Nick Taylor

Proverbs 3:5-6
http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Proverbs+3%3A5-6

As I get older my experiences of life, myself, and others makes me aware of how unreliable, unexpected, and even random life can be. I can also feel anxious and less confident about all the decisions each day brings, whether they be large or small. I am therefore finding it extremely freeing and reassuring to let God make the decisions for me.
For years I think my method was: ‘This is what I plan to do today; God, please bless me as I do it’. It ended up in workaholism for me, and concern about living up to the expectations I imagined others had of me, or which I had of myself. And there was no end to what I could ‘plan to do today’!!
God has turned this on its head for me. Now I try to let my method be: ‘What are you doing today God? Show me how I can help you’. And I remember Jesus’ words in John 12 v.26 ‘Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am there will my servant be also’. The result is a sense of God going ahead with his plans, and me following after to fit in with them, and do whatever he has lined up.
When ‘interruptions’ come they’re seen as part of God’s plan so are not actually interruptions at all, but just something I hadn’t expected, and God will manage them effectively through me if I let him.
This brings back enjoyment and spontaneity into life, instead of frustration that the day did not work out ‘as I had planned’!!!!!

Constance Booth

Romans 8:28
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208:28;&version=31;;

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.

If you can hold on to this in difficult times, it helps.

Margaret Rogers

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Life consists of constant change and the only thing that is unchanged is Christ’s constant love, and his abiding presence in every situation. Nothing can separate us from his love. The joy of the Lord is our strength.

John Gay

1 Timothy 1:15-17

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners— of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Choosing a passage has been as bad as trying to choose 8 discs for the desert Island - and the jury is still out on that! The reason I have chosen this one is because this passage first showed me the power of the Holy Spirit working through his word, the Bible.

I have said the first verse hundreds of times as a child and adult. It is one of the 'comfortable words' that used to be said every week in the church I went to when I was growing up. Yet that set form never gives the whole verse. It was hearing the Welsh Baptist minister, a brilliant preacher, who eventually became my training course tutor, preach on the verse, putting in the bit normally missing, that made me sit bolt upright in my seat.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners......of whom I am the worst.

Those last six words give comfort and assurance to those who feel for any particular reason that they are unworthy of God, or that perhaps God is not interested in them. If God is interested enough in Paul, a zealous persecutor of the church, to make him an apostle, and one who arguably outdid the rest in zeal for the Lord, then God is interested in any and all of us.
I was working my vocation to ministry out at this time. I was shocked, not because I felt unworthy, but because I realised up to that moment I was so smug I didn't know what 'grace' was...and suddenly I did. Read the rest of the passage and you will see why Paul had such confidence to pray as he does to finish. Praise be to God through Christ, Bless his holy name that he should also take pity on me also! How could I not love him!

Related to this is a couple of verses from Psalm 51 'Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my faults and my sin is ever before me.' This is the little prayer I say when I have prepared the table, just before the Eucharistic Prayer when I wash my hands. But even though I am unworthy, praise and thanks to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ that he has put his Spirit in me through grace to minister to his people on his behalf. What good fortune to have the privilege to do it on his behalf. Thanks be to God!

Geoff Winterson

1 Corinthians 12:12-31
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2012:12-31&version=31

(v18) But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be.

I like this verse in particular because it embodies the verses quoted above about the different functions of each separate part of the Body of Christ. It is very easy to feel inadequate when not able to do certain things, but this verse reminds me that we all share in the one body,
we all have our own part to play, and God will lead us to do that for which we are best equipped.

Ian Pinder

Genesis 1:1
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genisis%201:1&version=31

“In the beginning, God…”

These are the first four words of the bible and a phrase familiar to everyone with a church background. It was the text taken for the sermon at the wedding service when Rachel and I were married. The message of the sermon was that if we put God first in all things we won’t go far wrong in life. I cannot claim to have done this as much as I should, but it is certainly advice worth passing on.

Peter Westcott

Psalm 139:1-14
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139:1-14&version=31

I've been watching your Lent Blog with interest, have so far not found one of my favourites. It is Psalm 139, the first 14 verses. I think I first looked this up after viewing the web site of the RAF memorial at Runnymede, ( I'm an “old” RAF National Service “bod”). I'm omitting the later verses as various translations seem to give vastly differing meanings. Anyway, I find verses 1 to 14, in whatever translation, very thought making.

