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Thursday 23rd January 2025

“There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters. 3 He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area. 4 Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. 5 When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.“ Job 1:1-5 NLT

Father God,

Most Bible Scholars place Job as living in the times of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, so this seems a good place to put him in my year through the Bible. A good family man whose children lived all around the area. And like most parent he was worried they did not always behave as they should. He had everything he needed but he still acknowledged his need of You. And took responsibility for his children and prayed that You might forgive them too.

It is a good place to start Lord. Even though we know the rest of the story he didn’t. He just lived one day at a time, doing the best he could, using the influence he had, and keeping in a right relationship with You.

It was what Jesus told us to do. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34). One day at a time. And we can trust You to be with us tomorrow just the same. So today we pause and give thanks and say sorry for anything we have done wrong or not done right and leave tomorrow in Your care.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Thursday 23rd January 2025
Golden oldie . . .

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Lyrics: Johnson Oatman Jr.



Wednesday 22nd January 2025

“Judah, your brothers will praise you. You will grasp your enemies by the neck. All your relatives will bow before you. Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness – who dares to rouse him? 10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor. 11 He ties his foal to a grapevine, the colt of his donkey to a choice vine. He washes his clothes in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth are whiter than milk.”
Genesis 49:8-12 New Lining Translation

God our promise keeper,

How we are blessed, encouraged and assured when we see the future in the past come true to Your word. Judah the family You placed Jesus into through Joseph, husband of Mary, who adopted him as his own firstborn. The royal sceptre passed down through Jacobs line to the King of Kings. It can never be taken away not even by death itself.

There as we travel through the Old Testament we see the picture of the King riding on a donkey the foal of a donkey as Jesus enters Jerusalem (Mark 11:7-10). The donkey symbolised – coming in peace and not war. Jesus came in peace and yet we killed Him. But he also came to war against our enemies of sin and death. I cannot watch gruesome war films but love the happy ever after endings. Lord it is hard to travel through the crucifixion but it is the only way we can truly know what it cost You. Keep us as it were journeying with You but always at the cross!

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 23rd January 2025
Had to be this hymn which has stood the test of time. Says it all.


Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.

In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the Bright and Morning Star
Shed His beams around me.

Near the cross! O lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o’er me.

Near the cross! I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever;
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.

Lyrics: Fanny Crosby

Tuesday 21st January 2025

“Reuben . . .The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power. Unstable as water, you shall not excel,” Genesis 49:3b-4a
“Simeon and Levi . . . Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob And scatter them in Israel.” Gen 49:7
“Judah, The scepter shall not depart from Judah,” Gen 49:10
“Zebulun . . . will settle by the seashore.” Gen 49:11
“Issachar . . . will bend his shoulder to the load and submit himself to hard labour.” Gen 49:15
“Dan will be a . . . poisonous viper along the path that bites the horse’s hooves so the rider is thrown off.” Gen 49
“Gad . . .will be attacked by marauding bands but will attack them as they retreat.” Gen 49:19
“Asher . . . will dine on rich foods and produce food fit for kings.” Gen 49:20
“Naphtali . . . is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns.” Gen 49:21
“Joseph . . . May my fatherly blessings on you surpass the blessings of my ancestors, reaching to the heights of the eternal hills. May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph, who is a prince among his brothers.” Gen 49:26
“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, devouring his enemies in the morning and dividing his plunder in the evening.” Genesis 49:27 All New Living Testament

Father Almighty,

Jacob speaks very honestly to his sons and they knew he knew them well by what he said. Perhaps he was warning them what would happen if they went on as they were and did not look to develop character and change their ways. How often a child grows up useless because it was told daily it was. Joseph’s son received the blessing of the first born even though Joseph was the second to last son born. Judah a middle son was raised up as ruler for all generations!

I am grateful that when You look at me Father, You see Your son Jesus and bless me abundantly with forgiveness (1 John 1 :9), love (Romans 38:8,9 and a safe and certain future in heaven (1 John 5:13, John 14:1-3). Your Spirit does not keep reminding me of my failures and faults but what I can be. Then Your Spirit helps me make those changes from the inside out. Bringing the gift of His character and fruits (Galatians 5:22-23). He brings Your wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:12-16).

Yet you are honest with us, as Jacob was with his sons, and to know You means we know we are sinners. There is no escaping it, except that Jesus paid the price and now we have his purity and righteousness. Help us remember we are sinners saved by Your grace and keep the cross central to our faith So we can grow in Your likeness to please You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 21st January 2025
A story of the author is below the lyrics.
“Ebenezer” is recognition of a victory on a previous place of defeat with God’s help (1 Samuel 2:14)

Come Thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Here by Thy great help I’ve come
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood

Oh, that day when freed from sinning
I shall see Thy lovely face
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace
Come my Lord, no longer tarry
Take my ransomed soul away
Send Thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless days

Oh, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be
Let Thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, oh take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

Lyrics: Based on hymn by Robert Robertson. Amended by Chris Rice.

Robert was in a spiritually backslidden condition, and traveling in a stage coach one day. His only companion a young woman unknown to him, and not realizing who it was she spoke with, she quoted Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing, saying what an encouragement it had been to her. Robinson could not get her to change the subject. She asked him what he thought of the hymn she was humming. He responded, “Madam, I am the unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, to enjoy the feelings I had then.” Gently, she replied, “Sir, the ‘streams of mercy’ are still flowing.” As a result of the encounter he repented. His fellowship with the Lord was restored through the ministry of his own hymn, and a Christian’s willing witness.





C