“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. ” Colossians 2: 8-10 NIV
God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are turning our hearts and minds to that last journey Your Son made to Jerusalem, as we travel through lent. You were not distracted or threatened away from Your purpose. Our world is full of spiritual potholes, misleading signposts, boggy ground. Trying to lead us off the path or distract us! “Human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces”! How true, and mans logic seeks to make us doubt or take us captive in our thinking.
Some people trust that everything will be all right in the end and some even trust in doing the rituals of Christianity rather than in You. TV programmes drip feeding us evolution rather than Creation. Some trust in certain foods and diets till it become a sort of religion. Some meditate to reach higher planes endlessly seeking assurance. Some read horoscopes for a word from the stars rather than the One who made them. Some trust in necklaces of saints, lucky objects or touching wood . . .
Is it pride? Wanting to be self reliant and self sufficient? Wanting it easier than a relationship with You? A relationships that takes effort, yes. Then we remember the effort it must have taken to turn towards Jerusalem and start walking.
Why would we look anywhere else? Keep us from wandering even a smidgen.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
God and Father,
For our family, friends and neighbours. Hold them. Help them to look towards Easter and see You.
For those we have difficulties with. Change situations for good.
For our church family Ministers and church leadership. Keep them loving and true to the You.
For the Royal family. Their health. To be able to have some privacy along with their public duties.
For our government. House of commons, House of Lords, civil servants. At this unsettled time.
For our nearest towns and cities and city centres. For employment, development and growth.
For schools in the busy week before the holidays. That Easter would be explained to them.
For our NHS, our police force. For prevention, compassion and development for the future.
For an end to the war in Ukraine. Would You turn Putin away or take Him away and/or bring peace.
For all the good people, even where they do not know You but do good.
For quiet moments when we can stop and think – or just pause for a breather. And thank you for visitors, phone call that cheer us up. For those we can ask to pray for us and who will listen.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Thursday 21st March 2024
Surely a beautiful modern scriptural hymn that will stand the test of time.
Keith Getty says, I struggled to understand and fully embrace my faith amid an unbelieving, universalist, and multi-religious culture (growing up in Durham, England). By the time I came through this, my faith was stronger, and I really wanted to write songs for the Church that brought the full, rich, life-giving story of the gospel into believers’ hearts and minds. I then had the privilege of connecting with songwriter Stuart Townend. There wasn’t an immediate personal connection. But we said, “Let’s write one song.” “Let’s do a song that tells the whole story of Christ coming to earth-the whole gospel story in one song. Let’s have as many verses as we want, and let’s just go for it.””
A few weeks later Getty sent Stuart some melody ideas, the first of which, penned on the back of electricity bill as a 25 year old, was a magnificent, haunting melody that Stuart loved, and he immediately started writing down some lyrical ideas. He knew in his own life he needed reminding continually not to live by his feelings or his circumstances, but by the unchanging truth of the gospel. They finally got together, and after some fine-tuning, In Christ Alone was born. A song abounding in biblical truths…
In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
Lyrics: Keith Getty and Stuart Townend