Oh lead me – Start The Day

“This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ²“Listen to the terms of this covenant and tell them to the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem. ³Tell them that this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Cursed is the one who does not obey the terms of this covenant ⁴the terms I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the iron-smelting furnace.’ I said, ‘Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God. ⁵Then I will fulfill the oath I swore to your ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey’—the land you possess today.” I answered, “Amen, Lord.”” Jeremiah 11:1-5 NIV

Lord of the Covenant,

Jeremiah is weighed down by the message You, God gave him for his sinful people who would suffer because they refused to return to You. Here he gives a more legal argument for returning. Using the Covenant agreement and where God had been faithful but they failed to keep their side.

Sometimes it is good to return to agreements, promises we have made and reaffirm them and check that all is in order. Many churches have recommitment Sunday once a year. Not to check if we are giving enough, attending enough, serving enough. But to see if our heart is good and wholly Yours Lord and holy. And we can return to You to put things right.

But Jeremiah does not have a good response even though he reminds them of the promised You gave and kept while they ignored their side of the covenant. Today we know that a holy life does not mean we will be kept from trouble, pain and suffering. But we are promised Your presence, Your holiness, help and a way through till one day we will reach Heavens promised land.

So today, how is my relationship with You? Have I been taking You for granted. Speaking to You as a friend and forgetting to honour and worship You? It is a good tome to remember the covenant of the cross and once again be overwhelmed with love even amidst my imperfections. It is not about trying harder . . . its a relationship.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 23rd August 2025

Oh lead me
To the place where I can find You
Oh lead me to the place where You’ll be

Lead me to the cross
Where we first met
Draw me to my knees
So we can talk
Let me feel Your breath
Let me know You’re here with me

Repeat the above . . .

Let me feel You near

Lead me to the cross
Where we first met
Draw me to my knees
So we can talk
Let me feel Your breath
Let me know You’re here with me

Lyrics: Martin Smith

“But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.” Leviticus 16:10 NIV

Father,

Two goats were chosen on the day of Atonement, One was chosen to die as a sacrifice and the other symbolically took their sin, for that year, and was let go in the wilderness as a scapegoat. It reminds me that You gave us the choice of accepting the sacrifice of Jesus or choosing to wander off to die eventually in the wilderness. Not a happy life, a goat on its own in the desert not a happy ending?

Scapegoat, a term which we still use today. Many may know what it means but not where it comes from. A scapegoat taking the blame and punishment so the perpetrator goes free.

Back to the Old Testament , one goat had to be sent once a year into the wilderness after the Jewish chief priest had symbolically laid the sins of the people upon it. They knew the scapegoat did not put an end to sin and that’s why the ritual was done every year. So it went on and on . . . All those years reflecting the day when the divine Lamb of God would come and take away the sin of the world, once and for all (John 1:29).

Thank You that you did come, took our sin upon Yourself, and died once and for all. But an amazing ending because You rose again! Now it is an eternal payment for sin, no need for anything else. Big gift, little if. If we accept Jesus gift and continue in Him, one day at a time.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Father,

For our close family.
For our extended family, friends, neighbours. Miracles.
For our church fellowship, ministers and congregations.
For all those who partake of communion today to know sin forgiven and Your presence.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). The Royal family’s health.
For Ukraine. May Your will be to end war, soon. Protect and bless Your church.
For Gaza, all the Middle East. Solutions for reconciliation for a lasting peace. End to vengeance.
For the USA during this election time and Your outcome.
For those who use, abuse and murder to have a Damascus Road experience and change.
For us to know our own folly and weakness and appreciate Your endless patience and forgiveness and joy.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 1st September 2024
A very simple, gentle personal song for worship.

Oh lead me
To the place where I can find you
Oh lead me
To the place where you’ll be

Lead me to the cross
Where we first met
Draw me to my knees
So we can talk
Let me feel your breath
Let me know you’re here with me

Lyrics: Martin Smith