“The wise people will shine like the brightness of the sky. Those who teach others to live right will shine like stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12 v 3 NIV) It is love which makes us shine, The love we share with Jesus. Jesus exhibits our Father’s compassion, His mercy, His steadfast ever loving kindness. This is a true love given in faithfulness. Such love shines brightly, Cutting across, shining through self-centredness. Christian service is not worthy of the name Unless it works in the same way as Jesus, Ever lovingly, tolerantly, being kindly. To this fashion we are united as believers. Others cannot, will not see the Lord Jesus, Alive and active in us, unless we are loving. Love is born to us at Christmas, To remain with us forever for we have God’s Son, the holy One, our Healer. Divine love is powerful, effective, directive. Thus love shines brightly in word, action and intention. It is full of merciful forgiveness whenever necessary. That is why love heals the hurts and broken heartedness. Love is the gift of the life of the Lord Jesus, A perfect life of godly reverence lovingly given. Heaven reaches down to earth in the birth of Christ Jesus, He, who as the Word made flesh, is love manifest. “ ‘I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches’.” (Revelation 22 v 16) “I am the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star’.” (Revelation 22 v 16) Please pray that the Lord Jesus will be understood as the dawn of the new, eternal Day. “ ‘I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.” (Revelation 1 v 18) “Every good and every perfect gift is from above...” (James 1 v 17) is love, and should be used in the service of others. Please pray to this end as “Through the Word of truth, He chose to give us new birth...” (v 18 The Truth) Love is active and productive. Please pray to live a life of love through sharing everything with the Lord Jesus. He is our Advent hope of true love. “ ‘He shall build a house for My name and He shall be My Son and I will be His Father; and I will establish the throne of His kingdom over Israel forever.” (1 Chronicles 22 v 10) The Lord calls us to be a witness to Jesus, of the line of King David. He comes to us as Messiah and Saviour. Please pray to share in His completely loving, holy kindness. “ ‘...I will bring on them all the good that I have promised them.” (Jeremiah 32 v 42) Love is the witness, the true love of the Lord Jesus. He is not only our Christmas joy and peace, but the living hope as our forever Saviour. Please pray for the world to know this, by the love of Jesus alive in us, that the season of Christmas makes a real difference to the world at all times, in all places and situations. May the light of the Lord Jesus’ love ever shine as brightly as the twinkling stars of heaven above. Amen. 23.12.20 Sue O’Donnell

Make the most of post! You sent messages of cheer When Christmas was near. What about thoughts Caught up in ideas Of the New Year? Seasonally festive cheer Lasts up until 12th night, But could continue all year, And should if we care. So there must be somebody Who would welcome a letter, And the sooner the better! What about a resolution To make friendly contact a solution, To offer support more regularly. Yes, write and post a letter or card, It is not very hard to do! And is so much more personal Than the mechanism of Email. Maybe for somebody your effort Could make all the difference To their ability to more than exist, But instead live happily Throughout January and beyond, Assured of Your friendship, Feeling confident in this. For surely the meaning of Christmas, The love gifted us in the birth of Christ Jesus, Was not meant for only a season! The reason for Christmas lives on. It is in the inspiration God given, Of our friendship with the Lord Jesus, We can offer our time and efforts To be friendly to any in need. Let us continue then To make the most of post! Lord, yesterday when I visited an elderly lady recently out of hospital, I saw and heard her delight at the cards of good wishes for her speedy recovery. Some had been sent by people she hardly knew. I was witnessing the manner of love the Lord Jesus inspires us to. Thank You. May our words of support in an appropriate card or better carry the love of Jesus to others, especially any who as yet have not come to faith. Today I need to write to a cousin on the tragic loss of his 36 year old daughter. I need please, to write in a way that is Jesus’ way. Please give me the words to say. Amen. 11.01.21 Sue O’Donnell

