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Monday 21st April 2025

““I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will send you on your way and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20 As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and your whole family line?” 21 Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?”” 1 Samuel 9:19-21 NIV

“Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?”” 1 Samuel 10:1 NIV

“As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. 10 When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying. ” 1 Samuel 10:9-11 NIV

Lord God, Alpha and Omega,

Lord God on High and yet You are concerned with the small details of life as we read in Your Word.. The servant had one silver coin to donate to the seer. The donkeys were lost but then found. Samuel knew who to anoint and a procession of prophets was at the right place at the right time to meet the returning Saul and servant!

I am from the smallest tribe how can it be me? We heard that humility from Gideon (Judges 6:15). But words can come easily. All the potential for a good leader and King is there. The Israelites wanted a King and they got one. Tall and handsome (1 Samuel 9:2). And God changed his heart and filled him with his spirit. All the potential was there for Saul to go forward and fulfil God’s destiny for Him.

It is good to stop there God. to consider this opportunity as if we did not know the rest of the story. We too have the opportunity to have our hearts changed and to be filled with Your Spirit. For each of us we have a different testimony. For some it was private in a bedroom, for some it was at a church service or meeting. For some it may have been a friend praying with us. There are as many testimonies as there are Christians! Amazing. We too have a choice. To be overwhelmed by Your love God and grow from glory into glory (2 Corinthians 3:18), or to turn away deliberately from salvation (Hebrews 10:26). We cannot do anything for Saul, his story is written. But we can do something about our own. And Lord, we pray You will lead new Christians safely forward in You. Call back those who have stepped away or returned to sinning . . . (James 5:19-20).

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 21st April 2025
A choice or both . . .

Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.
Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.

You are the potter, I am the clay,
Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.

Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.
Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.

Lyrics: Eddie Espinosa

From glory to glory He’s changing me,
Changing me, changing me;
His likeness and image to perfect in me,
The love of God shown to the world.

For He’s changing, changing me!
From earthly things to the heavenly!
His likeness and image to perfect in me,
The love of God shown to the world!”

Lyrics: Alan Hall

Sunday 20th April 2025

“So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. 12 Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. 13 The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him . . .  17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.” 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. 20 “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.” 21 So Samuel repeated to the Lord what the people had said, 22 and the Lord replied, “Do as they say, and give them a king.” Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home.“ 1 Samuel 8:10-13 and 17-22 NLT

Lord God Omniscient,

All knowing God. You knew that the children of Israel were not listening to Samuel. They wanted a quick fix right now to the problem. Samuel had grown old – but was not dead yet by a long stretch – but his sons were a bad lot. Did they want God to raise up a new Samuel NO. Did they want to ask Samuel to ask God what was the best way forward NO. They looked superficially at other nations and wanted what they had with no thought of the consequences. They were like persistent petulant children.

So You, Lord God said to Samuel give them what they want. And what we want is not always good for us! You knew that but that they would have to learn the hard way. Even though You, God were still able to bring about Your future plan through the lineage of David. One day delivering the King of Kings as a baby into the arms of Mary. So we could know what choosing You alone to be our King means. We do not want to have our own way Lord. We desire You have Your way in our lives for our best and good..

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 20th April 2025

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will,
while I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Search me and try me, Savior today!
Wash me just now, Lord, wash me just now,
as in thy presence humbly I bow.

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me I pray!
Power, all power, surely is thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway.
Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!

Lyrics: Adelaide A Pollard


Saturday 19th April 2025

“Now when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 So the children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Then Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. 10 Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car. 12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”” 1 Samuel 7:7-13

Lord of Thunder,

Naturally the Israelites were afraid. They were sorely beaten last time. I am glad we are not expected to be super human because we have You within us. Rather we are ordinary people but with You, Lord extra-ordinary! Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6-7). We too still have very real emotions and feelings but can lean on, turn to, rely on, find in You strength and help in all situations when we ask.

But they were calling on You this time. Samuel made a sacrifice. A young perfect lamb. A symbol of the one perfect Lamb You would send that first Christmas. Jesus. And You, Lord sent the children of Israel a thunderstorm which dispersed and defeated their enemies. They did not have to fight. When Jesus died there was an earthquake (Matthew 28:2) and darkness over all the earth for three hours (Luke 23:44). The Israelites gained victory over their enemies. A small victory pointing to Jesus who would be victorious over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:57).

So Samuel raised an Ebenezer, a stone of remembrance. Also a stone to remind them of a victory where previously they were defeated. A reminder of the difference You made in their lives. We have the risen Lord to remind us of our victory. We may slip, or make mistakes, do our own thing but there is always a way back.in You, Jesus.

Worship Saturday 19th April 2025
You need to take 5 or 6 minutes and settle down with this worship.

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 God’s unchanging love!

Here I raise my Ebenezer;
hither by thy help I’m 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.

O to grace how great a debtor
daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, 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; O take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.

Above all else, I adore Your name
Above all else, tune my heart to sing Your praise
Above all else, I adore Your name
Above all else, tune my heart to sing Your praise

Above all else, I adore Your name
Above all else, tune my heart to sing Your praise, oh
Above all else, I adore Your name
Above all else, tune my heart to sing Your praise
The highest praise, the loudest praise
To the Name above every name

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
Repeat . . .

Lyrics: Robert Robinson additions by Shane Barnard