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Thursday 9th January 2025

“So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.” Genesis 22:6-8 NKJV
“Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”” Genesis 22:13-14 NKJV

Lord God,

Obedience. Not easy when we are small and can be even harder as an adult if it means it costs us something to do the right thing! Abraham was prepared to obey – and we will never know if He knew You would step in with a miracle. They only had Isaac in old age because of a miracle from You, God. But then . . . You are the life giver God. And You did provide. Such a reflection of the time You provided Your own Son. And went through with it for us. The thorns around His head too.

On the mount it was provided, the offering for our sin, the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). And I will rejoice and trust and obey. It will not be perfectly, as sin so easily ensnares us (Hebrews 12:1), but I will keep looking to Jesus the perfecter of my faith (Hebrews 12:2). My provider, my Lord and my Saviour. We bring our worship, our gratitude and our all.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Thursday 9th January 2024
Obedience for me springs out of love not rules . . .

All I once held dear, built my life upon,
all this world reveres and wars to own,
all I once thought gain I have counted loss;
spent and worthless now, compared to this.

Knowing you, Jesus, knowing you;
there is no greater thing.
You’re my all, you’re the best,
you’re my joy, my righteousness
and I love you, Lord.

2. Now my heart’s desire is to know you more,
to be found in you and known as yours;
to possess by faith what I could not earn,
all-surpassing gift of righteousness.

3. O to know the power of your risen life
and to know you in your sufferings;
to become like you in your death, my Lord,
so with you to live and never die.

Lyrics: Graham Kendrick


Wednesday 8th January 2025

“Now the Angel of the Lord found her (Hagar) by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” 9 The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.” Genesis 16:7-9 “Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” Genesis 16:13NKJV

So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away . . .  And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs . . . for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” . . . 17 And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation. Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water.” Genesis 21:selected verses from 14-19 NKJV

Lord God,

We cannot rush through Genesis without pausing on Hagar. She was not able to make her own decisions and was at the hands of a woman desperate to conceive and who became jealous. Perhaps Hagar was goading her when she found herself pregnant. Two broken women each with their own hurts. I cannot condemn either as I have my own brokenness.

But looking to You I see that you asked her to return. Safer for her have and raise her baby with the assurance You would protect and care for her. Then when he was 14, (Abraham was 68 when he was born and 100 when Isaac was born), she found herself cast out again. Depressed and blind to any possibilities. And Yu came to assure her she would survive and prosper.

Sometimes we only see situations and forget to listen out for You. It could be people or external situations – our fault or others or both! Speak to us even over our weeping. Assure us, like Hagar, You are the God who sees me and comes to help. Both times You gave her what she needed. Water in the dessert wastelands. Her son sat a bows length away from her suggesting he could hunt and find food. You provide, guide us, who ever we are whatever life tells us we are worth or not worth. Remain or move on – You are the God who sees and provides.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Wednesday 8th January 2025

I love You, Lord
Oh, Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I’ve been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
And in darkest night You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a Father
I’ve known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah

Chorus

‘Cause Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now
I give You everything
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me.
Repeat . . . ‘Cause your goodness

Chorus . . . repeat twice

Lyrics: Ben Fielding / Brian Johnson / Edward Martin Cash / Jason Ingram / Jenn Johnson

Tuesday 7th January 2025

The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.” Genesis 18:22 NIV
Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18:23b-25
“Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?” Genesis 18:27-28
 “What if only forty are found there?” Genesis 18:29
Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”
May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?” Genesis 18:29
Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” Genesis 18:30 NIV

Lord ,

Abraham was just getting to know You and he did not have the benefit of knowing Jesus. (Though many believe that this was an appearance of God as a man.) He has very bold and otspoken.

I love the way his intercession is almost a negotiation and is an up front in the face request. Even using God’s own character, as a life-giver, to back up his request! Perhaps we should not be so worried about what we say but just get on and ask. Abraham was still respectful even though he tested the boundaries as he added, Lord do not to be angry!

Interestingly the city could not be spared. It was completely annihilated. But God heard Abraham’s real plea which was for his nephew Lot, living there. It was Lot’s wife’s choice to disobey and be lost on the way out! But they did not join Abraham in safety, gratitude or to worship. They went off to sin again.. Not a very happy ending.

We can either be an Abraham or a Lot. One who prays for others or one who just lives in their own small world. Help us pitch our tents in safe places and in this world of sin pray for the many who need to hear of Your love, Your life and Your salvation. That they can escape to live with You forever. Keep us praying for others.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 7th January 2025
Written in 2017 I only discovered this song recently. It encourages me to pray and help others to.

People hurting, people broken
Beaten down and feeling hopeless
Wonder if it’s gonna always be this way
Who will speak up for the captive
Show some love and heal a past that
Binds the wounds we think will never go away
But what if we could be a people on our knees
As one before the King
‘Cause we believe

All the world starts changing
When the church starts praying
Strongholds start to break
Oh, when we pray
Prison walls start shaking
At the sound of praising
Nothing stays the same
Oh, when we pray
Oh, when we pray, oh

I see revival rising
I see hope on the horizon
As a generation stepping out in faith
Because we will be a people on our knees
As one before the King
‘Cause we believe, hey!

Chorus

Let Your kingdom come, Lord
Let Your will be done (hey!)

All the world starts changing
When the church starts praying
Strongholds start to break
Oh, when we pray

Chorus
In Jesus’ name (when we pray)
In Jesus’ name (when we pray)
When we pray, oh
When we pray

Lyrics: Tauren Wells / Colby Wedgeworth / Ethan Hulse