Monday 20th November 2023

 “And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marvelled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, 44 “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.” Luke 9:43-45

God, Your Majesty,

We watch the news and we are bombarded by everything mankind is doing (mostly not good). We loose sight and forget to marvel at what You have done for us, what You are doing for us and what You will do for us when time is no more. Amidst the terrible state of the world, You are still on the throne. Even if mankind, or some of it, thinks they are – and is power hungry!

I love these little verses in the New King James version in Luke’s gospel and amid the very serious his worlds make me laugh! You are God, all powerful, all knowing, all seeing. We know that we can only approach You because of Jesus sacrifice on our behalf. But here Luke paints a picture of Jesus preparing the disciples ahead of the time of his sacrifice. He is reprimanding His 12 disciples. Nine had just messed up trying to heal a boy, three had seen Jesus glorified and not understood anything, 1 would betray Him. And Luke paints a picture of Jesus with a verbal syringe saying, “Let these words sink down into Your ears!”

But they did not understand and did not ask. Sometimes You must feel like saying the same to us when we don’t listen. Please help us, to get Your words so deep down in our ears they reach our brain, our thoughts and our understanding. So Your truth can lead us, feed us and set us free (John 8:32).

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God of majesty,

We pray,
For all our family, friends, neighbours, and our church family. For You to meet their needs for good and lead them beside quiet waters and restore them.
For ministers, pastors, congregations and all that is done by those belonging to churches to support, help and bless their local communities. Help them to make Jesus known by love.
For our Government, that You would be God of our democracy and enable truth and care.
For our King and Queen and their family and all those who work in positions where they can be a force for good..
For Gaza and the Middle East, Lord a miracle of Your peace and reconciliation is needed.
For Putin and Ukraine. A full stop, an end to war, conflict and bloodshed.
For those in the midst of conflict, to have hope and a future and hear of Your love.
For those with actual hearing difficulties and those who cannot hear at all. For medical break throughs in treatment. For those who cannot hear You, that You would open their spiritual ears.
For ourselves that we would know Your love, see You at work in our families and trust in Your guidance.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 20th November 2023

Thank you for saving me, what can I say?
You are my everything, I will sing your praise.
You shed your blood for me, what can I say?
You took my sin and shame,
A sinner called by name.

Great is the Lord,
Great is the Lord,
For we know your truth has set us free,
You’ve set your hope in me.

Mercy and grace are mine, forgiven is my sin,
Jesus my only hope, the Saviour of the world.
“Great is the Lord” we cry,
God let your kingdom come,
Your word has let me see,
Thank you for saving me!

Lyrics: Martin Smith

Sunday 19th November 2023

“Praise the Lord, O my soul! 2 While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. 3 Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. 4 His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish.
5Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God,”
Psalm 146:1-5

Lord, God of Jacob,

I shouldn’t be amazed that Sunday seems to have come around so fast this week. Time is measured and yet sometimes it really seems different lengths?! Today, I turn to the Psalms for comfort, rest and joy in Your presence. I cream off the top half of this Psalm of praise and it reminds me Lord how the cream used to rise to the top of a bottle of milk!

It reminds us that we have an invitation to move to live on Praise Avenue and if we do we have a promise of happiness and hope. It is always possible to find something to praise You for because of Jesus. We have no excuse to want to dwell in Pity Parade, Complaining Court, Doubting Drive . . . Petulant Place . . . Not that everything is rosy all the time, but in You we are never going it alone and we can seek You to find the resources we need in Christ.

It is You that makes the difference in our lives. However we got to know You. Whether as a child, at some evangelical event, through bereavement, a difficult time or through a friends invitation . . . You have turned our world upside down for good. Or rather the right way up. We have no condemnation for sin (Romans 8:1). We can know the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:6). Our shame is removed, crushed under Your feet at the cross (Hebrews 12:2) We are loved with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). We have a future in heaven for sure (John 14:1).

