Wonderful grace that gives what I don’t deserve

Friday 6th December 2024

“This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and Abraham” . . .
“Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). ⁷Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa. ⁸Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram.” Jehoram was the father of Uzziah.” Matthew 1:1 and 1:6-8 NLT

God of advent (arrival),

Bethlehem, You chose it to be such a special birthplace. Where Jesse lived and David was born. Jesse who forgot his youngest son when Samuel came to visit secretly to anoint a king. But we are never out of sight or out of mind with You. David who sinned. His first child born in Bethlehem with Bathsheba died. David who suffered. Who repented and saw the extent of Your mercy. Whose next son with Bathsheba, Solomon, also became part of Jesus family tree.

Jesus, born in Bethlehem, who would grow from childhood in Your perfect wisdom and grace (Luke 2:40). Solomon is remembered too for his prayer for wisdom. You, God showed Your pleasure at his request. It was the one selfless gift he needed to rule for others not himself. As the story of the real mother of the two women who had babies and one died, relates. She had every reason to be grateful for Solomon’s answer for wisdom (1 Kings 3:16-28).

Sadly, Solomon’s son did not take wise counsel and the Kingdom split in two, Israel and Judah! Judah trying to follow You and Israel going its own way. Just as today there are those who follow Jesus and those who go there own way. You give us the choice to invite You into our lives and if we are wise follow You. You have proven Yourself true and faithful. Give us wisdom in Jesus to make good decisions.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God of advent,

For our family, friends, neighbours, those we promised to pray for.
Thank You for our forefathers and those to come in our family.
For our Christian family and the plans for Christmas in our churches to draw in new people.
For our king and His family and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2).
For our Government and wise judgements for the future and the present.
For Ukraine and Russia. A miraculous end to war.
For all the conflict in the Middle East and the ongoing complications and vengeance. to end.
For France and their political situation.
Wisdom for those working to improve and help the NHS develop and catch up.
For those adopting or fostering children who need to be loved, and know love.
For our neighbourhood and neighbours to know the King this Christmas.
For us to seek Your wisdom daily and know what You want us to do and what we cannot.

In Jesus name we pray.

Worship Friday 6th December 2024
This is one of those worship hymns I can listen to every day! I even love the intro.

Wonderful grace that gives what I don’t deserve,
pays me what Christ has earned then lets me go free.
Wonderful grace that gives me the time to change,
washes away the stains that once covered me.

And all that I have I lay at the feet
of the wonderful Saviour who loves me.

Wonderful love that held in the face of death,
breathed in its final breath forgiveness for me.
Wonderful love whose power can break every chain
giving us life again setting us free.

Lyrics: John Pantry

Friday 13th September 2024

“Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.” Ecclesiastes 10:1

Lord God Almighty,

You made the Blue Whale and You made those irritating tiny little flies that seem to appear out of nowhere! Amazing. You made the dinosaurs but that’s not my question for today! A fly in the ointment! Yuk. So many sayings in our language taken from Ecclesiastes. A book written by someone after a long life and yet still looking to find the meaning of life.

It is often the most minor irritations that spoils things, that upset us. Not a plague of flies (Exodus 8:21). No, a small teeny tiny little fly almost too small to see but which turns something good to useless or worse. A little folly that distorts wisdom and honour. A tiny word not needed. A truth it would be unkind to share. A word spoken before the brain has got into gear. A little selfishness that spoils it for others.

Help us not to put the fly in the ointment, Holy Spirit, and if we do make us quick to clean it up. And make us quick to forgive and forget those little hurts from others. And we give thanks that You clean us up from sin every day, in Jesus.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Lord God Almighty,

For our close family.
For our extended family, friends, neighbours.
For our fellowship, ministers and congregations. Churches where the flame needs rekindling.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2).
For Parliament, house of commons and Lords.
For Ukraine. You, God, bring an end to war and an end to violence.
For Gaza, all the Middle East. Step into their midst with Your peace.
For those who are planning trouble to be thwarted and challenged by Your Spirit.
For victims of violence and unkindness to allow You to be their judge and find peace.
For those going through tough seasons with finances, family or work situations.
For the success of the roll out of vaccines to protect children from Malaria.
We thank you for answered prayer. Grace to accept Your forgiveness and grace to forgive others. And to forgive and forget those minor irritations.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 13th September 2024
Love this worship

Wonderful grace that gives what I don’t deserve
Pays me what Christ has earned then lets me go free
Wonderful grace that gives me the time to change
Washes away the stain that once covered me

And all that I am I lay at the feet
Of the wonderful Saviour Who loves me

Wonderful love that held in the face of death
Breathed in it’s final breath forgiveness for me
Wonderful love whose power can break every chain
Giving us life again setting us free

And all that I am I lay at the feet
Of the wonderful Saviour Who loves me

Lyrics John Pantry

Sunday 12th May 2024

“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.”
1 Corinthians 15:3 NIV

Holy God,

Thank you for my recycled front garden gate Father. Hinged onto a solid concrete post. This reading reminds me that my my faith all hinges on the solid truth of the Gospel. Christ died for our sins according to Scripture. Because of the first garden when one man and one woman showed how we just cannot help touching what we shouldn’t, eating what we shouldn’t and listening to that voice that tempts us to disobey You, God. Can’t help being selfish and want what we can’t have and don’t need!

I am reconciled to the fact that try as hard as I try not to, I still sin. So we need to be reconciled – which is when two situations or beliefs are opposed to each other but exist together! I am reconciled to the fact that You, God are Holy and no-one sinful can enter Your presence. But in Jesus His holiness reconciles me to You. Sinful to sinless. Because Jesus took my sin at the cross. We can be reconciled to You, God, be made clean and receive all You have to give us: light, life and love. Keep us repentant, keep us living in Jesus. Keep us from thinking we can do it ourselves. And keep us in the joy of being reconciled to You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Holy God,

For our family and friends and neighbours. Their hearts desires and good relationships.
For our church, Ministers, lay leaders, members. To make a place where Jesus love is shown.
For new and established churches to grow in strength and numbers and give the glory to God.
For the royal family. That there might be healing and steps to reconciliation.
For Ukraine, to stay free but move Russia to change in attitude and withdraw. End to killing.
For Gaza, empower talks towards next steps to a peaceful way forward.
For aid and medicine to reach all the areas where there is need across the Middle East.
For reconciliation wherever there has been division. In families, politics, nations.
For the weak and vulnerable. The hungry, the abandoned and orphaned children.
For marriages plant seeds of reconciliation where there is discord.
For a day to give thanks that we are forgiven. And remember all the good done in Your name today.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 12th May 2024
Never tire of this hymn.

Wonderful grace that gives what I don’t deserve
Pays me what Christ has earned then lets me go free
Wonderful grace that gives me the time to change
Washes away the stain that once covered me

And all that I am I lay at the feet
Of the wonderful Saviour Who loves me

Wonderful love that held in the face of death
Breathed in it’s final breath forgiveness for me
Wonderful love whose power can break every chain
Giving us life again setting us free

And all that I am I lay at the feet
Of the wonderful Saviour Who loves me

Lyrics: John Pantry