In the secret of His presence

“They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem. Jesus was going ahead of them, and they were amazed, but those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was going to happen to him. ³³“Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and experts in the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles. ³⁴They will mock him, spit on him, flog him severely, and kill him. Yet after three days, he will rise again.” ³⁵Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” ³⁶He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”” Mark 10:32-36 NET

God of our Salvation,

On the way to Jerusalem. On foot of course? Disciples dawdling behind? The disciples were amazed and some others following were afraid? Taken by surprise and worried they were going to Jerusalem? Knowing they would be under the eye of the powerful religious rulers and Roman Grosvenor and troops? Bad things could happen?

Then Jesus tells them that the worst is going to happen! He will be killed. Are they silent? Do they ask why? No! James and John, brothers, ask Him an odd question and not one I would have expected. And they craftily tried to get Jesus to say yes before he knew what the question was. Like when You ask a friend, Will you do me a favour. Jesus was not fooled. He asked the same question he would asked blind Bartimaeus a little later. To reveal their hearts desire. Jesus does not send them away with a flea in their ear or love them any less. He goes on teaching them.

Thank You that You do not consider any question silly. You do not send us off with a flea in our ear (what an odd saying that is)! You do not discard us or humiliate us. You go on teaching us, sometimes later we understand and sometimes it is not for us to know this side of heaven. Help us not to be afraid to ask and maybe get it wrong sometimes but continue to learn.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer
God of Salvation,

For our family, 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). Royal family. Continued healing.
New Prime Minister and government, commons and Lords. For selection of new opposition leader.
For Gaza, Middle East, Change hard hearts, melt vengeance, send hope.
For Ukraine. Change and a miracle to end war.
For Myanmar freedom from military control. Your church people.
For Paris, the athletes, coaches and Olympian teams.
For our wildlife and insects and bees and butterflies.
For grandparents, guardians, carers, play schemes caring for children in school holidays.
For us to sleep well, wake well and feel good. To encourage others today.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 29th July 2024
I just like to listen to this song. The words are just as relevant to me today as they were for Ellen (who wrote it) serving in India all those years ago. See below.

In the secret of His presence how my soul delights to hide
Oh, how precious are the lessons which I learn at Jesus’ side.
Earthly cares can never vex me, neither thy trials lay me low;
But when Satan comes to tempt me, to that secret place I go,
To the secret place I go.

When my soul is faint and thirsty, ‘neath the shadow of His wings
There is cool and pleasant shelter, and a fresh and crystal spring;
And my Saviour rests beside me, as we hold communion sweet:
If I tried, I could not utter what He says when thus we meet,
What He says when thus we meet.

Only this I know: I tell Him all my doubts, my griefs and fears;
And Oh, how patiently He listens and my drooping soul He cheers:
Think He ne’er reproves me? What a false Friend He would be,
If He never, never told me of the sins which He must see.

Would you like to know the sweetness of the secret of the Lord?
Go and hide beneath His shadow: this shall then be your reward;
And whene’er you leave the silence of that happy meeting place,
You must find and bear the image of the Master in your face,
Of the Master in your face.

Lyrics: Ellen Lakshmi Goreh

Ellen was born in Benares, September 11th 1853, the daughter of the Rev. Nehemiah Goreh, a Christian convert, a high class Brahmin. Her mother died in December the same year, and she was adopted first by a Mr. Smailes. In the Mutiny in 1857, Mr. Smailes lost all his property, and Ellen was taken into the family of the Rev. W. T. Storrs and brought to England. She was educated, and in 1880 she returned to India to take up mission work with her own countrywomen.

Through the advice and influence of Miss F. R. Havergal (poet and hymnwriter) Ellen published From India’s Coral Strand: Hymns of Christian Faith [1883]. The best known of these hymns is “In the secret of His Presence”.

It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. ¹⁴In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. ¹⁵Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. ¹⁶Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” ¹⁷Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”¹⁸But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.” John 2:13-18 NLT

God of all,

Another incident that John records at the beginning of Jesus ministry. The other gospels place it later. He thought it important to show Jesus intentions? Anyway, it definitely happened! John says Jesus drove the animals out of the temple. A Temple dedicated to God, not a livestock market. The sellers did not riot or attempt to attack Jesus. Guilty consciences? Thank You that You speak to our hearts when we have wrong attitudes.

But those allowing it, the Temple leaders, they challenged Him. Not wanting to loose face. Wanting a miraculous sign and proof that He had authority. Rather than admitting they might be wrong. They did not say he was wrong, but that it was not His job! Some people just cannot admit to making mistakes.

Today . . . it seems to be the same. People do what others are doing and what they can get away with. Things become acceptable. But even where sin has become acceptable, we still need to hear Your voice driving us away from wrong and drawing us near to You and what is right.

Help us to be ready to admit if we may have got it wrong. Not to try and justify our reasons but come clean with You and put thing right what we can.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God of all,

For our family, friends, neighbours. Touch their lives with the best of Your love and provision,
For our Ministers, lay leaders, church members. Drop blessings before them and refresh them.
We pray for kings and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). Ours and in other nations.
For the general election and members of Parliament who will serve their constituencies honestly.
For our nations finances, future plans and development.
For Paris and athletes preparing for the Olympics. All nations to compete together safely at peace.
For Gaza, and the Middle East. Solutions for peace and the best for all.
For Ukraine, an end to war.
For those who need to forgive and be able to let go. Healing of the hate in memories.
Those who need to forgive themselves as God has forgiven them.
For us to check our hearts and see if we are harbouring any unforgiveness. Even if justified. We may not trust, may avoid for safety, report or challenge if appropriate but not become sour and bitter.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 29th June 2024
New to me but I liked it the first time I read and heard it. The authors life story, below, shows she must have been writing from personal experience!

In the secret of His presence how my soul delights to hide
Oh, how precious are the lessons which I learn at Jesus’ side
Earthly cares forever vex me, while thy trials lay me low;
For when Satan comes to tempt me, to that secret place I go,
To the secret place I go.

When my soul is faint and thirsty, ‘neath the shadow of Your wings
There is cool and pleasant shelter, and a fresh and crystal spring;
And my Savior rests beside me, as we hold communion sweet:
If I tried, I could not utter what He says when thus we meet,
What He says when thus we meet.

Only this I know: I tell Him all my doubts, my griefs and fears;
Oh, how patiently He listens and my sorrowed soul He cheers:
Do you think He ne’er reproves me? What a false Friend He would be,
If He never, never told me of the sin which He must see,
Of the sin which He must see.

Would you like to know the sweetness of the secret of the Lord?
Go and hide beneath His shadow: this shall then be your reward;
And whene’er you leave the silence of that happy meeting place,
You will surely bear the image of the Master in your face,
Of the Master in your face.

Lyrics: Ellen Lakshmi Goreh

The daughter of the Rev. Nehemiah Goreh, a Christian convert, a Brahmin of the highest class, was born. at Benares, Sept. 11, 1853. Her mother died in December the same year. Ellen was adopted by a Mr. Smailes but he lost all his property in the Mutiny in 1857. Ellen was then taken in by the Rev. W. T. Storrs family and brought to England, where she was educated. At 27 in 1880, she returned to India to take up mission work with her own countrywomen. She published: From India’s Coral Strand: Hymns of Christian Faith [1883]. The best known of these hymns is “In the secret of His Presence.”