Monday 31st March~ Freedom from sin

Hebrews 9.1–14

Freedom from sin

The Most Holy Place was barred to all but the High Priest who could only enter once a year and the ritual sacrifices and shedding of blood could cleanse sin, but could not cleanse the conscience, barring worshippers from experiencing full freedom.

In verses 11-14, we see the contrast offered by the sacrifice of Jesus, not a man made sacrifice, or one which cleanses us externally, but one which ‘cleanses us from all that leads to death, so that we may serve the living God.’

Sometimes we can feel trapped by sin. This passage reminds us of the direct access we have to God’s presence by the blood of Jesus. When Jesus died, the temple curtain tore in two, symbolising the divide between man and God being destroyed. Through Jesus’ perfect sacrifice we can enter his presence and know freedom from our sin and restored relationship with Him. 

Jessica Miller

Sunday 30th March, Mothering Sunday~ A time of compassion

2 Corinthians 1:3-7

A time of compassion

Reading today’s passage, I am reminded that Lent is also a time of compassion.

Maybe you too have loved ones who are terminally ill or fighting a debilitating physical or mental

disease.

It is hard to see people suffer and sometimes painful to not know how to comfort them. This passage encourages us to be Christ to those who need us in whatever situation they are facing.

Let us make time and be open and willing to comfort one another during this time of Lent, drawing from God's strength and care for us and trusting in the Holy Spirit.

2 Korinthiers 1:3-7

2 Korinthiërs 1.4

“...en ons in al onze ellende moed geeft, zodat wij door de troost die wijzelf van God ontvangen, anderen in al hun ellende moed kunnen geven. “

Jikke Drummond Smith

Saturday 29th March Waiting: a spiritual discipline?

Psalm 130- Psaumes 130 - Psalmen 130

Waiting: a spiritual discipline?

Consider that this psalm offers the experience of waiting as something holy.

Deze psalm reikt de ervaring van het wachten aan als iets heiligs.

Ce psaume nous offre l'expérience de l'attente comme une chose sacré.

This is an active waiting – alert, watchful and with all the senses engaged. A whole being - body, mind and spirit desperate to connect with the divine Other. We wait in hope, knowing that the Other will come but without knowing what the full outcome of the encounter will be. Perhaps it is enough for now to know that it will be with love, forgiveness and acceptance.

In the best tradition of spiritual disciplines let us today embrace this divine gift of waiting with hopeful expectation, and to meet those who wait for us as we hope to be met.

Ruth Faber

Friday 28th March In God’s time

Exodus 1.1–14

In God’s time

Our faith puts us on the side of the One who created and sustains the universe and yet we are not safe. We are in His keeping but not bulletproof.  Or, as in the case of the Israelites - God's chosen people - in poverty and slavery, seemingly only at the mercy of Pharaoh.

Of course, the challenges we face now are less visible.  The chains metaphorical rather than physical, the lash society's scorn; our openness to ridicule and rejection.  We fear appearing weak despite being assured that His power is made perfect in our weakness: our pride an obstacle to the work of the Spirit in our lives.  This Lent, as we remember the suffering of the Israelites we must take heart from the glory of their deliverance.  For the Lord’s timing is not like ours; His plans are perfect, His ways just and His Spirit ever with us.

Njoki Mahiaini

Thursday 27th March Afraid

Psalm 56 (see http://www.biblestudytools.com/gnt/psalms/56.html)

Psaumes 56

Afraid

My daughter has recently started nursery school and was afraid of the playground; it was "too noisy"! A friend has lent us a toddler's bible and there's a prayer that says "God promises to never leave me. Even when I am by myself God is always near. At home or school or in the playground, God is my closest friend". She seemed to be really struck by this idea that God is always there, even when we, her parents, aren't.

I was struck by Heather Roy's sermon in February about 'Worry', that one of the ways to deal with our worries after offering them to God in prayer is to give thanks to him for the blessings we have received from him. I certainly have a bad habit of losing perspective and allowing the things that worry me to take over.

So the above verses really encapsulate these thoughts for me: that when we are afraid or worried, we can know we are walking with God and that we can remember those things that he has blessed us with, and know that he will be with us in our difficulties.

