My Journal

Proverbs 1: 20-33
Father, in this passage, wisdom is personified. Lord I thank you that when you walked the earth you demonstrated complete wisdom. Holy Spirit I thank you that you help me gain wisdon through the word but also through expereinces. Father I ask that you would help me recognise when I need to call upon you for extra wisdom.

Proverbs 1: 1-19
Lord you have offereed me wisdom through your word. Help me not only to understand how to live wisely but to expereince it in reality. For me, wisdom will be demonstrated through careful reflection and not rushing in, help me always to remember this.

Psalm 128
I praise you Ftahr God that you have blessed me abundantly. This blessing is clear in my life right now and you have promised me that it will be even more clear in the future. You have promised blessing through the creation of a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no more suffering, pain or injustice. Have your way in my life that your plan and purposes may be worked out for me and through me.

Rom 4: 18 - 25
Father God, thank you that through one man, the Lord Jesus Christ, man have been made righteous. Lord od, I ask that you would give me a trust similar to Abrahams, when faced with seemingly hipeless situations he trusted you completely. Help me never doubt but instead have confidence in you and your sovereignty in your world.

Gen 24: 34-67
Thank you for yesterday, in every way you showed yourself to be faithful. Would you help me demonstrate my faith in you by the things I do today. Actions do speak louder than words. I ask that this may me the case today. I want people I meet to see you through my actions - will you help me please.

Gen 24: 1-33
Lord God I thank you that you don't just have a big picture view of what I am doing but that you are interested in the detail too. Father there is a lot of detail in my day today! and I give it all to you now. Lord as I encounter each person today would you help me know what you would have me say and do in each situation.

Gen 23: 1-20
Lord I thank you that you keep your promises. Would you help me to know and understand the promises you have given me through your word. Would you also help me in playing my part in keeping them.

Gen 22: 1-19
This is a familiar story and says as much about Abraham's fiath in you as it does about your love for him. I thank you that in testing times you do provide for me, that I may not be overwheled by what I am experiencing. Would you help my faith in you grow and my love for you deepen through every situation I find myself in.

Gen 21: 1-21
Father I thank you that you often work through messy situations. Lord the vvery nature of human will and relationships is a messy one and I ask that you would help me in the difficult relationships I have to see you at work and to see your desire for all to be loved. Thank you that you don't reject prople, help me not too either.

Psalm 44
Father my relationship with you in many ways is similar to other relationships I have, it ebbs and flows. There are times of great excitemtn, of great dissappointment, of a lot of conversation and sometimes none. Lord help me to know your constant watch over me and your constant desire to have relationship with me.

Blessed be your name,
In the land that is plentiful
Where your streams of
abundance flow,
Blessed be your name
Blessed be your name,
When I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness,
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out I’ll
turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in Lord, still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name,
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s all as it should be,
Blessed be your name
Blessed be your name,
When the road’s marked with suffering
When there’s pain in the offering,
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out I’ll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in Lord, still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away,
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say,
Lord blessed be your name

Jude 3-7, 17-25
Help me Father to -

- Build up my faith
- Pray in the Holy Spirit
- Remain in your love
- Wait for Jesus return
- Be merciful to doubters
- Snatch others from the fire
- Hate all that is evil

Amen

Gen 20: 1-18
I have enjoyed this study of Abraham over the past couple of weeks. Today I am reminded of his humanness and weakness and am therfore reminded of my own. I ask Father God that you would help me avoid repeated sin and that you would give me a strategy when I feel tempted. Thank you God that through Abraham's account you are faithful and yearn for relationship. You have not changed since and I am grateful for that.

Gen 19: 1-29
Lord often I am like abraham described in this account. My motives may be right, but my actions are either wrong or foolish. Father you are strong in my foolishness, you protect me from trouble and you love me completely even though I often mess things up. The words of this song express how I feel about you.

This is the air I breathe
this is the air I breathe
Your holy presence living in me

this is my daily bread
this is my daily bread
Your very word spoken to me

And I, I'm desperate for you
And I, I'm I'm lost without you

this is the air I breathe
this is the air I breathe
Your holy presence living in me

this is my daily bread
this is my daily bread
Your very word spoken to me

And I, I'm desperate for you
And I, I'm I'm lost without you

And I, I'm desperate for you,
And I, I'm lost without you,

I'm lost without you,

I'm lost without you.

I'm lost without you.

I'm lost without you Lord,

this is the air I breathe
this is the air I breathe
Your holy presence living in me

this is my daily bread
this is my daily bread
Your very word spoken to me

And I, I'm desperate for you
And I, I'm lost without you.

Gen 18: 16-33
Fathr God I pray that you would help me develop my relationship with you so that I can approach you with the boldness and respect demonstrated by Abraham in this passage. Help me today to ask questions of you as I experience life. Help me know it is OK to question. Will you reveal to me what you are doing? Can I change your mind? - I don't know.

Gen 18: 1-15
I thank you for Abraham's example of hospitality and generosity. It reminds me of your hospitality, you have prepared a place for me in heaven and your generosity, you have given me so much. Lord in my society hospitality and generosity do not come naturally and so I ask that you would develop these traits within me to those OI know and to the unexpected visitor or caller.

Gen 17: 1-27
Lord I thank you that I am reminded this morning about your comittment to me. Lord you require dedication from me and in this account rgarding Abraham's life it was around circumcision. Lord you indeed want me to cut away the areas of my life that are not pleaseing to you that I may be wholly dedicated to you. Help me recognise the areas I need to remove that I may more and more live according to your plan.

Psalm 13
Lord God, when it is quiet and you appear not to be saying naything I sometimes wonder where you have gone. I reflect today and think about 2 possibilities. You are happy with what I am doing and where I am headed and therefore there is no need to speak to bring correction. On the other hand it may be that you want me to remove a barrier so that we can communicate more fully. Help me to have complete assurance that you are always there.

