Daily readings come in many different styles, to suit our different personalities.There is a wide choice here and some suggested readings suitable for special occasions and times of need.

Every Day With The Father

by Mark Stibbe

Many people feel that John’s gospel is ‘beyond them’ – too theological – too much concerned with concepts to be relevant to real life situations. They think that the Synoptic Gospels are more ‘people-centred’ and therefore easier to read and understand, and thus more relevant.
Mark Stibbe tackles this ‘John problem’ head on. 365 mini expositions on verses from John in verse order from 1:1 to 21:2. In them he focuses on what he believes to be John’s treasures – the Fatherhood of God – Papa, Daddy, Dad – the jewel in John’s crown. His mission is to demonstrate how Jesus reveals the Father’s love – how Jesus is a window onto ‘the world’s greatest Dad’.
I was drawn, like many I suspect, to see what Stibbe makes of John 3:16, which others have described as John’s Gospel in a nutshell. Stibbe encourages us to focus on the subject of the verb love – and that subject is God – and God in John’s terms means the Father. And the object of the verb is the world – in the Greek kosmos – the WHOLE world. God is wooing us – not coercing us – to a loving relationship with him.
I can’t quite make up my mind whether this is to be seen as a book of days, to be read throughout a calendar year –or one to throw a slightly different spotlight on a particular verse or parable from that of more conventional commentaries. Perhaps it is not for me to decide: some people will use it in the first way and some in the second.
What I do know is that it is a treasury bringing new jewels constantly to our consciousness.

Review by Nick Horton (26/11/11)

Hardback
Price: £12.99
Publisher: Monarch imprint of Lion Hudson
Published: November 2011
ISBN: 978-0-857-21026-5

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Fragments of Your Ancient Name

- 365 Glimpses of the Divine for Daily Meditation

by Joyce Rupp

There’s a big clue in the title!! ‘Fragments’ – a book small in format with a daily quote, reflection and ‘task’ for the day. I put task in quotes because some days it is a task, some days a thought to carry through the day – but each one contains one or two words from the day’s quote.
Rupp chooses from a very catholic palette for her daily quotes – ranging from the Bible to the Qur’an: from Rainier Maria Rilke’s love poems to Leonard Cohen.
Each day a new name for God, ranging from ‘I am that I am’ (Exodus 3: Jan 1) through ‘Stealer of hearts’ (Hindu) and ‘You who question souls’ (Leonard Cohen) to ‘Gate Keeper’ (Wisdom 6: Dec 31)
I suspect that those who use these daily Glimpses, as I intend to do in 2012, will increasingly find their spiritual life enriched. Rupp’s final phrase for the day on New Year’s Eve is ‘I walk with hope into the New Year.’
May you walk with hope into this book and may your hopes be realized.

Review by Nick Horton (18/11/11)

Hardback
Publisher: Sorin Books imprint of Ave Maria from Alban Books
Published: April 2011
ISBN: 978-1-933-49528-6

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Reflections for Daily Prayer – Advent 2011 – Eve of Advent 2012

Contributions from Alan Bartlett, Rosalind Brown, Steven Croft, etc.

Having used Bible Reading notes of various kinds over the years, I find the variety of writers, the variety of the commentaries and the relevance to the Daily Readings in the ‘Reflections’ series excellent. I don’t always agree with the writers which I find very stimulating, as it makes me examine why I don’t agree. This searching of my own mind as well as the Scriptures can show me that I may well be wrong, not a bad thing for a full-time parish priest. There are mornings when the insights are so good, particularly for difficult readings, that I subsequently use them in the 8am CW Daily Prayer service in one of my five churches; on occasion I have read out the whole reflection. I hope that these continue to be published!

Review by Pam Sanders (13/08/11)

Paperback
Price: £16.99
Publisher: Church House Publishing (CHP) part of Hymns Ancient & Modern
Published: Summer 2011
ISBN: 978-0-715-14230-1

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Words for Today: 2012

- A Year of Fresh Perspectives on the Bible

Edited by Nicola Slee

Price includes postage and packing.
As usual with these annually published reflections, it is well worth while reading the introductory pages before you start – and probably several times throughout the year as well, the Editorial, Prayers, How to Use a Quiet Time, Acknowledgements and abbreviations, all are there for your edification.
Week by week, I like the brief biography accompanied by a photo of each contributor. Only a quick look through shows the diversity of their backgrounds and experiences. They each choose the translation they base their reflection upon, though we are encouraged to read what other translations say – and there are many of them these days!
The list of contents tells the subjects covered and that enabled me to dip into specific pages to read and reflect upon. I was immediately challenged to think outside my comfort zone (clichés are so useful sometimes) in contrast I found ideas that gave me comfort about particular issues. I have not attempted to read every page, that could only be a very superficial exercise, but what I have read convinces me that to use this book throughout the year would continue to be a challenge and a benefit.

