Blessed be the name of the Lord

“And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. ⁷Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” ⁸So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. ⁹Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.” Genesis 11:6-9 NKJV

God Almighty,

So they ceased building the city. It says that in every translation I have looked at! And yet somehow I have it in my mind that it was destroyed? Perhaps I am remembering the tower of Siloam that Jesus talks about in Luke 13:4-5. No You scattered the people because they were raising an alter to their own achievements? They were comparing themselves to You, denying you or putting You aside to make more room for themselves? Reminds me of King Nebuchadnezzar who said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30). He too took all the glory for himself. He ate grass and lived as a hermit till he humbled himself.

It is good to remember that You are God, there is no other, You are the creator and there is no other. We can achieve great things, do marvelous things or even small wonderful things but You are still God and our help support and provision. Please bring us down a peg if we need it, so that You do not have to come and confuse what we are doing to get out attention. And help us build for good.

May we and You be pleased at what You have enabled us to do.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 4th January 2025
This is my kind of tower . . .

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be the name of the Lord Most High
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be the name of the Lord Most High

The name of the Lord is a strong tower
The righteous run into it and they are saved
The name of the Lord is a strong tower
The righteous run into it and they are saved

Holy is the name of the Lord
Holy is the name of the Lord
Holy is the name of the Lord Most High
Holy is the name of the Lord
Holy is the name of the Lord
Holy is the name of the Lord Most High

Glory to the name of the Lord
Glory to the name of the Lord
Glory to the name of the Lord Most High
Glory to the name of the Lord
Glory to the name of the Lord
Glory to the name of the Lord Most High

Lyrics: Clinton Utterbach

Pray for your family, friends, neighbourhood and church family.
Our nation, our world. Peace for Ukraine.
For yourself.

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. ²¹ In his name the nations will put their hope.”
Matthew 12:20-21 NIV

God, Yahweh, Lord, Jehovah,

I linger on this verse for another day because at the moment so many nations need to turn and hope in You. “In Your name we put our hope”. This week a friend reminded me that the Bible is full of Your names all trying to describe You. When asked by Moses, You, God said You were called ‘I am who I am’ (Exodus 3:14). That is who You are.

Many of Your other names seem to try to show what You are like and what You do. Like Hagar called You the God who sees – because You saw her need and provided (Genesis 16:13). A beautiful name from Psalm 23, Jehovah Raah, the Lord my Shepherd. Or Elohim – creator mighty and strong. Many books have been written about Your names. They are all beautiful and help our understanding but they all point back to who You are. The only God, The great I am. In You we hope and put our trust.

We thank You for all You have done and are doing and will do. Above all we thank You for who You are. The only God, the great I am, perfect in all Your ways. And You keep Your promises. Speak peace into our world.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God,

For our family and friends. For all their needs today, those near, distant and broken relationships.
For our church, Ministers, lay leaders, members. For all those who work for You willingly.
For the royal family. For continued healing and family unity.
For our Parliament. In a world of turmoil to be calm and hear Your leading, for an end to war.
For those waiting results of medical tests, results, interviews or outcomes.
For Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, all places of conflict. Bring an end to war. Speak peace to stubborn or hard or angry hearts. Bless the peacemakers with power.
For the children caught up in war and conflict and hunger.
For those who use Your name as an exclamation or swear word – to know You are real.
For Your help for today to be a good day and be able to appreciate it.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 21st April 2024
Written in the 1980’s and may not be sung so often now . . . But I love this worship. It is biblical (Proverbs 18:10) easy to remember and a simple tune! Can worship ever be outdated?

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be the name of the Lord most high

The name of the Lord is a strong tower
The righteous run into it and they are saved
The name of the Lord is a strong tower
The righteous run into it and they are saved

Glory to the name of the Lord
Glory to the name of the Lord
Glory to the name of the Lord most high

The name of the Lord is a strong tower
The righteous run into it and they are saved
The name of the Lord is a strong tower
The righteous run into it and they are saved

Holy is the name of the Lord
Holy is the name of the Lord
Holy is the name of the Lord most high

The name of the Lord is a strong tower
The righteous run into it and they are saved
The name of the Lord is a strong tower
The righteous run into it and they are saved

Lyrics: Clinton Utterbach
Written in the 1980’s