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MAY/JUN 2010

Plus … Special Article, Ministry Report and CWR Events Page

Amy Boucher Pye

Debbie Laycock

JUNE

MAY

The promises of God

God’s beloved child

FSC Mixed SourcesSA-COC-1502© 1996 FSC A.C.

IWED MJ 10_internals.indd 1 4/1/10 15:38:10

Debbie LaycockDebbie Laycock (née Forster, married to Joe in 2007) graduated from Cambridge in Classics and then worked for two years with an evangelistic youth project in inner-city London. She later trained in theology, church leadership and church planting with Ichthus Christian Fellowship where she has worked ever since. She is on the leadership of a congregation in East Greenwich, which she helped to plant ten years ago, and also manages the Ichthus Training Programmes. She teaches New Testament Greek and some theology and holds a certificate in Ancient Near Eastern Languages, majoring on Biblical Hebrew. She has also recently become a trustee of Know Your Bible.

amy boucher PyeAmy Boucher Pye is an American who has lived in the UK for the past dozen years after marrying an English soon-to-be vicar. She works in Christian publishing as an editor and writer, including writing regular columns in Woman Alive and Christian Marketplace as well as Bible-reading notes. When a commissioning editor at Zondervan, she enjoyed working with authors including Adrian Plass, Jeff Lucas and Michele Guinness. She delights in her two children, a six-year-old boy who adores Queen Victoria and a three-year-old girl who is as charming as she looks. She lives in North London and still supports the Minnesota Vikings.

Copyright © CWR 2010. Published 2010 by CWR, Waverley Abbey House, Waverley Lane, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8EP, UK. Tel: 01252 784700 Email: [email protected] Charity No. 294387. Registered Limited Company No. 1990308.Front cover image: Getty Images/Taxi/Jerome Tisne. Concept development, editing, design and production by CWR. Printed in England by Linney Print. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of CWR.Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are from the Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV), copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Other quotations are marked: NASB: ‘Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.’ TNIV: ‘Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, TODAY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by Biblica®. Used by permission of Biblica®. All rights reserved worldwide.’‘Mary’s Song’ from the album Walls (1984) by Lou Lewis. Despite all reasonable attempts it has proved impossible to contact the copyright holder.


WEEKEND

A young man took his girlfriend for a romantic woodland walk. He carried a large sack for which he’d give no explanation. Stopping suddenly, he

took out a roll of red carpet which he placed at his surprised girlfriend’s feet. With a great heave, he unfurled it before her, crying, ‘Go on, walk on it!’ Tingling with excitement, she followed the red carpet to the end and found a picnic basket containing champagne, glasses and an engagement ring. ‘Yes!’ she laughed, turning to kiss her fiancé who was close behind.

When God speaks promises over us, the fulfilment doesn’t fall into our laps immediately. Promises unfurl before us, like a red carpet, inviting us on a thrilling journey. They require action – this passage contains nine verbs of ‘going’! Abraham had to walk out God’s promise in his daily life. His ‘red carpet’ was long, but he stuck with it and experienced multiple blessings!

Blessing undergirds every promise from God. Let His promises guide your steps, even when fruition seems slow; unexpected blessings will flow into and out from your life!

optional further readingRead about Abraham’s multiple blessings in Genesis 13:1–18; 14:8–20; 15:1–7; 17:1–18:15; 21:1–7; Psalm 105; Matthew 1:1; John 3:16.

For reflection: Genesis 12:1–9‘… I will bless you … and you will be a blessing.’ (v.2)

May 1/2Debbie LaycockDebbie Laycock (née Forster, married to Joe in 2007) graduated from Cambridge in Classics and then worked for two years with an evangelistic youth project in inner-city London. She later trained in theology, church leadership and church planting with Ichthus Christian Fellowship where she has worked ever since. She is on the leadership of a congregation in East Greenwich, which she helped to plant ten years ago, and also manages the Ichthus Training Programmes. She teaches New Testament Greek and some theology and holds a certificate in Ancient Near Eastern Languages, majoring on Biblical Hebrew. She has also recently become a trustee of Know Your Bible.

amy boucher PyeAmy Boucher Pye is an American who has lived in the UK for the past dozen years after marrying an English soon-to-be vicar. She works in Christian publishing as an editor and writer, including writing regular columns in Woman Alive and Christian Marketplace as well as Bible-reading notes. When a commissioning editor at Zondervan, she enjoyed working with authors including Adrian Plass, Jeff Lucas and Michele Guinness. She delights in her two children, a six-year-old boy who adores Queen Victoria and a three-year-old girl who is as charming as she looks. She lives in North London and still supports the Minnesota Vikings.

