defeat but the manifestation of a victory.’ The cross was not a defeat.  On the cross, Jesus won a great victory for us over sin, death and the powers of evil.

He saved you!

In ‘The Bible in One Year‘ Nicky Gumbel writes:

On the 13th of January 1982, Air Florida flight 90 taking off from Washington DC, crashed into the Potomac River.  It was winter and the river was full of ice. The crash happened near a bridge going over the river.

The TV cameras could see everything.  Millions of viewers, sitting in their living rooms, watched as a helicopter overhead let down a life-belt on a line to a man struggling in the water.  He grabbed the line, swam to another survivor just by him, clipped the woman in and they hoisted her up to safety. The helicopter let down the line again, and again the man did the same thing.  He swam to someone else, and rescued them.  He saved others, before finally, exhausted, him he himself drowned.

Why did this man not save himself? The answer is that he was out to save others. In an even more amazing way, Jesus did not save himself because he was out to save you and me.

Today, focus your thoughts on Jesus, the Saviour of the world, and meditate on how he saved you.

The Pink Moon

On Monday evening, I stepped out into the garden to let Brandy have a run around. As I looked across at Joan and Trevor’s house, I was literally arrested by the sight of the moon, suspended above it. It was so clear and seemed so near. It shone with such a sense of peace and well-being, I was transfixed and couldn’t stop drinking in the sight. Its very presence, its stillness, its clarity spoke volumes about the steadfastness and power of a loving God.

I had no idea it was a special, ‘pink moon’. It seems to be having an impact on many people in this time of great upheaval. We know from Scripture the impact it had on a young shepherd boy called David:

Psalm 8:3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

Like David, looking at the moon on Monday evening gave me such a sense of God’s care for His creation.

It also gave me a strong sense of God’s enduring, covenant faithfulness. And then I discover that God intends the moon to be a faithful witness to His steadfast covenant with that same shepherd boy:

Ps 89 (NIV) 35 Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness— and I will not lie to David—
36 that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun;
37 it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.”

Standing gazing at the sight of the moon, suspended so majestically in the deep blue evening sky, made it seem as though it was almost watching over us. Then I read how God gave the moon a governmental role:

Ps 136(NIV) 1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights —
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.

Yet, this amazing object in the sky is nothing but a dead rock. It has no light or glory of its own. Its light and glory are both derived – from the sun, as it reflects the sun’s light to us in the darkness.

And that makes me think of how God draws people, out of darkness, out of spiritual death, to His Son, Jesus Christ, the eternal King of the line of the shepherd boy, David, so that, through faith in Jesus and in his death on the cross for rebellious humanity, we are abundantly pardoned, made alive in Him, the ‘Sun of righteousness’ and become, through His life in us, Light in the darkness.

And then I thought of how the Bible describes the Church, the moon to His sun, the Bride to be:

Song of Songs 6: 10 Who is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun,
majestic as the stars in procession?

And I marvel at how the heavens, by day and night, declare to us the greatest love story ever told:

Ps 19: (NIV) 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.

Two great quotes for you to think about today.

‘You are not to be a thermometer that reflects the temperature, but a thermostat that sets the temperature”

If Christianity is valid, why is there so much evil in the world?” To this the famous preacher replied, “With so much soap, why are there so many dirty people in the world? Christianity, like soap, must be personally applied if it is to make a difference in our lives.

Philippians 4 Verse 6

‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.’

“According to the text, we are both by prayer and supplication to make known our requests unto God. If any distinction be intended here, I suppose that by prayer is meant the general act of devotion and the mention of our usual needs; and by supplication I think would be intended our distinct entreaties and special petitions. ” – Charles Spurgeon

Click here to read the sermon Charles Spurgeon gave on Philippians 4 Verse 6.

I’ve noticed as I spend time shielding, the days seem to be shorter, the opposite to how I thought this isolation would be… all the calls from friends and family… every day I am noticing my lifestyle is changing in ways that are more fulfilling, more productive than they were before, I am making my own bread, cycling 7 miles a day on my excise bike, I’ll be fitter than I’ve been for many a year when we get back to a new and better normal, I am more conscious of God’s presence and a have a greater appreciation for life and God’s continuing provision. I believe it will come to pass, that our lives and the world will likewise be changed to more glorify the goodness of God, this is my prayer, that God’s Kingdom will ever increase.

Hi all, I thought this maybe of interest, below is a 14 day audio devotional exploring the heart of Christ.

‘It’s easy to become nervous, burdened, frustrated, and cynical in these uncertain and difficult days. We try to trust that God loves us, but are our lives evidence that he’s actually abandoned us? The gospel tells us not just what Christ has done—it reveals how deeply he cares for us in our struggle with sin and suffering.’

https://www.crossway.org/articles/gentle-and-lowly-in-heart/

A Prayer for Connection

Dear God,

Being alone is hard. We were created for community, not confinement.

But we’re grateful that no matter how alone we may feel, You never leave or forsake us. And, we’re grateful for technology that helps us stay in touch with each other.

Today, please remind us that this time of social distancing and isolation will not last forever.

Give us the strength to endure this difficult season, and deepen our connection with You and Your people.

Empower us with an extra dose of Your love, peace, hope and joy, because we need it. Remind us of Your promises, and please heal our land.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

My living room window overlooks the garden at the rear of the flats.  If I look up from my laptop I can see bunches of daffodils waving in the breeze, squirrels leaping about with new vigour, pigeons wandering across the lawn, trees coming into leaf and a colourful bush with bright red leaves (please don’t ask me what it is!).   The grass is growing rapidly – when will the contract gardeners return, I wonder.  Very different to the dismal appearance a few weeks ago.  All this speaks to me of new life – which comes out of the old.

What we are going through is unprecedented especially for those who did not live through the last war, but we will come through it.  New life will come out of what seems so dismal now.  Just as nature survives, so will we.

In the current situation we must feel concern, for ourselves, our families, our neighbours. But that is not the same as fear!  Last week someone quoted a saying by Charles Spurgeon “Faith by cheering the heart keeps it free from the fear which, in times of pestilence, kills more than the plague itself.” Very appropriate!  Many people are afraid, and at a human level who can blame them?  My mind goes to words of Jesus in his Olivet Prophecy, possibly the most important of the “end times prophecies” in the Bible.  Of those times he says “Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world …”(Luke 21:25-28)  Now I am not saying that Covid-19 is, in itself, an indicator of the imminent return of Jesus, although perhaps as Christians we should be praying that it is.  But what encourages me are the words which follow “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near”. The world would offer bad news, but Jesus gives his followers good news.

We may not understand why these things are happening, but faith tells us one thing.  God knows all about them and everything is under his control. One way or another good will come out of bad (Romans 8:28).  We can take comfort in that and, as much as we are able, try and share that comfort with others.

1 John 4:7

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

Sometimes it feels like news updates are coming every few minutes. When we give so much of our attention to events beyond our control, we can lose sight of the power that we do still have. We can choose how we respond to our circumstances. And perhaps even more important, even in the midst of those circumstances, we can choose how we treat others.

Recently we reminded you about the time that Jesus’ disciples were afraid their boat might sink, but then He calmed the storm. Just like Jesus’ disciples, we’re all in the same boat with Jesus — but we’re also in it with each other. And we can choose to encourage one another, to support each other, to love each other, and to point each other back to Jesus.

John 13:34-35

“Love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.”

These are not my words as you can see but I think Justin Welby says it simply.