Categoria: News

David decries the sinfulness of the wicked who have no fear of God, whose words are deceitful and who plot evil. God, to the contrary, sustains love and faithfulness to the skies, his righteousness is like the mighty mountains and he gives refuge under the shadow of his wings. Those who fear God drink from God’s river of delights, enjoy the fountain of life, and see light.

David decries the sinfulness of the wicked who have no fear of God, whose words are deceitful and who plot evil. God, to the contrary, sustains love and faithfulness to the skies, his righteousness is like the mighty mountains and he gives refuge under the shadow of his wings. Those who fear God drink from God’s river of delights, enjoy the fountain of life, and see light.

This is an imprecatory psalm of David. That is it invokes God’s judgement on David’s enemies. David starts calling on the Lord to come to his aid and put to shame those who want to kill him. He prays that ruin should overcome his enemies by surprise because then he will rejoice in the Lord. David continues to point out his enemies’ persecution who slander him without ceasing, maliciously mock him and seek his life like lions! David continues to invoke God’s action against those that devise false accusations against him. He calls on God to awake and rise in his defence. “May all who gloat over his distress be put to shame”, and may all his supporters shout for joy seeing his vindication.

Our 18-year-old granddaughter Alice was bitten by a large beetle on Thursday night and has come out in red itchy blotches all over her body. She has been medicated but the doctor doesn’t expect things to clear up until next week. Please pray for Alice. 

QPR sadly lost again yesterday to Sheffield United 2 x 0 at home. 😠

A Southern House Wren is singing beautifully outside my office window right now! 

The service last night at Green Pastures was ‘rain stopped pray’ as the meteorology department issued a red storm and heavy rain alert. Praise God for the rain which was 25 mm last night!  

Last month this blog was read 11,483 times. Our thanks and greetings go to everyone!

A lot of my time is taken up with pastoral issues and I have little time for anything else. I value your prayers.

Our 18-year-old granddaughter Alice was bitten by a large beetle on Thursday night and has come out in red itchy blotches all over her body. She has been medicated but the doctor doesn’t expect things to clear up until next week. Please pray for Alice. 

QPR sadly lost again yesterday to Sheffield United 2 x 0 at home. 😠

A Southern House Wren is singing beautifully outside my office window right now! 

The service last night at Green Pastures was ‘rain stopped pray’ as the meteorology department issued a red storm and heavy rain alert. Praise God for the rain which was 25 mm last night!  

Last month this blog was read 11,483 times. Our thanks and greetings go to everyone!

A lot of my time is taken up with pastoral issues and I have little time for anything else. I value your prayers.

Psalm 34 is when David praises the Lord following his escape from King Achish is 1 Samuel 21, by feigning insanity. David glorifies the Lord for his deliverance as when he called upon the Lord he heard him and saved him encamping angels around him. “Taste and see that the Lord is good” – David exclaims! For those who fear God lack nothing. David continues rejoicing because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and he hears them too. In fact the Lord delivers them from all their troubles.

This psalm is not attributed to David and is particularly jubilant and joyful. It starts calling the righteous to sing joyfully to the Lord because this is fitting. He exhorts people to praise the Lord with musical instruments playing skillfully and shouting for joy. God is praised for his faithfulness and unfailing love. The psalmist then extols the God of creation maker of heavens and seas who made the earth by the power of his word. He also says that God is sovereign over the nations and that God’s plans “stand firm forever”. The psalmist yet says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord”. He goes on to say that dependance on man’s own strength or on that of a horse is vain, but those who fear the Lord will be delivered from death. We wait in hope for the Lord, says the psalmist, for he is our help and our shield!

 David writes this ‘maskil‘ (musical or literary term) and extols the joy and relief that one feels for confessing sin and having it forgiven. He speaks about how much he suffered whilst hiding his sin and the relief there is in forgiveness. David exhorts all who are godly to pray so as to receive the protection of God. He exhorts people to act wisely and not behave like a mule which has no understanding. Many, says David, are the woes of the wicked but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. 

This further Davidic psalm for the director of music expresses that God is his refuge, his rock and fortress. David commits his spirit into God’s hands and says how much he hates the idolatrous, saying he will always rejoice in God’s love. He then expresses his extreme anguish as he suffers weakness with some sort of illness. He goes on to say that he trusts in the Lord despite his enemies and slanderers, and that his times are in God’s hands. David asks God to silence the proud and arrogant and to shelter him in his presence. He closes praising the Lord for his love and encouraging all to be strong and take heart in the Lord!

Last night we had quite a storm in Patos which caused flash flooding and the sweeping of some cars and motorbikes along the streets. It was torrential rain for about an hour and a half which totalled 50 mm. At Green Pastures it rained 22 mm.

Today I will be taking the service at Green Pastures and preaching on the last block of John 6. But all this is weather permitting!

