“Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.” Psalm 43:4
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” Matthew 5:14-15 NIV
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7
Father, Light of the world,
So many verses about light in the Bible. About You being the light, the one who lights our way, keeps us on the right path, away from danger and darkness. And fireworks!
Tonight we may see many flashes of light in the sky and if we have the blinds drawn will certainly still hear them. To celebrate a plot discovered. Thank You Father that You do not limit Yourself to turning up for celebrations and particular dates. Even though we have set our celebration dates for Christmas, Easter and Pentecost!
You are permanent light to enfold us, guide away from, round and through danger. And there is no startling bangs to accompany Your light. How often You speak through something ordinary occurrence or bring a Bible verse or hymn to mind.
Warning lights often flash and are accompanied by a siren. How often You have waited quietly for me to calm down and quieten my soul so I can hear Your still small voice and pay attention (1 Kings 19:12). Elijah had run around fleeing from Jezebel. He was not calm even after being fed by ravens miraculously. Eventually he sat in a cave and when he had calmed down to listen, You, God spoke, after the wind, earthquake and fire.
Thank You for being a God of love, who speaks to us calmly, does not throw bangers at us for attention, and speaks calmly into our fear and trouble to light the way forward.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Suggestions for prayer . . .
God Almighty,
For our family, friends, neighbours, those we promised to pray for.
For our fellowship, ministers and our and neighbouring congregations.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2).
For our Government. Lords and commons. Civil Servants. Local councillors.
For the USA as they vote and their new President.
For Ukraine and Russia. For Israel, Lebanon, the Middle East. Miracles of Peace.
For those bereaved and homeless after flooding in Spain. The troops searching for the lost.
For those answering call out alarms, lifeboats, ambulances, elderly personal alarms.
For the light of Your love to help those facing medical treatment or caring for those who are.
For those afflicted by anxiety, mental health issues. Those homeless or afraid.
For pets and wildlife and people afraid of fireworks.
For us to have the light of life in us and the assurance of Your calm small voice..
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 5th November 2024
An old hymn, not well known but I like it. The story of the author is below the lyrics.
Brightly beams our Father’s mercy
From His lighthouse evermore;
But to us He gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.
Let the lower lights be burning!
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
Dark the night of sin has settled,
Loud the angry billows roar;
Eager eyes are watching, longing,
For the lights along the shore.
Trim your feeble lamp, my brother!
Some poor seaman, tempest-tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor,
In the darkness may be lost.
Lyrics: Philip P Bliss
Philip P. Bliss (1838 – 1876) left home as a young boy to work on farms and in lumber camps, while trying to continue his schooling. He was converted at a revival meeting aged 12. He became an itinerant music teacher, making house calls on horseback during the winter, and during the summer attending the New York Normal Institute of music. His first song was published in 1864. In 1868 Dwight L. Moody advised him to be a singing evangelist. Bliss travelled with Major D. W. Whittle and led the music at revival meetings. Tragically near the end of 1876, aged 38, Bliss and his wife were traveling to Chicago to sing for evangelistic services led by Daniel W. Whittle when a train wreck and fire claimed their lives.