********************************************************************

Ma fille a récemment commencé l’école maternelle, et elle avait très peur de la plaine de jeux, elle disait qu'il y avait « trop de bruit »! Une amie nous a prêté une bible pour les tous petits ou il y une prière qui dit « Dieu a promis qu'il ne me quittera jamais. Même quand je suis tout seul il est toujours prêt de moi. A la maison ou à l'école ou dans la plaine de jeux, Dieu est mon meilleur ami ». Elle aimait bien l'idée que Dieu est toujours là, même si nous, ses parents, ne sont pas là.

J'ai trouvé très utiles les idées de Heather Roy quand elle nous a parlé en février de 'l'Angoisse'. Elle proposait qu’après d'en parler de nos angoisses à Dieu, il fallait lui remercier pour toutes les bonnes choses qu'il nous a données. Moi j'ai souvent l'habitude de trop penser aux choses qui me stressent et de perdre un peu la perspective.

Voila pourquoi les versets en dessus me semblent très pertinents: quand nous avons peur ou nous sommes stressés, nous pouvons être surs que Dieu est avec nous, et qu'il nous accompagne dans nos difficultés, et nous pouvons nous rappeler de sa bonté.

Bethan Sollars

Wednesday 26th March La Carême - une saison de pénitence

 Psalm 36/Psaume 36

La Carême - une saison de pénitence

Lent is a time of penitence; but penitence isn’t about beating ourselves up about how dreadful we are.   It’s about having a realistic grasp of our sinfulness, guided by the Spirit of God and the Scriptures which is balanced by a realistic grasp of the amazing grace of God.  

As Fanny Crosby wrote in one of her best known hymns: “The vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.”

Psalm 36 begins in the depths of the spiritual life of the sinner; where God is not acknowledged and the ‘deceit and corruption of evil’ crowds in.   But just when we think things cannot get any worse, David cries out that the Lord’s steadfast love never ends and declares “with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.”

So today let’s be real about our need before God and just as real about his amazing grace which cleanses us from all sin.

**************************************************************

La Carême est une saison de pénitence.

Le Psaume 36 nous montre une manière de pénitence équilibrée et il ne nous permet pas d’imaginer que « se repentir » veut dire « se tourmenter »

Ce psaume est vraiment réaliste.  David admet qu’il est pécheur et qu’il se dupe s’il pense autrement.    Mais, il déclare aussi, avec la joie que la bonté de l’Eternel s’élève jusqu’au ciel et que sa fidélité atteint les nuages.

« Car c’est auprès de toi qu’est la source de la vie, et c’est par ta lumière que nous voyons la lumière. »

Aujourd’hui nous pouvons être réalistes.   Nos péchés nous accusent mais par sa grâce il nous purifie de tous nos péchés.

John Wilkinson 

Tuesday 25th March Powerful prayer

Psalm 6

Sometimes or even often prayer may not feel spirit-filled, inspired. Prayer can be difficult and routine-feeling, with no sense if God is listening or not. If he is testing me or not. When life falls apart or the path forward is confusing - in health, relationships, job, self-confidence - it seems particularly unfair when not even prayer can bring peace and direction.

If you have days or even months like this then you have a lot in common with our psalmist! Life is not always meant to be easy and can become particularly difficult, with no safe haven in sight.

If you are facing trouble in your life or know someone else who is suffering, pray to find peace and relief like the psalmist:

8 Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping. 9 The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer. 10 All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace.

Petra Zollner

Monday 24th March

John 7.37–52

Life-giving water

Lent is a time when we re-examine our understanding of Jesus and his identity, and retrace his path to the cross.   We do this with the benefit of hindsight – we know the end of the story, and the Holy Spirit is no longer just a promise but a reality.  The people around Jesus didn’t have this advantage.  They were understandably bewildered, disturbed and divided by his words and claims.

