“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:24 When travelling, we are advised to ‘ensure we have our luggage and personal belongings with us’, especially when about to alight from a train at the station we are arriving at. The luggage tends to be the weighty … Continue reading Belong by Catherine Hutton
A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3 NIV I grew up in a very particular part of the North East of England. A pair of adjoined villages, shared an elementary school. We lived in an … Continue reading Calling, by Catherine Hutton
1 John 4:18 NIV There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. Other than the basic fears that are, in my opinion, perfectly reasonable; you know the things: heights, spiders-the large ones where you … Continue reading Fear by Catherine Hutton
In the Wesleyan tradition, it is our custom to make a personal ‘covenant’ with God in one of our beginning of years services. This may be why resolutions have never really featured in my start the year consciousness, surely the commitment to God and his purpose and priorities is enough to be going on with? Our covenant remembers the covenants God has made with his people throughout the generations – from Noah to Abraham and Moses through to the prophets – and particularly this beauty from Jeremiah which is so intimate and so deeply personal that it vanishes any perceived distance between us and God who promises to be embedded within heart and mind. The covenant then culminates in Jesus who offers The Sacrifice of the New Covenant in his blood Mtt 26:28; Mark 14:24; Lk 22:20; 1Cor 11:25.
Always, by Catherine Hutton [Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:7 NIV I’m in need of a little reminder of the ‘always’ nature of God who is Love. Spiritually, these times feel pretty inter-testamental. I miss hands-on prayer and sweaty rooms packed with worshippers and the feeling of unity in … Continue reading