Jesus good above all other

“Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm? My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.” Isaiah 53:1-3

Lord God, Lord of all,

The third Sunday in Advent and a prophetic snippet of a promise You would send Your servant in the flesh to grow up as a man. A man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief, and rejected.

Isaiah gives us that glimpse of Jesus to come. Not miraculously arriving as King on earth or appearing in the sky. No, being born and taking a first breath and maybe even crying, just like one of us. Like a tender shoot, vulnerable to hunger, cold, needing human comfort and love. Like a root in dry land absolutely dependant for his safety and needs on others.

And not beautiful or majestic! Just a baby and precious as all babies are. Thank You that You, God, experienced life from the very beginning exactly as we do. It doesn’t matter that the year was different. You knew childhood with its fears, challenges and delights. You could have stayed God Almighty and ruled by might from Heaven. But You chose to be our Servant Saviour and live with us as one of us. You know what it is like for us. W can ask Your Son into our hearts by Your Holy Spirit. And when we do – all heaven erupts with joy (Luke 15:7) .

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Lord God, Lord of all,

For our family, friends, neighbours, those we promised to pray for.
Thank You for the precious people who enrich our lives.
For our Christian family. Christmas events planned for worship an to welcome new people to.
For our king and His family and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2).
For our Government, the Commons, the house of Lords, the civil servants.
For Ukraine and Russia. A miraculous end to war.
For Sudan and its future. Protection and a way forward.
For the remaining conflict in the Middle East for vengeance to end.
For girls born into countries where they are of no value and no choices in life. Political change.
For those organising shelters and meals for Christmas. For help to extend beyond this season.
For blasphemer’s to know Your awesome presence and be challenged when they use Your Name.
For us to be able to pause from the business to ponder, worship and know You understand us.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 15th December 2024
Written originally for children – but a very grown up beautiful prayer!

Jesus, good above all other,
gentle child of gentle mother,
in a stable born our brother,
give us grace to persevere.

Jesus, cradled in a manger,
for us facing every danger,
living as a homeless stranger,
make we thee our King most dear.

Jesus, for thy people dying,
risen Master, death defying,
Lord in heaven, thy grace supplying,
keep us to thy presence near.

Jesus, who our sorrows bearest,
all our thoughts and hopes thou sharest,
thou to us the truth declarest;
help us all thy truth to hear.

Lord, in all our doings guide us;
pride and hate shall ne’er divide us;
we’ll go on with thee beside us,
and with joy we’ll persevere.

Lyrics: Percy Dearmer

“Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, “Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?” ²And the Lord said, “Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hand.”” Judges 1:1-2 NKJV

“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25 NKJ

Father God,

Judges can be a hard book to read. It starts off well. Joshua has died but the children of Israel are still seeking You for the next step forward. But then into the promised land and alas, down to disobedience and swopping You for their neighbours man made gods. Perhaps because this was a new generation from those who wandered through the dessert. We too see new generations doing things their way! As we did. But You are still God.

Joshua was a little like Jesus. He led his people, kept them safe like a flock as Jesus did, our Good Shepherd. But Joshua was a man, he died and was buried. Jesus, Your Son, died, was buried and rose again. He bequeathed us His living Spirit.

The book of Judges closes with everyone doing what was right in their own eyes. (Now and again a Judge arose in their desperation to save them. You never left them.) It is like the world today. With all those doing what is right in their own eyes at great cost to mankind.

It looks today like nothing has changed. But You are still God. You are still seeking lost lambs and still watching over Your flock. Still working out Your plan. So we pray You will keep reaching out to the rebellious and changing their lives for good. Meanwhile, we will seek to do what is right in Your eyes.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Lord God,

For our close family.
For our extended family, friends, neighbours.
For our church fellowship and ministers and fellow Christian churches in the area..
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). World rulers and governments.
For the emergency services and our justice system. Prison service.
For Ukraine. The Christians and their fellowships. An end to killing, war.
For Gaza, all the Middle East. Solutions for peace.
For Myanmar church. Afghanistan, China. Other areas where church is persecuted.
For the athletes travelling home and Paris getting back to normal.
For those who need healing for their eyes and sight. Those who have sight disability.
For those doing right in their own eyes hindered from evil, distracted and changed.
For those in crime and terrorism prevention. Finding drugs before they hit the streets.
For us to see the good that is being done around the world and to do good ourselves today.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Worship Monday 12th August 2024
Some call this as a Christmas hymn. I can understand that. But the words are a prayer for today.