Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Galatians 2.

 16) I know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith inChr ist and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

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Birdie.


 

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Peace In This Restless World.

 Stress Awareness Month: how to find peace in a restless world.

hope, life, dreams, faith, God, Heaven (Photo: Getty/iStock)

April marks Stress Awareness Month in the UK - a time set aside to reflect on something many of us quietly carry every day. At first, it might seem unnecessary. After all, stress feels like a normal part of life. But that’s exactly why awareness matters.

Stress touches everyone - from newborn babies adjusting to the world, to adults navigating responsibilities, expectations, and uncertainty. In its simplest form, stress is a natural physical response to danger. It was designed to protect us. But when stress becomes constant, when it is triggered by everyday life or becomes our default state, it begins to wear us down.

Research continues to show that the workplace is one of the biggest contributors to stress, alongside personal challenges. And if we are honest, life doesn’t necessarily get easier with age. Responsibilities increase, expectations grow, and many days can feel like an endless cycle of tasks and pressure.

In more severe cases, unmanaged stress can lead to physical illness, emotional breakdown, and even loss of life. This is why it’s so important not to dismiss it as “just part of life.” While stress may not disappear completely, it can be managed and even reduced.

I’m not a medical expert, but I want to share some biblically grounded advice that can help bring peace and perspective in the midst of stress.

1. Your worth is not your productivity

One of the deepest sources of stress is the belief that we must constantly prove ourselves. But the truth is that your worth is not measured by how much you do. God knew you, chose you, and loved you before you ever achieved anything (Jeremiah 1:5; Ephesians 1:4-5). You are already accepted (Romans 15:7).

There is nothing you need to earn, because God’s grace is not something we work for; it is a gift freely given (Ephesians 1:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 11:6). His love is not based on performance, success, or how much you manage to carry. It rests on who He is, not on what you do (Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10).

When we begin to understand this, something shifts within us. The pressure to constantly perform starts to loosen. We can quiet that inner voice that demands more than we can sustainably give and instead rest in the grace of a God who loves us even in our weakness (Matthew 11:28-30; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Romans 8:26).

2. Honour your body as God’s temple

Your body is not just a tool to get things done - it is a gift. Scripture reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). That means caring for ourselves is not selfish; it is wise and necessary (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 3 John 1:2).

Rest without feeling guilty, because God Himself rested and showed that rest is part of a healthy rhythm of life (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:8-10; Mark 6:31). Eat nourishing food and stay properly hydrated, because your body needs both to function well. Sleep well and give your body the chance to recover and be restored. Make time to move your body too, whether that means going for a walk, going for a run, or simply dancing in your room.

Also, take a moment to reflect: is what you’re doing actually helping your stress or just distracting you from it? Constant scrolling, for example, often numbs rather than heals and causes us to sleep late, meaning that we struggle to wake up the next day and feel tired instead of refreshed. If this is something you struggle with, why not try leaving your phone in another room when you go to bed and use a good old-fashioned alarm clock to wake you up. 

3. Nourish your spirit

We often focus on physical and mental health but neglect the spiritual, yet they are deeply connected (1 Thessalonians 5:23; 3 John 1:2). When your spirit is weary, it can affect every other part of you (Proverbs 17:22; Psalm 32:3-4).

Nourish your spirit with the true sustenance that comes from God (Matthew 4:4; John 6:35). Read His Word regularly, let its truth steady your heart, and allow the hope and peace found in His promises to quiet your stress (Psalm 119:105; Joshua 1:8; Romans 15:13; Philippians 4:6-7).

As you remain rooted in Him, this makes room for the Holy Spirit to grow His fruit in you, filling your life with joy, peace, purpose and deeper inner stability in Him even in the midst of chaos (Galatians 5:22-23; Isaiah 26:3; John 16:33; John 15:1-8).

It doesn't have to be complicated. Try simple things like listening to an audio Bible on your way to work or while you cook, keeping a gratitude journal, or choosing one Bible verse to memorize each day. You'll be amazed by how much God works through small steps of faithfulness.  

