Author: admin

Wednesday 16th April 2025

“As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.” 15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” 17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” 18 She said, “May your servant find favour in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.” 1 Samuel 1:12-18 NIV

God of life,

The priest thought she was drunk. How embarrassing. But she did receive the answer to her prayer, though she did not have the experience of family life with him. Help us understand that answers to prayer are not always what we expect. Anna (Luke 2:36) was a widow in the Temple. I wonder how many times, when he was alive she prayed for a child? Yet she used her life to good and was rewarded with seeing Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus in the Temple.

Help us to hand over all our desires to You even with tears and then leave them there. Not wear them on our face and in our manner. And leave You to answer in the way that is best. thank you for the many answered prayers. Thank you that one day we will be able to ask You why some deep desires were not granted . . . or perhaps we will know and not need to . . .

Father Your compassion is unending and You do know what it is like to stand in our shoes. Help us with the deep things, the unanswerable things, the questions that have no answers. And help us to look to You and not be downcast but trust.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 16th April 2025
I don’t always understand but I can always sing of the goodness of God.

I love You, Lord
For Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I’ve been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

Cos all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In the darkest night
You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a Father
I’ve known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God (yeah)

Chorus

‘Cause Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now
I give You everything
‘Cause Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me (oh)
Repeat

Chorus x 2

Lyrics:  Jason David Ingram, Brian Johnson, Edmond Martin Cash, Benjamin David Fielding and Jenn Johnson

Tuesday 15th April 2025

“There was a man named Elkanah who lived in Ramah in the region of Zuph in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, of Ephraim. 2 Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not. 3 Each year Elkanah would travel to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies at the Tabernacle. The priests of the Lord at that time were the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas. 4 On the days Elkanah presented his sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and each of her children. 5 And though he loved Hannah, he would give her only one choice portion because the Lord had given her no children. 6 So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from having children. 7 Year after year it was the same, Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat. 8 “Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me isn’t that better than having ten sons?”” 1 Samuel 1:1-8 NLT

God of the barren years,

I think many of us have years when we pray and nothing happens or we have areas of our life than just seem disappointing. Or maybe others seem to lead more exciting lives. Hannah knew many years of weeping. And she took her weeping into Your presence when they went on annual pilgrimage to the Tabernacle. She had a husband who loved her. But sometimes counting our blessings doesn’t make us feel better.

Hannah went to the best place. To Your heart and poured out her heart. You will have Your way in Your time and in Your way. She got and answer to prayer but then gave up the child to serve You. She did not cling to him, keep him close or gloat about having a son. She gave what she most treasured back to You. Literally. And watched. She would have seen the important roll he grew into. Mothing was wasted. Her tears and yearnings. Her sacrifice as a mother. Her genericity in providing what he needed as he grew.

Help us to see when it is hard and dry that nothing is wasted from these times. You are with us in them. The Psalmist says, ” You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” (Psalm 56:8). Nothing is wasted in Your compassion.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 15th April 2025

You know my every need
You see my poverty
You are enough for me, Jesus
You gave the blind their sight
You raised the dead to life
You’ve done the same for me, Jesus

You are loving, You are wise
There is nothing in my life You cannot revive
You are loving, You are wise
There is nothing too hard for our God

Your word inside of me
My strength, my everything
My hope will always be Jesus
Your breath inside my lungs
You’re worthy of my trust
You will forever be, Jesus

Chorus

Nothing is wasted
You work all things for good
And nothing is wasted
Your promise remains
Forever You reign

Lyrics: Jason Ingram, Jason Gray and Douglas Mckelvey.

Monday 14th April 2025

“So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest.” Ruth 1:22 NLT
“So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the Lord enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son. 14 Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. 15 May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!” 16 Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. 17 The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.” Ruth 4:11-17 NLT

Father God and Lord,

How wonderful to get a break from all that sin and warfare in the book of Judges. Here in Ruth we find a book that shows how You bring Your plan to pass and how not even grief, trouble, and famine can stop it. Rather You work miraculously through them to bring Your future to pass.

So Naomi and Ruth end up back in Bethlehem. So that Boaz would marry Ruth and have baby Obed. Nami would be blessed with a grandchild. Then Obed would have a son Jesse. And Jesse would have at least eight sons. Samuel would then anoint David as King much to the surprise of Jessie and everyone as he was the youngest son. All these births at Bethlehem.

So when Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire everyone had to return to their own ancestral town to register. So Joseph and his espoused wife had to go to Bethlehem as he was a descendant of King David. (Luke 2). This then fulfilled the prophesy from Micah 5:2, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel

It took a widow, a Moabite woman and a barley growing bachelor, and generations later a Roman Emperor, to bring about the birth of the Saviour of the World at Bethlehem. You are the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Help us to play our part, in our time, in this incredible history.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 14th April 2025
His birth, death and resurrection are not confined to set seasons . . .

It was on a starry night
When the hills were bright
Earth lay sleeping, sleeping calm and still
Then in a cattle shed
In a manger bed
A boy was born, King of all the world

And all the angels sang for Him
The bells of heaven rang for Him
For a boy was born, King of all the world
And all the angels sang for Him
The bells of heaven rang for Him
For a boy was born, King of all the world

Soon the shepherds came that way
Where the baby lay
And were kneeling, kneeling by His side
And their hearts believed again
For the peace of men
For a boy was born, King of all the world

And all the angels sang for Him
The bells of heaven rang for Him
For a boy was born, King of all the world
And all the angels sang for Him
The bells of heaven rang for Him
For a boy was born, King of all the world

Lyrics: Major Joy Webb