Today we finish our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we have uploaded a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you have found them helpful and that they brought hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below. Previous reflections are available on our website. Read Psalm 150  Listen to Psalm 150 We have reached the end of our pilgrimage through the Psalter. On our travels we have ascended the heights of vast sunlit mountains and descended through the darkness of deep valleys. We have heard of kings in all their majesty and been told of babies being formed in the secret place. From the highest heaven to the depth of the grave, through plagues, wars and attacks by our enemies, through tears of joy and wails of sorrow, we have had one constant travelling companion –  God. We started these reflections during a time of pandemic as we were about to enter a lockdown. At the time of writing, many parts of the country are facing further restrictions and partial lockdowns. The Covid-19 pandemic is still with us. But more importantly, God is still with us and he is for us. It won't be long before we start thinking about Christmas, if we haven't already. The time of year when we remember Emmanuel - God with us. God loved us so much that he became one of us. Sending his son, Jesus, to live with us. He died for us, and rose again, so that all who may believe in him will have eternal life. What else can we do except praise him? Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

We are coming to the end of our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we have uploaded a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you have found them helpful and that they brought hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below. Previous reflections are available on our website. Read Psalm 149  Listen to Psalm 149 This Sunday we are beginning a new series looking at the practice of Lament, where we consider why it is important to remember what we miss. I am struck that at the beginning of Psalm 149 there is both a call for creativity and togetherness. The invitation to sing to God a new song highlights the way that throughout generations people have worshipped God through all different kinds of music and art. I love listening to worship music from other cultures and in other styles (screamo punk worship in particular!). It is a good reminder that people have always worshipped God in different ways. God is unchanging and constant but he has made us a creative people and each generation sings a new song to him. If you are struggling with the practice of worship at present perhaps exploring multicultural expressions of worship might offer new freshness? Lord, help us to sing you a new song with our worship today.

We are coming to the end of our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we have uploaded a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you have found them helpful and that they brought hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below. Previous reflections are available on our website. Read Psalm 148  Listen to Psalm 148 The last five songs of the book of Psalms are about one thing: praising God. Psalm 146 sees an individual praising God… Psalm 147 has the people of God praising the Lord together. In this psalm we see heavenly praise (verses 1-6) and earthly praise (verses 7-12), where the whole of the cosmos and the earth are commanded to praise their creator. We have all been amazed by the beauty and splendour of the photographs from the Voyager mission and the Hubble telescope. They cause us to draw breath as we see in them the hand of God! We also are commanded to praise God (verses 13-14). During the pandemic it lifts our spirit to enjoy ‘creation appreciation’. We do not worship the creation rather we worship its amazing creator God. God is not preoccupied with his own glory that excludes others from it. The opposite is true. His plan is to share his glory with people who turn to him. Note this amazing truth about his people in verse 14, are described as ‘the people close to his heart’. God has given Jesus as a horn/strong one/king. Even more reason to praise and adore him! I can’t wait to go for a walk and let the creation lift my spirit to my wonderful creator God and saviour, who has made himself known to me. O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder, consider all the works thy hand hath made…then sings my soul… how great thou art…

