This is a page where we can compile our reflections from this prayer and fasting day. What struck you—a Bible verse? a song? poem? picture? a sense? an idea? Feel free to post in the comments below so others can see.
If there are things that you found helpful or resources you’d appreciate, post those too. Let’s support one another in this practice.
10 Comments
Margaret Parkins
An orchestral concert was planned for this afternoon in one of the churches in Leamington Spa, Holy Trinity, with the Beauchamp Sinfonietta. Sitting enjoying the lovely music I had such a clear “picture” of our church, or any church really.
Each group of musicians, strings, woodwind, brass and percussion etc. had a leader. I thought of these small groups, as part of the whole orchestra, likened to our small groups:
Gateway,
the Musicians,
the children’s work,
AYP,
Cameo,
Meet ‘n’ Eat,
Tuesday Together,
Shoeboxes,
Stir-up-Sunday,
the Light Party
each having a leader or two.
Then there was a wonderful soloist, I did think here of Kevin, our minister, called by God to be our Pastor, and often working “up front”. All individuals and their groups were all working together and producing beautiful sound.
BUT
all were looking towards the conductor who had chosen them for their place in the orchestra. In our church Our Lord God is in control and is using each member,
with gifts He can use, to produce music to draw in others who hear.
I have often pictured our church as a body, again with all the parts playing their particular role and being missed if not there, but, this afternoon it was the orchestra.
There may be others who are still to be called to join our “orchestra” at Castle Hill.
Helen Wylie Author
1. The verse – suffer little children to come unto me – this seemed to be a theme that started my day.
We are very privileged to have so many some children and families.
Do we need to do something to nurture them as they go to secondary school?
2. I had a repeating picture of a path being lite up as I moved along it.
The whole path I wasn’t able to see just the section I was moving along.
3. I prayed particularly about the buildings. Gerrard Street is a fantastic resource but we need to decide about what to do with it.
In the short term I think we need to try to use it more .
You are amazing at getting along side people and winning them to Christ.
I have been thinking alot about the ” mature” Christian who needs to be nurtured and grow. I kept thinking about the needs of plants?
I was wondering if Gerrard Street could be used again for a Church badminton or table tennis league?
I do feel we need Gerrard Street as a building but we need to think into plans – such as immediate action, 3 year and 10 year?
John Levick
I reflected on the first part of Jeremiah and like Amos it mostly covered the people turning away from God. God said to me that we are moving in the same direction as a society and country. We need to stay close to the Lord and continue to honour the covenant (now post the resurrection). But there were verses of encouragement for us if we stay close to the Lord:
Ch 11 v 4:
Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God.
Ch 11 v 7 & 8:
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
Ch 23 v 5-6
The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will raise up for David[a] a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
and do what is just and right in the land.
6 In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
The Lord Our Righteous Saviour.
Ch 24 4 to 7 – The Lord will look after the good, but it might be through tough times
Then the word of the Lord came to me: 5 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.[b] 6 My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. 7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.
Ch 29 10 to 14 – God’s plans are long term – perhaps into future generations
This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfil my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.[b] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Ch 31 v1
I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.
Ch 31 31 to 34
The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to[d] them,[e]”
declares the Lord.
33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
34 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”
Every blessing
John
Joyce
It was wonderful to “have permission” to spend longer times with the Lord through the day. Like a feast of 365’s! So glad we have another day of prayer and fasting lined up already.
I was reminded many times that we were supposed to be “seeking God, Himself” rather than answers eg to who He will raise up as Deacons, workers in Home from Home or where we’re going as a church. As we know Him better we will see the answers, He will bring them about.
Below are words from a couple of songs from a lyric video Don Moen put out a few days ago which I found so right for yesterday, also the link in case the words really spead to anyone.
