Goodness of God – Page 2

Thursday 4th July 2024

For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. ⁹Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. ¹⁰Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” John 4:8-10 NKJV

Father God,

I linger here along with this woman by this well, not just because this shows that Jesus cared and gave one woman his whole attention. But because Your Son did not follow the social rules of the day. Your Son spoke to her with respect, honesty and without judgement. He knew she would be there at that time. It was not chance or coincidence. Your Son was the foreigner in her land and yet he broke down the barriers to show that the Kingdom of God is open to all regardless of where we were born, their gender, life experience or religious background..

It was the beginning of the disciples seeing and understanding that You, our God so loves every person in the world. Not just those born into the nation of Israel. This ordinary woman then becomes Your spokesperson to the Samaritans! A woman in her fifth relationship after 4 husbands! Many of the Samaritans believed in Your Son because of her testimony (John 4:39). She begins to widen the diversity of the early Christian community and the discipleship of women.

Help me to see the world as You see it. The opportunity to reach one person at a time regardless of who they are, where they come from and what they believed previously. You meet us just where we are, as we are. You have no prejudice and no preconceived ideas. You just see a person needing Your Son and His life. She listened and heard. Point us to those who need to hear, will listen and accept life.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Father God,

For our family, friends, neighbours. Meet them where they are and bless them with Your real life.
For our Ministers, lay leaders, church members. Give opportunities to share the good news.
We pray for kings and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). Charles family. Princess Anne.
For the general election and the best for this nation.
For France and their political situation.
For Paris and athletes preparing for the 2024 Olympics, starting July 26th 2024.
For Christians preparing to serve at the Olympics ready to pray or share their faith.
For Gaza, and the Middle East. Peace and the best future for all.
For Ukraine, an end to war. We continue to ask for a miracle from You.
For our local communities and all who keep them running smoothly and safely.
For our nations health and well being as Covid continues to appear.
For those who ensure we have clean safe water.
For a change in attitude and behaviour of those who pollute our rivers and coast.
For those who dig wells overseas and provide villages with local clean water pumps.
For us where ever we find ourselves to know You are encouraging us and giving us refreshment at Your well of life.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 4th July 2024
This song reflects how good God has been to me since I first met Him at the well.

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

And 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

And 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

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 keeps running after me

‘Cause 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’m gonna sing of the goodness of God
Oh, I’m gonna sing of the goodness of God

Lyrics: Ed Cash, Ben Fielding, Jason Ingram, Brian Johnson and Jenn Johnson.

Tuesday 14th November 2023

“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. ²⁵What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? ²⁶Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:23-26 NIV

Father of Glory,

I wonder! Nobody today likes to talk about denying themselves anything. New years resolutions are quickly forgotten and lent is not really a time of denial anymore. Or am I being too cynical Lord? You gave up Your only Son to Your cruel creation. Jesus called His disciples to do likewise, deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow Him. I wonder if they wondered why he was talking about crucifixion, the horrendous death for criminals! It must have hit home after Jesus was crucified, dead and buried.

He called them to take up their cross after he told them He must be rejected by the religious leaders and be put to death (Luke 9:22). Perhaps they did not dare ask to many questions.

I thank You that I do not have to literal take up my cross and become a martyr. Many are put to death for their faith in parts of the world today. And we wonder why Your people, who are called to love, are hated so, but then You were too (John 15:18). Following You does mean dying to self. Not ourselves, but the selfish self. All the things that would harm us. Worshipping anything else but You. Over indulging. Immorality. Lying. Jealousy. Malice. Pride. Thinking too much of ourself or not loving ourself.

It is a challenge sometimes, but it is the safest, best, right and most joyful way. Help us one day at a time, one step at a time, to die to self direction and follow You, in Your strength.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Father of Glory,

We pray,
For all our family, friends, neighbours, and our church family. For each ones need, dreams, hopes and strength for today. We give thanks for answered prayers.
For ministers, pastors, congregations and all that is done by those belonging to churches to support, help and bless their local communities.
For our Government, that You would guide and reform it, for the good of the nation.
For our King and Queen and those who work for the best future for our nation.
For Gaza and the Middle East, Lord a miracle of peace.
For Putin and Ukraine. An end to this conflict.
For those in the midst of conflict, whose share their faith, to see people choose Christ Jesus.
For those who suffer for their faith, risk loosing their lives and for the families of those who are left behind. For those in the worst places for persecution: North Korea , Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya, Pakistan, Eritrea, Yemen, Iran, Nigeria, India.
For countries where Your people face the most violence. Pakistan, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Cameroon, Central African Republic, India, Mali, South Sudan, Ethiopia.
For ourselves, that we would appreciate the freedom we have to follow You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 14th November 2023
Yes, a hymn I choose again because it says just what I want to say in worship.

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

And 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

And 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

‘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

‘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 keeps running after me

And 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’m gonna sing of the goodness of God

Lyrics: Ed Cash, Ben Fielding, Jason Ingram, Brian Johnson and Jenn Johnson.

Tuesday 15th August 2023

“These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: ¹⁷And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord. ¹⁸And the word of the Lord of hosts came unto me, saying, ¹⁹Thus saith the Lord of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.” Zechariah 8:16-19 KJV

God of cheerful feasts,

Father, Your people had so many fasts and feasts in order that they should remember what You had done. Some You had ordained some but they had added their own and many were about abstaining from cheerfulness and pleasure. To remind them of their sin.

But here in Zechariah’s book, which points to the future and the promise of good to come. He says cheerfulness should now be part of the feast days. Why? I suppose it is the same for us today. We can look back and see what sinful man has done and what we have done and repent. But we cannot live looking in the rear mirror.

We need to look forward with cheerfulness because of Your constant provision. In the Old Testament You constantly provided even when Your people sinned. You were faithful. They worshiped a golden calf, causing Moses to smash the tablets of stone and rebelled every step of the way out of Egypt. But their children inherited the promised land. They refused to take the land when 10 of the 12 spies said there were giants they could not beat. But the next generation did.

We do not need dates in the diary to remember You. Though we do have Easter, Pentecost and Christmas. You are alive and cheerfully living in us every day by Your Holy Spirit. Lift our spirits by Yours Lord that we may smile and be cheerful on the inside and the outside.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God,

We do smile when we think of those in our family and those we are friends with and those we are part of a congregation with. Thank You. For those we cannot think cheerfully about where there has been disagreement or separation, we pray You will change the situation for good. We do not always know the depth of others family pain but we can ask You to step in and bring healing.

We continue to pray without ceasing for Ukraine and a turning from war by Russia. We continue to pray for those affected by fires in Hawaii and Greece and those fearing more trouble from the extremes of the weather.

Bless our churches with cheerfulness so they become attractive places drawing new people in. Places where they are welcome, whoever they are, whatever their background.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 15th August 2023
God running to give us HIs goodness – how can we not smile. He has never let me down, people have but bless them.. Try it. Does the chorus make You smile?

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

And 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

And all my life You have been faithful (oh)
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

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
Repeat

And 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’m gonna sing of the goodness of God
Oh, I’m gonna sing of the goodness of God

Lyrics: Jason Ingram / Brian Johnson / Ed Cash / Ben Fielding / Jenn Johnson