I led the mid-week prayer and Bible study meeting last night and lawyer Rayla brought the study on 1st Samuel chapter 1. It was a good service. It rained at Green Pastures 44 mm last night and the night before it rained 4 mm. Up in the mountains only 30 km from Patos it rained 123 mm on Wednesday night which was wonderful.

In the floods of south Brazil in the state of Minas Gerais, where Peniel Chapel had missionaries when I was a child, the death toll has risen to 64. 

I led the mid-week prayer and Bible study meeting last night and lawyer Rayla brought the study on 1st Samuel chapter 1. It was a good service. It rained at Green Pastures 44 mm last night and the night before it rained 4 mm. Up in the mountains only 30 km from Patos it rained 123 mm on Wednesday night which was wonderful.

In the floods of south Brazil in the state of Minas Gerais, where Peniel Chapel had missionaries when I was a child, the death toll has risen to 64. 

This Davidic psalm was a song written for the dedication of the temple. It depicts God rescuing him from severe illness which left him on the precipice of death. David rejoices at his deliverance saying that “weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning”. David then says that God “turned my mourning into dancing for me, removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy”, and he adds that he will give thanks to God forever.

Psalm 29 is a majestic anthem to the Lord of all creation. David says that we must ascribe to the Lord the glory due to his name and worship him in the splendour of his holiness. Thunder is the voice of the Lord and lightning is the striking of God’s voice. Thus such natural forces are attributed to the Lord and not to Baal as paganism would have it. Thus the storms, with thunder and lightning from God, break the cedars of Lebanon, twist the oaks and shake the desert. For it is the Lord who sits enthroned over the flood as King for ever, but in the end he blesses his people with peace. This psalm is a fantastic poetic hymn of praise to God.

Floods in the central southern state of Minas Gerais have killed 30 and left over 3,000 homeless.

Last night Philip and I missed the service with the Patos men’s fellowship in the town of São Mamede as Philip got held up at a doctor’s appointment which ran late.

QPR were thrashed away to Southampton yesterday 5 x 0. 😠

I watched Trump’s State of the Union speech last night to the US Congress on CNN and it was the longest speech ever! I also beat Philip at 2 games of chess. ♜

Floods in the central southern state of Minas Gerais have killed 30 and left over 3,000 homeless.

Last night Philip and I missed the service with the Patos men’s fellowship in the town of São Mamede as Philip got held up at a doctor’s appointment which ran late.

QPR were thrashed away to Southampton yesterday 5 x 0. 😠

I watched Trump’s State of the Union speech last night to the US Congress on CNN and it was the longest speech ever! I also beat Philip at 2 games of chess. ♜

In this psalm David cries out to God for help imploring that God should not turn a deaf ear to him. He asks that the wicked be repaid for their evil work since they show no regard for the works of the Lord. David ends the psalm on a much more positive triumphant note saying that God had heard his cry, and that God is his strength and shield and a fortress of salvation.

This psalm is an outspoken declaration of trust in God. “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear”? David goes on to stress that when evil men advance, enemies attack and armies besiege “even then will I be confident”. David jubilantly affirms that he will sing and make music to the Lord and seek his face. He says that even if his parents forsake him the Lord will not. He asks God to teach him his way as he is confident in his goodness despite all the oppressors and foes he faces.

Our son-in-law Witagiby (Biba) is a good chef and for some time now he has been making and selling excellent shortbread biscuits. Last night we went to the opening of his new “Shortbread Café” coffee shop and Philip led a song of praise and I made a prayer of blessing for the opening. The place was bubbling with people from the university to which the coffee shop is adjacent. 

We had a drop more rain (4 mm) at Green Pastures yesterday, but we are desperate for some big heavy rains. Please pray.

Our son-in-law Witagiby (Biba) is a good chef and for some time now he has been making and selling excellent shortbread biscuits. Last night we went to the opening of his new “Shortbread Café” coffee shop and Philip led a song of praise and I made a prayer of blessing for the opening. The place was bubbling with people from the university to which the coffee shop is adjacent. 

We had a drop more rain (4 mm) at Green Pastures yesterday, but we are desperate for some big heavy rains. Please pray.

Our son-in-law Witagiby (Biba) is a good chef and for some time now he has been making and selling excellent shortbread biscuits. Last night we went to the opening of his new “Shortbread Café” coffee shop and Philip led a song of praise and I made a prayer of blessing for the opening. The place was bubbling with people from the university to which the coffee shop is adjacent. 

We had a drop more rain (4 mm) at Green Pastures yesterday, but we are desperate for some big heavy rains. Please pray.

This another prayer of David asks for God’s vindication. He asks God to test and try him examining his heart and mind as he doesn’t sit with deceitful men, hypocrites or the wicked. David goes on to say that he praises God out loud and that he loves God’s house. He insists that he leads a blameless life and therefore counts on God’s mercy.

