Lyrical Riffs

Wild animals were there, but angels came and helped him. Where are the wild animals? Where are the angels? In your today and your tomorrow. The fearful things and the … Read on →

It could be so much easier, Taking another way, Exerting power to sidestep the problems, Turning these stones into bread. Dodging life’s troubles and issues, Seeking satisfaction rather than kindness, … Read on →

Where will it take us today? This #lovejoypeacepatiencegoodnesskindnessfaithfulnessgentlenessself-control This fruit growing within, Alongside all the cantankerous selfish bits, Alongside the weariness and the grumpiness and the groaning what-ifs. What fruit … Read on →

The Holy Spirit drove him out into the desert, Away from the noise and distractions, Away from the clamour and the fame. The Holy Spirit drove him out into the … Read on →

We can bring it all: Our doubts, our questions, Our fears and shouting, Our dry-mouthed muttering, Our whispers and murmurs, Our wondering and wandering, Our dreaming and distractions, Our mistakes … Read on →

We want to be strong But find ourselves weak, Want to be right When so often wrong, Want to be smart When idiocy reigns, Want to be the best As … Read on →

With your strength you strengthened me, With your patience you helped me hang on, With your hope you kept me going, With your faithfulness you helped me believe. With your … Read on →

And God blessed time, That Sabbath day. Not a space, Or a place, But minutes, seconds, hours, Pauses. Gaps in the madness, In the work and distraction, In the pressures … Read on →

Mary met you face to Face, voice to Voice, name to Name, In that garden of Resurrection. Now it’s as if we catch Subtle glimpses of you, Divine shadows, Sketchy … Read on →

You’re our anchor in life’s storm, Calm amidst the bluster, Good news amongst the fake, Truth in the rumours. Hope in all the headlines, Sweetness in the cynicism, Wisdom in … Read on →

Right here, right now, Known or unknown, Sensed or not, Alongside us In the dark and the light, The day and the night, Above and below, Behind and ahead, In … Read on →

‘Son of all time, now where have you been?’ ‘Touring life’s corridors – and here’s what I‘ve seen…’ Hearts of compassion tearing down hate, Calm quiet rebels storming the gates, … Read on →

The clocks tick down and We stand on the verge, Eye our resolutions With our foot on the doorstep. Thinner, nicer, fitter, better, Kinder, funnier, tidier, better prepared, Greener, happier, … Read on →

Your song is eternal. Not brash or abrasive, Not self-seeking or proving a point, Not a passing fad or fleeting trend. Your song is stronger, gentler, Kinder, more courageous, Inclusive … Read on →

For a child is born to us, So small, so frail, so vulnerable, No fanfares or global advertising campaigns, A quiet, subtle slipping into the world, A new-born friend in … Read on →

When God appeared, they expected a warrior, An angel of light, and a king. Not a suffering servant, rejected and scorned – No one expected him. A fodder trough, a … Read on →

The people who walk in darkness Have seen a great light. So many of us need that light, Glimpse it then lose sight again. Need it to get through, To … Read on →

Thank you that we can worship you As we are, No need for pretence, Don’t have to be good or look good Or have all the answers. No need to … Read on →

For those who find life hard, For those who find faith hard, Those who don’t feel strong, Those who don’t feel powerful, Those not sorted out, Those for whom life … Read on →

One group, one people, one body, one hope. The struggling, the questioning, The strong, the stable. Those who know where they are going, And those who don’t, Those who have … Read on →

In the laughter and the longing You are there, In the deserts and the parties You are there, In the questions and the searching, In the knowing and the unknowing … Read on →

The voice cries out, The voice of one calling in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ Though our preparation may be small, Our steps … Read on →

I want to change the world if only I could, Want to make things better as I feel I should, Want to line things up the way that they should … Read on →

Imagine a land with no borders, A place with no clenched fists, A country where raised voices are a distant memory, An open space bereft of slamming doors, A forever … Read on →

Treasure in dark places, Hidden, not from us, but hidden for us. Treasure To find, to savour, to pass on. Secreted in the darkness waiting for us, Longing for our … Read on →

Be still. Stop and listen. For a moment… even… for 30 seconds, for 20, 15, 10, 5… Step aside from the rushing of your mind; the scrambling of your day; … Read on →

Dying to know us. Dying to reach us. Dying to nourish us. Dying for a new life. Dying for something better. Dying for something real. Dying for something genuine. Dying … Read on →

Hashtags They call out Copy me Like me Follow me Notice me. Hashtags Badges of hope. We all wear them To be liked To be noticed To be part of … Read on →

When no one else knew, When no one else saw, When no one else bothered, You cared. When no one else had time, When no one else had strength, When … Read on →

Thank you, Lord, that you understand, That you have lived this life, Known sweat, tears, frustration and sadness, Known wonder, laughter, satisfaction and joy. You are not a God who … Read on →

This world moves us And shakes us, Frustrates and makes us Angry, livid sometimes… The misjustice, the crimes, Giving us such indigestible questions, A kind of soulful indigestion. How much … Read on →

When we look up at the night sky And see the breath-taking work of your hands, We wonder – what are people that you should care for us? When we … Read on →

Unfailing truth and love have met together, Righteousness and peace can be seen embracing, Truth springs up from the earth, And justice smiles down from heaven. Like long lost lovers … Read on →

Love is bigger than anything That might stand in its way; A Roman cross, A death penalty, An angry mob, A wall of prejudice, Years of sadness, A wave of … Read on →

Dear all, I love you, I really do, please take some time out and come and see me. Step out of the traffic for a while. I can see how … Read on →

This hand, an unknown woman, reaching up, A lunge, a grab for the very edge of a cloak, Healing, hope, desperation for a dying life. A hand going down in … Read on →

He won’t fix all your problems, Though he may fix some. He won’t heal all your ills, Though he may heal some. He won’t make everything easy, Though some things … Read on →

This week I will no doubt trip up. Several times. Fall on my face and look a fool. I’ll put my feet in my mouth no doubt, Step in something … Read on →

‘I am with you always.’ For some it means putting one foot in front of another For some it means getting through the nights For some it means adventure For … Read on →

Behold I stand at the door and knock, Waiting, longing, Through the days and nights, Hoping, willing, The door to open, Or perhaps the window nearby, Just a crack, just … Read on →

In him we live and move and have our being. In him we wake and sleep, work and rest, In him we eat and drink, give and take, In him … Read on →

The darkness can never overcome it, This light, this love stronger than death, Shines on in the shadows and the emptiness. More resilient than doubts and despair, Pressure and put-downs. … Read on →

Thank you Lord that we can be honest with you, That we don’t have to wear the masks we feel we must wear in life. Thank you that nothing will … Read on →

We like to think we know, Like to claim we have it all worked out, Tidy, measured, quantified, sorted. But the invitation is to follow, to make a start. Not … Read on →

Hosea, that old, old prophet, made a promise way back, And Jesus knew it from his scraggy, ragged wilderness days. The tender voice of God. Tugging, sustaining, wooing, shaking, calming, … Read on →

Lord, we long to be strong, To be impressive and powerful, To be the greatest, the best, The last one standing. We forget that, in bloodied weakness, In stark contrast … Read on →

Someone in the crowd, So many times we feel the noise is just too loud, Life’s pressures and the clamouring of sound, Drown out the one voice who can make … Read on →

Those places that we love, Those glimpses ever sweet, The travelling which warms our hearts, The best food we can eat. Signs of You. Signs of Another World. The calming … Read on →

Joseph met his brothers, in Egyptian clothes and hair, After years of separation they could not see him there. He took the chance to trick them, set some traps along … Read on →