Tag: Start the Day

Sunday 7th December 2025

“After saying farewell to the Ephesian elders, we sailed straight to the island of Cos. The next day we reached Rhodes and then went to Patara. 2 There we boarded a ship sailing for Phoenicia. 3 We sighted the island of Cyprus, passed it on our left, and landed at the harbour of Tyre, in Syria, where the ship was to unload its cargo. 4 We went ashore, found the local believers, and stayed with them a week. These believers prophesied through the Holy Spirit that Paul should not go on to Jerusalem. 5 When we returned to the ship at the end of the week, the entire congregation, including women and children, left the city and came down to the shore with us. There we knelt, prayed, 6 and said our farewells. Then we went aboard, and they returned home. 7 The next stop after leaving Tyre was Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed for one day. 8 The next day we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen to distribute food. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy.” Acts 21:1-9 NLT

“After this we packed our things and left for Jerusalem. 16 Some believers from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to the home of Mnason, a man originally from Cyprus and one of the early believers. 17 When we arrived, the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem welcomed us warmly. 18 The next day Paul went with us to meet with James, and all the elders of the Jerusalem church were present.” Acts 21:15-18 NLT 

Lord God,

Paul had travelled far and wide, was widely known, performed miracles and preached the gospel with much success. He had encouraged believers, kept them on the straight and narrow way and loved them.

Yet, he does not get too big for his boots. He returns to meet with James and the elders of the church in Jerusalem. He treats them with the same respect he treated those he met on his journeys. He did not think himself higher or lower and gave them a detailed account of what You, God had been doing among the gentiles.

He takes their counsel and advise to calm the fears of the Jewish believers. He is an outspoken man on occasions when confronted with false teaching but a man of peace and unity when it comes to building up the church. How wise. Paul talks about where his wisdom comes from in his first letter to the Corinthians, ““Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him? ”But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Cor 2:16) He does not rush in but turns to You first Lord. After all You reminded us in Proverbs that even a foolish man can appear wise if he stays silent. (Proverbs 17:28).

Help us to think before we speak. Not just think logic or emotion but think Christ in us. Listen for that calm, small voice. Not peace at any price, and we are not always meant to stay silent. We need Your thoughts, Your wisdom Lord for those difficult situations..

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 7th December 2025
Another traditional hymn, whose tune I am not familiar with but that will not stop my worship! I have left verses 3 and 4 in the lyrics as they are not sung in the video but are definitely worth the praying.

 Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of your tone;
As you have sought, so let me seek
Your erring children, lost and lone.

Oh, lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wand’ring and the wav’ring feet;
Oh, feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Your hung’ring ones with manna sweet.

(Omitted verses 3 and 4
Oh, teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things that you impart,
And wing my words, that I may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.

Oh, grant my spirit to renew,
That I may speak with soothing pow’r
A word in season, as from you,
To weary ones in needful hour.)

Oh, fill me with your fullness, Lord,
Until my very heart o’erflow
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Your love to tell, your praise to show.

Oh, use me, Lord, use even me
Just as you will, and when, and where,
Until your blessèd face I see,
Your rest, your joy, your glory share.

Lyrics: Francis Ridley Havergal

Saturday 6th December 2025

“When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. 2 While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he travelled down to Greece, 3 where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia.4 Several men were traveling with him. They were Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 They went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 After the Passover ended, we boarded a ship at Philippi in Macedonia and five days later joined them in Troas, where we stayed a week. 7 On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. 8 The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. 9 As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. 10 Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!” 11 Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. 12 Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly relieved.” Acts 20:1-12 NLT

Father,

I can understand the stays that Paul made on his journeys. To share the gospel, encourage the faithful and to stay in a home and give his body a rest. Everywhere he went was by foot. He put himself out to do Your will. Help us to see an opportunity and not an inconvenience. And help us see times we need to rest.

I had to as it were drop in on this event in Troas. A young man called Eutychus fell to his death. One of those occasions when we ask why. Did Paul go on too long? Was the man silly to sit in an open windowsill. Was then enemy using his tiredness to disrupt the message and do harm? Why? How often we wonder why and those who do not know You God sometimes ask us why You, God allowed it to happen. Why is not always helpful. He was tired. Paul was giving his last teaching before leaving. It had to be after the days work for the listeners. It was no-ones fault. Accidents happen.

We see that Paul like Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-24) is able to restore him. And many believe this is a warning to keep spiritually alive alert and rested. Being too tired to read Your Word or pray. Yet You do not call us to religiously worship, pray and read the Bible. Help us to make it a natural part of our living, not a must be done deed. Rather a pleasure as natural as breathing, taking a drink or nibbling a biscuit?

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 6th December 2025
“Lina” Wilhelmina Sandell Berg was the daughter of a Lutheran pastor. She was very close to her father. She wrote hymns partly to cope with the fact that she witnessed his tragic death by drowning. 

Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counsellor and Pow’r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation,
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.

Lyrics: Carolina Sandwell

Friday 5th December 2025

“Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 13 Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. 15 As the Scriptures say, “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.”” 2 Corinthians 8:10-15 NLT

Generous Father,

Paul touches on a sticky subject for some Christians. Giving. He gives advice only. And in the light of what they said they would do earlier. It is perhaps also about keeping Your word as a church and as the individuals who are the church. The Corinthians had wanted to give, and began doing it. But they had lost their eagerness. Enthusiasm, keenness! Having to be reminded and asked rather than it being keeping their word and a joy?

Do I joy in giving? Do I only promise to support those things I know I will? I remember that in the eyes of half the world, I am wealthy. I have a warm, dry home, three meals a day (at least), a warm dry bed, hot and cold clean running water, and access to health care. Paul does not tell them how much to give, that would be like giving tick boxes and that is not what You desire God is it? You want us to give as a response to others need, sharing what You have provided us with. Not to make ourselves in need but to spread joy from our overflow.

Paul suggests is good to decide what to give to on a regular basis as a church. That means we have to give to our fellowship as we are the church! And that applies to us as individuals as well. To keep our promises, if we have made any to support financially. And not be rash with promises. To know the joy and feeling of well being that comes giving and being a part of what others are doing. Or relieving someone’s suffering. You love giving Lord, and everything I have is because of You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 5th December 2025

God loves a generous heart, a generous heart
Yes, He does
God loves a generous heart, a generous heart
Cause that’s a heart like His own heart
That’s a heart like His own

There are those who give away
It seems the more they give, the more they gain
There are others who hold back
The more they try to keep, the more they lack
The more they lack

Chorus

God has shown us how to give
He offered up His Son so we might live
Jesus gave His precious blood
To wash us clean and bring us back to God
Back to God

Chorus

We can’t out give God
For He’s the Giver of life
And ev’ry good thing
We can’t out give God
He just keeps pouring out more
He’s the wonderful King!

Lyrics