Tag: Love divine all loves excelling

Thursday 28th August 2025

“Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the River Chebar, that the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. 2 On the fifth day of the month, which was in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, 3 the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was upon him there. 4 Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire.” Ezekiel 1:1-4

 “And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. 27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.” Ezekiel 1:26-28 NKJV

God of fire and brightness,

What an introduction to Ezekiel and what a revelation of Yourself God. The description of the wheels within wheels and the angels with four faces (v4-25). I could spent hours just considering the wonder of it all and trying to picture it all. And we see Your unimaginable magnificence through Ezekiel’s eyes.

And He falls on his face – and then You speak! It seems to me that sometimes I need to position myself so I remember who I am in Your sight. Insignificant and yet like Ezekiel discovering You are a God who speaks. And the greatest thing You ever said? Was it Jesus?

I have only ever seen a rainbow in the middle of a cloud once and it was amazing. Science tells me it is light refracting off water droplets. Jesus is both the Light of the World (John 8:12) and the Water of Life (John 7:37-38). So how could Your presence not have the appearance of rainbow? You created what we call science . . .

I cannot fully imagine what Ezekiel tried to explain he saw. And no-one has even been able to draw it . . . help us to look to You and see the wonder of Your glory. and the glory of our Saviour. Your Spirit moving where He will, raising us up and enabling us to hear You. And we can be lost in wonder love and praise.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Thursday 28th August 2025
Had to go to a beloved traditional hymn . . . hang on in the musical introduction and build up . . .

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of Heav’n to Earth come down,
Fix in us Your humble dwelling,
All thy faithful mercies crown;
Jesus, You art all compassion,
Boundless love that makes us whole
Visit us with Your salvation,
Enter ev’ry trembling heart.

 Come, Almighty to deliver;
Let us all Your grace receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
You we would be always blessing,
Serve You as Your host above,
Pray, and praise You without ceasing,
Glory in Your perfect love.

Finish, then, Your new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see Your great salvation
Perfect in eternity;
Changed from glory into glory
Till in Heav’n we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before You,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise!

Lyrics: Charles Wesley

Monday 12th February 2024

“My commandment is this—to love one another just as I have loved you.” John 15:12 NET
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;” Jeremiah 31:3 NIV

God of Love,

Sometimes simple is best. Jesus loves us this we know for the Bible tells us so. A hymn from the past! The truth is Jesus both showed and taught us love. Displaying the love You have for us. Yes, we need to learn to love our neighbours. We need to learn to love ourselves. But we cannot until we accept, believe and experience Your love, the source of selfless love.

Your love is indescribable. Jesus, You stretched out your arms and allowed yourself to be crucified, put to death for us (John 3:16). Your love is underneath us (Deuteronomy 33:27), faithful (Psalm 63:3), that of a divine Father (1 John 3:1), and so wide, long ,high and deep it is beyond knowledge (Ephesians 3:18-19).

Help us learn to be loved and love. Simply as and where we can. Holy Spirit teach us.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God of Love,

For family, friends, neighbours, prayers answered and a good day. To know they are loved by You.
For our church families to grow and be blessed with good fellowship..
For the Royal family to know and trust You. For Charles to be healed and family rifts to be mended.
For our government and MPs and their families.
For Your wisdom and purpose in decisions made by the international world Governments. Those whose power affects more than their own nation.
For Ukraine and Gaza permanent peace. Along with Yemen, Myanmar, North Korea, Chine, Sudan, Syria and other countries where there is war, aggression, oppression, dictatorship, slavery.
We pray for Israel that they would hear You at this time and make wise choices for peace.
For all the volunteers who make life better at food banks, on phone help lines, helping neighbours and supporting the vulnerable. Who love to serve.
Thank You for a new day.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday12th February 2024

Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all your faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou are all compassion,
pure, unbounded love impart;
visit us with your salvation,
enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
Into every troubled breast;
Let us all in Thee inherit,
Let us find the promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
never more your temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve you as your hosts above,
pray, and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation,
perfectly restored in thee:
Changed from glory into glory
Till we cast our crowns before thee
Lost in wonder, love and grace.

lost in wonder, love, and praise!

Thursday 25th January 2024

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NET

God of love,

This passage used to be very popular for church weddings because it goes on to speak about love. I love that it starts out with some humour! Some, in church, may have noticed that my singing sounds a bit like brass and clanging – it definitely lacks tone. But You remind us that without love our lives sound like a really annoying gong or ear offensive clanging! And others can see and hear that too!

Even if we know all the right answers, can see solutions and have knowledge more than others, are generous and do good, if it lacks love it is hollow. Agape love, is the selfless love that moved You, God to send Your only son for the world’s redemption. The love we receive from you and that You call us to show towards others. Even those who annoy us! It is a call to flavour everything we do with love even when we are not loved back. And its not easy . . .

Today we admit we do clanging sometimes. We cannot always be love without the help of Your Holy Spirit. Rather than beating ourselves up . . . we come to You to say sorry. Help us to love and forgive, even when we cannot forget or trust. And as we continue in our imperfection we thank You because You continue to forgive and wash us and love us and lead us onward, day by day.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God of love,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. Show them You love in answered prayer and through their day..
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations. Let love flow through them and us.
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family. Direct and guide them.
For our government and their families. Lead and speak clearly to them. Raise up the right people to stand in the elections, grant us a good Government.
For Ukraine and Russian. A miracle, many miracles . . . Peace an end to war.
For wherever there is unrest, war, military oppression: Myanmar, Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria, China . . . change people, situations, hearts, politics.
For international relationships and politics.
For love, righteousness and reconciliation to flow where there are gangs and criminal activities.
For dentists, chiropodists, hairdressers, physiotherapists, chiropractors, opticians, hearing specialists and those who bring relief, help and feeling better into daily life.
For those who are on the Samaritan and child help lines. Callers and listeners.
For our doctors, nurses and emergency services.
For ourselves, a harmonious day with fellowship with You and others and goodwill.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 25th January 2024
What a prayer!

1 Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heav’n to earth come down,
fix in us Thy humble dwelling;
all Thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love Thou art;
visit us with Thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit,
let us find the promised rest.
Take away our love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver;
let us all Thy life receive;
suddenly return and never,
nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve Thee as Thy hosts above;
pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish then, Thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see Thy great salvation
perfectly restored in Thee.
Changed from glory into glory,
till in heav’n we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before Thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.

Lyrics: Charles Wesley