Pastor Darryl

Luther said that the Psalms were “the Bible in miniature.” In 1527, Luther faced one of the greatest difficulties of his life, the Black Plague, sweeping across Germany and much of Europe. With everything around him in upheaval at that time, Luther found great comfort in the soul-lifting truths of the Psalms. The Psalms express the inner most feelings that we humans experience. One of the two Psalms for today is Psalm 118. Luther wrote this about it:

‘This is my psalm, my chosen psalm. I love the all; I love all the holy
Scripture, which is my consolation and my life. But this psalm is nearest
my heart, and I have a peculiar right to call it mine. It has saved me from
many a pressing danger, from which no emperor, nor kings, nor sages, nor
saints, could have saved me, It is my friend; dearer to me than all the honours and power of the earth.’

We know from the New Testament that Jesus also quoted the Psalms frequently. His final words on the cross are taken from today’s Psalm 31:5. “Into your hands I commit my spirit.” The Psalms are God’s word coming to us as the songs and prayers of God’s people. The commentator JTE Renner, “The Psalms are a response to God’s activity with his people, inspired by the spirit of God himself.” In the times that we are in, I challenge you to read a Psalm a day and know that in these times God is ever present and ever active, right in the midst with his people, with love and grace.

I pray that God will speak his love and peace to you through the Psalms.
Pastor Darryl

Psalm 23

We appear to be entering another phase of troubling times of uncertainty in the world. All we hear from the media is doom and gloom. Nothing but despair. And for some, the question remains, “Where is God in this?”

We have head knowledge that God loves us and that Jesus died for us. We have our emotions that can create fear, anxiety, selfishness or many other emotional responses. So what follows is that we tend to look at worldly things to reassure and protect us, side-lining God and the love and care that He wishes to give us.

Perhaps it is time to revisit Psalm 23 and let it have a word into our ear also. Let it be your prayer in times of trouble and fear. Let it be a reminder of God’s promise to look after you and watch over you, in all situations, even in death.

Prayer: Lord God, let me hear your voice when I find myself a little low. Watch over and guide me in my thoughts and actions. Amen

Pastor Darryl

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Romans 5:1-11

The letter to the Romans is theologically one of the richest of all Paul’s letters. Romans 1:16-17 gives a summary of the letter, ‘For I am not ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written; “The righteous will live by faith.”

Paul then shows what this righteousness is and how God, solely out of grace, justifies a person. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly…..God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (5:6,8) So, as a Christian, you are declared by God, justified by grace alone through faith, through Christ alone.

But that is not the end of the story, for now Paul points to a number of implications as to what this means in the Christian life. This is why Paul begins chapter 5 with “therefore.” Perhaps one of the most startling revelations here is that because of being declared justified by God, we now have the ability to “glory in” our sufferings. We will explore this a little more this Sunday.

Pastor Darryl

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Genesis 12:1-4a

God asked Abram to give up all that he knew in order to engage in a relationship with God, to trust God’s promise that Abram and Sarai would be the forebears of a great people. God told Abram to leave everything that he was familiar with, that offered security and go on a journey that was both physical and spiritual – one that would test Abram’s faith, one with many pitfalls, yet one that would be transformative.

As we journey into this Lenten season, we are on a spiritual journey which offers healing and wholeness, moving from what is comfortable, to what might make us uncomfortable. But it is a journey I believe, that will not only strengthen us, but also help us become the people God is calling us to be. Like Abram, in so many ways we are blessed – that’s a given. But what does it mean to be great? As we take part in this spiritual journey, may we reflect on the question of what it means to be great, while staying close to the cross of Christ.

Pastor Darryl

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This week the church begins the 40 day season of Lent. However, leading up to Lent were Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday.

What is Shrove Tuesday? Its origin dates back well over 1000 years. Shrove Tuesday is the last day of “Shrovetide,” the week preceding the beginning of Lent. The word “shrove” is the past tense of “shrive” which means to give absolution after confession. The word ‘shrovetide’ is the English equivalent for ‘carnival’ which is derived from the Latin words ‘carnen levare’, meaning to take away the flesh.

Shrovetide was the time to cast off things of the flesh and to prepare spiritually for Lent. This spiritual meaning eventually found its way into the physical realm, evolving as a way for Christians to use up food before fasting for Lent, which would otherwise spoil over the Lenten period. In England, pancakes were prepared as a means of depleting their eggs, milk, butter and fat which were part of the Lenten fast. Some areas of the church also abstained from all forms of meat and animal products while others made exceptions for food like fish. As Wednesday marks the beginning of the journey to Easter, and often involves self-reflection and some practice of self denial, the question remains – What will you give up for Lent? If you do choose to give/give up something, Jesus words in his Sermon on the Mount raises a caution: “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others, but by your Father who is in secret; and our Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:17-18)

The truly examined life rests in knowing that you have been given a heart that perceives the rich mercy of a heavenly Father who knows what you need even before you ask.

Pastor Darryl

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