Thursday 30th October 2025

“Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. 24 Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. 27 The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”” Matthew 8:23-27 NLT

“Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”” Matthew 14:25-33 NLT

Father God,

In just a few chapters we see the growth in understanding of the disciples. From wondering who the man Jesus really is because he seems able to control nature – to seeing his divinity because creation is His to command.

I think that I respond to Jesus in the boat readily because he is someone I can ask for help from in a storm or when I am in a panic. Always there even if He seems to be sleeping, though of course He, You never sleep Father. (Psalm 121:4)). But in the midst of s storm it is not easy to step forward and trust You. To look to you when drowning in fear. Peter is the disciple ready to take that next step. For each of us there is our own, next step, time of growth and spiritual challenge. It may not be the same as anyone else’s as You know us inside and out (Psalm 139).

And it is not like we will get an exam tomorrow! I am at peace Father that You know when we are ready for a step in faith and you lead us and teach us and help us grow. Help us to see, as Simon must have, that we are growing in faith and knowing Jesus more, even if it means getting our feet wet – not in a literal sense!

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 30th October 2025

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail
And fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed
And You won’t start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
And You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Saviour
Repeat above . . .

Oh, Jesus, You’re my God!

I will call upon Your name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine

Lyrics: Salomon Ligthelm, Joel Timothy Houston, Matthew Philip Crocker.

Wednesday 29th October 2025

“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:1-8 NIV

Father,

Jesus was a story teller? Well he often spoke in parable which were earthly stories but with a heavenly meaning. They were incredible. Simple enough for those to see who got it and just interesting stories for those who didn’t! Jesus explained them later to his disciples. Those who had ears to hear heard! (Matthew 13:9).

We read them and the Holy Spirit helps us picture the truth they contain. The first time I heard the parable of the good seed I prayed I would be good soil. And I didn’t really know You then! Those who do not want to know do not see. So your teaching fulfils the prophecy Matthew quotes in 13:13 from Isaiah 6:9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’”

So many beautiful parables: to name a few of over 40:
New cloth, New wine.
Lamp on a stand.
Wise & foolish builders.
Moneylender forgives unequal debts.
Lamp on a stand
Rich man builds bigger barns.
Wise and foolish servants.
Unfruitful fig tree.
Weeds among good plants.
Mustard seed.
Hidden treasure.
Lost sheep, lost coin, prodigal son.

If we read them with You Father, Your Spirit will teach each one of us exactly what we need to understand for where we are today. And each one of us will hear individually, personally what we need for today. You teach heavenly lessons for our earthly walk. Thank You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen,

Worship Wednesday 29th October 2025
Don Francisco puts parables to music.

O the sower sows the word
But who is the one who is heard
And from faith to deed
Brings a crop from the seed
When the sower sows the word?

Like seed scattered wide on a sidewalk
With no place for the roots to dig in
That’s the gospel to those who’ve been hardened
By the world and its doubt and its sin
To the sound of the truth of the kingdom
They are deaf and just don’t understand
And the enemy comes and he steals away
The abundance the Father had planned

Chorus

Like seed in thin soil over bedrock
With no depth for the roots to go down
The shoots appear green in the morning
But they’re scorched when the sun heats the ground
So some hear the gospel with gladness
When trouble and testing arise
In the heat of the battle they wither
And retreat to a refuge of lies

Chorus

When the seed falls in weeds, thorns and thistles
Struggles for water and light
Weeds grow up faster and larger
And the harvest gets lost in the fight
That’s the word in a heart that’s distracted
By the world and its worries and prides
By money and thrills of the senses
While the real life just shrivels and dies

But the one who brings sowing to reaping
In this one, the Father delights
When the word’s understood and accepted
Watered and kept in the light
When the plough has dug deep down the furroughs
And the stones have been thrown from the field
Producing some thirty, some sixty,
sometimes a hundredfold yield

For the sower sows the word
Who is the one who is heard
And from faith to deed
Brings a crop from the seed
When the sower sows the word
When the sower sows the word
When the sower sows the word
When the sower sows the word?

Lyrics: Don Francisco


Tuesday 28th October 2025

“ Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”” Luke 7:40-50 NIV

Father Almighty,

Simon, not Simon the disciple but Simon the Pharisee. The religious leader who should have been setting an example of Godly behaviour. And an opportunity for Jesus to speak about the heart of Your heart. Worship and charity and forgiveness. Charity being the old fashioned meaning of giving love.

It is hard for those who do not feel they are so bad or and think sin is just about those who murder or rob banks. I am sure the Pharisee thought himself a good man. Hard for him to understand the depth of God’s love and forgiveness perhaps. I was so broken and messed up when I became a Christian, You God, centred on loving me before You explained the depth of my sin. Then You showed me how I had ignored You, not loved You, not trusted You or Your Son. Now I begin to understand the weeping woman and the depth of those words, ‘Your sins are forgiven’. All of them. The shameful ones, the long gone ones, the ones I have forgotten. The ones I trip up on even now. All forgiven. Stamped not guilty at the cross. And sometimes it is a fact I base my faith on and sometimes like the woman I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Faith and feelings! And sometimes I have to remind the enemy not to bring them to mind to make me feel bad. Sometimes we need Your Spirit to remind us and sometimes we need Scriptural facts (Colossians 2:13-14). That woman knew who You were. She knew what You could do. And Simon? I hope he saw beyond the words. And we too can see, know, and go in peace today and every day because of You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 28th October 2025
No appologies for having this again. It just says what I know and feel.

Wonderful grace that gives what I don’t deserve,
pays me what Christ has earned then lets me go free.
Wonderful grace that gives me the time to change,
washes away the stains that once covered me.
And all that I have I lay at the feet
of the wonderful Saviour who loves me.

Wonderful love that held in the face of death,
breathed in its final breath forgiveness for me.
Wonderful love whose power can break every chain
giving us life again setting us free.
And all that I have I lay at the feet
of the wonderful Saviour who loves me.

Lyrics: John Pantry