Great is thy faithfulness

Friday 21st March 2025

“Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! ²⁷You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. ²⁸But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before.” Deuteronomy 11:26-28

“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. ²You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God: ³Your towns and your fields will be blessed. ⁴Your children and your crops will be blessed. The offspring of your herds and flocks will be blessed. ⁵Your fruit baskets and breadboards will be blessed. ⁶Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed.” Deuteronomy 28:1-5 NLT

Lord God,

In Moses day there was a definite black and white theology. Obey God be blessed. Ignore or rebel and be cursed. They did see sickness and suffering as punishment and flourishing flocks or families as a blessing. Oh that it was so simple.

Then, You sent Your definitive Word, Jesus. He suffered and died not for His sin but ours. He said that it would be tough for those who followed Him. Jesus said His followers must take up their cross (Matthew16:24) and die to self (John 12:24). The first disciples and Paul certainly suffered for their faith and had sickness. Epaphroditus was sick and almost died (Philippians 2:25-27). We read these blessings and curses and know that we are blessed when we trust You, God. Knowing You committed Yourself to us and bringing about our future. You, God will never leave us and will take us home to heaven. We are blessed in having Your light of life and knowing Your faithfulness and fellowship as we journey home. The comfort of Your refuge and strength and presenthelp in times of trouble.( Psalm 46).

In one way it is black and white, in that You are with us, Light of the world or not. Faith is all about a relationship with You through the cross. With You we have a faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13) and You are our way the truth and the life (John 14:6). Without You there is only self, superstition, false light, darkness and religion (trusting in something other that You, God).

Help us to worship You, live in You and as we rejoice in Your love, pray and proclaim and show Your love to one another. Not judge those in darkness but share Your light.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 21st March 2025

Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with thee.
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.

Great is thy faithfulness,
Great is thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hand hast provided;
Great is thy faithfulness,
Lord unto me.

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine and ten thousand beside.

Lyrics: Thomas O Chisholm

Friday 31st May 2024

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.
Your mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning, new every morning:
great is your faithfulness, O Lord,
great is your faithfulness!

Lyrics: Edith McNeill
Inspired by Lamentations 3:21-23

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV

Father of first light,

After yesterdays confession that I am not a morning person, and the memories of singing morning has broken at school, I started thinking about the very first morning.

The first garden at creation and where You walked God. That the same light of day greets us each morning. And calls us to praise You, God for creation, for each new day and that we never face the day alone, but with You. You still walk with us even though we have messed up. The writer of the hymn (used yesterday) saw raindrops on the grass, heard a blackbirds song and wondered at the morning sunlight. Perhaps it was written in Spring?

Help us to see each new day as fresh, full of opportunities to give You praise and thanks as well as gratitude for Your endless love. Even when things are tough help us to look to You. Keep our eyes full of awe and wonder for Your creation and every new day. To take nothing for granted to give up our worry about tomorrow and rest today in Your peace.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Father of Light,

For our family and friends and neighbours. To be blessed and able to enjoy a fresh new day.
For Ministers, lay leaders, church members. A day to be refreshed amidst preparing and caring.
For the royal family. To be able to plan and execute their duties regardless of politics.
For our nation and Government. Be the God of our nation. Lead those who would stand.
Ukraine, show Your power for peace and disassemble this war. Turn Putin and His advisors.
For Gaza, and the Middle East. Our hope is in You for a way to peace.
For the aid and support organisations that take what is needed into war zones.
For those who do the every day work that enables our communities to function and be safe.
For those who work nights, nurses, police, fire and ambulance. Those on call for emergencies.
For us to pray about the worrying and troubling but lift our hearts to all the good and encouraging.
For good sleep to be able to awake fresh to a new day.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Sneaking in this well known and loved hymn once again in a soft version.

Saturday 6th April 2024

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be

Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.
Lyrics: Thomas Obadiah Chisholm

“Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. ⁹When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. ¹⁰Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” ¹¹So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹²Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.” John 21:7-14 NIV

God who came and loved us,

153 fishes. So exact a number. It reminds me that You, God do not do things slap dash or by chance. And who added them up? The fishermen? To show it was a miracle!? For me the number of fish can be a distraction from the real miracle. The risen Lord waiting for them, to serving them. The risen Lord waiting to give them their daily bread and encourage them. The risen Lord waiting to assure them that He was not dead, all they had learned was true and to give them hope for the future.

We wake up and start the day. Risen Lord, You are there waiting to greet us, feed us, encourage us. Love us. What a miracle. Help us to remember right at the start of our day. And to respond as Peter did, rushing to speak to You first. Even if it is only to say good morning my Lord, my King and my friend.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God of miracles,

For our family, friends and neighbours. For Your joy God, and good health to greet them as they awake, along with the knowledge they are loved.
For our church fellowship. Ministers and all who serve and attend worship and mid week events.
For the royal family. Healing. Strength for those stepping in to cover engagements.
For our Parliament, county councils and local councils. Raise up good men and women this summer to stand in the next general election.
For our local community, those who live and work near us.
For school teachers and staff and pupils a good break and enthusiasm for next term.
For Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, places of conflict. End war and drive them in paths of peace.
For all those affected by the earthquake in Taiwan. Those seeking to give aid and help.
For those who do not have the security of daily bread or fresh water. Provide and send aid.
For us thank you for our daily bread. For all those who have toiled to provide.

Lord in Your name we pray, Amen.