The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1) I’m no sheep expert. But from what I have observed is that they spend a lot of their time, head down, grazing. Seemingly oblivious to what is going on around them. How often are we like sheep, head down, focused on what is immediately in front of us. Let’s not forget to look up at the shepherd who knows what we want, and can see the bigger picture. Lord, thank you for being our shepherd. Forgive us when we don’t acknowledge you. Help us to look to you in all we do. Amen

"to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves" Ephesians 1:6 (NIV ) Have you ever gone into the supermarket to buy just a couple of things so you think you’ll manage without a basket? As you go up and down the aisles you end up collecting more and more items and before you know it you have a great pile in your hands, wedged in under your chin? You just hope that you can make it to the checkout before it all collapses. Perhaps you are more organised than me, but I have certainly been in this predicament more than once. A friend recently lent me a great book, which I’d highly recommend, “What’s so Amazing about Grace?” by Philip Yancey. Part of the book is devoted to helping the reader receive God’s grace. It explains that we need to be able to come to God empty handed so that we actually have room to receive. As our days go along, we can find that mentally and physically we are taking on more and more until we are overloaded and seem to

"The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress" Psalm 46:7 (NIV ) The current pandemic has really rocked people’s confidence in many ways - from the future, to the global economy, to simply popping out to the corner shop to buy some milk. Last January seems a world away, but you might remember the Visions for 2020 for Holy Trinity that were shared with us. One theme was to build our confidence in three ways. Inner confidence in who we are in Christ, outer confidence allowing us to live for Jesus, and upwards confidence to help us trust God in prayer. Perhaps in these troubled times we are learning that God is the only thing we really can have confidence in, and that this confidence will help us in all areas of life. Prayer: Father, increase our confidence in our identity as your people. Help us to stand for you in our homes, families and workplaces. Ignite our trust and delight in prayer.  Amen. Penny Cox

"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" Ephesians 5 :19-20 (NIV ) Community singing is a fabulously uplifting experience, as any football or rugby fan can tell you that. But singing our worship has a special significance.  One of the aspects of attending church that I have really missed over these past few months is sung worship. I love singing praise together with others. Even though as a child I was hugely embarrassed by my music teacher telling me I had to mime when singing in the choir - I still haven’t quite got over the experience! I apologise to those who may have experienced my less than dulcet tones. Whatever our musical ability, the Bible tells us to sing praise to God. If you get chance today play one of your favourite hymns or worship songs and let it be your companion and encouragement as you sing and hu

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the very end of the age” Matthew 28:20 (NLT ) I worked in primary schools for some years, and during this time I was blessed by seeing children develop in many ways, but particularly in their confidence. Sometimes, some children were scared to come into school. One strategy that I learnt to help these children was to let them have an object that was special to them and that would remind them of their parents while they were apart. Often the child would have the object in their pocket and when they needed reassurance during the school day, they would just slip their hand into their pocket to feel the object and be reminded of their parents’ love and that they would see them soon. Maybe we’re not so different from those children. God knows that we need constant reassurance of his presence and love for us. He sent Jesus to be with us and the Holy Spirit to protect us and give us confidence. Let’s remember to call on them throughout

"he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing" Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV ) Recently I made my little grandson cry by being a bit too animated whilst reading him a story about a dog barking! His mother rescued him and comforted him with cuddles and soothing words. In the Bible God shows his father-love for us, not only by promising to quieten our frightened and fretful hearts with his love, but in his delight in us. Not only does God sing over us when we are awake, but Psalm 42 verse 8 tells that by night his songs are with us too. Let’s be comforted and encouraged by those promises today and tonight. Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that we are your children and that you love and cherish us. Help us to relax into your arms and receive your comfort through the day and the night. Amen. Penny Cox

"I am the vine and you are the branches" John 15:5 (NIV ) For my birthday, I received a small lemon tree. Over the last few months my little tree grew a strange offshoot. I did some research and found that it was called a “water shoot” and that it could be cut off and grafted on to another lemon tree. Isn’t grafting amazing? A branch from one plant can be joined with the stem of a different plant to get all its strength and nutrition. Jesus tells us that “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit”. In effect we are grafted on to Jesus. Jesus is our root, Jesus is our strength, Jesus provides all that we need. What an encouragement! Prayer: Thank you Jesus for your wonderful promise to love us just as your Father loves you. Help us to remain in you today, whatever our circumstances.  Amen. Penny Cox

