“But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. 6 He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever. 7 He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners.
8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly. 9 The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows but he frustrates the plans of the wicked. 10 The Lord will reign forever. He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations. Praise the Lord” Psalm 146:5-10 NLT
Lord our God,
We step aside from travelling through Luke’s gospel to leap into Psalm 146. This is the last Sunday in November and we need a little joy. Dark nights, chilly weather and the hype and run up to Christmas is approaching! You remind us – Joyful are those of us who have You as our helper and who hope in You. Not in tinsel and light pretty as they are. Because our hope is anchored in You, who made heaven and earth, everything, and who will reign forever.
You are not a part time, seasonal God or one who will be usurped by the next fad or fashion. In some translations You are the God of Jacob (NIV) and in some the God of Israel. Jacob who You renamed Israel. In Genesis 32:22-32, we read how Jacob wrestled with You. Jacob said he had seen God and lived! (verse 30). Jacob then believed in You, the God of his own father Isaac. It points to the You, God who would come as a man, Jesus, and wrestle with evil and sin, and be victorious on our behalf. The one who would give us a change of name from sinner to saint and make us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) when we choose Jesus as our Lord.
We see You and Your Son all through the Old and the New Testament, and how You change lives. Thank You for being merciful and yet one who will judge rightly one day. Keep us joyful as we wrestle against sin, unbelief and selfishness. Forgiven much and joyfully kept safe in Your love.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Lord our God,
We pray,
For all our family, friends, neighbours, and our church family. For their many individual needs and You would touch their lives with Your love and goodness today.
For ministers, pastors, congregations and all that is done by those belonging to churches. May You encourage all of them with a refreshing touch of Your gentle strength and inspiration.
For our Government, that You would lead it forward to become all it should be to govern well.
For our King and Queen and their family. Healing for relationships.
For those in Iceland where there is threat of volcanic eruption. For those who have had to leave their homes. Speak peace to the earth there.
For Gaza and the Middle East, Lord for the miraculous pause to continue. For help, provision and water and medical supplies to get through to where needed. To a way to peace.
For Putin and Ukraine. An end to this war, conflict and bloodshed. Thwart all the shelling and bombing distract Putin from war.
For all those who are considering Jesus, beginning to hear about Him to take that step from knowing about You to knowing You personally. May seeds be sown in all the Christmas services to be held this year in churches, schools, care homes. Carolling out on the streets, in towns and around housing estates.
For all those who need to know they are loved with an everlasting, unfailing love today.
For ourselves, thank You for a new day. Send us Your joy today and keep us joyful in Your loving care.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Sun 26th November 2023
I love this rendition of a familiar hymn.
Joyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before You,
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
All Thy works with joy surround You,
Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Centre of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
All who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.
Lyrics by Henry van Dyke in 1907