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PROVERBS

November 26, 2025 — Leave a comment

the Book of Proverbs of Solomon begins with nine chapters of wisdom, from someone who has experienced many things in life and has seen God at work in many situations, to someone less experienced

these first chapters are written in the form of father to son but can be interpreted much more widely. the first seven verses set out the purpose and theme of the book

gaining wisdom and knowledge begins with fear of the Lord – giving God the appropriate respect and reverence

learning the fear of the Lord is putting to ‘death our narcissistic egos and self-assured opinions and superior neutrality’. (Ray Ortlund & R. Kent Hughes, ‘Proverbs: the wisdom that works, 2012)

we move from depending on our natural abilities, worldly wisdom and desires towards trusting God as the fount of all knowledge

like a novice learning to play the piano, who learns and practices their scales and arpeggios until they can’t play them wrong, so too must we listen and learn from proverbs and parables, helped by the Holy Spirit

like the virtuoso pianist who is so attuned to playing correctly, we train our receptive minds, hearts, and spirits to fear the Lord thus gaining wisdom and knowledge for all circumstances

it takes discipline and practice of the basics to develop mastery

it starts with: Let God be God for us

Choose Life

June 11, 2025 — Leave a comment

Most of our days are lived with the appropriate perspective that life will go on for ever. That’s there always tomorrow. Sometimes, we have the privilege of facing our mortality through events that affect us personally or that we witness in the lives of others. Maybe if we’re really blessed, we get both. 

In those moments of clarity, of seeing life for the fleeting gift it is, we find ourselves with a choice: to choose life and make memories in each day. 

A dear friend and brother-in-Christ David B Rowe is contemplating that choice right now and he shares his journeying with a terminal prognosis with depth and poignant vulnerability. 

David and his wife Pixie Paris Rowe both had a significant part in my own journey of faith. Their love for Jesus, love for people and ability to creatively communicate deep truths to different people led directly to my understanding that God is real. His nurturing of my blossoming faith enabled me to more fully understand and appreciate what Jesus has done for me. Her open heart and welcoming hospitality helped me to feel a belonging to a community as I’d rarely experienced. Thank you both. 

I also remember my own epiphany seven years ago when my heart stopped and I was resuscitated. I value the pacemaker that now maintains a heartbeat. 

I confess the exquisite joy of realising I had avoided death and the clarity of choosing fullness of days to the best of my ability eventually receded. I have returned to living my life less than I could. I have forgotten that each day is a gift from God.

Today I heard this simple song and it reminded me to live in the moment – whether they be days of highs or lows – right till the end, when I will know the joy of meeting Jesus face to face.

Know.

January 25, 2021 — Leave a comment
 
Know: To be absolutely sure about …
 
What is it to know? anyone? anything?
 
Can we know even when we can’t explain our knowing?
 
Some people talk about having an inner ‘knower’ – a intuited sense of what we cannot always articulate that we are sure about – it’s just that we know.
 
Is it enough just to know that you know that you know?
 
But perhaps, just perhaps, when it really comes down to it, we don’t know as much as we think we know.
 
Maybe the few things that we are absolutely sure about is more akin to faith.
 
I don’t know.
 

Still.

January 8, 2021 — Leave a comment

still 

what is it ‘to be still’ if not to be present to deep silence or calm ?

to be present to that state of grace
where strivings cease 
where thoughts quieten themselves
where nothing rises up clamouring for attention
where exists a sense of harmony with Creator God, with others and with the world?

how then are we to ‘be still’ in a world that clamours for our attention
where thoughts race unbidden around the labyrinths of our minds
where striving and activity reigns?

‘to be still’ is to be a soul at rest
from all activity which rises
from self’s desire for acceptance, security, purpose

it is to be open in deep silence and calm to the still, small voice of God speaking, calling, beckoning beyond what is present

it is to trust and hope and know the goodness of God