Devotionals

Many thanks to Ernie for writing this week’s devotional.
I’d like us to consider one verse today. It’s a verse I’m sure you all know. It comes from Romans chapter 8 verse 1, and it says: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” For those who are in Christ Jesus, not today, not tomorrow, not next week, not next year, but NOW, there is no condemnation. This is going to be the best news you’ve ever heard. But it is not always easy to believe.
Continue reading “No Condemnation (Part 1), by Rev. Ernie Banwell.”

There are only two passages in the Bible I could confidently quote from memory. Even then, I’m not sure I could count on a hundred percent accuracy. The first is the Lord’s prayer, and the second is Psalm 23. I’ve written before about how over-familiarity with a passage can lead us to miss out on its full meaning. Yet I had an amazing experience with Psalm 23 a few weeks back that made me realise it wasn’t just the depths of beauty in the Psalm I was failing to understand, but more frighteningly, the Shepherd himself.
Continue reading “My Shepherd In The Valley.”

In my last devotional, I left the challenge, it was time to get out of the boat and leave the last year behind, which due to the pandemic has affected our lives. However, as we move out of Lockdown we must evaluate and allow ourselves to break free of those restrictions, for if we are not careful some habits formed by lock down could become new comfort zones. As we revaluate what lies ahead in ‘The new normal’, we ask what is God saying to us?
Continue reading “You Cannot Change The Past, But You Can Mould The Future, By Pastor Peter Norris.”

I have recently been reading Ephesians chapter 1 as part of a group Bible study, and I was struck by Paul’s references to adoption. In verse 5, he says: “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Then in verse 11, he goes on to say: “Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.” As I read those verses, I can’t help feeling incredibly loved. And I hope you do too.
Continue reading “Adopted Into God’s Family”

This devotional was written by Miriam Corringham, and it was inspired by the lyrics of the song “The Name” by Anadara Farmer. The lyrics are:
Continue reading “Abba Father By Miriam Corringham.”

I have recently been re-reading the old testament book of Joshua. Joshua was Moses’ successor – the man chosen by God to lead the Israelites into the promised land after their forty year wilderness wanderings. The first generation who came out of slavery in Egypt had all died as punishment for their unbelief on the occasion when ten out of the twelve spies sent to view their new homeland came back with a bad report, infecting the people with fear. (Numbers 13) Joshua was one of the two men of faith who’d seen potential where the others saw giants, sealing his right to become their new leader.
Continue reading “The Fine Line Between Victory And Defeat.”

I am so grateful that the Lord has placed it upon Pastor Peter’s heart to record regular devotionals for us at Worship Unlimited Ministries. This week, he talks about the apostle Peter’s experience of walking on water. His text is taken from Matthew chapter 14, verses 22-34.

“Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here! Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret.

As a child growing up attending Sunday School, many Bible stories became familiar. Perhaps even overly-familiar, as I heard watered down versions of them year after year. The trouble with this is that when you come to the Bible as an adult and you reach a story you think you know, you can gloss over it without taking on the weight of its true meaning. For me, the story of Naaman the Aramean who was cured of leprosy was one such example. I wouldn’t like to count the number of times we heard that one. We found out about this very important man who had a life-threatening disease, and how his wife’s servant girl – an Israelite slave – told her mistress that if Naaman went back to her homeland and saw the prophet there, he could be healed. The story was used to remind us we served a God of miracles, and indeed we do, but there is far more in this amazing tale than just the outcome.
Continue reading “God Often works In Unconventional Ways.”

This morning I was reading the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, and I was struck by verses 3-6A, which come under the heading “Thanksgiving and prayer.” Paul says:: “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people- the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. I noticed the references to faith, hope and love, and this struck a cord as it reminded me of a much more well-known passage of scripture. In 1Corrinthians 13 – the famous love chapter, Paul writes: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1Corrinthians 13: 13.)
Continue reading “A Beautiful Trio.”

As I look back on my childhood, I realise I spent a lot of it wishing my life away and looking ahead to the day when I would finally be “A grown-up.” I would often seek to clarify from my parents exactly when that big day would come. Would it be when I was sixteen? Sixteen seemed awfully big. Yet, it was at the age of eighteen that my brother, older than me by 11 years, was presented with several boxes containing ornamental keys, which were meant to signify maturity. Older people in my life, like my grandmother, maintained that in their day, you weren’t an adult until you were 21. So had my brother had his keys 3 years too early?
Continue reading “When I’m A Grown-UP”