Sing to the Lord, and praise him! Proclaim every day the good news that he has saved us (Psalm 96.2, GNB).
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Opening
Speak these words out loud:
Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6.9 (NIV)
Today’s Proverb
Read the proverb through three or four times, slowly. Pause in-between, maybe write it out by hand – savour the words, let them speak deeply to you.
If you find honey, eat just enough – too much of it, and you will vomit. Seldom set foot in your neighbour’s house – too much of you, and they will hate you. (NIV)
Never eat more honey than you need; too much may make you vomit. Don’t visit your neighbours too often; they may get tired of you and come to hate you. (GNB)
Proverbs 25.16-17
This is perhaps a timely reminder as we all start meeting up with friends and family again after not seeing people for months and months: it is possible to outstay one’s welcome!
This is something I find quite hard: I’m a bit of an ‘all or nothing’ person. I throw myself into things, or I don’t really bother. (That’s not entirely true, but it often is.) If you’re like that as well, this is a Proverb that you might find difficult to put into practice.
During the lockdowns Jess and I got into very bad habits with takeaways and I hit 90kg for the first time in my life (in fact I reached 92kg). That’s 14 stone 7 pounds if you prefer bizarre weights and measures (!). I have learned about myself that I can’t have ‘a bit’ of something, so the only way to break the habit (addiction?) was to go cold turkey: takeaway gets banned for a period of time.
That works for me, but what’s important is to find out where those lines are for you, before you eat too much, or your friends get fed up with you popping round all the time!
Prayers
Pray for Five – pray for your five friends / family from Thy Kingdom Come.
Our daily prayer sheet includes the names of everyone for whom we have a signed church family directory form – and local parishes and senior church leaders. Today we are praying for:
Marian Cox, Christine Farmer, Judith Walker
Father, please bless them with your peace, and a deep awareness of your presence with them, every day and in every way.
We also pray for: Youth Work – something new
Please pray for our leaders and healthcare workers, and all those working to keep us safe, well, and fed. Please pray that people would unselfishly put others before themselves.
Church Family Prayer
Come Holy Spirit,
and make us one in heart and action,
so that we can serve God faithfully:
abounding in love,
maturing in holiness,
and seeking out the lost.
Help us grow as disciples of Jesus –
in commitment, in depth, and in number –
that we may be a blessing to Amington;
to the glory and praise of God the Father.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Closing Prayer
Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labour in vain.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus
the only way to the Father.
Psalm 127.1, Hebrews 12.2 & John 14.6
May Christ our Saviour give us peace.
Amen.