Silver, It is precious. How great is our awareness? Silver is fabulous, A sheen of God’s glory, Reflective of light. And light is a symbol Of the love God has for us, Also highly prized And most precious. Silver Like all colour, Has a real purpose, To allow God To speak to us, To seek us Through our awareness. Let us then Look at this. Silver Carries a message Reflective of life, Life in its fullness God’s own love for us. No wonder then This colour is precious. Creator Lord, You speak to us through awareness. We see the precious metals You gift life with and this can start to make us think about all sorts of aspects of life. Then we need to pray to find answers! Please keep us seeking, praying and finding the countless ways in which You bless us that life is enriched. Thank You for doing this and for helping us to glimpse Your glory. Amen. 04.02.21 Sue O’Donnell

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High.” (Psalm 92 v 1 NIV) The God of love does not just show love, For He is love itself, The fullness of which we find in Christ Jesus. Experience His friendship in holiness And life is radically changed. Changed because we move away from self-centredness, The basis of all the sin that ever was, Is currently and ever will be, our selfishness. Pure love obliterates this firmly, finally. Love is active, protective, effective when holy. “For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3 v 16 NLT) This love calls forth our worship. We offer back to our Father the love of Christ Jesus. For all our good is in the life and death Of Christ Jesus, His life given to us freely in all holiness. This love purifies, transforms and sanctifies. For such love is rich in merciful forgiveness, Our Saviour Brother is the Healer Restorer. His victory at the †, an offering of love entirely Wins forgiveness for us, love paying sins’ penalty. Our defence is the power of merciful love graciously given. “When they call on Me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honour them, I will reward them with a long life and give them My salvation.” (Psalm 91 v 15, 16 NLT) Such love is gifted us in the Bread of heaven, The living Bread come down to nourish our faithfulness. The † becomes the tree of life in this holy sacrament, Giving fruit in life giving prayer And in deeds of kindness, justice and mercy towards all. All godly efforts made in Jesus’ name are blessed, In God’s time, in God’s way, when we make ready. To become ready, we simply have to keep praying, Asking for The Spirit of blessing to impact upon us. He turns the world into a more lovingly, worshipping society. “And I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children.” (Isaiah 44 v 3 NLT) “The godly will flourish ...For they are planted to the LORD’s own house, they flourish in the courts of our God.” (Psalm 92 v 12, 13 NLT) Let us pray with thanksgiving for each and every blessing made ours in Christ Jesus. Let us pray with thanksgiving for the season of Lent with its uplifting focus on the † of Christ Jesus and all this accomplished. Let us pray because our Father “Has made it possible for us to be right and acceptable in His eyes, but this has nothing to do with religious law,” (Romans 3 v 21 The Truth) which we continually fail to adhere to. Let us pray with rejoicing that our merciful Father “Provided the gift of righteousness!” (v 22) Let us pray to proclaim our right standing as secured for us, having been set “...Free from the guilt of sin and all condemnation, but only through faith in Jesus Christ.” (v 22 cont) Let us pray confidently and expectantly as “This righteousness, this total acceptance by God, is His gift to all who believe in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.” (v 22) Let us pray with thanksgiving for each and every aspect of love’s fullness, as shown to us by Christ Jesus, in the Holy Spirit. Let us pray with warmest thanksgiving to exalt and esteem our ever merciful Father of love, total love. Let us pray for the joy of knowing the Lord Jesus as Saviour and Master. Let us pray in appreciation of all the Holy Spirit’s efforts to purify and sanctify our love in response to the amazing, utterly life changing power of holy love. Amen. 18.02.21 Sue O’Donnell

The trees are decorated, Stockings are hung, Tonight is the night Someone special will come! Santa Claus busy on his way, Presents piled high loading his sleigh. He comes to all children, Showing such loving kindness. May this be a reminder Of the arrival of Christ Jesus, His heart of love Is why we celebrate Christmas, Santa and Jesus both come with a purpose, A purpose for which our Father in heaven wishes. Therefore He portrayed to all mankind A love truly beneficial we can readily find. For whereas Saint Nicholas’ kindness is confined to Christmas, The Child we call ‘Jesus’ will ever be with us. Ever amongst us God’s kindly love and mercy to show Encouraging us in this love our faith to grow. For the lasting benefits of Christmas are joy indeed. Love tends to smother whatever their