Rom 4: 1-17
I really like this suggestion that the word righteous may have come from 'rihtwis', rightwise or right ways. I thank you that the later describes a way of living that is in accordance with your plan ann brings you pleasure. Lord I do want to grow in the way you have designed me to. Lord I thank you that you provide the right environment to grow, help me do my part so that I may know you even better and live in a way that brings you glory.

Gen 16: 1-16
Father God, you know us all before we were born, you saw us as we were in our mothrs wombs. I pray Father, that you would watch over the care I give to precious chldren just as you watch over your precios children. I thank you that you know each one and I ask that you would help me know, care and love them. Help me to encourage them to fulfil thier potential regardless of the background they have been born into.

Gen 15: 1-21
Lord I do want my faith in you to grow. I realise that my faith demonstrated in my actions is the main way in which I grow. I therefore ask that you would give me opportunities to live out my faith. I oray that my actions would show clearly how much I love and trust you.

BE THOU MY VISION,
O Lord of my heart,
Naught be all else to me,
Save that Thou art;
Thou my best thought in the
Day and the night,
Waking or sleeping,
Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my wisdom,
Be Thou my true word,
I ever with Thee,
And Thee with me Lord;
Thou my great Father,
And I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling,
And I in Thee one.

Be Thou my breastplate,
My sword for the fight;
Be Thou my armour,
And be Thou my might;
Be my soul’s shelter,
Be Thou my high tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward,
O Power of my power.

Riches I need not,
Nor man’s empty praise:
Thou my inheritance
All of my days;
Thou and Thou only
Thou first in my heart:
High King of heaven,
My treasure Thou art.

O High King of heaven,
When battle is done,
Grant heaven’s joys to me,
Bright heaven’s sun;
Christ of my own heart,
Whatever befall,
Still be my vision,
Thou ruler of all.

Gen 14: 1-24
Lord I thank you that, although I live in a society that is insular in many ways, I am part of a community that can and does rely upon one another for practical help, support and encouragement. I thank you for placing me in ECBC and ask that you would use me in the position you have called me to to make a difference to lives, families and communities.

Gen 13: 1-18
Lord I thank you for this passage. In particular what impresses me is Abram's desire to follow you. It is more important to him than anything else. Thank you that he knew his God and wouldn't let family events stop him on his journey following you. I pray for my family and ask that you would show me where I need to step back to allow you to do your work and have your way.

Gen 12: 1-20
I am thinking this morning about truth. Lord you know me fully and accept me. There is no point in my tryoing to decieve you. As for my family and friends they know me too, but I ask that you would help me be completeley open and honest with them. Lord I pray that my friends and colleagues may see the real me and though me see you.

Psalm 119: 89-112
Lord God, your word is a lamp to my feet and a light unto my path. Lord I love this image, in particular the idea of walking in pitch darkness with only the light of a torch to show the next couple of steps ahead. I thank you that this is how you direct me, one step at a time. I thank you for our journey so far and look forward to the way ahead.

Mark 16: 9-20
Lord, as you met your disciples after your resuurection I can imagine their excitemnt and their anxiety. Lord you have called me into the world to be a witnes for you. I ask that you would give me courage to go and that you would walk with me. Help me Lord Jesus to live more and more for you each day.

1 Cor 16: 1-24
Father I have really enjoyed this study of 1 Corinthians over the last couple of weeeks. I have been inspired as I have learnt more about the work of Holy Spirit. Today I have considered giving and am reminded once more that the Spirit's work in my life is not for my benefit but for the benefit of others and therefore I ask that in my givining I may bring glory to you and blessing to your people.

1 Cor 15: 35-58
Lord I sometimes struggle to imagine what it will be like in heaven for eternity. Time is a strange thing and although I can imagine most of my life, beyond death I struggle. I am not fearful of death but I am concerned about my loved ones I will leave behind. Jesus I thank and praise you for the victory you have won, help me live, showing the hope I have of a life spent with you in eternity.

1 Cor 15: 12-34
Lord I guess in many ways the Church in Corinth was pretty similar to the Church in Redcar. For a whole host of reasons we get things wromng, we follow the ways of the world and not your ways. Would you help me live accoriding to your will and purpose that I may be an example to all around me. I praise your Lord Jesus for dying on the ctoss for me and for being raised to life so that one day I may do the same.

1 Cor 15:1-11
This passage reminds me so much of this great song we use in worship.

Jesus, You’re my firm foundation
I know I can stand secure;
Jesus, You’re my firm foundation
I put my hope in your holy word,
I put my hope in your holy word.

Men: I have a living hope
Women: I have a living hope
Men: I have a future;
Women: I have a future;
Men: God has a plan for me,
Women: God has a plan for me,
Men: Of this I’m sure,
Women: Of this I’m sure.

Jesus, You’re my firm ……….

Men: Your word is faithful,
Women: Your word is faithful,
Men: Mighty in power
Women: Mighty in power
Men: God will deliver me,
Women: God will deliver me,
Men: Of this I’m sure,
Women: Of this I’m sure.

I pray Lord Jesus that this wouldn't just be a great song, but the truth on which I build my life. Lord may this be for me an opportunity for me to fully grasp my faith and live a life that demonstrates your love for me and the world around me.

1 Cor 14: 26-40
Lord you are the God of order. I thankyou for the learning I have developed over the the last week about the purposes of Holy Spirit. Today I am again reminded that the gifts the Spirit gives are for corporate edification not peersonal gratification. Lord I pray that order may be the experience at ECBC, not to quench Spirit's flow but to let you have an opportunity to speak to all.