Give thanks with a grateful heart

Sunday 22nd September 2024

“The word of the Lord came to me: ²“What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: “‘The parents eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? ³“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. ⁴For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die.” Ezekiel 18:1-4 NIV

Sovereign Lord,

Sour grapes. I have heard that said , oh its just sour grapes! Here it is being used in the time of Ezekiel! The people were complaining that they had sour grapes – were having it bad because of their parents behaviour and sin. And they said that was not fair. But were they any better? It is not nice to spend time with someone who has eaten sour grapes as they constantly moan about being badly done to and that nothing is their fault. Sometimes we do have to bear the consequences of our parents behaviour.

But You tell the people of Ezekiel’s day simply and clearly that we all belong to You. The one who sins is the one who will die. Each generation blaming the last one and not changing does not help. Poor me does not change things. Sometimes I find myself having a pity party looking down not up!

Even if we see others having it easier and think life is not fair. Eating sour grapes just makes it worse. You never promised us this life would be without trouble but You promised Your help to overcome (John 16:33). Help us to taste and see and know how good You are (Psalm 34:8).

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Sovereign Lord,

For our close family. Your love showing the way.
For our extended family, friends, neighbours.
For our fellowship, ministers and congregations. Harvest season to bless others.
For our king and all those in authority and Parliament (1 Timothy 2:2).
For our Royal family relationships.
For Ukraine. For Gaza, all the Middle East. End to the conflict and war and voices of peace.
For those who have been let down, or have dysfunctional, harmful families. Your security.
For churches to become the caring family of those who do not have one.
For those families affected by violence and murder we have read and heard about in the news.
For families in food poverty here. Food banks, volunteers and overseas food agencies.
For us to be able to give thanks for all our blessings and the riches of Your grace in Jesus.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 22nd September 2024

In 1978, a young seminary graduate named Henry Smith was struggling to find work and coming to terms with a degenerative eye condition that would eventually leave him legally blind. Despite those hardships, Henry found hope in 2 Corinthians 8:9 and penned “Give Thanks,” a much loved song of our time. Years later, a young worship leader named Don Moen recorded Henry’s song, helping to carry it around the world.

Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One;
give thanks, because he’s given
Jesus Christ, his Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One;
give thanks, because he’s given
Jesus Christ, his Son.

And now let the weak say ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us;
and now let the weak say ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us.

Lyrics: Henry Smith 1978

Monday 4th March 2024

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV

Almighty powerful God,

We all have weaknesses! You know them all very well. For some it is maths or shyness or maybe an inability to play sports. Being afraid of meeting new people or afraid of failure. Some of us don’t like change. We all learn coping mechanisms. Why are we so afraid of admitting what we are not confident at?

Truth is we all need, You God, and each others support. So we can, together make up for our deficiencies. How much greater too when we admit to You our weaknesses and allow You to step in and be our strength. I am not sure I take pleasure in weakness as Paul says, but I can praise You when I see Your power at work in my life or someone else’s.

Help us be strong when we are reproached or persecuted, not to take offence, and to stand in Your strength with forgiveness and grace. Those that speak without thinking or mock us because we believe, may one day see their own need for You Lord and remember our witness.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Almighty powerful God,

For family, friends, neighbours, grant healing or peace or whatever is their need today.
Help young people called to the ministry have all they need and support to enter training.
For all the Royal family. King Charles to Know Your holding Him through all the treatments.
For our government. Build relationships, across the house, for the good of the nation.
For an end to the war in Ukraine. Send a miracle and soon. Have mercy.
For Gaza an end to all the killing, hostage taking and hate. Give success to the search for peace
For the church in Ukraine, Myanmar and the underground churches. Keep them safe and strong.
For solutions and cures and good things to be discovered, found and developed. For good and not just profit.
For the many things we hear in the news and can do nothing about – we bring to You, who can.
For us, a good day despite our weaknesses. Thank You for the strength and people You send us.

Worship Monday 4th March 2024

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us”
And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us”

Lyrics: Henry Smith

Friday 25th August 2023

“Listen to me, all you in distant lands! Pay attention, you who are far away! The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name. ²He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword. He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver.” Isaiah 49:1-2 NLT

Father and Lord,

In the New King James version it opens with, “listen O coastlands” and the NIV says, “listen to me O Islands”! Suddenly You are addressing us, an island and the rest of the world of gentiles and not just Israel. How exciting.

And with hindsight which, Isaiah did not have, we see Jesus. Called from heaven, spoken into an earthly womb to be born as one of us. And we picture Mary being called to carry Him and give birth. You pronouncing His name to Mary in Luke 1:31. Your trusting us with Him and us having no plan B.

We remember how those that heard Him said he spoke with authority, commanding even unclean spirits (Mark 1:27). The writer to the Hebrews tells us, “the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Nothing is as powerful.

And we know that Jesus was hidden in plain sight until Your time was right. Your arrow, Jesus, was used to kill death, deal with sin and judgement and provide a safe way back yo You.

We love to listen to You, O Lord. You have the words of eternal life (John 6:68) and we worship You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Father and Lord,

Bless all those we love, know and care about, with life and life in all its fulness. Open their eyes to see the wonder in the world, Your love for them and the hope that springs eternal in Jesus. Bless their day with good things and good health.

Bless Ukraine today with a break from war and the hope of peace to come. Work out Your purposes in Russia and change their agenda to peace.

We pray for all those who will work long and hard today and pray the time will go quickly and they will see the benefit of their labours. We ask that where the workers are oppressed, enslaved and not paid a fair wage You would to change their circumstances for good. Direct them to paid, safe employment and uncover those who take children and grown ups into slavery so they can be freed and helped. For those who work to change these situations we pray You will empower, enable and protect them.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 25th August 2023
Thank You that Jesus came for the world, for us, for me.

And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us”
And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us”

Lyrics: Henry Smith