Luke Howse

Genesis 6:11 – 9:17
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%206:11-9:17&version=31

I like Noah’s ark because God sent a flood to make a fresh start and get the baddies far away, and I like swimming! The rainbow is what I like and it shows that God will never send a giant flood like that again.

Chris Howse

Romans 8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I like Paul’s letters. I know he divides opinion as he was very much a man of his time, but I still like him. Paul seems to have been a great do-er - everything is done to the best of his ability - it is just a pity that he possessed this enthusiasm before his conversion when he was persecuting the early Church.

When I started to read Romans I found it very difficult to follow. I wanted to give up but persevered and I found the further I read, the more I got out of the book. Things started to make sense, Romans was chasing me I could not stop reading it.

Sometimes God’s grace finds me when battling with a Bible passage, trying to make sense of it for me and the times we live in; but sometimes, having a simple faith, I just want things spelt out, this is what Paul does for me here. These words are a great comfort.

Coryn Howse

The Easter story

I chose this story because it shows how much God loves us and he wanted to show us how much he really does love us by sacrificing his only son. Because Jesus is God it’s like him sacrificing himself so when people suffer in the world God knows what it feels like because he has been there and done that on the cross.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Cathryn Howse

Revelation 7:13-17 and 22:12-17
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%207:13-17&version=31
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2022:12-17;&version=31;;

I have struggled to choose a favourite Bible passage, not only because I haven’t read it all (!), but also because I see the Bible as a ‘living book’ with different message for different situations and often take comfort or seek guidance from various passages.

Thus said, I think my favourite book has to be Revelation because there is just so much in it and such amazing and fantastic imagery of beings and places outside of our imaginings. I think that God is much much greater than our human perception and Revelation is just a glimpse of happenings beyond our human experience. I’ve never managed to read the whole book as it’s so complex with much symbolism and terrific visions of beasts coming out of the sea, but I especially like Chapter 7 where the blood of Jesus has made the robes of the people white, and they are all in God’s care when He “will wipe every tear from their eyes”. What an amazing advert for washing powder this would make – the black robe of sin is washed in blood and comes out whiter than white!

The washing of these robes is mentioned later in Chapter 22 as those who have washed in blood are permitted to enter through the gates. Then Jesus proclaims his message to all, as the bright morning star or indeed the light of the world, “the Spirit and the bride say come……let anyone who is thirsty come.”

Laurie Jeffery

Luke 15:11-31
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2015:11-31;&version=31;;

My favourite bible story is the prodigal son – because it demonstrates love and forgiveness available to us all – even me!

Jenny Jeffery

John 21:15-17
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2021:15-17&version=31

Matthew 14:22-34
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2014:22-34%20;&version=31;;

I have been fortunate to visit the Holy Land twice and both these readings were hugely significant to me whilst I was there and over the years since. They were very important to me as they became part of my call to the ordained ministry.

John 21:15-17
On the shores of Lake Galilee I listened to these verses - a conversation between Jesus and Peter. The conversation became one between Jesus and myself.
Read the passage yourself and insert your own name instead of Peter.
Ask God to show you what “Feed my sheep” means for you? For each of us it will be different, but we are all called to be part of the mission to help build the Kingdom of God.
For me it became part of my call to ordination and I have those words “Feed my Sheep” embroidered on one of my stoles.

Matthew 14:22-34
Whilst in a boat on Lake Galilee I reflected on these verses from the Gospels.
V28 “Lord if it is really you calling me, order me to come out of the water (boat) to you”
V29 “come “ answered Jesus. So Peter got out of the boat and started walking.
The boat felt like my safe, comfort zone, the familiar things in my life. Yet I knew I had to reach out to Jesus, to take a risk, to put my life more than ever before into his hands.
V31 at once Jesus reached out and grabbed hold of him and said “How little faith you have – why did you doubt?”
Here was a new test of my faith – it was more than just a toe in the water! A new direction, new possibilities to explore but also a new assurance and confidence that this call to ministry was from God himself.
V”1 “Don’t be afraid I am with you “ I will hold you resound in my ears frequently.

Incidentally if I had been born a boy apparently I would have been called Peter!

Yvonne Haggett

John 15:14
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2015:12-14&version=31

This has special significance for me because it was the text taken by the Bishop of Bedford for his sermon at my Confirmation at Baldock, Hertfordshire, over fifty years ago.In the Authorised Version, which of course the Bishop used at that time, it reads: "Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you." The New English Bible has "You are my friends, if you do what I command you."