We may not have the real-life experience of the crowds listening to Jesus making his mysterious proclamations at an important and busy Jewish festival.  The way he spoke made such an impression on the temple guards that they failed to carry through their mission to arrest him.  But we have been told and shown the fulfilment of Jesus’ words.  Therefore when we are asked to take sides, to name Jesus as God’s son and our saviour, we know what is right.  And at Easter, when we celebrate Jesus’ completion of his purpose, we can rejoice that his offer of life giving water remains open to us.

“If you are thirsty, come to me and drink!” 

Mags Bird

Sunday 23rd March, Third Sunday in Lent

John 4.5-42

Johannes 4.5-42

“The woman comes seeking well water and carries divine living water with her back to the village. But before she leaves the well, the disciples return bringing human food from the village, only to discover that Jesus has been renewed by divine food that they as yet do not adequately understand. It is the sustaining nourishment received when one is engaged in fulfilling the will of God and accomplishing his task. Two kinds of drink and two kinds of food are woven into the story for the reader to note and ponder.

Jesus has been sowing, and the harvest is already visible on the road from the village”

(Kenneth E. Bailey, JESUS THROUGH MIDDLE EASTERN EYES, SPCK London, 2008, p. 213).

”De vrouw liet haar waterkruik staan - alsof zij het doel van haar gang naar de bron was vergeten - en spoedde zich naar de stad. Zo gaf zij Jezus het water waar hij om gevraagd had. Een voordelige ruil: een bron van levend water is in haar gaan stromen, zij heeft haar levendorst gelest en wil nu op haar beurt anderen laven: ‘Komt, ziet, een mens die mijn hele leven heeft doorgelicht. Zou hij niet de Christus zijn?’”.

(Nico ter Linden, HET VERHAAL GAAT... DEEL 6 / DE VERHALEN VAN LUCAS EN JOHANNES, Uitgeverij Balans 2003, pp. 213-214).

Stefano Lo Presti 

Saturday 22nd March

Hebrews 4.1-13

Sabbath-rest

Christ’s peace we have now, but His rest is promised for the future.  The rest described here, as akin to God’s rest after creation, is not an immature, passive, giving up.  It is something we work towards, even strive for.  We cannot deserve this rest, nor achieve it by ourselves; it is God’s gift to us.  But we can do our best to hear His voice, and not to harden our hearts (v7), so that we may one day enter His rest.

Ann Milton

Friday 21st March

Psalm 6 / Psaumes 6

Our guide

I always think Lent is an appropriate moment to read Psalms. I found Psalm 6 especially touching and profound. When one suffers or sees someone suffering, it is a great comfort to know God is always near us in our hearts and minds to guide our actions. It is often in the most difficult moments that one finds the sudden solutions and right words to say. Let us this Lent find time to pause and reflect on our lives as we, once again, contemplate the miracle of the Passion of Christ.

J’ai toujours pensé que l’Avent était une période propice à la lecture de Psaumes. J’ai trouvé que le Psaume 6 était particulièrement touchant et profond. Quand on souffre, ou que l’on voit quelqu’un souffrir, il est toujours d’un grand réconfort de savoir que Dieu est à nos côtés dans nos cœurs et esprits, pour nous guider dans nos actions. C’est souvent dans les moments les plus difficiles que l’on trouve les soudaines solutions et paroles à prononcer. Puissions-nous pendent l’Avent trouver le temps de se poser, et de réfléchir à nos vies tout en contemplant, cette année encore, la Passion du Christ.

Julian Boutique

Thursday 20th March

Hebrews 3.1–6

The Family of God

No one is quite sure who wrote this letter, though it is clearly addressed to the Palestinian Jews following Jesus; not the gentiles nor Jews of the Diaspora. It has even been suggested that it may have been written by a woman Priscilla, whose authorship was hidden as male dominance was reinforced. It was probably written, in Greek about 40 years after the death of Christ.

This short passage puts the divinity of Christ in historical context, going back to Moses as a prophet, faithful to God and his community, as would have been known to the Jews. But it places Jesus as head of the line founded by God, and states that, we if without fear and with good hope can be part of this household, the family of God.

Nick Fern

Wednesday 19th March

Genesis 44.18–end

God really cares

How often do we see someone in trouble, and wish we could help….!  Indeed, we sometimes DO help….But, how often do we not also think that their 'trouble' was at least partly of their own making….and we want to help anyway….but maybe just a little bit less?