need. True love likes to give, give and give. This is the reason why Jesus did live. He was born with a holy purpose. Love comes to earth tangibly at Christmas. A season opens of goodwill to all men, Holiness offers us happiness again and again. The long lasting message of this time of year, Is the Lord God of heaven to earth draws near. Jesus our joy is the ever living hope, Love finds a way with plenty of scope. Every kindly act of self giving, A sign that the Lord Jesus still is living. For the story of Christmas, the Nativity When to Mary, in a stable is born a Baby, This is no ordinary, everyday birth, A thing most miraculous has happened on earth. We love Him because He first loved us, Love is God’s meaning and message at Christmas. Joy to our world, each and every day, Love born as Jesus in a manger lay. Goodwill is truly sent on its heavenly way. Let this kindness move freely amongst us, The world will see we’ve been influenced by Jesus. Lord, when the angels appeared in the night sky, announcing the wonderful news of the Lord Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, the words they sang said: “ ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men’.” (Luke 2 v 14). Now it is up to us to make this a reality. May it happen for this truly would be joy to the earth. Amen. 19.12.20 Sue O’Donnell

“O You, who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come ...As for our transgressions, You will provide atonement for them. Blessed is the (wo)man You choose and cause to approach You.” (Psalm 65 v 1, 3, 4) Love having been the call made by Jesus, Love has to be our total daily focus. Love which is entirely self giving. Love gives completely for others in all our living. Love has to be the hallmark of Christianity, Love being our life given to Jesus, the Lord of glory. Love is the activity of the Holy Spirit. Love is God in us, a work of His own merit. Love comes to claim us through Christ Jesus. Jesus longs to possess us in Jesus, our Saviour, a true Lord. Love overflows with godly purpose regularly. “Who else is there for me in heaven? And with You, I lack nothing on earth.” (Psalm 73 v 18 TNJB) Love shines brightly overcoming adversity. Love is a life joined with the Trinity. Love is abounding, astounding us frequently. Love is seen as Jesus gives His life on the †, Love, His very life sacrificed to heal all of us. Love is greater than anything and everything. Love Is the message the Spirit does bring. Love sees wonders made anew. Love is at work through a life given to man by You. Love asks Jesus to possess us. Love acts in and through the Spirit of holiness. “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone works wonders; blessed be forever His glorious name. May the whole world be filled with His glory. Amen! Amen!” (Psalm 72 v 18, 19 TNJB) Love in Jesus is faith’s attraction. Love most truly gifts a holy purpose in action. Love of the Spirit forges our new identity. Love is never lofty, it acts always with humility. Love is gracious, freely received by being godly. Love is glorious, freshly given being our sanctity. Love breaks up the rife of poverty. Love releases incentive skills powerfully. Love is reliable in offering dependency. Love is our witness, to Jesus, a testimony. Love is God’s uplift we need continuously. “For the LORD God is a rampart and shield, He gives grace and glory; the LORD refuses nothing good to those whose life is blameless. O LORD of hosts, blessed is (s)he who trusts in You.” (Psalm 84 v 11, 12 TNJB) Love is the basis of sharing prayerfully. Love marks the journey home to heaven. Love is the ingredient and life’s leaven. Love is the signpost offering clear direction. Love is the means, a holy connection. Love is made ours by the gift of Jesus. Love is the message, the point of Christmas. Love the gift of Jesus sending His Spirit of holiness. Love blesses life, God’s love is most marvellous. Love comes to us at Christmas. Love necessitates preparation for God’s gift of happiness. “React with real joy when you have to face many kinds of opposition and difficulty, for you know that we only learn to persevere when our faith is tested.” (James 1 v 2, 3 The Truth) “This perseverance is essential if we are to become mature, being the people God wants us to be, lacking nothing. You should ask God to supply the wisdom you need, for He gives generously and unreservedly to all who ask.” (James 1 v 4, 5 The Truth) Dearest Father, we need the Holy Spirit of love to help us prepare properly for Christmas, making ready to receive the mystery of the Nativity, love come to earth to remain with us forever. Thank You for the forthcoming gift of our Saviour, who sends us Your Spirit, His very own Spirit as Sanctifier. The teachings of sacred Scripture are invaluable. We are