Jesus said this to his disciples after supper in the upper room shortly before Judas Iscariot went out to betray him to the chief priests. In the two preceding verses, verses 12 and 13, Jesus explains that his chief commandment to his disciples is that they should love one another: there is, he says, no greater love than this, that a man should lay down his life for his friends.

Of course, he knew that he was about to be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice on the cross, so that all his friends might be saved. And I knew, as I came newly confirmed out of church, that I had a friend in Jesus, a friend who would never let me down.

Martin Tidy

ISAIAH 42:3

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not put out”

As a rare churchgoer, with a faith clinging on by its fingertips in the face of the scale of human suffering and what science increasingly tells us about how we and the universe are made, this verse remains a profound encouragement to me. It tells me that God, as demonstrated in the Spirit-filled life and example of his Servant, shows infinite mercy towards those whose spirit has been left bruised and smouldering by life’s twists and turns. The image of Jesus sustaining in being things which would be regarded as next to useless and only worth discarding by the standards of our society particularly speaks to me at this time of unemployment in my own life, when I have been labelled “redundant”. The picture conjured up in this verse, that of God’s grace towards the vulnerable, is for me the heart of the Gospel. Grace being the undeserved favour of God not earned by anything we can do. Remembering that is a constant struggle, particularly when my faith seems so fragile and impotent. But, as Saint Bono of Dublin himself wrote, “Blessing’s not just for the ones who kneel...luckily”.

The quote above is taken from the song "City of Blinding Lights" and can be viewed by clicking on this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd01FObU3Q4 the line comes right at the end of the song.

Ruth Taylor

Isaiah 40:28-31
http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Isaiah+40%3A28-31

I have chosen this bible passage because it always lifts my spirits and helps me feel the strong love of God. The verse [31] ‘those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles’, brings back poignant memories. My sister Clare lived alongside a lake on Vancouver Island. Sometimes eagles would be seen rising from the trees, and soaring across the lake close to her house. In August 2003 we watched these birds with Clare as she lay dying of a brain tumour. The words from Isaiah were spoken as Nick celebrated Communion outside by the lakeside. Clare was able to join us on several occasions for the service, and we were joined by family and close friends.

‘He gives power to the faint and strengthens the powerless’ [29] – the words gave us all courage and strength at this sad time. Our God is an everlasting God, and his love is there for us all, whatever we are going through.

Helena Bird

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

This saying to me highlights the fact that we should never trust our own human understanding when it comes to God. We, as humans we made by God for God, we should never strive to understand him. It is not within our own capacity to understand God. If we could understand God then we would be as great as God, which of course we are not.

We should never trust our own judgement over God. Personally I can’t understand why you would. God is greater than we could possibly imagine. He is unknowable and yet knows everything. He is the ultimate source of guidance. Trust in him and you are sorted. He will guide and watch over you for the whole of eternity, if you let him of course.

Trusting in God means surrendering our own human understanding and following in the guidance of God. If you ask him then of course he will lead you. Trusting in God means that if you feel he is calling you to do something you don’t consider it with your own reasoning. You do it. God knows you, your past, present and future. He laid down the path that you follow. He is the reason that you are. That doesn’t mean that you can’t think. It just means that you must ultimately accept that God is right.

Carole Smith

Philippians 4:8

“In conclusion, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honourable. “

I have a lot of ‘trouble’ with a great deal of what Paul has to say – but I just think this is a good piece of advice – and, if followed, would lead to many more happy and satisfied people !

Janet Jones

Matthew 26:69-75
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:69-75;&version=31;

John 21:15-19
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2021:15-19;&version=31;;

The denial of Christ by Peter in Matthew 26:69-75 and his loving reinstatement by our Lord in John 21:15-19, which shows that even after the best people have made appalling mistakes, they can be forgiven.

Mike Jones

John 1:1-14
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201:1-14&version=31

This is a poetic evocation of the reason for Christ's coming to earth. It is very difficult to read well!

Chris Michell

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

These are verses of encouragement to all Christians at times when things may not be going well or when we feel surrounded by indifference and hostility to our faith. It is great to know that to God we are part of his team of light-bringers to a world that really needs to take on board the directions He has given us about caring for others and for our planet.

Nick Taylor

John 15:9-17
http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=John+15%3A9-17

Those who've been in my study in the vicarage will have seen a framed hand-written version of this, which I did during an 8-day individually-guided retreat, while I was on sabbatical in 2006.
The passage means a lot to me because it condenses into these verses so much of what Christianity is about.

