Will you come and follow me

Tuesday 11th February 2025

“Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. ²³When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) ²⁴So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” ²⁵Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. ²⁶He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” ²⁷Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.” Exodus 15:22-27 NLT

Lord God,

I think they are now only three days into their journey and they are devastated that everything is not just right for them. Bitter (salty) water?! Nothing worse when You are thirsty. So they grumbled. They did not seek You first and blamed Moses.

There are those who choose to spend their lives only seeing problems and there are those who are prepared to look for answers. Your people had seen what You could do – and yet they did not seek Moses, Aaron or You for a solution. They just grumbled.

Moses reassures them like a Father to children. If You follow God’s commands and do what is right, God will give You good health. What a promise and when we read ahead we see that You do exactly that. The only ones who die in the wilderness are those who rebel purposely.

You do not promise us a trouble free life but You do promise us a full life in You. And life that goes beyond even death itself. Elim must have looked like heaven to the grumbling masses! Heaven will be even more than we can imagine. Help us not to grumble but to ask when we need. We have Your promise that You, God are able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within us.

In Jesus name we pray.

Worship Tuesday 11th February 2025

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown;
will you let my name be known;
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare
should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

Will you love the “you” you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found
to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound
in you and you in me?

Lord, your summons echoes true
when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go
where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me

Lyrics: John L Bell.

Wednesday 25th September 2024

“Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.” Jeremiah 13:23

Father of all creation,

I love wildlife programmes. Though I cannot watch the brutality of one animal killing another. I know it is the way they have to survive. But I long for the day when death will be no more and the the wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid (Isaiah 11:6). Will there be wildlife in glory of heaven? I believe so.

The Ethiopian is born with his beautiful skin and every leopard is born with its own particular pattern of spots. Neither needs or wants to change! But Jeremiah is at the end of his patience. He is trying to tell Your people in and around Jerusalem how they are so into their own sinful skin and sin spots they live as if You made then that way!!! So You allowed invaders from the North to take them captive. They could have changed their sin spots for Your love and protection but they dug their heels in and refused to.

Are we ever blind to our own sin spots, or are stubborn in our ways? Holy Spirit walk with us, wash our sin spots away and change us to be more like Jesus. Where we have those spots of selfishness or thoughtlessness help us exchange them for Your goodness and kindness. Thank you for Your endless patience.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Father of all creation,

For our close family. Your love showing the way.
For our extended family, friends, neighbours.
For our fellowship, ministers and congregations.
Those we have been asked to pray for by church or friends.
For our king and all those in authority and Parliament (1 Timothy 2:2).
For Ukraine and Russia. Shake, rattle and change Putin.
For Gaza, all around the Middle East. Contain aggression. Pour down peace.
For those who are suffering from the autumn deluge of rain.
For those contemplating suicide who can see no hope for change send light and hope.
For those who are prejudiced by skin colour.
For the wildlife in danger from poachers and the loss of rainforest.
For Christian charities who help those with addiction and mental health. For AA.
For us to have a good day, to achieve what we need and give thanks.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 25th September 2024

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

Will you love the “you” you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In Your company I’ll go where Your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

Lyrics: John L. Bell & Graham Maule

Thursday 5th September 2024

“Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.” Jeremiah 13:23

Father of all creation,

I love wildlife programmes. Though I cannot watch the brutality of one animal killing another. Its a dilemma. I know it is the way it is now and they are trying to survive. But I long for the day when death will be no more. Will there be wildlife in glory? You did symbolically picture the wolf with the lamb (Genesis 11:6).

The Ethiopian is born with his beautiful skin and the leopard is born with its individual spot pattern. Neither needs or wants to change! But Jeremiah is saying who you are shows to God. He is trying to tell Your people in and around Jerusalem their spots of sin are so obvious and they live as if You made then that way!!! So You allowed invaders to come from the North and take them captive. They were so stubborn when they could have changed their sin spots for Your love and protection, they dug their heels in and refused to.

Are we ever blind to our sin spots, or stubborn in our ways? Holy Spirit we ask You to walk with us, teach us and show us how we can be ourselves but more like Jesus. Where we have those spots of selfishness or thoughtlessness help us exchange them for Your goodness and kindness. Thank you for Your endless patience.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Father of all creation,

For our close family.
For our extended family, friends, neighbours. Miracles.
For our church fellowship, ministers and congregations.
For Paralympians, family and coaches and those supporting.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). The Royal family’s continuing health.
For Ukraine. May Your will be to end war, soon. Protect and bless Your church.
For Gaza, all the Middle East. Peace, peace talks, an end to retaliation and hostage release.
For the autumn term at school starting and the staff and pupils.
For the House of Commons resitting.
For our overcrowded prison system, justice system and those who work in support organisations.
For a change of heart in those sentenced for rioting and violence and looting recently.
For those who have suffered bereavement and trauma from stabbings and murder recently.
For us to be aware of our own weaknesses and allow You to be our strength. To know You love us just as we are on the journey, we do not have to wait to be good enough.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 5th September 2024