admin

Tuesday 24th June 2025

“Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. ¹⁸She said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?” ¹⁹“Give me your son,” Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. ²⁰Then he cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” ²¹Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!” ²²The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived. ²³Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!” ²⁴Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.”” 1 Kings 17:17-24 NKJV

Father God,

The widow and her son had been ready to make there last meal and then die – when Elijah came. I can understand her grief and anger that when Elijah came and You Lord miraculously fed them all – he then died. She blames Elijah and You, God and herself. We are not told what he died of but it seemed sudden and he was not struck down by You. How soon we turn to blame everyone even ourselves. Elijah is devastated and he turns immediately to You.

His cry is personal and Your response is personal to his request. You raised the son from the dead but he would eventually have to die even if it is of old age. It leaves me with questions about why some recover and some who we pray for do not. I leave that with You Lord.

But remember that You would send another, Your Son, who You would raise from the dead. Not back to humanity but to return to You and be one with You and the Holy Spirit. Preparing for us a place and eternal life after we die (John 14:1-4)..

Sickness and illness is part of this worlds fall. But it is not the end. We can pray for recovery and it is a blessing when that prayer is answered. But better the prayer to Know Your Son and pass through death to eternal life with You. To know Your everlasting arms holding us underneath in all circumstances. So faith, hope and love is not stolen by the enemy. (Deuteronomy 33:27).

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 24th June 2025
This is one of those hymns I never tire of because it leads me to the Saviour, faith and worship . . .

When I fear my faith will fail
Christ will hold me fast
When the tempter would prevail
He will hold me fast
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path
For my love is often cold
He must hold me fast

He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so
He will hold me fast

Those He saves are His delight
Christ will hold me fast
Precious in His holy sight
He will hold me fast
He’ll not let my soul be lost
His promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost
He will hold me fast

For my life He bled and died
Christ will hold me fast
Justice has been satisfied
He will hold me fast
Raised with Him to endless life
He will hold me fast
Till our faith is turned to sight
When he comes at last

Lyrics: Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Selah 2020.

Monday 23rd June 2025

“Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. ⁸Then the word of the Lord came to him: ⁹“Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” ¹⁰So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” ¹¹As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” ¹²“As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

¹³Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. ¹⁴For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” ¹⁵She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. ¹⁶For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.” 1 Kings 17:7-16 NIV

Father God,

Elijah learned to when to hide and rest. So he was ready when you sent him on a journey of many miles on well used routes. Dangerous because anyone recognising him could report to King Ahab! And the drought was still on so little food or water. Training, testing and refining all part of life with Yu then and now . . .

Training: obeying when You don’t see the whole picture. Testing: having to trust You Lord for provision and safety. Refining: Having to trust You to do what You say You will do. And as in our lives You do not do the same thing twice, why should You. You use ravens once and then You choose to use a widow so You can provide for her and her son too. He was also dependant on the widows behaviour. Sometimes we are not called to manage alone and we need to let You choose and lead us to the ones You want to use. All in all, when we get involved in Your plans miracles can happen. I am no Elijah but help me to be Your servant too.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 23rd June 2025
I chose this worship because there are many days we do not see miracles and our faith is tested. Bonus worship below just because it always lifts me up.

When God’s perfect plans are hard to see
and struggles surface everywhere,
we lay our lives before his sovereignty
and pray his peace would find us there.

Jesus, Lord of peace,
is with us now
and will forever be
our Shepherd King
who leads us into perfect stillness.

When sadness hits our homes, and all feels lost,
when the night is full of fear,
the God of comfort shows his love to us
and holds us tightly through the tears.

The Lord is my defender, this I know;
he watches over me with grace.
The darkness will not overwhelm my soul,
for my eternity is safe.

Lyrics: Andy Clark

Sunday 22nd June 2025

“In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. ³⁰Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. ³¹He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. ³²He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. ³³Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.” 1 Kings 16:29-33 NLT

“Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” ²Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: ³“Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. ⁴You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” ⁵So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. ⁶The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.” 1 Kings 17:1-7 NLT

Lord God of Israel and Judah,

Nearing the end of 1 Kings You Lord, introduced us to Your servant Elijah and the King of Israel Ahab and his wife Jezebel. No sign of tolerance from the King for You he prefers licence to sin. And further more persecution and suffering and a determination to wipe out those who worship You, God. We meet those who are vehemently anti You God. And they hate Your followers as much as You. Its the same today sometimes.

But there is Elijah. Sent to confront Ahab with a very harsh message, years of drought. He survives that and You tell him to hide. You protect him and miraculously feed him. He must have been afraid for his safety and wondering how he would manage in a drought as he fled. He could not have dreamed the solution! You do call us to difficult situations and You do give us time out to recover. You sometimes surprise us with how You answer our prayers! And sometimes we need to learn which battles our ours and which to leave alone. When to press on and when to leave alond.

One thing this passage reaffirms is that it is not always easy to follow You. There are those who oppose us. But You do teach and prepare us. Elijah learned when to be led away to refresh and rest and when to confront. Help me to know when to speak, when to rest and always to let You direct.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 22nd June 2025

When you feel weakest, dangers surround;
Subtle temptations, troubles abound;
Nothing seems hopeful, nothing seems glad,
All is despairing, often-time sad.

Keep on believing, Jesus is near,
Keep on believing, there’s nothing to fear;
Keep on believing, this is the way,
Faith in the night as well as the day.

If all were easy, if all were bright,
Where would the cross be? Where would the fight?
But in the testings God gives to you,
Chances for proving what He can do.

Chorus

God is your wisdom, God is your might,
God’s ever near you, guiding you right;
He understands you, knows all you need,
Trusting in Him you’ll surely succeed.

Chorus

Let us press on then; never despair;
Live above feeling, victory’s there;
Jesus can keep us so near to Him,
That nevermore our faith shall grow dim.

Chorus twice

Lyrics: Mildred Duff