Tag: MY hope is built on nothing less

Tuesday 23rd July 2024

“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.  This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord. God is the Lord, and He has given us light; bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You. Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Psalm 118:22-29 NKJV

Lord,

You give us every day new and we can rejoice as we awake and greet it, the Psalmist says in verse 24. Glad we are Yours. Continuing reading this Psalm for three days has revealed its simple yet profound truth and because it is so rich in displaying who You are. Traditionally, I have read, it was the one sung at the end of the Passover meal and the one Jesus sang with his disciples at the close of His last supper (Matthew 26:30).

In hindsight, unlike the Psalmist, we can see Jesus, Your Son, as the cornerstone which the builders rejected. Jesus quoted it himself about himself in Matthew 21:42. The psalmist goes on to picture the sacrifice being bound on the alter. We unlike the Pslamist see not animal sacrifices but Jesus the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Willing to lay down His life on the cross for our, my sin.

So today we give thanks for a fresh new day, for sin forgiven and because You are good and Your mercy endures forever.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Lord,

For our family, extended family, friends, neighbours.
For our Ministers, lay leaders, church members. Sunday school teachers.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). Royal family.
For Gaza, Middle East, solutions for peace for all. Break down hatred.
For Ukraine. Send a miracle, an end to war.
For the USA political situation.
For those facing difficult days, bereavement, medical challenges.
3 days to go. For Paris, the athletes, coaches and Olympian teams. Worldwide audiences.
For our emergency services, the NHS and those who keep water, energy and waste flowing.
For grandparents, guardians, carers, play schemes caring for children in school holidays.
For a day to remember to give thanks for Jesus, Your love and all the good things today. Even amid work, mundane tasks or challenges.

In Jesus name we pray.

Worship Tuesday 23d July 2024

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
And I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name
Repeat . . .

Christ alone, cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Saviour’s love
Through the storm
He is Lord, Lord of all

When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

Christ alone, cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Saviour’s love
Through the storm
He is Lord, Lord of all
His is Lord, Lord of all

When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh, may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless, stand before the throne

Chorus

Lyrics: Edward Mote 1834
Chorus and new tune: Hillsong


Thursday 7th March 2024

“We are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.” Galatians 2:15,16 NET

 “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
Galatians 3:27

Holy God,

Not by law, not by works but by Jesus Christ. Justified – made righteous. Righteous in the English dictionary means: to be virtuous, honourable, or morally right. In Hebrew, Lord I read there are a few different words for righteous or righteousness .
Sad-diq – just, innocent, in the right, devout, upright.
S-da-qa – honesty, justice, justness.
Se-deq – accuracy, what is correct, right thing, what is honest, equity, what is right.

Help me grasp that righteousness is not something You do God, it is who You are, Your character. You are just and honest in all You do. You are upright in all Your ways. You do what is right.

Me? I am far from it. Though we all like to think we are right at times! But we cannot be right all the time. So we cannot come to You, Holy God because we are not righteous. But for Jesus. Three beautiful words. But for Jesus. And one amazing yet terrible sacrifice and a life changing gift. The robe of righteousness. Keep us humble enough to put on what we cannot earn, cannot procure or ever be good enough for. On putting on Christ You see us wearing His robe of righteousness as if we too had never sinned.

Never mind fashion, impressing others . . . Today, I worship You for clothing me in Your Son at such a great cost. For accepting me in Christ as righteous. For helping me to learn to be like You. Help me to walk, live and rejoice in Jesus and His gift of righteousness.

In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Holy God,

For family, friends, neighbours, hold them safe, and shower them with Your love.
We pray for our neighbours and their needs today, even those we do not know. Bless them.
Bless our church family and all the lent groups that are meeting across this nation.
For all the Royal family. For healing and well being and some privacy.
For our government. Amidst all the talk and speeches we pray Your gentle wisdom will be heard in their hearts focussing them on the truth, the good and doing their best.
For an end to the war in Ukraine. Send a miracle of peace soon. Have mercy. Bless and prosper those delivering aid and medical care.
For Gaza an end to all the killing, hostage taking and hate. Give success to the search for peace and help those trying to deliver aid to where it is needed.
Thank You for those who first shared the gospel in the UK and empower those who share it today.
For support agencies and volunteer groups across the UK inspire new volunteers to join and help.
For us today to arise and put on the robe of righteousness. To know how much You love and value us today.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
 
Worship Thursday 7th March 2024
Sometimes well known words and tunes just say it all. Timeless truth.

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in every high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, his covenant, his blood,
support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay.

When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found:
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne.

Lyrics: Fred Kaan

Tuesday 13th February 2024

 “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-22 NIV

God most Holy,

You are so Holy that Aarons two sons were burned up when they entered the holy place with the wrong fire in their censors (Leviticus 10:1,2). The children of Israel were warned not to come near the mountain, on fear of death, when Moses climbed to receive the ten commandments from You (Exodus 19).

Yet here, in Hebrews, we read that we are freed from fear and given confidence. Confidence not just to approach You but to enter right into Your presence. No separation, no curtain in any Temple and no priest to go to You before us. A new and living way in Jesus. Confident, we do not need to offer sacrifices. Confident we do not have to have a special dispensation or status. Confident You see us in Jesus, forgiven, washed, cleansed by and in His holiness.

We can approach with confidence, with free untroubled hearts and receive mercy all because of Jesus. Confident we will be welcomed, wanted and washed. Hallelujah.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God most Holy,

For family, friends, neighbours, confident that You hear our prayers for them and answer in th best way possible for good.
For our church family, ministers and all who serve to know Your presence in all they do.
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. Give us the people we need to lead our nation.
For world Governments to make selfless decisions for the good of peace and humanity.
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.
For our hospitals and emergency services.
Those who are working towards keeping our rivers and oceans unpolluted. Those working to cut out the use of harmful plastics.
Bless us with a good day, a good nights sleep and a clean heart.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 13th February 2024

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest friend
But wholly trust in Jesus name

Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong, In the Saviour’s love
Through the storm
He is Lord, Lord of all

When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
My anchor holds within the veil (Oh)

When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh, may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless stand before the throne

Writers: Morgan Reuben Timothy, Myrin Jonas Carl Gustaf, Liljero Eric Oskar.