told “Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.” (Isaiah 9 v 6) May the world come to accept Jesus’ holy authority over us at all times. May the Holy Spirit help us with this. To hear that Jesus’ “Name will be called Wonderful” is to know we will be gifted true love; “Counsellor” is to realise Jesus is full of the Holy Spirit, having been conceived by Him; “Mighty God, Everlasting Father” is to appreciate the perfectly loving unity of the Holy Trinity; “The Prince of Peace” (v 6) is to rejoice in the hope, peace and joy that awaits us. Thank You that Jesus is infinitely stronger than satan, even though the devil holds the keys to the kingdom of this world. Love alone will conquer his dominion finally. Thank You for all that Jesus has already accomplished through gaining love’s forgiveness at the †, enabling us to forgive as we have been forgiven. May Christmas be a season of love and forgiveness for all of us because Jesus, the Lord, is born amongst us to purify, preserve, direct and consecrate us by the Holy Spirit. May our openness to and reverence for the Spirit help us to love perfectly, safeguarded against all that is unloving, for that is evil. Thank You for the daily loving care You offer us Father God, helping us to persevere through life in a love of You which is sincere, uplifting, encouraging, beneficial always, giving rise to countless blessings and innumerable benefits. It is the Holy Spirit who has helped our awareness that we are made Your children, one family in Christ Jesus. What joy this is! Advent is a season of realistic hope in salvation giving rise to joy through the birth of Jesus, our Saviour Redeemer, Prince of Peace and King of Glory, for all times and all peoples on earth. Profoundly we are blessed, thank You! I pray for unbelievers, asking that their hearts and minds be opened by the Holy Spirit, to recognise the love Jesus offers us. Blessed be everybody as they prepare for Christmas when “The saving grace of God has appeared for all men” (Titus 2 v 12 The Truth) in the Word of Truth made flesh amongst us. May we live uprightly, our hopes pinned on Jesus as Saviour, our heart and mind always open to the impulse of the Holy Spirit purifying us, teaching us to deny all that is evil entering into daily life. May we then “Pursue a righteous life - a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith,” (1 Timothy 6 v 11The Message) love beckoning us on. May the Spirit of love prompt us to “Seize the eternal life, the life we are called to,” (based on v 12) as we place all our hope in Jesus, about to be born to us to live in us forever. Already we rejoice to have a forever Saviour, making us know You as our Eternal Father, because the Lord who is the Messiah, the anointed King over heaven and earth, out of love for us sends us His own Spirit of holiness to ensure the blessings of grace are available to us, without shade or shadow of disappointment. Glorious is the result of our belief in and acceptance of the holy love born to us at Christmas. All praise, all thanks, all glory, ever, ever be. Amen. 10.12.20 Sue O’Donnell

“See what you have become, people chosen by God Himself. A royal priesthood because you offer your lives in sacrifice as those who live to the King.” (1 Peter 2 v 9 The Truth) As Jesus lives in us, The point of access to Him Is often through us, Through our heart Given over to love. Love in all godly purpose, Love in Jesus’ holiness Shared with us freely. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting sand.” (James 1 v 17) Love in God’s saving help, The rescue plan for man As shaped by a †. Agapé love is Jesus, At work in us, By the Holy Spirit, The joy of knowing Jesus, Of following Him. “ ‘You do not understand the significance of what I am doing now, but later you will understand’.” (John 13 v 7) The joy of this friendship As both Saviour and Brother, This is to be shared By us, through the † . Jesus, alive and active In us, through us By means of the Spirit, Life enhancing, shaping. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…’” (Luke 11 v 2) The remarkable Spirit The Spirit of the Lord God Almighty, And His Son, our Saviour, This Spirit works with us Re-shaping our life in purity, Making holy charity to be Of supreme relevance, And an essential importance. We are united with Jesus. “You are a holy nation, not a nation with geographical boundaries, but a people set apart for God, a people who truly belong to Him.” (1 Peter 2 v 9 The Truth) Belonging as Lord, as Saviour, As Master and Brother, As our Father’s living, ever loving Continuous Word of truth. The Spirit of holiness Bonds us together with Jesus, For this is our Father’s wish, Desire, design and fine redemptive plan. “Give us this day our daily bread – the bread of Your body; the