Daily Devotional reflections

As we journey through these uncertain times, each day Sean will seek to post a thought or reflection, a Bible verse or a prayer.

Wednesday 8 July 2020
By Fred Coutts

Reflection for Wednesday 8 July 2020
By Fred Coutts

[The St Mungo stained glass window by William Wilson in Brechin Cathedral]

ST KENTIGERN

St Kentigern was a missionary in the 6th Century Celtic Church working in the Strathclyde area.  He is often called St Mungo which means ‘Beloved One’. He founded a church in a place that would grow into the city of Glasgow.
There is a story that, Mungo and some other boys were playing with a tame robin which was especially loved by their teacher, St Serf.  One boy killed the bird and blamed Mungo.  St Mungo took the robin in his hands, so the story goes, prayed and the robin revived.
Sam Bates (aka Smug) is an Australian street artist in Glasgow who has created some wonderful images, including one on a gable end in the High Street, inspired by the story of St Mungo and the robin. (Mural photo by @markheybo on Flickr) On the stained-glass window and on the crest of the City of Glasgow you will see a robin.
There is something attractive about robins.  I had one hopping around me in the garden the other day looking for food.  The photograph is of a robin who came to look at me as I walked with the dogs along the River Ugie in Peterhead a few months ago.

As I drove into Aberdeen yesterday the display of daisies by the roadside was spectacular. All the wildflowers have been magnificent this year.  Focus today on the beauty of God’s creation and our responsibility for caring for it

Matthew 6:26-34
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
‘And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you – you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

PRAYER

In the beginning God created all things,
and God saw that they were good.

At our beginning, God created us
unique and irreplaceable, loved and wanted by God,
known and treasured by God even before He created us.

In all our new beginnings, God creates something new
so we will seek God in the freshness of this morning,
in the laughter of friends,
in the colours of creation,

Lord God, King of Creation,
open our eyes to see your presence,
our souls to sense your presence,
and our hearts to love your presence,
ever here in your creation,
and ever beyond it in eternity.
Amen.

BLESSING
Circle me, Lord.
Keep protection near
And danger afar.
Circle me, Lord
Keep hope within.
Keep doubt without.
Circle me, Lord.
Keep light near
And darkness afar.
Circle me, Lord.
Keep peace within.
Keep evil out.

(David Adam)