Dear Lord and Father of mankind

Monday 3rd March 2025

“So Moses and Aaron called together these chosen leaders, ¹⁸and they assembled the whole community of Israel on that very day. All the people were registered according to their ancestry by their clans and families. The men of Israel who were twenty years old or older were listed one by one, ¹⁹just as the Lord had commanded Moses. So Moses recorded their names in the wilderness of Sinai.” Numbers 1:17-19 NLT

“Then the Lord gave these instructions to Moses and Aaron: ²“When the Israelites set up camp, each tribe will be assigned its own area. The tribal divisions will camp beneath their family banners on all four sides of the Tabernacle, but at some distance from it.” Numbers 2:1-2 NLT

God of order,

Right from the beginning of the history of man You created order. The Holy Spirit hovered above a formless, dark and empty earth and day by day it became ordered and took form.

Here in numbers at the outset we see You showing Moses how to order this people so everyone could live at peace and know the plan. With the Tabernacle, the symbol of Your presence, right in the centre. And when they moved there would be no accidents no rushing to get out first. All was ordered.

Sometimes we would pray that life could be like that. Ordered, orderly predictable. To know our place and our time to move and our time to remain. But You did not make life predictable or drab or boring. It is full of blessings and You, God turning up unexpectedly, if we would look. It can be hard and then You hold us up and even carry us. Sometimes You comfort us through as a parent comforts a child. I have known many occasions when in disorder You have been there bringing me through lifes mess.

Order our steps Lord. Bring us to times when we can be in the right place at the right time. And help us keep You in the centre. We need Your order, keeping us through the mess life can be!

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 3rd March 2025
Verse four . . .

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
forgive our foolish ways;
re-clothe us in our rightful mind,
in purer lives thy service find,
in deeper reverence praise.

2 In simple trust like theirs who heard,
beside the Syrian sea,
the gracious calling of the Lord,
let us, like them, without a word
rise up and follow thee.

3 O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
where Jesus knelt to share with thee
the silence of eternity,
interpreted by love!

4 Drop thy still dews of quietness,
till all our strivings cease;
take from our souls the strain and stress,
and let our ordered lives confess
the beauty of thy peace.

5 Breathe through the heats of our desire
thy coolness and thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still small voice of calm.

Lyrics: John Greenleaf Whittier

Saturday 3rd February 2024

“When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 NKJV

God of forgiveness and healing,

What a promise, what a gift that keeps on giving. These verses are so often called upon in prayer meetings. King Solomon had finished the Temple, there had been 7 days of celebrating and then Your overwhelming glory came and filled the Temple! Your people fell on their faces in worship. But – it was not till the night after, that the Lord came to Solomon quietly and answered their prayers with this promise. It is not always in the big meetings, and celebrations that You speak to us. Often it is the moments we are alone and receptive to Your voice. Help us hear.

What a promise, forgiveness of sin and healing for the land. What do You tell them and us to do? Come together as God’s people, humble ourselves, turn away from wicked ways and seek Your face. Romans 11:17 reminds us that in Christ we have been grafted into Your olive tree and share in its nourishing sap. We too can look to this promise of God to Israel.

Today, how we need to come humbly, turning from sin and praying for our nation and world. It is our responsibility. To pray for our government, Kings, our churches (the people), our sin sick society. One thing we know, one thing we are sure of You answer prayer. Heal our nation one heart at a time.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God of forgiveness and healing,

For our family, friends, neighbours, church fellowship. Meet their many needs today and grant them peace of mind.
For Kings, rulers and Governments.
For the HRH King Charles and HRH Duchess of Cambridge, Kate’s recovery back to full health and strength.
For our government, each person to know the right thing to do and unity and respect.
For nations and their rulers and governments to have a desire to make peace, and make it happen.
For Ukraine and Gaza and a permanent peace for all. Myanmar, North Korea and Syria.
For those who work away often unseen making society safer and pleasant. Nurses, dustbin men, electrician’s, reservoir keepers, police, bakers, farmers . . .
For those who do not have what they need to live through no fault of their own. The organisations that work out of compassion to provide food, medical care and support to become self sufficient.
For refugees and children who live in continual danger and need. Send support and supplies.
For us, to be blessed seeing friends, speaking to family, and knowing You are looking upon us with love.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 3rd February 2024
Perhaps just listen . . . then sing with the second more familiar one . . .

If my people who are called by My name
will humble themselves, humble themselves,
and pray

If my people who are called by My name
will humble themselves, humble themselves,
and pray

and seek My face,
and seek my face,
and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin
and will heal their land.

Tuesday 29th August 2023

Lyrics are written below.

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” Isaiah 30:15 NIV

Dear Lord and Father,

Thank you that you do forgive our foolish ways. The multitude of different foolishness both large and small that we, your people, think and do! I was listening to this hymn yesterday. A bank holiday when we feel we should be out enjoying ourselves somehow, visiting family and not wasting the day. And yet having a day to chill out is very tempting. Jesus practiced both, quietness and busyness . He knew when he needed the one to do the other!

I was taken with the line from the above hymn, drop thy still dews of quietness. It reminded me of the dew that fell in Exodus 16:14. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost appeared on the ground on the desert floor. Manna from heaven. It makes me consider that quietness is also a gift from You. I cannot work up quietness or make it happen in my head. Drop Your dews upon me so I can experience Your quietness. Remind me that faith is not about facts but a relationship with You. Drop or drip? Perhaps I need to slow my brain down sometimes long enough for Your dew to settle!? And know that in quietness and trust is our strength. (Isaiah 30:15).

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Dear Lord and Father,

We bring our friends, family, neighbours, community, colleagues and church fellowships and congregations to You. Lifting up their needs, their hopes and their challenges for Your provision. Bringing those with special needs at this time . . .

Ukraine, Father we pray for You to drop Your dew of peace upon Russian leadership and help them see a way to ending their aggression. So Ukraine can practice peace once more too.

As August draws to a close and parents look to school recommencing, in the next few weeks, we pray for teachers, staff and volunteers to be inspired and looking forward to new classes of children, as they return to the class rooms, dining rooms and even the road crossings.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Lyrics for Worship above

Dear Lord and Father of mankind
Forgive our foolish ways
Reclothe us in our rightful mind
In purer lives thy service find
In deeper reverence praise
In deeper reverence praise

In simple trust like theirs who heard
Beside the Syrian sea
The gracious calling of the Lord
Let us, like them, without a word
Rise up and follow thee
Rise up and follow thee

O sabbath rest by Galilee
O calm of hills above
Where Jesus knelt to share with thee
The silence of eternity
Interpreted by love
Interpreted by love

Drop thy still dews of quietness
Till all our strivings cease
Take from our souls the strain and stress
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of thy peace
The beauty of thy peace

Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and thy balm
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire
O still, small voice of calm
O still, small voice of calm

Lyrics: John Greenleaf Whittier