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.   Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. ” I Corinthians 12: 12-14   Paul’s description of how a community can work together would have been such a radical concept for the people living in different cities around the Roman world and still is today. The Roman empire enforced a clear hierarchy with man at the top and women, children and slaves at the bottom. The gospel message, on the other hand, does not teach of a hierarchy but of a partnership with Christ that is offered to all. Our differences do not set us above or below each other but instead we are all equally valued and expected to each play our different and important part.   Amen!   There is so much more to discover in Paul’s letters and I have barely skimmed t

“ Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.   Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14   It’s easy to forget that we have been chosen by God to be part of His family and the ramifications of this are endless! It is not an accident that you found Christ, you were pursued, and you are dearly loved. In fact, God wants nothing more from you than to walk and talk with you, like he did with Adam and Eve in the garden and He has created eternity for our relationship to continue forever with Him!   Mind-blowing!   Paul reminded the Christians in Colossae that they were God’s chosen people and as such, reminded them to live under the grace of the knowledge that they were loved and forgiven. He was reminding them

" And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." Ephesians 6:18 I love the inference that to pray is to be alert. As Paul draws to the end of his letter to the Ephesians, he reminds them of the importance to keep on praying at all times, in many different ways in the Spirit. Prayer is such an integral part of growing in our faith and seeing His kingdom come in our lives, our community and our world. It helps our earthly minds come to know our Heavenly Father and see His plans and purposes unfold. I love the fact that Paul goes on to put in a personal prayer request in the next verse and I am sure that the church in Ephesus often prayed for him along with many of the Christians from the other churches. I am sure too, that the alertness of all the early Christians to pray was essential in the success of the ministry of all the Apostles and the advancement of the g

“We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.   No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love him—   these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.’”   1 Corinthians 2:6-10   Paul knew that the gospel message that had transformed him was completely counter cultural to the Roman way of life and much of his letters were trying to help the early Christians wrestle with the issues this caused. He could see past the rulers and the wisdom of the age and instead looked to God’s wisdom. He served an ancient God whose ancient wisdom dwells in us thro

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” Romans 15:13   There is much that drains us in this life, yet it is wonderful to be able to read these rich words over and over and receive the blessing that they bring. Our God is a God of hope and when we meditate on Him, not the news or the many negative distractions in this life, we can find immense joy and peace, even in difficult times. If we truly trust in Him we can receive an abundance of hope, not just a little bit to keep us going but more than enough to keep us steadfast throughout any circumstance and more than enough to pass on to others without running dry.    I could say so much more but instead but I think this verse says it all!  I encourage you to read it over and over until the power of the Holy Spirit brings you peace and joy and fills you with overflowing hope.    Let’s pray - Come Holy Spirit and fill us. Thank you that yo

“ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up ” Galatians 6:9 I have found our Sunday morning series in Philippians so enriching and it’s triggered my interest to read more of the letters the Apostle Paul wrote to the early churches. Although he wrote them over 2000 years ago, they are still so relevant and set such an example to us as we continue to be transformed by Jesus’s presence through the Holy Spirit. This week I am going to share small parts of Paul’s letters that are encouraging me, starting with the above words of encouragement that he wrote to the Galatians.   I am writing in the heat of an extremely hot August day, struggling to focus on work and feeling the drain of life during a global pandemic. Paul’s encouragement reminds me that when we feel weary, it is not time to give up, overthink things or despair. Instead we must keep going, even if doing the right thing is hard or counter cultural. Just before this v