It reminds me that the biggest challenge to us, and the basis of most religions, is love - love coming from God and being allowed to flow through us to the world around.
I believe we don't spend enough time appreciating and experiencing God's love for us, and consequently aren't very well-stocked with love for other people or ourselves.
The passage invites us into an intimate relationship with the Holy Trinity, to be part of the relationship which exists between the Father and the Son. Then the Holy Spirit can freely produce God's fruit in us. We need to spend more time feasting on this relationship into which God invites us.

Stuart Gunn

Galatians 3:28 (Good News Bible)

So there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, between slaves and freemen, between men and women; you are all one in union with Christ Jesus.

It seemed to be important to me when I was teaching equal opportunities as part of a PGCE teacher training programme for University of Plymouth. There was great emphasis on this whole idea of equal opportunities within education and indeed within the wider society. It also felt as if we were teaching concepts about relationships between people which were quite new and even novel! I often drew my colleagues' attention to this Bible reading as an example of Christ's wisdom and his concern that people of all types and conditions should be treated with respect and fairness - a very early equal opportunities creed!

Pauline Michell

Psalm 62:1a (NIV)
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2062;&version=31;;

A Favourite verse from the Bible – that’s difficult! There are many. I’ve just made a long list from which to choose one. I imagine many people would choose John 3:16 – the basis for our faith. However, I’m going to choose a verse that has been brought to my attention recently.

Psalm 62:1a. "My soul finds rest in God alone." (NIV)

This is because I am endeavouring to develop the more contemplative side of prayer. My prayers can all too easily develop into “shopping lists” of requests for this person or that cause etc. As Christians I believe we need to spend more time just “being” with God. I don’t find it easy, but I believe it’s necessary for our spiritual health and for all that we endeavour to do as Christians.

Brian Underwood

Luke 11:9-13 Ask, Seek and you will find.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2011:9-13&version=31

The passage encourages us be open to ask and seek in prayer when we feel in need of spiritual help and guidance likening God's response to that of a father responding to his son, but even more so.

Jean Underwood

1 John 4:7-16 God is Love.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20john%204:7-16&version=31

Chosen because it reminds us that God sent His Son into the world to teach us His way and to be the means for forgiveness of our sins. We are encouraged to love one another and if we do then his love will shine through us.

Babs Winterson

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I love these verses, partly because they tell me that nothing is too small or insignificant to take to our heavenly Father in prayer. It is easy to try and manage on our own and not bother God with what seems like trivia, compared to the troubles of the world. But think how we love it when our young children or grandchildren talk to us at length about anything. We just don’t want that special time to end, and God’s love for us is far, far greater than anything we can understand.

The words ‘with thanksgiving’ remind us to keep a balance in prayer. It is wrong to just come to God with a huge list of all we want from Him. I believe that worship and giving thanks puts us in the right frame of mind to come before God.

I love ‘Do not be anxious about anything’. Other translations say ‘Don’t fret or worry’ or ‘Don’t get stressed about anything’. When we read the News or hear of people’s problems it is so easy to worry or get anxious. If we allow ourselves to be pulled down into depression we can increase the problems instead of being a positive influence. It helps to consciously reject the ‘spirit of despair’ and put on the ‘Garment of Praise’ (Isaiah 61 v3).

Rob Lacey’s Street Bible expresses these verses
‘Don’t get stressed about anything – whatever hits you, verbalise it with God; balance your ‘pleases’ with your ‘thank you’s’, and God’s serenity, which even medics can’t suss, will flood your deep places, saturate your thinking, acting like a minder, ‘cos you’re in with the Liberator Jesus.’

Ruth Buller

Ephesians 3:14-19

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

I love this reading and find it completely amazing at the wonder of how much God can love each and everyone of us. It is also a reading that seems to have popped up at various times in my life when I have most needed to know of God’s love for me.

Zoe Oliver

Isaiah 49:16 (Good News)

Jerusalem, I can never forget you! I have written your name on the palm of my hands.

This verse reminds me that I have not been forgotten even if, sometimes, I think I have been.

Nigel Pickles

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ecc%203:1-8&version=31

'There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.'

This passage was initially brought to my attention in my early teens through the song 'Turn Turn Turn' written by Pete Seeger based on these eight verses. The idea of God's will providing the balance of opportunities in our lives is one that appeals to me. If we can live with the challenge of accepting what is thrown at us, whether it be to our liking or not, and understand that there is the potential for change, both for good and bad, then it helps us to accept God in all his guises. This is particularly relevant when things are not going as well as we would like in our lives but at the same time it reminds us to act in humility when things are going well.

