Week beginning 13th August

Song: Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oGuGzCFEWI

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 forever more.

Prayers praise,

Lord God It is good to praise and honour your holy name for you are ever close at hand.

How great are your works although you are invisible creation bows down in recognition of its creator. All wisdom comes from you from the beginning of time to life’s end you are there ever living. You are for loving for ever forgiving. Only You are worthy of true praise Blessed be your name. Amen

Reading: Philippians 4: 10-20

Song: More more about Jesus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9FhQICSJX4

More More more in Our Daily Bread Wednesday Feb 15^th 2012 . 

Jennifer Benson Schuldt penned

Now that my daughter is learning to talk, she has adopted a favourite word: more. She will say “more” and point to toast with jam. She held out her palm and said “More!” when my husband gave her some coins for her piggy bank. She even exclaimed, “More Daddy!” one morning after her father left for work.

Like my little one, many of us look around and call for “more.” Unfortunately, enough is never enough. We need the power of Christ to break the cycle so that we can say with Paul, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Phil. 4:11).

The phrase “I have learned” tells me that Paul did not meet every situation with a smile. Learning contentment required practice. His testimony included ups and downs ranging from snake bites to soul-saving; false accusations to founding churches. Yet he claimed that Jesus was the answer to soul-level satisfaction. He said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (v.13). Jesus had given him the spiritual muscle to endure lean times and to avoid the pitfalls of abundance.

If you find yourself angling for “more, more, more,” remember that contentment comes when you have “more” of Christ.

Song: O teach me what it meaneth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-eGCoaXZc8

How can you live sweetly amid the vexatious things, the irritating things, the multitude of little worries and frets, which lie all along your way and which you cannot evade. You cannot at present change your surroundings.

J R Miller writes
“Whatever kind of life you are to live must be lived amid precisely the experiences in which you are now moving. Here you must win your victories or suffer your defeats. No restlessness or discontent can change your lot. You had better make up your mind to accept what you cannot alter.

“Strive to realise a state of inward happiness, independent of circumstances.”

James Pierrepont Greaves

With these quotes there is one thing that comes to mind what ever we feel we are never alone

Even when we feel we are. We have different trials that come and test us. No matter how hard we struggle some times we can not change our circumstances, life feels unfair. There are other times when all is going well or we feel too well and wait for things to come crashing down around us.

Other time we may brag about the our great idea the promotion we have been given and gloat over the underdog. We then get reminded the higher you clime in your own strength the further the fall

it pays to be humble to give the credit for the good things and trust him in the hard or barren time He is the same God he is always with you. Are you willing to be ever with him and to trust Him with every aspect of your life this is not an easy question but when some one who loves you and cares so much about you and only wants what is good for you loves you unconditionally then knowing this open your heart and ask him into your life.

God dose not hold your past to count but he will forgive you if you ask. Then you can go forward

with peace in you heart. Knowing that through God son Jesus life ever lasting is offered to you.

Reading: 2 Corinthians 12: 1 – 21

Song: I know not why God’s wondrous grace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpJ9oyxvyhs

This closing prayer was penned by Reinhold Niebuhr you may have seen it on many mugs and plates, plaques, and posters, but to day I would like to think about the words as it is a prayer to God and comes from the heart.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.

Jesus gave His all for you

read the story about our the next hymn at https://oasischurch.com.au/4868-2/

Song: All to Jesus I surrender

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7FhoxqX2Dk

May the peace of God which passes understanding, Keep your hearts and minds within His love.
May the grace of Christ the risen Son, And the fellowship of the Spirit fill you and remain with you always. Amen