Holidays are God's gift for us to relax, and to enjoy a change of pace and lifestyle.
But don't make the mistake of giving up on feeding daily on God's Word! In fact, resting should be about taking the opportunity to rest MORE in God's word - not less!
To save the space in your suitcase, why not download the Explore App to your Android or Apple device (phone or pad). It comes as a small self-contained app with 30 days of Bible reading built in, and the opportunity to download daily readings. We will soon be offering some new special readings for the autumn. Use the QR code on this page to link to the Android Marketplace, or search for Explore Bible Devotional on Marketplace or on the Apple App store.
I wasn’t there for this particular episode, but Michelle insists it was one of the funniest moments from Elen’s frequently hilarious toddler-hood. Here’s how it went down:
We had just moved to a new area and were still finding our feet, meeting new people etc. So you can imagine Michelle’s joy when she was invited to join a bunch of young mums and their little-uns on their weekly pilgrimage to Wetherspoons (a chain of low-cost English pubs), for an early morning breakfast and a natter! Before long she was loving the warm friendship (and reasonably-priced toast) and the Wetherspoons jaunt soon became a regular fixture for the Hankey girls.... continue reading
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the Lord are sure
and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Psalm 19 v 7-11
One of the one of the best investments we ever made for Elen was a magnetic Etch-a-Sketch pad that we got from Tesco for £2.99. It might not sound particularly impressive on the surface of it, but trust me the hours of pleasure she got from doodling and creating were worth so much more than £2.99! In fairness to Elen she also loved to share her ‘sketchy’ with her parents and would regularly let me have a go on it. The thing is she only ever wanted me to draw one thing – a duck!... continue reading
This book from Thabiti Anyabwile is a brilliant read for anyone looking at their role in the local church and how they can best serve the body of Christ.
We'd highly recommend it and if you use the code healthy30 at checkout you can get 30% off the price!
Offer expires 17/08/2012
I run a Sunday School for 3-7 year olds. A privilege and a joy in itself.
But it's occasionally made all the more glorious when a child misunderstands something in a revealing way.
Last Sunday, we were finishing a short series on the book of Jonah. An interesting exercise in itself, because most kids bibles miss the point. They do the running away, the storm and the boat, the fish, Jonah's prayer, the preaching to Nineveh and the repentance bit, but fail to do chapter 4 - which is really the whole punchline of the story.
But the moment came at the start when I was reviewing the story so far... "What was the name of the prophet?" I ask. Lots of hands shoot up. "Jonah!" comes the enthusiastic reply:
"Where did God tell him to go?" Silence. One hand raised tentatively... "Vinegar?"... continue reading
"How did you find you way round the traffic jam?"Paul asked.
I was delivering my daughter to summer camp and I was chatting with the old friend who was running it. We'd been delayed and had to find a route down country lanes to get round the a jam on the M4.
"More by luck than judgement" I replied… and instantly checked myself.
I had found my way more by luck than my own intelligence. Not knowing quite where to go, I took a guess at a crossroads and it turned out to be right. But the phrase reflects a worldview where God is absent. It was just "luck". Whereas the Bible tells us that our sovereign God is intimately involved in our world, and that the providence of God is at work even in what we might think are irrelevant details.... continue reading
It was a day that stands out in my memory above nearly all others and not for a good reason. Elen was around 9 months old and had been suffering with a virus for several days. Her temperature had been gradually creeping higher and higher, until one afternoon it reached crisis point and she started to convulse uncontrollably on the floor. We rang 999 and within minutes a medic was on the scene. Moments later Elen was rushed to hospital in an ambulance.... continue reading
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
here is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
(Psalm 19 v 1–6)
