Saturday 27 June 2020

Thought weekend (2)

Welcome to Mayfield Chapel virtual PET SERVICE
Thought for Paws.
Sunday June 28th 2020

 If you have not read "Thought weekend (1) , Pause for Thought, below, please read it first.

 All Bible readings are from The message translation
23rd Psalm
God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.


The Staff.
The staff can be used as a walking aid The long thinner end could be used as a long handled rod

 The Crook
The crook can be put round the sheeps neck to pull / lift the animal out of danger.

 The Club
The club is used mainly at night to defend the sheep, by clubbing the wild animals that come to kill the sheep and lambs . It can also be used against robbers
A good shepherd
is willing to lay his life down for his sheep.

The King of love my shepherd is.

Thank You, Lord, for this day, for life, and for many blessings. I believe in Your goodness with all my heart. So I am asking You to go before me today, Being my guide should situations make me wonder which way to turn. As each hour passes on this day, Lord, bless me with Your strength and joy. And please keep me under Your watchful eye the entire day, ever ready to help me and to offer me comfort. In Jesus name, Amen.

N T Bible Reading
JOHN 10: 1 – 16
“Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he’s up to no good—a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won’t follow a stranger’s voice but will scatter because they aren’t used to the sound of it.” Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep stealer’s, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him. He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. He’s only in it for the money. The sheep don’t matter to him. “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me. In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary. You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them, too. They’ll also recognize my voice. Then it will be one flock, one Shepherd.


The Lord's my shepherd by Stewart Townsend

NT Bible reading
LUKE: 1 – 7

By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, “He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends.” Their grumbling triggered this story.
“Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’
Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.

The Ninety and nine

Today farmers use Quad bikes and sheep dogs to round up sheep. Here are two real stories:
story number 1.
High in the mountains of North Wales lives a shepherd named Huw Jones.
He is joined by a black and white sheepdog named Alwyn
Together they move 100 sheep to green pastures, still waters, on right paths, and through dark valleys.
Huw Jones was the master shepherd assisted by Alwyn.
Alwyn is a champion Scottish border collie was in his element
He came from a long line of working dogs; he had sheep herding in his blood.
This is what he was made for; this is what he had been trained to do.
It was a marvelous thing to see Alwyn work:
Circling to the right, circling to the left, barking, crouching, racing along, herding a stray sheep here, nipping at a stubborn sheep there, his eyes always glued to the sheep, his ears listening for the tiny metal whistle from his master.
The whistle was tuned to the dogs ears humans could not hear it.
Their most difficult task was dipping the sheep in antiseptic.
This chore must be done on a regular basis to rid the sheep of pests, parasites, and infections.
The sheep hated this discipline and resisted mightily.
Huw and Alwyn knew that it must be done for sheep to thrive.
Huw and Alwyn moved the 100 sheep to the dipping pens.
When all the sheep had been shut behind the gates, Alwyn tore around the outside of the pens and took up his position at the dipping trough.
Alwyn was frantic with expectation waiting for the chance to leap into action.
One by one Huw seized the rams by their curled horns and hurled them into the antiseptic.
They would struggle to climb out the side but Alwyn would snarl and snap at their faces to force them back in.
Each ram had to be held under the antiseptic ears, eyes, noses for a few seconds.
When the rams had been dipped, Huw and Alwyn had to gather the ewes for the same procedure. Alwyn always had his eyes on the sheep: his body tense, quivering, eyes blazing, but always obedient to the command to stop.
What the shepherd saw the sheepdog could not see: the weak ewe that lagged behind, the ram caught in a bush, the danger that lay ahead, and the lost sheep. Huw Jones was a caring shepherd he loved and cared for Alwyn They were best of friends.
Alwyn  In its original English meaning, means “Wise Friend” and the old Teutonic meaning is “Loved By All”.
Story number 2
Zoe was one of those lost sheep. She was raised in the church from her childhood:
But when she turned 13, she ran away from God and the church, and decided that she didn’t need a God that wasn’t real.
Zoe felt that she was smart enough and strong enough to manage her own life: She was on a journey of self-determination.
She did not know the dangers that surrounded her at that time.
Zoe was confident that she could handle them myself. But she was wrong!
The Good Shepherd knew better than she did: he sent out his sheepdogs to find her
Some have called these the hounds of heaven.
They are the faithful sheepdogs that will never quit until a strayed/lost sheep is found.
The hounds of heaven for her were her faithful friends in her youth group: they patiently prayed for her invited , nagged, and put up with her elitism & pride.
They confronted her with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
At the age of 15, she returned to the sheepfold, and discovered the resurrected Jesus: the Good Shepherd.
All Names have been changed in both stories

