Sue O’Donnell. 19.03.21
“Friend of my soul, leave me not, I pray Thee,
Lost and alone on life’s winding way.
In Thy dear Presence I fear no evil,
Walk Thou beside me night and day.”
(March 10 reflection in Patience Strong’s “Thoughts for Every Day”)
With You beside me, Lord Jesus,
I will not be fearful, nor anxious.
I will try not to worry
But to hand over to Your authority.
I am truly grateful for Your friendship.
It is Your love I make my worship.
Your love is faithfully tested and tried,
I know You are ever by my side.
Sometimes life is shrouded in darkness,
But in You, is the light of holy love’s promise.
“I will thank You Lord, among all the people. I will sing Your praises among the nations.” (Psalm 57 v 9 NLT)
I come to You and gain the attention of our Father,
This I would certainly prefer, Father
Than anything the world does offer,
Misleading in its psychology when we suffer.
For the world concentrates upon us.
But faith passes outwards on You, Lord Jesus.
In You joys are shared, sorrows are dismissed, sent away,
For You are our trusted Friend.
Your Friendship evident throughout the years,
In a bottle You collect my tears.
“ ‘Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on Me when you are in trouble and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory’.” (Psalm 50 v 14, 15 NLT)
Dreams fulfilled by an answered prayer,
Your loving presence in all we share.
I ask I plead, You come, You run.
All manner of worry and woe is undone.
Disappointments dissolve, fade away,
You gifting life an altogether brighter day.
I dream a fresh dream, a vision splendid,
With thanks for the healing of brokenness mended.
Great is Your goodness, ever loving Lord,
You send me forth by Your word.
“That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving and declare Your wonders.” (Psalm 26 v 7)
We are in charge of our personal happiness,
But are safely secured, stored, blessed by Your holiness.
Together we go through life’s storms,
My heart and mind Your true love warms.
There is a silver lining to every cloud,
You make me rejoice and sing aloud.
Prayer concentrates on all Your kindly deeds,
To furnish all our wants and all our needs.
You ease the stress and strain of life,
Lifting from us the burden of strife.
Love is powerful, love is made holy,
When through prayer to You, Lord, we belong.
“Is anyone of you in trouble? (S)he should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him (her) sing songs of praise.” (James 5 v 13 NIV)
We open a window of faith at dawn,
You come to scatter doubt every morn,
Ever bringing fresh hope and good cheer,
When we realise You are very near.
We pray to call up the Spirit of love,
Gifted from our Father, direct from above.
Happy days form, sweet in memories,
Life is full of yet to be sung, sweet melodies.
Seasons pass, time brings changes,
But Your love is so widespread over all it ranges.
“Oh give thanks to Yaweh. Call on His name. Make His doings known among the peoples.” (1 Chronicles 16 v 8 WEB)
Allowing us never to lose joy and gratitude,
For faith renews love’s every attitude.
Fate is fickle, but You are not, Lord Jesus,
We have all we need with You our focus.
For we come to our Father, in You, the Son,
And by the Spirit of holiness, new life is begun.
A life to be valued day by day,
For we learn by faith’s experience as we pray,
Nothing too hard, nothing an impossibility,
When we thrive in the love of the Holy Trinity.
“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, His love endures forever.” (1 Chronicles 16 v 34 NIV)
Keep us please, paying each day
Banishing all fear and sadness far away.
For whatever in life has gone wrong,
The reality is, to You we belong.
The future holds its own goodness store,
Heaven’s windows open to pour out more.
We may have to ask, blessings to receive,
For in the Word of life we believe.
Lord Jesus, You went willingly to the †
To mend our brokenness, restore all loss.
“Therefore I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to Your name.” (2 Samuel 22 v 50 NIV)
Life will find Your joy again
When prayer of belief is our refrain.
Of all I could claim each day at length,
It is You, Lord Jesus, who is my strength.
Your Spirit too, the Spirit of belief
Overcoming unhappiness, consoling all grief.
For the life of love our Father gifts,
Burdens of heaviness His love well shifts.
We are made to true love to belong,
Happiness through holiness becomes our song!
“Every good gift and every perfect gift from above coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting sand.” (James 1 v 17 NIV)
“...it is certainly true that God’s kindness and the gift given through the kindness of one person, Jesus Christ, have been showered on humanity.” (Romans 15 v 15)
Father of love and every mercy, through Your Son, by Your Spirit, hope is re-born in our world, which is so damaged and hurting where people do not know You. Your love is the answer to any and every difficulty.
Thank You that all believers in Christ Jesus now form His body, the Christian Church upon earth, to be active and effective in love, through the Holy Spirit of faith.
Let us then, offer You our efforts to serve by love, offering to as many as is possible, the blessings and benefits we have enjoyed by receiving our Brother as our Saviour, the Redeemer and Healer, the King of Glory.
In living through Christ Jesus, we hope for a better, brighter, holier future. “Here I am, Lord, send me to share Your love with all people. May I be empowered and carried by You to be courageous and enthusiastic in bearing faithful witness to the merciful Father, to the love of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to the divine life in the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen. (Together we are Missio. missio.org.uk)
Images by Artist Christine Garwood
http://www.christinegarwoodartist.co.uk/
Season
Key Themes
INVITATION
FAITH
