“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.” Psalm 121 NKJV
Lord of forevermore,
Sunday and a familiar Psalm to comfort and cheer. Its good to have things that do not change. Everything else around us seems to be. Again in our generation there are wars and rumours of wars. We are starkly reminded we are moving nearer to the second coming of Your Son. Though there are many more prophesies to be fulfilled before that date, we need to keep our faith lamps trimmed.
The Psalmist, was looking forward, and up the hill in Jerusalem to the Temple. Not to celebrate the Temple, or the rituals, or in attending with others but to worship and celebrate You, God. The Psalmist says six times in eight verses, You, God are the only One who keeps and preserves. You will not allow our foot to be moved – we will stand. Psalmist was putting aside all his worries and concerns to worship and be encouraged. They would still be there when he came back.
Today, we can and worship and remember You are on the throne. You are a faithful God. You will not allow our foot to be moved. If we stand preserved in You. Not pickled and sour, but beautiful in Christ. Even if our world is a mess.
In Jesus name we give thanks, Amen.
God who keeps his promises,
For our family and friends. Those we know have their own battles of health.
For our church, Ministers, lay leaders, members. Call those who do not know You to come, hear.
For the royal family. For peace of mind, healing and family support.
For our Parliament. Regardless of politics a desire to live good and do their honest best.
For our local town or city. For town centres to flourish and new business to prosper.
For our local GP’s and those in training.
For medical breakthroughs, scientific discoveries and cures.
For those undergoing dialysis and blood cleansing literally. For donors and their families.
For those suffering depression to lift their eyes and find You..
For those at odds with each other, even family, a way forward to peace.
For Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, places of conflict. End war. Power to drive change to peace.
For those things in the news which need Your touch.
For us a Sunday to look anf know You with us even in the valleys. And to worship wherever we are.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Sunday 14th April 2024
Defiant faith . . . we shall stand (from the CD Shine Jesus Shine)
We shall stand
With our feet on the Rock
Whatever men may say
We’ll lift your name up high
And we shall walk
Through the darkest night
Setting our faces like flint
We’ll walk into the light
Lord, you have chosen me
For fruitfulness
To be transformed into your likeness
I’m gonna fight on through
’til I see you face to face
Chorus
Lord, as your witnesses
You’ve appointed us
And with your Holy Spirit
Anointed us
And so I’ll fight on through
’til I see You face to face
Chorus
Lyrics: Graham Kendrick