Author: admin

Monday 27th January 2025

“Then Job answered and said: I have heard many such things; Miserable comforters are you all! 3 Shall words of wind have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer? 4 I also could speak as you do, If your soul were in my soul’s place. I could heap up words against you, And shake my head at you; 5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief.” Job 16:1-5 NKJV

Father in heaven,

I jump to chapter 16 of Job. The conversations with Job and his three friends are difficult and challenging. More condemnations by the visitors, who have already made up their minds the trouble is Job’s fault! I find myself wholeheartedly joining Job in saying miserable comforters are you all. He explains that he would not do the same to them but would visit with words of comfort and offers of help and relief. He does not wish trouble on them so they can understand.

I love that he calls their conversations words of wind and lets them blow in and out and not take it to heart. And he wonders why they are so bitter? Were the gloating that a richer man had been brought down? Had his pride dented? Enabled them to step up the ladder in local importance?

One thing I take from all these conversations is that we need to be comforters, not like Job’s friends- but because we have first been comforted by You (2 Corinthians 2:4). I look forward to the rest of Job’s diary knowing it has a happy ending! Keep us looking to You whether down in the doldrums or up on the heights, we too have a happy ending in Jesus.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 27th January 2025

Every day people do something to help others, millions of kind deeds, that is amazing and wonderful. I loved this video! Faith and works when and where we can.

I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now, thought
How’d we ever get so far down, and
How’s it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”
He said, “I did, yeah, I created you”

If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something, yeah
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
Oh, it’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

I’m so tired of talking about
How we are God’s hands and feet
But it’s easier to say than to be
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves
It’s alright, “somebody else will do something”
Well, I don’t know about you
But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire
I don’t want a flame, I want a fire and
I wanna be the one who stands up and says
“I’m gonna do something”

Chorus

We are the salt of the earth
We are a city on a hill
We’re never gonna change the world
By standing still
No, we won’t stand still
No, we won’t stand still
No, we won’t stand still
No

Chorus

Lyrics: Matthew West

Sunday 26th January 2025

“Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off? 8 Even as I have seen, Those who plow iniquity And sow trouble reap the same. 9 By the blast of God they perish, And by the breath of His anger they are consumed. 10 The roaring of the lion, The voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions are broken. 11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey, And the cubs of the lioness are scattered.” Job 4:7-11 NLT

Lord God,

Eliphaz. I am glad he is not my friend. He had forgotten anything good Job had done and we read at the beginning that Job was a good man. And Eliphaz was his friend then! Eliphaz says that only troublemakers and sinner suffer what Job is going through! Sat opposite Job in his own good health and his own self righteousness! How very black and white and judgemental. Bad suffer, good thrive.

Ha! I have known wonderful Christian parents whose children have tested them to the limits. And beautiful Christian children who have had the worst childhoods. Life is not black and white.. But amidst this fallen world of sin and sickness and trouble and temptation we have a powerful friend, Jesus, who brings us faith, hope and love. He showed us who You are and how much You love. In sickness or in health in trouble or blessing we have You God, in Jesus.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 26th January 2025

For the joys and for the sorrows
The best and worst of times
For this moment, for tomorrow
For all that lies behind
Fears that crowd around me
For the failure of my plans
For the dreams of all I hope to be
The truth of what I am

For this I have Jesus
For this I have Jesus
For this I have Jesus, I have Jesus
(Repeat)

For the tears that flow in secret
In the broken times
For the moments of elation
Or the troubled mind
For all the disappointments
Or the sting of old regrets
All my prayers and longings
That seem unanswered yet

For the weakness of my body
The burdens of each day
For the nights of doubt and worry
When sleep has fled away
Needing reassurance
And the will to start again
A steely-eyed endurance
The strength to fight and win

Lyrics: Graham Kendrick

Saturday 25th January 2025

“Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.” 4 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” 6 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.” 7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes. 9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”” Job 2:3-9 NLT

Lord God Almighty,

There are so many questions about this book of Job and around these verses. Did it really happen Lord? Why did Job have to go through it all? But one thing I know – it was Satan who tempted and tested Job and not You. But You allowed it?

You had faith in Job and through it all even when You allowed Satan to strike him with disease he did not curse You. Even when Job’s wife railed at him and she was deep in grief too, he refused to curse you. He held on to what he knew, what he believed. That You were not the cause of his suffering.

That is a hard lesson to learn and it is easy to try to find someone or something to blame or judge. Help us to learn to turn to You with whatever we need help with and to remember You are God, our Saviour not our enemy and You are God and worthy of honour. Like Job refuse to curse You, whatever the situation.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Saturday 25th January 2025

Lord I come, I confess
Bowing here, I find my rest
Without You, I fall apart
You’re the one that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour, I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

Chorus

So teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand, I’ll fall on You
Jesus, You’re my hope and stay

Chorus

Lyrics: Matt Maher / Daniel Carson / Jesse Reeves / Kristian Paul Stanfill / Christy L. Nockels