Tag: As the deer pants for the water

Tuesday 27th August 2024

“As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God! 2 I thirst for God, for the living God. I say, “When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?” 3 I cannot eat; I weep day and night. All day long they say to me, “Where is your God?” 4 I will remember and weep. For I was once walking along with the great throng to the temple of God, shouting and giving thanks along with the crowd as we celebrated the holy festival. 5 Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.” Psalm 42:1-5. New English Translation.

Our God,

Sounds like the Psalmist is having a bad day, a bad week possibly and a tough life? It is thought He is sad because he is not able to get to the Temple. For him it was a special place, the place to meet You. We now have Jesus and know that we are able to meet You wherever we are. But we too have tough days, difficult weeks and even an ‘annus horribilis’ as the queen once said.

We mourned when we could not meet in the church building because of Covid. We missed our fellowship and shared worship. If we had written this Psalm at that time, we would add longing for a cup of tea together at the end of the service!? But it is behind us now. We have new worries!?

We could join the Psalmist saying: Why are you depressed – downcast – O my soul? But like the Psalmist we need to look above present circumstances. Wars, civil unrest and rumours of war.. The Psalmist does not give up – or accept he is just a victim. He has a word with himself! He tells himself he must wait on You, God. He knows he will thank You in the future.

We know You have not left us (Matthew 28:20). You sent us Your Holy Spirit. Nothing can separate us from Your love (Romans 8:39). You can still the storm (Mark 4:39), provide our daily bread (Matthew 6:11), be our strength to pass through rivers of difficulty (Isaiah 43:2). We have proved You in our past. We will trust you in our present, and will praise You for our future.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Loving Father God,

For our close family.
For our extended family, friends, neighbours.
For our church fellowship, ministers and congregations.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). Parliament resitting start of September.
For world kings, dictators, leaders and rulers.
For Ukraine. Please end war, soon.
For Gaza, all the Middle East. Solutions for a reconciliation and lasting peace. Keep them talking.
For other countries with uneasy borders. India and Pakistan. North and South Korea. Peace.
For refugees here and in terrible camps overseas. Hope and a future.
For all Christian organisations seeking to help practically and spiritually around the world.
For those living in fear and anxiety in Myanmar. Bless and protect Your church there.
For families as they enjoy the last of the school holidays. For their parents, guardians and carers.
For us to look up and see all we have to be thankful for. Help us to use today wisely.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 27th August 2024
There is a beautiful prayer at the end of the worship.

As the deer pants for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You

You’re my friend and You are my brother
Even though You are a King
I love You more than any other
So much more than anything

Lyrics: Martin J. Nystrom

Tuesday 25th June 2024

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 New King James Version

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 New Living Translation

Lord of every day,

Tuesdays. A day not at the beginning of the week, not in the middle and seems a long way away from the week end. Some times it just feels like another busy to get what needs to be done at work, got through if we have chores, or tolerate if we are on our own, are not well or facing the dentist. Today, as once again I am isolated by another dose of Covid I look forward to just going out to the corner shop one day!

But for all of us, especially me, I need to take a deep breathe and pass over all my niggles and cares to You, so I can step into Your presence, complaining and uncluttered in my head. As the Psalmist paints the picture with words – to feel even on a Tuesday, I can come apart from the world to a sheltered place in Your throne room. In the shadow of You, Almighty God. Sheltered where nothing can touch and there is rest and restoration for our souls. We cannot rest when our mind is running through what we need to do, what we haven’t done, what we can’t do yet. We are distracted.

Today, help us to pause, find that secret place with You where we can be still, rest in Your shadow. Not a dark place but away from anything that would seek to harm us. So we can hear Your love song, and be comforted. And we can worship.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Lord of the Sabbath,

For our family, friends, neighbours. Their needs and hopes.
For our Ministers, lay leaders, church members. Refreshment and encouragement.
For the Royal family. Their daily needs and time to be family.
For our nation and the members yet to be elected to Parliament. For You amidst the choosing.
For preparations for the Olympics in Paris and all those competing, and good health.
For Gaza, and the Middle East. Lasting solutions for peace for the good of all.
For Ukraine, those living there or abroad. A mighty move of Your Spirit to end war, soon.
For all those around the world doing good for God.
For those giving so others can do good.
For those who need comfort today in sickness, bereavement or sadness.
For the good Samaritans of today. For those who volunteer on the help lines..
For our needs to be met today, our rest to be good today and our joy to be restored.



In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 25th June 2024

As the deer pants for the water
So my soul longs after You
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You

You’re my friend
And You are my brother
Even though You are a King
I love You more than any other
So much more than anything

As the deer pants for the water
So my soul longs after You
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You

Followed by prayer by Robin Mark.

Lyrics: Martin J. Nystrom

Friday 12th April 2024

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10 NIV

God who gives,

We praise You for this brand new day, today. Help us to live in today. You do not make us relive yesterday and You tell us not to worry about tomorrow.

Seek and You will find, Your Word says. How true. Well yes, sometimes I need to pray to ask for help finding my keys or my phone or a £1 coin for the shopping trolley! But I can at times find something to moan about and the sun goes in. When I find something to be thankful for and the world seems brighter. We need to remember to seek You first and wait upon You. And to seek lasting things.

When we seek You we find You. We can seek enlightenment and find the certainties of our faith. Not ‘hope so’ or ‘maybe’. Jesus did it. Set us free. You, Lord, want us to seek Your first and then You can help us find what is best for us. If we seek You in faith You promise to reward us (Hebrews 11:6). Keep us seeking and finding Your way and the gifts of Your grace and mercy..

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God who gives,

For our family and friends. We seek their best, and knock at Your throne room for their provision.
For our church, Ministers and lay leaders, for the church to grow in numbers and faith.
For the royal family. We seek You first for healing, and use the doctors for their good.
For our Parliament. Regardless of politics give a desire to be good and do their honest best.
For our local town or city. For town centres to flourish and new business to prosper.
For our hospitals, police and all those who work to keep out society functioning safely.
For those seeking medical breakthroughs, scientific discoveries, inspiration and answers.
For those seeking You to make decisions, hope and a way forward. Send answers and help.
For those at odds with each other, even family, a way forward to seek peace.
For Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, places of conflict. End war. We seek Your power for peace.
For us a good day, to work or rest or enjoy. A day to seek and find contentment.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 12th April 2024
Nystrom, a musician and songwriter, born was 1957 in Seattle, Washington, was taking part in a fast and focusing intently on time with the Lord. On day 19 of his fast, he sat down at a piano and started playing chords in no specific order. He noticed a Bible nearby open at Psalm 42. Without much thought, he sang the first words of the Psalm to the melody he was playing. Soon he had written the first verse and the chorus. Within minutes, the song was complete. He intended to keep the song to himself – but a friend asked permission to play it for others.  

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You

You’re my friend And You are my brother
Even though You are a King
I love You more than any other
So much more than anything

I want You more than gold or silver
Only You can satisfy
You alone are the real joy-giver
And the apple of my eye

Lyrics: Martin Nystrom