Songs for all seasons

As we spend time in the Psalms, we must remember that they were the songbook of Jesus, and they speak to us of the mystery and depth of God. In the words of John Calvin, "the Psalms are songs for all seasons - for there is not an emotion of anyone can be conscious that is not here represented as in a mirror."

In other words, the collection of Psalms allows us to take a long look at ourselves, and be reminded that God is way more faithful, kind, merciful, secure, compassionate, stronger than we could ever be. The Psalms teach us to look beyond what we feel is the best, to someone who is far greater than our wildest imaginations. 

In every season of our lives, we know that we can trust in God. 

Psalm 118:8-9

It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in humans.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.

Living in Grace

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Look at the birds

I love the fact that Jesus often used creation to bring people back to the center - back to the most important things in life. Matthew 6 gives us a number of great examples of this:

"Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? - Matthew 6:26-27

This is such a simple statement to make and yet it carries a deeply profound spiritual truth. When we pause for a minute to look at the birds, we should remember how they survive without all the trappings and frills we think we need. 

God cares for them - surely, we should remember that God cares for us too?

Living in Grace

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Living Water

As we move deeper into the season of Spring, I wanted to share this moving prayer, which is being used for the Season of Creation 2026. This year's theme is based on "The Living Water" (Ezekiel 47) and it is a timely reminder for us to honour what God has entrusted into our care. 

Living Water

Holy God, whose Spirit hovered over the waters at the beginning, we gather as part of your community of all creation, thirsty for your grace. We give thanks for the gift of water, the veins of our common home, that sustains the cedar and the whale, the pasture and the city. We are grateful for the local waters that nourish our homelands and our fellow creatures. We give thanks that in your well-watered garden, every drop is a sacred testament to your love.

Yet, we confess that we have treated this gift as a mere commodity. We have choked the seas with our waste and watched the warming tides rise in judgment. We lament the cracked earth of the drought-stricken and the salty tears of the climate refugee. Melt our frozen hearts, O God, and let the waters of repentance flow.

Lord of all Life, you promised that wherever the river flows, everything shall live. Stir in us a calling to care for the waters — to protect the watershed, defend the rights of water, and honor the dignity of the thirsty. May your Word be a spring within us, gushing forth for the healing of the nations.

May God our Father who brought water from the rock sustain us in the desert. May Christ our Lord who is Living Water refresh us for the work of restoration. And may the Holy Spirit carry us on currents of grace until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amen.

If you are interested in the Season of Creation, you can find all their resources on this website.

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A Prayer for Spring and for our Youth

"Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come; the cooing of doves is heard in our land." - Song of Songs 2:12

Here is a lovely prayer to celebrate the change in seasons, as well as asking for God to watch over our young people.

"Loving God and Father,
We worship you as the creator and sustainer of all that lives;
Lord, once again it is Spring.
All around us pulsating, sparkling life 

is breaking out in a thousand various forms.
Everything is so breathtakingly beautiful
that is releases a pang of joy in my deepest soul.
Your earth is awakening from its winter sleep!

Saviour, touch my heart too and bring my barren everyday life
to new life and growth.

This month we pray for our youth and children,
the most precious blossoms of our time.
Protect them in these times
of shifting values and spiritual threats.
Keep them strong against the evil powers
that seek to drag them down.
Help them to strive with all their might
for what is good and noble.
May the older generation encourage them
with practical examples of faith, hope and love.
Help them to be immovable in their faith in the knowledge
that Christ himself, their Master and Example was once young.
Bless, O Lord, graciously and abundantly
the great work done by parents, ministers and teachers
who support young people along the road of life.
In Jesus name. Amen." (based on a prayer by Rev. Solly Ovrech)

Living in Grace

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The Rock

Jesus needed to remind his disciples that the nation had abandoned 'The Rock' of their salvation. In charging Peter (Petros) to lead the new band of believers, Jesus promised to build his church on Peter's profession of faith (Matthew 16:18). In the background to this moment, Matthew counted on the Israelites remembering the words from Deuteronomy 32, which spoke of the Lord being their Rock.

"He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect.
Everything he does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong;
how just and upright he is!" - v.4

"They abandoned the God who made them and rejected the Rock their Savior. 16 They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols.
17 They sacrificed to false gods, which are not God—
gods they had not known,
gods that recently appeared,
gods your ancestors did not fear.
18 You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth." - v.15-18

Thought: God's faithfulness is presented like a 'rock' for us - immovable and secure. 

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There is always a FIRST step.

There is always going to be a first step!

When we were infants crawling on the floor, our families encouraged us to make the first step. And when we did, their delighted whoops inspired us to take another step. Slowly, but surely, we got more steady on our tiny legs, and eventually we couldn't stop moving.

