Matthew 11:28-30 – Start The Day

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.”
Matthew 11:28-30 New Living Translation

Father,

I moan about carrying shopping home or rather unloading it and carrying from the car and packing it into the fridge! Then I remember those who walk miles to carry water home . . . But we all carry the responsibilities and practicalities of life. And ours are ours. And there is something else I carry, feel burdened down by sometimes . . . guilt, worry, anger and fear? Sometimes the stress of not knowing, being afraid of what may happen weighs me down Father. Help me bring it all to You, little and large, and find You want to carry it with me, shouldering the weight of responsibility and removing the weight of sin and shame and guilt. We do not have to beat ourselves up or feel we have to worry as penance. Or making ourselves ill to try to show how much we care? Help us rest in Your gentle almighty strength.

Paul also told us to, ‘Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.’ (Galatians 6:2). If we are not weighed down by our own needs we are free to help each other. Not by taking on their burdens but listening and handing them over to You and helping with the practicalities.

You do not burden us down, You lead to a place where You carry them with us and for us. You do not ask for beautifully worded prayers or hours of prayer . . . help us if we feel overwhelmed. We will trust in You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Father,

For family, friends, neighbours, You know their real needs for today, bless them.
For our church family, ministers and all who serve, Carry them smoothly through todays tasks.
For all the Royal family. King Charles to Know You’re carrying Him through all the treatments.
For our government. In all the comings and goings today and many words be their guide.
For an end to the war in Ukraine. Send a miracle and soon. Have mercy Father.
For the church in Ukraine, Myanmar and the underground churches. Keep them safe and strong.
For Gaza an end to all the killing, hostage taking and hate. May talks start, lead to a ceasefire and peace..
For the many things we hear in the news and can do nothing about – we bring to You Father who can.
Bless our local communities, food banks, groups toddlers groups, social and lunch provision.
Encourage and strengthen those who work in hospitals, dentist and doctors surgeries. Those who work in maternity, surgery and cancer wards. Those volunteering and working in hospices. Comfort the comforters.
For us to know You walk with us Help us know you shoulder our cares and worries and give us joyful rest.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 2nd March 2024
I will trust in You.
Simple words, beautiful haunting melody. Singing Scripture.
“You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance” (Psalm 32:7).
“Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’” (Joel 3:10).

You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart
With songs of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid

I will trust in You
I will trust in You
Let the weak say
I am strong
In the strength of the Lord

Lyrics and music: Michael Ledner

Michael Ledner, composed “You Are My Hiding Place” at the age of 27 when he was going through a painful period in his life, a period of separation from his wife. He shared the song with several friends, made a recording of it, and set it aside. Nine months later he shared the song with a group while they were serving at a kibbutz (communal settlement) in Israel. These friends took the song back with them to California, and after it was sung there, Michael was contacted by Maranatha Music who asked if they could record it.

“The heavens and the earth were completed with everything that was in them. ²By the seventh day God finished the work that he had been doing, and he ceased on the seventh day all the work that he had been doing. ³God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he ceased all the work that he had been doing in creation.” Genesis 2:1-3 New Living Translation

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

“Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their way . . . Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:23, 27

Lord God,

It is Sunday, I love Sunday. But I am able to not do any work on a Sunday. But I need to rise early to attend church (I go to the first service of the day), and fit in all the other things I do. Exercise, visit a friend, catch up on Bible reading plan, occasional prayer meeting in the evening etc.

I wonder about Sabbath. You stopped for a day from the beginning. I have learned the hard way that You know best. You know we get over tired sometimes. Jesus broke mans Sabbath rules by walking and letting His disciples snack on growing wheat on the Sabbath. He knew it is not about keeping the same rules and winning brownie points! It was about rest and well being.

Help me unwind as the disciples must have done walking with Jesus snacking on grain. Still my mind so it is in the moment and not thinking about what to worry about next, or have not done, or could be doing. And help me if I have more time on a Saturday or another day to rest, wait on You and relax from the yoke of chores and commitments. Remind me to make sure there is rest time every week. Lest I forget and I make the yoke heavy or overburden my mind with over thinking.

In Jesus name, Prince of Peace, we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Lord God,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. Help us hand over all our concerns and hopes for them to You..
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations. Give them times of rest.
For those whose rest is disrupted by shift work or nights nursing or caring for others.
For busy people with many responsibilities to be able to unwind in time off each week.
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family as they seek to serve the nation.
For our government and their families. With all that is going on give the clear thinking from You and rest between.
For Ukraine we [lead for an end to war.
For all areas where there is war, military oppression and civil war. Myanmar, Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria . . .
For Israel to find a way to peace with all its neighbours.
For those who find themselves eaten up by worry to know Your Holy Spirit and peace.
For our local community neighbours, doctors, dentists, police and schools.
For emergency workers not to be overwhelmed by what they are faced with. Provision for all they need in equipment, water, food, medical supplies.
For ourselves, time to rest and time to consider all that is good in our lives and give thanks, especially for You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 14th January 2024

Cleland Boyd McAfee (September 25, 1866 – February 4, 1944) was an American theologian, Presbyterian minister and hymn writer. He was inspired to write this song after the concurrent deaths of two of his young nieces, caused by diphtheria.

There is a place of quiet rest,
  Near to the heart of God,
A place where sin cannot molest,
  Near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
  Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us, who wait before Thee,
    Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of comfort sweet,
  Near to the heart of God,
A place where we our Savior meet,
  Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of full release,
  Near to the heart of God
A place where all is joy and peace,
  Near to the heart of God.

Lyrics: Cleland Boyd McAfee .