Tag: Our God reigns

Thursday 8th May 2025


“And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead. 21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. 22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready? 23 But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi. 24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. 25 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings. 27 And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.” 2 Samuel 18:20-27 KJV

God of Good News,

Two runners, one carrying bad, sad news and the other running as one known for carrying good news. How wonderful to be known as someone who carries good news. Ahimaaz had been told by Joab that the kings son was dead but he chose not to say anything to David, rather that there had been a lot of commotion. The other runner blurted out the bad news. David mourned for his Son till he was reminded that along with the dab news there had been a victory and his troops needed to know the good news and the bad. (2 Samuel 19:1-4).

We also run with two very different messages. We carry the news that God’s Son died on a cross, and was buried. Be we also carry the good news. That he rose victorious from the dead and was seen by his disciples and many others (1 Corinthians 15:6). How wonderful to be known as someone who always looks like they have good news. Not gossip, not negativity but full of the goodness of God to share when and where possible.

As Paul encourages us, as God’s troops, help us to be willing to have our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:10).

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Thursday 8th May 2025

How lovely on the mountains are the feet of Him
Who brings good news, Good news
Announcing peace, proclaiming news of happiness
Our God reigns, our God reigns.

Our God reigns, our God reigns
Our God reigns, our God reigns

You watchmen lift your voices joyfully as one
Shout for your King, your King
See eye to eye the Lord restoring Zion
Your God reigns, your God reigns

Chorus

Waste places of Jerusalem break forth with joy
We are redeemed, redeemed
The Lord has saved and comforted His people
Your God reigns, your God reigns!

Chorus . . .

Ends of the earth, see the salvation of your God
Jesus is Lord, is Lord
Before the nations He has bared His holy arm
Your God reigns, Your God reigns!

Chorus . . . repeat . . .

Lyrics: Leonard E Smith (1974)

Thursday 19th September 2024

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns! 8Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, with their voices they shall sing together; for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord brings back Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem! For the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Isaiah 52:8-10 NKJV

God of history,

I am always amazed at how Your prophets saw and wrote about the future so clearly. Whether there were two writers or one of the book of Isaiah, I fret not. Because we can read and see where they were, what they were saying You would do and where You would take them. And also what was to come much much later beyond their history!

The watchmen shall see eye to eye. Today the saying eye to eye means being in agreement. Seeing the same thing. It meant the same in this reading, all the watchmen would all see. But it means even more because they would actually see restoration up close and personal! Amazing. They did see the Lord restoring Jerusalem and rebuilding the Temple in Nehemiah and Ezra’s time. And the watchmen of another age, saw Jesus restoring a direct way to know God and not just in the Temple.

And the promise is there beyond that, what is yet to come . . . a day when all the nations, the ends of the earth, shall see Your salvation. When You come again. Help us see eye to eye and be in agreement with You and others who believe in Your Son. Till we see Him ourselves eye to eye, face to face.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God of history,

For our close family. Todays needs and blessings.
For our extended family, friends, neighbours.
For our fellowship, ministers and congregations.
For Parliament to see eye to eye what is best for the nation.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2).
For Ukraine. For Gaza, all the Middle East.
For all those who are developing cures for eye disease’s. For those who treat them.
For those charities who treat children’s eye problems .
For the prophets of today that speak positive words to help us face the future with hope.
For us to see eye to eye with You and Your love today. Spot all the good things in today.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Thursday 19th September 2024

How Lovely On The Mountains Are The Feet Of Him
Who Brings Good News, Good News
Proclaiming Peace, Announcing News And Happiness
Our God Reigns, Our God Reigns

Our God Reigns, Our God Reigns
Our God Reigns, Our God Reigns

You Watchmen Lift Your Voices Joyfully As One
Shout For Your King, Your King
See Eye To Eye The Lord Restoring Zion
Our God Reigns, Our God Reigns

Waste Places Of Jerusalem Break Forth With Joy
We Are Redeemed, Redeemed
The Lord Has Saved And Comforted His People
Our God Reigns, Our God Reigns

Ends Of The Earth, See The Salvation Of Your God
Jesus Is Lord, Is Lord
Before The Nations He Has Bared His Holy Arm
Our God Reigns, Our God Reigns

Saturday 25th November 2023

 “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” Luke 10:1-3 NIV

Lord and Father of Mankind,

Yesterday reading, just before this sending out the 72, Jesus chatted with those wanting to follow him but making excuses to put it off till later. Here we see there are the 12 disciples and others who are willing to following now. 72 or six dozen! They are nameless but Luke shows they are not just a random group but appointed and sent out two by two. Father thank You that we are not just a random group of followers but You know us by name (Isaiah 41:3). You appoint us and give us Your blessing. You know how much easier it is when a task is shared. We feel more confident, we can encourage each other and we are less intimidated. Thank You.

