Tag: You are beautiful beyond description

Monday 28th October 2024

“Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. 8 So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more. 10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.” Proverbs 9:7-10 NLT

Lord God,

Seems the wise know they still need to learn and be teachable. Am I still keen to learn? Nothing worse than a know all. Do I need to learn when to keep my mouth shut? When I think about Solomon I am sad that at the end of his life his foolishness in having many wives led him astray. He started so well with You. The Psalmist gives us the key. The fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Perhaps Solomon feared his many wives and grew lax in his respect and fear of You Lord.

Keep us from complacency and teachable. But fear of You, Lord? We could not function if we were terrified of You. But then the word for fear used here is not terror. It is more about awe and respect. You, Lord who came and gave Your life for us , You we can respect and take advice form.

Help us to understand what holding You in awe and as our God and King means. So we can build our lives on and in Your wisdom. Teachable and not distracted or led astray by many other things.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Lord God,

For our family, friends, neighbours, those we promised to pray for.
For our fellowship, ministers and congregations.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2).
For our Government. Lords and commons. Civil Servants. Local councillors
For Ukraine and Russia. For Israel, Lebanon, the Middle East.
For those who have polluted the land and water to want to strive to put it right.
For teachers and school staff to flourish and have Your wisdom to pass on to young minds.
For those struggling to be faithful in their marriages. Lead them away from temptation.
For us to not take You, Lord for granted or Your blessings or Your faithfulness.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Monday 28th October 2024

You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous 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



Sunday 7th July 2024

“He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.
12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? 13 Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counsellor has taught Him? 14 With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, and showed Him the way of understanding?” Isaiah 40:11-14 NKJV

God,

You have measured the waters with one hand. And measured the heavens – and we mortals do not even know how deep the deepest oceans are or how far the stars go! And You do and have calculated the dust of the earth in one measure even when it is being shifted about constantly by erosion, rain and every gust of wind. You know everything even the constantly changing. You cannot be fashioned into an image because You are not like anything made or known. You are beyond our imagination unseen and unknown – and it could have stayed that way.

But You came like a Shepherd to care for Your flock. Those You would purchase at great price to Yourself. And Your disciples followed You as we still do today. And You still gather us into Your arms and carry us when we need help. And You gently lead us, if we are willing, and are not foolish enough to think we know better.

How immense You are, God, but how intimate in compassionate and caring. You are the one who created us in our mothers womb. Help us learn to trust You and remember You are a gentle Shepherd but also a mighty and able God.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God of eternity,

For our family, friends, neighbours. Help them and help us share Your love.
For our Ministers, lay leaders, church members. Supply them with all they need.
We pray for kings and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). Charles, Kate and Anne.
For the new Government to find its feet and desire to work in unity for good.
For Paris and athletes preparing for the 2024 Olympics, starting July 26th 2024.
For the Christians volunteering to serve at the Olympics ready to pray or share their faith.
For Gaza, and the Middle East. Peace to be made and kept, the best way forward for all.
For Ukraine, an end to war. We continue to ask for a miracle from You.
For Afghanistan, women, children and those who have no freedom. The underground church.
For the church worldwide -small and large. City and village.
For those who care for the Your lambs in Sunday schools and messy church.
For those who are blaming You for their situation and have turned away.
For gratitude for a summer day. Wet or dry! For light and life and the love of the Good Shepherd.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 7th July 2024

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

You are beautiful beyond description
Yet God crushed You for my sin
In agony and deep affliction
Cut off that I might enter in
Who can grasp such tender compassion?
Who can fathom this mercy so free?
You are beautiful beyond description
Lamb of God who died for me

Lyrics: Mark Altrogge

Saturday 27th April 2024

“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.