Daily Share-a-Prayer w/e 05/05/2024
Derek Mill
Worship Leader, All Saints Church, Belton
Sunday 5th May
Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing me this far! And having brought me this far I know You will not abandon me now, but that You WILL complete the work You have started in me
There are things You want me to do, things You have allotted to me. There are people You want me to see and speak to. There are words You want me to speak and there are people who need to hear them. You do not send me on my own, for You go with me. I do not go in my own name; no one is saved by my name. It is Your Name and Your Name only that saves
Throughout my life You have been faithful and have provided everything I have needed. Thank You for training me and equipping me. Thank You for building my faith, my trust in You, in Jesus. Help me to be sure to be sure! "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for"
Though I am young, in my head and heart if not in my body, help me to have an ancient faith. Remove any and all doubts so I do have confidence in what I hope for and assurance about what I do not see
St Paul reassures me: "My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus". Paul's God is my God. The ‘ancients’ God is my God. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever". What You did yesterday You can do today. And when the time comes I know You will bring me home
Amen
Songs for today:
Goodness of God
God Will Provide
Yesterday Today and Forever
I Will Bring You Home
Saturday 4th May
Heavenly Father, sometimes words aren't needed to express how we feel. Sometimes words aren't enough! When we see or hear something beautiful we might simply gasp, or tears come to our eyes, or perhaps we just shake our head, almost in disbelief, that we have been blessed by such a moment
Such a moment happened for me a day or so ago when my grandson, now three weeks old smiled at me. My sister said it was probably wind, but the fact is he smiled, whatever the reason, he smiled. And it was beautiful
Thank You, Lord, for such moments. "Wow" is often as far as we get, if we do say anything. That moment will stay with me until I see him again. Thank You for blessing us with such beautiful sounds and sights
One of Your greatest gifts to us is music. I know You love music as there is music in Heaven! When John met with Jesus in Heaven he tells us in Revelation, "I heard a sound from Heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne..."
Music and singing are just one of the many ways we can worship. Mary said, or sang, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed"
Thank You for the many ways You inspire us in words and music. However we are inspired, help us to keep You at the centre, as all good gifts come from You
Amen
Songs and music for today:
There's a Sound on the Wind
Scarborough Fair - instrumental
This Old Guitar - John Denver
Greensleeves - instrumental
Sing a Song of Celebration
Here is Love Vast as the Ocean - The King's harpists
Friday 3rd May
Lord Jesus, thank You for the warnings You gave: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognise them... False messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect"
There are some who ask us to give them money, who live their lives in luxury, flying in private jets, having luxurious cars; using the money donated to them. There is no record of You asking for anything for Your ministry. In fact You said, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head"
I know You do not begrudge Your ministers earning their keep. The Bible tells us, "The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching... For Scripture says, 'The worker deserves his wages'"
The apostle Paul saw that some people, even in the early church, had lost their way, lost 'The Way!' "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all... But even if we or an angel from Heaven should preach a Gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse"
Help us to be alert, vigilant, discerning. We are advised, "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good". Lord, keep me on the straight and narrow. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
Lord Release My Mouth
There is One Name
Only One Name
Send Me Out From Here Lord
Thursday 2nd May
Heavenly Father, thank You for love. Thank You for Your love. There are so many ways that love can be expressed, a simple smile or an incredible sacrifice, both expressing love. A simple tune or a full arrangement of that tune, both played or sung, with love in the heart
Thank You that we are created to love and to be loved. We are created to love You and we are created to love one another. When asked about the greatest commandment Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength”. The second is this: “Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these"
If there is one thing we can all do it is to love You and to love others. We don't need a degree or any other qualifications. We don't need great abilities or gifts. We don't need to be talented in love, but we do need to be reminded to love, trained in love, because, although You have created us to love, our sinful nature, our selfishness, means our love can become tainted
When a baby looks into his or her mother's eyes, it is love. When a dad walks along holding their child's hand, or picks them up to hold them, it is love. When a dog runs to greet its master, it is love!
