I think that probably most of us have had, at some time or over, a time of 'quiet (or perhaps, not so quiet) desperation. Here the example of David, fugitive and on the run from King Saul, is most helpful. He really is quite desperate, having run out of options, and so he turns to God in faith for the help that he is sure that God will give. May we, you and I, do likewise.

Often something that is a problem for us humans is that we don't like to be told what to do. We resist that when it comes from outside sources like government, sometimes even when it comes to friends and family, and even, yes, even at times when it comes from God. We hate to be held accountable for our actions.

And yet, today's Scripture reading and meditation highlight someone, namely King David, who was willing to be held accountable for his outrageous behaviour when it came to Bathsheba and her husband. The prophet Nathan confronted him about his adultery and murder and David not only admitted it but also asked God's help in dealing with it. Truly, he was willing to be accountable, and in this, I think that he serves as a good role model for all of us. See what you think.

Our psalmist today, in the opening words of Psalm 139, relates how intimately God knows us, yes, even with the things that are hidden from public view, even those things hidden to our own selves. So, how does this make you feel? My meditation for today touches on this, and on several of the feelings that this might arouse.

As for me, knowing that God knows me intimately and still loves me and cares for me, is most reassuring--and humbling. And so, I want to live up to, and live into, that love.

One of the invitations to Holy Communion in The Book of Alternative Services says "Taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are they who put their trust in him."

This is perhaps the message of John 11 and the raising of Lazarus from the dead. No wonder many of the people who attended this miracle put their trust in Jesus. They had tasted something of the goodness and power of God.

Psalm 50 picks up on what surely should be our response to the goodness and power of seeing God, namely our full and earnest devotion to Him, a heart-felt giving of ourselves over to Him.

Hopefully, you will, like me, find today's Scripture passage and meditation inspiring--and, not a wee bit challenging. I say this because I find the psalmist's total dedication to knowing and following God's word and will to be quite a contrast to my own life. Sometimes--occasionally--I am spot on, but far too often I vacillate and am thoroughly wishy washy. Like when I get irritated or worse and get 'hot under the collar' about something, or actually blow up. Or, when I simply shuffle along with my own plans and priorities and simply don't check in with the Lord to see what He might want. Anyway, my life isn't always quite the same as the psalmist's. Hope you too will find it helpful.

John 10:1-18

Today's Scripture passage and meditation really struck home for me today as my family, including myself, tend to be rather stubborn, independent and quite reluctant to show need or ask for help. We like to think of ourselves as totally capable and self-sufficient, and so, asking for help from God--or from anyone else for that matter--is quite foreign to our usual nature.

And so, David's frank admission of his need and his willingness to turn to God is a good reminder to us that we need to do so as well. Maybe it's a good reminder to you as well.

Today's passage really strikes home for me as I find myself focusing on, and complaining (and worse) about all sorts of situations both near and far. (Complaining and being fixated on things, especially problems that I can do nothing about, seems to be a constant occupation and temptation for me). Our psalmist tells us to forget all these things and forget all the nasty and harmful people out there and focus instead simply on God and His will and purposes. And then, to trust Him and obey Him and leave all the rest in His more than capable hands. It is good advice for me, and for all of us.

How many times as parents we have said, 'listen up', to our children when they didn't seem to be listening. And, it's not just children. The lack of listening to others seems to be epidemic in our society and our world today. That, too, seemed to be the problem with much of Jesus' audience in today's passage. Actually, they were listening, but they weren't paying close attention to it or taking it in or examining carefully the implications of what He was saying. I pray that this won't occur with any of us.

Following Jesus and being faithful to Him and to His way is never easy or simple, but hopefully these meditations will be of help

Following Jesus and being faithful to Him and to His way is never easy or simple, but hopefully these meditations will be of help

With everything seeming to change around us, in fact, almost around our very shoulders, it is comforting and helpful to know that some things do not change--like the love of God, or God Himself. He is the unchangeable, immovable rock around which we can centre and build our lives. And not only that, He is the one person in the entire universe that is constant and can always be counted upon and always trusted. And so, with everything changing, we can always hold on to Him.

Observing our world and our society today--especially with the turmoil and divisions, and the outright war and sabre rattling taking place, many people would jump to the conclusion that much of the world has lost its way, And, indeed, can this not also be said of our families, churches, communities--and even of ourselves at times? It is here that Jesus' promise to be the light of our world is most welcome. But then, there is a catch--there always is! We must allow Him to be that light. We must listen to Him--via His word--and then allow Him to help us and direct us.

“Jumping to conclusions” Meditation – John 7:37-52 (Forward, p. 28) CEV p. 1110

I do not claim, not in the least, to always being inspired by God, but something that never ceases to amaze me is when I am preaching or writing, and something new or unexpected comes forth. I find myself asking a question, 'now, where in the world did that come from? I say that because there has been nothing in my study or my research or my previous experience that led me to it. It has come totally 'from the blue', as it were. I think that this is something akin to revelation.

Anyway, Jesus was most careful to tell His questioners that nothing He taught was of His own devising, but was totally from God, totally a revelation. And, I can't help but think, that if Jesus felt the need to be totally reliant upon God as the source of His learning, how much more should we. Anyway, here is something to ponder and pray about.