He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will … neither slumber not sleep

Psalm 121: 3-4 NIV

He opened his arms
In a welcome embrace,
Stay close my child
As you run the race,
Surmount the obstacles
Over which you tread,
Trust in me,
I know the way ahead.

I will never leave you
I am always yours.
I never take my eyes off you
I’ll help you stay on course,
I adore you with a passion
And a heart that burns with love,
All I am I give you
My child, I am enough.

Loving God, we reflect on your gracious promises to us.  Thank you that you are our help and protection, our constant guide and companion who watches over us by night and by day. May we stay close to you and lead others towards you. For Jesus sake.  Amen.

Ruth Rushworth

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! For that is what we are!

1 John 3:1 NIV

He’d gone his own way,
He was down on his luck,
At the end of his tether,
With no way back up.

Then he remembered,
The light clearly dawned,
And taking his courage,
He turned to head home.

He had no expectation,
Of the welcome in store,
Hoping to be treated
as a servant, nothing more.

But his father was waiting,
And saw him arrive,
He ran to embrace him,
Exclaiming, my son! he is alive!

Weeping tears of great joy,
He ran through the town,
Dressed his son in great jewels,
In the finest linen gown!

With gladness and rejoicing,
He led his son home,
To the place he belonged,
And could call his own.

He threw a magnificent feast,
With no thought of the cost,
To celebrate the return,
Of the son who was lost.

Gracious God,  we reflect on the familiar story of the prodigal son returning home.*  The son knew he would be received by his father, but had not recognised the extent of the father’s love waiting for him, and the rapturous welcome and great rejoicing that would accompany his return home.

Loving God, we praise you and thank You for this illustration of your amazing goodness and love for each one of us. You love us because your very nature is love. We thank you for Jesus, who gave his life that we might be restored to you.  We pray for anyone you have placed on our hearts today.  May we open our lives more fully to your unconditional love and stay close to you in prayer, praise, trust and thankfulness, for Jesus sake. Amen

Ruth Rushworth

*(St Luke’s Gospel, chapter 15, verses 11-32)

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

Galatians 5:22 ESV

Gracious God, Jesus said, remain in me and you will bear much fruit, fruit that will last. (John 15:4-5)

Loving God, we praise you and thank you for the wonderful blessing of your fruit, produced by the working of your Holy Spirit in different seasons of our lives. We acknowledge and thank you that it is not the result of our own effort, but received through your goodness and loving-kindness to us through Jesus.

Gracious God we reflect with You on the fruit of your Spirit and thank you for your many blessings in our lives…….
May we love and support each other on life’s journey, and may we we stay close to Jesus, that we may bear fruit that will last, for the glory of your eternal kingdom. Amen.

Ruth Rushworth

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies.

Ps 36: 5 NIV

Gracious Lord, as we reach the mid point of January, we hear phrases such as “Blue Monday” and the “January blues”.  At times, like the weather, our lives are overcast, grey and cloudy, and we battle against driving rain and blustery winds. Gracious God, we remember that blue skies are above the clouds and that light does penetrate the gloom.

We take time to quieten our minds, slow our breathing, calm any anxious thoughts and be still before you…. We reflect on, praise you and thank you for your love and faithfulness towards us. We lift our eyes to you and share our worries, our concerns and our joys with You, gracious God. May the breath of your Holy Spirit fill us with your strength, your perspective and your peace.

We pray for anyone in need of encouragement, a kind word or a helping hand today.  May we share the love, encouragement and hope we have through our faith in Jesus with one another.  Amen.

Ruth Rushworth

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself is the rock eternal.

Isaiah 26: 3-4 NIVUK

Gracious God, we lift our gaze to the rock of Catbells and the majestic peaks of the mountains beyond and we praise you for your mighty power and strength. Thank you that you surround us on every side with your steadfast love.  Lift our gaze beyond circumstances, to the strength and beauty of your love, and to your presence and enabling in our lives.

As we look at the clear, still water, we thank you gracious God, that you bring calm and your peace as we face the storms of life.

As we reflect on your mighty strength, your peace and steadfast love, we pray for those you have laid on our heart.  We place our hand in the hand of Jesus and ask you to lead us safely through this day. Amen.

Ruth Rushworth

“…anyone in Christ is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.”

2 Cor 5:17 ESV

Creator God, we praise you that you are a God of new beginnings, a God of fresh starts, a God who wipes the slate clean and looks on us with love, tenderness and compassion.  A God who loves us unconditionally, just as we are, but also sees everything we can become. A God who clothes us in the righteousness of Jesus when we simply turn to Him. A God who is always ready to receive us, to listen, to guide and bless us.

Loving, gracious God, we praise and worship You for who You are.  We come to You today with an open and receptive heart……We come with our prayers for others and ourselves…… We come in the name of Jesus, who gave his all, so that we may have new life through him.

Ruth Rushworth

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises on you.

Isaiah 60:1 NIV

Gracious God,
Lord of all,
King of kings,
I thee adore.

