“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life.” Philippians 2:12-16 NIV
Almighty God, Father,
Thinking back to a time I actually shook with fear was when the hugest longest legged spider ran across my hand towel as I picked it up. Silly I know, because it would not harm me and it was as shocked as I was! I cannot remember being totally afraid of You. I was more ashamed of my sin when I fist met You. Perhaps it was because You told me how much You loved me in Jesus – before I learned how almighty and righteous You are!?
But I can never forget that You are the one with the final word of judgement. Who separates the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:31-46). Those who try to be sheep but who do not want to be like You and Your Son. Generous, kind and forgiving.
You have the right to pull us up, correct us, discipline us and take us to task. Our Ruler of all, that is and was and is to come! We should have a sense of fear and trembling but we also know You are the God who gently restores, kindly suggests a better way and even helps us sort out our mess and forgives us. If our repentance is genuine. After all as Paul reminds us, You work in us for our best and Your good purpose. Help us not to take Your forgiveness and kindness for granted and help us, as Your sheep, to stay instep with the Shepherd.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Almighty God, Father,
We come to You not in fear and trembling but sometimes with tears and sadness. When someone we know dies young and there are no answers this side of heaven. So we ask that You would comfort family and friends and help us find something to be thankful for. Like the memories painful at present, that will bring blessing.
We pray for our family and friends and neighbours. That they would know You as a God they can turn to in all situations for comfort, help and support. We pray You will send moments of joy this week, healing for those who need it and stamina for those whose lives are a challenge physically or emotionally.
Time passes and we still pray that this week peace, an end to war, will come closer to the conflict in Ukraine. We pray it may start to show itself through Russia and we pray for a change of heart and a good direction in their politics.
We continue to pray for Libya and Morocco, the people who have survived, and those who have lost the most precious, their families. Send aid and help, yes, but also reveal Yourself as their anchor and safety to help them live and find hope again.
Thank You for all the God meetings and instances we had last week and thank You for all those people who will enrich this week.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Wednesday 20th Sept 2023
When He rolls up His sleeves
He ain’t just putting on the Ritz
Our God is an awesome God
There’s thunder in His footsteps
And lightning in His fists
Our God is an awesome God
And the Lord wasn’t joking
When He kicked ’em out of Eden
It wasn’t for no reason
That He shed His blood
His return is very close
And so you better be believing that
Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God (Repeat)
And when the sky was starless
In the void of the night
Our God is an awesome God
He spoke into the darkness
And created the light
Our God is an awesome God
Judgement and wrath
He poured out on Sodom
Mercy and grace
He gave us at the cross
I hope that we have not
Too quickly forgotten that
Our God is an awesome God
Chorus
Lyrics: Rich Mullins
In 1995, in the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee a great crowd had gathered for the opening of the Gospel Music Association’s annual convention and an evening of the finest worship songs. Each person on the program presented his or her musical offering with beautiful lighting orchestra’s and everything at their disposal.
After several performances, the lights dimmed, and a man walked quietly onto the stage and took his place at the piano. dressed in scruffy jeans and a flannel shirt and was unshaven. He scarcely looked up from the piano. A choir stood behind him. As the lights came up, Rich Mullins, began to play some thought he had started before his cue. Awesome God performed, the music ceased; the lights went down, and Rich Mullins slipped away.
The facts surrounding the writing of Rich Mullins’ song, “Awesome God” are not known as He died Sept. 19, 1997 at 42, in a tragic highway accident. A brief summary of His life gives the background to the song.
Rich was born into a Quaker home in 1955, in a small community near Richmond, Indiana. He attended the Cincinnati Bible College, and while there formed a band called Zion, which played local engagements. Of course, he later became a major recording artist and formed a band to tour with him. He called the group The Ragamuffin Band.
He spent his money for causes that benefited poor children. He lived the last two years of his life on the Navajo Indian Reservation near the Arizona/New Mexico border, working with poor Native Americans. Believing music was the language of the soul and wanting to give this gift to the children. He built a small multi-sided structure to live in. He only allowed himself the average yearly wage for a man in the United States. The balance of his money went to a foundation to help children. His mother told me she is making sure the money he left goes to the causes he loved so dearly.