Friday 30th October 2020

Today’s ‘Guest Writer’ is Joan Byrne

Hello friends

Hope you are all well in this funny old world. The only good thing is that God never changes and that He always loves us and cares for us.

As most of you know I lost my lovely son Peter last year which was not nice at all and was a big shock. I also lost my brother last year, but you know God helped me with all of that and gave me ‘His peace which passeth all understanding’ (Philippians 4 v 7). I would never have got through it all without the Lord and there is some comfort in knowing that I will see my son and brother again and I praise God for that hope I have in Him.

I can’t always put into words how I feel - I just know that God is there for me. He is lovely, and as I have already said He gives me peace and he also joy in my heart.

Some of you know I am a retail chaplain for Longbridge shops. I have been able to go back again after lockdown and it was so wonderful when I went to see how people had missed me going into the shops. I often wonder what God is doing in their lives but I know that God knows and I get a joy through being a presence for the Lord and I hope they see Jesus in me.

One of my favorite hymns is ‘Great is thy Faithfulness’ this speaks volumes to me in my life. Well may God bless you all   - Joan Byrne

Great is Thy faithfulness O God my Father,

there is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;

as Thou hast been Thou for ever will be

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed Thy hand has provided ¬

great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and spring-time and harvest,

sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

join with all nature in manifold witness

to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin, and a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

blessing all mine, with ten thousand beside!

T O Chisholm 1866-1960 © 1951 Hope Publishing

Ac­cord­ing to the author, Thomas Chis­holm, there were no spe­cial cir­cum­stanc­es which caused the writ­ing of these words - just his ex­per­i­ence and Bible truth.

William Run­yan wrote the mu­sic spe­ci­fic­al­ly for these words, he says “This par­ti­cu­lar po­em held such an ap­peal that I prayed most ear­nest­ly that my tune might car­ry its mes­sage in a wor­thy way.”