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Sunday 26th January 2025

“Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off? 8 Even as I have seen, Those who plow iniquity And sow trouble reap the same. 9 By the blast of God they perish, And by the breath of His anger they are consumed. 10 The roaring of the lion, The voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions are broken. 11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey, And the cubs of the lioness are scattered.” Job 4:7-11 NLT

Lord God,

Eliphaz. I am glad he is not my friend. He had forgotten anything good Job had done and we read at the beginning that Job was a good man. And Eliphaz was his friend then! Eliphaz says that only troublemakers and sinner suffer what Job is going through! Sat opposite Job in his own good health and his own self righteousness! How very black and white and judgemental. Bad suffer, good thrive.

Ha! I have known wonderful Christian parents whose children have tested them to the limits. And beautiful Christian children who have had the worst childhoods. Life is not black and white.. But amidst this fallen world of sin and sickness and trouble and temptation we have a powerful friend, Jesus, who brings us faith, hope and love. He showed us who You are and how much You love. In sickness or in health in trouble or blessing we have You God, in Jesus.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 26th January 2025

For the joys and for the sorrows
The best and worst of times
For this moment, for tomorrow
For all that lies behind
Fears that crowd around me
For the failure of my plans
For the dreams of all I hope to be
The truth of what I am

For this I have Jesus
For this I have Jesus
For this I have Jesus, I have Jesus
(Repeat)

For the tears that flow in secret
In the broken times
For the moments of elation
Or the troubled mind
For all the disappointments
Or the sting of old regrets
All my prayers and longings
That seem unanswered yet

For the weakness of my body
The burdens of each day
For the nights of doubt and worry
When sleep has fled away
Needing reassurance
And the will to start again
A steely-eyed endurance
The strength to fight and win

Lyrics: Graham Kendrick

Saturday 25th January 2025

“Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.” 4 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” 6 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.” 7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes. 9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”” Job 2:3-9 NLT

Lord God Almighty,

There are so many questions about this book of Job and around these verses. Did it really happen Lord? Why did Job have to go through it all? But one thing I know – it was Satan who tempted and tested Job and not You. But You allowed it?

You had faith in Job and through it all even when You allowed Satan to strike him with disease he did not curse You. Even when Job’s wife railed at him and she was deep in grief too, he refused to curse you. He held on to what he knew, what he believed. That You were not the cause of his suffering.

That is a hard lesson to learn and it is easy to try to find someone or something to blame or judge. Help us to learn to turn to You with whatever we need help with and to remember You are God, our Saviour not our enemy and You are God and worthy of honour. Like Job refuse to curse You, whatever the situation.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Saturday 25th January 2025

Lord I come, I confess
Bowing here, I find my rest
Without You, I fall apart
You’re the one that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour, I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

Chorus

So teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand, I’ll fall on You
Jesus, You’re my hope and stay

Chorus

Lyrics: Matt Maher / Daniel Carson / Jesse Reeves / Kristian Paul Stanfill / Christy L. Nockels

Friday 24th January 2025


“Why did I not die at birth? Why did I not perish when I came from the womb? 12 Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should nurse? 13 For now I would have lain still and been quiet, I would have been asleep; Then I would have been at rest 14 With kings and counselors of the earth, Who built ruins for themselves, 15 Or with princes who had gold, Who filled their houses with silver; 16 Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child, Like infants who never saw light?” Job 3:11-16 NLT

God of life,

I like Job because he speaks his mind. He speaks his feelings, his questions and he is honest with You. I find Job difficult to read but know that not speaking something means it often festers. What is interesting is that his friends are horrified at his honesty. And they have already judged him. Perhaps they have never been depressed or in so much grief and pain. We are not supposed to judge But they sat on the ground with him seven days and nights, and said nothing! Friends?

So Job spoke. Thankyou that Job teaches me to be honestly how I feel and not fear rejection from You God. He would not be losing the friendship of his visitors as he probably never had it! I know You understand because You had to let go and watch as Jesus died alone on the cross. Job here does not wish to end his life he wishes it had not happened. A subtle honest difference.

These friends brought no empathy and not a drop of sympathy. They overstayed their welcome and left no kindness or comfort. Help us to talk to You honestly when other people cannot understand. When someone asks us how we are, help us to answer and ask for prayer. And help us to ask how others are and really want to know and pray with them. Thank you that we have You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit who are with us always to listen and to speak faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13) into our hearts.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 24th January 2025
Written by Lucy Milward Booth-Hellberg, who was the eighth and youngest child of William and Catherine Booth, founders of The Salvation Army. At 16 she travelled to serve in India. She was widowed at the age of forty-one, with four children to care for (a fifth child died in infancy). Lucy went on to serve God in Denmark, Norway and South America, before retiring. She certainly had reason to feel discouraged at times!

When you feel weakest, dangers surround,
Subtle temptations, troubles abound,
Nothing seems hopeful, nothing seems glad,
All is despairing, everything sad:

Keep on believing, Jesus is near;
Keep on believing, there’s nothing to fear;
Keep on believing, this is the way;
Faith in the night as well as the day.

If all were easy, if all were bright,
Where would the cross be, and where the fight?
But in the hardness, God gives to you
Chances of proving that you are true.

God is your wisdom, God is your might,
God’s ever near you, guiding aright;
He understands you, knows all you need;
Trusting in him you’ll surely succeed.

Let us press on then, never despair,
Live above feeling, victory’s there;
Jesus can keep us so near to him
That nevermore our faith shall grow dim.

Lyrics: Lucy M Booth-Hellburg