When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. Mark 5:21-22 Jairus was a synagogue leader and would have known of Jesus, heard Him teach and heard of some of the miracles Jesus had donear.  There is no doubt that Jairus must have been a desperate man to approach Jesus in such a way and entrust his daughter’s health and life to the man He was told to hate.  And yet, he did so. When Jairus receives the bad news of his daughter’s death, Jesus comforts him and encourages Him to ‘just believe,’ (Mark 5:36).  It is interesting to think that Jairus’ faith was tested before He was a follower of Christ.  Yet, he believed that Jesus was able to save his daughter.  We can’t earn God’s healing or grace, or deserve it more than others who may be less inclined to follow Him.  Whatever our system of belief is, we need

Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. Luke 7:14-15 It almost seems that Jesus is drawn to sad, broken and needy people...  That’s why I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Jesus and His disciples arrive at Nain at exactly this time. Two things stand out about this encounter:  This is the first person Jesus raises from the dead (Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus are raised from the dead later), and the widow didn’t approach Jesus to ask His help. This is significant and profound, because it holds so much comfort and hope for us today.  Jesus knows what we need and He meets us exactly where we need Him most.  In those days a rabbi would not have touched the coffin for fear of becoming unclean.  Jesus, however, touches it to show us He is personally involved, closely, there where we are. Word soon spread about this mira

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis[a] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. Mark 5:18-20 What precedes today’s passage is the well-known story of Jesus sending the demons from this man into a herd (or litter, depending on who you ask) of pigs that ultimately drown themselves.  The Bible says this man was so strong that chains could not hold him.  When he is set free from his demonic bondage he begs Jesus to come with Him.  Jesus says no and sends him back to his family, friends and his own people to share what Jesus has done for him. This is exactly what Jesus asks each of us to do as well.  We can’t really share Christ’s peace, mercy, hope, power and love via proxy.  We have to encounter it for oursel

“Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. Luke 18:40-43 I like the way Luke shares this story just after the parable Jesus told about the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8) ‘to show them that they should always pray and not give up.’ (Luke 18:1).  This beggar, Bartimaeus, does just exactly what Jesus told the people to do:  he was persistently calling on the Lord.  And Jesus hears Him and heals Him. The Psalms are full of examples of people who called on the Lord persistently.  Their cries are always heard and the response is always praise, as with this blind beggar near Jericho. Jesus asks him what He can do for him.  I’m sure Bartimaeus didn’t ask Jesus for an opportunity to praise H

“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” Luke 8:1-3 Joanna and Susanna are two of the women who served and supported Jesus during the three years of His ministry on earth.  They did this as a response to what He did for them. Joanna was a well-off wife of one of Herod’s stewards.  She had the means to support Jesus’ ministry and she used it for that purpose. Susanna was a person healed or freed by Christ who then supported Him during His ministry on earth with all she had.  Both Joanna and Susanna were counted as part of Jesus’ disciples. What I love about these women is that their gratefulness towards Je

  “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.” Matthew 3:14-15 A friend of mine won the South African Pop Idols competition in 2010.  When he returned home after his victory he was asked to do a show at one of our local theatres.  I was trying to buy a ticket for the sold out show when I received a phone call from him asking if I would like to open the event for him, i.e. to be the pre-show show.  I was greatly honoured by this and accepted it, of course! However honoured I felt, it still pales in comparison to the massive honour we all have to be participants in God’s plan for salvation and change in this world.  Like John I want to ask Jesus, “Me? Are you sure?”  The answer is and always will be a resounding ‘Yes!’  Then, like Isaiah, I want to reply:

“On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” (Revelation 22:2) The Bible is sixty-six books, but one story. It is a grand narrative that starts in a garden, and ends in a city. In Revelation we read of the city of the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. The people of God live there in joy and safety because God is there with them. The Bible may end in a city, but it is also a garden – it is a garden-city. For there in the same picture is a river, flowing through the very streets of the city from the throne of God in the centre. Alongside the river grows the tree of life. This tree produces fruit, not annually but monthly, giving life for the people of God. Even the leaves of the tree are productive, healing the nations. Gardens are about growth and life. That is where we are heading in the big story of God’s purposes. If you are a keen garde