We are coming to the end of our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we have uploaded a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you have found them helpful and that they brought hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below. Previous reflections are available on our website. Read Psalm 147  Listen to Psalm 147 ‘How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!’ Only he is worthy of our praise, but it helps us feel God’s presence and lifts our spirits. We have not been able to sing out when together recently, but we can praise with our bodies and instruments (verse 7). When we do meet together we can mouth the words behind our masks! I wonder if God is missing the sound of groups of his people singing his praises? Put a praise CD on and sing! Some of us are not feeling joyful at the moment and find it hard to praise, but we are assured that God heals us and binds our wounds as he did for the Israelites returning after being exiled - many broken hearted, wounded and downtrodden (verses 2-3). God’s majesty is seen throughout the universe, he knows and names each star. It is estimated there are 1 billion trillion in the observable universe, but only God knows the exact number. He is infinite in existence, power and knowledge (Isaiah 40:28) and yet he provides for all his creation. Jerusalem is asked to praise him for he provides security, future, peace and provision. He continues to do the same for us now. Israel was uniquely chosen to be receivers and guardians of God’s revealed word (Romans 3:2). They took their responsibility seriously and were careful to recite, learn and preserve the Hebrew Scriptures and knew they should obey his commands (Deuteronomy 7:11). We have God’s word revealed in Jesus, but the Hebrew Scriptures are also important to us and help us to know more of God and his nature. We praise you God for your majesty and power seen in creation, and thank you for your love and provision for each one of us.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below. Read Psalm 146  Listen to Psalm 146 The last five psalms are often called the “Hallelujah Psalms” because they all start and end with the Hebrew word "Hallelujah". In the earlier psalms, we have seen the writers’ griefs, sins, doubts, fears defeats and victories. We have encountered rebellious words and struggling faith. All this is behind us now. In these final psalms every word is praise. This psalm also sets out to persuade men to trust in God, and in him alone (verses 3-4). ‘Nobody that is only human can save you.’ There are examples in the Bible of people who trusted God with their lives - Noah, Abram, Elijah, Daniel and many others. Who do we trust in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic? Our leaders can make rules that we may keep to protect us from Covid-19 and they all have different views on how best to cope, but really don’t know how to balance being strict with keeping the economy going, etc. It is God who we must trust to see us through. In John 6:68 in answer to a question from Jesus, Peter says “to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life we believe and know you are the Holy One of God.” (Psalm 91 also has much to say about God’s protection for those who love him). Verses 5-9 go on to list some of the reasons why we should trust him and verse 10 ends with a statement of God’s eternal sovereignty and a final “Praise the Lord”. Lord, you have the words of eternal life. Drive this deep into our hearts that we may trust you through all the trials of life and say at the end “Praise the Lord”.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below. Read Psalm 145  Listen to Psalm 145 Praise! Praise! Praise! David will praise God every day and lift his Name high. Other generations before him have been praising God and telling of his glory. David thinks of the amazing things God has done and with those earlier generations of Israelites celebrates God's great goodness, his compassion, patience and love for his creation. He looks to the future when all that God has made will acknowledge what he has done and talk of the glory of God and his strength. God's kingdom is going to last for ever. God keeps his promises and supports people who are struggling with life's events. The Lord is generous in his provision for people as they turn to him for help. God always does what is right, loves everything he has created and comes close to people who call out to him. David says that God hears when people call to him and saves them but those who are not faithful to him (i.e. 'the wicked') he will bring to nothing. David finishes by reaffirming that he will continue to praise God and calls for all creation to praise the Lord throughout eternity. Psalm 145 is wall-to-wall praise, as David writes of the praise God has always received from his people. Lord, may we too show our thanks for your love and care by praising you every day.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below. Read Psalm 144  Listen to Psalm 144 As I read this song, I see David the fugitive hiding in the caves on the Judean hills. King Saul is full of hatred and his army is in pursuit to eliminate God’s chosen king. The conflict is one sided. Saul deceives, shakes David’s hand with a smile, whilst clutching a knife to stab him in the back (The Message verses 8 and 11). David however plays by the rules, for God trains him to fight fair and well (verses 1-2). God is his rock and security. A stronghold and fortress on the slippery heights. Yet he is amazed and humbled by the fact that God “bothers with him.” David says what is ethereal man that you care for him? (verses 3-4). During unfair conflict, it is Ok to shout at God (verses 5-6) and demand supernatural intervention. So be real with God. We all have battles we are fighting in our life circumstances: temptation, anxiety, fear depression, financial distress, health, work, or relationships (Nicky Gumbel). We have an adversary, Satan, who hates those who follow Jesus. Christ is the one who stepped down from Heaven (verse 5) and gives us the victory (verse 10). In the last verses, David is now singing a new song of praise and vows commitment to his saviour and dedication of his family to follow God. As he makes that covenant, he sees blessings for his children and prosperity for the land. “No cry of distress in the streets” (verse 14). Blessed are the people who have all this who let God be their Lord (The Message verse 15). Lord, as we face another pandemic where people will die prematurely and lack of prosperity due to unemployment; help me to realise you care for even me and your ear is open to my voice. The final victory is yours.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below. Read Psalm 143  Listen to Psalm 143 I was struck afresh when reading this psalm that even with all the poetic writing there is raw honesty expressed, changing throughout the psalm from fear, depression, anxiety and reminiscence, to longing, trust, as well as humility and confidence. The psalmist lets it all hangout. Thankfully Father God can cope with our honesty. He longs for us to come to him. But what also comes over is that through all of this the writer is convinced of two things, the unshakeable goodness and lovingkindness of God and also the simple statements: ‘You are my God’, ‘I am your servant’. This week I went out for a coffee with a friend. We sat down, blankets to hand, and a waiter came and took our order, and a little while later our drinks arrived, which we enjoyed and then later our cups were taken away. This was what I expected to happen, I was served. There was no debate about what I should have for a drink, nor was I later told to put on my marigolds and start washing up! Unlike my waiter we are more than servants, we are children of God, but following Jesus we are called to lay down our lives daily, taking up our cross in obedience and service. Father, you are my God, I am your servant. I surrender to you in Jesus name.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below. Read Psalm 142  Listen to Psalm 142 Have you ever felt misunderstood, or have had to deal with huge pressure in relationships, all on your own? This was David’s experience here. This psalm was written before David became king. Here he was hiding out from Saul. God had told Saul that David would become king. Saul wild with jealousy, tried to kill David, hence the hideout. David had hit rock bottom; his mental health was not good, yet his instinctive reaction was to ‘cry… to the Lord’ (verse 1).  David was abandoned by others, but not by God. God is his ‘refuge’ (a safe place to go for safety) and his ‘portion’ (his delight). He did not bottle up his emotions (verse 6), he expected to be praising God again for his help in the future (verse 7). Our mental health is important and being open about our emotions and to be able to pray and share with someone else, is key to good mental health. We know that because of Covid-19 there is pressure on everyone’s mental health. Do you know someone who is feeling overwhelmed because of the pandemic? Can you be that listening ear for them? What do you do when you are going through tough times, do you cry out to God and talk to someone? When Jesus was under pressure in the Garden of Gethsemane, he made sure he was not alone. Let’s make sure we do the same! ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened…’ (Matthew 11:28).

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below. Read Psalm 141  Listen to Psalm 141 Psalm 141 seems a very useful one if you are someone who (like me!) often finds it hard to not wade mouth first into confrontation. It would be useful as well as a prayer at the beginning of the day before a difficult conversation or meeting. Asking God to be Lord over our mouths before we speak can be a useful way of reminding ourselves that it is possible to change long held habits. God is in the work of transformation and one of the most fantastic ways we can see that happening is through his work in us. At the moment it seems all around us is division, arguing and uncertainty - whether on the news or at the dinner table. Verse 8 of the psalm asks God to be a place of refuge. When we feel secure often we are able to approach potentially inflammatory situations with kindness and grace rather than aggression. What is the holy spirit inviting you to say to those you encounter this week? Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil.