Tag: One more step along the world I go

Tuesday 25th February 2025

“‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times: 5 The Lord’s Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. 6 On the fifteenth day of that month the Lord’s Festival of Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. 7 On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. 8 For seven days present a food offering to the Lord. And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.’” Leviticus 23:4-8 NIV

Holy Father,

The night after the angel passed over their houses and visited the Egyptians with the death of the firstborn, the children of Israel were safe, had to pack up and prepare to leave. Unleavened bread to eat on the way, no time to prove the dough. So what does this say to me today? Why celebrate with a sacred assembly and no regular work, a week of food offerings and a final sacred assembly and no regular work and again unleavened bread?

It certainly looks like You wanted their attention. When they left everything changed. They were called to a new journey and new way of life dependent on You. To live according to Your leading and behaving the way You instigated.

Perhaps we too need to take time after the joy of Easter and our celebrating the resurrection of Your first born Son. We too need to remember that from the moment we meet Jesus we are called to a journey with You. You are the way the truth and the life (John 14:6). Jesus says we should consider the cost in the illustration of the man building a tower in Luke 14:28-30.

Called to a journey following Jesus and living His way. Do we need to take time to sit with You and remember where we have come from and where we are going? Maybe set some time aside uncluttered by regular work. Bringing our thanks for Your provision, and commit to trusting to Your leading, Your way. So the enemy cannot push us off route or in too much of a hurry to be careful where we step.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 25th February 2025
Actually this worship does not mention the name of God I had not noticed before. But for me me the “You” sung is our God. A tune you find yourself humming later.

One more step along the world I go,
one more step along the world I go,
from the old things to the new,
keep me traveling a long with you:
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
keep me traveling along with you.

Round the corner of the world I turn,
more and more about the world I learn;
all the new things that I see,
you’ll be looking at along with me:
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
keep me traveling along with you.

As I travel through the bad and good,
keep me traveling the way I should;
Where I see no way to go
you’ll be telling me the way I know:
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
keep me traveling along with you.

Give me courage when the world is rough,
keep me loving though the world is tough,
leap and sing in all I do,
keep me traveling along with you:
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
keep me traveling along with you.

You are older than the world can be,
you are younger than the life in me,
ever old and ever new,
keep me traveling along with you:
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
keep me traveling along with you.

Lyrics: Sidney Carter

Thursday 21st December 2023

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.” Matthew 1:18-24

God who directs our steps,

Christmas, we are waiting to celebrate it, and yet we live because of it, every day. The promise of a Saviour realised, the Messiah, even if many did not, and still do not acknowledge Him. You choose to trust us with Your Son. You choose to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things for You. You still do.

Joseph was no-one special. A carpenter ready to settle down and get married. In trauma about his betrothed being pregnant knowing it could not be his. Wondering about what not marrying would mean for her perhaps? Disgrace? Could it all be done quietly? He must have felt betrayed, but did not want to make a public spectacle of her. Then You sent an angel to reassure him and tell him what to do. He did not do what Zachariah did and question the angel – he accepted it, got up and obeyed.

Father, help us to be like Joseph to wait, sleep on hard decisions and give You time to speak into our situations. Help us to be hear Your Spirit to be like Joseph and do the right thing. Help us to learn to listen for You and do what You ask so you can work out Your purposes for good.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggested for prayer,
Father God,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. To know what to do for the best in their lives.
For churches as they prepare advent services and carol services for those who will come at this season.
For all those engaged to be married, those planning lives together. Thank You for those marriages which have lasted a lifetime. For children who need security and loving parents and guardians.
For those who are going through the trauma of separation and the children involved.
For our Government, that You might be in their debates with righteousness and good decisions.
For King Charles, the Queen and their families.
For Gaza and the Middle East, for a miraculous way forward to peace. Regardless of men.
For Putin and Ukraine. An end to war. Change Putin’s determination to peace.
For all those who need to know they are loved with Your everlasting, unfailing love today.
For all those planning Christmas meals and food for those struggling.
For those travelling to be with family before and during this season. Safe journeys.
For ourselves, that we would know that ordinary as we, like Joseph, have the Saviour of the world who choses to live with us.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Worship Thursday 21st December 2023

One more step along the world I go,
One more step along the world I go;
From the old things to the new,
Keep me travelling along with you:
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
Keep me travelling along with you.

Round the corners of the world I turn,
More and more about the world I learn;
All the new things that I see
You’ll be looking at along with me.
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
Keep me travelling along with you.

As I travel through the bad and good,
Keep me travelling the way I should.
Where I see no way to go,
You’ll be telling me the way, I know.
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
Keep me travelling along with you.

Give me courage when the world is rough,
Keep me loving though the world is tough;
Leap and sing in all I do,
Keep me travelling along with you:
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
Keep me travelling along with you.

You are older than the world can be,
You are younger than the life in me;
Ever old and ever new,
Keep me travelling along with you:
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
Keep me travelling along with you.

Lyrics: Sydney Carter