Joy to the world

Joy to the world, the Lord has come,
Let earth receive her king.
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing.

Jesus loves you unconditionally without question and for all eternity.
This Christmas make room for him.

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year

"He moved into the neighbourhood."John 1 "In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God."

Jesus came do that we could enter into a right relationship with God. He lived as a human , so he could understand what we have to face everyday.

This advent season put Jesus first, at the centre of everything.

What can I give him, poor as I am,

If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb.

If I were a wise man, I would do my part.

Yet what I can I give him, give him my heart.

Spiritural Gifts

Each one of us is different , a unique mix of individual abilities, given by God.

When used together, each of us working together, then we will see God bring his kingdom into our community in a mighty way.

Do a spiritual gifts questionnaire to find out which gifts God has given you and then along with others work out your place in his kingdom. If you need help then we would love to help you discover your gifts.

"And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

'Let us go up to the house of the Lord.' Psalm 122:1

Here is a list of excuses not to wash,

I'm too tired.

I'm too busy.

I'm too clean.

I've ran out of soap.

I'm allergic to water.

I can't swim.

I have not got any time.

I have to be somewhere.

I want to chat to my friends.

What excuse are you giving God for not spending time with him today?

I hope that he has the priority in your life.

That he gets first place.

Have a God filled, blest weekend.

For such a time as this!

This week we are looking at God's call on our lives, praying really hard that each one of us is brave enough to be the people God has called us to be.

It's a verse from the book of Esther we are focusing on Esther 4:14, "For such a time as this."

Help each one of us to be brave, bold, focused and we will continue to see glimpses of the kingdom of God just where we are!

Sunday 23rd OCtober 2011

From the breaking of the dawn to the setting of the sun
I will stand on every promise of Your Word
Words of power strong to save that will never pass away
I will stand on every promise of Your word
For Your covenant is sure
And on this I am secure
I can stand on ev'ry promise of Your word

When I stumble and I sin condemnation pressing in
I will stand on ev'ry promise of Your word
You are faithful to forgive that in freedom I might live
So I stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word
Guilt to innocence restored
You remember sins no more
So I'll stand on ev'ry promise of your word

When I'm faced with anguished choice, I will listen for Your voice
And I'll stand on every promise of Your word
Through this dark and troubled land
You will guide me with Your hand
As I stand on ev'ry promise of Your word
And You've promised to complete
Ev'ry work begun in me
So I'll stand on ev'ry promise of Your word

Hope that lifts me from despair, love that casts out ev'ry fear
As I stand on every promise of Your word
Not forsaken not alone for the Comforter has come
And I stand on ev'ry promise of Your word
Grace sufficient grace for me
Grace for all who will believe
We will stand on ev'ry promise of Your word

(Stuart Townsend)

Psalm 121
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and
going both now and forevermore.

Look at all the promises within the above psalm.

We are not told that life will be easy;

we are not promised that life will never be difficult.

What we are promised is that we will never be alone;

the Holy Spirit will empower us and

hold on to us in all things and through all things.

11th October

1 Thessalonians 2:8
" so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well."
I just love this verse, we are away for a few days, so if you call in, please be good to the people who are at the hall. Buy them a coffee and have a chat.

Remember that Jesus loves you and so do we.
With love

30th September 2011

Pame did it!

She sat for eight hours in total silence.

1 Thessalonians 2:8
" so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well."

Come and worship with us and share our lives om a Sunday at 11am and 7pm

we are His children

He is the dad you have alwasy hoped for and you are the child he has always wanted!

John 12:32 "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."

Live so that other people will see Jesus in your life and get to know him too.

14th September 2011

In John 20:21, Jesus made an important statement, “Just as the father sent me, so I send you.”
We are being sent into the world just as Christ was sent into the world, we are to do as he did, the works he did, live the life he lived, to have the same sense of purpose he had, to pray the prayers he prayed, to see the results he and the first disciples saw, “and the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.” We need to believe it, pray for it, live in the reality of it, Jesus believes in his church, he believes in building his kingdom, he believes in seeing lives changed, communities transformed. We as the followers are Jesus are invited to be part of God’s amazing rescue plan for mankind.

September 3rd

This week, we had fun being community with the people who pass by the hall.

In Acts 2, we are told that the "Lord added daily those who were being saved."

