Prayer
Let us pray together although we are apart.
Heavenly Father lead us this morning to a place of humble dependence on you and deeper affection for you. We thank you for The Lord Jesus your only begotten Son through whom we can come to you with an holy boldness.
We want to ask for each other to be encouraged and comforted in these difficult times. We experience frustration. We feel stress. We become anxious. Let your loving care be known among us. Let your unmatched power be experienced by us. Grant your peace to flood our souls, that we may be thankful and praise you at all times, even at this time.
We ask this in Jesus’ name
Hymn
anny Crosby is the author of both hymns chosen for today.
This remarkable lady was blinded at the age of just six weeks.
Sustained by The Lord and gifted she did not allow her disability to prevent her from serving Him.
She reveals the secret of her evident contentment dates in her first composition at the age of eight years. “It has been the motto of my life,” she says. It is:
“O what a happy soul am I!
Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be;
How many blessings I enjoy
That other people don’t!
To weep and sigh because I’m blind,
I cannot, and I won’t.”
She knew the grace of The Lord Jesus who died to bring her forgiveness for all her sins. That was an unsurpassed blessing! She saw that her disability was God’s opportunity.
She said that had it not been for her affliction she might not have so good an education, nor so great an influence, and certainly not so fine a memory. She knew a great many portions of the Bible by heart, and had committed to memory the first four books of the Old Testament, and also the four Gospels before she was ten years of age.
Among her most widely-known hymns may be named the following “I feel like singing all the time,”We are marching on with shield and banner bright,” “Pass me not, O gentle Saviour,” “Jesus, keep me near the cross,” “Rescue the Perishing, “Praise Him, praise Him,” “Blessed Assurance.”
Let us sing/enjoy the hymn below written by the very same Fanny Crosby
Press the button below to start playing the hymn.
To God be the glory
To God be the glory, great things He has done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.
Refrain
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.
O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
Refrain
Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.
Refrain
Reading
Jesus had ascended into heaven and his followers were met together in an upstairs room. The reading starts with a reference to Judas’ demise prophesied in the Psalms
Acts chapter 1 vs 20 ff20
“For it is written in the Book of Psalms:
‘Let his dwelling place be desolate,
And let no one live in it’;
and,
‘Let another take his office.’
21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” 26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles
God’s Little People
Prayer
Take a moment to pray now. Remember our brothers and sisters who are persecuted. Remember those who have lost loved ones that they may find comfort in The Lord. Remember those who are vulnerable to Coronavirus. Please pray for Sergio and his family in Italy, friends of Brian and Kathleen, who has been taken into hospital with Coronavirus symptoms. Pray for our families, work colleagues, neighbours and all connected with Ridgeway Community Church.
Notices
Please phone me on 0777 946 7079
if you would like to talk or pray together.
If you have matters you would like to share with others or if you would like to be added to the prayer circular contacts list you can contact our prayer circular coordinator Brian Cox ( Telephone 01527 350592 or email bandkcox26@yahoo.co.uk)
Sermon
May I suggest you listen to the second sermon in the series on Habakkuk. The sermon was preached on Sunday 22nd October 2017 under the title “What is the point of praying”
Hymn
Let us join in another hymn written by Fanny Crosby
Press the button below to play the hymn.
Blessèd Assurance
Blessèd assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Refrain
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Refrain
Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
Refrain
Closing Prayer