Copyright © CWR 2010. Published 2010 by CWR, Waverley Abbey House, Waverley Lane, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8EP, UK. Tel: 01252 784700 Email: [email protected] Charity No. 294387. Registered Limited Company No. 1990308.Front cover image: Getty Images/Taxi/Jerome Tisne. Concept development, editing, design and production by CWR. Printed in England by Linney Print. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of CWR.Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are from the Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV), copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Other quotations are marked: NASB: ‘Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.’ TNIV: ‘Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, TODAY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by Biblica®. Used by permission of Biblica®. All rights reserved worldwide.’‘Mary’s Song’ from the album Walls (1984) by Lou Lewis. Despite all reasonable attempts it has proved impossible to contact the copyright holder.

The promises of God


Have you ever prayed a prayer you later

forgot about? Or received an answer to

prayer and neglected to thank the Lord

for it? I know I have many times. Yet when faced

with unanswered prayers, we’re often quick to feel

aggrieved with God: has He forgotten about me?

Why did Moses remind God of His commitment to

His people? Had God forgotten His promises to their

forefathers? Did Moses feel more compassion for

the people than God Himself? If God had made the

promise, why wasn’t He keeping it?

The Lord hadn’t forgotten. His anger wasn’t the cool,

detached anger of an unresponsive God, but the hot,

burning anger of a lover betrayed. Moses restated

promises already uppermost in God’s mind – not to

remind God, but to show that he still remembered them.

Even if the people had quickly forgotten their destiny,

Moses hadn’t; he shared God’s burdened heart.

Verse 11 literally means ‘Moses stroked God’s

face’. Moses was unique because he talked with God

‘face to face’. Here he reaches into God’s pain at His

people’s rebellion, as if brushing away the tears from

His cheek, assuring God that His promises mean

something to him too.

God’s promises aren’t tossed off thoughtlessly.

They’re permanent, weighty and issue from the depths

of His love. Not like many of our prayers: here today,

lost tomorrow; not important enough to come back to;

not carried in our hearts. We shouldn’t mind repeating

prayers that really matter, nor remembering promises

the Lord makes us in return. It shows Him we treasure

His words, share His desires and are willing to work

with Him to see them accomplished.

Reminding God of his promises

For prayer and reflection

has the Lord

told you to do

something you

find difficult?

Turn the

command into a

promise! Pray:

Lord, i receive

your love and the

fulfilment of this

promise. amen.

In a survey to investigate secular attitudes to the

Bible, a group of non-Christian professionals were

asked if they could quote any parts of the Bible.

They all picked one of the Ten Commandments. It’s

often God’s commands that stick in our memories more

readily than His blessings and promises.

Yet the Bible is full of God’s promises; they span

every book, almost every page! It’s our guilty

consciences and insecurities that home in on the

‘don’ts’. We read the Ten Commandments like a list of

rules, as if God were an angry schoolmaster hovering

over us with His cane. Did you miss the beautiful

promise attached to this f ifth commandment?

None of us likes being told what to do. Once as

a child, I prayed with my father at bedtime. I’d been

naughty that day, and stern words had been uttered. I

shut my eyes, praying with fervour: ‘Lord Jesus, please

help Daddy to be kind to his little girl!’ I didn’t see that

his sternness and his kindness were one and the same

thing: his love.

The truth is: God’s promises and His commands are

two sides of the same coin – like marriage vows are

both promises and the terms of a contract. We call them

promises because they arise out of a loving relationship.

Similarly, God’s commandments show us the terms

within which our relationship with Him will flourish but

also declare His loving intentions towards us.

Responding to our parents’ discipline as children

helps us to honour and obey God throughout life. Sadly,

many have bad experiences of parental discipline.

Remember: all God’s commands are spoken in love and

will release to us both the power to carry them out and

the promised blessings.

Deuteronomy 5:6–21

‘Honour your father and your mother … that it may go well with you ...’ (v.16)

commands and promisesMON May 3



remember a

promise the Lord

has spoken over

your life but is as

yet unfulfilled.

remind him of it

and ask him to

speak it to you

afresh.

Have you ever prayed a prayer you later

forgot about? Or received an answer to

prayer and neglected to thank the Lord

for it? I know I have many times. Yet when faced

with unanswered prayers, we’re often quick to feel

aggrieved with God: has He forgotten about me?

Why did Moses remind God of His commitment to

His people? Had God forgotten His promises to their

forefathers? Did Moses feel more compassion for

the people than God Himself? If God had made the

promise, why wasn’t He keeping it?