We can only hope to see people get to know Jesus when we get to know the people around us and share our lives with them. The kingdom of Jesus is bigger than anything we imagine and we the people who are already citizens of it, can help other people to experience a glimpse of it as we live together in this amazing world..

“Simon Peter said to them, I am going out to fish.”

John 21:3
“Simon Peter said to them, I am going out to fish.”

Simon was a fisherman when he met Jesus that was the life he knew. Peter would have felt safe fishing, he would have known what to expect. When Peter decided to go fishing that night, he was possibly making a decision to go back to what he knew, back to where he first met Jesus. Sometimes that’s a good move, sometimes we need to go back and remember the day we first fell in love with Jesus. The day that changed our lives, Peter went back to fishing, the story tells us that he fished all night and caught nothing. Peter’s life changed from being a fisher of fish to in becoming a fisher of men, he could not go back and become a fisherman again but what he could do and what we all can do is to discover our first love of Jesus again. There is a quote that says, “it is possible to look like a saint in the courts of Babylon, yet be a backslider in the courts of Zion.” The world around you can think you’re a saint but your relationship with Jesus can be anything but right. In John 21, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. Finally Peter replied, “Lord you know I love you.”

Trust Jesus

Holy, holy, holy
Lord God almighty
Early in the morning
Our song shall rise to thee..

Lets worship Jesus together this week!

Trusting in him for all thing, in all things and despite everything .

"I am the Alpha, the Omega, the first and the last..."

Revelation 22:13

Shinning as stars

God wants His people to shine like stars in the universe.
Philippians 2:14-18
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the Word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour for nothing

God desires every one of His redeemed people – us to shine light stars in the universe. God wants His people to conduct themselves in a manner that is worthy of the Gospel. He wants our behaviour to shine forth as lights in a wicked world. No one is going to argue about that today. Are you shining? What about your everyday walk with God? Can you say, “I live my life in such a way that I uphold the Gospel of Christ”? It’s about the way we live our lives every moment of every day.

We should never forget that it is God working in us “to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:14). He is concerned about each one of us. God is holding on to each of us, and He will go on working in each of us.

Let’s remind ourselves of Galatians 5:16-25
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Perhaps you never have time to read the Word of God day and night. Do you say, “I don’t have time to read the Bible.” Do you have time to watch television? Do you have time to read the newspaper? Do you have time for whatever you want to do?
Psalm 1:1-2. Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night”
The Apostle Peter also encourages Christians scattered throughout “Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia” to in 1 Peter 2:1-3. Rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good

We, each one us can testify to how good God is “we have tasted that the Lord is good” and we know that God has chosen us to a live pure and holy lives.

Matthew 5:13-14 “You are the salt of the earth”? “You are the light of the world”? Through Paul, the Holy Spirit is reminding the Philippians that they are to “shine like stars in the universe” (Philippians 2:15). How does this shining occur?
Not only does Paul tell the Philippians what to do, but he also tells them what to avoid. He appeals for Christian living; it is easy when things are going well. What about when things get tough?

Followers of Jesus are different! Are you different? Christians are to be different
Remember whatever life throws at us we have a God who understands. He walked where I walk.

God is holding on to you, and He will go on working in you and holding on to you, we don’t have to do this on our own. So this evening are we shining as stars in the universe?

Welcome John

This morning we welcomed John as part of our leadership team.

He shared that his life is

F.R.O.G

Fully Reliant On God

May each one of us, commit again to day to be F.R.O.G

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life." Beginning to day!!!