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” (Matthew 26:36) The garden of Gethsemane is a very peaceful place. An olive grove across the Kidron Valley from the city of Jerusalem, it is just a short walk from the main streets. Yet it is quiet – even in today’s noise – and contemplative. It is a garden to be still, to rest and to reflect. On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus takes his disciples to a garden to pray. They have just had the Passover meal – the Last Supper – and very soon, in the dead of night, a band of men will come and arrest Jesus. In the time between Jesus prays in the garden. Gardens are for growing things. They are for producing things of beauty, such as flowers, or things of sustenance, such as food. Gethsemane is no exception. Gethsemane means ‘oil press’. Most likely among the olive trees there was a press to turn the ripe olives into olive oil. An olive press works by taking

“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.” (Jeremiah 29:5) When the people of Israel went into exile in Babylon, it was a devastating time. They were torn away from the land that God had given them. They were separated from the temple where they could worship. They were living in a foreign land among people who didn’t know God and didn’t worship him. God speaks to the people of Israel through Jeremiah and gives them a word of hope. He tells them that their exile won’t last forever, but it will come to an end. Until that day comes, they are to live in this foreign land of Babylon. But they aren’t just to put up with living there. They are to settle down. They are to seek the peace and prosperity of the city and nation, even though it did not acknowledge God. They are to build houses, and they are to plant gardens. They are to make things grow and prosper until the day of return comes around. There is a way in which Christians today are also in exile. Our ho

“You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Isaiah 58:11) I have already confessed in a previous post that I’m a dreadful gardener. But even I know one or two things about what plants and flowers need. Water is one of those fundamentals. Even the most basic of gardeners know that gardens need watering. Summer is usually the time when we see the effect of a lack of water. Hot, sunny days, especially a string of them together, can have a profound effect on gardens and parks. Flowers wilt in the sunshine, plants fail to thrive and grass turns thin and brown. We can all see the effect and notice that it is not good. We don’t experience much of the full force of drought in the UK, but there are plenty of countries around the world where drought is a profound problem, causing issues not only with the beauty of gardens but the production of food. What is surprising is how quickly plants can respond to watering. A wilting flower can quickly be restored to

“The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.” (Isaiah 51:3) Have you ever seen a garden go to rack and ruin? It’s not a pleasant sight (and my lack of gardening skills have sadly contributed to this!) Weeds can spring up, overtaking the other plants and dominating the beauty of the garden. Walls can be broken down, fences damaged and the garden descends into chaos. Back in 1990, a door was found in the Heligan estate in Cornwall. It led to a ‘secret’ garden that had been lost and neglected since the outbreak of World War One. Overgrown and covered in bramble and ivy, it had been overlooked and ignored. The biggest garden restoration project in Europe began and the garden was restored to its former glory. God the gardener is in the business of restoration. To the exiles of Israel in Isaiah he gives words of comfort. Though they feel broken down and overtaken, there is ho

“Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden” (Genesis 2:8) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” (John 15:1) If you know me, you probably know that I am not a very good gardener. Suffering from hay fever, I’m never quite at home mowing grass or weeding and when I do try and often have no clue what is a weed and what is not! I may be a dreadful gardener, but God is not. First of all, God created every plant and flower we enjoy in gardens and parks. He did not create them only in general, but every flower god lovingly brings into existence. The writer G. K. Chesterton once wrote that “it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them.” God is creator, but God is also a gardener. He made a garden for our first ancestors, Adam and Eve, to live in. He didn’t just create Eden, he planted it. God planned and dug and cultivated and tended the garden. He made it for us. Jesus came to make the Father known to us, and he said, “

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another.” (Romans 12:15, 16) I wonder how you have felt as you have seen the posts and protests about Black Lives Matter over recent months. Some issues have seemed far away perhaps, either geographically, with protests happening in other countries, or far away from our personal knowledge and experience. As a white male it’s very hard for me to fully understand the injustice and discrimination that so many other people have experienced.  Personally I have struggled with the best way to engage and respond with this issue. There is a pull to be cautious and careful, which has some wisdom in it, but can easily make us slow to respond or unwilling to respond at all. With so many complex issues woven together, is there anything that someone like me can usefully contribute? Should I simply stay silent? Karen helpfully began our reflections this week in Romans chapter 12 and it’s helpful to return there toda