Friday 31st January 2025

“After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. 8 So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the Lord commanded them, and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer. 10 When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! 11 Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home.” Job 42:7-11 NLT

Father God,

You led Jobs friends to acts of repentance and saying sorry. You led them all away from a wrong theology of only the wicked suffer, and turned them from their judgement and unforgiveness. Even Jobs brothers and sisters, who never came near or showed compassion, feel welcomed to his feasts.

And when Job stopped playing God and judging his friends, You God, took over and rebuked them. Job forgave them and bore no resentment, annoyance or anger. Help us to let go of unforgiveness and let You deal with others sin. We remember what it cost You to forgive us at the cross. Help us to say sorry when we need to. As Paul writes in Colossians, “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” (3:13).

We know that it does not mean we will become rich or have everything restored. But we will be restored to a right relationship with You. Sometimes forgiveness costs us dearly and sometimes we need to move out of danger as we forgive. But we know You will take over and judge and we will find peace and rest for our souls. (Matthew 11:29)

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Friday 30th January 2025
So simple, so profound, so true . . .

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heav’n He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless Righteousness
The great unchangeable I Am
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and pleads for me

Lyrics: Charitie Lees Bancroft 1863
Revived with new arrangement by Vikki Cook 1997

Thursday 30th January 2025

“Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. “Will you discredit my justice and condemn me just to prove you are right? Are you as strong as God? Can you thunder with a voice like his? All right, put on your glory and splendor, your honor and majesty. 11 Give vent to your anger. Let it overflow against the proud. Humiliate the proud with a glance; walk on the wicked where they stand. Bury them in the dust. Imprison them in the world of the dead. Then even I would praise you, for your own strength would save you.”
Job 40:7-14
“I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” Job 41:1-6 NLT

God,

We can do nothing to save ourselves, do good deeds, try harder, give more, be good! Job was silenced and in Your presence could do nothing but repent. Repent: feel or express regret or remorse about wrongdoing or sin. A complete change of mind and behaviour.

I had only heard about You before, but now I have seen You with my own eyes. What an amazing statement. Surely we echo it ourselves – those of us who have met with Jesus. Whether it was in a prayerful moment, in some Damascus road experience or praying the prayer of decision.

The Christian walk is a walk of repentance because good as we try we cannot be perfect. Jesus said as much, ” “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come,” (Luke 17:1) but it is also a walk of forgiveness. You do not forgive us once a week or once a day . . . You pour Your forgiveness on us as we go. “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7). And we rejoice.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 30th January 2025

Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidd’st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Lyrics: Charlotte Elliot

Wednesday 29th January 2025

“Can you direct the movement of the stars—binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion? 32 Can you direct the constellations through the seasons or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens? 33 Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth? “Job 38:31-33 NLT
“Then the Lord said to Job, 2 “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”3 Then Job replied to the Lord, 4 “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. 5 I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.”” Job 39:1-5 NLT

God of earth and the universe,

Job has been through a lot. Lost his own family, been distained by his wife, and been judged verbally daily by those who said they were his friends. He has never cursed or blamed you but he has wished he was never born and wanted to know why it had happened to him. He dared to confront and argue with you!

Here is Jobs ight bulb moment. God pictorially shows the sort of things the creator has done and can do without effort. He confronts Job with the reality of an awesome God and a very small man. And in none of the descriptions does ||God say he does evil. He is a creator an upholder a provider.

Father sometimes knowing You in Jesus we forget. I hear myself winging and need those moments when I remember who You are and stop even the attempts to praise You. There are times when we need to put our hands over our mouths and stand in Your presence. And be.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 29th January 2024
I closed my eyes, tried to still myself and just be . . .

Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
the holy One, is here;
come bow before him now
with reverence and fear
in him no sin is found
we stand on holy ground.
Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
the holy One, is here.

Be still, for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around;
he burns with holy fire,
with splendour he is crowned:
how awesome is the sight
our radiant king of light!
Be still, for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around.

Be still, for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place:
he comes to cleanse and heal,
to minister his grace –
no work too hard for him.
In faith receive from him.
Be still, for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place.

Lyrics:  David Evans