4. Bring your stress to God in prayer

Many of our worries come from things we cannot control (Proverbs 19:21; James 4:13-14).

Prayer is not just a religious routine - it is an act of surrender (Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7). It humbles us and gently reminds us that God is the One in control and we are not meant to carry everything alone (Psalm 46:10; Matthew 11:28-30). When you pray, you are placing your burdens into the hands of a God who is fully capable of holding them (Psalm 55:22; Isaiah 46:4; Psalm 37:5; Proverbs 3:5-6).

You are safe to let go.

5. Be intentional about what you consume

What you feed your mind matters (Proverbs 4:23; Romans 12:2). Content that promotes comparison, fear, or negativity can quietly increase stress. On the other hand, what you choose to focus on can bring life and peace (Philippians 4:8; Proverbs 14:30; Isaiah 26:3; Romans 8:6).

Shift your attention toward things that uplift your spirit, such as gospel music, faith-based podcasts, Christian books and devotionals, and most importantly, Scripture itself.

Let your focus return to the cross - the ultimate reminder of God’s endless love, faithfulness, and hope (Romans 5:8; Lamentations 3:22-23; Hebrews 12:2).

6. Consider your environment and community

The people and spaces around you have a powerful influence (1 Corinthians 15:33; Proverbs 13:20). Ask yourself: are the people around me encouraging or draining me? Does my environment bring peace or tension?

We are not meant to do life alone - and certainly not Christian life (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10; Hebrews 10:24-25). A strong, supportive Christian community can help carry burdens, offer encouragement, and remind you of truth when you forget it (Galatians 6:2; Romans 15:1-2; Proverbs 27:17).

Final thoughts

Dear reader, you were never meant to navigate life alone (Deuteronomy 31:8; Hebrews 13:5).

God is not distant from your stress - He is present in it (Psalm 46:1; Isaiah 43:2). He is always reaching out, inviting you to walk with Him through every pressure, every worry, and every uncertain moment (Matthew 11:28; Psalm 32:8). The question is: will you take His hand?

And if your stress feels overwhelming or unmanageable, please know this: seeking professional help is not a lack of faith. It is wisdom. This article is not a replacement for that support; it is simply a companion to it.

God wants you to dwell in His peace and rest, and step by step, you can learn to abide there with Him (John 15:4; Philippians 4:7; Matthew 11:29-30).
CT.
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The Origin of Love.


 

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Compare and Contrast Then Conclude!

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In Other Words, The Party of Purest Malice Will Have Achieved Their Sickening Objective.

 Christian private school blames Labour's VAT raid as it weighs up closure.

Malvern St James

Malvern St James School has announced that it will likely be closing its doors at the end of the current academic year, specifically citing Labour’s controversial imposition of VAT on private school fees as a key cause.

In a statement, the school, which has a Christian ethos and has existed for over a century, said that despite “sustained efforts” to give the school a viable future it had seen a “significant and continuing decline in pupil numbers”.

However, it added that Labour's controversial VAT fees on private education and increasing employment costs were a factor. 

“Nationally, the introduction of VAT on school fees and increased employment costs have placed considerable pressure on the independent sector," it said.

"Locally, the small class sizes and highly individualised education that are so valued by our parents and pupils mean that the school’s current model has become increasingly difficult to sustain.”

The school said that efforts would be made to ensure the education of its current students would be unaffected and said that a “planned and orderly closure” would be taking place “subject to consultation with staff”.

Former Sky News presenter Colin Brazier lamented the news and accused Labour of “ideological vandalism”.

Labour’s imposition of VAT on private school fees has been heavily criticised, with opponents noting that it disproportionately impacts smaller independent schools, many of them Christian, which attempt to provide quality education to those from working and lower-middle class backgrounds. Meanwhile the real engines of privilege like Eton, Rugby and Harrow are capable of weathering the financial storm.

According to some estimates, as many as 100 independent schools have had to close as a result of the policy.