Jesus

This week we are looking at our response to Jesus and who he is in our lives.
Here is an A-Z of names of who Jesus is. It is mind blowing as we look into it, it is an ever growing list, the God we love is just totally beyond our understanding. Someone totally big enough to trust with our whole lives.
Lord Jesus, You Are My...
Ancient of Days, Alpha & Omega, Anchor, Advocate, Author, Almighty
Bright Morning Star, Bread Of Life, Branch, Bridegroom, Beginning &End
Christ Jesus, Chief Cornerstone, Champion Of Salvation, Chief Shepherd
Dayspring From On High, Door to the Sheepfold, Deliverer from Darkness
Emmanuel, El Shaddai, Elohim, Everlasting Father, El Gibor, Example
Finisher Of Our Faith, First & Last, Friend Of Sinners, Forerunner
Great High Priest, Good Shepherd, God, Great Physician, Glory Of Israel
Head Of The Church, High Tower, Holy One, Hiding P lace, Hope Of Glory
I Am That I Am, Image Of God, Intercessor, Immortal, Invisible
Jesus Christ, Judge, Jehovah-Jireh, Jehovah-Rapha, Jehovah-Shalom
King Of Kings, King Of Glory, Kinsman Redeemer, Keeper of the Keys
Lord of All, Lamb Of God, Light of the World, Lion of Judah, Living Water
Messiah, Most High God, Maker, Man Of Sorrows, Master, Mine Elect
Narrow Way, Nebuchadnezzar’s Fourth Man In The Fire, Nazarene
Only Begotten Son, Offering Once And For All , Offspring Of David, Oil
Prince Of Peace, Prince Of Life, Prophet Like Unto Moses, Power Of God
Quickener Of Transgressors, Quietness & Confidence, Quieter Of Storms
Rose Of Sharon, Rock Of Salvation, Root of Jesse, Resurrection & Life
Son Of God, Son of Man, Servant, Savior, Shiloh, Strength, Song, Shield
Teacher, True Vine, The Way, The Truth, The Life
Underneath Are The Everlasting Arms, Unction from The Holy One
Victor, Virgin-Born, Veil-Splitter, Vice-Ruler at the Fathers Right Hand
Word Of Life, Witness, Wonderful Counselor, Warrior, Wisdom of God
X-Crucified, X-Dead, X-Buried, Xempt from Death Forevermore
Yeshua, Yoke-Destroyer, Yes &Amen, Yawheh, Yokefellow, Zion's King.

And that's just for starters, see how many more you can find.

Feeding 5000

Matthew 14:13-20

"When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
“Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Jesus as we all know took a young boys lunch and
prayed and shared it among 5000 people.
Imagine if we gave all that we had to Jesus. The world
We live in, would look very different.
"All that I am, all I can be, all that I am, all that is me.
Accept and use Lord, as you would choose Lord right now today."

July 3rd

There is a term “I AM,” that has its origin in the old testament when Moses in Exodus 3:14 met God in the wilderness and asked God’s name. God said I AM sent you. Jesus makes the same declaration over and over again.
He says I AM…
The living bread – John 6:51
The light of the world – John 8:12
The gate – John 10:9
The good shepherd – John 10:36
The resurrection and the life – John 11:25
The way, the truth and the life – John 14:6
The true vine – John 15:1

Who is Jesus to you personally, do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Do you believe that Jesus is the Messiah and is he your Lord?
How we view Jesus defines our entire life.
Who is Jesus to you today.

Pentecost

Matthew 28: 18-20, " Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Imagine that before us there is an array of bedroom doors suspended on a complex system of cogs and conveyor belts, a million hanging hunks of hardware clanking and clicking through a never-ending dance-of the doors. Red doors and blue doors; old doors, new doors; scratched doors, doors with children’s names on them. Those doors are the points of entry into the human sphere. The rooms beyond those doors – every one of them the bedroom of a child – are the landing places on which the visions that scare meet the victims that scream. The doors are inter-dimensional, every one a connection between two worlds. The dream world of a child and their bedrooms.

This chaotic and colourful scene is a wonderful picture of the workings of the kingdom of God. Somewhere in a realm beyond our own the plans of God are formulated and rolled out promising blessings for the earth. On our side of the deal, a world of need cries out for those blessings. Between the two linking the two worlds and making the mission of God possible – there are connected people. In children's dreams it is the doors that bridge the two worlds; in the kingdom of God it is the people who know Jesus.

Today is Pentecost we celebrate the Holy Spirit coming to a world, enabling the normal everyday people who know Jesus, to become extraordinary people who link the world of the good news of Jesus to a world that doesn't know him.

This Pentecost be one of those people.

JOY

The Joy of Jesus

Galatians 5:22-23,
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
.

