Thought for the day (Page 171)

Every day we post a Thought for the day written by someone within the circuit. Some are very light hearted and some are very deep theologically with all bases between covered.

We hope these will encourage, uplift and make you reflect but most of all we hope you enjoy reading these small daily snippets and take some inspiration on your daily journey

“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go” (Genesis 28:15)

Farewell to a Minister

I’ve made a bag!  But it’s not just any old bag. It’s a bag full of memories.  Memories of the time spent with our Minister over 7 years.Rev Diane Smith retires today after 7 years of ministry in the Ipswich Circuit, working with 4 churches & the Dock Chaplaincy (which have been embroidered on the…

The Olympics of Life!

Hebrews 12:1    “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo are in full swing as I write this.  They…

“Prayer of Jabez”

How many people have heard of Jabez? It’s not a name that immediately springs to mind, but he has a very simple prayer that can be found in the book of Chronicles. The early chapters of Chronicles appears to be a list of the various clans from Adam to Abraham, and then suddenly this short…

Free from pride

But there are walls that keep us all divided;we fence each other in with hate and war.Fear is the bricks-and-mortar of our prison,our pride of self the prison coat we wear.           Fred Kaan (1929-2009) translated from the Swedish of Anders Frostenson (1906-2006)English translation © 1974 Stainer & Bell Ltd. Hallin Fell is not a significant Wainwright…

God’s Table – An Invitation for All

Every year the new Methodist Church President and Vice-President select a theme for their year.  This year it is “God’s Table – An Invitation for All”. I remember in 2000 Rev Inderjit Bhogal was President and he had a similar theme of God’s Table. One of the things about Methodism is the way we always…

“Wings like Eagles”

Golden Eagles, whilst in mid-flight, will suddenly began spiralling upward. With their powerful wings the great bird’s soar ever higher, dissolving into a tiny dot and then disappearing. Their flight could remind you of Isaiah’s uplifting words: “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who…

Turning to face God

Sometimes, as I travel through the beautiful Suffolk countryside, dashing from one place to another I feel an enormous sense of appreciation, whether it is seeing the beauty of the yellow Rapeseed fields in the Springtime and, remarkably, early autumn now, seeing the golden fields during summer months, ripe for harvesting, the quaint villages with…

Count your blessings

It is somewhat odd that, in Christian thinking, a time of difficulty, danger or despair is just the time for counting your blessings. Name them one by one as encouraged by Joseph Addison in his hymn ‘When all thy mercies, O my Godmy rising soul surveys,transported with the view, I’m lostin wonder, love and praise.…

Unexpected warning

As some people may know, I enjoy cycling. However, on this particular day I was driving along one of the narrow country lanes around Elmsett. The road was single carriageway with lush green but rather overgrown hedges. As I came to a bend a lady approached in her car from the opposite direction. Having reversed…

Concentration

After cutting the lawn I sat down for a well – earned rest in the shade of our umbrella to enjoy a cup of coffee.  Suddenly from the next door I heard our teenager practicing on the piano.  First the scales and then she went on to practice the set pieces which she would be…