Tag: Wonderful Grace

Wednesday 24th June 2026

“The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. 11 So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. 12 In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God 14 Afterward he rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David, west of the Gihon spring in the valley, as far as the entrance of the Fish Gate and encircling the hill of Ophel; he also made it much higher. He stationed military commanders in all the fortified cities in Judah 15 He got rid of the foreign gods and removed the image from the temple of the Lord, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city. 16 Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings on it, and told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. 17 The people, however, continued to sacrifice at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.” 2 Chronicles 33:10-17 NKJV

Lord God,

It would be easy to leave the history of Manassa as read in 2 KIngs but it would leave us without the full picture of him and more than that a true picture of You. In 2 Chronicles we read that he was a very bad king and he continued to dismiss and ignore You. You, God allowed his enemies to humiliate him and take him away captive like a subdued oxen.

But as often happens when we are in trouble or distress we turn to You. And he turned with a humble heart. While everything was going his way he did not think of You God. Bt You responded to his prayer because You promised You would (2 Chronicles 7:14).

We need to remember that God forgives. Not just a bit, not just what we can remember – but all that has gone before. And the freedom and forgiveness we receive lie Manassa is not measured by how sinful we have been. I am so grateful that the writer of the Chronicles made note of this change of heart. Even if it was only when he was older and in great suffering and trouble. We have a God who does not leave us or cease wating to save and bless us. He does not leave us to our own devices ever.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 24th June 2026

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.

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

Lyrics: John Pantry


Tuesday 28th October 2025

“ Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”” Luke 7:40-50 NIV

Father Almighty,

Simon, not Simon the disciple but Simon the Pharisee. The religious leader who should have been setting an example of Godly behaviour. And an opportunity for Jesus to speak about the heart of Your heart. Worship and charity and forgiveness. Charity being the old fashioned meaning of giving love.

It is hard for those who do not feel they are so bad or and think sin is just about those who murder or rob banks. I am sure the Pharisee thought himself a good man. Hard for him to understand the depth of God’s love and forgiveness perhaps. I was so broken and messed up when I became a Christian, You God, centred on loving me before You explained the depth of my sin. Then You showed me how I had ignored You, not loved You, not trusted You or Your Son. Now I begin to understand the weeping woman and the depth of those words, ‘Your sins are forgiven’. All of them. The shameful ones, the long gone ones, the ones I have forgotten. The ones I trip up on even now. All forgiven. Stamped not guilty at the cross. And sometimes it is a fact I base my faith on and sometimes like the woman I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Faith and feelings! And sometimes I have to remind the enemy not to bring them to mind to make me feel bad. Sometimes we need Your Spirit to remind us and sometimes we need Scriptural facts (Colossians 2:13-14). That woman knew who You were. She knew what You could do. And Simon? I hope he saw beyond the words. And we too can see, know, and go in peace today and every day because of You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 28th October 2025
No appologies for having this again. It just says what I know and feel.

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

Lyrics: John Pantry

Wednesday 10th September 2025

““Son of man, give the people of Israel this message: You are saying, ‘Our sins are heavy upon us; we are wasting away! How can we survive?’ 11 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die? 12 “Son of man, give your people this message: The righteous behavior of righteous people will not save them if they turn to sin, nor will the wicked behavior of wicked people destroy them if they repent and turn from their sins. 13 When I tell righteous people that they will live, but then they sin, expecting their past righteousness to save them, then none of their righteous acts will be remembered. I will destroy them for their sins. 14 And suppose I tell some wicked people that they will surely die, but then they turn from their sins and do what is just and right. 15 For instance, they might give back a debtor’s security, return what they have stolen, and obey my life-giving laws, no longer doing what is evil. If they do this, then they will surely live and not die.” Ezekiel 33:10-15 NLT

Sovereign Lord,

Sovereign. You are Almighty. Supreme Ruler, Holy and righteous. Who deserves all praise, glory and adoration. Life giver, creation upholder. And I am so small, one person in billions I wonder occasionally, or is it the enemy whispering a lie, how You know me and why You go on forgiving me. And yet because of Jesus I know You do.

Ezekiel stopped acting out his message and was trying to explain Your ways simply. But to a people who took You for granted, went there own way and still thought You should take care of them and protect them. They no longer even kept us the pretence of ritual. They showed no concern about living contrary to Your laws. Or did they think You no longer cared?

It is amazing that now we can now turn from our sin and know Your forgiveness. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). We in one sense are always at the cross. We make mistakes – we sin – but he is always there with us wiping away the condemnation. Forgiving us as we go. Striving with us as we struggle to forgive someone who has hurt us when we battle against temptation. Always arms outstretched to enfold us. Always willing, by His Spirit, to bring us back to the source of life and hope.And lead us back on to the narrow way. May we always choose the good, the right, the honest, the best and when we do not, be quick to retrace our steps back to You.I do not have to wait for communion to be holy again. You are here, now. Keep us kneeling at the cross in our hearts.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 10th September 2025
Never tire of hearing 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 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.
And all that I have I lay at the feet
of the wonderful Saviour who loves me.

Lyrics: John Pantry