The Lord hadn’t forgotten. His anger wasn’t the cool,

detached anger of an unresponsive God, but the hot,

burning anger of a lover betrayed. Moses restated

promises already uppermost in God’s mind – not to

remind God, but to show that he still remembered them.

Even if the people had quickly forgotten their destiny,

Moses hadn’t; he shared God’s burdened heart.

Verse 11 literally means ‘Moses stroked God’s

face’. Moses was unique because he talked with God

‘face to face’. Here he reaches into God’s pain at His

people’s rebellion, as if brushing away the tears from

His cheek, assuring God that His promises mean

something to him too.

God’s promises aren’t tossed off thoughtlessly.

They’re permanent, weighty and issue from the depths

of His love. Not like many of our prayers: here today,

lost tomorrow; not important enough to come back to;

not carried in our hearts. We shouldn’t mind repeating

prayers that really matter, nor remembering promises

the Lord makes us in return. It shows Him we treasure

His words, share His desires and are willing to work

with Him to see them accomplished.

Exodus 32:1–20

‘But Moses sought the favour of the

Lord his God … “Remember

your servants …”’ (vv.11–13)

Reminding God of his promises TUES May 4

In a survey to investigate secular attitudes to the

Bible, a group of non-Christian professionals were

asked if they could quote any parts of the Bible.

They all picked one of the Ten Commandments. It’s

often God’s commands that stick in our memories more

readily than His blessings and promises.

Yet the Bible is full of God’s promises; they span

every book, almost every page! It’s our guilty

consciences and insecurities that home in on the

‘don’ts’. We read the Ten Commandments like a list of

rules, as if God were an angry schoolmaster hovering

over us with His cane. Did you miss the beautiful

promise attached to this f ifth commandment?

None of us likes being told what to do. Once as

a child, I prayed with my father at bedtime. I’d been

naughty that day, and stern words had been uttered. I

shut my eyes, praying with fervour: ‘Lord Jesus, please

help Daddy to be kind to his little girl!’ I didn’t see that

his sternness and his kindness were one and the same

thing: his love.

The truth is: God’s promises and His commands are

two sides of the same coin – like marriage vows are

both promises and the terms of a contract. We call them

promises because they arise out of a loving relationship.

Similarly, God’s commandments show us the terms

within which our relationship with Him will flourish but

also declare His loving intentions towards us.

Responding to our parents’ discipline as children

helps us to honour and obey God throughout life. Sadly,

many have bad experiences of parental discipline.

Remember: all God’s commands are spoken in love and

will release to us both the power to carry them out and

the promised blessings.

commands and promises


God promised David He’d establish his

kingdom forever. But the people strayed

away from the Lord’s purposes. Their

rebellion was so defiant that the prophet Jeremiah

records that they caused God to curse King Jehoiachin:

‘None of his offspring … will sit on the throne of David

or rule any more in Judah’ (Jer. 22:30). Thus the kingly

succession from David was cut off; how could God keep

His promise to David now?

God became man in the shape of Jesus of Nazareth.

He broke into our human history (with all its inherited

mistakes and failures passed down the generations),

taking part in it Himself. According to Luke’s genealogy,

His mother Mary was from the tribe of Judah, making

Jesus a descendant of David. But she wasn’t in the

kingly succession that ran from Jehoiachin. How could

Jesus rightfully be handed the throne of Israel? His

adopted father, Joseph, was descended from the line of

the kings. But the curse had written off that line – none

of Jehoiachin’s descendants ever did become king.

Yet Jesus was not Joseph’s blood descendant; he was

‘adopted’ into that line. As an adopted son, the curse

did not touch Him, but the right to the throne could be

legally passed on. God had found a wonderfully creative

way round the obstacle to His promise! He established

His everlasting kingdom – not just for Israel but for any

nation, tribe or tongue that would call Jesus their king.*

Has something happened in your life or your family

history that you feel disqualif ies you from God’s

promises? Even your own sin or rebellion? Remember:

nothing is too diff icult for God.

Nothing is too diff icult


‘Nothing in my

hand i bring,

simply to the

cross i cling’

(augustus m.

Toplady, 1776).

Lord Jesus,

where i feel weak

or ill-equipped

today, fill me with

your unfailing

strength. amen.

‘Against all odds’ could be the strapline

for the Christian life. The Lord chooses

the most unlikely people, resources

and methods to get His will done! Like William J.

