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  1. Deborah_

    The Trinity Prayer

    Ephesians 3:14-19 Here is the apostle Paul, praying for all “the faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:1): that we might go ever deeper into our experience and understanding of God: “I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of...
  2. Deborah_

    I've just had my first dose of Covid vaccine!

    Give thanks to the Lord!
  3. Deborah_

    Wind, water and fire

    The Holy Spirit as wind In both Hebrew and Greek, ‘wind’, ‘breath’ and ‘spirit’ are the same word. In English we make distinctions between these things, but it’s easy to see what they have in common: immateriality, invisibility, and life/movement. Sometimes the necessary ambiguity is lost in...
  4. Deborah_

    What does the Holy Spirit do for us?

    God is not distant from us; the Holy Spirit is His active presence in the world, in the Church, and in individual believers. Right from the beginning of creation (Genesis 1:2), God’s Spirit has been at work - not only initiating the spark of life, but sustaining and directing it (Psalm...
  5. Deborah_

    A Christian response to Coronavirus

    We’re living in interesting times… difficult times… challenging times. Who would have thought, just a few weeks ago, that we’d all now be wondering where our next pack of toilet roll is going to come from? However you look at it, our current situation is an unfamiliar one. It’s been compared to...
  6. Deborah_

    The wonder of Christmas

    The Creator became a creature. The Eternal One entered space and time. Almighty God became a newborn baby.
  7. Deborah_

    The signpost

    When lost, the wise traveller asks for directions… “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16) ‘Old’ is not necessarily good (for the paths of wickedness are also venerable and...
  8. Deborah_

    Why did Jesus have to die?

    In some ways, Christianity is a very odd religion. For it makes the claim that God Himself, in the form of a young Jewish teacher, was put to death in a manner that was not only shockingly brutal and inhumane but also intensely shameful (crucifixion was reserved for the dregs of society). Even...
  9. Deborah_

    Justification from a different angle

    Justification is a legal term: a declaration of innocence, enabling the person who is ‘declared righteous’ to go free. The stunning message of the Gospel is that “God justifies the ungodly” (Romans 4:5), and that He does so not on the basis of anything deserving that we might have done, but...
  10. Deborah_

    Who is the ideal mother?

    To mark Mothering Sunday, the Church of England recently commissioned a poll to discover “Britain’s ideal mother.” Now this is actually quite a tricky question to answer. First of all, what are the qualities that make an ideal mother? And secondly, does anyone in the world measure up to them...
  11. Deborah_

    For Father's Day

    The Fatherhood of God Luke 15:11-24 “God is love” (I John 4:8) is a great ‘soundbite’, one familiar to most Christians. But what does it actually mean? The young man in this parable wants his inheritance immediately so that he can ‘do his own thing’. But in that culture, the implication of...
  12. Deborah_

    Our spiritual journey

    Redemption (Exodus 12) This is where the journey begins: in Egypt. Israel is enslaved (and has been for generations). They are completely unable to save themselves; God has to send Moses to force Pharaoh to let them go. The preceding few months have seen a trial of strength - not between...
  13. Deborah_

    Watching the Olympics

    (1) Strict training I Corinthians 9:24-27 It all looks so easy… but a sporting career demands enormous commitment and dedication over many years. Athletes don’t just spend many hours exercising and training, but they also have to be careful about their diet and general health. And how easy it...
  14. Deborah_

    Doubt

    “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for” (Hebrews 11:1). But how sure does ‘sure’ have to be? 50% sure? 90%? Will only 100% certainty be sufficient? Jesus tells us that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. Actions are the evidence/proof of faith - but it isn't necessary...
  15. Deborah_

    The gifts of the Spirit: some principles

    I Corinthians 12:1-11 “Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed…” (I Corinthians 12:1) The church at Corinth was richly endowed with spiritual gifts (I Corinthians 1:7) - but were woefully ignorant of their true purpose. They were like...
  16. Deborah_

    December 25th

    Why do we celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25th? Actually, not all Christians do; the Eastern Orthodox churches, following a different calendar, will have their Christmas on January 7th. But it’s a good question. After all, we aren’t even certain of the exact year of Jesus’ birth, let...
  17. Deborah_

    Homelessness

    Luke 9:57,58 “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (verse 58) Jesus lacked even the most basic of human possessions – somewhere to call home (John 1:10,11). He, the Creator of all things, had made Himself dependent upon the generosity of human...
  18. Deborah_

    Dealing with uncertainty

    Most people find uncertainty uncomfortable. We prefer to be sure of things, if at all possible. This is very obvious in a medical setting: it is common for people to feel relieved when given a serious diagnosis (such as cancer or HIV infection) – simply because they find it easier to cope with...
  19. Deborah_

    Christians and culture

    How much cultural engagement is appropriate for Christians? The answer to this question depends to some extent on the culture (both inside and outside the Church). A century ago, many churches in the West frowned upon activities that today would be considered pretty innocuous (at least in the...
  20. Deborah_

    Becoming a Christian

    Acts 26:17,18 Here we have a concise summary of Paul’s mission, straight from the mouth of Jesus: “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are...