Oh My Soul!
Steve Page reassures us that talking to ourselves may have its benefits.
Have you been hearing voices? Or to be more precise, a voice, when alone in the house?
During these months of lockdown to one degree or another, have you heard yourself giving a narration to everyday activities? Or giving yourself some much-needed advice? Maybe you’ve even held a timely conversation with yourself?
One egg or two? Oh, go on, you deserve 2. Right-o-then, 2 it is.
Where did I put it? I didn’t leave it in the car, did I? Oh, blast.
When was the last time you heard Neil Diamond? “Sweet Caroline! Da, Da, Daaa!..”
Just me? I didn’t think so.
The good news is, I’ve just been reading how self-talk (or ‘private speech when said out loud) is okay, and might even be good for you.
Thinking Out Loud
Thinking problems through in spoken language is helpful. Children do it. Adults do too, when left alone.
It’s okay. Words said out loud is a perfectly natural response to the pressures of lockdown.
And you’re in good company.
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why are you so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will praise him, my Saviour and my God.”
Psalm 42:5
“Awake my soul! Awake, harp and lyre. I will awaken the dawn!”
Ps 57:8
“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”
Ps 62.5
“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.”
Ps 103.1
“Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.”
Ps 116.7
Sometimes you just need a good talking to.
Go on. Give it a go.
As a starter, I recommend this worship song, ‘Remember’ (the chorus starts, “And oh, my soul…”)
#RedeemerRecommends - Faith Locked Down
As we look forward to meeting together physically for the first time this Sunday, #RedeemerRecommends looks back at some of the creative fruit which has grown at Redeemer over the past 6 months.
Over the course of lockdown there has been a wealth of content produced by the incredible creative individuals here at Redeemer (though the blog took a bit of a summer break!) As we look forward to returning to physical services again, we thought we would restart the blog with a home grown edition of #RedeemerRecommends, and point you towards some of the inspiring and challenging pieces of writing produced by the Redeemer Creatives over the past six months.
These Psalms, Prayers, Poems, Posts and Portraits tell the story of how some of our closest friends and family have processed the events of 2020 so far through the written word, I hope that as you read them you are inspired, challenged and comforted, but most of all I hope your faith is stirred, and your eyes are drawn not towards the mountains you may face, but to the one who can move them.
Some of the co-authors of the book have recorded audio versions of their written pieces, you can find them on the Redeemer Youtube channel, or by following the link below.
I’ll leave the final word to our senior pastor, Pete Cornford…
“During these difficult and uncertain times these believers have fought for faith and we get to walk the path behind them. Raw, honest and real; let their encounters ignite and fan your faith!”
God Is Amazing
A short thought for the day, encouraging us to spend some time with someone amazing today…
God is amazing.
This doesn’t seem like too big of a statement to make at the beginning of a Christian blog post, but surprisingly, even as someone who has been a Christian for over a decade, it is something that I still find myself saying every time I am intentional about spending time with God.
He really is spectacular, wonderful, inspiring, mind-blowing, powerful, merciful, gracious, the list goes on. Every time I actually sit down and spend time with him (which is not often enough), more of his character is revealed to me, and it blows me away.
The Psalmists tend to agree, as is written in Psalm 139:17 - “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!”
During this time where the pace of your life may have slowed a little, I would encourage you to be more intentional about spending time studying the word of God, spending time with him, exploring the mysteries and wonders of his love, grace and mercy towards you. You will not be disappointed.
Answered Prayer - Close through the Changes
Our first testimony of answered prayer speaks of God’s closeness as a Father…
As part of our Transforming Prayer series we are starting a new blog focusing on answered prayer. If you’ve got a testimony of how God has answered a prayer for you recently, be it big or small, get in touch at prayer@redeemerlondon.org
The first story of answered prayer reminds us of a truth we’ve touched on in our meet-ups recently, that God is a Close Father.
Close through the Changes
I'm experiencing a lot of change after a year of challenges: a family bereavement, a house sale and a divorce.
I've asked my meetup to pray for wisdom and a peaceful resolution, I also asked for prayer around my first meeting with a bereavement counsellor last week, arranged through an Employee Assistance Programme. It's free but you get little choice as to who is allocated to you. And in an answer to that prayer, the EAP matched me with the most perfect counsellor.
Not just that but God has blessed me with more interactions with Christians at work that ever before - driving home the truth that I'm not alone and that he is standing with me.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18
Get thinking. #RedeemerRecommends
In the first of our #RedeemerRecommends series, Rich Smith introduces us to a blog he has found thought provoking and inspiring recently, and excites us about a guest preacher visiting Redeemer at the end of November!
In the first of our #RedeemerRecommends blog posts, Rich Smith introduces to a blog he has been inspired by recently. Look out for more recommendations over the coming months as others from Redeemer let you in on what they’ve been reading. Over to Rich…
Get thinking.
At the end of November we have close friend of the church Matt Hosier returning to speak at our Sunday meeting. Matt and his wife Grace first visited Redeemer a year ago to preach about eldership, and to stand with and pray for our church as we started a new chapter of our story.
Matt is a gifted preacher. Just as he served us so well last November, we’re anticipating he’ll bring a combination of theological clarity and heartfelt encouragement this November!
Those who were at the Advance conference earlier in October will know he’s a wise, measured and phenomenally well read theological thinker, and it’s with that in mind that I wanted to point you in the direction of an excellent website to which he often contributes, Think Theology.
“Think” describes itself as a “collaboration of thinkers and writers who are passionate about the Church, and who enjoy spending time wrestling with deep theological questions and helping others to engage with them.” Matt, Jennie Pollock (another speaker from the recent Advance conference in fact), and Andrew Wilson produce the majority of the content for the site and you’ll find roughly a post per day on a broad range of topics.
Looking back at posts over the last two weeks you’ll see posts covering social media, wisdom in engaging politically, sexual identity, reading well, TV show theology, book reviews and Psalms.
Whether you’re starting to explore theology for the first time or looking to expand your regular reading, posts from Matt and others at Think are worth your time. I find they’re perfect for the commute, and regularly engage the mind, the emotions and stir the spirit. Enjoy.