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Monday 20th January 2025

 “But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:19-20 NIV

Father God,

These verses are very encouraging to me Father. They came from Joseph’s actual experience of the many times You, God took his bad experiences and used then for good.

We too can trust You God to use even the most difficult situations in our lives for Your purposes and our good.
We too can learn to view challenges as opportunities for You, God to work in unexpected ways, shaping our character and faith.
We too can learn to see that You, God can bring about Your purposes through our suffering, even using it to bless others.
We too can maintain faith that Your plan, God, is greater than our understanding, and You are always at work in our lives even when we cannot see it.

These things are easy to say Father when everything is good. So help us know it, believe it and be able to live in trust and faith when it is not so good. As the disciples asked in Luke 17:5, we also ask, “Increase our faith.”

In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 20th January 2025
You, God never let go.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise you still I will praise you

Chorus . . .

Lyrics: Beth Redman / Matt Redman

Pray
For those we know
For those who live alone without You.
Give thanks for the cease fire and pray for a miracle for Ukraine
For all those people who have gone through, or are going through fire, flood, freezing, hunger . . .
For our own needs

Sunday 19th January 2025

 “When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.” 16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, 17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Genesis 50:15-20 NKJV

Father,

Even though Joseph had told his brothers they were forgiven and had brought them to Egypt providing them with a place to live and work, they doubted. Thy were still carrying the guilt and fear or his non existing retribution. They thought he had died in the wilderness where they left him all those years ago and now he was an important powerful leader with there future in his hands. He gave them assurance again.

Thankyou. That we have Jesus, closer than a brother and who is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. You provide for us now and we have the promise of a future with You in eternity. Your Holy Spirit brings us that assurance that Jesus paid the price so we could be forgiven.

Blessed assurance. Keep on reminding us on the days we need encouragement. For those of us who need it, like Josephs brothers, forgive our niggling doubts and insecurity and grant us faith.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 19th January 2025

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

Perfect submission, perfect delight
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Lyrics: Fanny Crosby



Saturday 18th January 2025

“So Joseph sent his brothers off, and as they left, he called after them, “Don’t quarrel about all this along the way!” 25 And they left Egypt and returned to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan. 26 “Joseph is still alive!” they told him. “And he is governor of all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned at the news—he couldn’t believe it. 27 But when they repeated to Jacob everything Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons Joseph had sent to carry him, their father’s spirits revived. 28 Then Jacob exclaimed, “It must be true! My son Joseph is alive! I must go and see him before I die.”” Genesis 45:24-28NLT

Our heavenly Father,

Bad news travels fast they say and it spreads quick! But good news reaches the places deep within us, and it changes us and it inspires us. It inspired the brothers to go home and tell their father Joseph was still alive. What news that was! I wonder if they left the details of how he ended up in Egypt unknown of if they confessed? Joseph told then to tell their father everything they had seen in Egypt not what they had done. (Genesis 45:13).

Sometimes we do not need to be beaten up about our mistakes, we know them very well and are sorry. But sometimes we do need to be reminded not to quarrel along the way! Your Son Jesus who walked among us knew all our weaknesses and failures. He was always reminding us to make peace with our brother or sister before worship (Matthew 5:23-24). To forgive others sin as we have been forgiven (Luke 11:4). A quarrel can be major of minor. The brothers could have argued about who was most guilty of getting rid of Joseph. But they all took part in the wrong. Even those who did nothing to save him.

No argument here Father, we need Your daily help. We are all guilty of sin. Holy Spirit guide us through the intricacies of today whether we are busy, resting or coping keep us in Your peace and not quarreling along the way.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 18th January 2025

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

2 Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.

3 Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away
In Jesus keeping we are safe, and they.

4 Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and he is on the throne.

5 It is enough: earth’s struggles soon shall cease,
and Jesus call to heaven’s perfect peace.

Lyrics: Edward Henry Bickersteth