necessary bread to the poor at home and the poor across the world; the bread of truth to this disturbed generation.” (The Global Our Father) The fabric of Christianity Is woven by the Spirit, All and ever holy. This fabric is interfaced Laced by love, by respect For each other, forever, And the close companionship Our Saviour Brother offers us. “I ask for the abundance of peace. I ask for the full vessels of charity. I ask for the rich treasures of mercy. I ask for cheerfulness to preside over all. I ask for Jesus to be present, for whenever two or three gather in His name He is present among us.” (based on a prayer of St. Brigid) Holy love helps and heals, Strengthens, supports and sustains, Maintains and moves us forwards In ready pursuit of holiness, Secured in love’s power, Our hope, our peace, our joy, our confidence, All are found in Jesus’ companionship, Grounded firmly by the Spirit overcoming worry. “It’s the tiny worries piling up from day to day, that take the spirit out of you and make you old and grey. “ (Source not known) All to the glory of God is our faith. Life’s worries, frets and fears, We get over together, In Jesus, by the Spirit, Because His holiness Is shaped in all wisdom With a universal truth, As taught and brought in Jesus, By the industrious Holy Spirit. “For we have great thankfulness and encouragement through Thy love…” (Philemon 1 v 7 DBT) “Praise the LORD! I will thank the LORD with all my heart, as I meet with His godly people.” (Psalm 111 v 1) For the Lord Jesus tells us very clearly that He has “Come to save (wo)men, not destroy them.” (Luke 9 v 55 The Truth) This is the goodness of the gospel we live by, the gospel of a hope which is realistic. Having been gifted a Saviour most mercifully, may many, many more people come to accept who Jesus is and live by His request to us to love at all times. May the power of holy love be evident, prevalent, active and effective as we open ourselves prayerfully to the impact and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, empowering our understanding of holy love and mercy. We are lost to this impact and godly influence without the experience of the Lord Jesus’ friendship as Saviour and Your living Word, Father, that which the Holy Spirit imprints upon our heart and mind. I pray for those who resist this message of love, giving rise to hope, to a peace and joy which is full now, and eternally gifted us in Jesus. I pray too, for those who have been taught love’s truth, but have fallen away. Lord dearest Father, as You hear and answer all prayer, call us back to Your side, through Your mercy shown in gifting us salvation, and Your favour won for us by the risen and ascended, glorified Lord Jesus, sending His anointing Spirit to us. We are a redeemed people! “It is certainly true that Your kindness and the gift given through the kindness of one person, Jesus Christ, have been showered on us.” (based on Romans 5 v 15 GWT) We have so much to celebrate and be happy about, having been gifted a new life in Jesus, by the Spirit. We were lost to You, Father God, by our sinfulness, but now are reclaimed in the Lord Jesus. We are all saved in the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus as You made us alive in Him, by the Spirit, even whilst we were dead in our sinfulness. We have been justified freely by Your grace Lord God, through the redemption You gift us in Your beloved Son, the One nearest to Your Father heart of love and mercy. By grace we are saved, not of our doing. But this free gift results in many responding, godly works of charity, which too, we must thank You for. Grace gives birth to gratitude expressed practically. “I will thank You, Lord, among all the people. I will sing Your praises among the nations.” (Psalm 57 v 9 NLT) “That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving and declare all Your wonders.” (Psalm 26 v 7) Christ is the King of Glory, our Redeemer Brother, our Saviour who sanctifies us, by the Holy Spirit, Your forgiveness, Father, emanating from the †. “For God is the King of all the earth.” May we then in rejoicing, “Sing praises with understanding” (Psalm 47 v 7 NEB) this day and every day. Amen. 07.09.20 Sue O’Donnell

