A short while ago, I came across this definition of the phrase “fear of the Lord” as “a loving reverence for God that includes submission to His lordship and the commands of His word.” Genesis 22 may challenge us to ask why God would ask Abram to sacrifice his son when he had waited so…

A few weeks back I was attempting to tidy up the garden a bit and noticed something red amongst the greenery growing in the cracks of our patio. Lo and behold there was a strawberry plant with two bright red strawberries. Laying beside them was a bright red slender red chilli. (I suspect this was…

I have been living in Ipswich for quite some time, and I know many of the roads and the usual traffic. I often use a travel app which, though not always perfect, helps me on most of my journeys, especially in new places. A few weeks ago, I had to go through the town centre.…

Having lived the most of my life in Northern Ireland I find this time of year very emotional. I was a nurse in The Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast in the 1970’s during some of the worst of “The Troubles.” I cared for many of the injured, from shootings and bombs, and some cases I…

November is a looking back and looking forward month. Lots of past things to remember – Saints, Guy Fawkes, Pilgrim Fathers and Wars. Then the beginning of advent looking forward to Christmas and a New Year. Caught between what has happened and what will happen, when we’re told we should ‘live in the present’. It’s…

I have been preparing some “thoughts” about travelling on public transport and the things that happen to us as we journey from A to B among other people.This week is a little different as I wanted to think about some transport that was used in wartime for this special week of Remembrance.  The first vehicle…

Thanks to David Stone for sending in this article from Rev David Rees “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” — Romans 15:7 Churches are often very good at talking about being “welcoming.” We print it on banners, put it on our websites, and say it from the front. And that’s a good thing!…

My friend Rev Rach Ward recently visited Bristol and posted some photos of Facebook. As I was seeking inspiration for TFTD I am very grateful to her for the images!  John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist Church and his “New Rooms” are to be found in Bristol – replacing the “Old” ones that fell…

Back in August, I picked my son up from Stansted Airport and we stopped to buy some food from the McDonalds store that adjoins the airport. This meant visiting a place called Southgate Park and if you do the same thing yourself, BEWARE! It was nearly midnight, we had never been there before and all…

I was reading over some of the previous messages I wrote and part of this one is from the 5th May 2020. “A farmer placed a weather vane inscribed with the words “God is Love” on top of his barn. One day a traveller stopped by the barn and watched the weather vane moving in…