“For the sake of Your servant, O LORD, and according to You will, You have done all these great things and have made them known.” (1 Chronicles 17 v 19) What are these great things? The creation of the world In all its outstanding beauty, Us being the pinnacle of holy work. The Trinity have made us In their own likeness and image. Creation was followed by protection, And direction as to what was allowed, Plus vitally, what was forbidden. Somehow, somewhere, someone, then everyone, disobeyed. This brought chaos amongst us. “When self-indulgence is at work the results are obvious: sexual vice, impurity, and sensuality, the worship of false gods and sorcery; antagonisms and rivalry, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels, disagreements, factions and malice, drunkenness, orgies and all such things. And about these, I tell you now as I have told you in the past, that people who behave in these ways will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5 v 19, 20, 21 TNJB) Society became broken, in need of a solution. The resolution to love us remained firm however. Therefore, Father God, almighty in power Out of nothing but love for us, You sent Your Son to redeem humanity. Love became manifest in the Person of Christ Jesus. He lived to show us how to live Sending His Spirit of holiness for this purpose. Christ Jesus died willingly, giving up His body, Sacrificed at the †to earn forgiveness for us. Thus the world is saved from condemnation and final damnation. “Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation say continually, ‘Let God be magnified’.” (Psalm 70 v 4) Salvation is a heavenly process Using holy love and mercy in sovereign authority. We are rescued from our enemies of self-will, Self-delusion, self-acceptance, self-righteousness. This is replaced mercifully, by holy wisdom Which spells out the truth to us. We have no life of value inherently. We have to turn to the Lord Jesus as Saviour And look to the Holy Spirit as Purifier. Only those with a good and sound morality Will come to share in holy glory eternally. “This is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing His glory.” (Colossians 1 v 27 NLT) Our knowledge of acceptance and deliverance Is learned, earned as we pray and study. Study the sacred Scriptures, the written word of life, Which are vividly emphasised by Christ Jesus’ example. The Holy One, God’s Son, is our right standing. In this position is His commanding over us. Christ Jesus wishes for us to be submissive To His teaching in all truth and His working of faith. The ugly strife is sin is being lifted from us, In the love of our Saviour Brother, According to the working of the Holy Spirit of faith. “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” (Galatians 5 v 16 NLT) Our redemption, our salvation result in re-creation. All glory ever be now and eternally, To the venerable Three, in love’s unity. Remarkably we are invited to join their company. This can only be holy love at work. Love gave birth to us and equipped our homeland. Love rescued us from all that is evil. Love restored us to each and every grace and holy favour. Now it is up to us, to respond and love in our turn. “Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD, for I hide myself in You.” (Psalm 143 v 9 NIV) “You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Our ancestors trusted in You and You rescued them.” (Psalm 22 v 3, 4 NLT) Let us pray in all thanksgiving. “I was thrust into Your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born.” (Psalm 22 v 10 NLT) Let us pray to express our appreciation for all aspects of creation, redemption, salvation and re-creation. “The LORD is my Shepherd; I have all that I need.” (Psalm 23 v 1 NLT) “He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength.” (v 2) Let us pray to offer all thanks for the Lord Jesus’ friendship. “He guides me along right paths, bringing honour to His holy name.” (v 3) Let us pray with gratitude for the gifting of the Holy Spirit. “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close behind me.” (v 4) Let us pray counting the blessings as best we can, seeing how they apply to us personally. “Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me.” (v 4 cont) Let us pray, pleased to receive both the prod of correction and the uplift of support and encouragement. “You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.” (v 5) Let us pray in adoration, extolling the Sacramental Mystery of the Holy Eucharist. This celebration means “Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.” (v 6) Let us pray to the Holy Trinity in all highest praise and warmest thanksgiving. For they are life to us, a life being made holy. Holiness is expressed when we follow the command of the Lord Jesus strictly, when asked which is the most important commandment, replying it is to love fully. (Matthew 22 v 36, 37, 38) Let us pray to show our gratitude for all the help we are given by the Trinity. “There are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are One.” (1 John 5 v 7 Vulgate) “God’s will for you is to be holy...live in holiness and honour...” (1 Thessalonians 4 v 3, 4 NLT) The Holy Trinity is to ever be praised. Let us pray to magnify and glorify their love for us, all the good which results. “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5 v 22, 23 NLT) a foretaste of heaven upon earth. All glory ever be to the Almighty Trinity. Let us offer our praise daily. Amen. 16.02.21 Sue O’Donnell

“ ‘Most assuredly I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you...Ask, and you will receive, that your joy, may be full’.” (John 167 v 23, 24) What grace, blessing, healing, Is found to abound In God’s heavenly kingdom upon earth. True love was given birth, In the life of the Lord Jesus, Our Saviour Brother, Lord and Master. Holy wisdom and knowledge become our experience, When we seek to live in Christ Jesus, asking of Him and praying. “We can sure, then, that in everything God is working for the welfare of those who love Him, those He has called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8 v 28 The Truth) We must look for Jesus in the everyday, The ordinary ups and downs of life With all its joys and sorrows, problems and successes. We must claim the merits of righteousness, Our right standing before the Lord God Almighty, As won for us by the Lord Jesus, especially at the †, Welcoming Him as the One setting up, Then maintaining by the Spirit, a Kingdom of love. “I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High’.” (Psalm 9 v 1, 2) “You are no longer a slave, but now a son (daughter)! And because you are a son (daughter), you are one of God’s heirs.” (Galatians 4 v 7 The Truth) We become consecrated to You when we believe in the gift of salvation, won for us by the