Tuesday 5th Sept 2023

“This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. 25 When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” 28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.” 29 “Please tell me your name,” Jacob said. “Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there. 30 Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” Genesis 32:24-30 NLT

He says, “Stop your striving and recognise that I am God. I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!” 11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob is our stronghold! (Selah) Psalm 46:10,11 NET

God of Jacob,

Jacob wrestled with You and he refused to let go till You blessed him! (Genesis 32:24-29) What a picture of mans struggle with You and Your struggle with man! Jacob was far from perfect. But You struggled to bring Him to the realisation that You are God and spared him. You were willing to come and struggle with fallen mankind and allow us to go further – to put You to death.

You blessed Jacob but You blessed us much, much more. We cannot thank You enough for wrestling with sin and overcoming it for us. God today we come to You afresh. Holding on to you as Jacob did not out of desperation but because we receive Your love and Your blessing.

Today help us to quieten ourselves, be still, stop striving, stop being annoyed, angry or frustrated. Quieten our mind, body and spirit, so we can acknowledge You are our God, we are blessed and the future is safe in Your hands.

In Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

God of Jacob,

We do not need to wrestle with You, we have peace with You. We bring the names of those in our heart and mind and ask that You would meet their needs. Protect Your many churches (the people) around the world. Comfort those isolated believers and encourage and empower those who strive to do good in Your name at missions, in hospitals, faith schools, communities, orphanages.

We take this opportunity, in the stillness, to say we are sorry. What a mess our world has become. Polluted with cheap plastic, ravaged by the need for making money. Disunity, abuse, war between politicians, tribes and nations. Even in families. Help Your creation to recover and move people to stop wars and abuse. Help us to make peace where we are.

We pray for Ukraine and Russia for war to cease.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 5th September 2023

The Lord bless you and keep you
Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you
The Lord turn His face toward you
And give you peace

Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen

May His favour be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children, and their children

May His presence go before you
And behind you, and beside you
All around you, and within you
He is with you, he is with you

In the morning, in the evening
In your coming, and your going
In your weeping, and rejoicing
He is for you, he is for you

He is for you, he is for you
He is for you, he is for you
He is for you, he is for you

Amen, amen . . .

Lyrics: Taken from Numbers 6:24-26
Kari Jobe, Christopher Joel Brown, Cody Carnes, Steven Furtick

Monday 4th Sept 2023

 “But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. 35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” 37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”” Matthew 22:34-40 NLT

Lord God,

It is like a competition, the Pharisees against the Sadducees and using Jesus in the middle. And they both wanted to get the better of Him more. You are not into taking sides and getting the better of people for personal benefit.

To love You, God with all our heart, soul and mind. Love is not something we can make up, feel at will or turn on. As will each other, with You it is both a journey and a beginning.

I remember someone telling me that everyone has a space within that only God can fill. I only realised the truth of it when I asked Jesus into my life. I began to love Him – because He first loved me (1 John 4:19). And, it satisfied my soul and like all relationships, if invested in, has deepened and grown stronger.

How do we love You will all our heart, soul and mind? Can we, all the time? How do we recognise when we are becoming drawn away or addicted or distracted by or to something else? Or side tracked by something that takes up a lot of our time before You, God? Not that we should not love our family. Help us keep healthy hearts and minds Lord, safe in Your love first. Then You can help us love others too.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Lord God,

We bring those we love with their needs or just to give thanks for them. Thank you that You show us how to love with forgiveness, generosity and kindness. Bless our family with good hearts.

We pray for those who try to fill their God space with all sorts of other things. Loving other people and expecting them to be all they need. Trying to find peace in meditation or religious practices or doing good. Open their eyes Lord to see You.

Thank You that You created this world in love. You created mankind in Your image, to love in the best sense of the word. The highest form of love, Agape love. Thank you for all those who love, act in love and work from a heart filled with Your love. The millions of Christians who will out of love will make the world a better place to live in. Not be perfect but try!

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 4th September 2023

My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;
for thee all the follies of sin I resign;
my gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art thou;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I love thee because thou hast first loved me
and purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

Lyrics: William R Featherston

Verse omitted in video

I’ll love thee in life, I will love thee in death,
and praise thee as long as thou lendest me breath,
and say when the deathdew lies cold on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now



Sunday 3rd September 2023

“On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”” 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 NLT

God of the new covenant,

Today, many will be taking what we call communion in services that have developed over time with different traditions. Some will use wafers, some crusty bread torn up and some neatly sliced squares, some unleavened bread. Some will use wine and some non alcoholic. Some one cup though since Covid many use the little individual communion glasses. Some will recite the familiar communion service others will read scripture and pray. The Salvation Army do not take communion in a service but remember His broken body and shed blood in worship and saying grace before meals.

What ever the practice, however the delivery, Jesus intended it to be something that brought us back to basics, kept us in remembrance of what he gave so we could have a new covenant of grace with You, God. Paid for, delivered through and only because of the cross.

Today we worship You, our generous, compassionate, ever giving God. And as often as we eat and drink we will give thanks not just for our daily bread but for our life in Christ.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God of the new covenant,

Family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, our church community. We are wealthy indeed Lord. We pray that You would bless all the people we cherish with all they need for a good life. Grant them fulfilment and joy. For those we have not been able to see and where we hear there is separation we pray You would grant a breakthrough and a coming back together.

We pray for the many who will be in worship and not fully understand all they can have in Christ. Who are holding on to guilt and unworthiness and pray You will grant them understanding and freedom.

We pray for those who hold unforgiveness in their heart would be able to let it go and let You be the judge. Help us to keep communion as personal, just me and you keeping our covenant good.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 3rd September 2023

Oh, how could it be
That my God would welcome me
Into this mystery?
Say, “take this bread, take this wine”
Now the simple made divine
For any to receive

By Your mercy we come to Your table
By Your grace You are making us faithful
Lord, we remember You
And remembrance leads us to worship
And as we worship You
Our worship leads to communion
We respond to Your invitation
We remember You

See His body, His blood
Know that He has overcome
Every trial we will face
None too lost to be saved
None too broken or ashamed
All are welcome in this place

Chorus

Dying, You destroyed our death
Rising, You restored our life
Lord Jesus, come in glory
Lord Jesus, come in glory
Dying, You destroyed our death
Rising, You restored our life
Lord Jesus, come in glory
Lord Jesus, come in glory
Lord Jesus, come in glory
Jesus come

Chorus

Oh, we remember You
We remember You
We remember You