Father today I thank you for 'Grace Builders' - those people who appear difficult to deal with and love. Father, you have demonstrated amazing love towards me, whilst I was still a sinner, Jesus died for me. Please help me show your kind of love to those I find difficult.

Father, thank you that in your kingdom there is a different set of rules to the society in which we live. I read today of David's amazing restraint when he didn't kill Saul who was pursing him to kill him. Lord help me repay evil with good that in some small way I may puor oil on troubled waters bring peace, not adding fuel to the fire.

Thank you Father that you are with me in every circumstance. Lord I ask that you would use me today to help those feeling low. In particular I pray for Ruth. Lord jelp her enjoy today, give her peace.

Lord I am again reminded today of how much turmoil following you can bring. David's story is one of ups and downs, hero to insane man! Lord I pray, in the turmoil of life you would keep me sane.

Lord sometimes circumstances mean that we can't always do what we would like. I ask that you would remind me of this, especially when I am impatient or disappointed. The account od David and Jonathan (1Sam 20: 18-42) reminds me that even if we can't be near the ones we love, we still can recieve blessing from you.

Thank you Father God for initiating your covenant of love with me. Thank you too for your word that gives me guidance to how we should respond to you.
Matt 22: 37-39
37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
Lord I pray you would give me strength and grace to obey these commands.

Thank you foe all the relationships I have. I pray that in all of them you would help me be more reliable, truthful and loving towards all of my friends.

Thank you that you are a God who wants me to develop and change. I particulary want to thank you for the picture of rings and wedges. I trust that this is of you and I pray it would be a useful insight in moving ECBC forward. I ask that you would inspire the leadership team and encourage the church to embrace the dicsipleship materials for personal and communal growth.

Lord of all I thank you that todai I can bring all circumstances to you because you are interested in government, politics, rulers and nations. In particular today I pray for the victims and families of those killed and injured in the Spanish air crash. For those leading and living in Zimbabwe. For the political future of Pakistan. For Rachel on her 40th birthdsy. For Ruth's Dad, Ruth and the family. For Aaron and Katie and their behaviour.

Thank you Father God that you always answer prayer. Sometimes it is yeas and thats great. Sometimes it is no - please give me understanding. Sometimes it is wait - please give me patience.

Father, God of all creation I thank you today that you are in control. Whether I am aware of your hand upon my life or not, I thank you that you are shaping my future.
'And we know that God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called acording to his purpose.' Romans 8: 28

Lord I pray today that you would help me listen more carefully to you. Thank you that you speak in so many ways, give me ears to hear, a mind to understand and a will to follow what you are saying.

Father, the study of Micah has not been easy. A rather gloomy outlook and yet so true of the society in which I live today. Lord I ask today yha you would keep my eyes fixed on you that I might praise you at all times dfor who you are and what you have promised.

You are a constant and consistent God. Would you help me to live constanntly and consistently for you. Regardless of the circumstance I may find mysel in, help me to live in a manner worthy of your name. Through all I do, every day, I pray that you would be both pleased and honoured.

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans [a] of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times."

Lord help me to work out what I can do to bring about the greatness of you to more people and places.

Father God I thank you today that you have a future planned for me. A future where you will prosper and bless. I pray that today you may start to align my life that I may recieve the full blessing you have instore for me.

Leadership is clearly a difficult task! I thank you that this is something you have called me too, yet I pray that you would guide and equip me in all aspects of leadership. Lord I pray that your light would shine through me.

Thank you Father that you always give guidance. Today I especially thank you for your word in micah. I am thankful that you ahve through your son removed my sin. I pray you would help me reflect on my sinful nature and remove areas of my life that cause offense to you so that I might bring you joy.

Micah
Lord I realise today that it is not only you who has your eyes on me but also my family, friends and work colleagues. I ask for those who look uo and respect me that I may be a true example of what it means to folloow you. Lord through me I pray that others may see and find you.

Lord Jesus thank you for the maternal, protecting image of a mother hen with her chicks. Thank you that I am yours, I belong to you, when you call I pray I would come eagerly not reluctantly and notrefusing to come at all. Please be clear in your call so that Imight hear and respond.

Lord, the challenge from your word today for me is twofold. Firstly a need to get seriuos about life after death investing in my heavenly bank account a feature again. Secondly not to make presumptions about others faith. Only you know the heart. I pray you would use me to help many enter through the departure gate.

Thank you Father for the scripture of the mustard seed and yeast. I pray for myslef at work and thank you for the position I have, the influence and the respect I have. I ask that you would keep me rooted in you that the yeast may spread through the whole batch of dough. (the school community)

Thank you for the challenge of following you. Lord although it is sometimes difficult tp follow, I long to live a life that not only pleases you but also brings you glory. I therefore invite you to search my heart and xhallenge any wrong or delfish attitude within me.

Jesus dealt with the actual problem rather than the superficial problem. Lord I nivite you to do this with me. I pray you would search me and teach me about the big issues in my life. Help me to resolve these so that in turn the smaller issues would resolve themselves. Where would you have me work?

I learnt today Jesus that division is the outcome of your mission not the puropse of it. Lord when I find myself expereincing a divisive situation I pray you would help me take a stand for you. When it is all about me I pray you wouldgive me strength, courage and humility to give ground.

"This is our God, the Servant King"
Lord would you help me to expereince serving you as a joy and not a chore. Thank you that you, who deserves to be served the most came to serve, help me to serve in a way that brings honour to you.

Thank you Father that you provide and sustain all that is good. You create and sustain the birds of the air and theflowers in the fields. Lord help me not to worry about being provided for but to trust you for everything I need and to enjoy life in all its fulness.

Father thank you for the many blessings you have given me, some material possessions but the most important are not. Help me develop a right attitude towards possesions - help me build up credit in my heavenly bank account not the one I have here on earth.

Happy Anniversary - 17 years today. Father thank you for your help and guidance over the last 17 years. I also thank you for the help you have given me in developing my realtionship with you. I pray you would continue to help me live for you and stand up for what I believe in, trusting in Holy Spirit to help and guide me

Father thank you for your word today - Ex 23: 20
'See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to a place I have prepared.' Thank you for the angel protecting us in the coach accident. I pray for the man from Hamburg involved in the crash. Be with us all today, especially Aaron.

For me Father today's reading holds a lot, but the thing that struct me the most was about sabbath. Although I sometimes struggle to rest on a weekly basis, I am so looking forward to this years holiday. Please be with me and all the family causing us to enjoy one another, your creation and you.