“ Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence, to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.” Jude 1:24-25 NET
Father God,
We all like to pick fruit without blemishes Father. Apples quickly show if they have been dropped. If we go fruit picking we choose strawberries that have not fallen and been nibbled at! This letter addresses hard subjects how life can knock our faith and joy, given half the chance! But Jude begins and ends reminding and showing we can be safe. Wrapped in Your love first and kept without blemish for eternity. There is no end!
Falling is not a pleasant experience and I have noticed that children and the elderly allow themselves to cry or cry out easier than adults who are embarrassed or don’t want to show weakness or emotion. Perhaps because younger and older are not worried about what others think – they just want help? You want us to ask for help.
To be kept from falling, to be caught in mid trip. To be given a soft landing and returned to upright, to know that the fall may hurt but not break our faith. This is what God promises. Not that things that cause us to trip will not come (Luke 17:1). They certainly do. But if we humble ourselves and pray (2 Chronicles 7:14), You will raise us up. Why would we, do we, try to go it alone, stand on our own, rely on ourselves? Help us call on You, Your strength, to made pure and blemishless (is that a word Lord)?) by Your Son. Keep us relying on You.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Father God,
For our family, friends, neighbours. Help them, hold them up, comfort and bless..
For our Ministers, lay leaders, church members. Raise them up and encourage them.
For our nation and future Government. Be amongst all that is said and done, reveal the best.
For Gaza, and the Middle East. A move forward past history and vengeance to make peace.
For Ukraine, an end to war. You are the God of history. Move in Putin’s life and Russia’s history.
For the churches in Ukraine and Myanmar. Protect and help them stand and serve.
For overseas missions, orphanages, hospitals and agricultural programmes.
For those who are having to learn to stand, walk and live again after the injuries of war.
For those who develop prosthetic limbs and gadget’s to help those with disabilities.
For us to have a day to pause to breathe in Your stillness, God even if we have to be busy.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 11th June 2024
Annie Hawks stated that this hymn came from a place of love and joy, an expression of her great appreciation for the salvation found in God. (More below lyrics).
I need Thee every hour
Most gracious Lord
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford
I need Thee, O I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
O bless me now, my Savior
I come to Thee
I need Thee every hour
Stay Thou nearby
Temptations lose their power
When Thou art nigh
I need Thee, O I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
O bless me now, my Savior
I come to Thee
I need Thee every hour
In joy or pain
Come quickly and abide
Or life is vain
I need Thee, O I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
O bless me now, my Savior
I come to Thee
O bless me now, my Savior
I come to Thee
Lyrics: Annie S Hawks Verses, Robert Lowry Chorus.
Hawks writes, “One day as a young wife and mother of 37 years of age, I was busy with my regular household tasks during a bright June morning. Suddenly, I became so filled with the sense of nearness to the Master that, wondering how one could live without Him, either in joy or pain, these words were ushered into my mind, the thought at once taking full possession of me — ‘I Need Thee Every Hour. . . . Seating myself by the open windows, I caught up my pencil and committed the words to paper –almost as they are today”
She took the poem to Lowry, who added the refrain and music to the poem. Mrs. Hawks continued by explaining “For myself, the hymn, at its writing, was prophetic rather than expressive of my own experiences, for it was wafted out to the world on the wings of love and joy, instead of under the stress of great personal sorrow, with which it has often been associated.”