Author: Alex

I have always openly admitted that my favourite book of the Bible is the gospel of John. For me, there are so many incredibly special moments in John’s account of the life of Christ, but none more so than the way in which the apostle ends his writings. Having detailed Jesus’ death and resurrection and the way he appeared to the disciples to prove he was alive, John wraps it all up by saying: “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (John 21: 25.) So you mean there was more?
Continue reading “There Is Always More.”

My theme for this devotional is “I promise you a better future.” It is easy to make a promise with the best intention of keeping it. However, making a promise is one thing, but keeping it is another.
Continue reading “I Promise You A better Future, By Pastor Peter Norris.”

In the gospels, we read of two incredible miracles where Jesus multiplied a tiny amount of food into a meal for thousands. Many of us remember hearing about the five loaves and two fish that fed five thousand, but there was also the feeding of the four thousand. From seven loaves and a few small fish. The same result twice, with only slightly differing numbers? Do you think Jesus was trying to make a point?
Continue reading “It’s not About The Bread.”

thanks to Sarah for writing this week’s beautiful thoughts.
I read something on Facebook recently about following your heart, and the phrase that immediately came to mind was: “The heart is deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9). We can follow our hearts, but we need to know that a lot of the time, they’ll lead us astray. In Matthew 15:17-20, as He explains that foods are no longer ‘Clean’ and ‘Unclean’, Jesus says: “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts – murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person”. First, we need to pay attention to what’s in our hearts. Are we tempted to steal from someone – to grasp what should have been theirs? To squash a dream? Perhaps to lie about them or ourselves? “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23).
Continue reading “When It’s Safe To follow Our Hearts, By Sarah tummey”

Recently, I’ve been learning how to read the Bible with imagination. To do this, you literally place yourself in the middle of whatever story you happen to be reading and ponder how you would react and feel. I’ve found this works best with the gospels, since they are mainly narrative. Overall, I have felt myself engaging with the ministry of Jesus while he was here on earth in a fresh new way.
Continue reading “Would I Walk On The Water?”

19th July 2021 will be marked in England as the day when most restrictions due to Covid 19 were lifted, we can debate what it all means. We can look back at previous freedom days such as freedom gained through the end of a war, freedom from slavery, freedom from racism etc. But on reflection we see that all so called freedom never means total freedom. I want to major in on one day in history when all could have a total Freedom Day, freedom not from any of the above but freedom from sin and peace with God.
Continue reading “Freedom Day, by Pastor Peter Norris.”

As a child, one of the Sunday School stories that really captured my imagination was the one told at the beginning of Mark chapter 2, about the four men who went to incredible measures in order to get their paralysed friend to Jesus. WE are told that Jesus was preaching and teaching in a house packed with people, and that there was no room even outside the door. (Mark 2: 2.) When the four men arrived baring their burden, they knew there was no way they were going to squeeze themselves and the man they were carrying into the house, so they formed an alternative plan. I can picture them climbing up onto the roof, digging away until a sizable hole was formed, and gently lowering their friend down right in front of Jesus. They had done all they possibly could, and now it was up to the Saviour. They had literally given their dear friend into Jesus’ hands, believing only he could perform the miracle needed to make him walk. And of course, he did.
Continue reading “Would I Be Willing To Go Through The Roof”

In 1Chronicles chapter 13, we find the story of how King David decided the time had come to move the Ark of God from Kiriath-Jearim to Jerusalem. Verse 1 tells us that he consulted with all the officials and with the generals and the captains of his army. He felt strongly that the Ark had been neglected during the reign of King Saul, and that it belonged in the nation’s new capital.
Continue reading “A Good Idea Isn’t Necessarily A God Idea.”

Thanks to Lou for sharing her thoughts.
Over the last few weeks, my attention has been caught by the number of references in the Bible to roots.
Continue reading “Having A Healthy Root System, By Lou Beard.”

About sixteen years ago, I went on holiday with my parents to a caravan in the south of England. WE had a very special few days, as this would prove to be one of my final trips alone with them before my marriage. There was a particular English castle I’d always wanted to see, so my dad decided it would be a good opportunity to visit.
Continue reading “Miracles Of Timing.”