John 15:9-11 – Start The Day

Jesus prays to His Father . . .“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. ” John 17:13 NIV

Jesus says to us . . . “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:9-11 NIV

God of Glory,

I do not always feel joyful and when I do the news comes on or someone talks about the wet weather! We need Your joy these days Lord God. You are our source of joy and You have given us all those people and things that give us joy. Your angels reminded us that first Christmas, You sent joy to all people with Christ’s birth (Luke 2:10-12). The joy of You, God breaking into our history, walking among us. Not to condemn, but to give the joy of sin forgiven and the joy of hope and heaven to come.

Jesus promised we would share in His joy – if – we remain in His love, keep His commands. Even if we make mistakes. Where we trip he forgives, where we are not perfect He covers us with His righteousness. It gave Jesus great joy when the 72 disciples returned from their mission. And they discovered the joy of sharing His message and power to change lives. Help us to find joy serving You and in every day circumstances.

Grant us Your sustaining joy in these days. Help us to seek it when we awake. Surprise us with Your underlying joy when life and the world news is distressing.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God of Glory,

For our close family.
For our extended family, friends, neighbours, those we promised to pray for..
For our fellowship, ministers and congregations. Oil of joy and new harvest of souls.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2).
For our Government. Lords and commons. Civil Servants.
For Ukraine and Russia. Oh Lord, peace. Divine protection of life.
For Israel, Lebanon, all around the Middle East. For medical help and supplies.
For America and their political future.
For those bereaved and homeless and suffering amidst war.
For countries to develop medical services and for relief agencies that help them.
For those going through difficult times financially, employment needs and health wise.
For us to give You permission to keep working in us and to give thanks for everyone and everything that makes us smile.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 9th October 2024

Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising
Give me joy in my heart, I pray
Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising
Keep me praising ’til the end of day

Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the King of kings
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the King

Give me peace in my heart, keep me resting
Give me peace in my heart, I pray
Give me peace in my heart, keep me resting
Keep me resting ’til the end of day

Give me love in my heart, keep me serving
Give me love in my heart, I pray
Give me love in my heart, keep me serving
Keep me serving ’til the end of day

Lyrics: Anon

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:9-11 NKJV

God of joy,

Thank you that You promised that Your joy would remain with and in us because of Jesus and Your Holy Spirit. We cannot work up joy, we cannot force it, we cannot manipulate it. Sometimes it appears we have run flat out of it! But we need it, not over the top but to bring appreciation of life.. Then we need to wait and not despair for, ‘Joy cometh in the morning’ (Psalm 30:5). The Psalmist knew to hang on. Then there are those occasions when You enable us to have our spirits raised by joy.

.Joy, but not the kind of happiness that needs things or occasions to buy or provide it. That kind passes fast and is hard to make happen again. We need Your fruit of joy that makes us smile within. The joy that wells up in us and makes us laugh and we cant always remember what about but we feel good. The overwhelming joy, when we see something simple yet beautiful that You, Lord, have made.

The gift of joy that enables us to keep the sparkle in our eyes and heart. Help us to share Your loving joy not just cheer someone up and leave them feeling better than when we found them. Help us, even when we feel down, know Your joy is still ours and waiting to be reawakened.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God of joy,

For family, friends, neighbours, be with them in their ups and downs and send them Your joy.
For our church family, ministers and all who serve, give them Your inner joy today.
For all the Royal family. Charles ongoing treatment. Kates full recovery. A joyful day.
For our local council. To know the joy of good service for the community.
For our government and MPs and their families. The joy of doing the right things.
For an end to the war in Ukraine. Change Russia to end their war.
For families from Ukraine who are praying to go home to family, but are having to stay in the UK.
For Gaza an end to all the killing, hostage taking and hate.. Give a yearning for peace.
For the good teachers who bring joy to the classrooms.
For those who listen and those who support and help bring joy back into peoples lives.
For overseas relief agencies and medical support, for Your aid for all they do.
For those with little reason to be joyful but who need Your inner support to make today a good day.
For all those who need a good healthy laugh to bring the sparkle back to their eyes.
For us to have a day full of joy and perhaps a good laugh?

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 23th February 2024
Joy is in this place- here!

Oh I could sing unending songs
Of how you saved my soul
Well I could dance a thousand miles
Because of your great love.

My heart is bursting Lord
To tell of all you’ve done
Of how you changed my life
And wiped away the past
I wanna shout it out
From every roof top sing
For now I know that God
Is for me not against me

Everybody’s singing now Cos we’re so happy
Everybody’s dancing now Cos we’re so happy
If only we could see your face
And see you smiling over us
And unseen angels celebrate
For joy is in this place!

Lyrics by Martin Smith 1994.

According to Martin, the song wrote itself in about five minutes. It was just a little ditty. He wrote it at church. He didn’t think it was more than a little ditty. Not the kind of song people would say was amazing worship. He still does not really think it is. But that song, that moment, changed his life.