Tag: When we all get to heaven

Wednesday 17th April 2024

“We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel . . .” Colossians 1:3-5 NKJV

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

As we walk through life we are so glad we do not walk alone. If we were in a country that persecuted Christians or lived in a remote place we would still have You but we would miss other people who also love You. The joy of knowing there are others who believe in You, like us, is so encouraging. Each of us have a different story of when and how You found us, or we found You – but all of us know You, the same God and Saviour and share the same faith and hope in the cross.

We share many things with our friends. What holidays were like, new recipe’s, how our family is doing, how work is going, how we feel . . . But when we can also share what Jesus is doing in our lives and when we share Your Word and Your promises and prayer there is a depth and so much more. We have a shared hope. A hope that is exactly the same for all of us who trust in Jesus. The same future in all its fulness laid up in heaven.

Thank You that we are not holding on alone. We are a body of people in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). Thank You for the encouragement of others. Both those we know and those we do not know but will one day. Thank You that we are in this together, safe in Your love.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Father,

For our family and friends. Those we know well, those maybe only a little. Help us pray with love.
For our neighbours and neighbourhood and all the good that happens day to day.
For our church, Ministers, lay leaders, members. That the church should grow with another generation.
For the royal family. For peace of mind, healing and family support and unity.
For our Parliament. To find harmony not animosity and work together for national good.
For our local dentists, GP’s, chiropodists and those in training. Those choosing their careers.
For families recently bereaved. For those who work in and those who support hospices.
For all the maternity wards, the staff and those due to give birth.
For Your people and Jerusalem. For Your wisdom and peace (Psalm 122:6).
For Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, all places of conflict. Bring an end to war. Speak peace to stubborn hearts. Bless the peacemakers.
For a good day, doing what needs to be done, good conversations and a good nights sleep.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 17th April 2024
An old chorus put to new verses. Such a lovely melody, I love the piano and positive words. All about Jesus . . .

One day You’ll make everything new, Jesus
One day You will bind every wound
The former things shall all pass away
No more tears
One day You’ll make sense of it all, Jesus
One day every question resolved
Every anxious thought left behind
No more fear

When we all get to heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus
We’ll sing and shout the victory

One day we will see face to face, Jesus
Is there a greater vision of grace
And in a moment, we shall be changed
On that day
And one day we’ll be free, free indeed, Jesus
One day all this struggle will cease
And we will see Your glory revealed
On that day

And when we all get to heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus
We’ll sing and shout the victory

Yes, one day we will see face to face, Jesus
Is there a greater vision of grace?
And in a moment, we shall be changed
In a moment, we shall be changed
In a moment, we shall be changed
On that day

When we all get to heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus
We’ll sing and shout the victory
We’ll sing and shout the victory

Lyrics: Verses Eliza E. Hewitt, Matt Redman, Beth Redman, Leonard Jarman (2017?)
Chorus E. E. Hewitt 1898

Tuesday 20st February 2024

 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2 NKJV

God our Father,

Beloved. Yes, we are Your beloved children. Sometimes it is hard to take in especially if we are not sure our earthly father loved us. From the moment we accept Christ into our lives we were adopted. We did not have to wait till we meet You face to face. Or pass a test. Or be good enough. You signed the agreement in Your Son’s blood. Done deed. But being adopted we do not have all the family likeness yet.

Here in the first letter of John, You remind us that we are not what we shall be. Saved believers are not perfect, are we? I can say that from personal experience but only about myself, we are not here to judge others!

We would love to be more and more like Christ. Hank You that You do not expect an immediate change to perfection overnight. Or to try so hard all the time we burn out! Your love patient, kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. It does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Help us and forgive us as we go, learning and hopefully improving along the way. Oh that we would not be stubborn or have to keep learning the same lessons over again! One day, yes one day when Jesus is revealed (John thought it would be soon), or we meet You at the end of our lives, we shall become like Christ. What a day of rejoicing that will be.

Keep us, heavenly Father, one step at a time, one day at a time, as Your beloved children, in Your love becoming more like Your Son.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God our Father,

For family, friends, neighbours, be with them and steer them the right, good and blessed way.
For our church family, ministers and all who serve, that they have good health: body, mind, soul.
For all the Royal family. Charles ongoing treatment. Kates full recovery.
For our local councillors and those who will be up for election.
For our government and MPs and their families. Raise up and bring down the right people.
For those who need healing in their bodies and from fear, trauma, bad memories.
For an end to the war in Ukraine. Change Russia to end their attack.
For Gaza an end to killing. Bombard them with Your peace and a way to negotiation..
For changes in Yemen, Myanmar, North Korea, Chine, Sudan, Syria and other countries where there is war, aggression, oppression, dictatorship, slavery.
For those who are in need of a vision of heaven and the life to come.
For schools trying to fit in all the education planned before the Easter break.
For us fresh eyes to see You and all the good things You have given us.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 20st February 2024
I could not decide so here is my dilemma. The first is an updated version of the original hymn which is below. Both lead me to worship. The first more thoughtful and the second lively and victorious. I pray one of them blesses you.