Seymour in 1905, a black, one-eyed son of freed

slaves, the preacher behind the Azusa Street Revival

in Los Angeles and the birth of Pentecostalism. He

withstood threats and criticism against his multiracial

message from many high-flying, religious intellectuals,

not because he was especially bold, eloquent or

respectable, but because he was f illed with the Spirit.

A blonde, 21-year-old Western woman is the last

person you’d send on a mission to Afghanistan. But a

few years ago my friend faced interrogation, threats of

abduction, arrest and imprisonment in order to put a

Bible into the hands of the then Taliban leader. She got

her audience – not because of her status, wealth or

cunning, but because the Lord was with her.

Joshua saw God f ight to save His people. Yet Jesus

condemns violence (John 18:36; Matt. 26:52). In the

Old Testament, God uses surgical methods to cut out

pollutant evil forces; but in the New, through the cross,

Jesus introduces medicine that works internally in

hearts to eliminate sin and Satan’s power. Joshua, the

Hebrew name for Jesus, means ‘God saves’. This hints

that we can read Joshua’s story as a picture of the

spiritual warfare we engage in through Christ today.

Perhaps the enemy has thrown discouragement,

doubt or disaster your way. Remember: God’s promise

to f ight for His people was ultimately fulf illed in Jesus’

victory on the cross. He made His divine power

available to us to strengthen us in our battles. You

never stand and f ight alone.

Joshua 23:1–14

‘One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you ...’ (v.10)

God will fight for youWED May 5

*With thanks to my father, Roger Forster, for pointing out this fascinating insight into Jesus’ lineage.



king Jesus,

nothing is

impossible for

you! i bring to

you this difficult

situation [name

it] and i ask that

your kingdom

would come

and your will be

done. amen.

God promised David He’d establish his

kingdom forever. But the people strayed

away from the Lord’s purposes. Their

rebellion was so defiant that the prophet Jeremiah

records that they caused God to curse King Jehoiachin:

‘None of his offspring … will sit on the throne of David

or rule any more in Judah’ (Jer. 22:30). Thus the kingly

succession from David was cut off; how could God keep

His promise to David now?

God became man in the shape of Jesus of Nazareth.

He broke into our human history (with all its inherited

mistakes and failures passed down the generations),

taking part in it Himself. According to Luke’s genealogy,

His mother Mary was from the tribe of Judah, making

Jesus a descendant of David. But she wasn’t in the

kingly succession that ran from Jehoiachin. How could

Jesus rightfully be handed the throne of Israel? His

adopted father, Joseph, was descended from the line of

the kings. But the curse had written off that line – none

of Jehoiachin’s descendants ever did become king.

Yet Jesus was not Joseph’s blood descendant; he was

‘adopted’ into that line. As an adopted son, the curse

did not touch Him, but the right to the throne could be

legally passed on. God had found a wonderfully creative

way round the obstacle to His promise! He established

His everlasting kingdom – not just for Israel but for any

nation, tribe or tongue that would call Jesus their king.*

Has something happened in your life or your family

history that you feel disqualif ies you from God’s

promises? Even your own sin or rebellion? Remember:

nothing is too diff icult for God.

2 Samuel 7:4–17

‘… your throne shall be

established for ever.’ (v.16)

Nothing is too diff icult THURS May 6

‘Against all odds’ could be the strapline

for the Christian life. The Lord chooses

the most unlikely people, resources

and methods to get His will done! Like William J.

Seymour in 1905, a black, one-eyed son of freed

slaves, the preacher behind the Azusa Street Revival

in Los Angeles and the birth of Pentecostalism. He

withstood threats and criticism against his multiracial

message from many high-flying, religious intellectuals,

not because he was especially bold, eloquent or

respectable, but because he was f illed with the Spirit.

A blonde, 21-year-old Western woman is the last

person you’d send on a mission to Afghanistan. But a

few years ago my friend faced interrogation, threats of

abduction, arrest and imprisonment in order to put a

Bible into the hands of the then Taliban leader. She got

her audience – not because of her status, wealth or

cunning, but because the Lord was with her.

Joshua saw God f ight to save His people. Yet Jesus

condemns violence (John 18:36; Matt. 26:52). In the

Old Testament, God uses surgical methods to cut out

pollutant evil forces; but in the New, through the cross,

Jesus introduces medicine that works internally in

hearts to eliminate sin and Satan’s power. Joshua, the

Hebrew name for Jesus, means ‘God saves’. This hints

that we can read Joshua’s story as a picture of the

spiritual warfare we engage in through Christ today.

Perhaps the enemy has thrown discouragement,

doubt or disaster your way. Remember: God’s promise

to f ight for His people was ultimately fulf illed in Jesus’

victory on the cross. He made His divine power

available to us to strengthen us in our battles. You

never stand and f ight alone.

