Tag: Hebrews 12:2

Monday 14th October 2024

“keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” Hebrews 12:2 NET
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever! Hebrews 13:8 NET

Faithful God,

We see Your faithfulness through Your history in the Bible. Continually showing Your people the best way and how to return to You when they erred. And they did, often. But You still came, vulnerable as a baby into creation to show us Yourself and Your faithfulness even to death. Your faithfulness for our unfaithfulness.

We only have to read about Moses in the wilderness and see how faithful You were. Even through the children of Israel constantly moaned and worshipped other gods. We see the same in the New Testament when Jesus came. Even when He was betrayed, let down, deserted he remained faithful.

We have experienced how faithful You have been to Your church through history. Fallout’s, power struggles, splits. Disputes over the language of the Bible, disputes over practices. Yet here You are still blessing the church, Your people.

We personally at times have let You down. Yet here You are faithful to us. You are here when we awake, here when we sleep, here each minute of the day. Individually, personally, loving us. Faithfully providing, guiding, filling us with Your Spirit. Keep our eyes, mind and heart faithful to You.

Help us to be faithful to You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Faithful God,

For our close family. .
For our extended family, friends, neighbours, those we promised to pray for..
For our fellowship, ministers and congregations.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2).
For our Government. Lords and commons. Civil Servants.
For Ukraine and Russia. You are our hope..
For Israel, Lebanon, all around the Middle East. We look to You for answers.
For Sudan and Myanmar. People living in oppression and amidst conflict from power struggles.
For America and their political future.
For faithfulness in marriages and families.
For scammers, liars and tricksters to be uncovered, recognised and justice done.
For ourselves, to know we can trust You to be with us and for us with whatever happens.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 16th October 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 Chisholm

Sunday 25th August 2024

“keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son 20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross—through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” Colossians 1:19,20. New English Translation.

God, seated upon the throne,

You perfected us, our faith through Jesus, because we could not do it ourselves – what a truth what a relief! We can never thank you enough. We know we just are not capable of being all good all the time! Even though we do not deserve Your love and holiness we are given it freely. It is hard to accept a gift from someone without wanting to give or do something in return . . . but there is nothing we can give or do in return for Your gift. We have to just humbly accept it.

These verses remind us the depths You went to for us and the heights of Your power and majesty. The only way to approach you is in Jesus. The cross is the only way. The payment made our debt cancelled. The perfect sacrifice. There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin.

So today, we come to worship and give thanks for Your gift of forgiveness and love. Help us to become more like your Son, Jesus. One day at a time.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God, who is seated upon the throne of heaven,

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. Please end war, soon.
For Gaza, all the Middle East. Solutions for a reconciliation and lasting peace. Keep them talking.
For other countries with uneasy borders. India and Pakistan. North and South Korea. Peace.
For the ongoing success of Malaria vaccines for children and extending to all African countries.
For the Walsall canal poisoned by illegal spillage. Heal and help those seeking to make it safe.
For all those responsible for water, reservoirs and those who use it for industry.
For us restful hearts, help with decisions we must make next week and joy in coming to You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 25th August 2024
A few minutes of communion. Story of the author Fanny Crosby underneath lyrics.

 Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.

In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the Bright and Morning Star
Shed His beams around me.

Near the cross! O lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o’er me.

Near the cross! I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever;
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.

Lyrics: Fanny Crosby.

Though blind at 6 weeks of age, Crosby began composing texts at age 6. She later became a teacher at the New York School for the Blind, where she was a student. A friend of several presidents, Crosby became one of the most important advocates for the cause of the blind in the United States. She married blind musician Alexander Van Alstyne. British hymnals identify her as Frances Van Alstyne, her married name.

This hymn first appeared in the collection Bright Jewels (1869) It was William Doane a gospel song composer who wrote the music and then gave it to Fanny Crosby to add the text—a practice that was not uncommon in their relationship.

The famous evangelist Dwight L. Moody was said to have asked Fanny Crosby the following question toward the end of her life: “If you could have just one wish granted, what would it be?” Moody expected her to ask for sight. Sensing this she is said to have replied, “If I could have one wish, I’d wish that I might continue blind the rest of my life.” Moody was taken back and asked, “How can you say that?” Crosby was said to have responded, “Because, after being blind for all these years, the first face I want to see now is the face of Jesus.”