What a friend we have in Jesus

Wednesday 2nd September 2026

““Why did I not die at birth? Why did I not perish when I came from the womb? ¹²Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should nurse? ¹³For now I would have lain still and been quiet, I would have been asleep; then I would have been at rest ¹⁴with kings and counselors of the earth, who built ruins for themselves, or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver; ¹⁶Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child, like infants who never saw light?”” Job 3:11-16 NKJV

“Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, ²¹who long for death, but it does not come, and search for it more than hidden treasures; ²²who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad when they can find the grave? ²³Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in? ²⁴For my sighing comes before I eat, and my groanings pour out like water. ²⁵For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me. ²⁶I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes.” Job 3: 20-26

Father God,

Job hits rock bottom. It is hard to read. Perhaps we have never felt that low and that is a reason to thank You. Perhaps we have and remember the struggle to hold suffering and faith together. Job is asking questions of You God and trying to understand. Many of the same questions that we have asked. When we see disasters on the news and tremendous depth of suffering and death of those so young. Some of them Yours in Jesus, some with no chance of knowing You. We need to be able to be real and honest.

Yet Job never turns away from You. He asks the questions. There are no easy answers for us to be able to quote. He has to journey through his pain with You. And it does not stop it happening. Job does not give us answers. He shows us his attitude. In depression, even suicidal he turns to You. He is not persuaded by the trite answers of his friends who make him feel guilty in his depression. He continues to talk to You.

When there are no answers help us to continue to search for you and wait. And accept the things we may never know. And trust. You do not send suffering but it happens. We live in a fallen world. Evil has not been finally dealt with yet. Meanwhile we have Your Holy Spirit of comfort and strength help us keep going if, when it is all bleak.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 2nd September 2026

Joseph Scriven (1819–1886) was an Irish-born Canadian teacher and poet best remembered for writing this hymn. Despite facing crushing personal tragedies, he lived a life of radical selflessness and service to the poor.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge–
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.

Lyrics: Joseph M. Scriven

Friday 15th May 2026

“Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor. ²A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, But a fool’s heart at his left.” Ecclesiastes 10:1-2 NKJV

“Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter.”
Ecclesiastes 10:20 NKJV

Father God,

Here we see a little of the Proverbs style creeping into Ecclesiastes. But all negative alas. Amidst all the trying to grasp the wind is some common sense advice but looking on the what can go wrong..

What an illustration, the heart being at the right hand of left. In biblical times, the right side often symbolized strength, honor, and favor. In contrast, the left side was often seen as weaker or less favorable. Sometimes seen as deceptive as with Ehud the left handed man who murdered Eglon (Judges 3:20-23). Much misaligned left handed people! But we understand what he was saying. And gossip. I wonder if that is where the saying, a little bird told me so!

Cursing in any situation is never good and words said in anger never beneficial. I have learned by experience to button it, till I can calm down. Or take a walk. We all need to find our own way to calm our anger, to come to You, God to offload and sometimes be corrected. We do not see the whole picture. Help us to use our common sense and not just think before we speak, but pray and pause.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 15th May 2026

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

re we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Lyrics: Joseph Scriven.

Thursday 26th February 2026

“Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers. ²And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. ³So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. ⁴Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. ⁵You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you.” Deuteronomy:8:1-4 NKJV

God Omniscient (all knowing),

You knew what You had taken on creating man and woman. Adam and Eve’s behaviour did not take You by surprise. You did not create automatons or drones. Though we are sometimes under the circumstances, hindered by circumstances and sometimes confused. You are not. You are God You do not change (Malachi 3:6) and are still working Your purposes out. You used circumstances to lead and teach Your people about You. They did not notice unworn shoes or clothes but complained grumbled even blamed You for other things. All You ever wanted them to do was ask You for help.

Today You are still working Your purposes out. We too are sometimes under the circumstances and confused But one day You will fill the earth with Your Glory, Lord as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). Meanwhile, help us to simply ask for our needs (Matthew 7:7).

We have not because we have not asked according to Your will (James 4:2). You are not santa claus! We are humbled at Your unconditionally love, forgiving us absolutely and providing for us daily. Keep us like children who can always ask You, Father God for help or provision or comfort. Help us just to ask.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 26th February 2026