God will fight for you

*With thanks to my father, Roger Forster, for pointing out this fascinating insight into Jesus’ lineage.


CWR MINISTRY EVENTS


bask in the Lord’s

presence by

spending time

in quiet or with a

worship cD and

meditate on his

goodness. Let

him touch you

where you need

healing in body

or soul.

If only we’d learn to ‘sunbathe’ in the Lord’s

presence! I love to relax on a hot beach, listening to

the sea and feeling the warmth of the sun’s rays on

my back – there, for me, all the cares of life just melt away.

This verse promises us the same experience as we

bask in the beauty of our God. As we worship (revere)

Him, light, warmth and glory shine out from Christ’s

face, permeating our bodies but also our inmost beings

with His goodness.

I was once part of an a cappella quartet singing a

medley of Christian songs from over the centuries to

show the different themes in the history of worship.

Some time afterwards, a lady who had suffered from

severe depression for 12 years came to say that

during the medley something broke inside her and

she couldn’t stop weeping. From that night on she was

completely healed of her depression. Her spirit had

responded to the truths about Jesus sung over her in

that worshipful performance.

These verses picture God breaking forth into the

world like the dawn of a new day. Light rays of His

presence stream out like the pinions of a giant eagle. For

those resisting the Lord, His presence means discomfort,

a scorching furnace. But for those who love Him, who’ve

learnt to worship, waiting on His promises, bathing in His

truth, they find help and healing in His appearing.

Do you need a fresh start? Do you feel like the

disciples after the crucif ixion, labouring hard, f ishing

all night but catching nothing; confused, discouraged,

afraid? Look up, like them, and see Jesus; and with Him

the dawn breaking (John 21:1–14). He’s everything He

promises and more – worship your way into a new day

with Him.

Malachi 4:1–6

‘… for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.’ (v.2)

basking in His promisesFRI May 7

Date event Place Presenter(s)

10 May Discovering More About God’s Story Waverley Abbey House Philip Greenslade

11 May How to Disciple Others WAH Andy Peck

17 May The Time of Your life WAH Andy Peck

20 May Day of Reflection: WAH Philip Greenslade & Kathy Overton More Windows of the Soul

21 May Caring God’s Way WAH Mick Brooks & Lynn Penson

24 May Pastoring People through Life’s Crises WAH Andy Peck & Lynn Penson

25 May Summer Day for Women – Chosen WAH Michele Guinness

9 Jun Shaping Church for Today’s World WAH Bishop Graham Cray

11 Jun Decision Time – How Does God Guide Us? WAH Andy Peck

11–13 Jun Preparation for Marriage WAH Mick & Lynette Brooks with Andrew & Lynn Penson

15 Jun 7 Laws for Life (evening) WAH Mick Brooks

17 Jun Understanding Yourself, Understanding WAH Andrew & Lynn Penson Others (MBTI Basic Workshop)

18 Jun Personality and Spirituality WAH Lynn Penson

18–20 Jun Bible Discovery Weekend: Revelation WAH Philip Greenslade

19 Jun Infertility: Invisible Wounds and WAH Irene Davies & Andy Peck Unfulfilled Longings

21–25 Jun Introduction to Biblical Counselling WAH Angie Coombes, Richard Laws & team

25–27 Jun Women’s Weekend of Refreshing: WAH The Women at Waverley Team Longing for More

29 Jun Postgraduate Reunion WAH Philip Greenslade

For full details of the courses listed above or to download the full Training & Events Brochure, visit www.cwr.org.uk or call 01252 784719 (international +44 (0)1252 784719).


I love the picture of God’s everlasting arms

underneath us, upholding us in good times and

in bad. This image is one I often employ when

praying for others, such as my f ive-year-old when he’s

trying to fall asleep. He’ll ask for a ‘long prayer’, and I

am happy to oblige. He may not yet understand about

God being our refuge, but he can visualise God’s arms

always being underneath us, holding us up and giving

us strength. In this position we can rest completely,

knowing that we are safe.

Look at all of the promises for God’s beloved children

that appear in just these few verses: most blessed are

we; we will be strong and protected with locks of iron

and bronze; God rides on the heavens and clouds to

help us; God is eternal and is our refuge; underneath

are His everlasting arms; we will live in safety and will

dwell secure; we are saved by the Lord; He is our shield

and helper and glorious sword.

How can we make these images real to our hearts

and minds this day? One way is to guess how many

press-ups you could do, and think in contrast how

much stronger is the Lord, whose arms never waver.