But when it is someone we Really care for, Really know well, that wish to do something to make things better grows much stronger, however foolish or ill-advised our loved-one seems to be. However, when that loved one is Totally innocent - the victim of some chance misfortune - that is when we Really want to  pull out all the stops on their behalf …. We become  just as desperate  as Jacob, pleading for his beloved  Benjamin!

How very human!   

So, when we are foolish, ill-advised, careless, thoughtless, unkind, even wicked ( ! ) , how can we expect anyone to care enough for us to come to our rescue in time of need …

Thank God that God did, and still does today!

Pam Clements

Tuesday 18th March

John 6.52–59

Let us go back in time and imagine what is happening. Capernaum is a small fishing town on the shores of the Sea of Galilee; it has a population of 1500. We are very close to the home town of Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John and Mathew.

It is the Sabbath, a day of meditation, of prayer, of renewal and reconnecting with our maker, creator of all that is, seen and unseen.

The Jewish Christian movement although quite young, has grown. The synagogue is packed and Jesus is preaching.

Suddenly he says “I am the bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”, but some people know him, they know he is the son of “Joseph” the carpenter.

Then he goes on and finishes them all of with ““Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you”

Imagine the grumbling, the tumult, and the disapproval of people whose dietary and culinary rules forbad and still forbid the eating or drinking of blood.

Why is Jesus saying this? Should we all become blood thirsty cannibals or vampires?  What does he mean and why does he deliberately scuttle his following.

I believe that Jesus is no longer satisfied with a bunch of lukewarm followers. He wants true believers, followers who assimilate totally his teaching and decides then and there to concentrate his efforts on the Twelve,

The ones he skilfully chose. He knows what lies ahead and wants to prepare them to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Only then will his movement stand the test of time.

Peter Gysen

Monday 17th March

Psalm 32/Psalmen 32

Shoulders 

Some shoulders are small

Some shoulders are broad

Some shoulders are balanced

Some shoulders are bent

The weight of the burden

That depresses them all

May at times be proportionate

And at other times crush

Vast are the shoulders

Of the One who is Three

An outstretched ocean of mercy

rippled with forgiveness

Never unmoved, always astir

Its waters open like arms

With my last strength I hurl unto Him

The burden that once weighed me

down

Slowly

it drifts

out of sight

I live

Schouders

Kleine schouders

Brede schouders

Evenwichtige schouders

Gebogen schouders

Het gewicht van de last

Die hen allen teneerdrukt

Staat gelijk aan hun kracht

Of verplettert hen genadeloos

Immens zijn de schouders

Van Hem die drievuldig is

Een uitgestrekte zee van genade

Gerimpeld door vergeving

Nooit stille wateren, altijd in beweging

Haar wateren openen zich wijd

Met mijn laatste kracht werp ik op Hem

De last die mij gebukt deed

gaan

Langzaam

drijft het

uit het zicht

Ik leef

Sara Mäkipää

Sunday 16th March, Second Sunday in Lent

Genesis 12.1-4a 

I will follow You 

Get out of my country? But didn’t You put me there? Wouldn’t I be a traitor if I forsook my own nation?
Go away from my family? But aren’t they the nursery You grew me in? Didn’t You teach me everything I know through them? Wouldn’t I be neglecting the very roots You appointed for society if I forsook my own relatives?
Oh, but My dear child, your concerns are very real and I am so glad You trust in Me enough to bring them to Me. But You have nothing to fear. I am not calling you t forsake your nation, still less your relatives. I am moving you on, for a special purpose which your faith has discerned through the clouds of dreams and doubts. And your hope is not here in this life. It is in a place where one day you will see your relatives and compatriots again – and what’s more, that will be in a heavenly kingdom where there will be no more family quarrels, no more national strife, no more sin, no more sorrow, no more death, but only love, joy, peace, and all the good things they taught you to long for and your faith enabled you to strive for.
And so “by faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8).
*************************************************************** « C'est par la foi qu'Abraham, lors de sa vocation, obéit et partit pour un lieu qu'il devait recevoir en héritage, et qu'il partit sans savoir où il allait. » (Hébreux 11:8).
*************************************************************** “Abraham vertrouwde op God. Toen God hem zei dat hij zijn vaderland moest verlaten en naar een land moest gaan dat God hem zou geven, gehoorzaamde hij. Maar hij wist niet eens waar hij naar toeging.” (Hebreeën 11:8).
James Pitts