It is the same with most things in life, and even so with our faith. We must always start with a first step and when we succeed in that action, so the other steps flow from this momentum. The writer of Proverbs suggests that if we want to live godly lives, we should listen to Wisdom and live out the principles of faith. However, there is a crucial first step. Read what he says:

1 These are the proverbs of King Solomon of Israel, David’s son:

2 He wrote them to teach his people how to live—how to act in every circumstance, 3 for he wanted them to be understanding, just, and fair in everything they did. 4 “I want to make the simpleminded wise!” he said. “I want to warn young men about some problems they will face. 5-6 I want those already wise to become wiser and become leaders by exploring the depths of meaning in these nuggets of truth.”

7-9 How does a man become wise? The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord! (Proverbs 1)

Thought: What is your first step going to be today?

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Have a heart

"Give me, Lord
A stout heart to bear my own burdens,
A tender heart to bear the burdens of others,
And a believing heart to lay all my burdens on you, for you care for us." - Lesslie Newbigin

The ancient philosophers understood that the heart was the seat of all emotions. Everything flowed from this small organ in the center of our chests. Jesus added even greater value this notion, when he commanded us to 'Love God with all of our Hearts.' 

How do we use our hearts? Are we able to have stout, tender and believing hearts today?

Matthew 11:29 - Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

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We went through fire and water

If you heard these words in a sermon today, what would they mean for you?

“We went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.” – Psalm 66:12

To the Israelites it was a clear reminder that God had literally taken them through both of these elements (fire and water) and brought them safely through on the other side. For some of us, it could mean that we have seen God's hand guide us through times of deep water and extreme "heat", but we have been carried through to safer terrain.

I believe it is important for us to remember that if God has done this before, he can definitely do it again. 

Thought: What have you been through lately, that would seem like a fire or deep water?

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Into your hands

Psalm 31 gives us a lovely way of entrusting our lives into the hands of God. If you read verse 15 it says: “My times are in your hands.” 

However, if you take a look at other versions, they say: "My future is in your hands." 

I think this is more helpful for me, and probably more along the lines of our modern ways of speaking. None of us knows what tomorrow holds, but we choose to trust in the Lord - in doing this we place our future into his safe hands. Does that make sense to you?

Eugene Peterson concludes:

"Desperate, I throw myself on you: you are my God!
Hour by hour I place my days in your hand,
    safe from the hands out to get me." - Psalm 31:14-15 (The Message)

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Wisdom for the ages

I ended up reading and reflecting on Proverbs 16 this week. There are some remarkable pearls of wisdom in this chapter. These are the few that really stood out for me.

We can make our own plans,
but the Lord gives the right answer.

2 People may be pure in their own eyes,
but the Lord examines their motives.

3 Commit your actions to the Lord,
and your plans will succeed.

9 - We can make our plans,
but the Lord determines our steps.

Have a blessed day and I pray that God would direct your paths.

Living in Grace

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Being Grateful

“Being grateful does not mean that everything is necessarily good. It just means that you can accept it as a gift.” - Roy T. Bennett

There doesn't seem to be a lot of good going on in the world at the moment. It is hard to wade through all the muck, trying to find things to be grateful for. However, this week I am grateful for God's guidance through stormy waters and for the Lord's ability to make something meaningful from a potential mess.

Six years ago, our world erupted into chaos with the arrival of the Covid pandemic. Fear, mistrust, anger and uncertainty seemed to be the order of the day. As a Christian community, we all had to fly by the seat of our pants - we didn't know what to do or even how to do it :)

Anyway, we quickly transitioned into the online world of sermons and worship services. The learning was steep and the mistakes were many, but we somehow managed to put content out on a weekly basis. And this past week has marked the 6th year of sharing our weekly messages. And for this, I am deeply grateful.

I am grateful to the Lord who has sustained us. I am grateful to all who have made this possible - especially Ken who faithfully films the preacher every week and does the editing of each message. To Gudrun and her team who upload the messages to our website. And many others, who work behind the scenes. I am grateful.

Being grateful doesn't mean that life is always good, but that we can see God's hand is still with us, never letting us go.

If you would like to watch the message from last weekend, we make a special mention of our 6-year anniversary on this episode. 

1 Timothy 1:12 - I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me.

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I have no bucket!

What do you do when you arrive at the well, but you have nothing to draw the water with? Your thirst is getting the better of you, and you don't know how to quench this longing. 

For many people their struggles are so overwhelming that they fail to see that Jesus is the one who offers us the water that quenches our thirst. Sadly, our picture of God has become so distorted over the years that we think our 'lack of a bucket' excludes us from the gift of Life. 

I have found this poem has put into words some of our deepest thoughts and emotions. 

"I have no bucket, and the well is deep.
My thirst is endless, and my throat is dry.
I ask you, stranger, silent at my side,
can words refresh my longings if you speak?
I have no bucket, and the well is deep.

Who are you, strange yet friendly at my side,
and can you see and judge, yet understand
my hidden self, and heal with wounded hands?
Are you the path, the gateway and the guide,
the keys, the living water, and the light?

