Devotion

"Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God." (From the Message paraphrase of Phil 2). "What in the world?" It is the phrase that comes to mind during family, school ground, work place, media and halls of power politics, alike. In the world where joy is stolen by human bad behaviour. In the world where fights and arguments break out daily from the home to the halls of power. In this world we are to be lights. To show it a more excellent way. This is no easy task, but by His grace may each of us be able to respond to "What in the world?" with a glimpse of another world. A better world.

(Two Versions) 1. The Poor Man: We hid him. The poor man. His existence challenged our comfortable lives. A prophet speaks out. The vipers take him out, on our wicked behalf. We say, "not in our name", but... How can the prophets compassionate humanity be tolerated when it challenges us this much? Like trees with no fruit our true colours show. We store up. Moth and rust still win. The grass withers and the leaf fades. A puff of smoke, a vapour. This to shall pass. The empires crumble and fall. Even the ecclesiastical tyrants meet their maker. The rich shall inherit the grave. Earth is for the others. *** 2. One Thing: Hiding the poor, Killing the prophets, Generation of vipers, Trees that bear no fruit. The grass withers and the leaf fades. A puff of smoke, a vapour. Empires crumble and fall. One thing remains. His name is LOVE. *** The first version is a short piece of writing of precisely one hundred words in length. The purpose of this style of writing is brevity, testing

Scene 1 (The upper room): Take the bread. Take the cup. Be blessed. Foot washing. A final meal, a humble farewell. Scene 2 (Betrayal): Watch with me! Bleeding tears. Anguish in prayer. Betrayed with a kiss. Scene 3 (Peter and friends): Promises broken. Tearful regrets. Denial. Scene 4 (The cross): A tear drop falls from the cross. A dying man's cry. The earth shakes. The temple trembles in the presence of God. Scene 5 (Empty tomb): A king rises from the dark. The grave abandoned. Nature blooms in the presence of it's God. The victory accomplished!

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." (John 3:16 - 18) What is the context? In Theological College they often emphasised the importance of context when reading and applying scriptures. So the context is this: Everything was created by God. Jesus was the inspiration. He was at the beginning. There was harmony. The light was come into the world. But, the world didn't recognise him. (See Jn 1:1-3, 9). Humanity had a wonderful relationship with God and was appointed as earth's stewards. It was amazingly good. We had life (knowledge & experience of Him) purpose (stewardship of earth/creation) and choi

Where is Hope? The Saviour:"Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand." The Martyr: "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." The Prophet: "The Kings of the earth are a vanity, the nations are as a drop in a bucket." The Charlatan and Jester: "Make the mortal vanity and dust of empire great again. We are the greatest" wink, wink, nudge, nudge. The Saints: "His kingdom come." The Sinners: "All hail the wind", grasp, grasp, grasp. The Philosopher: "Are we looking to earthly authorities and powers or above?" The Saviour: "My kingdom is not of this world... all authority in heaven and in earth has been given to me...heaven and earth pass away, but my word is forever." The Prophet: "Of the increase of His government there shall be no end." There is Hope!* *Notes and verses of interest: Kingdom - Mtt 24:14, Col 1:14, There is an eternal kingdom and the great king is

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4: 7, 8) Hiding the poor, Killing the prophets, Generation of vipers, Trees that bear no fruit. The grass withers and the leaf fades. A puff of smoke, a vapour. Empires crumble and fall. One thing remains. His name is LOVE.

"All you need is love", the song says, "all you need is love." A simple yet hard truth. A Rabbi once said "Love, the rest is commentary." Yet we struggle in our own strength. In order to truly love God (who is love) and others (who are all created in His image), we best ask Him to be love through us, to be our strength. "Beware of works religion", I hear the hardcore preacher say. Well, let's be very clear, all Christians are called to love and this manifests in fruit. Indeed we are saved by God's grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. But, this is not so we may warm pews and ignore a broken and needy world at our doorstep. "Some wish to live within the sound of Church or Chapel bell; I want to run a Rescue Shop within a yard of hell."—C. T. Studd God has saved us for a purpose, His purpose. He has called us to love and good deeds. To be lights in the darkness. To love as He does. L

“He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11 Lately I haven't posted anything here due to being fairly busy. Busy in a good way. On the 17th September 2019 God blessed my wife and I with a baby girl and Ezra with a baby sister. Both Mum and Baby are doing well, though being kept in hospital for some issues. So proud and full of love for them both. We announced our new arrival online as follows: "We are absolutely delighted to announce that our daughter Lilianna Blanche Holdsworth was born today at 2:45pm weighing 6lbs13oz. She is just beautiful." I don't have an in depth reflection for today or anything particularly creative to write. My only thought for now is that God watches over His people. I could never have imagined years ago that at some point I would be married to my childhood sweetheart (well teen hood anyway). Nor that I would one day have a baby boy and baby girl. It has been an incredible adventure so far.

I had a lovely walk with my beautiful wee boy recently. He did very well, being carried and walking all the way. Next time, however, I will choose a different route or perhaps take a buggy. Duddingston is a beautiful old vintage village in Edinburgh. The architecture is very old world. Our first stop was Dr Neil's Gardens. Full of lovely stone paths and pretty flowers, set in the midst of a wildlife reserve. We didn't have enough cash so didn't manage to sample from the cafe, but will next time hopefully. We visited the old Kirk and picked up a couple of bookmarks made by Amos Christian Trust , who also made Ezra's dedication invites this year. After that we journeyed past the Sheep's Heid up a hill to the community gardens where there are apple trees and chickens. We came here when he was even smaller and just started to walk (picture below). We kept going up the hill stopping at a bench with a sign that fittingly said "Rest and be thankful" which is wha

Lord, make me truly thine. May demons tremble at the hold you have on me. Posses me with thy love, protect me with your wings. Teach me, mould me. Liberate me from the tyranny of sin. May I never love sin and by grace unleash in me a love for thee all powerful and strong. Cleanse me in the rivers of your mercy. Forgive me with thy hand of blessing. All for thy glory and the furtherance of thy kingdom. Amen.

"And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice." - 1 Kings 19:10,11 The Still Small Voice: God was in the still small voice. In my travels I have encountered worship styles that are so varied. Lately I have been thinking of the loud nature of much worship in contemporary churches (both preaching and song). Whilst not being opposed to this style I have found that at times it has been draining. It may be my inner introvert or it may simply just be that the season of loud is over for me at this time. Either way it seems that my heart yearns for the calm, the gentle, the peaceful. It reminds me of verses in Kings that