Or picture a high-security vault in a bank, which

could be our equivalent to the iron and bronze bolt

in Bible times, and think of the protection God gives

to those He loves. The lock could be Jesus, who

places Himself around our hearts, keeping out evil.

Or meditate on God riding the clouds as He comes to

rescue us, whether from harsh words to those around

us, bitter thoughts, an unforgiving spirit, or a harmful

situation. God is our refuge, and underneath are the

everlasting arms.

riding on the clouds


Father, i don’t

always feel like

i am the beloved.

help me to

know that your

love has been

poured out into

my heart through

the holy Spirit

(see rom. 5:5).

Moses has led the Israelites through the

desert for 40 years, and they are about

to enter the promised land. He knows he

is about to die, and his f inal act is to look out at the 12

tribes of Israel and pronounce a blessing on each one.

Verse 12 contains his blessing for Benjamin, who is

called the Lord’s beloved, who will ‘rest secure in him’

and who, as ‘the one the Lord loves’, will rest ‘between

his shoulders’.

The Old Testament is f illed with such vivid images

of God’s love for us, and sometimes we miss out on its

riches as we scour the New Testament for guidance

and wisdom. This month, however, we will be rooted

in these Scriptures as we see evidence of God’s

everlasting love. Indeed, like Benjamin, we are God’s

beloved, and He longs that we would rest secure in

Him. He holds us between His shoulders, as does the

Shepherd who gathers the lambs close to His heart

(see Isa. 40:11) and who joyfully hoists on His shoulders

the lost sheep (see Luke 15:5).

Knowing that we are God’s beloved gives us our

core identity. As we live out of this true centre, we

are able to look up to God and receive His words of

love, aff irmation and affection. We can then become

free from the tyranny of people-pleasing or wrongly

seeking the attention of others. We can realise that we

are beautiful and lovely in His sight, and stop hating

ourselves, whether our bodies or some part of our

personality. We can be His vessels of love to reach out

to a thirsty world.

Let God’s rich promises soak into your very being

this month. He has created you and formed you, and has

a never-ending store of love for you. His words are true.

Deuteronomy 33:1–5,12

‘Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long ...’ (v.12)

God’s beloved childTUES JUN 1



Lord God, in

you we dwell in

safety. help me

to see how you

have created

and formed me

as your special

child. i want to

experience

your arms of

love this day.

I love the picture of God’s everlasting arms

underneath us, upholding us in good times and

in bad. This image is one I often employ when

praying for others, such as my f ive-year-old when he’s

trying to fall asleep. He’ll ask for a ‘long prayer’, and I

am happy to oblige. He may not yet understand about

God being our refuge, but he can visualise God’s arms

always being underneath us, holding us up and giving

us strength. In this position we can rest completely,

knowing that we are safe.

Look at all of the promises for God’s beloved children

that appear in just these few verses: most blessed are

we; we will be strong and protected with locks of iron

and bronze; God rides on the heavens and clouds to

help us; God is eternal and is our refuge; underneath

are His everlasting arms; we will live in safety and will

dwell secure; we are saved by the Lord; He is our shield

and helper and glorious sword.

How can we make these images real to our hearts

and minds this day? One way is to guess how many

press-ups you could do, and think in contrast how

much stronger is the Lord, whose arms never waver.

Or picture a high-security vault in a bank, which

could be our equivalent to the iron and bronze bolt

in Bible times, and think of the protection God gives

to those He loves. The lock could be Jesus, who

places Himself around our hearts, keeping out evil.

Or meditate on God riding the clouds as He comes to

rescue us, whether from harsh words to those around

us, bitter thoughts, an unforgiving spirit, or a harmful

situation. God is our refuge, and underneath are the

everlasting arms.

Deuteronomy 33:24–29

‘The eternal God is your refuge, and

underneath are the everlasting

arms.’ (v.27)

riding on the clouds WED JUN 2

Moses has led the Israelites through the

desert for 40 years, and they are about

to enter the promised land. He knows he

is about to die, and his f inal act is to look out at the 12

tribes of Israel and pronounce a blessing on each one.

Verse 12 contains his blessing for Benjamin, who is

called the Lord’s beloved, who will ‘rest secure in him’

and who, as ‘the one the Lord loves’, will rest ‘between

his shoulders’.