“There is one thing I want you to know; the head of every (wo)man is Christ...” (1 Corinthians 11 v 3 NLT) Lord it struck me today That You gift love so graciously, It is no good me thinking I am doing well, offering love, Be this to anybody or even everybody, If doing this through gritted teeth! It is what is beneath the surface Which also counts in Your eyes. What does my action amount to? Is it partly self-serving? “If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13 v 3 NLT) Am I living only for the benefit of another? Or is there some other agenda, Perhaps even hidden from my consciousness? I need Your Holy Spirit’s help here. Help to discern what is good or not, What is of me, or not. I must learn to dethrone myself, To make more room for Christ Jesus. All the while I carry a hidden agenda, The Saviour Lord cannot be my full focus and accomplishment. “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honouring each other.” (Romans 12 v 9, 10 NLT) Therefore I need You, Spirit of holiness. Come Holy Spirit, descend upon us, all followers of Christ Jesus, Be our mind, heart and godly intentions put into action, Be our mention of the exalted name, Ever the same name of love found in Jesus. Be the wholeness of our intended service, The practical means by which we worship. Please bring us more fully alive In the wisdom and truth which clarifies Christ Jesus. His way, His word is love, above all else. “If I had the gift of prophecy and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had a faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13 v 2 NLT) Let there be nothing hidden, no self-serving, nor self-sufficiency, The Lord who is Himself the King of Glory, Divests of this in all humility, In order that He would share fully In the human identity, living within our family, Subject to all our trial, tribulation, challenge and difficulty. His way of life placed above the strife of sin, Is how we must begin to live so as to be holy. “And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, He identified you as His own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom He promised long ago.” (Ephesians 1 v 13 NLT) “The Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify Him.” (Ephesians 1 v 14 NLT) Please pray to this end. 16.01.21 Sue O’Donnell

“May the LORD who created the heavens and the earth give me His blessing.” (Psalm 115 v 15 CEV personalised) The best blessing is undoubtedly, The liberty won for me By Your love at Calvary, Lord Jesus. And the amazing grace freely given, Both of our Father in heaven, The Almighty One, full of mercy, And the Spirit, ever holy descending upon me. Radically You have changed my life, Re-setting its priority by faith, Whilst opening out my destiny. “The Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3 v 5) A blessed future in the company Of the all loving Trinity, eternally You made ours. Life cannot be richer than this, Full now with God’s hope and promise given. Lord Jesus, You are life to me. I think of You with joy in my heart, Peace upon my mind, set free of anxiety And hope, which I know is not imaginary. Truly I thank God for making me Yours, His and belonging to the Holy Spirit. “For all the promises of God in You are Yes, and in You Amen, to the glory of God.” (based on 2 Corinthians 1 v 20) I could not have asked for anything, More wonderful, more meaningful, more beautiful Than the reality of holy love’s power In all its healing, its grace, its appealing. Whilst the world fumbles its way in uncertainty, Held in the iron grip of the adversary, You reassure me there is no cause for anxiety, As long as we live prayerfully, conscientiously, For any good that I do will come from You. Lord Jesus, You are fully mine and I rejoice! “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8 v 6) Your choice is to give voice to love In whatever opportunity unfolds daily. In any and all acts of loving kindness You are near to me, that is plain to see when I am godly. Your instruction, Your dedication, Your preparation with me, Are all furnished fully by holy love. What an incredible blessing to share in this. I compare life before and after knowing You, Lord Jesus, Striving to become more like You as frequently as possible. I have Your Spirit to thank for this. “Uphold my steps in Your paths that my footsteps may not slip.” (Psalm 17 v 5) And I start in the Spirit to know the meaning of bliss. The best blessing of heaven is salvation, A recommendation of our Father’s love and mercy, His steadfast kindness and faithfulness, All of which Lord Jesus, You reflect to me, Plus of course, to any who call You ‘Saviour’. As an only child, I used to feel lonely, But You have given me a world wide family. I used to feel acute anxiety regarding dying, You have told me You will be with me always. “ ‘I am with you always even to the end of the earth’.” (Matthew 28 v 20) Always there to accompany me home. I used to stray and roam not knowing Your guidance, But hopefully this is improving as I learn. I delight in the reference point of the sacred Scriptures. I know You as the living Word of God, My healing help, my happiness, my holiness. Lord Jesus, full of such godly purpose, Please stay with me, always drawing me closer. Let Your Spirit be my faith’s energy and commitment, Heaven sent to safeguard and guide