Saturday 15th March

Psalm 4

Simplify 

The Psalmist concludes: “You have filled my heart with greater joy than when grain and new wine abound. I will …. sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”  Material abundance is not the key to wellbeing; a heart and mind focused on God always rests content. The monks who told a newcomer “don’t hesitate to tell us if you need anything, and we’ll be delighted to show you how to do without it” had a point; fasting certainly has its place now and again, but often the proper riposte to that old saw of  “giving up something for Lent” is that you could dispense with it anyway. Lent is the perfect opportunity to review our whole lifestyle and discern how  -  through living more frugally, travelling lighter, and shedding needless worries  -  we can sharpen our spiritual antennae. To that end let’s heed Jesus’s invitation to “come aside and rest awhile” (Mark 6:31)

Psaumes 4

La saison du Carême est l’occasion de réexaminer soigneusement notre mode de vie et certains « besoins » soi- disant; donc il vaut bien écouter le parole de Jésus: Venez avec moi dans un endroit isolé et vous prendrez un peu de repos (Marc 6:31).


Simon Robbins

Friday 14th March

Genesis 42.29–end  

Genèse 42.29-38

Tu aimeras le Seigneur de tout ton cœur et ton prochain comme toi-même !
Les frères de Joseph ne l’avaient jamais aimé  depuis la maison de leur père. Tell que nous le lisons dans la Genèse 42 .29-end les frères de Joseph ne lui jamais manifesté cette amour. Ils l’ont vendu, et devant lui en Égypte, ils  juraient qu’ils n’étaient pas espions. Ils se prenaient pour des gens honnêtes, en ignorant que Joseph les connaît très bien.
Un jour nous aurons à rendre  des comptes devant notre Dieu. Il nous connait et il suit nos pas tous les jours. Si nous ne suivons pas son commandement qui est l’amour, au dernier jugement de Dieu nous ne serrons pas les bienvenus chez lui  Mathieu 25.41 «  Retirez loin de moi, vous que Dieu a maudits ….. »
Nous, nous aurons difficile à nous expliquer, et le courant à quelques petits souvenirs : tous les dimanches, nous étions à l’Église, nous appartenions à la chorale, nous donnions les offrandes etc….
Dieu nous a rassemblés dans une Église étant des nationalités différentes, IL ne nous demande pas d’être les mêmes mais  de vivre dans l’amour les uns les autres. Surement, ils ne sont pas facile d’aimer, car selon nos désirs nous sommes souvent attirés par les intérêts ; mais nous sommes appelé à observer les commandements de Dieu, celui de nous  aimer les uns les autres
Il s’agit bien de l’amour du prochain, lequel est très important pour un bon témoignage de celui qui croit. Au lieu de suivre les biens du monde (travail, argent) qui nous empêchent d’approcher les autres et les aimer, il nous est demandé nous entraider car sans amour, la vie est nulle.
Nous consacrons nos vies sur les choses de ce monde, (travail, argent, payer les facture,) etc.…L’intelligence est d’appartenir à Dieu, source d’amour pour tous nos frères et sœurs.
Dieu ne nous  demanderas pas comment nous avons géré nos maison, notre argent, nos diplôme, notre coupe, il nous demandera plutôt ce que nous a fait et combien de temps nous avons consacrés pour aimer et aider nos frères et sœurs. Prions pour l’esprit de sacrifice en faveur des autres, prenons notre temps  pour nos amies. Cherchons toujours toutes les occasions, pour répondre à ce qui nous appellent ou ceux qui ont besoin de nous. La meilleure chose et la plus importante et   « d’aimer »
 Dieu et son prochain le premier des dix commandements. Le bon moment d’aimer’ est aujourd’hui, c’est maintenant !
2 Jean 1.6 « Et voici en quoi consiste l’amour, c’est que nous vivions  selon les commandements de Dieu. Et ces commandement, comme vous l’avez entendu dès le commencement, n’a pas d’autre but que de vous amener à vivre dans l’amour. » Frieda Mukanyangezi

