For this I have Jesus – Start The Day

Tuesday 24th February 2026

³The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. ⁴He said: ⁶‘I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
⁷‘You shall have no other gods before Me . . . ⁹you shall not bowdown to them nor serve them. . . ¹¹‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. ¹²‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. . . ¹⁶‘Honor your father and your mother . . . ¹⁷‘You shall not murder. ¹⁸‘You shall not commit adultery. ¹⁹‘You shall not steal. ²⁰‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. ²¹‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’ Deuteronomy 5:3-7 and selected NKJV

God the Law Giver,

Deuteronomy begins with the foundational laws. The ten commandments. They cover all of life and community living for good. There had to be many more laws written in Deuteronomy for the way that the priests would deal with those who broke these laws whether by intent or accident. God knew there would be endless sin because it is the nature of man. To be self reliant, desire, suffer jealousy, be unable to control behaviour in some circumstances – be subject to life’s accidents.

But they give a straight line to measure wrong against and that was needed. To show we need God’s forgiveness. And many, many animals were slaughtered with much blood shed.

So God could show us the ultimate offering of His only Son. Like a passover Lamb. The atonement offering that cancelled all. So we could meet and live with the one who teaches us to live Your Law God. Your laws still stand. They are as relevant today and still cover all aspects of life and community.

But now we have the living law. Beautiful, personal, coming with much love to lead us through life. Leading us forward in forgiveness not beating us up for our past. If we would choose His way and not our own. And You stick with us through all of life, keeping us whole and Yours.

In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 24th February 2026
As we have passed the first Sunday in Lent a reminder to give thanks and worship . Good days, great days and other days . . .

For the joys and for the sorrows
The best and worst of times
For this moment, for tomorrow
For all that lies behind
Fears that crowd around me
For the failure of my plans
For the dreams of all I hope to be
The truth of what I am

For this I have Jesus
For this I have Jesus
For this I have Jesus, I have Jesus

For the tears that flow in secret
In the broken times
For the moments of elation
Or the troubled mind
For all the disappointments
Or the sting of old regrets
All my prayers and longings
That seem unanswered yet

Chorus

For the weakness of my body
The burdens of each day
For the nights of doubt and worry
When sleep has fled away
Needing reassurance
And the will to start again
A steely-eyed endurance
The strength to fight and win

Chorus

For this only Jesus . . .

Lyrics: Graham Kendrick (1994)

Wednesday 17th December 2025

“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.” Colossians 3:5-7 NKJV

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:12-17 NKJV

Father God,

What a letter this is to the Colossians and to us today! Through Paul You call us to put on, dress ourselves in love. Not mushy love not judgemental love and certainly not lustful love. But it is not an extra robe, an outer coat or fancy dress! We can only put on Christ if we have put off the old self. And we may read the list and think I am not that bad. But there is no big and little sin – just sin. You reminded us in Matthew 5:28 that just a lustful look is the same as adultery! My thinking is not always kind, humble, meek or longsuffering. I have to strip off all the sin and harm that damages me and others. And deeply offends You.

Help us put off self and put on love. It is not always easy, situations are not always as they appear. We are prone to thinking we are right and need everyone to know so. Keep us at peace and when we are rattled, help us to return from seeing red or green to seeing peace. Remind us of all we have to be thankful for and keep those scriptural hymns of thanksgiving popping into our minds.

And help me to do whatever I am doing, to do it well as if I were also doing it for You, my Lord and Saviour.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Wednesday 17th December 2025
But life is not that black and white – and I when I fail -thank You God – I still have Jesus.

Sunday 26th January 2025

“Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off? ⁸Even as I have seen, Those who plow iniquity And sow trouble reap the same. ⁹By the blast of God they perish, And by the breath of His anger they are consumed. ¹⁰The roaring of the lion, The voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions are broken. ¹¹The old lion perishes for lack of prey, And the cubs of the lioness are scattered.” Job 4:7-11 NLT

Lord God,

Eliphaz. I am glad he is not my friend. He had forgotten anything good Job had done and we read at the beginning that Job was a good man. And Eliphaz was his friend then! Eliphaz says that only troublemakers and sinner suffer what Job is going through! Sat opposite Job in his own good health and his own self righteousness! How very black and white and judgemental. Bad suffer, good thrive.

Ha! I have known wonderful Christian parents whose children have tested them to the limits. And beautiful Christian children who have had the worst childhoods. Life is not black and white.. But amidst this fallen world of sin and sickness and trouble and temptation we have a powerful friend, Jesus, who brings us faith, hope and love. He showed us who You are and how much You love. In sickness or in health in trouble or blessing we have You God, in Jesus.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 26th January 2025

For the joys and for the sorrows
The best and worst of times
For this moment, for tomorrow
For all that lies behind
Fears that crowd around me
For the failure of my plans
For the dreams of all I hope to be
The truth of what I am

For this I have Jesus
For this I have Jesus
For this I have Jesus, I have Jesus
(Repeat)

For the tears that flow in secret
In the broken times
For the moments of elation
Or the troubled mind
For all the disappointments
Or the sting of old regrets
All my prayers and longings
That seem unanswered yet

For the weakness of my body
The burdens of each day
For the nights of doubt and worry
When sleep has fled away
Needing reassurance
And the will to start again
A steely-eyed endurance
The strength to fight and win

Lyrics: Graham Kendrick