me. “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5 v 16) I ask that You continue to help me To be fully pleasing and honouring to our Father. I will be if I live fully in You, Lord of life. Blessings abound wherever You are, Meaning I am not far from heaven. This is my faith, my belief, my certainty. Thank You for gifting me a new identity, Stamped by Your love’s authority. May all that I do, please You Lord Jesus. May all that I can be, please the Trinity. “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.” (Psalm 4 v 1) Please qualify me and my family Such a most wonderful gift of Your love, Please qualify us, for entry to heaven together. For You alone are our Saviour, our Brother. Fulfilling our Father’s every promise without exception, You are our security shaped by love’s identity. I thank You, I praise You, I glory in You. Lord Jesus, ever be for me, the life within me That is true to our Father’s call to love, This love in its entirety reflects a holy personality. “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4 v 19) Such is my aim and purpose Lord Jesus, To become for the Trinity, the person You all have blessed me to be, Which is of course, the very best version of myself, However many times revision has to happen. I do need Your help continuously, But I know this will be given, thank heaven. Blessed to become a blessing, Lord Jesus, live in me. You make me so very, very, happily contented. “With all my heart I praise the LORD and with all that I am, I praise His holy name!” (Psalm 103 v 1 CEV) “I will never forget how kind He has been. The LORD forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, and protects us from death. His kindness and love are a crown on our heads. Each day that we live, He provides for our needs and gives us the strength of a young eagle.” (Psalm 103 v 2-5 CEV) Lord God of mercy, You forgive all who turn to You, calling on the name of the Lord Jesus as Saviour, the Divine Healer. Thank You for this immeasurable gift. Lord God, “You bless everyone whose sins You forgive and wipe away. You bless them saying ‘You told Me your sins, without trying to hide them, and now I forgive you’.” (Psalm 32 v 1, 2 CEV) Through Your mercy, according to the exemplary life and sacrificial death of our Saviour Brother, “As high as the sky is above the earth, so great is Your love for those who honour You.” (based on Psalm 103 v 11 GNT) I delight to honour You through my friendship with the Lord Jesus, the Light of the world and my Saviour Brother. He redeems me and all believers and fully we are blessed. I offer all thanks and praise for all You do for us, all You are to us, all that we see and hear reflected in the ever loving life of the Lord Jesus, as His and Your Spirit animate our friendship. “When they call on Me, I will answer them, I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honour them You promise us through the Lord of love, Your Word of life who so blesses us.” (Psalm 91 v 15 NLT) All the grace and favour the Lord Jesus has won for us at the †, means that when life gets tough, as is so often the case, You, Lord God, are “Our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46 v 1 WEB) Thank You for this ever loving mercy so kindly meant and a real relief amidst suffering. “Blessed are all those who take refuge” (Psalm 2 v 12) in You, Lord God, through the Lord Jesus as prompted by the Holy Spirit. When we are afraid we look to Jesus and the †, rely upon merciful forgiveness and are uplifted. “I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.” (Psalm 16 v 8 NLT) The Lord Jesus “Is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 127 v 1 KJU) The Lord Jesus is fullness of life, my hope, my peace, my joy, why should I worry. Jesus is Your truth, dearest Father. He promises to be ever with us. He and the Holy Spirit are inseparable. Therefore as a Trinity You are with me, with all believers all of the time without exception. What a blessing. It is You, Lord God, through Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, “Who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.” (Psalm 18 v 32) I rejoice to be enabled to worship You as I pray, offering my thoughts through the One who saves me from condemnation. I have a Saviour, a Brother who is Your Word of life and offer of unfailing, true love, being the Light of the world and who blesses me with hope, and peace, gifting me unparalleled joy! “What shall I render to You, LORD for all Your benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the LORD,” (Psalm 116 v 12, 13) whom we call ‘Jesus’ because He sets us free from our sins. All thanks, all praise, all glory ever be to the most wondrous Trinity who long to shower blessings upon us, make this possible and wait for our response. Amen. 12.09.20 Sue O’Donnell