The Old Testament is f illed with such vivid images

of God’s love for us, and sometimes we miss out on its

riches as we scour the New Testament for guidance

and wisdom. This month, however, we will be rooted

in these Scriptures as we see evidence of God’s

everlasting love. Indeed, like Benjamin, we are God’s

beloved, and He longs that we would rest secure in

Him. He holds us between His shoulders, as does the

Shepherd who gathers the lambs close to His heart

(see Isa. 40:11) and who joyfully hoists on His shoulders

the lost sheep (see Luke 15:5).

Knowing that we are God’s beloved gives us our

core identity. As we live out of this true centre, we

are able to look up to God and receive His words of

love, aff irmation and affection. We can then become

free from the tyranny of people-pleasing or wrongly

seeking the attention of others. We can realise that we

are beautiful and lovely in His sight, and stop hating

ourselves, whether our bodies or some part of our

personality. We can be His vessels of love to reach out

to a thirsty world.

Let God’s rich promises soak into your very being

this month. He has created you and formed you, and has

a never-ending store of love for you. His words are true.

God’s beloved child


Early on in my journey towards self-acceptance,

I went to a retreat centre to reflect and pray. I

had recently ended a destructive relationship

and was considering why I had entered it in the f irst

place. I realised that when I met this man I felt insecure

and didn’t like myself, and therefore I responded to his

affections instantly.

While praying about all of this, and asking the Lord

to give me a vision of myself as His beautiful daughter,

I woke up one morning uncharacteristically early.

Running through my mind was the song ‘As the Deer

Pants for the Water’ and, as I sang the words, it felt like a

love note from God. I knew deep in my soul that He was

the ‘real joy giver’ and that I was the ‘apple of his eye’

– although I wasn’t sure what it meant to be the fruit of

someone’s vision.

Before Moses bestows his f inal blessings on Israel,

he uses this phrase in his song for them (see Deut.

32:10). After researching, I learned that in Hebrew it

means the ‘little man in the eye’, or one’s reflection

in another person’s pupil. But in old English the word

‘apple’ was substituted, as it was a common spherical

object. Thus this phrase connotes something that is

most precious and in need of protection. This is what

we are to the Lord.

It took a painful broken relationship for me to realise

that I am the apple of the Lord’s eye. How about you? Do

you accept that God will hide you in the shelter of His

wings, as a mother hen protects her little chicks under

her strong wings? He is all-powerful, yet tenderly cares

for His young, keeping us safe in the midst of the storms.

Know that God wants to protect and cherish you, His

most precious daughter.

God our protector


The Lord

‘brought me out

into a spacious

place; he rescued

me because he

delighted in me.’

(Psa. 18:19)

One of my favourite lines in the Psalms is:

‘The boundary lines have fallen for me in

pleasant places’ (v.6). It speaks of the Lord

placing us where we need to be to f lourish. Some years

ago, however, I had to pray this verse through gritted

teeth. I thought the Lord was directing me to move

from Washington, DC to Chicago to work with some

wonderful people there. But as the plans came crashing

down I realised that I had not heard aright. My heart, like

my hopes and dreams, was in tatters.

As I re-entered my life in DC, I could only ask with my

will that the Lord would make this verse come true. The

boundary lines did not feel pleasant, for I longed to be in

Chicago. But as I kept my hand in the Lord’s and walked

forward each day in obedience, God changed my outlook

and helped me to mature in my faith and in hearing

Him. As I trusted Him, I became content with my lot and

became open to God’s surprises. Indeed, a couple of

years later I met my English husband-to-be and embarked

on a new adventure on the other side of the Atlantic.

King David doesn’t seem to have penned his song

with gritted teeth, for he speaks of his heart being glad

and his tongue rejoicing (v.9). He proclaims the Lord’s

faithfulness to His dearly loved children as he recounts

how the Israelites entered Canaan, the promised land,

and how Yahweh Himself divided up the land. The Lord

has made his ‘lot secure’ and given him ‘a delightful

inheritance’ (vv.5,6).

As His beloved children, God draws our boundary

lines in pleasant places and gives us a delightful

inheritance – even if we don’t recognise it immediately.

This day, think of how He has led you to pastures green.

Psalm 16:1–11

‘Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.’ (v.5)

Drawing the boundary linesTHURS JUN 3



‘i will call on you,

my God, for you

will answer me;

turn your ear to

me and hear my

prayer. Show

me the wonders

of your great

love ...’ (Psa.

17:6–7, TNiV)

Early on in my journey towards self-acceptance,

I went to a retreat centre to reflect and pray. I

had recently ended a destructive relationship

and was considering why I had entered it in the f irst

place. I realised that when I met this man I felt insecure

and didn’t like myself, and therefore I responded to his

affections instantly.