Review by Mary Bartholomew (11/08/11)

Paperback
Price: £8.75
Publisher: IBRA from Christian Education
Published: July 2011
ISBN: 978-1-905-89342-3

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Light For Our Path: 2012

- A Year of Bible Reflections From Around the World

Edited by Kate Hughes

Price includes postage and packing.
In her foreword Kate Hughes explains the thinking behind the choice of subjects and readings, hoping there is something to satisfy all users. For each day the reference for the full text is given and an excerpt – a verse or part of a verse - is included in the reflection As with the sister publication Words for Today there is a brief biography and a photo of the contributor for the following seven days. This I find helpful, as I like to picture who is ‘speaking’ to me through their reflection.
The many nationalities of the contributors, their varied experiences and backgrounds enhances any time spent with these reflections and the brief, one sentence, prayers for each day are worth remembering and using time and time again in other contexts.

The weblink is to the site of the artist who designed the cover - it particularly caught my eye.

Website >>

Review by Mary Bartholomew (11/08/11)

Paperback
Price: £8.75
Publisher: IBRA from Christian Education
Published: July 2011
ISBN: 978-1-905-89341-6

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Exploring the Fascinating Life of Jesus

- From Matthew to John in Ten Minutes a Day

by Roger Ellsworth

Evangelical Press offers us a bite size guide to growing through the gospels and engaging it with our faith, doubts and living. Authored out of the context of a loss of faith, these forty-six five-page chapters surround the Kingship of Jesus and offer something of real weight, originality and was of personal impact for me. The time out and pause to reflect stations in each reading are effective and though biblically rooted, warmly compassionate in their composition. Roger Ellsworth has offered us a title that gives concrete yet compelling companionship to our risen and realistic Saviour. Truly a compelling exploration of the entirety of Jesus life and vital feeding for a healthy life in Jesus! Sadly truth and warmth don't often make it to print so this title has my wholehearted commendation. This gospel-centric book packs it's punch and deserves a wide and appreciative readership!

Review by Johnny Douglas (19/04/11)

Paperback
Price: £10.99
Publisher: EP (Evangelical Press)
Published: 2010
ISBN: 978-0-852-34720-1

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Near to the Heart of God - Meditations on 366 Best-Loved Hymns by Robert J. Morgan
ISBN: 978-0-800-73395-7 Price: £10.99	Published: 2010
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One Year Alone With God - 366 Devotions on the Names of God by Ava Pennington
ISBN: 978-0-800-71951-7 Price: £12.99	Published: 2010
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365 Days With Spurgeon, Vol 5 - A Further Collection of Daily Readings from Sermons Preached by Charles Haddon Spurgeon…… Selected and arranged by Terence Peter Crosby
ISBN: 978-1-846-25230-3 Price: £12.00	Published: 2010
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Celebrating the Seasons - Daily Spiritual Readings for the Christian Year Compiled by Robert Atwell
ISBN: 978-1-853-11249-2 Price: £25.00	Published: 23 April 1999
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Words For Today 2011 - A year of Fresh Perspectives on the Bible Edited by Nicola Slee
ISBN: 978-1-905-89328-7 Price: £8.50	Published: 30 July 2010
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Light For Our Path 2011 - A Year of reflections from Around the World Edited by Kate Hughes
ISBN: 978-1-905-89327-0 Price: £8.50	Published: 30 July 2010
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The Journey Home - Spiritual Guidance for Every Day by Nick Aiken
ISBN: 978-0-281-06230-0 Price: £9.99	Published: 21 January 2010
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The Excellent Way - 365 Readings to Transform Your Life From the writings of R.T.Kendall edited by David Maloney
ISBN: 978-0-340-97982-2 Price: £10.99	Published: November 2009
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Through the Year with Michael Ramsey: Devotional readings for Every Day - SPCK Classic Edited by Margaret Duggan
ISBN: 978-0-281-06123-5 Price: £9.99	Published: 2009
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Matthew Henry - Daily Readings Edited by Randall J. Pederson
ISBN: 978-1-845-50509-7 Price: £11.99	Published: October 2009
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Life With Lucas 2 - Daily Readings Throughout the year by Jeff Lucas
ISBN: 978-1-853-45500-1 Price: £8.99	Published: March 2009
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The Upper Room by Readers of the Upper Room
ISBN: 978-1-841-01751-8 Price: £4.99	Published: May 2009
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Henri Nouwen - A Book of Hours Compiled by Robert Waldron
ISBN: 978-0-232-52756-8 Price: £12.95	Published: Autumn 2009
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40 Days With Paul by Henry Wansbrough
ISBN: 978-1-841-01685-6 Price: £5.99	Published: January 2009
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