Great is thy faithfulness – Page 2

Tuesday 12th March 2024

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” Hebrews 12:1-3 NKJV

God who reigns,

There is so much to think about in these verses. And at their heart, the reminder that Jesus lives and still loves this fallen world. Thank God You do. Jesus. Made a refugee as a small child, the family fleeing to save hiss life. Returning to his own people ruled by Romans and under their military law. He healed the sick, raised the dead and told the truth but was hated by the religious leaders. Persecuted, condemned unjustly, tried unfairly, beaten to within an inch of his life and put to death cruelly, slowly. He knew times of testing, disappointment, frustration and temptation. Yet he displayed only faith, hope, joy, purpose and love.

Now You call us to live the life You, God have set before us. Well run it actually! Suggesting no hesitating or going backwards? Some challenge! Then we see Jesus, who has finished the race and has come back by His Spirit to run it with us. At our speed, to ensure we make it to the finishing line. Thank You that You, God, cheer us on, give us the nourishment we need and keep us going whether a sprint or a pootle.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God who reigns,

For family, friends, neighbours, hear and answer their needs and prayer. Keep them safe.
For our church family and keep them faithful. Bless the lent groups as they study.
For the Royal family. Ongoing healing, medical privacy and for healing for family rifts.
For our government. Raise up good men and women to serve and keep them focused on good.
For an end to the war in Ukraine. Send a miracle of peace. So families can be reunited.
For Gaza. A peaceful way forward. Help those delivering aid to where it is needed.
For a harvest of new people and believers to the churches this Easter.
For Haiti, not in the news but still in the control of drug and criminal gangs, widespread poverty.
For families to thrive and children enjoy childhood. For single parents to find support and thrive.
For adopted and fostered children’s safety and nurture and best.
For us a day to relax in Your faithfulness and appreciate nature as it begins to awake with spring.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 12th March 2024
No apologies for having this familiar hymn again. Settle back and be assured, we have His faithful presence to cheer and to guide . . . always.

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 will 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

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father.

Thomas O. Chisholm was born in 1866 in a Kentucky log cabin. He did not have an academic education but at 16 became a schoolteacher in the same schoolhouse where he was educated. Later he became associate editor of the local newspaper and later an editor of the Pentecostal Herald in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1893 aged 26, Thomas made the most important decisions of his life and accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. In 1903, he was ordained a minister, but was forced to limit his years of service due to poor health. Throughout his life, Thomas wrote hundreds of poems. Great is Thy faithfulness was put to music by his friend William Runyan.

Wednesday 24th January 2024

The steadfast Love of the Lord never changes, His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, new every morning, great is Thy faithfulness.

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3: 22, 23.

Faithful God,

How encouraging is this little verse. Plucked out from the book of Lamentations, not a book known for its joy and humour! Jeremiah bewails the pain and loss of freedom of the land of Judah, the Temple and the exile of all the leaders to Babylonia around (586bc) and maybe even growing old.

In the verses before this little burst of hope, he says You have filled him with bitterness, made him drink wormwood (very unpleasant), broken his teeth with gravel and covered him with ashes. In other words, he is really, really not in a good place. He is down and depressed physically, spiritually and mentally. Yet in the midst he suddenly remembers he is not consumed. In the middle of it he knows your compassion will not fail him, it is new each day.

In the middle of the mess our world, our Government and councils are in, today, and where the weather is still playing havoc . . . we remember Your mercies Lord. We are not consumed, Your mercies will not come to an end, because Your compassions fail not. They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness. Help us to remember, each new day, every new morning we awake, Your faithfulness.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer
Faithful One,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. To know Your faithfulness, compassion and blessings.
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations. To grow in compassion.
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family. Direct and guide them.
For our government and their families. Lead and speak clearly to them. Raise up the right people to stand in the elections, grant us a good Government.
For Ukraine and Russian. A miracle, many miracles . . . Peace an end to war.
For wherever there is unrest, war, military oppression: Myanmar, Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria, China . . . change people, situations, hearts, politics.
For international relationships and politics.
For those who provide others with shelter and help, for the homeless, the victims of abuse.
For the gift of friendship. Protection from scammers, liars and those who would take advantage or the vulnerable.
For those who have been bereaved.
For those who have welcomed new baby to the family. For the new baby found abandoned last week and the mother.
For ourselves, a good day full of light, cheerfulness upheld by You faithfulness and the promise of a good nights sleep to come..

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 24th January 2024
Yes, this was last Fridays worship but had to have it again.

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 will 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 10, 000 beside

Thomas O. Chisholm wrote this originally as a poem in 1923 about God’s faithfulness over his lifetime. He sent the words to William Runyan in Kansas, who put the poem to music. A great much loved favourite in many denominations. Billy Graham frequently used this hymn on his international crusades. It speaks to the head and the heart.

Friday 19th January 2024

“The Lord said to Moses, ²“Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.” Numbers 13:1

”We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” Numbers 13:33

Lord God Almighty,

Another truth from Your Word which is etched in my mind, alongside mental pictures of grasshoppers! Good advice – go check it out. God says trust me. And from the children’s chorus I always remember the line – 10 were bad spies and two were good. But here is the crux of the story. They all saw that the promised land was exactly as You promised a land flowing with milk and honey. Beautiful, abundant, fertile. But 10 didn’t trust You for the future after all they had seen and done in the past. Like small children they exaggerated their fear and said they felt like grasshoppers against the giants they saw.

We have seen Your provision in our lives. Help us not to see just the problems ahead but trust Your promises to provide. One day we will enter our promised land, Heaven. There will be no more death, pain or suffering. There will be joy, rejoicing and fellowship of the richest kind.

Meanwhile, we live and trust in Your promises for now as we journey there. Trust You to be our Shepherd (Psalm 23), our Saviour and our sufficiency (Philippians 4:6). Help us to be like the two good spies and forge ahead with trust and faith. Life is a challenge as well as a blessing. You are with us, our faithful unchangeable God – and friend.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Lord God of every day,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. Thank You and bless them as they need.
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations thank You and bless them..
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family.
For our government and their families. Lead and speak clearly to them, that Your will be done in these days. Lead us this year of elections, to the best Government for our time.
For Ukraine a withdrawal of Russian troops. Peace an end to war.
For wherever there is unrest, war, military oppression: Myanmar, Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria, China . . .
For the Red Sea and growing International disruption. Overcome and deliver the world from evil.
For young families growing up in todays society. Show them the value of faith, hope and love.
For our local community, our near neighbours, local doctors, dentists, community police, schools.
For all those who provide help, food banks, district nurses, home helps, friends, family. Samaritans, help lines, Lifeboats, mountain rescue, emergency relief charities.
For ourselves, the knowledge that we have a clean sheet today, all errors, mistakes gone. Help us to step into today with a smile even if there are things we just have to do and don’t really want to!

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 19th January 2024
Sometimes we just need to slip into familiar words and harmonies and worship and give thanks.