Sunday 6th August 2023

“One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” 3 Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?  4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Luke 6:1-5 NIV

Lord God,

You were completely involved in creation, as Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:2), as God (Genesis 1:1) and as Jesus (John 1:2,3). The trinity in complete unity creating a perfect world to be inhabited and to provide all we need. Then we, with our behaviour, messed it up. You are the Creator and we are the created, we cannot put it right. So You paid the price of our disobedience. And today, Sunday, is a good day to praise and thank You.

You rested after creation and You taught Your people to rest one day a week. Moses giving them rules to help them know what was classed as work and not to be done. (Exodus 20:8-11). Rules and regulations. Dotting the I’s and crossing every single T! And then along You came, living as one of us, Jesus Christ. Taking back the heart of the Sabbath. Standing up the the legalists by allowing Your followers to eat a few grains of wheat.

Help us to know what is right and what is being over religious. Not to be glued by rules but follow Your lead. You showed us that our salvation is not about rule keeping to earn it, but about Your provision on the cross. Not about trying harder and harder but walking with You and doing our best. Your gracious favour. Accepting Your gift and choosing to follow You.

Your Son showed what was important. He was not a man of religion but a man of faith in prayer, fellowship and knowing Your word. It was natural not forced. It was a relationship with You. Not rushed. Help us to follow and rest in You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Lord of the Sabbath,

We want to find rest this day, so we bring all those we pray for and hope for, and love to Your Throne room. To give our prayers for them and our hearts and minds rest. Help us to put down any tension for them and about them. Help us to trust You.

We remember all the different churches we have friends at and ask that You bless them. Restore their peace, hope and well being. Lift their and our hearts to worship while making lunch, washing up, watching the rain fall, the sun shine, talking on the phone.

Today we pray for our land and farmers as they struggle to harvest their grain amidst the showers and damp. Grant them dry days before harvest and enough dry days to get the wheat and grain harvest in.

Help those in China who have had unusually heavy monsoon rain and are flooded out. Bless those who mourn. Lord help, rescue and aid reach those areas who need it most. There are so many evacuated in distress and need. Be a God who not just stops the storm but dries it up and provides for those distressed.

Break into relationships between Russia and Ukraine and bring about cessation of war soon.

In the name of the Lord Jesus we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 6th August 2023

Lord today, Sunday, whether at church and at home we are in Your dwelling place. (Psalm 84).

How lovely is your dwelling place, almighty Lord
There’s a hunger deep inside my soul
Only in your presence, are my heart and flesh restored, how lovely

How lovely is your dwelling place Almighty Lord
There’s a hunger deep inside my soul
Only in your presence, are my heart and flesh restored,
how lovely is your dwelling place

In your court there’s shelter for the greatest and the small
The sparrow has a place to build her nest
The pilgrim finds refreshment in the rains that fall
And each one has the strength to meet the test

How lovely is your dwelling place Almighty Lord
There’s a hunger deep inside my soul
Only in your presence, are my heart and flesh restored,
how lovely is your dwelling place

A single day is better when spend in humble praise
than a thousand days of living without you
The Lord bestow his flavour on each one who obeys
and blessings on the one whose heart is true

Lyrics: Tom Howard

Saturday 5th August 2023

“And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work ” 2 Corinthians 9:8 NET

Lord God,

Saturday, the end of the week. A day to give you our worship and adoration for being such a faithful God, unchanging in your generosity and unfaltering in your love. Even at the end of a busy week. When we are sometimes frustrated at what we have not got done!

Lord as I sip my cup of tea and consider, you have always provided me with what I needed and often abundantly more than I realised at the time. Your grace is more than sufficient to meet my needs now and in the future. Thank you for reminding me.

Jesus spent His life here doing and giving to others. There were days aside to rest and be alone with You. and He spent time with the disciples, and with the crowds. But whenever the need arose He was there meeting it. Whether a blind man, a woman ill for many years or a centurion’s servant.

