Dear Friends
This morning's prayers started with the words of Psalm 121, including the following verses:
He will not suffer your foot to stumble; ︎
he who watches over you will not sleep.
Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel ︎
shall neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121 v3-4)
Whilst it might appear to be a slightly irreverent way of viewing God as one who might have the propensity to fall asleep on the job, in this Psalm of Ascents: claiming the protection of God, I personally find it highly reassuring.
Today the church remembers the life of John of the Cross, a poet and teacher of the faith, who was not afraid to challenge the religious authorities of the day, even if this would lead to his own persecution and imprisonment. It was when experiencing one of these darker times, he famously writes of the experience as one of the ‘dark nights of the soul’ as he has no-one but God to fall back on. I find his personal experience an encouragement when I too in the middle of the night, find it hard to sleep, stressing over whatever concern it is that is keeping me awake.
Rejoice then, that we have a God who is there for us, whatever (and more importantly whenever) our greatest need!
I look forward to seeing many of you at our annual Community Carol Service, this coming Sunday @6pm; a further opportunity to rejoice, and catch up with one another.
Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith.
Simon
This morning's prayers started with the words of Psalm 121, including the following verses:
He will not suffer your foot to stumble; ︎
he who watches over you will not sleep.
Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel ︎
shall neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121 v3-4)
Whilst it might appear to be a slightly irreverent way of viewing God as one who might have the propensity to fall asleep on the job, in this Psalm of Ascents: claiming the protection of God, I personally find it highly reassuring.
Today the church remembers the life of John of the Cross, a poet and teacher of the faith, who was not afraid to challenge the religious authorities of the day, even if this would lead to his own persecution and imprisonment. It was when experiencing one of these darker times, he famously writes of the experience as one of the ‘dark nights of the soul’ as he has no-one but God to fall back on. I find his personal experience an encouragement when I too in the middle of the night, find it hard to sleep, stressing over whatever concern it is that is keeping me awake.
Rejoice then, that we have a God who is there for us, whatever (and more importantly whenever) our greatest need!
I look forward to seeing many of you at our annual Community Carol Service, this coming Sunday @6pm; a further opportunity to rejoice, and catch up with one another.
Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith.
Simon
RSS Feed