Wednesday 13th Sept 2023

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.” Luke 15:26-28 NIV

Generous God,

I think I have always pictured myself as the lost child returning to You, Father. But I am not immune to jealousy! Such a small thing that creeps in unexpectedly. So simple a thing like someone else’s piece f cake being bigger than mine! We all have our own little petty jealousies if we are honest. Its hard when it is something like thinking a parent loves a sibling more than the others!

This jealous son had misunderstood his position. He didn’t need to wait for his Father to give him a feast – his Father had given him everything already he could just have one whenever he wanted! He was so busy being good he forgot to be happy. I suspect he was not a jolly person to be around – but this is a parable not a biography.

Help us to rejoice in others joy, bring joy to others and find joy in Your presence. As You relate in the parable, “My child, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” (Luke 15:31).

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Generous God,

Answer the prayers of those we love and care for in a way that will bless them and give You the glory. Help us be patient with the prodigals who do not want to know You and persevere to open their eyes and soften their hearts. Bless our church fellowships and all that happens in the buildings during the week. And the people who make those things happen!

Bless Ukraine and Russia and end conflict and war. Grant a miracle.

There are so many natural disasters in the world in these days and we are not sure where to start. Be the God of provision, help and comfort. But we also ask that You would breathe Your peace over our world and into the weather systems, and very rocks and ground.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 13th Sept 2023

My Jesus, my Savior
Lord there is none like you
All of my days, I want to praise
The wonders of your mighty love
My comfort, my shelter
Tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship You

Shout to the Lord, all the earth let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name
I sing for joy at the work of your hands
Forever I’ll love you, forever I’ll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have
In You.

Lyrics: Darlene Zschech

Tuesday 12th Sept 2023

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.” Luke 15:20-24 NLT

Father of the humble,

Humble pie is not something I am good at. I didn’t go to a distant country like the parodical son. But I can only be honest with You because You know me inside out. I was proud, I lived as if You did not exist. But now I do know how good it feels, it tastes, when I apologise, back down and know You as Lord. When I am wrong I am ready to admit it! And I will never forget how amazing it was when I ate humble pie and met You at the cross.

I love to think there was a party in heaven when I backed down and admitted my need of Your gift of salvation. I love to think the party continued when I turned to walk Your way and admitted You know best. Even if I did not partake in a heavenly feast I did receive a new robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10).

We are so blessed, those who hear You call, and who come humbly recognising our need of You. Keep us humble. Recognising even though we are free to go, do and say what we want, living with You is best with Your provision, guidance and love for us.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Father of the humble,

We come to You for help for today and for Your blessings upon our friends and family. We give thanks for those we have known and have joined You in glory in these recent days. Bless and comfort their family and friends. We thank You that we will actually be greeted by You one day in heaven. Inspire our church leaders and grow our congregations both in size and righteousness.

We pray for Ukraine and that You would speak an end to war into that conflict and turn darkness into light. Bless and use Your church there and be their refuge.

We humbly ask You to minister to those in Morocco deep in grief and shock and need. Help aid and medical help get through to the far reaches where transport is difficult.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 12th Sept 2023

Oh kneel me down again
Here at Your feet
Show me how much You love humility
Oh Spirit be the star that leads me to
The humble heart of love I see in You

You are the God of the broken
Friend of the weak
You wash the feet of the weary
Embrace the ones in need
I want to be like you Jesus
To have this heart in me
You are the God of the humble
You are the humble King

Lyrics: Brenton Brown

Brenton is a dual citizen of South Africa and the U.S. but his life changed when he moved to England and joined the Oxford Vineyard. There he learned song writing from Brian Doerksen and started writing some of the best-loved Christian songs we have today.

But his life changed dramatically when he contracted M.E., the debilitating medical condition. Brenton was sad thinking his days of song writing were over. But then he experienced the revelation of God’s power transforming his life, and wrote: You are the God of the broken the friend of the weak . . .

Monday 11th Sept 2023

“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it? 9 Then when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:8-10 NET

God of Joy,

I am always misplacing my car key as You know Lord, or my mobile phone or losing something I popped away safe! You know how often I pray and ask You to help me. I am never sure whether this is too trivial to pray about – but You do answer, remind me, and I am grateful.

But here I think the loss means, and represents something much more profound. This coin we are told was of great importance to her not because it was of great monetary value but because it was of great personal value.

Jesus is showing the scathing teachers of the law that God values every single one of us. We are of inestimable value and He will not rest till He finds us. And she rejoices and shares her joy with everyone she knows. What a story. was Jesus showing us, how You, God rejoice over us and share Your joy with the angels around You in heaven?

I am filled with awe that You should rejoice that Jesus found me. Not because of who I am, or what I’ve done or can do. Simply because I was lost and You were prepared to go to great lengths to find me and You values me for who I am. Mess and all. Amazing, almost too good to be true but not quite – because it is true. And I cannot praise and thank You enough.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God of joy,

Grant joy into the lives of those we know and love. Grant peace and healing and all the good things that they need today. For those that we are estranged from we pray there will be the beginning or reconciliation or a safe place to explore the possibilities.

Be with those who tend the sick and those who work in medical research. Grant the knowledge they need to help alleviate pain and cure disease. Bless a new generation with the desire to take up medicine as their purpose in life.

We pray for all those caught up in the devastating earthquake in Morocco. Comfort those who mourn, send aid to those who need help and support and medical attention. We pray You will keep the earth at peace and that there will not be after shocks.

We continue to ask You for peace between Ukraine and Russia.

Thank You as we enter this harvest season to appreciate all we have and help us not take one single mouthful of food for granted.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 11th Sept 2023

And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?

He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race;
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Lyrics: Charles Wesley