While praying about all of this, and asking the Lord

to give me a vision of myself as His beautiful daughter,

I woke up one morning uncharacteristically early.

Running through my mind was the song ‘As the Deer

Pants for the Water’ and, as I sang the words, it felt like a

love note from God. I knew deep in my soul that He was

the ‘real joy giver’ and that I was the ‘apple of his eye’

– although I wasn’t sure what it meant to be the fruit of

someone’s vision.

Before Moses bestows his f inal blessings on Israel,

he uses this phrase in his song for them (see Deut.

32:10). After researching, I learned that in Hebrew it

means the ‘little man in the eye’, or one’s reflection

in another person’s pupil. But in old English the word

‘apple’ was substituted, as it was a common spherical

object. Thus this phrase connotes something that is

most precious and in need of protection. This is what

we are to the Lord.

It took a painful broken relationship for me to realise

that I am the apple of the Lord’s eye. How about you? Do

you accept that God will hide you in the shelter of His

wings, as a mother hen protects her little chicks under

her strong wings? He is all-powerful, yet tenderly cares

for His young, keeping us safe in the midst of the storms.

Know that God wants to protect and cherish you, His

most precious daughter.

Psalm 17:6–8

‘Keep me as the apple of your eye;

hide me in the shadow of your

wings.’ (v.8)

God our protector FRI JUN 4

One of my favourite lines in the Psalms is:

‘The boundary lines have fallen for me in

pleasant places’ (v.6). It speaks of the Lord

placing us where we need to be to f lourish. Some years

ago, however, I had to pray this verse through gritted

teeth. I thought the Lord was directing me to move

from Washington, DC to Chicago to work with some

wonderful people there. But as the plans came crashing

down I realised that I had not heard aright. My heart, like

my hopes and dreams, was in tatters.

As I re-entered my life in DC, I could only ask with my

will that the Lord would make this verse come true. The

boundary lines did not feel pleasant, for I longed to be in

Chicago. But as I kept my hand in the Lord’s and walked

forward each day in obedience, God changed my outlook

and helped me to mature in my faith and in hearing

Him. As I trusted Him, I became content with my lot and

became open to God’s surprises. Indeed, a couple of

years later I met my English husband-to-be and embarked

on a new adventure on the other side of the Atlantic.

King David doesn’t seem to have penned his song

with gritted teeth, for he speaks of his heart being glad

and his tongue rejoicing (v.9). He proclaims the Lord’s

faithfulness to His dearly loved children as he recounts

how the Israelites entered Canaan, the promised land,

and how Yahweh Himself divided up the land. The Lord

has made his ‘lot secure’ and given him ‘a delightful

inheritance’ (vv.5,6).

As His beloved children, God draws our boundary

lines in pleasant places and gives us a delightful

inheritance – even if we don’t recognise it immediately.

This day, think of how He has led you to pastures green.

Drawing the boundary lines


WEEKEND For Women Around the World … a New mum’s Special Gift

Becoming a mother is a life-transforming experience.

Catherine Butcher, herself a mother, and Editor of the Mother’s Union magazine Families First, has written a delightful book for those who have just embarked on motherhood. A New Mum’s Special Gift draws together from many sources a mix of prayers, thoughts and nuggets of wisdom.

One new mum kindly gave us her thoughts on the book:

‘Every child truly is a gift from God, and a new mother is changed forever by the joys and challenges of miraculously bringing a precious life into the world. In this beautiful book, motherhood is celebrated and raised to the high place it deserves. At the same time, the realities of sleepless nights, worries and struggles are addressed, and God’s timeless and soothing wisdom

During our weekends together, we will be pondering some of the New Testament texts that reveal God’s infinite love. Today’s reading comes

towards the end of Jesus’ life, after He and the disciples have eaten their final supper together. Now He is preparing them for His death, resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit, all while allaying their fears.

He speaks of the love of the Father, Son and Spirit, and points to God’s amazing gift, His indwelling presence: ‘I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you’ (v.20). God loves us so much that He gives His very self to live within us, that we might enjoy life to the fullest. He comes and makes His home with us – in us. When His indwelling presence overflows from within, we can extend forgiveness to those who wound us; we can befriend the frazzled mum in the shop queue; we can stand up for an unpopular truth.

How does Christ living in you reveal Himself to those whom you meet?

optional further reading John 15:1–27; Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2009).

For reflection: John 14:15–27‘My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make

our home with them.’ (v.23, TNIV)

Christ’s presence within us

JUN 5/6

CWR TODAY


inspiring - cwr · shut my eyes, praying with fervour: ‘lord jesus, please help daddy to be kind...

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