War and … more war

[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during February 2026]

I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound;
Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us.
Habakkuk 3 v16 [NIVUK]

This week sees the fourth anniversary of the start of the Russian ‘special military operation’ in eastern Ukraine. Like so many events that initially capture the world’s attention, this conflict has slipped from the headlines as other events claim the focus. Nevertheless, the daily cycle of death and destruction continues and, on this fourth anniversary, it is appropriate to revisit some thoughts originally shared in March 2022.
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Beacons of Faith

[This reflection by Dazz Jones was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 22/Feb/2026]

Does anyone remember the names of the other spies who were sent into the land of Canaan by the Lord through Moses? Most of us probably don’t. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, have a read of the book of Numbers, chapters 13 & 14, its a great story!) Their names are recorded in Scripture[1] but they rarely stay in our memories. Why? Because they are remembered mainly for their fear rather than their faith. They returned from their exploration shaking at the knees, saying the task was too hard, too frightening, and the challenges were simply too great.
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Contributor: Dazz Jones
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Forty Thoughtful Days

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during February 2026]

So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.
Ezra 8 v23 [ESVUK]

In her reflection on Sunday, Helen wrote about the period of Lent. She drew a comparison between Lent and Ramadan and concluded with a prayer that all who are earnestly seeking God will indeed find him.
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Fasting

[This reflection by Helen Ruffhead was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 15/Feb/2026]

Next Wednesday is the beginning of the Christian season of Lent, which this year starts at the same time as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The Muslim year is shorter than ours by about 11 days, so Ramadan comes round earlier each year. During the month of Ramadan Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. Going without water must be particularly hard during the long hot summer days and I am thankful for their sakes that Ramadan for the next few years will be in the cooler months when the days are shorter (at least in the northern hemisphere).
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Contributor: Helen Ruffhead
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The Stuff of Dreams

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during February 2026]

your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Joel 2 v28

What images do these words evoke?
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Sometimes You Just Feel Low

[This reflection by Michael Goble was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 08/Feb/2026]

Over the past couple of years I had been feeling discouraged from time to time, and wondering how the world and I fitted into God’s will. The world around us was and is changing for the worse and the church seemed powerless to make any difference. I also thought about me and what I had tried to do to serve Jesus, my Lord and Saviour, over the years. Even there I felt that I had done nothing of consequence to bring glory to His Name. That was why I was feeling low.
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Contributor: Michael Goble
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