Thursday 13th March

John 6.1–15 

Jesus’ call 

The people pursue Jesus for what he can do for them:  they want him to give them  food, they want him to make them better, they want him to lead them by the hand.  Jesus does not neglect to provide for their physical needs.  He asks Philip how the crowd can be fed. Philip's immediate reaction is to think of the financial cost involved.  Then Andrew looks at what they have to hand...but fails to grasp the possibilities.
Jesus says get organized, see what you already have,  give thanks to the Father, have faith, go ahead , share it, and see what God will do!  And don't waste any!  Be responsible with God's
provision.

 Jesus also perceives that the crowd even want him as king, want to coerce him into complying.  They are so earth-bound.  And so are we;  so slow to look beyond, deeper than our immediate material needs and desires.  Jesus calls us to greater things.
“Lord, by your grace and the help of your Holy Spirit, help us to take the time to be with you, to share something of your perspective on life;  on the life which you gave up in order to rise to an infinitely greater life with our heavenly Father forever.  Amen.”

Susie Martin

Wednesday 12th March

John 5.30–end

Believe! to hear his Word 

To hear the Father's voice, to "see His form" and for His word to abide in us, we must 'believe the one whom he has sent', verse 38 tells us.

Very well - we Christians believe, do we not? Fundamentally, mostly, sometimes, occasionally? Do we always deem Him to be true? (v31) In this passage, Jesus describes two obstacles to belief.

First, 'How can you believe when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God' (v44). Do we care for God's good opinion of us? Do we have the desire to be first in the Kingdom of God, to be exalted as His 'good and faithful servant' - not for competition over others, but in restless striving for His glory? If we seek this rather than the glory of one another, we might believe.
Second, are we reading and regarding the scriptures? 'Scriptures bear witness about me... if you do not believe his [Moses'] writings, how will you believe my words?' (v47). Are we seeking to comprehend God's plan, for Jesus, from within the Old Testament, also? If we believe Moses, we might better believe Jesus. Yet in this pursuit of knowledge and understanding, are we also coming directly to Him with our hearts, needy for life, like children? (re-read v39-40).

We all struggle with belief, and not always by the uprooting action of doubt, but sometimes the constriction of thorns - the worries of the world (Matthew 13). If we can learn to long for his Glory, to not 'refuse to come to him' and to seek greater understanding of the prophetic scriptures, we WILL better 'believe the one whom he has sent', and so: hear his voice, see his form and have his word abide in us. (v37-38)  

Jonathan de Leyser

Tuesday 11th March

Psalm 46 /Psaume 46 

‘BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD’ – Psalm 46 v 10

This is a very well known and much treasured Scripture verse, made even more popular by its transformation into a devotional chorus. But how many of us remember the rest of this Psalm which provides its context?  If you have an image of retreat to a quiet place, inspired by the beauty of creation or uplifting worship, think again. The rest of the Psalm is riddled with a distinct lack of stillness – natural disasters like earthquake, landslide and tempest (vv1-3) and man-made troubles ‘nations in uproar’ and ‘kingdoms falling’ (v6) are its context (as I write this the dramatic events in Maidan Square in Kiev are high in my thoughts and prayers). It is not an escape from the world which is described here, but a defiant determination to let God’s greatness and goodness permeate our thoughts even whilst we are in the midst of chaos. In Lent we do need to set aside time to be with God in prayer and stillness, but we must not forget that we are refreshed in order to serve Him as Salt and Light by taking with us the peace of His presence into a world of troubles.

