You've been faithfully by our side, Took thy hand and were our guide, Your grace has brought us here, And you say you'll never leave. You've been the anchor of our life, Gave us strength to believe, You have kept us and held us, With you nothing is impossible. Times when there's been silence, When life has rushed us by, You're right there time after time, You've never forgotten about us. Your angels keep an eye on us, Day and night we're never alone, With peace from sunset to

Jack Black was a stunning, black Friesian workhorse. All he had ever known was work. He used his strength to pull carts that his owner would attach to his harness. Jack Black would obediently pull anything that was asked of him. He was strong but also gentle. Even when working, if a child came near and wanted to pet him, he would lower his head so they could stroke his soft, velvety nose. At the end of the day, he loved it when his harness and cart were removed, and his owner

On an exceedingly hot summer's day, the United Kingdom was experiencing its third heatwave of the year. We had witnessed record-breaking temperatures of 37°. It also happened to be Wimbledon tennis fortnight and the World Cup. The England men’s football team had only days earlier managed to secure a place in the quarter-finals. I wasn’t interested in either. The country was basking in its glory and in high temperatures. I was currently in the process of receiving chemoth

And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark the seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.’ And it was so. God made two great lights – the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night.’ Genesis 1:14-16 ‘Stop the world, I want to get off.’ Came the deep, desperate cry. But the world continued to spi

A tray holds a multitude of stories, Resting quietly on the table where it sits. It carries cups of shared conversations, Yet never utters a word or spreads rumours. It has witnessed a thousand sermons, Held countless teas and sympathies, And listened to all of our prayers, Yet it remains quiet and gracious. A tray is far more clever than it appears, It's prepared to meet the needs of others. Always on hand at church refreshments. And looks it's best when the

Photo and poem written by Sarah Joy Holden In moments of despair, When fear filters into the air, When life seems too much to bear, God is here; He is always near. With a listening ear, He hears our cries, Wiping away every tear from our eyes. A friend who demonstrates His care, For God is good, and He is fair. To Him, we hold a place so dear; He has endless time to spare. In our prayers, we can draw near— Wherever we are, God is always there.

I wake in the morning, With praise on my lips, Thanking God for the day ahead. I kneel in the evening, With praise in my heart, Thanking God for the day I had.

Dear child, each day I make the sun rise. May not always see it in all its glory. There may be clouds covering it. You may not have been awake to notice it, yet it's still there at the start of a new day. A new day means a fresh start, a clean slate. It means fresh hope. It's the beginning of new opportunities. Leave yesterday behind. Leave behind any regrets. Leave behind any hurts. Leave behind any failings. This is a new day. Let's walk through it together. Look up to me f

You know, my beloved child, this story has no end, just as my Kingdom never ends. Once you are seated at My Table, you will never run out of things to experience, enjoy, or marvel at. What you have seen has profoundly touched your soul. The questions I've asked you have challenged, empowered, encouraged, and yes, transformed you. I've revealed my love to you in numerous ways and presented you with new things to think about. And yes, there is so much more to learn about me and

No picture could truly encapsulate Creation And so, my beloved child, what a journey of discovery we have been on, and what impact it has had on your heart as you consider these things I have set before you. There is much to consider and ponder over that I have shown you, and yet there is more — there is always more. Let me show you what creates the abundance you now see before you. As I lift the veil that covers the table — a veil you didn't even realise was there — which ex

Our house feels like living inside a musical. Not necessarily in the song quality, but definitely in quantity. It’s hard to say "Hello," "You're welcome," or "We're halfway there" without someone breaking into song. And it’s not just music. Our days are packed with lines from films, adverts, and TV shows. “Coffee, coffee, boy, do I need coffee!” “Bacon is good for me!” I’m not sure it’s entirely normal (which is why I try to restrain myself in public), but it’s definitely n

Dear child, you are carrying burdens that are not yours to carry. You carry offence. You are carrying other people's pain. You are believing other people's hurtful words about you. Let me, wash away all that is clinging to you, and that is weighing you down. Let my love and my light wash it all away. As I wash you clean with my love, walk closely with me so that on this journey of life, nothing will burden you again, as I will carry it for you. Keep turning your face and you

And so, my beloved child, let me ask you more probing questions: What do you expect to find at the table? Where do your expectations come from, and why do you have them? Yes, I understand, it opens your heart again, considering these things, so let's explore them before we see what I've actually laid out for you. So, the conventional understanding might lead you to believe that you are to eat of the flesh of My Crucified Son, and that is all there is on the table, and all you

There are so many beautiful miracles recorded in the Bible. Jesus turned water into wine. Jesus healed the blind, the deaf and the lame. A woman who had been to so many Doctors because of her bleeding just touched the hem of Jesus’s cloak and was healed. Jesus healed a boy when he was in another town. He didn't even need to be in proximity to him. Jesus told the woman at the well about her past, not to shame or condemn her, but to show her the way to live a full, free life, w

And so, my beloved child, here we are at this beautiful place, a place that is safe and perfect, intimate and secluded. Selah Now tell me how it has changed you, and how you feel now compared to before you arrived. Do you feel that sense of welcome? Do you feel a sense of belonging that you didn't before? Selah I know it's a lot to take in, and you haven't yet seen what's been prepared for you. Before we do that, I want us to spend some time together, enjoy each other's compa

Continuing the series on My Table, released each weekend for 6 weeks. Please read the previous posts on this website. And just like the fruit in creation, the fruit of my Kingdom is many, with a variety of shapes and differences, each with different colours, shapes, sizes, and tastes, providing special nourishment and vital ingredients for well-being. Each one is created with a purpose, revealing my Grace and my Sufficiency. Notice the abundance of them, and they are free t

And what more can you see on the table set before you? You have only just begun exploring, and there is so much more to see and experience. You then hear clapping coming from the mists of the table, but can’t identify its source. You try to work out what kind of clapping it is and imagine its origin. Yes, it's like a dove’s wings when it takes off; it's like a seal’s flippers clapping together; it's like you would imagine a tree would sound if it clapped; and it is like the s

Dear child, you've come through another winter. Spring is around the corner. In midst of darkness, there is always a glimmer of hope. Hold on to that. Hope in me. The bulbs have pushed through the darkness of winter. And so, my child, will you soon the bright vibrant petals will bloom and they will turn their faces to the spring sun. This, my child, is what I desire from you. Keep turning your face and heart to me. I will warm you. I will strengthen you. I will be with you.

The old oak kitchen table Stood on the uneven floor. She slid down the bench seat. Rubbed her hands on the table top. She smiled and remembered. The day her 2-year-old grandson Had danced on the tabletop. The day her whole family had played Monopoly How they had laughed and complained How her youngest usually won. The Sunday morning her future son-in-law Asked for her beautiful daughter’s hand in marriage. When her crazy friends had a posh tea party. The tears, the laughs, th

Here at the table, we come Invited by the King of Kings To come and feast with him Taking rest from our troubles. Here we have come to His table Where the Lion and the lamb meet All are welcome to take their place The Friend, Foe, and stranger sit. There is space and more spare chairs No settings or reservations necessary For God has already set a place for us So, come sit, enjoy being in his company. When at His table, put down our phones Switch off our other electronic dev