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Thursday 3rd August 2023

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:33-34 NKJV

Lord God,

Awake, my soul, and with the sun
thy daily stage of duty run;
shake off dull sloth, and early rise
to pay thy morning sacrifice.

An old hymn and dated words? I still know the dull sloth that hangs around sometimes when the alarm goes off. So awake our souls Lord, to worship, praise, and give thanks for this new day and for being washed by Jesus blood, embraced by Your love, and filled with Your Holy Spirit.

Your Word says we are to seek Your Kingdom first. So we come with respect to worship You as King. Almighty, terrifying in power and unapproachable in Holiness. But also with delight as You are our Saviour and friend.

Not an option, to seek or not seek Your Kingdom? Your Word says that we must seek it and first. Then all these things will be ours. What things? Its like we have read the end of a book first and we have to back track to learn what we have missed. “All these things” are in Matthew 6:25-32, the things we need to live. Food, drink, clothes. God will provide . . . Ah, if we put the Kingdom first and are not to be obsessed, preoccupied with food, drink and clothes.

Not that we can give up work and shopping – and things will miraculously appear. (Though I have found things left on my doorstep at times). But how sad would it be if focus of our life was things that wear out, get broken become dated. Some times we have to learn that worrying about them takes up time and energy and takes from the life giving peace and freedom in You. And worry does not change any situation. Pray changes things and gives You the opportunity to meet our need.

Help us today not to obsess about or be preoccupied with anything else. Not worry constantly so we cannot be at rest with You. Help us to seek You first and put perspective into our day. Thank you that You will then add all these things unto us. God our provider.

In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Lord God,

We seek You first to thank you for all you have provided and answered prayers. We seek you also to ask for those we love and know and care about. For the things they are worrying about, need help with and for their health and well-being. We seek You for the things we need at this present time.

Today we pray for those who even if they seek You first -have very real concerns about food and water, clothes and shelter. We bring to You those people and areas where there are poor harvests, war, poverty floods or drought. We come to You first to ask You to send seeds, rain or sun or fresh grass, whatever is needed for a good harvest. We also ask that where there is still need You would send help through agencies. Those who dig wells and provide clean water. Those who provide food, those who help with agriculture and livestock. Those who feed orphaned children.

Send the beginnings of a peace settlement to the Ukraine and change the intentions of Russia.

We thank you for all You have provided us.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 3rd August 2023

Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness;
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Allelu, Alleluia

Ask, and it shall be given unto you;
Seek, and ye shall find.
Knock, and the door shall be opened unto you.
Allelu, Alleluia

You shall not live by bread alone,
But by every word
That proceeds from the mouth of God.
Allelu, Alleluia

And if the Son shall set You free
You shall be free indeed
You shall know the Truth and the truth shall set you free.
Allelu, Alleluia

Trust in the Lord with all Your heart
And he shall direct your paths
In all your ways acknowledge Him
Allelu, Alleluia

Karen Lafferty
CD Maranatha Singers, Holy Ground, Songs 4 Worship.

Wednesday 2nd August 2023

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22 NKJV

Jesus King of Kings and Lord of all,

You came to earth as a man but ascended to Heaven as the King of Kings, Defeating sin and death on the cross. No one, no-one else has that power! We come to You and bow the knee and confess You are Lord of all. We are given the choice of becoming Your subjects in the Kingdom of Heaven. A Kingdom of love. And a Kingdom we are called to live in as citizens. Choosing to obey the King. Help me live as a good citizen.

We are fellow citizens if we, together with all the members of God’s household, keep You as the cornerstone holding the Kingdom together. No-one else, nothing else, can be the cornerstone. Not ability, not wealth, not influence, not beautiful buildings, not some idol made by human hands. Just Jesus. Help the church keep the main thing the main thing. The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the cornerstone. In every generation there have been those that wanted to oppose or challenge the church.

Paul wrote letters to the early church to keep them focused. Today is no different. The truth is, God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Amidst all the questions and oppositions the church has to face in todays society, which I do not have answer to, this one thing I know. God in great mercy pardoned me, forgave my sin and set me free. I know that Jesus lives as really and truly as the reality that I love the taste of chocolate! (Psalm 34:8). Be in the choices the church leaders are being forced to make. Keep us firm on the foundation of Christ, centred and laying the don’t knows at Your feet. One day all these questions will be answered and we will see the whole picture. Till then keep us in the heart of Your heart.

In Jesus name we pray and give thanks, Amen.

