DEAR ALL
IT’S WEDNESDAY – COOKING DAY. THE DAY STARTS WITH REVD MARK AND I IN PRAYER – NOT BECAUSE I AM COOKING, BUT TO START THE DAY OFF RIGHT, WITH THE LORD. WE OFTEN PRAY, AS I DID THIS MORNING, ‘WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED IN THY NAME…’ SOMETIMES WE PRAY THAT AS AN APOLOGY FOR THERE BEING JUST A FEW OF US, BUT I TRULY BELIEVE THAT GOD WAS WITH US THIS MORNING, IN HIS HOUSE, THE HOUSE THAT HAS HEARD DECADES OF PRAYERS. WE ARE TRULY BLESSED.
Morning all, if you’ve been following the news, you’ll have seen the rising concerns over cost-of-living pressures. Families are having to stretch every penny further, and many feel anxious about the future. Jesus spoke right into that anxiety in Matthew 6:26: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Worry drains us, but trust sustains us. God isn’t blind to your bills, your responsibilities, or your needs. He calls us to seek Him first, not because food and clothing don’t matter, but because He already knows what we need. So today, instead of letting worry lead the way, let trust take the lead. Your value to God far outweighs your fears, and the same Father who feeds the sparrows has promised to provide for you
REVD MARK TAKES SOMETHING AS FAMILIAR AS A MORNING TRAFFIC JAM AND SHOWS HOW IT CAN SPEAK TO OUR WALK WITH THE LORD. DRAWING ON ISAIAH 40:31, HE ENCOURAGES US TO SEE GOD’S HAND NOT ONLY IN THE SOARING AND THE RUNNING, BUT ALSO IN THE SIMPLE, FAITHFUL STEPS OF WALKING WITH HIM.
Morning all… The traffic into work this morning was ridiculous! I certainly wasn’t getting nowhere fast. There I was constantly looking at the clock, tapping the steering wheel, and wondering if I was ever going to get moving again. Life can often feel like that sometimes. We have plans, goals, dreams, and we want to move forward, but obstacles, delays, and frustrations leave us feeling stuck. It’s in those moments that Isaiah 40:31 speaks so powerfully: “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.” Notice the order here – soaring, running, walking. There’s a rhythm to God’s provision. Sometimes He gives us eagle wings to soar over the challenges, lifting us above the obstacles so we can see clearly and move freely. Sometimes He strengthens us to run, pressing forward with endurance when the pace is demanding. And often, especially when things are not going as we would have planned, He simply helps us keep walking – one faithful step at a time. Even when life feels like a standstill, God is still at work. The traffic may not be moving, but He is moving in our hearts, our circumstances, and our growth. Patience, trust, and hope are the lanes He opens for us, even when everything around us seems to have come to a standstill. So, if you’re in a “traffic jam” – whether that’s at work, in your relationship, or in your spiritual journey, don’t despair. Keep hoping in Him. Keep moving forward in faith. Take the next step, however small, and watch how His strength meets you at every mile. You may not be soaring yet, and you may not be running, but even the simple act of walking with God will carry you safely towards the destination He has prepared.
WITH THE METEOROLOGICAL START OF AUTUMN JUST AROUND THE CORNER, REVD MARK REFLECTS ON THE NEW SCHOOL TERM AS A REMINDER OF GOD’S DAILY GIFT OF FRESH STARTS AND HIS UNFAILING MERCY. HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND. TODAY WE HAVE A WEDDING.
Morning all… With schools preparing to reopen soon, there’s a sense of both excitement and nerves in the air. Children are trying on new uniforms, parents are labelling jumpers and PE kits, bags are being packed, and bedtime routines are slowly being pulled back into place. For many families, this time of year is a mixture of anticipation, adjustment, and maybe even a little anxiety. But it’s also a powerful reminder of fresh starts. Lamentations 3:22–23 declares: “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Isn’t that beautiful? God built into our lives daily reminders that new beginnings are possible. Just as September marks a new school year with new opportunities to learn, grow, and reset, every single day in Christ is a fresh page. Yesterday’s mistakes, frustrations, or failures don’t have the final say – His mercy does. Maybe last term was tough for you. Perhaps you’ve carried worries about your family, regrets about things you wish you’d handled differently, or simply the weariness of life’s demands. But God whispers over you this day: “You get to start again. My compassion hasn’t run out. My love hasn’t failed. Here’s a new day, a new term, a new beginning.” So, as children prepare to step into the classroom with clean books and sharpened pencils, step into today with the same confidence. You don’t have to be weighed down by yesterday. Lay down those burdens at the feet of Jesus and pick up His grace instead. A new term for schools – and a brand new page of grace for you.
YESTERDAY, BEING A 5th SUNDAY IN THE MONTH WE HELD A SONGS OF PRAISE SERVICE. ONE SONG, A FAVOURITE OF REVD MARK, WAS SUNG.
‘YOU ARE MY STRENGTH WHEN I AM WEAK, YOU ARE THE TREASURE THAT I SEEK, YOU ARE MY ALL IN ALL…
WHEN I FALL DOWN YOU PICK ME UP, WHEN I AM DRY YOU FILL MY CUP, YOU ARE MY ALL IN ALL.’
Morning all, I woke up this morning and was completely shocked when I looked out of the kitchen window and noticed our patio umbrella lying upside down by the back door; obviously caused by last night’s wind. It certainly came as a bit of a shock, as I saw this everyday object suddenly out of place. This stirred something deeper in me as I reflected on it. I realised that for many, life can feel just like that umbrella: secure one moment, suddenly overturned the next. One unexpected gust, one unforeseen event, and the sense of stability we often take for granted can be shaken. Psalm 34:18 reminds us: “The LORD is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” I’ve now taken the umbrella down before the next gust of wind blows it away, this reminds me that we need to anchor our hearts in God’s presence. Although He may not prevent every gust of wind in our lives, His nearness is certainly a shelter we can rely on. So today, if your world has been flipped upside down or a situation has left you feeling unsettled, take heart. God is not distant. He is close, steadying us, lifting us when we feel crushed, and holding us upright even when the winds of life batter around us. Sometimes the smallest, most ordinary reminders, a fallen umbrella, a disrupted morning – can point us back to the steadfastness of God’s love. Anchor yourself in Him today, and trust that no matter how the wind blows, He is your refuge and strength.
Strength in Stillness
Life so easily sweeps us into its noise and demands, yet God invites us to something different—stillness, trust, and renewal in His presence. In the reflection that follows, Revd Mark takes us to Isaiah 30:15, reminding us that salvation and strength are found not in rushing, but in resting in God. May these words help you pause, breathe, and rediscover the peace that only He can give.
Morning all… Have you noticed how quiet the early mornings are these days? There’s a certain stillness before the day begins, when the world hasn’t demanded anything from us yet. The air feels lighter, the pace slower, and for just a moment, time seems to pause. And yet, even in that hush, our own minds can feel restless – already racing ahead with lists, plans, worries, and responsibilities that haven’t even arrived yet. It’s into this moment that Isaiah 30:15 speaks: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…” What a reminder that strength doesn’t come from rushing, but from returning to God. Quietness doesn’t mean inactivity – it means leaning into His presence and allowing trust to steady our steps. The world often tells us to keep going faster, to do more, to fill every silence with noise. But God tells us to come back, to slow down, and to rediscover the strength that only His presence gives. In the quiet, we’re reminded that we don’t hold everything together – He does. So today, when the rush of life tries to crowd out your peace, take a moment to pause. Rest in the knowledge that God is in control. Trust Him with the things that feel too big to manage. And let His quietness renew your strength for the day ahead.
Revd Mark Spiers