Come break the rock, and bid the rivers flow
from deep unending wells of joy and worth,
for tears, for drinking, drowning and new birth,
and I shall find and give myself, and know
the keys, the living water, and the light." - Brian Wren

Isaiah spoke of God's love and open invitation to 'Come to him' in these words:

“Come, all you who are thirsty,
    come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
    and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
    and you will delight in the richest of fare." - Isaiah 55:1-3

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It is well

We sang this song in one of our worship services yesterday. It is such a testimony to the power of hope and trust that God will get us through the most difficult of circumstances. May these words offer you hope and peace this week. 

"When peace like a river
Attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot
Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, It is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul

It is well

It is well with my soul."

The chorus is not a recognition of present circumstances, but rather a deep belief that 'no matter what', God is still with us. Our souls are secure in his hands.

Psalm 25:5 - Lead me; teach me; for you are the God who gives me salvation. I have no hope except in you.

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Longing for ...

There is a beautiful song which reminds us of all the things that we long for but seem to never find. It is entitled: Christ be our Light and is written by Bernadette Farrell. Each verse of the song speaks of these gifts that we long for:

• Longing for light, we wait in darkness
• Longing for truth, we turn to you
• Longing for peace, our world is troubled
• Longing for hope, many despair

And each time she laments the things that still elude us, Bernadette brings us to the prayerful chorus:

"Christ be our light, shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church."

I pray that as we all begin the remarkable journey of Lent, that Christ would shine his light on our path.

Living in Grace

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Please send someone else!

When God called Moses to serve him and to go and speak to Pharoah, Moses sheepishly asked the Lord to send someone else.

¹⁰ Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

¹¹ The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? ¹² Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

¹³ But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”  -(Exodus 4)

In a way, Jonah did the same thing. When God called him to go and preach to the Ninevites, Jonah ran in the opposite direction. You can read this story in chapter 1 of Jonah. 

So, what about us? When God calls us to a task that seems bigger than our abilities, how do we respond? What do we say?

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When the storms rage

"But I called on your name, Lord, from deep within the pit.
You heard me when I cried, “Listen to my pleading!
Hear my cry for help!”
Yes, you came when I called; you told me, “Do not fear.” - Lamentations 3:55-57

There is something beautiful and reassuring about the knowledge that God comes to our rescue. He hears all of our prayers, and he chooses to answer in his time. 

“Sometimes the Lord calms the storm. Sometimes he lets the storm rage and calms his child.” - Unknown

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God's strength

"God’s strength behind you,

His concern for you,
His love within you and his arms beneath you
are more than sufficient for the job ahead of you.” - William Arthur Ward

"The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.
So, it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord." - Lamentations 3:25-26

May you know the love and strength of Jesus in all that you do today.

Living in Grace

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Why do they wait for the thermals?

A question for today: Why do eagles wait for the thermals in order to soar and fly?

Answer: They have been taught from a young age to conserve their energy and to know that they are created to use the winds to their great advantage. They are not designed to flap their wings all the time.

"But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind." - Isaiah 40:31 (The Message)

In the same way, I believe that God has designed us to rely on His Spirit, so that we may soar and live for his glory. Sadly, there are many times when I forget this and I flap my wings too much, trusting in my own perceived strength and less on God's gift to me.

Prayer thought: It is tempting to be 'busy' the whole time, believing that our work is for God's glory, but sometimes we need to WAIT for the right moment and the right thermal. Our waiting my seem frustrating, especially when we see others flying/flapping all around us, however if we want to reach Godly heights, we must wait for his Spirit.

Living in Grace

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Sometimes we just need to look up

“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing." - (Isaiah 40: 25-26)

It is very easy to become bogged down in the trials of this life and to become so focused on all that is going wrong, that we forget how Big God truly is. This is why I love to look up into the night sky and to be reminded how small I am, and how Mighty God really is.

“If you were to hold out a coin at arm's length, the coin would block out 15 million stars from your view, if your eyes could see with that power.” - Source Unknown.

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Even the sparrow has found a home

"Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young - a place near your altar." - Psalm 84:3

The other day I noticed a sparrow sitting on an old telephone wire. She looked busy but not stressed. Obviously, I don't speak "sparrow", so I don't know for sure, but it seemed to me that she wasn't anxious about her life. She trusted that all would be ok.

The Psalmist must have also noticed the activity of the sparrows and swallows. He was able to see that they found a safe place for their young, and that their nests were near the altar of the Lord. 

I find this a remarkable reminder of the compassion of God. Compared to the might of the Lord, the sparrow is quite puny, yet she is not afraid of God - in fact, she trusts so much in God's protective love, that she makes her home as close to His presence as possible. 

Surely, there is a lesson for us in this action. Have we made our 'homes' close to the altar of the Lord?

Luke 12:6 - “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them.

Living in Grace

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