Tag: He leadeth me O blessed thought!

Tuesday 20th August 2024

“I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:10-13 NIV

Lord of all our circumstances,

Some days it is easy to be content. Content to do what needs to be done. Content to get through a day at work or doing necessary tasks. Do we need to experienced the extremes of need and plenty, being well fed and hungry, living in plenty or in want, so we can understand what Paul is saying about learning true contentment? Our generation seems to be all about wanting what others have? And Lord, some people seem naturally laid back and relaxed and content . . .

I have known times of need but I have never starved. I have never truly known the extremes of desperation and want. Or the extremes of having everything I would like! But I still have had times when I have had to learn to be content. I have also known the generosity of others, as Paul did, when I did not ask, but others knew what I needed. Whether financial, practical or just support. For their generosity I give thanks.

Teach us contentment in the life You have placed us in. (Not contentment with the things we should and can change.) Show us how to trust You. To be generous where and when we can. To let Your grace keep us humble and to find Your joy in unexpected places. Keep us from sliding into discontent.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Lord of circumstances,

For our close family.
For our extended family, friends, neighbours.
For our church fellowship, ministers and congregations.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). World kings, dictators, leaders and rulers.
For Ukraine. We persist in seeking You for an end to war.
For Gaza, all the Middle East. Solutions and long term peace.
For our emergency services, the people who serve here and our armed services in war zones.
For those who bring calm and support in anxiety. The Samaritans and support groups.
For market gardeners and the harvest of local beautiful summer provision in this nation.
For those working to help rehabilitate the homeless, addicts and those released from prison.
For us a day to count our blessings whether at home, on holiday or caught up in busyness.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 20th august 2024
Yes, repeated from Friday 9th August but a different version. Am I content whatever lot I see since ’tis my God that leadeth me”?

He leadeth me: O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me;
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

Lord, I would place Thy hand in mine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.

O and when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the victory’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

 Lyrics: Joseph Gilmore (1834-1918) 





Friday 9th August 2024

“After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them.” Joshua 1:1-2

 “The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought along with them when they left Egypt, were buried at Shechem, in the plot of land Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor for 100 pieces of silver. This land was located in the territory allotted to the descendants of Joseph. 33 Eleazar son of Aaron also died. He was buried in the hill country of Ephraim, in the town of Gibeah, which had been given to his son Phinehas.” Joshua 24:32,33

Lord who leads us,

Beginnings and endings again. Your story of Joshua. Your people had been going round and round the wilderness and then Moses dies. And Joshua cannot step into Moses shoes. He must step into his own shoes and walk his own future and be lead by You. We too must walk forward into the new, putting the past, in the past. To be encouraged, to learn from or to have healed.

At the end of the book of Joshua we read that the Israelites remembered, even after so many years, to fulfill their promise to Joseph. Who God took to Egypt. They buried his bones at Shechem in the land allotted to Joseph’s. Joshua lead they followed.

We too need to learn to follow. The one who will lead us through this life and to the next. Jesus the only one who knows the way. To leave the past behind and our sin. shame, mistakes, disappointments and regrets and allow Jesus to lead us forward into the new. Every day is a new day, every hour a new hour, every minute a new minute. Every second one in which we are Loved, washed and treasured as family. Paul says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Jesus lead us every day. We have buried the bones of our past at the cross and look forward to every new day, hour, minute and second with You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Lord, who leads us,

For our close family, to know You and healing and happiness.
For our extended family, friends, neighbours.
For our church Ministers, lay leaders, Sunday school teachers, fellow worshippers.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). World rulers and governments.
For the police and those who seek to keep peace on our streets. Deliver us from evil.
For those with Covid and the NHS dealing with new cases.
For Ukraine. An to end war. Medical aid and protection.
For peacemakers in Gaza, Middle East. No more vengeance respect for life.
For Myanmar Your church people. Other areas where church is persecuted.
For the ongoing Olympic games. All those taking part, organising and attending.
For those struggling to put past mistakes behind them. For second chances.
For those You are calling into ministry.
For us to know we walk with You and Your promised presence with us in all of today.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 9th August 2024
See the story of this hymn below the lyrics . . .

He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, wherever I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

Sometimes ‘mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, o’er troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.

Lord, I would clasp my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.

And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the victory’s won,
Even death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me

Lyrics: Dr Joseph Henry Gilmore

On Wednesday night, March 26, 1862, Dr Joseph Henry Gilmore, a young 28 year old preacher, was invited to speak at the First Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Filling the pulpit for the pastor who was out of town. The Civil War was still raging. There was concern on the minds of most Americans as family members and friends were fighting in the war.

Dr Gilmore focused his message on the thought He leadeth me from the 23rd Psalm.  “I set out to give the people an exposition of the Twenty-third Psalm. I had given this exposition on three or four other occasions; but this time I did not get beyond the words ‘He leadeth me.’ So greatly impressed was I with the blessedness of divine guidance that I made this my theme.” After the service he and his wife were invited to Deacon Watson’s home for refreshment. He sat at the table enjoying fellowship but kept thinking about what he had just preached – He leadeth me. Quietly he took out paper and wrote the hymn He Leadeth Me, and handed the paper to his wife. He did not think about them again.

Mrs. Gilmore sent the words to a Christian magazine where Hymn writer William Bradbury saw it and set it to music. Three years later invited to preach at the Second Baptist Church in Rochester. Henry picked up a church hymnal to see what songs they knew. He was surprised to have the book fall open to the very song he had been inspired to write three years earlier.”