The story of Hosea buying back his own wife from prostitution is a beautiful parallel to Jesus' incredible act of redemption on the cross.
Both stories show just how much the Lord loves us and the extreme lengths He will go to to keep us for Himself.

This period of restricted freedom can seem like a bit of a wilderness experience but that is not necessarily a bad thing.
The solitude and absence of distraction of the desert gives the lord an opportunity to woo us and win us back to the love we first had for Him - just as Hosea did to  his unfaithful wife, Gomer.

Graham Kendrick thinks the role of the worship leader is not just to lead the congregation in praise and worship but also to teach them how to develop their own worship life. In conversation with Mark Buchanan, he explains his unusual technique for using the book of psalms to deepen his relationship with the Lord and to bring him into His presence.

At times like these, we need to invest our hope in something or someone. Like any other investment, we hope for a return so, it is essential that we invest in the source of hope, not the means of hope.
Our government, civil institutions and the NHS are all means of God's blessing and provision but our hope needs to be in Him - not them.

Being neighbours is about much more than living next door to each other. Jesus told one of His best known stories in answer to the question "Who is my neighbour?"

In God's eyes, the family is the building block of society. In these unusual times, we need to expand our definition of what family is to include all those around us who are lonely or separated form their loved ones.

Being in lockdown offers us a rare opportunity for stillness and silence. Those are the ideal conditions for nurturing our inmost being - the part of us where wisdom lives and out of which can flow rivers of living water to nourish our soul and revive our spirits.

In the first of our new, weekly interview series, Mark Buchanan talks to Dave Silber about The Wall Of Answered Prayer.
This is a fantastic project to spread the word of God's goodness as far and wide as possible.
Even better, you can take part by contributing your testimonies of how God has answered your prayers.

No stone in the world would have been big enough to prevent Jesus leaving the tomb after His resurrection so why was an angel sent to roll it out of the way?
The women who came to anoint Jesus' body got the shock of their lives when the angel explained what had happened but it was also the beginning of the spread of the good news that is still changing lives today.

On Good Friday, we reflect on the example that Jesus set as he walked through the most difficult day of His life.
Just like Him, we can draw on the joy of what we know is coming to help us endure the hardship that is already here.