It is not by accident that joy follows love because joy is a by-product of love. If you concentrate on being a joyful person joy will elude you. But if you concentrate on being a loving person then joy will seek you out - you will automatically be joyful. Sadly, many Christians find it difficult to accept that joy is a fruit of the Spirit and not only do they not expect joy - they don't want it either. They are under the lash of duty rather than the canopy of delight. A grim Christian once told me “At the heart of our faith is a cross. This means we ought to be spending our time weeping, not laughing. Well it is true that the cross is central to the Christian faith and following Christ involves rigorous self-denial and sometimes weeping, but this must be set against the fact that the second fruit of the Spirit is joy. No one can deny that from time to time each of us has to face suffering. However, a Christian possesses a subterranean spring of joy that will, if we allow it, burst upwards even in times of suffering. If there is no joy in our lives then we ought to question if we really are allowing the Spirit to work in our hearts. Joy, like love, is the essence of our faith. The empty tomb takes away our empty gloom. We have an Easter morning to celebrate in our faith, and that means there is always a reason to rejoice.
When one woman experienced Christian conversion she commented, 'It's strange, but I never associated joy with God before. How sad that so many think joy is something reserved for the hereafter and do not expect their faith to make them joyful now. Yet Jesus, in John 16:20-24 pointed out to the disciples that joy is part of our present experience even here in this sin-soiled world. Indeed in John 15:11 and 17:13, Jesus explained that He had an inner joy and it was His joy that would fill His disciples. His joy and our joy are not different joys but one and the same. He says, 'My joy may be in you and ... your joy may be complete.' His joy and our joy are not alien but allied. We are made in the inner structure of our beings for the joy of Jesus - His joy completes ours. We can better understand this supernatural joy if we distinguish it from the pleasures of life with which it is sometimes confused. Spiritual joy is quite different from pleasure or happiness. A non-Christian can experience pleasure and happiness but he or she cannot experience supernatural joy. Indeed, worldly people often pride themselves on knowing how to experience pleasure. Yet happiness and Christian joy are definitely different. Happiness depends on what happens. It requires conditions to be favourable and thus it can be stolen from us by things like lack of money or even a toothache. Christian joy, however, is completely independent of circumstances. It is there in the believer even when strength and health and friends are gone - when circumstances are not only unkind but savage. Out of all the miracles I have witnessed in my life, none is more wonderful than seeing Christ's exuberant joy burst forth in those who are caught up in pain or persecution. That joy can prove triumphant is not just a theory but a glorious fact.

Discussion Starters
1. Why does a Christian always have a reason to rejoice?

2. What is the difference between happiness and true joy?

3. Why do some people imagine God as grim-faced rather than full of joy?

4. How can we experience the joy of Jesus?

5. Why may joy elude us?

6. Why is joy an important fruit of the Holy Spirit?

7. What do you think God enjoys?

8. How can 'the joy of the LORD’ make us strong?

9. What are the inward and outward expressions of joy?

10. How are salvation and God's word linked with joy?


Personal Application
An important aspect of joy is that it protects our hearts against problem emotions. Jealousy or anxiety can quickly find a lodging place in a heart that has no joy. But as the heart is filled with joy the problem emotions are forced out. Joy also keeps us alert and alive spiritually. Disease germs, we are told, cause most harm to a body debilitated by despondency, because the immune system has been weakened. The same thing happens in the realm of the soul. Harmful thoughts and emotions invade the soul with ease when there is no joy, and start to destroy the health of the soul. Joy however, gives them no room. It immunises the spirit against attack. So joy is not just the bloom of health; it is the soul's protection also, for the 'joy of the LORD is your strength' (Nehemiah. 8:10). Every Christian should be conscious of joy flowing through the soul as a consequence of receiving Christ, so if it is not flowing, something must be blocking it. Clear away the obstacles and joy flows automatically. If you are conscious that you lack this deep abiding joy then look within. What are the hindrances? Consider them and remove them and then joy will flow. God is not withholding Himself, and you must not withhold yourself. When you meet God, joy is inevitable.

Seeing Jesus in the Scriptures
'Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God' (Hebrews. 12:2).

29th May 2011

Trust

I know who hoid s the future, let him guide me with his hand...

Because he lives, I can face tomorrow...

Put your hand in the hand of the hand of the man sho stilled the water...

Psalm 121
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

prayer

Psalm 46:10
10 "Be still, and know that I am God.."

