Tag: I cannot tell how He whom angels worship

Saturday 15th June 2024

“For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to search, and a time to give something up as lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
7 a time to rip, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent, and a time to speak.
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

God,

A season and a purpose for everything. We see Your seasons in the natural sowing and reaping. We wonder how the changes in the weather will affect those? When I consider the church I am astounded how much uprooting and planting has been done. We see your hand raising up new fellowships with young families and rejoice. We see churches that have not grown and are closing and are sad. But we can see Your hand in it all.

Through history we see you leading men and women. They planted schools and planted education laws. They developed printing and we all have a Bible. They uprooted worship and suggested new. From chanting Psalms in Latin to singing hymns. To having orchestras in church which horrified many. To then use organs which many condemned as demonic. And then having guitars and drums again which many condemned as the devils instruments. There is a time to plant new and a time to uproot and accept change. And the worship is still to glorify You, God.

Sometimes people do not want to end something that has meant so much to them. I do not always like change Lord. Sometimes the time is right to plant something new. The old has seen its day. Help us not to mourn when things have to change if they are to enable growth for the future. Just help us make sure the song remains the same. The song of Your salvation the song of Your love.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God who plants,

For our family, friends, neighbours. For Your hand in any changes and Your love to guide and help.
For our Ministers, lay leaders, church members. To take the church forward ready for the future.
For our nation and future Government. Lay the foundation for the government for our future.
For Gaza, and the Middle East. Move those with power to find a way to peace.
For Ukraine, a move of Your Spirit to change hearts and end war.
For the churches in Ukraine, Myanmar, Russia, Afghanistan and Syria.
For Christian aid agencies at home and overseas and in war zones.
For new churches and traditional churches adapting to serve their communities and God today.
For us to know good change when it comes and help us adapt where we need to and even enjoy it.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 15h June 2024
The song we sing remains the same, of our Saviours love. I love this melody. Londonderry Air.

I cannot tell why he, whom angels worship,
should set his love upon the sons of men,
or why, as Shepherd, he should seek the wanderers,
to bring them back, they know not how or when.
But this I know, that he was born of Mary
when Bethl’em’s manger was his only home,
and that he lived at Nazareth and laboured,
and so the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is come.

I cannot tell how silently he suffered,
as with his peace he graced this place of tears,
or how his heart upon the cross was broken,
the crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know, he heals the broken-hearted
and stays our sin and calms our lurking fear
and lifts the burden from the heavy laden;
for still the Saviour, Saviour of the world is here.

I cannot tell how he will win the nations,
how he will claim his earthly heritage,
how satisfy the needs and aspirations
of east and west, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see his glory,
and he shall reap the harvest he has sown,
and some glad day his sun will shine in splendour
when he the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is known.

I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,
when at his bidding every storm is stilled,
or who can say how great the jubilation
when every heart with love and joy is filled.
But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,
and myriad myriad human voices sing,
and earth to heav’n, and heav’n to earth, will answer,
‘at last the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is King!’

Lyrics: W Y Fullerton

The verses each acknowledge that we cannot not understand fully the way in which God works, and (in verse 2) that it is almost impossible for us to relate wholly to Christ’s act of self-sacrifice. Nevertheless, writes Fullerton, there are things we wish to proclaim out of faith: that God became real in Bethlehem’s manger (verse 1); that God’s presence will outlast our experience of the world as we know it (verse 3); and that the love Jesus demonstrated in his life and death will win out completely (verse 4).

Monday 29th January 2024

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know. 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”” John 14:1-5 NKJV

Father God,

This verse is known by many of us and is so reassuring when Christians we know have died. Jesus gives us that underlying relief and joy, amid the sorrow, that heaven is their destination. He was there for them. Even though they had no map, directions and had never been there before . . . in Jesus the hope is certain and prepared.

Thomas was honest and confessed his ignorance of the way. It would be a coupe of years before he would actually know, beyond doubt, Jesus was the way to heaven. By seeing the risen Lord with nail marks in His hands! We do not have the opportunity to touch Your pierced hands as he did – but You have touched our lives in so many ways and touched our hearts and given us faith. Thank You for all those occasions when our faith has been strengthened, our hope restored and we have know we can trust Your Word.

Keep our hearts from being troubled. We believe in You, God and in Your Son. We know living with You in heaven will be incredible and shared with those who have gone before. We know that You will never leave us. Thank You for the assurance and comfort Your truth brings.

In Jesus name we give thanks, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Father God,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. Grant them answers to prayer and light to guide.
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations. To know Your truth and share it.
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family. Restored health for Charles and Kate as they rest at home.
For our government and their families. Raise up good honest people now and to stand in this years elections. Lead out those who would hinder good government or have selfish desires.
For Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales, the beauty of our United Kingdom.
For Ukraine and Russian. We will not cease to ask You to bring peace and an end to war.
For where there is war, military oppression, division: Myanmar, Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria, China . . . be the God of peace and justice and bring change.
For international relationships and politics.
For those bereaved whether through illness, accident, crime or at the end of a long life.
For ourselves, for where we lay our head in this life we give thanks as well as heaven.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 29th January 2024
I love this tune. Londonderry air from Northern Ireland. And the words and swell of the melody perfectly fit.

 I cannot tell why He, whom angels worship,
  Should set His love upon the sons of men,
Or why, as Shepherd, He should seek the wanderer’s,
  To bring them back, they know not how or when.
But this I know, that He was born of Mary,
  When Bethlehem’s manger was His only home,
And that He lived at Nazareth and laboured,
  And so the Savior, Savior of the world, is come.

I cannot tell how silently He suffered,
  As with His peace He graced this place of tears,
Or how His heart upon the Cross was broken,
  The crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know, He heals the broken-hearted,
  And stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear,
And lifts the burden from the heavy laden,
  For yet the Savior, Savior of the world, is here.

I cannot tell how He will win the nations,
  How He will claim His earthly heritage,
How satisfy the needs and aspirations
  Of east and west, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see His glory,
  And He shall reap the harvest He has sown,
And some glad day His sun shall shine in splendour
  When He the Savior, Savior of the world, is known.

I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,
  When, at His bidding, every storm is stilled,
Or who can say how great the jubilation
  When all the hearts of men with love are filled.
But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,
  And myriad, myriad human voices sing,
And earth to heaven, and heaven to earth, will answer:
  At last the Savior, Savior of the world, is King.

Lyrics by Rev William Young Fullerton 1857-1932.

Born at Belfast, Northern Ireland, Rev William was raised Presbyterian, became a Baptist preacher, administrator, and writer. He was influenced by Charles Spurgeon who became his friend and mentor. He became pastor of the Melbourne Hall Baptist Church (Leicester UK). He spoke frequently at Keswick Conventions.  Thousands of people came to Christ under his ministry.