Watch this Shepherd He is speaking Norwegian. He is saying " come now, come now" over and over. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Coq_grSFlNs

Hark! Tis the Shepherd

Prayer of Thanks
Father God,
Thank you that your ways are far greater than our ways and your thoughts far deeper than our thoughts. Thank you that you had a plan to redeem. Thank you that you make all things new. Thank you that your face is towards the righteous, you are close to the brokenhearted, you hear our prayers, and know our hearts. Thank you for your daily, powerful presence in our lives, that we can be assured, no matter what we’re facing, your heart is towards us, your eyes are over us, and your ears are open to our prayers. Thank you that you surround us with favour as with a shield, and we are safe in your care.
We give you praise and honour for your ways are righteous and true. We give you worship for you are holy and just. We will declare that your love stands firm forever, for your lovingkindness endures forever

your own prayers and needs ;………………..Amen

Shepherd of my soul

Benediction
O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people; Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
tune has an intoduction. Tenderly guide us,

Tenderly guide us, O Shepherd of love,
To the green pastures and waters above,
Guarding us ever by night and by day,
Never from Thee would we stray.

Never! . . . never! . . .
Never! Oh, never! For Thou art the way;
Never! . . . never! . . .
Never from Thee would we stray! . . .

What though the heavens with clouds be o’ercast!-
Fearful the tempest, and bitter the blast!
Still with the light of Thy Word on the way,
Never from Thee would we stray.

Over our weakness Thy strength has been cast;
Keep us in meekness, Thine own till the last;
Then, safely folded, with joy we shall say,
Never from Thee would we stray.

Beautifully song in Malyalam
God Bless Susannah


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Friday 26 June 2020

Thought weekend (1)

Those of you who have our calendar will know that this was due to be our thought weekend.  Saturday was to be "Pause for thought" and Sunday was to be "Thought for Paws", our animal service.

 Here is the first instalment.

Pause for thought Saturday 27th June 2020
By Susannah Youdan.
All Creatures of our God and King as a meditation
Pet service weekend


All creatures of our God and King,
life up your voice and with us sing:
halleluia, halleluia!
Genesis 1: 24 – 25
And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so.   God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
Open a window on Sunday morning to hear the birds singing, lets join with them in praise

 Praise ye the Lord  Hallelujah ( Internet )

Genesis 1: 16 – 18
 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.  God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.

Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam:
O praise Him, O praise Him,
halleluia, halleluia, halleluia!

Psalm 74: 16 – 17
The day is yours, and yours also the night;   you established the sun and moon.
 It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;   you made both summer and winter.

    Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
    Ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,
    O praise Him, hallelujah!

    God made Creation and Jesus was there also at the beginning.
      Mark 4 : 35 - 41
     That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”  Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.  A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.  Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.  He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

    Thou rising mo    rn, in praise rejoice,Ye lights of evening, find a voice:
    O praise Him, O praise Him,
         halleluia, halleluia, halleluia!


Praise Him. by some young children They seem to enjoy praising the Lord
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exsSA70NlTE 

      
    Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
    Make music for thy Lord to hear,
    halleluia, halleluia!

    Babbling brook with birdsong

    Psalm 23:
    The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures, 
    he leads me beside quiet waters, 
    he refreshes my soul.
    He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
    Even though I walk through the darkest valley, 
    I will fear no evil, for you are with me;your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before mein the presence of my enemies. 
    You anoint my head with oil; 
    my cup overflows.
    Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 
    and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

    Thou fire so masterful and bright,
    That givest man both warmth and light:
    O praise Him, O praise Him,
    halleluia, halleluia, halleluia!
Acts 8: 1 – 2
28 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold

