Lyrical Riffs

Sometimes we open the book, Take a stroll through the pages, Weave between the words, Take the hand of one or two phrases, And sidestep some of the others. Sometimes … Read on →

For thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. I won’t stay at a distance. I will come out into the … Read on →

There is a whisper, a quiet call. A still small voice, Willing us to come out from life’s crevices, From the rocks we hide behind. A subtle, hopeful invitation, ‘Come … Read on →

I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life, I am the resurrection. I am a fresh start and a new beginning, A voice in the wilderness … Read on →

We all have our longings O Lord, And we bring them to you as part of our worship. As Moses stood on that mountain top and looked down, Saw the … Read on →

We can bring everything to God, nothing is off limits with Him. Nothing too difficult, too harsh, too dark, Nothing too strange, too frightening, too unexpected, We can bring everything … Read on →

When we fear for the future and wonder what it holds, When the weight of our worries brings us down, We have a God who understands. When we are angry … Read on →

To offer a cup of water, A mug of tea, A helping hand, A moment to listen. To bring a kind word, A smile of encouragement, A sign of interest, … Read on →

As they were crossing the wilderness to the Promised Land the people cried out to Moses for food. Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘I am going to rain bread … Read on →

A Prayer Exercise – based on Matthew 18 vv 15-20 Begin by reading the following passage from  Matthew 18: 15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out … Read on →

When we are tempted to put others down Help us to overcome evil with good When we long to pass on the latest piece of gossip Help us to overcome … Read on →

They wait with bated breath as he walks to the front. ‘Love one another.’ He clears his throat and they live in hope. ‘Love one another.’ They can still recall … Read on →

Stop. Listen. Step aside From the rushing Of your mind. Take a moment, A second, A pause. His presence, Not the idea, The promise, The notion. But him, Here now, … Read on →

When sadness triumphs over joy, When darkness threatens to put out the light, Creation groans. When fear knocks at our door, When despair threatens to destroy our hope, Creation groans. … Read on →

This week’s Lyrical Riff is a reflection on a few verses from Psalm 33 verse 13-15: ‘The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he … Read on →

The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. At times we get the picture wrong Lord, we don’t see you clearly, The LORD is … Read on →

What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Will politics, or fake news, or headlines … Read on →

O LORD, you have searched us and known us. You know when we sit down and when we rise up. You know when we are full of hope and enthusiasm, … Read on →

Yet you have made us a little lower than the angels, You have crowned us with glory and honour. You have given us responsibility over the works of your hands … Read on →

1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. Bring your silence and your shouting, As introverts and extroverts. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; Come into his … Read on →

We may gaze up at the night sky, squinting to see the lights of heaven, the shapes and wonders of God’s invention, the glimpses of his landing lights as they … Read on →

In the beginning, When all was not as it is now; In the darkness, When light was just a twinkle in the Creator’s eye; In the past, When history was … Read on →

Abraham was 75 when he followed God’s call, And took a step into the unknown. Anna was 84 when she spotted the baby Jesus, In a temple distracted by busyness. … Read on →

So many stones, Small, large, smooth, jagged, new, old, Fitting into this craggy, jigsaw body, Different sizes, different shapes. All vital, all part of a bigger picture, Not a construction … Read on →

Like badly worded emails, There are spelling mistakes, The grammar is all adrift, And the Wi-Fi signal intermittent. We veer off at random tangents, Waffling terribly sometimes, We get our … Read on →

Those dry bones get everywhere In the workplaces and job centres In the homes and high streets In the schools and colleges Those dry bones get everywhere In the shops … Read on →

We pick up our pencils, go into a booth, And put our cross in a box. Quietly, secretly, all on our own, We put our cross in a box. Considering … Read on →

I am the gate, whoever comes through me will find life. Others come to take and to steal, I have come to bring you life, and life in abundance. Others … Read on →

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, Slow to become angry and rich in love. ‘I no longer call you servants,’ said Jesus, ‘Now I call you my friends.’ The Lord … Read on →

1 Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. My walk is not blameless, I often break your laws, O Lord. 2 Happy … Read on →

We stand on the touch line of life, and we choose our sides. Paul or Apollos. This side or that. We pick the best, the winning team. The spiritual giants, … Read on →

We stand today with The poor church The persecuted church The grieving church The rejected church The pure-hearted church As part of the merciful church The lowly church The church … Read on →

Praise the Lord! Praise him in the heights, Praise him on the earth, And everywhere you go. He made us and knows and loves us. He is the perfect father. … Read on →

Mixing Cement They kneel and pray, In their minds they’re mixing cement. Sometimes silent, Sometimes pleading, Sometimes grateful, Sometimes needing. Reminding themselves, Quietening themselves, Stilling themselves, Strengthening themselves. Waiting, questioning, … Read on →

Drawing on John chapter 4, and a Samaritan woman at a well… The people stare. They can’t quite believe it. Is it really happening? This woman, the talk of the … Read on →

He never said he was God. Instead he left trails, dropped hints, footprints in the dirt. He never said it would be easy, Straightforward, or without its pressures. He never … Read on →

As Jesus ventured down the high street alone, He studied the posters of rocks and stones. ‘These make nourishing meals,’ the straplines read. But Jesus spoke quietly to himself and … Read on →

We come to another river And find ourselves wrestling again Our true selves reflected back at us in the water, Wrestling with ourselves Wrestling with an angel Wrestling with God. … Read on →

We know much of Good Friday With its pain and loss. We know of Easter Sunday With its laughter and resurrection. But many times we find ourselves on Easter Saturday, … Read on →

I will intend to be different. Set higher goals, Climb those mountains, And fell those giants. I may have good days, I will no doubt have bad. And I will … Read on →

A bonus Christmas Thursday Riff… The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not understood it. Not comprehended, Not grasped the full meaning Of the light of God … Read on →

Life Peace Satisfaction Self-acceptance An end to criticism And all recrimination A glimpse of reality A kingdom of colour and joy Music and humour that uplifts The kind of compassion … Read on →

We find ourselves captive to this message This story which has set us free Prisoners of grace and truth The divine jailer setting us free to live with him To … Read on →

We believe we are not an accident. We believe this world is not as it should be. We believe in hope. We believe in truth and kindness. We admit we … Read on →

The wilderness will blossom, the desert will bloom. The dry places will break out in songs of praise. In the mountains and the valleys and the plains in between, In … Read on →

My love is small. My generosity is small. My strength, my loyalty, my courage, all small. My dedication, my patience, my self-control, my forgiveness, all small. My peace, my hope, … Read on →

Drawing on Isaiah 35 vv 3-4 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those with aching, fearful hearts, “Hold on, don’t give up! Your God … Read on →

My ways are not your ways, says the Lord My thoughts not yours My ways are beyond anything you can imagine My thoughts more extraordinary, more wonderful My thoughts wiser … Read on →

For a moment all else pauses. For an eternal split second all sound is gone. All but the rasp of his single breath, Encapsulating a billion gasps for air. His … Read on →