“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are following a different gospel— 7 not that there really is another gospel, but there are some who are disturbing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ. ” Galatians 1:6-7 NET
God, Alpha and Omega,
Who is and was and is to come (Revelation 1:8). Your never change, Your compassion does not fail (Lamentations 3:22). Your Son Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews13:8).
After the opening greetings this letter goes straight to the reason for writing! Whatever is being talked about to stick fast to the truth of the gospel that they have believed. Its all about Jesus. It reminds me of the verses in Isaiah,” You will hear a word spoken behind you, saying, This is the correct way, walk in it” (30:21). Its Your Word we need to tune into. You have provided clear directions from the garden of Eden to the present day to Your people. We have Your Word, Christ within us and Your Holy Spirit to teach, lead and to guide.
But we are human and fallible (capable of making mistakes or being wrong). It is what keeps us humble! So we ask You to help us. There are things we do not understand and do not have all the answers to. But we have Jesus and we know He is the Saviour. The rituals which remind us of You do not take Your place. Communion, baptism, christening etc. are beautiful but Christ is the way the truth and the life. There will always be those who mock, distain, think us foolish. But we can know the truth and the truth will set us free (John 8:32).
God, Alpha and Omega,
For our close family. Health and hearts..
For our extended family, friends, neighbours.
For our church fellowship, ministers and our denomination churches.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). World kings, dictators, leaders and rulers.
For our NHS and the mental health service. Future plans and investment.
For Ukraine. We persist in seeking You for an end to war.
For Gaza, all the Middle East. Solutions and long term peace.
For those who are needed to work nights.
For market gardeners and the harvest of local beautiful summer provision in this nation.
For children. Parents still working. Guardians and grandparents and those helping mind them.
For all the green places nearby where there is no traffic, fumes.
For us a good day whatever it holds. Busy or quiet a still mind with something to be thankful for.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 17th August 2024
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
Till 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
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
Keith Getty and Stuart Townend met in the autumn of 2000 at a worship event, and resolved to try to work together on some songs. A few weeks later Keith sent Stuart some melody ideas. He had written the melody for “In Christ Alone” on the back of an unpaid electricity bill. He put it aside and forgot about it, but later found the bill in his office, and recorded the melody. Getty sent the recording, along with some other hymn tunes, on a CD to Stuart who loved the first one a magnificent, haunting melody.
Stuart immediately started writing down some lyrical ideas on what he felt should be a timeless theme commensurate with the melody. So the theme of the life, death, resurrection of Christ, and the implications of that for us began to tumble out. When they got together later to fine tune it, it encapsulated what they wanted to say.
Stuart said, “The lyric [of this song] excites me because it places our hope, our assurance, our eternal destiny in the right place—on the solid foundation of Christ. I know in my own life I need reminding continually not to live by my feelings or my circumstances, but by the unchanging truth of the gospel.”