What a friend we have in Jesus

    And all ye men of tender heart,
    Forgiving others, take your part,
    O sing ye, Alleluia!
    Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
    Praise God and on Him cast your care!
    O praise Him! O praise Him!
    Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Take your needs to him in prayer
    Let all things their Creator bless,
    and worship Him in humbleness,
    O praise Him, halleluia!
    Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
    and praise the Spirit, Three - in - One:
    O praise Him! O praise Him!
    Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
God bless you as you meditate on God’s great creation

How great Thou Art.
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Saturday 20 June 2020

Week beginning 21st June

Here is love vast as the Ocean

Prayer:
Dear God, Thank you for your amazing power and work in our lives, thank you for your goodness and for your blessings over us. Thank you for your great love and care. Thank you for your sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life. Forgive us for when we don't thank you enough, for who you are, for all that you do, for all that you've given. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on you afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with your peace and joy. We love you and we need you, this day and every day. We give you praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

A Story Told by Jesus of a loving Father

Luke 15: 11 – 32

Amazing Grace

Genesis 22 : 1 – 19 The Message
After all this, God tested Abraham. God said, “Abraham!” “Yes?” answered Abraham. “I’m listening.”  He said, “Take your dear son Isaac whom you love and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I’ll point out to you.” Abraham got up early in the morning and saddled his donkey. He took two of his young servants and his son Isaac. He had split wood for the burnt offering. He set out for the place God had directed him. On the third day he looked up and saw the place in the distance. Abraham told his two young servants, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I are going over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.”  Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and gave it to Isaac his son to carry. He carried the flint and the knife. The two of them went off together.  Isaac said to Abraham his father, “Father?” “Yes, my son.” “We have flint and wood, but where’s the sheep for the burnt offering?”  Abraham said, “Son, God will see to it that there’s a sheep for the burnt offering.” And they kept on walking together. They arrived at the place to which God had directed him. Abraham built an altar. He laid out the wood. Then he tied up Isaac and laid him on the wood. Abraham reached out and took the knife to kill his son.  Just then an angel of God called to him out of Heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Yes, I’m listening.” “Don’t lay a hand on that boy! Don’t touch him! Now I know how fearlessly you fear God; you didn’t hesitate to place your son, your dear son, on the altar for me.” Abraham looked up. He saw a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. Abraham took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.  Abraham named that place God-Yireh (God-Sees-to-It). That’s where we get the saying, “On the mountain of God, he sees to it.”  The angel of God spoke from Heaven a second time to Abraham: “I swear—God’s sure word!—because you have gone through with this, and have not refused to give me your son, your dear, dear son, I’ll bless you—oh, how I’ll bless you! And I’ll make sure that your children flourish—like stars in the sky! like sand on the beaches! And your descendants will defeat their enemies. All nations on Earth will find themselves blessed through your descendants because you obeyed me.”Then Abraham went back to his young servants. They got things together and returned to Beersheba. Abraham settled down in Beersheba.

Our God is an Awesome God

There are at least thirty similarities between Abraham offering Isaac on mt. Moriah and God offering Jesus on mt. Calvary here are thirty of them

  1. A donkey is involved on the road to the sacrifice.
  2. They leave their “homeland” to go to the place of sacrifice (Abraham & Isaac travel to the mountain, Jesus leaves heaven to come to earth).
  3. To get from where they are to the place of sacrifice requires a journey.
  4. Each son is the “one and only son” of his father.
  5. The son is a descendant of Abraham.
  6. The son had been born with divine intervention.
  7. The sacrifices take place on the same mountain (called Mt. Moriah in the Old Testament, called Mt. Calvary in the New Testament.
  8. The companions that were with them stayed behind (most likely on the hill across the valley, called the Mt. of Olives) when the son went with the father for the sacrifice.
  9. The son carried the wood/cross to the place of sacrifice.
  10. The son asked questions of the father.
  11. The father knew what he was called to do.
  12. The son was submissive to the will of the father.
  13. The father was willing to sacrifice his son, if necessary.
  14. The father believed in resurrection.
  15. The father loved the son.
  16. A resurrection was prophesied (Abraham said, “we’ll come back to you.” Jesus said, “I will rise on the third day.”)
  17. The son was laid upon the wood/cross.
  18. The son was bound to the wood/cross.
  19. Abraham had a knife to pierce his son, Jesus’ skin was pierced by whips laced with spear
  20. The Lord Himself provided the sacrifice (the ram, Jesus)
  21. Blood was shed.
  22. The sacrifice was a substitute (ram a substitute for Isaac, Jesus a substitute for us).
  23. The sacrifice was a demonstration of love for God.
  24. Men of great faith in God who were committed obediently to the will of God.
  25. The ram was caught in the thorns, and Jesus had a crown of thorns on his head.
  26. Abundant blessings flow because of the sacrifice (abundant life).
  27. Abraham was tested, Jesus was tested.
  28. The son ultimately survived the sacrifice.
  29. The son was resurrected on the third day.
Number 30 requires a little explanation. Jesus was literally resurrected on the third day. As for Isaac: Abraham heard from the Lord that he was to sacrifice his son. As far as he was concerned, Isaac was as good as dead at that point. The journey from their home to the place of sacrifice took three days. On the third day, God provided the ram so that Isaac was spared his life, i.e., he was “resurrected” on the third day. The Bible tells us that Abraham had great faith all along, believing that even if God did call him to slay his son that God would bring his son back to life!

