” Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” His brothers could not answer him because they were dumbfounded before him. 4 Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me,” so they came near. Then he said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 Now, do not be upset and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life! 6 For these past two years there has been famine in the land and for five more years there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 God sent me ahead of you to preserve you on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now, it is not you who sent me here, but God.” Genesis 45:3-8
Father God,
Thank You for the Bible. Thank You that it is not just a book it is history and Your story. Thank You that Your Holy Spirit brings it to life and reveals Your truth through it. Thank You for the real people who run through it. They rebelled, moaned and turned to other gods, they were real families experiencing what families still go through.
Father, whenever I read the chapters where Joseph recognises his brothers and then gets them all to come to Egypt, I am moved. They were reconciled. By the time he reveals who he is and embraces them tears are nearly always running down my face. And Joseph is inspiring. He lives right even in bad situations and sees only the good that You can bring about. And there is not even a hint of condemnation for his brothers. He even tells them to forgive themselves.
Joseph has not forgotten what they did. But he never uses it as a stick to beat them with. He sees Your hand in it and provides generously what they need. Forgiveness and practical help. Like a glimpse of the worlds redeemer to come – Jesus.
Keep us from rehearsing the wrongs others have done. Keep us from rehearsing our own wrongs that you have forgiven. Thank You that you know us better than we know ourselves. And You still love us. Help us by Your Holy Spirit to live good and to see You working in our lives.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Father God,
For our close family. Love them as they need.
For our extended family, friends, neighbours, those we promised to pray for.
For our fellowship, ministers and congregations. To be active and effective.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2).
For our Government. Lords and commons. Civil Servants.
For Ukraine and Russia. End war. Disrupt missiles.
For Israel, Lebanon, the Middle East. Drive out hatred and enmity. Send miraculous reconciliation.
For families and parents. For social workers providing safety and opportunity for reconciliations.
For the work You are doing through prison chaplains and ministers and those who pray for them.
For all You are doing in our nation in hearts and minds we know nothing about.
For us to be thankful, for all we have that is good and pray for amnesia of all those petty things that bother us.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 22nd October 2024
Apologies – also when the child became a man . . .
You were there – at the moment I began
When the child became a woman
Saw my future in the making –
saw the path my life was taking
You saw a million things I’ll never understand
You know me better than I know myself
Better than I know myself
Time after time you’ve shown it to be true
That no one loves me like you
You are here so let it rain or let it shine
You are with me all the time
When I’m waking – when I’m sleeping
In the secret thoughts I’m keeping
You know everything about this heart of mine
You know me better than I know myself
Better than I know myself
Time after time you’ve shown it to be true
That no one loves me like you
You’ll be there – when the end of time has come
And I know you’ll take me home
So I thank you for tomorrow
All my joys and all my sorrows
And I thank you for the greatest thing I’ve known
You know me better than I know myself
Better than I know myself
Time after time you’ve shown it to be true
That no one loves me like you
Lyrics: Judy Mackenzie-dunn, Dave Cooke