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Friday 27th June 2025

“When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. ²So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.” ³Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. ⁴Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” ⁵Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” ⁶He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. ⁷Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” ⁸So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. ⁹There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”” 1 Kings 19:1-9 NLT

Lord of compassion,

“When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place— What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?” Says Psalm 8:4. Yet you do care.

I love the way you guide Elijah to travel 40 days and nights and send two deliveries of fresh baked bread and cool water after he has just delivered his “I give up” speech to You. Reassuring to me that even so great a prophet suffered fedupness. Then when You have him where You want him after 40 days travel – on foot?! you ask him a seemingly odd question. Why are you here?

Elijah response is not, You told me to come! But he has chance to share how he feels. His best, my glass is completely empty, reply. It was not true he was the only one left – there were the prophets Obadiah had saved. The prophets of Baal were all dead. And many had turned back to worshipping You God. But You brought him to a place to debrief and see the whole picture. How he was now feeling sorry for himself. But You did not tell Him off, You revealed who it was he was talking to and serving could trust in. He saw a smidgen of Your almighty power and majesty, Lord. You passed by the cave Elijah was in and reminded him who he was serving.

So he can go back, spirits lifted, encouraged. And to find Elisha so he is no longer alone. You know when we need time with You to come out of a pity party. When we need fellow believers to encourage us. When we find ourselves emotionally, physically or spiritually drained we need a hand up and to be reminded of the the fulness of Your love and power in Jesus. And maybe some fresh baked crusty bread.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Friday 27th June 2025

You make Your face to shine on me
And that my soul knows very well
You lift me up, I’m cleansed and free
And that my soul knows very well

When mountains fall, I’ll stand
By the power of Your hand
And in Your heart of hearts I’ll dwell
And that my soul knows very well

Joy and strength each day I find
And that my soul knows very well
Forgiveness, hope, I know is mine
And that my soul knows very well

Chorus . . .
Four times

Lyrics: Darlene Joyce Zschech, Russell Fragar

Thursday 26th June 2025

“So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. ²¹And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. ²²Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. ²³Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. ²⁴Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.”” 1 Kings 18:20-24 NKJV

“And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. ³⁷Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” ³⁸Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. ³⁹Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”” 1 Kings 18:36-39 NKJV

Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel,

It is difficult not to include the whole picture here including the hours of the prophets of Baal calling on their God, leaping and even cutting themselves for hours. Elijah waits patiently for the time of the evening sacrifice. He is not desperate, he does not need to do anything but trust You. He cannot make You do anything. He humbly waits and then gives You all the glory and turns people to worship You.

We had to wait for the due time for the perfect sacrifice of Your Son(Romans 5:6). He pointed everyone to You and was the image of You in human form (Colossians 1:15). No matter how much water is poured on the message of the gospel, how much it is dampened down, it burns bright finding new hearts to heal. We can never tell who will be open to hear the gospel or who will go home and let the words take root. Help us and give us opportunities to turn hearts to You. And to direct them to You and not take any glory for ourselves.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 26th June 2025
This worship keeps me in the minute. We are not in waiting we are living in Jesus now.

You are here moving in our midst
I worship you, I worship you
You are here working in this place
I worship you, I worship you
You are here moving in our midst
I worship you, I worship you
You are here working in this place
I worship you, I worship you

Way maker, Miracle worker, Promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God. That is who you are
Way maker, Miracle worker, Promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God. That is who you are.

You are here turning lives around
I worship you, I worship you
You are here healing every heart
I worship you, I worship you

Chorus: Way Maker . . .
Twice

Even when I don’t see it, You’re working
You never stop working

Chorus: Way Maker
That is who You are repeat . . .

Lyrics: Michael Anthony Oluwole, Okoro Osinachi Kalu

Wednesday 25th June 2025

“And it came to pass after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.” ²So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab; and there was a severe famine in Samaria. ³And Ahab had called Obadiah, who was in charge of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly. ⁴For so it was, while Jezebel massacred the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.) ⁵And Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go into the land to all the springs of water and to all the brooks; perhaps we may find grass to keep the horses and mules alive, so that we will not have to kill any livestock.” ⁶So they divided the land between them to explore it; Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself. ⁷Now as Obadiah was on his way, suddenly Elijah met him; and he recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is that you, my lord Elijah?” ⁸And he answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’” ⁹So he said, “How have I sinned, that you are delivering your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?” 1 Kings 18:1-9

God who still speaks,

I do not like conflict. Sometimes it cannot be avoided and then it makes me feel ill. I cannot imagine being told to go and give an antagonising message to someone who already hates me enough to want me dead! You did not make it easy for Elijah. And then poor Obadiah caught between a rock and a hard place.

Suddenly Elijah met him. The suddenly’s of God! Obadiah could not avoid Elijah because You, God wanted this meeting to happen. Obadiah was a good man (who had hidden your prophets secretly in a cave) but in service to King Ahab. Obadiah looking for water suddenly discovered Elijah. Should he tell Elijah that Ahab was looking for him or Ahab that he had seen Elijah? It is not pleasant when one of God’s suddenly’s brings us into a difficult situation. Help us in conflict, to as Paul says in Ephesians, put on the whole armor and stand. Not make the situation worse and not cower but just speak the truth in kindness.

Elijah does not die but has a later opportunity to face down King Ahab. And Obadiah? He lives to see the downfall of his wicked employer. Obadiah is scared and is honest about it. Elijah reassures him he will not let him down and not leave him to face the King alone. Sometimes we are forced to turn up and speak up and we may be scared. Help us know when a suddenly comes from You and it is time to speak because You are our strength and shield (Psalm 28:7).

In Jesus name we pray Amen.

Worship Wednesday 5th June 2025

I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the king is alive!

I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the king is alive!

Sing a little louder (in the presence of my enemies)
Sing a little louder (louder than the unbelief)
Sing a little louder (my weapon is a melody)
Sing a little louder (heaven comes to fight for me)
Repeat above . .
Sing a little louder!

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the king is alive!

Lyrics: Jake Stevens, Jonathan David Helser, Melissa Helser, Molly Skaggs.