Devotions

By David Timothy Holdsworth - Ancient Books: Good books are ancient trees that put down roots deep into our hearts. Well read and well learned good fruits blossom.

Beautiful trees.

Old and even ancient.

Oracles of truth.

Knowledge chambers for the heart.

Stems grow into blossoms.

Falling leaves.

Autumn's clock.

Like fading pages.

Literature of a different kind.

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By David Timothy Holdsworth - Children of Abba (A devotion originally written for team forum at work with slight adjustments):

"But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 19:14):

Children of Abba lift your eyes to Him.

He knows our hearts. He is Father. We are sons. Heirs of His grace.

He knows we work hard in trying times. He has known days of toil. Days of labour.

He knows we get burntout at times. He wept over Jerusalem and in the garden. Jesus wept.

He knows our tiny mustard seed faith faulters at times. He knows what it is to be tempted. Yet He endured.

Our childlike hands must join His as He guides us to safety.

Become childlike not childish.

Our weakness will fade like mist as His strength becomes our strength.

Become childlike not childish.

Our Abba, Our Father.

Lift your eyes to Him.

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Thanks to musopen.org for sharing this public domain piece of beautiful classical music.

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By David Timothy Holdsworth - Cometh the hour: Blow the trumpet.

Send the beast back from whence it came.

Has the beast not had its fill?

Consumer of souls, destroyer of worlds.

Why must the beast have its day?

Send the beast back from whence it came.

Turn back the tide, break the curse, free the world.

Blood and tears, weeping for the night, creation groans.

Calvary tree, earth shaking, stones roll, angels speak.

Ascension.

Pause.

Dark night of the soul.

Send the beast back from whence it came.

Has the beast not had its fill?

Consumer of souls, destroyer of worlds.

Why must the beast have its day?

Send the beast back from whence it came.

Turn back the tide, break the curse, free the world.

Heavenly chariots, trumpet calls, angels sing, swords to plows.

Casting crowns, royal robes, outstretched hand, victory whispers.

Be still.

Cometh the hour.

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By David Timothy Holdsworth - Essential:

"I am essential!"

The preacher roars in his hundred dollar suit.

His hundreds strong holy huddle of pew warmers burst into an applause of rapture as they prepare for the second offering.

The TV channel switches to pre-recorded "Tele-Evangelist mode".

The cheers echoe through the giant money making machine.

Like an idol his image flashes across giant screens in the auditorium.

As he speaks he suddenly remembers his brother across town.

In an old tin tabernacle the gentle shepherd speaks to his flock.

"I am not essential... Except the Lord builds the house the builders build in vain."

He says this while ministering in a soup kitchen as he serves the needy.

Later that day he plans to do food drops and work in a care home.

At evening prayers his prayer would be as he helped refugees at the docks and prisoners in the cells.

Then at night he would minister on the streets as a practical pastor to the needy and outcast. Each moment of his daily life he shares in word and deed the good news of Jesus.

As the popular preacher thinks about his friend he pauses and bows his head muttering quietly:

"I am essential, right?"

He looks at his text for today and trembles a little:

“Is not this the fast that I choose:

to loose the bonds of wickedness,

to undo the straps of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry

and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover him,

and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,

and your healing shall spring up speedily;

your righteousness shall go before you;

the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;

you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

(Is 58:6 - 9a)

In a strange moment of epiphany he realises he has done none of these things. He has not chosen the correct fast. The giant of a man shaking falls on his knees. With uncomfortable tears an unsettling silence falls over his audience. The show is over. He doesn't hide behind the smoke machine, move the spot light, call the band on stage or even ask an elder to take over. The TV channel switches quickly to pre-recorded adverts asking for money to build a bigger auditorium and offers proverbial indulgences. Meanwhile he simply falls still. A long strange silence.

Some time passes and he gently arises as if from the dead.

"Today we must become His hands and feet in this world. Today we must become essential."

From that moment on he follows the passage he had read to the letter. He gives the poor shepherd his suit, helps repair his brothers tin roof, and joins in the works of mercy he had so neglected. Some of his audience have merely been that and abandon him, while others join the essential work of seeing God's kingdom come both in word and deed.

When he asks his new lead Pastor at the tin tabernacle, who he fondly calls Shep now (short for shepherd) for advice the response is "Humbly take up the cross, put your hand to the plough, don't look back, become what you use to call essential. Preach, use words when you have to. Be His hands and feet in this world, a hearer, teacher and doer of the word - now that is essentially what is essential."

And that is essentially what he does. By God's grace alone he has faith alone in Christ alone for God's glory alone and becomes a doer of the word, a bearer of fruit. After all surely these are the essentials just as God is essential.

He is essential.

Essential.

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By David Timothy Holdsworth - An Anabaptist is a type of Christian who normally traces the views they have to the "Radical Reformation" of the 16th century. The distinctives of such a movement are normally, but not solely, believers baptism, a nonviolent ethic, and separation of church and state. Being a Reformation group they also tend to believe in salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. They endeavour to follow Jesus with a biblically-based life. Like Evangelicals and Charismatics they exist in many different denominations and also have movements or denominations directly birthed from them.

'What happened four hundred years ago? Well, whatever your views may be, you will have to admit that it was one of the most remarkable historical phenomena that has ever taken place. It is no exaggeration to say that the Protestant Reformation changed and turned the entire course of history, not only the history of the church but secular history too.'

- D. MARTYN LLOYD-JONES

'[Christ] is everywhere, but he does not wish that you grope for him everywhere. Grope rather where the Word is, and there you will lay hold of him in the right way.'

- Martin Luther

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Translated into over 100 languages, The Pilgrim's Progress is one of the most famous classics of literature. It is an allegorical novel, describing a Christian's journey through life to reach heaven. Part 1 was written by John Bunyan in 1679 whilst he was imprisoned for conducting unauthorised religious services, whilst Part 2 was not written until 1684, and is not included in many versions of this text. This recording includes both parts, and inline scripture references. (Summary by Joy Chan)

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Translated into over 100 languages, The Pilgrim's Progress is one of the most famous classics of literature. It is an allegorical novel, describing a Christian's journey through life to reach heaven. Part 1 was written by John Bunyan in 1679 whilst he was imprisoned for conducting unauthorised religious services, whilst Part 2 was not written until 1684, and is not included in many versions of this text. This recording includes both parts, and inline scripture references. (Summary by Joy Chan)

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Translated into over 100 languages, The Pilgrim's Progress is one of the most famous classics of literature. It is an allegorical novel, describing a Christian's journey through life to reach heaven. Part 1 was written by John Bunyan in 1679 whilst he was imprisoned for conducting unauthorised religious services, whilst Part 2 was not written until 1684, and is not included in many versions of this text. This recording includes both parts, and inline scripture references. (Summary by Joy Chan)

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Translated into over 100 languages, The Pilgrim's Progress is one of the most famous classics of literature. It is an allegorical novel, describing a Christian's journey through life to reach heaven. Part 1 was written by John Bunyan in 1679 whilst he was imprisoned for conducting unauthorised religious services, whilst Part 2 was not written until 1684, and is not included in many versions of this text. This recording includes both parts, and inline scripture references. (Summary by Joy Chan)

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