Lovely are Your dwelling places
Thirsty, I come after You
Jesus my joy, my reward
Your love’s restoring my soul
Now I’m Yours and You are mine
And from my heart a song will rise
I love You, I love You, I love You x2
I love You, Iove You, I love You
and my heart will follow wholly after you
Jesus there is none beside You
You’re righteous ruler of the earth
Nations will come and bow down
Name over all names
I sing Your praises
and all that I can say to You is:
I love You,I love You, I love You
and my heart will follow wholly only after you
I love You, I Iove You, I love You
and my heart will follow wholly only after you
I love You, I love You, I love You
and my heart will follow wholly only after you
I love You,Iove You, I love You
and my heart will follow wholly after you
I love You, love You, I love You and my heart will follow wholly after you
And my heart will follow wholly after You x2
O God of Abraham
You are the great I AM
And you can do anything oh anything
O God of Sovereign words
You spoke the universe
And you can do anything
You can do anything
O God of Israel
You are Emmanuel
You are in everything
In everything
O God of deity
You reign in majesty
And you can do anything oh anything
There is none like You x2
Who was and is and is to come
Oh there is none like You
O God of grace divine
Your love has made me Thine
And You are my everything, my everything
O God of ancient praise
Be glorified today
As we give You everything
There i s none like You x2
Who was and is to come
Oh there is none like You
O God of all my prayers
I know you’re always there
And you can do anything
Anything
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1ixKobZ__I
Maureen
Reflections on Matthew 7:7-12
Ask- request- beg – implore- entreat.
ASK is perfunctory- REQUEST is polite –
BEG is desperate – IMPLORE&ENTREAT are heartfelt. God hears all sorts of asking, but he says,’ It will be given you.'(just ask) In the parable of the persistent woman, Jesus tells us to keep on asking. The woman who kept asking got results.
SEEK – look for- search – all suggest there is something to be found. What are we looking for? God’s plan for us as individuals and as a church. In Jeremiah 29 and verse 11, God says,’ For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. And in verse 14 – ‘I will be found by you.’
KNOCK and the door will be opened to you.
What is behind the door we are knocking on as a church?
Is there only one door that God will open for us?
How are we knocking on the door? Have we already made up our mind what is behind that door? There is assurance that the door WILL be opened. We know that when God answers it will be for our good, not to harm us.
We are asking how He wants us to be a beacon of hope to Warwick and around.
God brought to mind activities that are bringing hope to our community. Baby Basics, Meet and Eat, Gateway, Cameo, Crossteach, Foodbank, Stir up Sunday, The Light Party, Shoeboxes.
How can I support these?
Pray Give time Give
Margo Skillicorn
Reflecting on Matthew 7:11, “If then being evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children” etc, I came across this poem by Helen Steiner Rice entitled “Beyond our asking”…..
More than hearts can imagine or minds comprehend
God’s beautiful gifts are ours without end –
We ask for a cupful when the vast sea is ours
We pick a small rosebud from a Garden of flowers
We reach for a sunbeam but the sun still abides
We draw one short breath but there’s air on all sides.
Whatever we ask for falls short of God’s giving…..for His greatness exceeds every facet of living
And always God’s ready and eager and willing
To pour out His mercy completely fulfilling ALL of man’s needs for peace, joy and rest
For God gives His children whatever is best
let’s give Him a chance to open His treasures
And He’ll fill your life with unfathomable pleasures
Pleasures that never grow worn out and faded –
For God has a “Storehouse”;just filled to the brim….with ALL that man needs
IF we’ll only ask Him.
May GOD help us all to “Ask” expectantly
Keeva
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
To see You high and lifted up
Shinin’ in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy,
I want to see you
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy,
I want to see you
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy,
I want to see you
Kevin Johnson Author
Matt 7:7 – How do you know which door to knock on? If it’s wrong, the door may not open or we won’t know the person inside. (William)
Matt 7:7 – Hide and seek involves clues, to help you find where the person’s hiding. When we seek Jesus, he gives clues where he wants you to go in life. We find these in dreams, visions, the Bible, listening to your Sunday School teachers, praying. (M.J.)
J
Psalm1v17 My sacrifice is a huge.ble spirit, O God;
You will not reject a humble and repe ntant heart.