Happy, blessed are we who have You, the God of Jacob, as our Saviour. We have a sure and certain hope because of You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen,

Lord, God of Jacob,

We pray,
For all our family, friends, neighbours, and our church family.
For ministers, pastors, congregations and all that is done by those belonging to churches to support, help and bless their local communities.
For our Government, that You would be the God of our democracy and enable truth and care.
For our King and Queen and their family and all those who work in positions where they can be a force for good..
For Gaza and the Middle East, Lord a miracle of Your peace and reconciliation is needed.
For Putin and Ukraine. A full stop, an end to war and conflict and bloodshed.
For those in the midst of conflict, that they would hear of Your love.
For all those who suffer depression, have lost sight of hope and who need others to carry them at this time. Or who suffer medical depression and need medical help and support and understanding.
For all those in the news who have had a member of their family murdered. Comfort them. Send Your Spirit to turn the hearts and hands of those with evil intent so they turn away before harm is done.
For ourselves that we would experience Your love, and hope would spring eternal and keep us looking to You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen,

Worship Sunday 19th November 2023

Who breaks the power of sin and darkness?
Whose love is mighty and so much stronger?
The King of glory, the King above all kings
Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder?
And leaves us breathless in awe and wonder?
The King of glory, the King above all kings

This is amazing grace
This is unfailing love
That You would take my place
That You would bear my cross

You laid down Your life
That I would be set free
Oh, Jesus, I sing for
All that You’ve done for me

Who brings our chaos back into order?
Who makes the orphans a son and daughter?
The King of glory, the King of glory
Who rules the nations with truth and justice
Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance
The King of glory, the King above all kings

This is amazing grace
This is unfailing love
That You would take my place
That You would bear my cross

You laid down Your life
That I would be set free
Oh, Jesus, I sing for
All that You’ve done for me

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy, worthy, worthy

This is amazing grace
This is unfailing love
That You would take my place
That You would bear my cross

You laid down Your life
That I would be set free
Oh, Jesus, I sing for
All that You’ve done for meAll that You’ve done for me

Saturday 18th November 2023

“The next day, after they had come down the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. 38 A man in the crowd called out to him, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, my only child. 39 An evil spirit keeps seizing him, making him scream. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It batters him and hardly ever leaves him alone. 40 I begged your disciples to cast out the spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” 41 Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you and put up with you?” Then he said to the man, “Bring your son here.” 42 As the boy came forward, the demon knocked him to the ground and threw him into a violent convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and healed the boy. Then he gave him back to his father. 43 Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God’s power.” Luke 9:37-43 New Living Translation.

God of the mountaintops and the valleys,

Seems one day we can be full of faith and on the mountaintop rejoicing in You and marvelling at Your amazing grace and then the next -back down to earth with a bump. Heaven one minute and a challenging situation the next. Jesus and the three disciples experienced that. Well the disciples more than Jesus. Maybe a challenge to His patience but He never lost it.

A father in the crowd has lost faith because the disciples could not heal his son. The crowd around him was disappointed because they had come to see the show, a miracle. The remaining disciples were despondent because they had been unable to do what they did when Jesus had sent them out a couple of weeks ago (Luke 9:1-6).

Sometimes what we try to do just does not work, or what we have done in the past does not have the desired outcome. God sometimes chooses to work a different way. Here, there is a happy ending because the father in his helplessness recognises Jesus, their Master and takes His need directly to Him. It reminders us that we need to direct people to Jesus for what they need and not get in the way. Yes, Jesus was frustrated coming down the mountain and finding the disciples in a mess – but He sorted it out, healed the boy and restored him to his family. We can rely on You even when our faith is low.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God of the mountaintops and the valleys,

We pray,
For all our family, friends, neighbours, and our church family. For You to meet their needs and let us know if we can help.
For ministers, pastors, congregations and all that is done by those belonging to churches to support, help and bless their local communities. Help them to make Jesus known by love.
For our Government, that You would lead, shape, and help the right people be in the right places somehow!
For our King and Queen and their family and all those who work in positions where they can be a force for good..
For Gaza and the Middle East, Lord a miracle of Your peace and reconciliation is needed.
For Putin and Ukraine. An full stop to political power seeking and an end to war and conflict and bloodshed.
For those in the midst of conflict, that they would hear of Your love.
For those on the mountain tops rejoicing and those in doubt, despair and difficulties in the valleys.
For ourselves, our needs for today and this weekend. And the times we feel down to be lifted.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 18th November 2023

Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Brightly doth His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Singing if my way is clear,
Praying if the path be drear;
If in danger for Him call;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Trusting Him while life shall last,
Trusting Him till earth be past;
Till within the jasper wall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Lyrics: Edgar Page