A legal challenge against the VAT policy that was mounted by a group of Christian schools, parents and students was rejected earlier this year by the Court of Appeal, although a further appeal to the Supreme Court is currently being planned.

At the time of the Court of Appeal Ruling, Andrea Williams, CEO of the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting the group, described the policy as a “deep injustice”.

"Not everyone can home‑educate, and low‑cost Christian schools are already being forced to close under the weight of these policies," she said. 

"Through this and other measures, the government is making it increasingly difficult for parents to shape their children’s education. It is centralising control over schooling, and in doing so, exerting control over our future.”
Blogger: As a former teacher, adviser, founder, governor, and Chair of Governors in a Christian School for some thirty years, Labour's spite has sickened me to the very core. They deserve the scorn of decent people.
And before some readers mumble about 'privilege' - let me state that this school was nicknamed 'a private school for paupers.'
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Mental Health Matters.

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A U Turn? - Hypocrisy in Motion?

 Today, it's emerged that Labour has reportedly shelved plans to push through legislation giving votes to 16-year-olds. Why? Because they've suddenly realised the Green Party, not Labour, will be the main beneficiary.

Labour is terrified of the Greens, as left-wing voters abandon the party and flock to the wildly charismatic demagogue Zack Polanski, just as they fell for Jeremy Corbyn before him. Polanski is exactly the kind of politician who appeals to younger voters. His radical ideas sound great on social media, but would be a disaster in practice.

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Monday, April 27, 2026

Make The French Earn Our Gifts of Money!

Here’s a simple idea – for every single migrant who successfully crosses from France and lands on British shores, France should be fined £1million. Not a token slap on the wrist but a proper, painful financial consequence. JJ Anisiobi.

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Birdie.


 

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Increasing Church Attendances.

Trying to increase attendance is biggest challenge for church leaders.

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1,400 Christian Martyrs.

 Over 1,400 Christians killed in Nigeria so far this year.

Nigeria (Photo: Getty/iStock)

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has reported that 1,402 Christians were killed by armed groups in Nigeria over a 96-day period this year. 

The incidents are said to have occurred between January 1, 2026, and April 6, 2026, spanning from New Year’s Day to Easter Monday, Nigeria's Daily Post newspaper reports.


In its latest update, Intersociety said that 1,800 Christians were abducted in the same period - with 180 of the abductees killed. 

“Out of every 1,000 abducted, 100 will never come back,” said Intersociety chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi.
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Marriage.

 


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Religion in The Workplace.

 Religion is often left unspoken in the workplace despite widespread faith identity, research finds.

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Galatians 2: Only One Way To Be Justified.

 16) We know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

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Sunday, April 26, 2026

If ...

Allison Pearson.

If the fire-bombed synagogues had been mosques, the Government would respond very differently.

As attacks escalate, those in power offer platitudes instead of protection. The failure to confront anti-Semitism is shameful.

Allison PearsonAllison Pearson

Award-winning journalist Allison Pearson is a columnist and the chief interviewer of The Telegraph.

Published 22 April 2026 12:31pm GMT+01:00
Finchley Reform Synagogue
In the wake of the attempted arson attack at the Finchley Reform Synagogue last week, Britain is undeniably failing to protect its Jewish communities Credit: Lee Thomas

I was at a friend’s birthday party the other evening when a woman around my age came over and introduced herself. Instead of shaking my hand, the stranger, who knew about my support for Jews and British Friends of Israel, hugged me and when she pulled away I saw that her eyes were full of tears. “I was born here,” she said, “and I’ve always thought of myself as British first and then Jewish. But now I know I’m Jewish first.”

This is a painful realisation for so many Jews in our country who have never before had to worry about their ethnicity or religion. Our oldest, flawlessly-integrated minority is suffering amidst a truly shocking epidemic of anti-Semitism. Correction. I am no longer using that word. Call it what it is. This is racism of the most hateful and monstrous kind, raising spectres of the murderous past. In the aftermath of the October 7 massacres, criticism of Israel’s response to the rape, murder and kidnapping of its men, women and children by marauding barbarians has morphed into an escalating campaign against Jews here.

