Saturday 4th January 2025

“And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.” Genesis 11:6-9 NKJV

God Almighty,

So they ceased building the city. It says that in every translation I have looked at! And yet somehow I have it in my mind that it was destroyed? Perhaps I am remembering the tower of Siloam that Jesus talks about in Luke 13:4-5. No You scattered the people because they were raising an alter to their own achievements? They were comparing themselves to You, denying you or putting You aside to make more room for themselves? Reminds me of King Nebuchadnezzar who said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30). He too took all the glory for himself. He ate grass and lived as a hermit till he humbled himself.

It is good to remember that You are God, there is no other, You are the creator and there is no other. We can achieve great things, do marvelous things or even small wonderful things but You are still God and our help support and provision. Please bring us down a peg if we need it, so that You do not have to come and confuse what we are doing to get out attention. And help us build for good.

May we and You be pleased at what You have enabled us to do.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 4th January 2025
This is my kind of tower . . .

Blessed be the name of the Lord 
Blessed be the name of the Lord 
Blessed be the name of the Lord Most High 
Blessed be the name of the Lord 
Blessed be the name of the Lord 
Blessed be the name of the Lord Most High 

The name of the Lord is a strong tower 
The righteous run into it and they are saved 
The name of the Lord is a strong tower 
The righteous run into it and they are saved 

Holy is the name of the Lord 
Holy is the name of the Lord 
Holy is the name of the Lord Most High 
Holy is the name of the Lord 
Holy is the name of the Lord 
Holy is the name of the Lord Most High 

Glory to the name of the Lord
Glory to the name of the Lord 
Glory to the name of the Lord Most High 
Glory to the name of the Lord 
Glory to the name of the Lord 
Glory to the name of the Lord Most High 

Lyrics: Clinton Utterbach

Pray for your family, friends, neighbourhood and church family.
Our nation, our world. Peace for Ukraine.
For yourself.

Friday 3rd January 2025

“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Genesis 6:5-8 NKJV

God of grace,

We look at our world and see that nothing has changed from Noah’s days and they were older and supposedly wiser? One man, one person made a difference. What if Noah had not gone against the tide of sin and selfishness? It reminds us that You came among us as a man and refused to sin even though it led to Your death.

It gives us encouragement that one life, even our life, can and does make a difference. Noah did not see it at the time but it pleased you. Sometimes we do not see what difference our life makes in this world and we do not see what difference our faith makes to our family and friends. You do. But then we know that You also the one we want to please. Wo loves us. Father, Son and Holy Spirit not just cheering from the side lines but living it with us.

And through Jesus we nave found grace in Your eyes for every minute of every hour of every day of every year. And right now this moment. We are loved and free from sin in Jesus. How wonderful.

In Jesus name we pray and worship, Amen.

Worship Thursday 2nd January 2025
It could be nothing else but this worship today, a hymn for every day. I never tire of hearing it.

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.

2. 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 and music: John Pantry

Pray for God to move in our world, bless those we love and us.
Persist in prayer for an end to war in Ukraine.

Thursday 2nd January 2025

“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”” Genesis 3:8-10 NKJV
“Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.” Genesis 3:21 NKJV

Giver of Life, Father God,

When I do something wrong and know it – it usually gives birth to two things, regret and shame. And I am not talking life changing sin just the stuff we trip into. You covered Adam and Eve’s sin and shame by covering their nakedness with skin. Blood was shed because of them! It points to jesus who You sent, not to cover our sin and shame but to pay for it. There was no other good enough. Your Word starts with Your provision and we start the year rejoicing in it.

So let us lay aside the sin which so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus took away our guilt and our shame once and for all on the cross. It cost You not us. Keep us worshipping and seeking Your voice in the cool of the evening, at the start of the day . . .

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 2nd January 2025
Read out loud it is a powerful prayer for the new year. We are only one day in after all . . .

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your holy Word
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory

Teach us, Lord, full obedience
Holy reverence, true humility
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity
Cause our faith to rise, cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority
Words of pow’r that can never fail
Let their truth prevail over unbelief

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity
And by grace, we’ll stand on Your promises
And by faith, we’ll walk as You walk with us
Speak, O Lord, ’til Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory

Lyrics:  Keith Getty / Stuart Townend

Pray for our world, your world and yourself. We need it.