before the Magi picked out their gifts they paid attention to waht was happening in the world around them to work out what to do next.
Before we begin the journey of the New Year we need to give God the gift of attention so that we may hear clearly what God is saying.
in a world that remains deaf to the song of the angels no matter how many times they come to us in our dreams what are we to do?
We must do the same as Joseph did, ‘Get up… take the child, and go.’ Just as Joseph and Mary carried the Child who then carried them in to the life after life; so must we.
Whispers of His Power – Amy Carmichael [Note: each year I aim to post a Daily Blog of quotes from faithful Christians to help encourage us on our journey. In previous year these have been compendiums of mostly Victorian Christians. During 2026 I aim to publish daily reflections on Scripture from Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur.[i] A missionary from… Continue reading Whispers of His Power – Introduction
For this Christmas, for our Last Christmas, and especially for that final Christmas when we will sing in tune with heaven.
We live because Christ was born amongst us.
We can depart in peace because Christ came to live among us.
The angel announces a saviour, a way of salvation, that transcends the old laws of punishment and revenge replacing it with the gentle healing touch from the hand of a baby.
Jesu is the ointment for our healing, the salve for our souls.
These are the signs of the season…
Eyes and ears are opened.
Limpers and Lepers are welcomed.
Those who seem dead to our common life are born again.
Good News is shared with those who never thought they could afford or were worthy of it.
..and we are the ones who have been called to do this.
In the end it’s not about ‘wars and rumours of war’ nor is it about ‘one person being taken and the other left’. It is about keeping our eyes on Jesus.
It is about living Advent lives, watching and waiting and working for the Return of the King.
We have a King who forgives – we are called to be a people who forgive.
We have a King who saves – we are called to be a people who offer salvation.
We have a King who is innocent – we are called to be a people who, even imperfectly…aim to live lives of purity.
We have a King who remembers – we are called to be a people who will not leave anyone out of the arms of love stretched out on the Cross.
Hatred and darkness comes and will return again and again. We may feel, as did the Pevensie children in Narnia, that it is ‘always winter but never Christmas.’
But there is always a time of darkness before the dawn of Christmas. Christmas is coming, the reign of the Wicked Witch will end and we will find ourselves living with all those who have got home ahead of us who live now the sunlit uplands of Aslan’s own land.
Commonplace Christianity is often a very poor and trivial affair; an affair of ceremonies and opinions and feelings;
Suffolk Vicar 