Thank You for loving us so much You died for us. Help me to love as You do. I need You to fill me with Your love in order to do this. My love is tarnished but Your love is pure, untainted. Every time I open my mouth to speak, remind me to love. Every time I respond, remind me to love. It is Your Way
Amen
Songs and music for today:
Lord I Need You
The Love of God
Wild Mountain Thyme - 1842 Guitar
Wild Mountain Thyme - sung
Here Is Love Vast As the Ocean
Wednesday 1st May
Heavenly Father, I know there are many gifted and talented people in the world. I know that there always have been and always will be. I am well aware that as I watch and listen to various musicians I will never be anywhere near their level of performance, no matter how long I practice
I see their fingers flashing across the piano keyboard, the violin fingerboard, the guitar fretboard, or even the descant recorder and I see and hear music I will never be able to play. So, what is my reaction? Do I throw my hands in the air and give up? Do I cry out, "It's not fair! There's no justice!" Do I plan revenge? Or do I simply marvel and give thanks to You for blessing each one with such gifts that I can enjoy as I watch and listen? And also give thanks that I can plod on, making slow progress, doing something today that I could not do a few weeks ago
One thing I can do is come to You and worship! I can play a few chords on a piano or guitar and use my voice to sing Your praises. It will not be incredible, it may not even be perfect, but it will come from my heart and will be a sweet sound to Your ears
Jesus did not say we need to come to You as a genius or a virtuoso, He said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven". Unless the genius, the virtuoso, and I become like a little child we will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven
Thank You that I do not have to be brilliant, I just need to give myself to You, and I will "soar on wings like eagles"; I will "run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint". Thank You
Amen
Music and songs for today:
I Love You Lord and I Lift My Voice
Bach's Toccata on guitar
By Your Side I Would Stay
Concierto de Aranjuez - Solo guitar
The Power of Your Love
Tuesday 30th April
Heavenly Father, it is easy to be critical. Of other people. Of councils. Of governments. Of church. Of church leaders. It is not so easy to offer good advice. Sound judgement. True wisdom
In Your Word, James offers this advice: "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires"
Help me Lord, to be a good listener, to other people and to You. It is easy to but in with my ideas before I heard what others have to say. It is easy to but in before I have heard what You have to say! How do I become wise? Again, James offers this advice: "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you"
It is not always easy to hear Your voice amongst all the others trying to get my attention, which may be one reason why we need to be quick to listen and slow to speak. I can rest in this assurance: "The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and rich in love... The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in Truth"
Thank You that I can call on You and that You are near
Thank You that I can rely on Your grace and compassion
Thank You that You provide everything I need
"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness". If I have anything to say, may it be guided by You, by Your Word, and may it always be constructive and not critical
Amen
Songs for today:
I'm Listening
Open Our Eyes Lord
Monday 29th April
Heavenly Father, sometimes it is hard to trust You. When a storm is raging, or there is a mountain to climb, or the way forward is not clear it is hard to let go of everything and trust that You are in control
Jesus said: “In this life you will have trouble" but then said, "But take heart! I have overcome the world". Peter wrote that, as Christians, we may face a fiery ordeal, suffering, and insults but that when we do we should rejoice, be overjoyed, because we are blessed
Lord Jesus, I am not sure that I suffer much because of my faith in You. I know there are many places where Christians suffer terribly because they trust in Your Name. Many are persecuted, attacked, their homes and businesses destroyed, even suffering torture and death because of their faith. Where I live I have a peaceful existence.
I have troubles, and plenty of them, but none of them because I love You or trust in You. My troubles are simply because I live in a broken world where things go wrong and things break down. I live in a world where people go wrong and people break down; where I break down. However, most of the time whenever I break down I can see a doctor who will give me whatever I need to recover. I can't change who I am or where I am, but I know that at some point I will break down and the doctors won't be able to fix me
Thank You that I can trust You today and every day so that when my ‘fiery ordeal’ comes I will be safe in Your hands; and that when death comes I will meet with You face-to-face
Amen
Songs for today:
Trust in God
Let Go And Let God
I'm Accepted
all songs (usually with lyrics) and talks courtesy of YouTube
|
