2 Corinthians 1:21-22 – Start The Day

“But it is God who establishes us together with you in Christ and who anointed us,who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NET

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV

God,

Who anoints us and seals us with with Your Holy Spirit. I want to start this day with praise and thanksgiving, even if I do not feel like it always? You remind me that whatever the day holds, or the week, or the month or even the year, You are not just available – You are with us, living in us.

We use all sorts of analogies about our faith – we walk with You (Colossians 2:6), You lead us like a Shepherd in paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3b), You call us to run the race (Hebrews 12:1). But here it is about being stationary, unmoving, on a secure foundation. Establishing You first, the rock on which we build everything else. We cannot build on the hope of heaven or the hope of sin forgiven or the hope that You love us. Or in the hope we will be alright. You establish us and enable us to stand first in the only safe place, in Christ. The guarantee was signed in blood and nothing can ever change or negate that. A done deed.

Thank You for the many ways You daily reassure us that we are secure in You. Thank You for the billions of like minded believers standing firm around the world together. Thank You that when we wobble You hold us firm. Today is a good day because of You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God our rock,

For our family and friends. Good health and glimpse Your life in creation.
For our church, Ministers, lay leaders, members. Bless our churches with all they need.
For the royal family. Healing and strength for those taking public and private commitments.
For our Parliament. Help them to serve this earthly kingdom.
For Ukraine, peace. A supernatural end to war. We look to You.
For Gaza, a way to live with neighbours, together in peace.
For Sudan, Myanmar, all other places of conflict and Military oppression. Bring them to the end to war. Speak Your peace to hard hearts.
For our local: police, hospitals, doctors, justice system, fire service . . .
For the Christians in countries where there is persecution, famine and poverty.
For the agencies providing medical treatment and aid in war zones.
For a day free of worry and stress and time to smile in Your company.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 27th April 2024
Calm praise and worship. Inspiration for song below lyrics.

You are beautiful beyond description,
Too marvellous for words,
Too wonderful for comprehension,
Like nothing ever seen or heard.
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description,
Majesty, enthroned above!

And I stand, I stand in awe of You!
I stand, I stand in awe of You!
Holy God, to whom all praise is due,
I stand in awe of You!

Lyrics: Mark Altrogge

Mark says he wished he had some jaw-dropping tale of being caught up to the third heaven and handed a scroll with the lyrics written in gold ink. Or driving in his car and having a flash of divine inspiration. No, ha says his song writing is a pedestrian and mundane process.

He had been reading The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul, The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer, and The Attributes of God by Stephen Charnock. He was amazed at God’s infinitely holiness. Infinite power. Infinite love. Infinite wisdom. Throughout eternity, those he redeems will never come to an end of seeing new vistas of his glory, majesty and beauty. So he thought he’d write a song about the wonder and glory of God’s infinite attributes. How hard could that be?! He began to scribble down what eventually became verse 1.

The first line pretty came early but he kept writing, rewriting, playing his guitar and singing the lines over and over, looking for the best melody. He wanted an appropriate response to be the chorus about standing in awe, in amazement, giving God all praise. After many hours of trying many variations he came up with the chorus.

“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 1:21,22 NKJ

Lord God, King of Kings,

How great Thou art. Great is thy faithfulness. Dear Lord and Father of mankind. Jesus, name above all names. Hymns that stir us to worship, help and enable us to praise you for your goodness towards us. You are God. You give good gifts, you light the way ahead, you comfort us, you wash our past with forgiveness and take away our shame. Hallelujah.

The news and newspapers are still full of the Coronation and anointing of Charles as King. And it reminds me that You. the King of Kings, have established me, us with all the other believers in Jesus Christ and anointed us. How wonderful it is to remember that we too had our own anointing moment when we asked You into our lives and You came by Your Spirit. We are part of another Kingdom and together with all the other subjects we are united as one. Millions of us! Sharing the same immeasurable love of God, the same priceless forgiveness, the same eternal hope.

It is the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead that dwells in us, all of us, uniting us. (Romans 8:11). Your Spirit in our hearts a guarantee from you to all of us! A guarantee of your love, presence and commitment. We are united in Your love and care. And a call to serve and love each other. What an assurance that gives us today and every day.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Lord God,

We bring our family , friends and church family to You for their needs and hearts desires. For their health and their safety and help in life’s situations.

We continue to plead for freedom from war for Ukraine and Russia. We continue to plead for freedom from warring factions within Sudan and good leadership to arise.

Our hearts go out to the villages in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and those close to the shore of Lake Kivu where there has been torrential rainfall and mudslides. Comfort those who mourn and grant that help and relief will get to those who have lost everything.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Tuesday 9th May 2023

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

In 1873, two close friends, Fanny Crosby and Phoebe Knapp gathered together and unexpectedly developed what we would refer to today as the song, “Blessed Assurance”, one working as the composer, the other as the writer.

Fanny was only two months old when she suffered from an eye infection, received improper treatment and was left mostly blind for the rest of her life. Only able to sense light and dark. Her father passed away when she was a baby, and her mother worked as a maid. Fanny’s grandmother raised her. She did not see Fanny’s inability to see as a disability, she read Scripture to her, so Fanny memorize passages by heart. Although memorizing Scripture was a huge part of Fanny’s early years, it wasn’t until 1850 (30 years of age) that she officially committed her life to Jesus Christ.