Jesus King of my Heart,

Hear we are again with all those people we love, those people we worship with, those people we rely on and rely on us, those people we support serving God, those people we work with, know through hobbies or study. We bring them all to you. Some You know have special needs at this time, some are in dire need of Your help. Some we just want You to hold and love. With all the different requests we come to You – because You are the source of al that is good, kind and true. You can heal, still storms, provide bread, lead, reassure, restore, forgive . . . Thank you Lord.

Today we pray for all those citizens captive in the Kingdom of darkness. Those enslaved by pornography, drugs, lust for money, who scam, steal and embezzle. Those who are violent towards their family, physically or mentally. Those who steal and burgle. Those who belong to territorial, controlling gangs who intimidate and bully. Break into their darkness and provide a way out. Give them the choice and the help they need. And where they cannot walk away, confound them so they cannot harm.

We pray for our King, our Government and our nation, for healing, good decisions and that wrong would be uncovered and right be recognised. We pray for leaders around the world. May they all have a desire to see the end of war in Ukraine. Move God to bring about a change from war into peace.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Meditation – Tuesday 6th October 2020
My foundation and in harmony!

In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Tuesday 1st August 2023

“Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us  from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:12-14 NKJV

Father and Lord,

We call You Father and yet You are The Lord. Not like a Lord here on earth, in name only, but Lord of all that is known and unknown! You created it, spoke it into being. We have no right to ask anything of You and yet, we have the privilege of coming to You as our heavenly Father and loved, cherished children. Not having to fear You as some angry deity in the sky or wondering if you are there at all! And to know we have an inheritance though Jesus. Someone has to die to enable someone else to inherit. You planned all this back in the beginning!

If we took the test to qualify to become Your family we’d fail – we could never be good enough to pass. We all have sinned and fallen short (Romans 3:23). Meeting Jesus Your Son not only deals with sin but qualifies us to become family and inherit through Him.

An Inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading (1 Peter 1:4). There is no doubt, no price to be paid, no last minute glitches. You deliver us from the power of darkness. Not just from darkness – but from its power. Death cannot to do anything to us. We will rise again to new life.

Money is necessary. Money can buy comfort but it is perishable like us! I am richer than a millionaire just because You care as an old chorus says. Today, Lord help us to remember we inherit things that money cannot buy. A future, forgiveness, love, heaven. We have certain hope and a future. Not a hope so faith but a very real, life changing faith and eternity. Help us to live as good children and as obedient citizens of Your Kingdom. Till we see You face to face in heaven.

In Jesus name, we pray, Amen.

Saviour God,

So many to name, that we know and love. So many in our hearts and on our prayer lists. You know their needs, troubles and joys and hopes. Deliver them from evil, draw them into your Kingdom. Dispel the darkness and shed Your light on their path. Thank you for the many prayers You have answered and the times we have not recognised You were at work. Bless our church family.

Today we pray for those who are paid a pittance and are on a treadmill of poverty. For those who entrapped or abducted both adults and children to be a slave workforce. For the weak and vulnerable used to fund scammers lifestyles. We pray that justice will be done on earth. Help free them, expose the perpetrators and help those who can provide them with good employment and help and support.

We pray for our King and all the other Sovereign leaders around the world. In Saudi Arabia, Bhutan, Oman, UAE, Brunei, Cambodia, Luxembourg, Belgium, Sweden, Swaziland, Lesotho, Netherlands, Bahrain, Japan, Spain, Thailand, Qatar, Denmark, Jordan, Morocco, Lichtenstein, Monaco, Malaysia, Kuwait, Tonga, Norway. (And any I might have missed Lord!) We pray they will be righteous monarchs, an influence for good, using the powers they have to seek the best for the health of their nations. Touch their hearts and their deeds with Your compassion for their people.

And for Ukraine, be the God who brings an end to war. Soon.

In Your name Jesus, we pray, Amen

Worship Tuesday 1st October 2023
A golden oldie I hope does not get forgotten because it says it all, and enables us to sing it.

My Father is rich in houses and land,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.

I’m a child of the King,
A child of the King,
With Jesus my Savior,
I’m a child of the King.

My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men,
Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them;
But now He is reigning for ever on high,
And will give me a home in heav’n by and by.

I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice and an alien by birth;
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.

A tent or a cottage, why should I care?
They’re building a palace for me over there;
Though exiled from home, yet still may I sing:
All glory to God, I’m a child of the King.

Lyrics: Hattie E Buell