healing Heaven, healing, the curse and Coronavirus The following was part of a sermon given at a healing service during the Coronavirus outbreak. Over the past weeks and months the world has gone through turmoil in the wake of a global pandemic. Alongside all the many things that this situation has forced us to deal with, it
focus ’Tis a gift to be simple > The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simple-hearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. (Psalm 116:5, 6) Simplicity is a sought after ideal in today’s day and age. Overwhelmed with information and input the idea
confidence Being a confident Christian Are you feeling confident today? My guess is that many of us will be feeling various levels of confidence about different areas of our lives. Perhaps we are feeling especially confident in our career at the moment, or in our love life, or our decision making, or any one of
lent The warning of Ash Wednesday Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. It may be that we have a Lent practice all sorted: perhaps giving up chocolate or alcohol, doing some more exercise, using some spiritual devotion, in this preparation time before Easter. One of the passages most associated with Lent is
mission Risky rejoicing > About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25) I have always been intrigued by this verse from Acts 16. Paul and Silas have been arrested in Philippi for speaking, and healing, in the name
busyness Let the little children come > People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as
confession The blessing of confession Confession doesn’t have a much of positive image. Perhaps it conjures up pictures of a musty confessional box in a dark and dusty church. Probably confession feels like it’s about feeling bad about ourselves, putting ourselves down and kicking ourselves for our mistakes. King David was certainly someone
busyness A stilled soul > My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within
forgiveness What are you waiting for? > If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen
expectation If the Lord had not been on our side > If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel say—if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us, when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive; the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over
church Let’s go to church > I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem. (Psalm 122:1,2) I wonder what comes to your mind when someone says to you, “Let’s go to church”? Excitement? Resistance?
change Unchanging change > for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22,23) A new year is upon us and with it a host of new opportunities and challenges for the year ahead. Once the celebrations of the past year (or that the year
christmas A very smelly Christmas It’s Christmas Day and the time for giving and opening presents has arrived. Getting just the right present for someone is quite a challenge and for the past few months stores have tried to attract us with what they think will be well received gifts. One potential gift that
christmas Joseph’s righteousness > “Joseph her husband was a righteous man…” (Matthew 1:19) Joseph often gets somewhat overlooked in the Christmas story. Much of the attention, other than Jesus himself, gets put upon Mary and for good reason. Joseph is there in the nativity scene, but compared to the angels, shepherds and
christmas Mary’s wonder > And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” (Luke 1:46–48) Christmas is a musical. I don’t know if you have ever noticed that before, but it’
christmas The greatest guest How are your preparations for Christmas going? December is well and truly here and Christmas will be upon us before we know it. There is often far too much to do in the run up to the festive season. It may be known as ‘the most wonderful time of the
Change your perspective There is a type of optical illusion which is known as ‘anamorphic art’ (do a Google search to see some examples!). It’s a fascinating kind of art because seen from various angles the picture appears jumbled up and unclear. Many of these types of drawings seem strangely chaotic and
book Book launch ‘Keeping the heart’ is now a book! The first year’s blog writing has been compiled into a book, published by Amazon in Kindle and paperback versions. It’s so exciting to see the finished result! The book contains fifty-two entries, each with a devotional flavour, giving you the option
commitment All in Jesus said some very challenging things. The idea of Jesus ‘meek and mild’ is really only possible for those who haven’t actually read what Jesus says. Jesus’ words contain grace, mercy and compassion certainly; but they also contain challenge, confrontation and decision. I was reminded of one of these
idolatry Idols, me? In Jonathan Swift’s satirical book, Gulliver’s Travels, the first nation that Gulliver visits is Lilliput ─ where the inhabitants are tiny compared to Gulliver. They find this ‘man mountain’ intriguing and want to examine him closely. At one point he puts a tiny Lilliputian into his pocket to examine
beauty Praise like fireworks I am writing this on November 5th which, in the UK, is Guy Fawkes Day, also known as Fireworks Night. It’s a time of celebration where people wrap up warm, gather around bonfires and enjoy firework displays. In fact, the fireworks have been going on for a little while
hope Waiting quietly for hope > I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never
ordinary Ordinary time In the Church of England, the year is structured around the main festivals, opportunities to remember and retell the big events of the Christian faith: Jesus’ birth, the visit of the magi and the start of Jesus’ ministry through his temptation in the wilderness. The events of Easter: the last
depression What can we do to help? Last week was World Mental Health Day and it was encouraging to see many friends posting encouragements about mental health on social media. Those post got me thinking: When it comes to mental health and the church, what can we do to help? How can we change the culture of
faith Considering healing Last Sunday at our church we held a healing service. This is the short talk I gave thinking about the subject of healing from Jesus’ healing in Mark 2:1–12. Before we come to God for healing, it is good for us to stop and consider the subject of
