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Wednesday 23rd August 2023

“But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you blaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour;” Isaiah 43:1-3 NIV

Lord our Creator,

You formed us and more than that breathed life into us. And here You promised Your people Israel that if they would be true to You, You promised to redeem them. And we mread of the many occasions You did in the Old Testament.

Here You, Lord are speaking to Jacob and Israel, but underlying these are truths, realities spoken to us who trust in Christ as a part of the church – the people of God. We know that in this world we will have trouble and difficulty. It is different for all of us but these verse give us something to hold on to. You the God of the Universe know us and call us by name. And whatever we, I am going through You are with us, our shield and defender (Psalm 28:7).

What an awesome truth that You are personally with us in our daily challenges and trials and struggles. Helping us, holding us, loving us. Help this truth to soak in to us today.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Lord our Creator,

Keep our family, friends, neighbours, colleagues in the centre of Your care and shelter today. Reveal Yourself to those who do not really know You yet and continue to soften the hearts of those who have turned away. Meet the needs of those who are going through trouble or trials and touch those who need healing today.

Foe Ukraine we again plead for Your intervention and a path to peace. We pray for our world with so many places going through actual fire and flood. Yes, we ask that You would not only help those fighting the fires and trying to stem the floods, but that You would reach out and calm the weather systems causing them.

Help those passing through the trials of losing their homes. Comfort those who have lost loved ones. Provide for those who need places of safety, words of comfort and help and hope for the future.

In Jesus name we pray Amen.

Worship Wednesday 23rd August 2023

 O worship the King all-glorious above,
O gratefully sing his power and his love:
our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendour and girded with praise.|

O tell of his might and sing of his grace,
whose robe is the light, whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

The earth with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, Thy power hath founded of old;
Established it fast by a changeless decree,
And round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
in you do we trust, nor find you to fail.
Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end,
our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

Lyrics: Robert Grant

Tuesday 22nd August 2023

“The Lord says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name. 2 All day long I opened my arms to a rebellious people. But they follow their own evil paths and their own crooked schemes.” Isaiah 65:1-2 NLT

Lord God,

I have been frustrated when someone needed help and they have not felt they could ask me or someone they knew. Yet I too have not asked on occasions when I could have done with help! We all worry about asking too much and sometimes even worry about trying to do a favour back.

Yet here we see Your attitude to giving help. Not just in the background willing to help. But eager and You went a step further by offering. Letting them know You were there to help, With open arms. But they preferred not.

Thank You that Your love remains the same, available through Your open arms, Your willing commitment to help and Your making it known to us. And today, even though You came in person as Jesus, many still follow their own paths and lives. Thank You that we can know that Jesus is the visible representation of the invisible God, YOU! And He is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8). Thank You for Your help. Lord we need it and we want it. Help us to help each other too.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Lord God,

We pray for family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and our church members and fellowships and their leaders. Be their present help and hope. Those who need a miracle of grace or mercy- help them.

Grant peace to Ukraine by changing the oppressive plans of Russia. Grant those countries under military control or dictators change that would begin to bring an end to the evil control, abuse and their selfish dictates.

Inspire the church in this nation to turn to You in prayer for our present and our future. Bless and provide for all those who are answering Your call to become full time and part time church leaders and ministers.

We pray for those who have suffered loss due to murder and crime. We cannot imagine and ask that You, God, who understands the death of a Son would be their help and strength and comfort.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 22nd August 2023

Help us to help each other, Lord,
each other’s cross to bear;
let us our friendly aid afford,
and show our loving care.

Help us to build each other up
Our little stock improve
Increase our faith, confirm our hope,
and fill us with your love.

Up into thee, our living head,
let us in all things grow,
till though has made us free indeed
and spotless here below

Touched by the lodestone of thy love
let all our hearts agree;
and ever towards each other move,
and ever move towards thee.

This is the bond of perfectness,
thy spotless charity.
O let us still, we pray, possess
the mind that was in thee.

Lyrics: Charles Wesley







Monday 21st August 2023

“Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! 2 As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you! 3 For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. 4 Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” Isaiah 64:1-4 NIV

God who acts,

Sometimes when I pray I can completely agree with Isaiah. I wish You would come down and shake up this world and make it tremble before You. I know in my heart that You will do one day and all eyes will see You (Revelation 1:7). And then I was annoyed to discover that the chapter heading had split up a pray which actually started at Chapter 63:15! |I shall have to work on my cheerfulness Lord! The Prayer begins with . . .

“Look down from heaven and see, from your lofty throne, holy and glorious. Where are your zeal and your might? Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us. 16 But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name. 17 Why, Lord, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes that are your inheritance. 18 For a little while your people possessed your holy place, but now our enemies have trampled down your sanctuary. 19 We are yours from of old; but you have not ruled over them, they have not been called by your name.” Isaiah 63:15-19

I can empathise with this prayer. Man constantly wanders from You, holiness, goodness and truth. It does seem like the church is struggling and the enemy is breaking in. But then I return to the last words. There is no other God besides You and You will in Your time act on behalf of those of us who wait for You. And the church in other countries is actually thriving and growing. But could You rend the heavens a little ans send us revival?

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God who acts,

We bring our family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and the people who worship at our church and fellowship. Act for good in their lives and shine the light of Your countenance upon them and grant them peace (Numbers 6:26). Grant us patience, peace and joy and all we need for this coming week.

Thank You for the church worldwide and all those who faithfully worship You. Grant inspiration, Bible translations, trained Bible leaders and pastoral care even in the isolated churches. Plant seeds of faith in all the children who attend missionary schools and church schools. Water and grow them and bless their families.

Revive us and restore to us, and those we worship with, the joy of Your salvation (Psalm 51:12).

Ukraine Lord, cause Russia to quake before You and change their oppression. The church in Afghanistan, Myanmar and many other places where they are terrorised and persecuted, be their God of refuge.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 21st August 2023

This day we call upon the living Lord
And seek Your mercy and Your grace
How we as a nation have turned our face away from You
And followed other ways
May we see You as You are
Manifested glorious power Lord Jesus

Rend the Heavens and come down
In Your majesty come down
In Your mercy Lord come down upon us
Clothe Yourself in robes of grace
You are welcome in this place
Where the saints are gathered for Your worship Lord

Not for our gain but for the glory of Your name
We gather round Your throne
In humble adoration plead for this generation
Jesus let Your name be known
May they see You as You are
Manifested glorious power Lord Jesus

Lyrics: Robin Mark