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A New Thing: Isaiah 43:19

Bective Abbey: A Cistercian abbey founded in 1147 on the River Boyne in Bective, County Meath. These ruins primarily date to the 15th century.

Bective Abbey: A Cistercian abbey founded in 1147 on the River Boyne in Bective, County Meath. These ruins primarily date to the 15th century.

Praise: Psalm 34:1

Dromore Motte and Bailey, County Down

Dromore Motte and Bailey, County Down

This Motte and Bailey is situated at Mount Street, on the outskirts of Dromore – a small market town in County Down. It dates from the 13th Century and was constructed by a famous Knight, John De Courcy, after the Norman conquest .
 
Motte and Bailey defences were common in the Middle Ages. The French word “motte” means “mound.” They usually consisted of an earthen mound on which knights would build a defensive building, often a tower built from wood or stone. This would then serve as a lookout and provide a vantage point from where archers could fire arrows at any enemies that might be approaching.

Prayer: Phil 4:6

Hillsborough Church of Ireland Parish Church, County Down, photographed 24th Jan.2021

Hillsborough Church of Ireland Parish Church, County Down, photographed 24th Jan.2021

Fear: Psalm 27:1

Evening shot from the Green Road, Lisburn, County Down
Evening shot from the Green Road, Lisburn, County Down
Today, 4th Jan 2021, is for many, the first day of work recommencement after the Christmas and New Year holidays. But it’s also the start to a New Year like no other. As of today, there have been 3,631 coronavirus-related deaths and 187,870 cases of coronavirus reported on the island of Ireland, between Northern Ireland and the Republic. In Scotland, in spite of it being an official New Year Bank Holiday, their parliament has had an emergency recall due to the worsening situation. In the UK, British Prime Minister, Boris Johnston, has made a special TV broadcast to the nation, announcing even stricter measures to try to control the pandemic and save lives.
 
Instead of a traditional celebration of the old year and an optimistic look forward to the new, many are living in fear of what the future may bring. The Bible has a lot to say about ‘fear’. Most often it’s telling us to Fear Not. In today’s text, the psalmist David, affirms the Lord as his Light, his Salvation, and The Strength of his Life. Therefore, he also had a determination NOT to cave in to fear. Whatever situation you may be facing at the start of this New Year; may you too find ‘light’ as you seek the way forward for 2021; and ‘strength’ to overcome any fear you may be facing.
 
 
 

New Years Day Site Launch, Jan. 2021: 2 Cor 4:8-9

A genuine rainbow, captured at the coastal village of Dundrum, County Down

A genuine rainbow, captured at the coastal village of Dundrum, County Down

The beginning of a New Year is a good time to look back, and also to look forward. It’s likely that many of us who reflect on the past year – the year of Coronavirus – will identity with some of the descriptions from the apostle Paul in today’s verse, 2 Corinthians 4: 8-9. “We were hard pressed on every side”… “Perplexed”… “struck down”…  

Some of us have suffered serious loss in 2020; it has been a painful year for many. What Paul faced was also by no means trivial. ‘Hard pressed’ is translated, ‘afflicted.’ Perplexed means ‘to be at a loss.’ It’s also likely that ‘struck down’ is a reference to Paul’s time in Lystra, when he was stoned by a mob and literally, left for dead. But look at how Paul reacted to the circumstances he faced. “But not crushed,” “Not in despair,” “Not abandoned,” “Not destroyed.” 

As we look forward to 2021, may we be encouraged by Paul to have gratitude that we haven’t been destroyed, that God hasn’t abandoned us, and that He will bring us through every challenge we may face in 2021.