Resources For You

In times of uncertainty it’s vital for our spiritual wellbeing that we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the one who sees the beginning from the end and to whom nothing is uncertain. It’s a good time to rest under the shadow of his wing, to be nourished by God’s word there, and to grow in our understanding of who Jesus is and the hope to which he is calling us when we step out from under that mighty wing.

For some of us these are busy times, and these moments will be fleeting. For others, the days stretch out before us. All of us will need God’s constant assurance to help us along.

Don’t forget that Ruth Rice from Renew Wellbeing has made a range of free resources available for individuals and churches to use, including daily vlogs and rhythms of prayer.

Here are a few other ideas we’ve gathered so far:

Watching

Daily Fuelcasts are free five minute devotional videos which subscribers receive in their email inbox each day. Find out more and start receiving these.

Our Regional Team Leader Nigel Coles has made a 12 part series called Hope In Uncertain Times, which you can find in The Fuelcast website library, please use these for your own reflection and feel free to share them your church family.

Rev Dr Helen Paynter, Tutor at Bristol Baptist College used her time at home in the very first lockdown to develop a daily vlog. She has recorded a tour through the Bible and you are invited to join her. Each vlog will be hosted on Baptist Together’s YouTube channel and shared on social media.

Listening

The BBC is currently broadcasting across national and local BBC Radio stations. Have a look at BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Worship page.

There have been few encouraging christian podcasts you can listen to too. Here are just a couple we checked out :

Matt Frost from Cirencester Baptist Church did a daily audio blog called Love in the Time of Corona.

Peter Morden from Cornerstone Baptist Church in Leeds has recorded a daily podcast on Discipleship in Challenging Times.

Reading

Remember that plan you had to read the bible in a year back in January? Now might be a great time to catch up or to get started.

The Discipleship Cycle is an easy tool you can use each day or once a week if you’re snowed under right now. Simply choose a passage in the Bible and ask yourself and God some important questions. You can do this in 5 minutes or 2 hours, it’s up to you!

Some wonderful poems and reflective writings have been emerging, here are some we received in the first lockdown:

Mine by Mike Sherbern from Watchet Baptist Church

I’m in a Movie by Sam King from Calne Baptist Church

Blessing for Baptists Together by Ruth Rice from Renew Wellbeing

Praying

Please pray for your neighbours, relatives and friends and for the nation as a whole.

Baptists Together have produced some great words and ideas to help you pray at this time.

A number of churches in the region are encouraging people to use Lectio 365. It’s a daily devotional resource written by leaders from the 24-7 Prayer movement, and produced in partnership with CWR, it helps individuals engage with Scripture to inspire prayer and shape our lives.

Have you found a good personal devotion resource? Please let us know, we’d love to include it here.