Help us to do good where the opportunity presents itself. Not because we have to but because we want to and it makes us feelgood doing good. Doing to others as you would like them to do to you as Jesus told us to. (Luke 6:31)

Help us to know when we need time with You. When patience or kind thoughts are disappearing. When anxiety is growing or we feel things are out of our control. Remind us we cannot earn your grace – we have it because of Jesus. And He supplies us in abundance when we ask.

In Jesus name Amen.

God of grace,

Bless and meet the deep needs of those we pray for today. Those we have lost touch with and those who we have strained relationships with. And thank You for all those we have good fellowship and spend time with. Give us grace to be kind whether we are at work, at home or just out and busy. Grace to be kind to ourselves and with others.

We pray for Ukraine and Russia and that You would change the intentions, the actions, the plans and the driving forces of war to the beginning of a different future of living as neighbours.

We pray for China in the deluge of rain and the damage it is and has done. Send human help and give those who have suffered, Your deep eternal comfort in their distress.

For those travelling to see family or gong on holiday we pray that all will be smooth and safe. And they will be refreshed. For those of us at home we thank You for all we have and the moments to be refreshed among the familiar.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 5th August 2023
One of those songs I would have every week! Gives me focus and fills me with worship.

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.
Repeat Chorus

Lyrics: John Pantry

Friday 4th August 2023

“Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:15-18 NIV

Lord of Glory,

We thank you and worship You because when Jesus died, the curtain of the Temple was torn in two literally opening up the way into the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem (Mark 15:38). And showing that we can directly approach You God without fear and death, sin forgiven, inheritance sure. There is no veil between You and me.

It is like a curtain, or a veil taken away from our eyes when we truly meet Jesus. And we see Him in faith. And it is hard sometimes when we share our faith and other just cannot see as clearly. Give them sight of You.

Father, help us to be transformed to Your image, and ever increasing Glory. Even if we can only do it slowly one step at a time! So we can display more of You. Help us to rid ourselves of anything that would veil us from seeing you clearly. Like thinking, I am not good enough, I am nobody special, I have to worry, I make mistakes, I cannot do anything. In You we can and You love us unconditionally.

Help us to remove negative attitudes, criticizing ourselves, comparing ourselves with others, seeing an empty cup never mind a half empty one! Help us just to look to You and see we are being changed from glory to glory each day. You never tire of gently reminding us what is best for us. You never tire of repeating lessons to help us grow in faith. You never tire of reminding us how much You love us. We worship You today because You are our God.

In the glorious name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

God of glory,

You make You face to shine upon us (Numbers 6:25), and are gracious to us. We bring our prayer lists of all those we love and care for, and ask that You might be gracious (merciful, compassionate, kind, loving) towards them today. Provide for their needs and shine hope on their paths. And on ours. Open their eyes to see Jesus in all His glory.

Today we ask for Your help for all those who are undergoing change in their lives. The children and young people who have left junior schools and will have new classmates and new high schools in September. Take any worry from them so they can enjoy their holidays. We bring to You all those who have been bereaved of a spouse, partner, parent, child friend. Stand in the space left behind and comfort them from when they awake, during their day and even during their sleep. Those whose lives have been changed by illness or accident, heal and give them all they need.

We continue to seek peace and an end to war in Ukraine, however You can bring that to pass. Please God start it now.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Meditation – Thursday 8th October 2020
First time I heard this I liked it. But now I love it. The words are my prayer.

I caught a glimpse of Your splendour
In the corner of my eye
The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen
And it was like a flash of lightning
Reflected off the sky
And I know I’ll never be the same

Show me Your Glory
Send down Your presence
I want to see Your face
Show me Your Glory
Majesty shines about You
I can’t go on without You, Lord

When I climb down the mountain
And get back to my life
I won’t settle for ordinary things
I’m gonna follow You forever
And for all of my days
I won’t rest ’til I see You again

Show me Your Glory
Send down Your presence
I want to see Your face
Show me Your Glory
Majesty shines about You
I can’t go on without You, Lord
No, no

Third Day
CD: Third Day, Offerings ll, Essential Records.