Wednesday 12th February 2025

“Then the whole community of Israel set out from Elim and journeyed into the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving the land of Egypt. 2 There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron. 3 “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”” Exodus 16:1-3 NLT

““Give us water to drink!” they demanded. “Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord?” 3 But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?”” Exodus 17:2-3 NLT

Father God,

They had forgotten how tough it was as slaves in Egypt. They had forgotten all the miracles You performed and that You kept them from suffering the plagues and none of their first born died . . . they had forgotten that You had promised to lead them to the promised land alive!

How true the scripture which says, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4. And whether they gathered a little manna or a lot each had exactly what they needed (Exodus16:17). You know what we need.

When our lives feel dry and we find ourselves hungry for direction or what to feed on – help us turn to You first to be fed on the truth and refreshed by Your Spirit. It is easier to grumble sometimes, rather than acknowledge where we are and look for what we need to You. Give us grace to persevere.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 12th February 2025
Time to relax in a traditional hymn which often comes to my mind . . .

Famous Welsh hymn writer William Williams wrote the Welsh hymn ‘Arglwydd, arwain trwy’r anialwch’ (Lord, lead me through the wilderness), in around 1762. Less than 10 years later it was translated into English by Peter Williams and became known as ‘Guide me, o thou great redeemer’. The tune Cwm Rhondda was written by John Hughes in 1905.

Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but you are mighty;
hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more,
feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain,
whence the healing waters flow.
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
be Thou still my strength and shield,
be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside.
Death of death, and hell’s Destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to Thee,
I will ever give to Thee.

Lyrics: William Williams translated by Peter Williams

Tuesday 11th February 2025

“Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” 25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. 26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.” Exodus 15:22-27 NLT

Lord God,

I think they are now only three days into their journey and they are devastated that everything is not just right for them. Bitter (salty) water?! Nothing worse when You are thirsty. So they grumbled. They did not seek You first and blamed Moses.

There are those who choose to spend their lives only seeing problems and there are those who are prepared to look for answers. Your people had seen what You could do – and yet they did not seek Moses, Aaron or You for a solution. They just grumbled.

Moses reassures them like a Father to children. If You follow God’s commands and do what is right, God will give You good health. What a promise and when we read ahead we see that You do exactly that. The only ones who die in the wilderness are those who rebel purposely.

You do not promise us a trouble free life but You do promise us a full life in You. And life that goes beyond even death itself. Elim must have looked like heaven to the grumbling masses! Heaven will be even more than we can imagine. Help us not to grumble but to ask when we need. We have Your promise that You, God are able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within us.

In Jesus name we pray.

Worship Tuesday 11th February 2025

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown;
will you let my name be known;
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare
should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

Will you love the “you” you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found
to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound
in you and you in me?

Lord, your summons echoes true
when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go
where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me

Lyrics: John L Bell.

Monday 10th February 2025

“When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers rushed into the sea, the Lord brought the water crashing down on them. But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground! 20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine and led all the women as they played their tambourines and danced. 21 And Miriam sang this song: “Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea.”” Exodus 15:19-21

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea.2 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—my father’s God, and I will exalt him!” Exodus 15:1,2 NLT

Lord of our deliverance,

Whether the Red Sea was shallow, deep, sinking sand or liable to flooding . . . the Israelites all walked across safely and the Egyptians along with their horses and chariots perished. I am glad miracles cannot always be fully explained. But I have learned that they give opportunity to give all the glory to You, God. Moses took none for himself. The people took none. It was not their faith or obedience. They had not earned it or been super good . . . they were delivered because of Your love, grace and faithfulness.

A good place to start this week. Singing because You have triumphed gloriously and my sin and death has been removed by Jesus. Thrown into the sea of Your forgiveness. I can stand on the rock and walk on solid ground. And I can expect miracles to happen along the way and then give all the glory to You. Taking none for myself as I have done nothing to deserve it. O how You love us and I will sing unto You, for You have triumphed gloriously the horse and the rider hurled into the sea.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 10th February 2025
I love this lively version of Miriam’s song. Give it a try?

I will sing unto the LORD,
for he has triumphed gloriously,
the horse and rider thrown into the sea.
I will sing unto the LORD,
for he has triumphed gloriously,
the horse and rider thrown into the sea.

The LORD, my God, my strength and song,
has now become my victory.
The LORD, my God, my strength and song,
has now become my victory.

The LORD is God, and I will praise him,
My Father is God, and I will exalt him.
The LORD is God, and I will praise him,
My Father is God, and I will exalt him.

Repeat all . . .