Thank You that just as You know us as your children, you know every single one of us personally and actions and even our thoughts (Matthew 9:4). You know where a heart is open to hear about Your love. You know where there is the desire to be forgiven and start again. And, at any one time there are people who don’t know You and are hungry to hear about Your love and heaven. Help us to be brave enough to risk talking about You and not be surprised when people listen. And not offended when they don’t want to. There are millions who have come to faith because someone simply told them God loved them. Help me start with one. Help me see the opportunities.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Lord and Father of mankind,

We pray,
For all our family, friends, neighbours, and our church family. For their many individual needs and You would guide their steps today for good.
For ministers, pastors, congregations and all that is done by those belonging to churches. Make them beacons of hope in the darkness of winter and world conflict.
For our Government, that You would be in the midst of it leading, forming and directing.
For our King and Queen and their family and their work here and overseas.
For those in Iceland where there is threat of volcanic eruption. For those who have had to leave their homes. Speak peace to the earth there.
For Gaza and the Middle East, Lord a miracle now, a pause, leading to a new peace.
For Putin and Ukraine. An end to this war, conflict and bloodshed.
For those in the midst of conflict, to have hope and a future and hear of Your love.
For all those who are considering Jesus, beginning to hear about Him to take that step from knowing about You to knowing You personally. May seeds be sown in all the Christmas services to be held this year in churches, schools, care homes. Carolling out on the streets, in towns and around housing estates.
For all those who need to know they are loved with an everlasting, unfailing love today.
For ourselves, thank You for a new day. Thank You for Your everlasting arms of love which hold us gentle and strong.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 25th November 2023
Bellow the video and lyrics is the story of how the song came to be written.

How lovely on the mountains are the feet of Him
Who brings good news, good news;
Announcing peace, proclaiming news of happiness:
Our God reigns, our God reigns!

Our God reigns! Our God reigns!
Our God reigns! Our God reigns

You watchmen lift your voices joyfully as one 
Shout for your King, your King 
See eye to eye the Lord restoring Zion 
Your God reigns, your God reigns!  

Waste places of Jerusalem break forth with joy 
We are redeemed, redeemed 
The Lord has saved and comforted His people 
Your God reigns, your God reigns!   

Ends of the earth, see the salvation of your God 
Jesus is Lord, is Lord 
Before the nations He has bared His holy arm 
Your God reigns, your God reigns!  

Lyrics: Leonard E Smith

Sometimes you have to reach bottom before you look up to see God at work. Back in 1973, I was out of work again and depressed — actually very depressed. My wife and I had a son, an apartment, a car, and lots of bills to pay. I had also made myself unemployable as a high school teacher with just too much Jesus talk in class. I guess I was naive to think that talking about Jesus was more important than teaching Latin or English literature.

One morning I was reading the Bible and came to Isaiah 52:7: “How lovely on the mountains are the feet of Him Who brings good news, announcing peace, proclaiming news of happiness: your God reigns.” My heart began pounding in my chest because, through what I read, God spoke to me: “You’re going to get through this, and you will be fine. In fact, you’ll do very well.” I just felt the dark cloud lift off me. I picked up my guitar and, in a few minutes, Our God Reigns was born! I had one verse and the chorus. It wasn’t so much that I wrote it as I received it! . . .

Every one of us has experienced disappointment and failure and had our hearts broken. But we don’t need to be bitter about it. If we look closely, we’ll see how God worked it out for our good. Over time, we become more understanding, more patient, and kinder to others who have been overlooked and forgotten. We must not forget that suffering is the very thing God uses to refine and strengthen us. Jesus set the pattern that crucifixion comes before resurrection.