One day You’ll make everything new, Jesus
One day You will bind every wound
The former things shall all pass away
No more tears
One day You’ll make sense of it all, Jesus
One day every question resolved
Every anxious thought left behind
No more fear

When we all get to heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus
We’ll sing and shout the victory

One day we will see face to face, Jesus
Is there a greater vision of grace
And in a moment, we shall be changed
On that day
And one day we’ll be free, free indeed, Jesus
One day all this struggle will cease
And we will see Your glory revealed
On that day

And when we all get to heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus
We’ll sing and shout the victory

Yes, one day we will see face to face, Jesus
Is there a greater vision of grace?
And in a moment, we shall be changed
Yes, in a moment, we shall be changed
In a moment, we shall be changed
On that day

When we all get to heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus
We’ll sing and shout the victory
We’ll sing and shout the victory

Slightly different words spoken not sung on video . . .

We will weep no more
No more tears, no more shame
No more struggle, no more
Walking through the valley of the shadow
No cancer, no depression
Just the brightness of Your glory
Just the wonder of Your grace
Everything as it was meant to be
All of this will change
When we see You face to face
Jesus, face to face

Sing the wondrous love of Jesus
Sing His mercy and His grace
In the mansions bright and blessed
He’ll prepare for us a place

When we all get to heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus
We’ll sing and shout the victory

While we walk the pilgrim pathway
Clouds will overspread the sky
But when traveling days are over
Not a shadow, not a sigh

Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.

Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open;
We shall tread the streets of gold.

Saturday 2nd September 2023

“Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. 7 The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. 8 You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” 9 After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee. 10 But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view. 11 The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him. 12 There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He’s a good man,” but others said, “He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.”” John 7:6-12

God of Truth,

Jesus was You among us but He was also a man. It is reassuring to know that You through Jesus know exactly how I feel sometimes. I get frustrated and downhearted sometimes when I hear people saying detrimental things about Him and those who believe.

Yet here is Jesus getting His disciples to go so he could go later alone and unnoticed. Knowing He had to keep going till the time was right. Having to hear all the negative things said about Him. Being called just good man is bad enough but being labelled a fraud. Offensive, disappointing and hurtful?

Help me not to carry the responsibility of proving everything in the face of negativity but to simply give my testimony as Paul did. “For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Timothy 1:12). There will always be grumbling against You and arguing – but there will always be those who choose You. Keep our spirits up.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God of Truth,

We bring prayers for the needs of our family and friends. We bring prayers for our church to grow in faith and believers. We bring prayers for the family we long to see turning to You. We bring prayers for our community and our nation. For godliness, truth, compassion and giving to take precedence over sinfulness, lies, and selfishness. Thank You for all those who are living the best they can in their circumstances.

Move across Russia and into the lives of the military personal and speak an end to war. Lord let this conflict come to an end. Protect Your church in Ukraine and those who are trusting in You.

We pray for those who see only what might happen and dwell on what has and look to the darkness in everything. We pray You would lift up their faces to see Your light and Your hope and Your presence. Give the grumblers something good and the complainers reason to smile.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 2nd September 2023
This hymn never ceases to comfort, uplift and encourage me.

One day You’ll make everything new, Jesus
One day You will bind every wound
The former things shall all pass away
No more tears

One day You’ll make sense of it all, Jesus
One day every question resolved
Every anxious thought left behind
No more fear

When we all get to heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus
We’ll sing and shout the victory

One day we will see face to face, Jesus
Is there a greater vision of grace
And in a moment, we shall be changed
On that day
And one day we’ll be free, free indeed, Jesus
One day all this struggle will cease
And we will see Your glory revealed
On that day

Chorus Twice

One day, one day we’ll be singing loud

Yes, one day we will see face to face, Jesus
Is there a greater vision of grace?
And in a moment, we shall be changed
In a moment, we shall be changed
Yes in a moment, we shall be changed
On that day

Chorus

Yes we’ll sing, no more shame, no more struggle,
no more walking through the valley of the shadow,
no cancer, no depression, no more unanswered questions
We will see the glory of Your face
We will see Your glory one day
Lift Your eyes one day . . .