The book of Ruth is just 4 short chapters long, but it is a beautiful story of tragedy, loyalty, love and fulfilment. Naomi’s husband had died, and then her two married sons also died, leaving Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah as widows. Naomi, now desolate and living in the midst of a famine, learns that food […]
from Rosemary Read, Houses of Prayer network I was struck the other day that at this time of the year you hear so many folks asking each other ‘are you ready for Christmas?’ and we know immediately what they are asking! ie have you bought all your presents, put up your decorations and got all […]
From Ian Toone Image: The Annunciation, by El Greco (completed 1575) Luke 1:38 – Mary said, “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be unto me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. Do you ever want to ask a question which you feel you’re not supposed to ask? One such question might be […]
from Matt Hyde It’s not proving to be an easy Advent this year. I don’t know if it’s a stressful year finally catching up with me, or if I’m burned out and seeing the mask slip, or if it’s just a temporary chemical imbalance, but I’m tired and unfocused, doubting myself and condemning myself and […]
Posted on December 3, 2022 by williamrporter I was journalling in the house of prayer on Friday. I had just been reading a prayer pamphlet for the day. They mention that this is the time when Christians looking forward to the great hope of the second coming of Jesus – the Parousia. Yet their subsequent prayer points had […]
from Bill Sayer In Jeremiah 32 – 33, we read that Jerusalem was facing imminent invasion by the Babylonians who would ultimately lead many into exile. Siege ramps had been deployed around the city, and Jeremiah was under arrest in the courtyard of the guard (33:1). Jeremiah, and likely many others, were saying that the […]
Rodney Shottter Jun 8 Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4 What a roller-coaster of emotions the disciples had experienced over the the days before and after the Crucifixion. They had undergone all the emotions of bereavement, interwoven with fear, and then Jesus appeared among them in the upper room – suddenly they are filled with hope! But […]
from Bill Sayer Have you ever prayed, and not seen the results of your prayers? Perhaps even the opposite has occurred: a loved one dies; a job vacancy is given to someone else; family problems leading to divorce…….. What should we do in such situations? Paul says, Let us not become weary in doing good, for […]
(Exodus 17:1-7; John 4:5-42) from Guest Blogger Rodney Shotter Have you ever been thirsty – I mean really thirsty! I was once on a project in Africa where I was losing over 4 litres a day in fluid. I ran out of water and we still had a couple of hours to go through the […]
from Ian Toone Psalm 57:1 – “In the shadow of Your wings I will find refuge until the raging storms pass by.” James 4:8 – “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” Imagine a house full of Christians, divided up in three different rooms. Outside rages a powerful storm which rattles […]
