Tag: Dear Lord and Father of mankind

Thursday 2nd October 2025

Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: 8 If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.” “Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, 11 Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. 12 “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. 13 But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.” 14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.” Esther 5:9-14 NIV

Lord God,

This passage in Esther does remind me of Romans 12: 19-20 where it states we should let You avenge us and we should do good to our enemies. And Matthew 5:33-38 where Jesus tells us to love our enemies (not what they do), so we can be seen to be like You more and more.

Esther makes Haman feel special. She used only the truth with the King. So Mordecai could be thanked for his past deeds. It is Haman’s own wickedness, nothing to do with Esther, that leads to him suffering what he wanted to do to Mordecai. You troubled the King’s sleep so he read the Chronicles of his reign. And there was reminded of Mordecai’s loyalty. It was You, Lord that moved the King and Esther to then find a way to counteract an unchangeable law.

Sometimes we are not recognised for what we have done. Sometimes others are jealous of what we have achieved. Sometimes we do good and our own situation seems to get worse. Sometimes several things go wrong one after the other when we have done nothing to deserve them. You remind us in Peter t to be alert and of sober mind. Because our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (5:8). Help us to use our common sense and our faith and seek You first. I have been wronged and unable to put it right even with the truth – but You know God and it is in Your hands. I must keep on forgiving and not allow it to poison my heart.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 2nd October 2025
One hymn I can usually remember most of the verses of! And which reminds me You are always there restoring us.

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
forgive our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind;
in purer lives Thy service find,
in deeper rev’rence, 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.

O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
where Jesus knelt to share with Thee
the silence of eternity,
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.

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


Monday 3rd March 2025

“So Moses and Aaron called together these chosen leaders, 18 and 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, 19 just 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.