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Tuesday 16th January 2024

“Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. ⁸Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, invincible in battle. ⁹Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.¹⁰Who is the King of glory? The Lord of Heaven’s Armies—he is the King of glory. ” Psalm 24:7-10

“For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. ¹¹For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
¹²O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!” Psalm 84:10-12

God our King of Glory,

When I read Psalm 24 and these verses I quite often play the hallelujah chorus in my mind to try and imagine all heavens Armies sing Your praises! Psalm 24 was perhaps written for when David returned the Ark to the Temple in Jerusalem. The symbol of God dwelling in the midst of HIs people. They were trying to picture the magnificence, power and glory of the King of Heaven deigning to visit, let alone dwell, in a Temple among them.

Now with hindsight we also see Christ, magnificent, powerful over sin and death and all glorious, at one with the Father deigning to enter our hearts! Our little, sometimes wayward not able to be sinless hearts. And when we open up to this Lord of Heaven’s Armies and King of glory, we find acceptance, forgiveness and grace. Giving us purpose, direction, strength and so, so much love.

In remembering that there is no Temple on earth big enough to be Your dwelling place we are humbled that You choose to live in us by Your Holy Spirit. Cleaning out our little wayward hearts – because Jesus paid with his blood on the cross. Faith to battle with sin, the enemy and the natural ups and downs of life.

Help us to open those gates of our hearts fully to You. Help us oil them, keep them from rust and let You in every part of our lives. And help us remember yes, Jesus, You are gentle, meek and mild, but also the King of Glory, the Lord strong and mighty, invincible in battle. A friend but first of all Lord.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God, King of Glory,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. We bring our worry, our anguish, our joy and our hopes for each of them
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations. For help to continue and grow.
For all those involved in Christian radio and TV, Song of Praise and leading singing in church.
For those drowning in debt and low incomes. Help and support.
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family in their family difficulties.
For our government and their families. That Your will be done in these complicated times.
For Ukraine a withdrawal of Russian troops. Peace an end to war.
For all areas where there is war, military oppression and civil war. Myanmar, Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria . . .
For those who find themselves in deep water literally or struggling with health or trauma.
For our local community neighbours, doctors, dentists, police and schools.
For all those who provide essential help in our community, food banks, district nurses, home helps, friends, neighbours, family.
For ourselves, a blessed day filled with contentment, support, and direction where needed.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 16th January 2024
I could not resist a clip of the hallelujah chorus at the end. I just love it.

Open the gates for the King of Kings (Men)
Open the gates for the King of Kings (Women)
Open the gates for the King of Kings (Men)
Open the gates for the King of Kings (Women)

Prepare the way of the Lord (Men)
Prepare the way of the Lord (Women)
Prepare the way of the Lord (Men)
Prepare the way of the Lord (Women)

Hosanna (Men)
Hosanna (Women)
Hosanna (Men)
Hosanna (Women)
Hosanna (All)

Hallelujah Chorus

Monday 15th January 2024

“When you pass through the waters, I am with you; when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you. ³For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your deliverer.” Isaiah 43:2-3

Lord our God,

Isaiah’s words bring to mind the parting of the Red Sea and the fiery furnace. And there are those in the news or who we know who are literally going through flooding. At times I have felt like I am going through situations that are insurmountable or have me worried and anxious. You do not always take us, me round them but You have steered and helped me through.

Isaiah was talking to the Israelites in captivity in Babylon. A Godless, idolatrous sinful city. Facing loss of freedom and persecution, represented by deep water, flowing water, and fire and Your judgement for sin. These verses reminded them that You took their forefathers through the Red Sea to safety and drowned their enemies. (Exodus 14:21-22). You dried up the swollen springtime River Jordan for a band of priests carrying the Ark into the promised land (Joshua 3:14-17). You protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when thrown into a fiery furnace for refusing to worship any god but You. They could turn to You again for help and trust You.