« Arrêtez, et sachez que je suis Dieu » - Psaume 46 v 10

Il s'agit d'un verset de l'Écriture très bien connu et bien précieuse, rendu encore plus populaire par sa transformation en un refrain de dévotion. Mais combien d'entre nous se souviennent le reste de ce Psaume qui fournit son contexte ? Si vous avez une image de la retraite dans un endroit tranquille, inspiré par la beauté de la création ou de culte édifiante, détrompez-vous. Le reste du Psaume est truffé d'un manque de calme - catastrophes naturelles comme les tremblements de terre, glissements de terrain et la tempête (vv1 - 3) et troubles fait par l’homme comme « de nations en tumulte » et « royaumes bouleversé » (v6) sont son contexte (quand j'écris ce les événements dramatiques de Maidan Square à Kiev sont élevés dans mes pensées et mes prières). Ce n'est pas une évasion du monde qui est décrit ici, mais une détermination défi de laisser la grandeur et la bonté de Dieu imprègnent nos pensées même alors que nous sommes au milieu du chaos. Pendant le Carême, nous avons bien besoin de mettre de côté le temps d'être avec Dieu dans la prière et le silence, mais nous ne devons pas oublier que nous sommes rafraîchis afin de Lui servir comme Sel et Lumière en prenant avec nous la paix de Sa présence dans un monde de troubles.

David Fieldsend

Monday 10th March

Psalm 10

Constant care 

If you are hurting, what you’re going through may be very difficult to bear…it might feel like you are all alone in this… to make it worse those around you who do not share your faith seem to have it so…..so…easy and regardless of their lack of spiritual connection, seem to prosper.  This too is difficult to bear.

Yet we can count on God’s love, care and special grace.  He does see and He does hear you.  He does this through all those who come alongside you, and through those who speak on your behalf and those who cry with you.  And even when or if no human being attends you, He does.  Even now, at this minute, He is with you …regardless of whether you feel Him or hear Him or not.  He cares.  He hears you.  He sees you. 

Rose Omondi

Sunday 9th March, First Sunday in Lent

Character or achievement?

Matthew 4.1-11


Again the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. “All this I will give to you”, he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
- Matthew, Chapter 4, verses 8-9

One temptation we face is believing that what we achieve decides our identity. Whatever our role, the world says to us, our approval and our value depend on our results.
What is it that changes healthy motivation to excel into a toxic desperation to achieve? What is it that changes a human being who is fully alive into a person driven to succeed? It happens when we begin to believe the lie that our identity is based on our performance.
When we believe our self-worth is based on results, we cannot live in freedom because we believe that we cannot fail and still be accepted. The voice says, “you are the weakest link, goodbye.”
The truth is that our significance is found in who we are as God’s children. In scripture, excellence is more about character than achievement. When we allow ourselves to believe in a false identity based on performance, we lose the peace and freedom of our identity in Christ. Our God is the God of grace who loves those who fail as much as those who succeed. We can all seek excellence, both in competition and in collaboration, in the freedom of God’s grace and in the motive of glorifying him.
Richard Simpson

Saturday 8 th March

Psalm 73

The Bible often asserts that God rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked. What happens, however, when we see the wicked prosper? We can often see the reality of the righteous suffer with apparent injustices while the unrighteous seem to get away with anything. Financial empires are often built on the backs of the poor and hungry. Christians are still martyred for their faith each year, while the rest of the world watches on the sidelines. Where is God’s protection in these wounds?

The psalmist here confesses God’s goodness to the pure in heart.Nevertheless, his experience is to the contrary when he sees the prosprity of the wicked who overflow with abundance and speak against the heavens. Those who follow God's will however suffer under plagues. This contradiction is only resolved when the psalmist goes into God’s sanctuary to understand the end of the wicked.

There he learns of divine judgment to come and the foolishness of questioning God’s will. Glory will be to God alone! To trust in God is ultimate security. History finds it’s meaning not within its own flow but “beyond history,” at the throne of God. In light of this end, the psalmist can now live in peace. And so can we.

Arttu Mäkipää

Friday 7th March

Psalm 3
Psaume 3 

In this short psalm we see David fleeing his son Absalom and his subjects. David could be seen

to be in a very dark place, where his enemies did not believe he could be saved. David chooses

to trust in the Lord day and night. Can we say the same about ourselves?

David places himself totally under the Lord's divine protection, praying and singing psalms.

David did not become agitated in this situation but remained calm, fully trusting in the Lord.

