Start The Day

Wednesday 17th January 2024

“Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. ⁸Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, invincible in battle. ⁹Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. ¹⁰Who is the King of glory? The Lord of Heaven’s Armies-he is the King of glory. ” Psalm 24:7-10

“For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. ¹¹For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
¹²O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!” Psalm 84:10-12

Lord of Hosts (angelic armies),

The children of Israel went to the Temple together on festive days, feast days, when they needed help as a nation. They went personally when they wanted to give thanks or needed forgiveness for some sin from breaking a religious law. For every eventuality of life. Same today but thank You that You meet us where we are. We do not have to get to Jerusalem or a holy building.

“Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good” Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Perhaps it depends whether I am contemplating clouds or You Lord. We need to be heavenly minded to know how to live on earth, here and now. And if I remain in You, You will remain in me (John 15:4) and there will be no end. Serving You, God is not long prayers, endless Bible reading and sermon listening. It is about living with and in You. It is sometimes serious but sometimes joyful and always rewarding.

Our body is Your holy temple where the Holy Spirit lives! (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Psalmist wanted to serve You as a doorkeeper we have become Your temple. Help us just live at peace with You day by day.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Lord of Hosts,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. We bring our worry, our anguish, our joy and our hopes for each of them
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations to prosper and serve the community.
For all those involved in Christian radio and TV, Song of Praise and leading singing in church.
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family. Speak into their lives to guide them.
For our government and their families. That Your will be done in them in these aggressive times.
For Ukraine a withdrawal of Russian troops. Peace an end to war.
For all areas where there is war, military oppression and civil war. Myanmar, Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria . . .
For those who are struggling with temptation, addiction or lack of faith.
For our local community neighbours, doctors, dentists, police and schools.
For all those who provide essential help in our community, food banks, district nurses, home helps, friends, neighbours, family.
For ourselves, a blessed day filled with contentment, support, and direction where needed.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 17th January 2024

How lovely is your dwelling place
Oh, Lord Almighty
For my soul longs and even faints for You
For here my heart is satisfied
Within Your presence
I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings

Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere

One thing I ask and I would seek
To see Your beauty
To find You in the place Your glory dwells
One thing I ask and I would seek
To see Your beauty
To find You in the place Your glory dwells

My heart and flesh cry out
For You, the living God
Your Spirit’s water to my soul
I’ve tasted and I’ve seen
Come once again to me
I will draw near to You
I will draw near to You

Lyrics: Matt Redman

Tuesday 16th January 2024

God our King of Glory,

When I read Psalm 24 and these verses I quite often play the hallelujah chorus in my mind to try and imagine all heavens Armies sing Your praises! Psalm 24 was perhaps written for when David returned the Ark to the Temple in Jerusalem. The symbol of God dwelling in the midst of HIs people. They were trying to picture the magnificence, power and glory of the King of Heaven deigning to visit, let alone dwell, in a Temple among them.

Now with hindsight we also see Christ, magnificent, powerful over sin and death and all glorious, at one with the Father deigning to enter our hearts! Our little, sometimes wayward not able to be sinless hearts. And when we open up to this Lord of Heaven’s Armies and King of glory, we find acceptance, forgiveness and grace. Giving us purpose, direction, strength and so, so much love.

In remembering that there is no Temple on earth big enough to be Your dwelling place we are humbled that You choose to live in us by Your Holy Spirit. Cleaning out our little wayward hearts – because Jesus paid with his blood on the cross. Faith to battle with sin, the enemy and the natural ups and downs of life.

Help us to open those gates of our hearts fully to You. Help us oil them, keep them from rust and let You in every part of our lives. And help us remember yes, Jesus, You are gentle, meek and mild, but also the King of Glory, the Lord strong and mighty, invincible in battle. A friend but first of all Lord.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God, King of Glory,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. We bring our worry, our anguish, our joy and our hopes for each of them
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations. For help to continue and grow.
For all those involved in Christian radio and TV, Song of Praise and leading singing in church.
For those drowning in debt and low incomes. Help and support.
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family in their family difficulties.
For our government and their families. That Your will be done in these complicated times.
For Ukraine a withdrawal of Russian troops. Peace an end to war.
For all areas where there is war, military oppression and civil war. Myanmar, Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria . . .
For those who find themselves in deep water literally or struggling with health or trauma.
For our local community neighbours, doctors, dentists, police and schools.
For all those who provide essential help in our community, food banks, district nurses, home helps, friends, neighbours, family.
For ourselves, a blessed day filled with contentment, support, and direction where needed.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 16th January 2024
I could not resist a clip of the hallelujah chorus at the end. I just love it.

Open the gates for the King of Kings (Men)
Open the gates for the King of Kings (Women)
Open the gates for the King of Kings (Men)
Open the gates for the King of Kings (Women)

Prepare the way of the Lord (Men)
Prepare the way of the Lord (Women)
Prepare the way of the Lord (Men)
Prepare the way of the Lord (Women)

Hosanna (Men)
Hosanna (Women)
Hosanna (Men)
Hosanna (Women)
Hosanna (All)

Hallelujah Chorus

Monday 15th January 2024

“When you pass through the waters, I am with you; when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you. ³For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your deliverer.” Isaiah 43:2-3

Lord our God,

Isaiah’s words bring to mind the parting of the Red Sea and the fiery furnace. And there are those in the news or who we know who are literally going through flooding. At times I have felt like I am going through situations that are insurmountable or have me worried and anxious. You do not always take us, me round them but You have steered and helped me through.

Isaiah was talking to the Israelites in captivity in Babylon. A Godless, idolatrous sinful city. Facing loss of freedom and persecution, represented by deep water, flowing water, and fire and Your judgement for sin. These verses reminded them that You took their forefathers through the Red Sea to safety and drowned their enemies. (Exodus 14:21-22). You dried up the swollen springtime River Jordan for a band of priests carrying the Ark into the promised land (Joshua 3:14-17). You protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when thrown into a fiery furnace for refusing to worship any god but You. They could turn to You again for help and trust You.

Today it reminds me that when I come to trouble or the end of my life, You are my Saviour. You will see me through and Heaven will be mine and the flames will not touch me because of Jesus. Help us to trust You and know the certainty of Your presence now today.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Lord our God,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. Help us hand over all our concerns and hopes for them to You..
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations. For help to continue and grow.
For those whose rest is disrupted by shift work or nights nursing or caring for others.
For those drowning in debt and low incomes. Help and support.
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family as they seek to serve the nation.
For our government and their families. Amidst the many words and promises raise up good men and women to serve for the nations best.
For Ukraine a withdrawal of Russian troops. Lead them to peace and end to oppression.
For all areas where there is war, military oppression and civil war. Myanmar, Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria . . .
For Zion, for Jerusalem today, to find a way for peace with all its neighbours.
For those who find themselves in deep water literally or struggling with health or trauma.
For our local community neighbours, doctors, dentists, police and schools.
For emergency workers not to be overwhelmed by what they are faced with. Provision for all they need in equipment, water, food, medical supplies.
For ourselves, grace to live today Monday and find Your arms around us all day and night too.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 15th January 2024

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word
What more can He say than to you He hath said
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled.

Fear not, I am with thee; oh be not dismayed
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

Verse not sung but included here.
(When through the deep waters I call thee to go
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress)

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie
My grace all sufficient shall be thy supply
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to its foes
That soul, though all hell should endeavour to shake
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake

Lyrics: Author known as ‘K’ in John Rippon’s A Selection of Hymns 1787
CD: Fernando Ortega, Hymns of Worship, Word Entertainment.