Matthew 6:6
6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 7:7-11
7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Matthew 18:19-20
19"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Matthew 21:22
22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Mark 10:27
27Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

Mark 11:24
24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Luke 11:9-10
9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

John 14:13
13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

John 15:7
7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

Ephesians 3:20-21
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 4:16
16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

James 5:16
16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

1 John 5:14-15
14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

Sunday May 15th

If you want a beautiful cup of coffee, please call in and we would love to chat with you.

This Sunday we are looking at the amazing truth that one day Jesus is coming back again.

At the midnight cry when Jesus comes again.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (New International Version, ©2011)
"16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."

May 1st

We are moved by the love story of the Royal Wedding this week, but remember an even greater love story. Jesus loves you, just where you are, just as you are and all that you can and will be. Accept his love this week, allow his grace, his love to infiltrate every part of who you are and watch his love revealed to you, in your life.

"For God so loved the world, he gave...... "for YOU!

Happy Easter

We would like to wish you all a blessed and Jesus filled Easter.
John 3: 16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that who ever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” And if I were the only one who let him down and turn away, he’d still love me as his own and just for me he pay.
And then rise again.
He has risen! Our Prayer is that you will know Jesus every moment of everyday in your life! And if you don't know him yet, then please ask us and we will introduce you to him!

Palm Sunday

Luke 19:40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Lyrics to Hosanna [praise Is Rising] : Benton Brown

praise is rising, eyes are turning to you
we turn to you hope is stirring, hearts are yearning for you
we long for you, when we see you we find strength to face the day
in your presence all our fears are washed away,
washed away, Hosanna, hosanna
You are the God who saves us, worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, hosanna Come have your way among us
We welcome you here Lord Jesus
hear the sound of hearts returning to you
we turn to you, in your kingdom broken lives are made new
you make all things new praise is rising,
eyes are turning to you, we turn to you hope is stirring,
hearts are yearning for you ,we long for you,
when we see you we find strength to face the day
in your presence all our fears are washed away, washed away
Hosanna, hosanna, You are the God who saves us,
worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, hosanna,
Come have your way among us ,
We welcome you here Lord Jesus,
hear the sound of hearts returning to you,
we turn to you, in your kingdom broken lives are made new
you make all things new

Sunday 10th April 2011

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Amen.

In the story of Jesus feeding the 5000 in Luke 6, a small boy gave what he had and Jesus fed thousands of people. John 6:9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" Imagine the impact on a community when a group of believers sell out totally to Jesus and see his kingdom come as poverty, hunger, homelessness is eradicated. We believe that God can and will do this in Clapton as we put him first in our lives all the time!

Acts 2:43 "...and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

3rd April 2011

Happy Mothers Day John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

In all the world there is nobody like you. Since the beginning of time, there has never been another person like you. Nobody has your smile. Nobody has your eyes, your nose, your hair, your hands, your voice. Nobody can be found who has your handwriting. Nobody anywhere has your tastes - for food or music or art. No one sees things just as you do. In all of time there has been no one who laughs like you, no one who cries like you. And what makes you laugh and cry will never provoke identical laughter and tears from anybody else, ever.... No one reacts to any situation just as you would react. You are special. You are the only one in all creation who has your set of abilities. Oh, there will always be somebody who is better at one of the things you are good at, but no one in the universe can reach the quality of your combination of talents, ideas, abilities and feelings.

Like a room full of musical instruments, some may excel alone, but no one can match the symphony sound when all are played together. You are special. You are rare. And, in rarity, there is great value to us here on earth. Because of your great rare value, you need not attempt to imitate others. You will accept - yes celebrate - your differences.

You are special. And you are beginning to realise it's no accident that you are special. You are beginning to see that God made you special for a very special purpose. He must have a job for you that no one else can do as well as you. Out of all the billions of applicants, only one is qualified, only one has the right combination of what it takes. That one is you.

Because..... You are special!

26th March 2011

I’d Rather Have Jesus –

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;

I’d rather be His than have riches untold;

I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands,

I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand.

Than to be a king of a vast domain

Or be held in sin’s dread sway,

I’d rather have Jesus than anything

This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;

I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;

I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame,

I’d rather be true to His holy name.

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;

He’s sweeter than honey from out of the comb;

He’s all that my hungering spirit needs,

I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

To follow after Jesus is not easy:

Matthew 16:24-26

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?’”

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold. . .

Philippians 1:21 reminds us: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead. . .