Are we able to seek God’s protection, and trust in Him in all circumstances when fear,

mourning, grief, separation, illness, threat of redundancy, rejection or injustice are knocking at

our door?

I am not by nature a calm person and can quite easily see doom and gloom in many situations.

This naturally acts as a blockage to letting God into my life. I am learning to trust more in the

Lord and to come calmly to Him with all situations that I face. This is work in progress, but I can

say that I have already received many blessings through letting go and placing my trust in the

Lord.

Our enemies may be a lot less visible than David’s, but whatever situation we are in today, let’s

take his example by coming quietly to the Lord in prayer so that like David, in the morning, we

may be able to rejoice and give thanks to God for His continued protection and love.

Dans ce petit psaume nous voyons David fuir son fils Absalom et ses sujets. On pourrait penser

que David est dans une impasse, là où ses ennemis le croyaient condamné. David choisit de

faire confiance au Seigneur jour et nuit. Pouvons-nous en dire autant ?

David demande la protection divine du Seigneur, prie et chante des psaumes. David ne se met

pas dans tous ses états mais reste calme et confiant en son Dieu. Pouvons-nous en dire autant

de nous-mêmes lorsque la peur, le deuil, le chagrin, la séparation, la maladie, la menace de

licenciement, le rejet ou l’injustice frappent à notre porte ?

Je ne suis pas une personne naturellement calme. Je peux facilement voir le pire dans de

nombreuses circonstances. Cela agit bien sûr comme une barrière, ne laissant aucune place

pour le Seigneur. J’apprends à faire d’avantage confiance au Seigneur et à venir vers Lui

calmement en toutes circonstances. Ceci est bien sûr un travail en cours mais j’ai déjà reçu de

nombreuses bénédictions en lâchant prise et en faisant plus confiance au Seigneur.

Nos ennemis sont certainement moins visibles que ceux de David, mais quelle que soit la

situation dans laquelle nous nous trouvons, prenons exemple sur David , en venant

tranquillement vers le Seigneur en prière , afin de pouvoir le matin ,comme David , se réjouir et

rendre grâce à Dieu pour sa protection divine et son amour.

Hilary Stone

Thursday 6th March ~~ Loss Becomes gain ~~

Genesis 39 


Once more, Joseph is stripped of his clothes. The first time, betrayed by his

own brothers, he had lost his coat of many colours, his freedom and, most

painfully, his family.

Now Potiphar's wife grabs his garment and he flees without it. As when the

disciple in Mark 14:51-52 flees naked after those who came to arrest Jesus

grabbed the sheet he was wearing, all seems lost. Joseph will go to prison.

Jesus will be led to death on the cross, naked, and soldiers will throw lots for

his tunic.

But even without his bright coat, Joseph keeps shining, because God is with

him. Eventually, he will be reconciled with his family, and it will be very

moving.

Being stripped of our possessions/protections/affections is painful. But a gain

may follow much greater than the loss. Joseph loses his family to find it again

in reconciliation and love. In Lent, we prepare ourselves to lose Jesus in order

to find Christ.

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Le dépouillement comme prélude à l'amour de Dieu.

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Door de beroving naar Gods liefde.

Tommaso Besozzi

Meditation for Ash Wednesday

Nous vous invitons à observer un carême sainte

Joel 2.1-2,12-17; 2 Corinthians 5.20b - 6.10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Lent has for centuries been a time of spiritual discipline. In this season we emphasise

self-examination, self-denial, almsgiving, study and preparation for Easter. Many of

us find Lent to be a period of real spiritual blessing – maybe the time in the year when

we draw closest to God.

Lent begins today with Ash Wednesday. People come to church to have ash marked

on their foreheads as a sign of humility and mortality. And if you want to benefit fully

from Lent this year, that’s a very good way to start.

The pressures of our secular society easily start to erode our relationship with

God. Today’s readings give us plenty of resources to address that with repentance,

contrition and the desire for a new start. I invite us all to observe a holy Lent. And

I hope that this booklet will be a valuable resource to each of us in our spiritual life

over the coming weeks.

Robert Innes