Saturday 19th August 2023

“A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. 14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. 15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. 16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.” Proverbs 15:13-15

Father God,

We worship You because we are not a people oppressed by an angry God. We are not a people oppressed by a demanding God and we are not a people slavishly trying to be good and please our God. Yes, you are angry at sin, yes you are worthy of worship and yes you demand holiness. But in our weakness Your strength provided all we need in love through Jesus. We stand in Him in His sinlessness and holiness and give You are worship. After all everything else is Yours. And everything we have is Yours to use, we merely have it on loan.

We do like to give as the first church gave. To provide for the fellowship and those in need. So help us have a cheerful heart in Your presence as we continually feast on Your faith, hope and love. And all the other things we need as they arise and You provide. We feast on Your love as surely as we feast on our favourite food! Surely that must make our hearts cheerful.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Father God,

It is not always right to be cheerful especially when others are sad or coping with responsibilities. Help us to be sympathetic and empathetic when and where we can be. But help us to spread good cheer where we can. We pray for those members of our family who are worriers that You would give them relief. We pray you will give those who have been disappointed and always see the worst a glimpse of cheerful hope.

We pray for our church that it would be a cheerful place for new people to enter and welcoming and will take care of those who can no longer make it to services and those in homes and hospital.

We pray for Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria, Hawaii, Greece. Today we add Argentina as they go to the vote for a new President. Lord raise someone up who would stand against poverty, inflation and corruption.

Thank you for all we have today.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 19th August 2023

 ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
and to take him at his word;
just to rest upon his promise,
and to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
just to trust his cleansing blood;
and in simple faith to plunge me
neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
just from sin and self to cease;
just from Jesus simply taking
life and rest, and joy and peace.

Lyrics: Louisa M R Stead



Friday 18th August 2023

“And he (Jesus) entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” Matthew 9:1-3 KJV

God of good cheer,

Jesus had just been asked to leave the country of Gergesenes where he had healed a man possessed but it had caused the loss of a herd of swine. He never forces his company on anyone and leaves with good grace. But You also promised to never leave us – those who love Your presence.

Friends made the effort needed to carry a man paralysed to Jesus. Well there were no electric wheel chairs. The writer notes that Jesus saw their faith and hope. I wonder if it was the paralysed mans idea or those that brought him? Or both?

Jesus gave all his attention to the one in need. He addressed Him personally, intimately to put him at ease and then He asked him to be of good cheer. Not to be afraid but cheerful. When ever we bring someone to You through Jesus or we come ourselves we can be of Good cheer. Because You are a good God. We need not be afraid of You even though You are beyond our comprehension, more powerful that anything we can imagine and Holy and all seeing. Because Jesus is our mediator our righteousness and ready to help.

So we can cheer up. Our sins are forgiven and we can walk in holiness again and again and again. If we follow Jesus and allow Him to lead. Miserable Christians? Maybe sometimes. Underneath it all cheerfully forgiven? Always?

In Jesus name, Amen.

God of good cheer,

Help our family, friends, and those we know in our church congregations and fellowships be cheerful about our faith. We ask too that You would meet their needs so they can find reason to be cheerful too. And for those who do not yet know the joy of Your forgiveness – lead them to a place where they can meet You and hear You.

Ukraine, Lord bring an end to the paralysing, deadly war and speak peace into the hearts of those who are driving it. We pray for Canada experiencing a record number of wildfires causing many thousands to be evacuated. Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain there Lord, and stop the fires before they can reach the city of Yellowknife at the weekend.

Thank You for today and all the blessings it holds.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 19th August 2023
Cheer up. The gospel is good news and God is a good good Father.

Oh, I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they think You’re like
But I’ve heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night
And You tell me that You’re pleased
And that I’m never alone

You’re a good, good Father
It’s who You are, It’s who You are
It’s who You are
And I’m loved by You
It’s who I am, It’s who I am
It’s who I am

Oh, I’ve seen many searching for answers far and wide
But I know we’re all searching
For answers only You provide
Cause You know just what we need
Before we say a word

[Chorus]

Cause You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us, aah
You are perfect in all of Your ways
Oh, you’re perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us

Oh, it’s love so undeniable
I, I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable
I, I can hardly think
As You call me deeper still
As You call me deeper still
As You call me deeper still
Into love, love, love

[Chorus]

[Bridge]
You are perfect in all of Your ways
It’s who You are
It’s who You are
It’s who You are
And I’m loved by You
You are perfect in all of Your ways
It’s who I am
It’s who I am
It’s who I am

Lyrics: Chris Tomlin

Thursday 17th August 2023

“My days are swifter than a runner, they speed by without seeing happiness. 26 They glide by like reed boats, like an eagle that swoops down on its prey. 27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression and be cheerful,’ 28 I dread all my sufferings, for I know that you do not hold me blameless. 29 If I am guilty, why then weary myself in vain?” Job 9:25-29 NET

Lord God,

What a picture. A runner, in those days delivering a message and if bad news not welcomed. Reed boats speeding to buy goods and an eagle speeding to kill its prey who has done nothing to deserve death. Life passes and Job suffers on soon to be passed himself. Not cheerful.

I do not find Job east to read but the question of suffering is discussed. Job replies to Bildad that he cannot for a minute forget his complaint, his bereavement and ill health and suffering. He cannot change his expression and pretend to be cheerful.

There are times we cannot be falsely cheerful. Job is concerned that he cannot have it out with You God. He says a few verses later in verse 33, “If only there were someone to mediate between us,
    someone to bring us together,  someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.”

Thank You that we do. Jesus who stands in the gap between Me and You, God. So in all situations I can know Your presence and forgiveness. Even in suffering or ill health. You did not answer all Jobs questions about suffering, You reminded Him You are God and then You restored Him.

Remind us that You are still Almighty God and loving Saviour despite what we may be going through. Be our rock and defender and healing and the provider of life and all that is good beyond this earths trouble.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Lord God,

We do not understand sickness and trauma and distress. We do not have all the answers and come to You to look for help and strength and all we need and for our families and friends. We ask for healing and provision for those who are in need. Help us when we cannot understand, to trust. And know Your help and comfort with us.

We pray for the end to war and conflict in Ukraine and other areas of the world where power drives the leaders and greed directs their plans. Open blind eyes to see mercy.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship 17th August 2023
A hymn written out of suffering and loss.

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”

It is well with my soul;
it is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control:
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and has shed his own blood for my soul. Refrain.

My sin oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
my sin, not in part, but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more;
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;
even so, it is well with my soul.

Lyrics: Horatio Gates Spafford

Horatio G. Spafford was a successful lawyer and businessman who suffered tremendous loss in his life. Not only did he lose his business in the great Chicago fire, but he and his wife lost their son to scarlet fever and then later lost all four daughters to shipwreck in the Atlantic. Shortly after the wreck, Spafford journeyed to England through the very waters where his daughters perished. It was on that journey that he penned the lyrics to “It Is Well.”