As an historical aside, the verses were turned into song by Pete Seeger, one of America's most famous folksingers who is still performing into his 90s. Seeger followed in the footsteps of Woody Guthrie and in a way took on his mantle as the social conscience of America. This often put him in conflict with the US establishment at a time when being 'anti-american' in any form was met with both legal threats as well as violence on the streets. I saw Seeger perform the song in the mid sixties when he became the first artist to perform at the Roundhouse in London. The bulldozers moved out at 7 pm and the concert commenced at 8. The stage was erected in the centre of the auditorium and the audience had to stand, as there were no seats, but it was one of the most magical concerts I have ever attended with the charisma of Seeger and his banjo holding us spellbound for over two hours.

Ellen Oliver

Philippians 4:4 (Good News)

May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice!

I like this verse because I like to be joyful and it always raises my spirits and I like singing the song; Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say Rejoice!

Nick Oliver

2 Corinthians 4: 16-18 (NIV)

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Two verses I always seem to come back to. Paul writes ‘do not lose heart’ and whilst it is sometimes easy to forget in our fast-moving world we must always remember to stay open to the renewal and know that we are part of His plan.

Judith Pickles

1 Peter 5:7

"cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you"

A friend gave me this verse just over 20 years ago when I was about to go into hospital for an operation. Not only was I feeling worried about my health I was also concerned at leaving Mark (who started school the day before my admission to hospital) and Laura who was almost 3 years old. I needn't have worried we were all taken care of.

Today if I have a problem I find it useful to remember this verse.

Anna Oliver

1 John 4:16–17 (The New English Bible)

God is love; he who dwells in love is dwelling in God, and God in him. This is for us the perfection of love, to have confidence on the day of judgement, and this we can have, because even in this world we are as he is.

On the Alpha course videos we were advised to read John’s gospel. When I attempted to do this alone I started to read 1 John by mistake! These verses stood out for me and helped me to understand the nature of God. They bring across a simple message of who God is and if we love God we need not dread the day of judgement. (In case you are wondering, I have improved my skills at looking things up in the bible!!)

Kathryn Whatley

1 Samuel 17:1-51
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2017:1-51&version=31

My favourite story is David and Goliath because it shows that no matter how small you are, with a little bit of God's help you can do anything.

Hilary Allen

Deuteronomy 33:12 (NIV)

Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.

Just over 6 years ago, I was given the news that my father had acute myeloid leukaemia and that he didn't have much longer to live. A few days later, I came across these words. They spoke to me of the complete security that we have with God. We are his beloved and he protects us and keeps us safe. It might not feel like that when we are going through "the valley of the shadow" but it is a fundamental truth that it is good to hold onto when the going gets tough.

Emma Whatley

Exodus

My favourite story was when God rescued the Israelites from Egypt because it shows that God will do anything to rescue His people.

Lin Wood

Psalm 46:10

"Be still and know that I am God"

My favourite is very short: because I am always rushing around and trying to solve everything myself when I suddenly stop and think "where is God in this situation?", and then He answers me.

Rachel Pinder

Micah 6:8

He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

This is one of my favourite Bible passages because it is utterly practical and it sums up how we should live our lives on a daily basis. I particularly like the reference to “kindness” (which is why I like this translation in the RSV) as this quality is often overlooked or denigrated, but may often involve just not just the big things but more especially the small simple acts which everyone can do.
The previous few verses explain that the people of Israel want to lives their lives rightly and to make atonement for their sins but cannot think of anything that is acceptable to God for payment for their sins. In that respect, we as Christians have a great advantage and know that Jesus has paid the price for us.
However, that does not remove from us the responsibility to live our lives as God wants us to. The passage from Micah is addressed to each of us as individuals (“O man” – or woman! – not “O nation” or whatever other group), and it is our individual responsibility to carry out these simple but profound steps in how we live our lives each day, which will then influence both us and our wider community.
That sounds a bit pompous I think. Sorry. I can only say that each day I try and each day I know I fail in some way– but I must keep on trying!

Yvonne Whatley

Isaiah 40:29-31

'He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; and they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint.'

This is my favourite passage at the moment. I always seem to come back to this when I have tried to cram too much into my day, and end up feeling tired and generally weary.