Hold me close
To your beating heart,
Your love, your strength
To me impart.

Hold me close
To your perfect ways,
That I may follow
With joy and praise.

Gracious God,
Lord of all,
King of kings,
I thee adore.

Loving God, we praise you that you are goodness, love and light. We praise you for Jesus, the light of your love, with us today through the power of your Holy Spirit.

Thank you that you love us equally, personally, uniquely and perfectly, with a love too great to be measured and with a love that has no end.

Gracious God, at the start of this New Year, as we simply sit quietly with you, may we open ourselves to you, that we may absorb the light of your love.  As we reflect on whatever is on our minds and in our hearts, we ask that you would lead us forward in love, trust and praise, for the sake of Jesus, our Saviour. Amen.

Ruth Rushworth

For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty Saviour.  He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears.

Zephaniah 3:17 NLT

We breathe in your presence,
We breathe in your peace,
We are still before you,
We find out niche,
That space where we
Can listen and speak,
To you, loving God,
As we nestle at your feet.

Loving God, we praise you that you are among us by your Holy Spirit. Thank you that you take great delight in us and rejoice in us with gladness. Thank you that you calm our fears, so great is your love for us.

This season, whether we are alone, or with others, and in all our circumstances, may we be held in the peace, the joy, the hope and the love of Jesus our Saviour – Emmanuel, God with us. Amen.

Ruth Rushworth

For unto us a child is born…And his name will be called, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6, NKJV

We wait.
In the dark.
Unknowing.
Unseeing.
Unsure.
We trust.

The the light comes,
Encircling
Beauty
Brightness
Clarity
Peace.

Holding our attention,
Fixing our gaze
In breathless wonder
On love.
The love that came,
The love that dwelt among us,
The love that is,
The love that will come again.

The angels rejoice,
The heavens sing praise,
To Jesus, our Saviour,
The Ancient of Days,
God most high
Came from above,
To redeem our world
With grace, peace and love.

Hallelujah! let us sing,
Hallelujah! let us praise,
To Jesus our Saviour,
Our voices we raise.

Hallelujah! let us sing,
Hallelujah! let us praise,
Jesus our Saviour,
All of our days.

Gracious God, in the busyness of the day and the quietness of the night, we reflect on love; on the love that was born to both quiet worship and adoration in a stable, and to great rejoicing in the heavens.

God of love, mercy and peace, we thank you for Jesus. May we welcome Him into our hearts and lives afresh this Christmas.  Amen.

Ruth Rushworth

For Christ himself has brought peace to us.
Eph 2:14 NLT

Loving God,  we look at the trees, beautifully decorated, laden with light and colour.  They lift our spirits in these dark winter days and remind us of the approaching celebrations of Christmas and the birth of Jesus.

We lift our eyes to the cross, overlooking the snowy scene; it’s brightness overshadowing the light and colour, the arms of the cross fully extended to embrace it.

As we reflect on the scene, we praise you, gracious God, for the unsurpassed love of Jesus.  Everything was created through him and for him.  He is before and above all things and in Jesus, life has meaning and is held together.*  He is our peace, our hope our joy, our great reward.

Loving God, we praise you, we thank you for the gift of Jesus.  May the joy of this beautiful gift of life and love be lodged forever in our hearts. Amen.

Ruth Rushworth

* Based on  Col 1: 16-17

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

Thoughts on the verses from Proverbs: –

Walk this way,
Step out with me.
Hold my hand,
You’re safe, you’ll see.

Follow my way,
The path I tread,
It’s the way to life,
And the means to spread
A message of hope,
A note of love,
A word of encouragement,
Sent from above.

Let me take you,
Let me lead,
Let me provide,
For all you need.

Trust in me,
with all your heart,
I will show you,
how to play your part.

So do not worry, do not fear,
The Lord, your God is always near.
He loves you with a perfect love.
He will make your pathway straight
And lead you through the open gate….

Gracious God, as we reflect on the verses from the book of Proverbs, may we sense You speaking into our own situations, into our hearts and minds.

Loving God, as we step out today, may we remember to place our hands in yours, to trust You with our thoughts and our feelings. May we allow You to guide us in the right ways, for your love is steadfast, faithful and sure. Amen.

Ruth Rushworth

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:5 NLT

The light,
dances in the sky,
Sings praise
To God most high.

The light,
Shines above,
Warms our hearts,
Radiates love.

The light,
Speaks of
the eternal flame,
The light of the world,
Jesus, is his name.

Loving God, we praise you for the wonder and beauty of your creation.  We thank you for the reminder us of your loving presence with us.  We praise you that, no matter how things seem, the light of your love can never be extinguished.  Loving God, as we sit with you and talk with you, we draw our strength from you….

We bring before you the difficult situations and problems around the world and closer to home….. We praise you that no situation or person is beyond the reaches of your redemptive, healing love.

May the light of the inspiration, guidance and love of Jesus to shine brightly in our lives, that peace, justice and love would be in the hearts and minds of all peoples. Amen.

Ruth Rushworth