When we confess our sins in our prayers and ask for forgivenss God listens and cares, he loves us, he gave his son for us that through Jesus’ death and resurrection we gain life in full for with this love. He “kissed this guilty world with love.”
For Gods Love is higher, wider, deeper, than we can ever imagin.

Wide wide as the ocean

Prayers that are in your heart.
Lord’s Prayer

Here is love vast as the Ocean

As deep as the sea, or as high as the heavens, wherever we go, whatever we do, God’s love reaches in to every aspect of our lives. He is Our Father, we are his Children, whatever our colour, what ever language we speak, we are all brothers and sisters with one wonderful awesome father.

Psalm 139

Wide wide as the ocean ( This is differedent)

As it is father’s day to day, here is a letter to from God our father.


As you log off from this service remember this:
God’s love is from everlasting to everlasting,
from generation to generation.
Just as a father has compassion on his children
so God has compassion on those fear him,
who listen to his voice,
and who do his will.
Go out in the knowledge
that the everlasting love of God goes with you.
Amen.

Here is love vast as the Ocean
It is song in Welsh first

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Saturday 13 June 2020

Week beginning June 14th


Song:
Blessed Assurance,
Reading:
1 Corinthians 8:

Song:
What a friend we have in Jesus

Readings:
1 Corinthians 10: 23-33
1 Corinthians 6: 12

Song:
Make me a channel of your peace

Reading:
Matthew 7: 1-6
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—
but not everything is beneficial.
Paul uses this sentence in two places in his letter to the Corinthians. He phrases it "You say that". Perhaps it was something said frequently in Corinth. Perhaps it had been said in the letter to Paul from the Corinthian church, which unfortunately we do not have. Certainly, he seems to be answering questions, providing answers to problems, in the way he writes. The problems are many and varied, but presumeably, they were problems which the church members found very real in their day to day experience.
They had been "Freed". They no longer had to observe the full rigours of the Jewish Law. Or perhaps the rigours of the pagan observances.
"The truth will set you free." (John 8:33)
Perhaps, some had been using this freedom for licentiousness. Perhaps, they did not see that rights bring responsibilities.
Freedom is all very well, we enjoy the right to free speech. However, this tight somes with responsibilities. Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. said "The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic. " Just because you have the right to do something, it is not necessarily advisable, a sentiment expressed by Paul .
Paul uses a number of real examples of how to deal with conflicts between their faith, their freedom and the rest of the world. One of these is the issue of eating meat offered to idols. This would have been a very real issue for Christians living in a pagan soeciety, as it is for Christians in some countries today. There seems to be different answers to this question in different sections of the letter, ranging from don't; through don't if you know; to yes, its o.k. The most comprehensive answer is the one we read today. 1 Cor. 8.
Since meat is just meat, and the idols are nothing but statues, then it being offered to an idol means nothing, and has not changed it in any way. So it can be eaten with no ill effect.
But. someone else might see and misunderstand. "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak."
Just because you have a right to do something does not make it necessary. Whether or not you eat a certain food does not bring you closer to God, says Paul.
If doing something causes a problem for someone else, don't do it. This is not just limited to diet, there are countless situations in which this should be our guiding principle. Every occasion when someone says "I have a right to do this", we ought to be asking "but is it wise? is it necessary?" There was a fashion a few years ago to wear a wristband "W.W.J.D." What would Jesus do? I wore three out. The idea being that in every situation the wearer would ask the question before making a decision.
Some Christians clearly think that what they should do is be judgmental. In his writings, Paul actually gives us a lot of material to judge people with. In several places he writes lists of sins which will exclude people from the fellowship or from the kingdom. Actions which mean that people should not occupy one or another position in the congregation. The lists vary, according to what is being addressed, and who the letter is directed to.Some actions, which nowadays some people see as very serious, are only mentioned a few times, whereas others are mentioned in most of the lists.