The attempted firebombing of Kenton United Synagogue in north-west London on Saturday was just the latest in a heinous wave of arson attacks. Last month, masked men set fire to four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity in Golders Green. Life-saving vehicles that helped the whole neighbourhood for goodness sake – and there was abundant goodness in that caring community. Four people were subsequently charged by police.

Last week, a synagogue and the former premises of a Jewish charity, both in north London, were attacked. Two people have been arrested in connection with an attempted arson attack at Finchley Reform Synagogue. On the same day, a Persian-language media organisation opposed to the Iranian regime was also attacked. Three people have been charged with “arson with intent to endanger life”. Unsurprisingly, the evil Islamic Republic, with its stated aim of annihilating Israel and the Jews (before coming for the rest of us), has been implicated in the attacks.

All this while British Jews are still reeling from an assault on a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur in which two men were killed as a result of action by a terrorist called Jihad al-Shamie. When he carried out the lethal attack, Jihad (clue: it means Holy War) was out on bail after being arrested on a rape charge. In Two-Tier Keir’s Britain, Islamist rapists are allowed to wander around freely and murder Jews while a Northampton childminder and bereaved mother who posts one furious, swiftly-deleted tweet about illegal migrants is remanded in custody and jailed for 31 months. The introduction by our craven Government of an “anti-Muslim hostility” definition is set to make protesting about this kind of double standard even harder.Jews I speak to are upset, frightened, angry, bewildered. Not here, surely this can’t be happening here, not in the land the late great Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks called “the kind country”? One in five British Jews tells pollsters they are planning on leaving the UK in the next five years. I know a middle-aged couple who left for Israel recently saying that a new government which took a hard line on mass immigration and integration might improve matters, but it was too far away and too risky to wait.Thankfully, many are still defiant and know that this is their home. Michael Wegier, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, says the community is feeling “anxious but resilient”. “I’m hearing people who are nervous about sending their kids to Jewish schools or coming to synagogue, but one also hears exactly the opposite,” he said. “There are people who are saying, ‘We won’t be cowed, we’ve been here since the mid-17th century and we’re not going anywhere.’
I’d like to think that was true. But how can they feel safe when every other day brings some fresh report of Jewish students threatened by pro-Palestinian protesters on campus or disgusting graffiti sprayed on kosher restaurants? A football match involving Israel in the West Midlands was disgracefully called off after police caved in to “community tensions” (ie anti-Jewish bigotry). There have even been sickening examples of NHS staff posting pro-Hamas sentiments.The response of the Government and the authorities in general has been pitiful. After the Kenton synagogue attack, London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, parroted the usual “they will not divide us” platitudes. As writer and comedian David Baddiel posted on X: “Confused as to why politicians say, on another attempted arson attack on a Jewish building, ‘These terrorists are trying to divide us – and will not succeed etc’ Are they? I’d say that divisiveness is not the object. I’d say it’s trying to kill Jews.”Such bluntness is as refreshing as it is rare. There is a reason why anti-Semitism is the hatred the authorities dare not name. It undermines their narrative that “diversity is our strength” when, as Jews are discovering to their cost, too much diversity of the wrong kind can be devastating. After attacks that everyone assumes were carried out by radicalised Muslims, leaders like Khan do everything they can to obfuscate, conveniently placing the blame on free-floating “hate”. As if the British people in general somehow share the blame for a problem posed by Islamist fanatics.The other strategy is to immediately segue from an attack on a synagogue to concerns about repercussions for Muslims, which haven’t happened. “Islamophobia” is their first resort. The broadcaster Mehdi Hasan once said that anti-Semitism in the Muslim community is “our dirty little secret”. Not something you will ever hear from the mouth of Sadiq Khan.

Imagine the furore if the recent spate of attacks on synagogues had been against mosques. Starmer would have called out the Army. Jews are just told to be vigilant and are thrown a lump of money to beef up security. One primary school I saw looked like Alcatraz. Heartbreaking. DT.

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Galatians 2.

  16) I  know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ...