Tag: In Christ alone my hope is found

Monday 17th March 2025

“Then Moses set apart three cities of refuge east of the Jordan River. 42 Anyone who killed another person unintentionally, without previous hostility, could flee there to live in safety. 43 These were the cities: Bezer on the wilderness plateau for the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead for the tribe of Gad; Golan in Bashan for the tribe of Manasseh.” Deuteronomy 4:41-43 NLT

God our refuge,

In Your instructions to Moses and the plans for the Promised land You included 12 cities of refuge. So they would be spaced among each tribes land and a distance anyone could reach. You did not cover over accidents and loss of control and murder. You gave places of refuge. Places of justice. Later the Psalmist would pen the Words “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1).

Today we do not have to run a half marathon to reach You. You are right here, where and when we need You. Which is always! But sometimes more than others! David sang, The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;  my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. (2 Samuel 22:2,3). When he was saved from Saul and his enemies. We too can praise You because You are our refuge, a place of safety. No longer condemned for our sin and safe in the knowledge a place is prepared for us with You in heaven (John 14:1-4).

And today if we need comfort, assurance forgiveness or direction, You are here for us. And we worship You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 17th March 2025

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
‘Til 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, 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

Lyrics: Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

Saturday 17th August 2024

 “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.”




Saturday 26th August 2023

“And so it shall be:
Instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench;
Instead of a sash, a rope;
Instead of well-set hair, baldness;
Instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth;
And branding instead of beauty.
Your men shall fall by the sword,
And your mighty in the war.
Her gates shall lament and mourn,
And she being desolate shall sit on the ground.” Isaiah 3:24-26 NKJV

Father and Lord,

This really is a pronouncement of more than just being told to sit on the naughty step! It touches every part of life. Belongings, health, personal and national safety. Not just because they sinned as a people and as a nation but because they continually, perpetually, through many generations of warnings, stubbornly went there own way.

We look at out world and see such godless, inhuman behaviour we wonder that we are not all bald, dressed in rags and desolate. It could be depressing, till we balance it with Your goodness. Then we remember that moment when Your way out of judgement arrived among us. Jesus. O Holy night. Your commitment to us and all who walk in Him. All those who are following, living for Him, with Him and in Him. All those who are praying for His return and yet praying many will be saved before He comes back.

Having You, God, on our side does not mean life will be a bowl of cherries. (I wonder where that saying comes from!). This world is a mess because of man’s sin and man’s greed. But now we have a choice through Your Son. We can be the sweet aroma of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15). We can have beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair (Isaiah 61:3). We have hope and life with Your blessing and not judgement.

In Jesus name we pray.

Father,

Bless and meet the needs of all those we pray for today. Those close and those estranged and those we worry about sometimes. Take from our souls the strain and stress – of those things that loiter in the back of our minds so we can have a good day.

We pray for those in Ukraine who did not want war or oppression and who are in despair. Grant them sight of the end of conflict. Step in O Lord and turn Russia around to peace in whatever way possible.

We pray for those nations who are in desperation due to bad leadership, ungodly domination and selfish greed of the few. Release them, change the politics and raise up men and women who will stay good and true.

Thank You for all the blessings we have. We pray that our Parliament will return with Your desires in their hearts and not their own agendas. Speak to them in their dreams and waking hours.

In Jesus name, we pray, amen.

Worship Saturday 26th August 2023
Just let the words wash over and encourage you.

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
‘Til 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

Written in 2002, “In Christ Alone” was a collaborative effort between Stuart Townend and fellow songwriter (and now good friend) Keith Getty. “The song came about in an unusual way,” Stuart explains. “Keith and I met in the autumn of 2000 at a worship event, and we resolved to try to work together on some songs. A few weeks later Keith sent some melody ideas, and the first one on the CD was a magnificent, haunting melody that I loved, and immediately started writing down some lyrical ideas on what I 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 just began to tumble out, and when we got together later on to fine tune it, we felt we had encapsulated what we wanted to say.”