There is nothing to fear.
If you had understood God and the message of Jesus you would know -
there is nothing to fear
Sunday 22 February 2009
Wednesday 18 February 2009
Prayer for Cell Group
Isaiah 9 : 2 – 7 The Message
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
light! sunbursts of light!
You repopulated the nation,
you expanded its joy.
Oh, they're so glad in your presence!
Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration,
sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.
The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants—
all their whips and cudgels and curses—
Is gone, done away with, a deliverance
as surprising and sudden as Gideon's old victory over Midian.
The boots of all those invading troops,
along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,
Will be piled in a heap and burned,
a fire that will burn for days!
For a child has been born—for us!
the gift of a son—for us!
He'll take over
the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
Strong God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He'll rule from the historic David throne
over that promised kingdom.
He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing
and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living,
beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
will do all this.
Heavenly Father, thank you for these words and the great promise they hold. Father we pray for those who in their individual lives might feel as though they are in darkness, oppressed by their own thoughts and fears, feeling separated from the great light, warmth, joy of your love. May those who walk in darkness hear of your light, that it will kindle fresh hope within them and open them to hear from the Christ-light within, drawing them into communion with you and ushering in a new time in their lives, when their feet shall know the firm footing of truth and your righteousness, and your peace which transcends all understanding speaks directly to their hearts and minds.
We pray for our community, where many may be feeling under the threatening clouds of economic recession and all the doom-saying in the media. Help us to stay focused on your eternal promises, not swayed by the media but placing our trust in you. Help us to keep you in your rightful place at the centre of our lives, so that we stay anchored in the promises of your love, not blown about by the winds of change, but ready to reach out and offer the hand of love to our Christian brothers and sisters, that the love that we have for you may be reflected in our relationships within the family of Christ, drawing others to you by the warmth of our love. Help us to widen our circle of love to include all of your local followers, whichever denomination they belong to, remembering that we all belong to you through Christ, and realising how it will communicate with a divided world when people see true unity manifested amongst all followers of the way of Christ. As it says in Ephesians, help us reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
We pray for our nation, for insightful, honest, truth-seeking men and women who will humbly seek to serve in positions of leadership, courageously choosing the right path for our nation, Father, tuned in to your voice like the parable that we received from Jesus of the sheep knowing the Shepherd’s voice. Help us to support those leaders with prayer and with obedience, that their task may not sit heavy on their shoulders.
Father, we give you thanks for the sense of excitement, the thrill of hope and expectation as the world greeted Barack Obama as President of the United States of America. We thank you for all that he represents, and pray that as the Government is upon his shoulders, he is strengthened through your love to further your just cause in the States and wherever the States hold power in the rest of the world.
Finally, gracious Father, loving Lord, we praise and thank you once again that we are privileged to gather together and bring our prayers and petitions to you. May your grace be upon us in the coming week that all may see we triumph over our doubts and fears through the mighty victory of your love and peace at work within us and that our faith and hope rest in you, Almighty God, through your son Jesus.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
light! sunbursts of light!
You repopulated the nation,
you expanded its joy.
Oh, they're so glad in your presence!
Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration,
sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.
The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants—
all their whips and cudgels and curses—
Is gone, done away with, a deliverance
as surprising and sudden as Gideon's old victory over Midian.
The boots of all those invading troops,
along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,
Will be piled in a heap and burned,
a fire that will burn for days!
For a child has been born—for us!
the gift of a son—for us!
He'll take over
the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
Strong God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He'll rule from the historic David throne
over that promised kingdom.
He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing
and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living,
beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
will do all this.
Heavenly Father, thank you for these words and the great promise they hold. Father we pray for those who in their individual lives might feel as though they are in darkness, oppressed by their own thoughts and fears, feeling separated from the great light, warmth, joy of your love. May those who walk in darkness hear of your light, that it will kindle fresh hope within them and open them to hear from the Christ-light within, drawing them into communion with you and ushering in a new time in their lives, when their feet shall know the firm footing of truth and your righteousness, and your peace which transcends all understanding speaks directly to their hearts and minds.
We pray for our community, where many may be feeling under the threatening clouds of economic recession and all the doom-saying in the media. Help us to stay focused on your eternal promises, not swayed by the media but placing our trust in you. Help us to keep you in your rightful place at the centre of our lives, so that we stay anchored in the promises of your love, not blown about by the winds of change, but ready to reach out and offer the hand of love to our Christian brothers and sisters, that the love that we have for you may be reflected in our relationships within the family of Christ, drawing others to you by the warmth of our love. Help us to widen our circle of love to include all of your local followers, whichever denomination they belong to, remembering that we all belong to you through Christ, and realising how it will communicate with a divided world when people see true unity manifested amongst all followers of the way of Christ. As it says in Ephesians, help us reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
We pray for our nation, for insightful, honest, truth-seeking men and women who will humbly seek to serve in positions of leadership, courageously choosing the right path for our nation, Father, tuned in to your voice like the parable that we received from Jesus of the sheep knowing the Shepherd’s voice. Help us to support those leaders with prayer and with obedience, that their task may not sit heavy on their shoulders.
Father, we give you thanks for the sense of excitement, the thrill of hope and expectation as the world greeted Barack Obama as President of the United States of America. We thank you for all that he represents, and pray that as the Government is upon his shoulders, he is strengthened through your love to further your just cause in the States and wherever the States hold power in the rest of the world.
Finally, gracious Father, loving Lord, we praise and thank you once again that we are privileged to gather together and bring our prayers and petitions to you. May your grace be upon us in the coming week that all may see we triumph over our doubts and fears through the mighty victory of your love and peace at work within us and that our faith and hope rest in you, Almighty God, through your son Jesus.
Sunday 15 February 2009
Words during Worship
There were various words this morning: Sarah S_; Margaret (visitor); Sally R_; Rachel; Colleen; and a couple of guys each brought words. Peter W_ summed them up as 'We are complete in Christ'. Nigel speaking on Colossians referred back to the words during worship: Sally: 'focus on Jesus'; Rachel: 'be honest with God'; Sarah: 'get closer to Jesus - discover him'.
Sunday 1 February 2009
Words during Worship
Stuart read from Psalm 77.
Sally R_ spoke about a mental picture of a Russian Doll that had been broken and put back together. It had been glued very carefully, but the cracks still show. "Some of you are still feeling broken. You are redeemed. God has made you whole again".
Sally R_ spoke about a mental picture of a Russian Doll that had been broken and put back together. It had been glued very carefully, but the cracks still show. "Some of you are still feeling broken. You are redeemed. God has made you whole again".
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