Philippians 3:8 says, “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”

I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame,

I’d rather be true to His holy name. . .

Walk by Faith

2 Corinthians 5:7
"For we live by faith, not by sight."

I walk by faith
Each step by faith
To live by faith
I put my trust in You
I walk by faith
Each step by faith
To live by faith
I put my trust in You

Every step I take
Is a step of faith
No weapon formed against me shall prosper
And every prayer I make
Is a prayer of faith
And if my God is for me
Who can be against me

Whatever today or tomorrow throw at you, and believe me when I tell you life is good at throwing things at us all. Then hold on to the truth that when we place our hand in the hand of Jesus we will survive, and more than that we will see his kingdom come around us!

Celebrate God's Amazing Creation

We are privileged as Alix's shares her photos with us again.

Please call in and enjoy their beauty.

Great is thy faithfullness throughout all time!!

Deuteronomy 8:7-10
7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills. 10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.

1 Kings 17:8-16
8 Then the word of the LORD came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” 12 “As surely as the LORD your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” 13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the land.’” 15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.
Mark 6:30-44

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. 35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.” 39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

Today in 2011 thank God for the ways that he is faithful!

Sunday 27th February 2011

Praise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Psalm 150
Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

Sunday 13th February 2011

'...The word of our God stands forever.' Isaiah 40:8

'No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord...' (Isaiah 54:17 NKJV)

'The Lord... is with you; never again will you fear any harm... he is mighty to save. He will... deal with all who oppressed you...' (Zephaniah 3:15-19 NIV)

'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king... With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us... fight our battles...' (2 Chronicles 32:7-8 NIV)

'My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my... fortress, I will never be shaken' (Psalm 62:1-2 NIV)

'Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don't forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand...' (Philippians 4:6-7 TLB)

'For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord' (Romans 8:38-39 NKJV).

'Let all those who... put their trust in You rejoice... because You... defend them; let those also who love Your name... be in high spirits' (Psalm 5:11 AMP)

'The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you...' (Deuteronomy 33:27 NKJV)

'The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him' (Nahum 1:7 KJV)

'Fear not... for I am with you... I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you... I will hold you up... with My [victorious] right hand...' (Isaiah 41:10 AMP)

'You protect them by your presence from what people plan against them. You shelter them from evil' (Psalm 31:20 NCV)

'Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever' (Psalm 23:6 NLT)

'...The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength... The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom...' (2 Timothy 4:17-18 NIV)

'Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you' (Psalm 9:10 NIV)

'This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness' (Lamentations 3:21-23 NKJV)

'I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety' (Psalm 4:8 NIV).

Monday 7th February 2011

We are called to live differently to those around us, so that the fragrance, the reflection, the light of Jesus will be seen in and though our lives.

Matthew 5 (NIV)

1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes: He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they
will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely
say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be
glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way
they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5 (The Message)
You're Blessed
1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
3"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
5"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
6"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
7"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
8"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
10"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
11-12"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

Matthew 5:14
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden."
I have often spoken on this illustration in Matthew’s gospel and

yet I keep being drawn back to it.
Unless our lives shine with the love and grace that we have experienced from Jesus,

how are the people around us ever going to know that there is an another option,

for the way and for what they are living for.

I think this is very challenging.

May this weeks our lives radiate the love of God to everyone we meet,

even if our lives are not perfect and maybe life is hard.

Loads of love and prayers.

Sunday 23rd January 2011

Today we will have Tim and Cheryl leading our worship in the morning. They will be focusing on "The wise and foolish builders." Today what is your life built on, does your faith affect your lifestyle.
Matthew 7:24-29

The Wise and Foolish Builders
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Sunday 16th January 2011

Psalm 139:105 “Your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path.”

Isaiah 52: 7-10
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

This New Year we need to commit to reading and meditating upon the word of God. The living word that speaks into our lives. "Word for today is a good way to do this.

http://www.ucb.co.uk/word_for_today, have a look online or pick up a book from the foyer in Church.
May God richly bless you as you study his word this year!

Commitment Sunday

Isaiah 40:28-31

Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

We need to be obedient even when it is hard, confusing or sometimes we just don't get it. When we do what God wants then he is always, always there with us, actually he's there even if we don't but you get what we mean.

Happy New Year and may it be all you dream of and all you hope for and totally Christ centred.