Today it reminds me that when I come to trouble or the end of my life, You are my Saviour. You will see me through and Heaven will be mine and the flames will not touch me because of Jesus. Help us to trust You and know the certainty of Your presence now today.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Lord our God,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. Help us hand over all our concerns and hopes for them to You..
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations. For help to continue and grow.
For those whose rest is disrupted by shift work or nights nursing or caring for others.
For those drowning in debt and low incomes. Help and support.
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family as they seek to serve the nation.
For our government and their families. Amidst the many words and promises raise up good men and women to serve for the nations best.
For Ukraine a withdrawal of Russian troops. Lead them to peace and end to oppression.
For all areas where there is war, military oppression and civil war. Myanmar, Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria . . .
For Zion, for Jerusalem today, to find a way for peace with all its neighbours.
For those who find themselves in deep water literally or struggling with health or trauma.
For our local community neighbours, doctors, dentists, police and schools.
For emergency workers not to be overwhelmed by what they are faced with. Provision for all they need in equipment, water, food, medical supplies.
For ourselves, grace to live today Monday and find Your arms around us all day and night too.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 15th January 2024

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word
What more can He say than to you He hath said
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled.

Fear not, I am with thee; oh be not dismayed
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

Verse not sung but included here.
(When through the deep waters I call thee to go
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress)

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie
My grace all sufficient shall be thy supply
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to its foes
That soul, though all hell should endeavour to shake
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake

Lyrics: Author known as ‘K’ in John Rippon’s A Selection of Hymns 1787
CD: Fernando Ortega, Hymns of Worship, Word Entertainment.

Sunday 14th January 2024

“The heavens and the earth were completed with everything that was in them. ²By the seventh day God finished the work that he had been doing, and he ceased on the seventh day all the work that he had been doing. ³God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he ceased all the work that he had been doing in creation.” Genesis 2:1-3 New Living Translation

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

“Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their way . . . Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:23, 27

Lord God,

It is Sunday, I love Sunday. But I am able to not do any work on a Sunday. But I need to rise early to attend church (I go to the first service of the day), and fit in all the other things I do. Exercise, visit a friend, catch up on Bible reading plan, occasional prayer meeting in the evening etc.

I wonder about Sabbath. You stopped for a day from the beginning. I have learned the hard way that You know best. You know we get over tired sometimes. Jesus broke mans Sabbath rules by walking and letting His disciples snack on growing wheat on the Sabbath. He knew it is not about keeping the same rules and winning brownie points! It was about rest and well being.

Help me unwind as the disciples must have done walking with Jesus snacking on grain. Still my mind so it is in the moment and not thinking about what to worry about next, or have not done, or could be doing. And help me if I have more time on a Saturday or another day to rest, wait on You and relax from the yoke of chores and commitments. Remind me to make sure there is rest time every week. Lest I forget and I make the yoke heavy or overburden my mind with over thinking.

In Jesus name, Prince of Peace, we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Lord God,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. Help us hand over all our concerns and hopes for them to You..
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations. Give them times of rest.
For those whose rest is disrupted by shift work or nights nursing or caring for others.
For busy people with many responsibilities to be able to unwind in time off each week.
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family as they seek to serve the nation.
For our government and their families. With all that is going on give the clear thinking from You and rest between.
For Ukraine we [lead for an end to war.
For all areas where there is war, military oppression and civil war. Myanmar, Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria . . .
For Israel to find a way to peace with all its neighbours.
For those who find themselves eaten up by worry to know Your Holy Spirit and peace.
For our local community neighbours, doctors, dentists, police and schools.
For emergency workers not to be overwhelmed by what they are faced with. Provision for all they need in equipment, water, food, medical supplies.
For ourselves, time to rest and time to consider all that is good in our lives and give thanks, especially for You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 14th January 2024

Cleland Boyd McAfee (September 25, 1866 – February 4, 1944) was an American theologian, Presbyterian minister and hymn writer. He was inspired to write this song after the concurrent deaths of two of his young nieces, caused by diphtheria.

There is a place of quiet rest,
  Near to the heart of God,
A place where sin cannot molest,
  Near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
  Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us, who wait before Thee,
    Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of comfort sweet,
  Near to the heart of God,
A place where we our Savior meet,
  Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of full release,
  Near to the heart of God
A place where all is joy and peace,
  Near to the heart of God.

Lyrics: Cleland Boyd McAfee .