This another prayer of David asks for God’s vindication. He asks God to test and try him examining his heart and mind as he doesn’t sit with deceitful men, hypocrites or the wicked. David goes on to say that he praises God out loud and that he loves God’s house. He insists that he leads a blameless life and therefore counts on God’s mercy.

This Davidic prayer forms an acrostic psalm. David seeks the Lord’s guidance and forgiveness amidst troubles and difficulties. David asks for victory over his enemies and asks God to teach him his paths of truth. He asks forgiveness for the sins of his youth according to God’s mercy and love. He declares that his “eyes are ever on the Lord”, and asks for God’s help amidst his anguish and loneliness. David concludes saying that his refuge and hope are in God.

This Davidic prayer forms an acrostic psalm. David seeks the Lord’s guidance and forgiveness amidst troubles and difficulties. David asks for victory over his enemies and asks God to teach him his paths of truth. He asks forgiveness for the sins of his youth according to God’s mercy and love. He declares that his “eyes are ever on the Lord”, and asks for God’s help amidst his anguish and loneliness. David concludes saying that his refuge and hope are in God.

This Davidic psalm is majestic. It affirms God’s sovereignty as creation Lord, asks who can go into his presence in Jerusalem, showing that this demands holiness, and ends with a rousing declaration of God’s glory as the King. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” – declares David. Who then can go into his presence? “He that has clean hands and a pure heart”. The psalm ends crying for the ancient gates of Jerusalem to open to receive the King of glory!

Pastor Rafael and I led the main Sunday service of the week last night and Philip led the worship aided by Louisa. Lawyer Murilo preached very well on the temptation of Christ from Matthew 4. It was an excellent service.

Pastor Rafael and I led the main Sunday service of the week last night and Philip led the worship aided by Louisa. Lawyer Murilo preached very well on the temptation of Christ from Matthew 4. It was an excellent service.

Pastor Rafael and I led the main Sunday service of the week last night and Philip led the worship aided by Louisa. Lawyer Murilo preached very well on the temptation of Christ from Matthew 4. It was an excellent service.

Yesterday we had a nice family day at Green Pastures focused on Philip’s short visit here with us till March 7th. Philip led the worship in last night’s Green Pastures’ service and I preached on Jesus – the Bread of Life from John 6. 

I heard/saw many birds at Green Pastures including Pigmy Owls, Rufus-browed Peppershrike, Greater Ani, Smooth-billed Ani etc.

Agouti and 9-banded Armadillos have been registered for the first time at Green Pastures.

Yesterday QPR defeated Hull 3 x 1 away. 😃

It rained 1.8 mm yesterday, but we remain in great need of abundant rain.

Yesterday we had a nice family day at Green Pastures focused on Philip’s short visit here with us till March 7th. Philip led the worship in last night’s Green Pastures’ service and I preached on Jesus – the Bread of Life from John 6. 

I heard/saw many birds at Green Pastures including Pigmy Owls, Rufus-browed Peppershrike, Greater Ani, Smooth-billed Ani etc.

Agouti and 9-banded Armadillos have been registered for the first time at Green Pastures.

Yesterday QPR defeated Hull 3 x 1 away. 😃

It rained 1.8 mm yesterday, but we remain in great need of abundant rain.

The researchers in to wild cats from the northernmost state in northeast Brazil (1,350 km from us), called Maranhão, have been back to the Green Pastures Project to change the batteries and memory cards from their dozen or so automatic camera traps which they have spread around our reserve. 

Last night it rained a further 2.8 mm at Green Pastures.

The researchers in to wild cats from the northernmost state in northeast Brazil (1,350 km from us), called Maranhão, have been back to the Green Pastures Project to change the batteries and memory cards from their dozen or so automatic camera traps which they have spread around our reserve. 

Last night it rained a further 2.8 mm at Green Pastures.

This gentle caring psalm of David portrays the Lord as David’s shepherd which was a role with which he was well acquainted. God provides everything he needs including restoration. God, says David, guides his life and is with him even in the most difficult and darkest times. God blesses him, even faced with enemies, anoints his head with blessing and assures him for all the days of his life.

This is another Davidic psalm written for the director of music to go with the music ‘The Doe of the Morning’! It is a messianic psalm opening with the words: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” uttered by Christ on the cross. Verse 8 sticks in my mind from Handel’s Messiah. Christian theology sees this psalm as a prophecy of Jesus’ suffering and eventual victory. In the central verses of the psalm David describes himself as a worm scorned and despised. He says he feels encircled by bulls, as being torn apart by lions and surrounded by dogs. He says that “they have pierced my hand and my feet”, and “cast lots for my clothing”. The latter part of the psalm trusts God for victory and rejoices because God has listened to his cry for help. All the earth will turn to the Lord, he says, and all the nations will bow down before the “afflicted one”. Thus this messianic psalm ends on a positive victorious note.