Some people develop almost a mania about one or other "sin" on one of the lists. Some years ago, I was introduced to a member of one of our union churches. We had never met. His first words to me were "There are no homosexuals in our church." I was a little taken aback and did not respond. Since then I realise that I ought to have replied, "What a pity, do they not need to hear the gospel?" Recently, telling this story someone said that I should have asked what is probably an equally telling question "How do you know?"
One of the most common sin mentioned is Envy. If it is this common, in his writing, it must have been seen as a serious problem by Paul, more serious even than the sins which some sections of the church go on about such a lot.
Perhaps we need a campaign to forbid anyone who has ever envied something or somebody, should not be a church officer, or a minister?
Paul acknowledges that we have the right to do anything, but says that it is wrong to be mastered by anything. (1 Cor 6:12) He urges people to be in control of themselves, not to be dominated by their freedom, perhaps in the modern idiom, not to stand up for their rights. When he refers to this freedom again (1 Cor. 10: 23) he goes on to say "not everything is constructive.  No one should seek their own good, but the good of others." In other words whatever you do, do it to build up the fellowship. Do it for the benefit of others.
From his treatment of eating meat offered to idols, Paul clearly believes that some actions can be a sin to some people, and not to others. That there are circumstances where it might be acceptable to do certain things, and other circumstances where is would be inappropriate.
This makes any suggestion that we are called on to offer judgment on others very difficult.
But in any case, Jesus has very definite advice about judgement.
Don't!
There is a story of a farmer who regularly bought hias bread from the local baker. In his tuurn, the baker decided, buy butter from the farmer. After a time the baker began to suspect that the farmer was selling him short measure. He involved the trading standards officer and the matter went to court.
In court the magistrate inquired of the farmer "Did you use standard approved weights?" To which the farmer replied “No”. "What did you use?" asked the magistrate. "One of the baker's 1 pound loaves." came the swift reply.
In Matthew’s gospel, chapter 7, speaking of judgement, Jesus says “The measure you use is the measure you will receive.” What you do, is what I will do to you.
The message is that we have been given freedom, Christianity is not a religion of a list of rules. Use the freedom wisely to build up others in the fellowship. Use the freedom to attract others, not to give them reasons not to get involved. In our world today, there are always people doing something and saying that they have a right to do it. Our standpoint has to be that of Paul:
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.
Once this is our standard, we will perceive the “Quickening ray”, our dungeons will “flame with light.” our chains will fall off and our heart will be free. Free rise up and follow Jesus.

Song:
And can it be?

Prayer:
Lord, we have grown up to pride ourselves on our freedom; freedom to choose our own rulers, freedom to think our own thoughts, freddom to live our own lives in our own way. But we have learned from experience that freedom is a mixed blessing. In ridding us of domination by others, it puts us quite clearly in charge of ourselves. And sometimes we are not fit to be in charge. We are still slaves, needing release from our fears and compulsions.
Help us to see that what we need is availableto us. Not, as we first think, the freedom of mere independence, but the freedom to be children of yours, rather than slaves to ourselves. It takes us some time to consider this an advantage; but help us to see it -to realise that the freedom of your children is the best freedom we could have: a freedom which limits our responsibility, instead of making it total; above all, a freedom which invites into our lives the onlypower we can wholly trust, the power of your love which will change us without exploiting us: so that we in our turn can treat the world in the same way.
We thank you, Lord, for the offer of being your children through Christ. Help us to realise its value, and to perfect our freedom by accepting it.
Amen.

Song:
To God be the glory

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