Isaiah 40:31 But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint. (NIV) Thinking I expect that you, like me, have from time to time used the expression, “Give me strength.” Perhaps you…

My recent Thoughts for the Day have focused very much on our summer breaks, and on the important part they can play in helping us recharge our batteries for the year ahead. But life is much bigger, and much longer, than our summer holidays — if we are fortunate enough to have them. For many…

Over the last two weeks I have shared thoughts about making space in our lives for rest and relaxation. For many, summer offers a chance to pause. We have thought about physical space, and about mental and emotional space. Recently, I have been thinking about the value of making space for more than physical rest.…

Mark 6:31: He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Mark chapter 6 is a busy narrative and it provides the seeds for this third in my summer series of thoughts. Jesus…

Read: “O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” (Psalm 104:24) Last week I began a short series of thoughts to take us through the summer holidays. We reflected on the quiet significance of endings, as many children, families, teachers and school…

Read Ecclesiastes 3:1 – ‘For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.’ For many children and young people, this is the last week of the summer term. Some students may have finished their university careers or will soon be enjoying a summer break. Others, depending on their stage of…

Read John 6:41-51 Have you ever worked for one of those managers who says, “My door is always open,” yet when someone actually needs to speak, the diary is full, the meeting has moved, or the moment never quite arrives? A parent may tell their children, “You can always come to me,” but then the…

When I was a child, I remember the chore of writing thank-you letters after Christmas and birthdays. At the time, it felt like a duty. Now I know how good it is to receive gratitude when someone has been given a gift. Today’s Bible reading is John 5:1–18. It tells of a man who had…

Ever since I was a child, first standing by the sea and marvelling at the horizon, I have been intrigued by perspective. I know I often use it in illustrations and sermons, but I make no apology for returning to it today. What we see from a distance can be very different from the detail…

Those of us who drive know the anxiety of wondering whether the fuel will run out before we reach the garage. I now have an all-electric car and, while most people worry about battery range, I am actually happier because I am less likely to take the risks I once did. Yes, perversely, I am…