I stand amazed in the presence

“A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.” ²So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” ³Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbours—empty vessels; do not gather just a few. ⁴And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.” ⁵So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. ⁶Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. ⁷Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”” 2 Kings 4:1-7 NKJV

Gracious God,

Here is a widow who has been left in debt by her husband. And she still speaks well of him as a servant who feared the Lord. It could have been a genuine reason for debt. But Elisha hears from You a way for her to pay off her debts, by her own doing, with miraculous help. He did not just give her the money. God, You took on her debt not Elisha. Elisha could not take any of the glory.

And she now could pay her debt and her and her son could begin to make a new life for themselves and earn their own living with no threat of slavery.

How can this story not remind us that You took on our debt of sin and paid the price. It was the greatest miracle of all. That freed us from slavery to sin and death to freedom in Christ and life eternal (Romans 6:22-23). And nothing we could do to pay it. A miracle of today. Can we still expect miracles? If it is the same spirit that raised Christ for the dead that lives in us (Romans 8:11) surely we may expect mercies. If we seek and wait on You, God. Grant us faith.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 2nd June 2026
Just needed a sound traditional hymn to praise God for my, our, own amazing miracle.

I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how he could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

How marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be;
How marvelous! How wonderful!
Is my Saviour’s love for me!

For me it was in the garden,
He prayed: “Not my will, but Thine.”
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat-drops of blood for mine.

Chorus

In pity angels beheld Him,
And came from the world of light
To strengthen Him in the sorrows
He bore for my soul that night.

Chorus

He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them his very own;
He bore the burden to Calv’ry,
And suffered and died alone.

Chorus

When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
‘Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of his love for me.

Chorus

Lyrics: Charles Hutchinson Gabriel

“This is the messagethat the Lord gave to Israel through the prophet Malachi. ²“I have always loved you,” says the Lord. But you retort, “Really? How have you loved us?” And the Lord replies, “This is how I showed my love for you: I loved your ancestor Jacob, ³but I rejected his brother, Esau, and devastated his hill country. I turned Esau’s inheritance into a desert for jackals.”

⁶The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honours his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name! “But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’ ⁷“You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar. “Then you ask, ‘How have we defiled the sacrifices?’ “You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect. ⁸When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. ⁹“Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favour at all?” asks the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Malachi 1:1-3 and 6-9

Lord of Heaven and earth,

It is thought that Malachi might have spoken, written this prophetic book, when Nehemiah popped back to Babylon. At the time worship slipped because Eliashib perverted the use of the Temple. No-one can ever say You never told me God because You always find away to speak. Sometimes when I look back I can see You have been warning me. Or You have been showing me the way and I have been focussed on asking You for clear direction! Paul says You God, witness to the world that You are in creation (Romans 1:20). So those who refuse to believe in a creator cannot say You did not provide a witness.

Malachi talks about the lack of respect. Even begging will not find Your favour back again God. But Your opening statement, the introduction, the foundation of truth is I have always loved You. You still loved even though You had to send judgement.

Today, we grasp hold of it, the promise of Your love, for we have nothing else to hang on to. There is nothing we can do to earn it, receive it or merit it. But You God sent a way to know it, see it and experience it through Jesus. Not just theoretical love, practical love, spiritual love. But an all compassing love that completes us. Even though we are sinners and have at one time disrespected You by not believing and even keeping the first commandment. You loved us, You love us. A present reality that will not go away. As we look forward to stepping into the New Testament in a couple of days we thank You that You have not changed. You loved us in the beginning You loved us in the middle and You will love us into eternity.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 15th October 2025
Nothing like a hymn with a familiar chorus to reinforce the truth and lead one to worship.

He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them his very own;
He bore the burden to Calv’ry,
And suffered and died alone.

Chorus

When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
‘Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of his love for me.

Chorus twice . . .

Lyrics: Chas H Gabriel