Lord Jesus. Father, in mercy, You are ever filling us with an amazing grace, loved and forgiven that the Holy Spirit may choose to dwell within us. “You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever. O enemy, destructions are finished forever,” (Psalm 9 v 5, 6) for we have a Saviour, blessings forever. Let us rejoice to do Your will, for therein lies the wisdom we need to lead a godly life. May our heart and mind be fully open and totally receptive to the Holy Spirit’s impact and influence. What an honour to be an heir of the Lord Jesus. “ ‘A good (wo)man does good deeds because (s)he has a good heart...What a (wo)man says is the product of the nature of his (her) heart.” (Luke 6 v 45) Heart love is a requirement we must heed. Everyday we pray for Your kingdom to come amongst us. This has to happen by Your word as recorded in the sacred Scriptures, taking root within us and love thereby growing and flourishing. Increase please, our eagerness to do Your will through our hearts’ search and minds’ decision to do Your will as shown us by the Lord Jesus, and emphasised by the Holy Spirit of love. Let our faith come alive in love, the love we are so richly blessed to receive, that love manifest in the Lord Jesus, our Saviour and Divine Healer. All too often we fall into a trap of evil, a trap of our own making. Pull us back, Lord, pull us back! But all thanks ever be, we have a Saviour to rescue us. “For the needy is not forgotten forever, nor for ever does the hope of the poor come to nothing.” (Psalm 9 v 18 TNJB) Father, may we choose to be poor in spirit, humble that we see and state our brokenness, resolved to do as best we can to overcome this. You will know all those who pray to persevere, so overcoming anything that impairs the kingdom of love the Lord Jesus has set up. What a delight and real honour it is to meet with our Saviour. “What is man that You are mindful of him; and the Son of man that You visit him?” (Psalm 8 v 4) Yet You do! The Lord Jesus comes to us that we experience the saving power of Your love for us. This is mercy at work, dearest Father, in Your mercy make us merciful in return, our heart and mind forever seeking the light of Your Divine Word. May the Spirit strengthen us to grow in the love we have for our Saviour Brother, our Rescuer from all that is evil. satan seeks to harm, hurt and destroy us. We will have none of this! For living by the Light of holy wisdom and truth as brought to us by the Lord Jesus, and taught us by the Holy Spirit, we will be graced to do good, honouring You by helping each other. Agapé love in all its holy outreach, in its life enhancing power, is made ours to offer we discover, when we commit to the Lord Jesus as Master over our healing and wholeness began and maintained by the Holy Spirit. How joyous it is to see, feel, hear this wholeness the Lord Jesus offers us, stealing success from satan, making his efforts worthless. Thank You for the measure of such love gifting us joy and peace, now undergirded by the hope of heaven. Love invites us to practise being citizens of the holy, heavenly kingdom, a place here, available to us now if we allow peace, justice, forgiveness and mercy to reign amongst us, trusting in a godly, blessed outcome. Belonging to the Lord Jesus, let us act in His way of love and forgiveness, of merciful kindness, of compassion which is considerate, patient and tolerant. We must do this by praying to and through the Lord Jesus, the Master of love. Respect and sympathy, a marked empathy are to be the keynotes of us as disciples in training. Let us realise please, that no difficulty is too challenging to work with and overcome in the Lord Jesus’ name. Nothing to serious, too broken, too horrendous. May the Holy Spirit ever deepen our trust in the godly outcome of love and mercy, even to the healing of the seemingly impossible, as love covers over many a fault as long as we invite our Saviour Brother to be active with us. May the Lord Jesus ever be a part of the healing process, for we invite Him in to start and continue His work of reformation and restoration. Thank You that the Spirit builds us up in faith sufficiently to believe in the complete goodness, help and loving concern we can offer each other when we work together with the Master. Let us then pray and work striving in the Spirit’s amazing power, where we belong to Him and praise ever, ever be, the Spirit of holiness belongs to us, through the merciful forgiveness we experience at the foot of Jesus’ †. Never, ever let us ignore this amazing power of healing love, Your mercy evident to us, dearest Father. To believe in Jesus is to receive of Him and the Holy Spirit, thankfully. To receive of our Saviour and our Sanctifier, working together in love, in mercy, is to transform the face of the earth. Father God, as a Trinity, You are the Almighty “King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.” (Psalm 74 v 12) We are relieved from the oppression of satan. “You send forth Your Spirit, we are re-created (by our belief in the Lord Jesus as Saviour and Redeemer) and You renew the face of the earth,” (Psalm 104 v 30) all hope, all peace, all joy ever be experienced by those who believe in the Lord Jesus. “I will sing to You LORD, as long as I live; (and I hope that will be forever) I will sing praise to You Lord God, whilst I have my being (redeemed and restored to Your every grace and favour by our Saviour.)” (Psalm 104 v 33, 34) “May sinners be consumed from the earth, and the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD” (Psalm 104 v 35) and let all that is within me bless the holy name of the all powerful Trinity of love and mercy. May the power of holy love and mercy surge through our Spirit led, inspired and guided efforts to serve in the Lord Jesus’ name of salvation, many, many, many more people coming to experience holiness through wholeness. For this is the only way to extend the heavenly kingdom upon earth. “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name (by us who live in and through the Lord Jesus, graced by Your Spirit). Your kingdom come (in and amongst and around us)’.” (Luke 11 v 1) “ ‘Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’,” (Luke 11 v 1) In us, by us and through us as we call on the Spirit of love to source and shape all our efforts to act like the Lord Jesus would. “ ‘Give us this day our daily bread’.” (v 3) for our Lord and Saviour is the Bread of life. “ ‘And forgive us our sins’,” (Luke 11 v 4) as the Lord Jesus won forgiveness for us at the † of our rescue from all forms of evil, however deceptive and well hidden. May we please “ ‘Also forgive everyone who is indebted to us’.” Without the love and forgiveness shown in mercy, there will be no heavenly kingdom upon earth. “ ‘And do not lead us into temptation’,” (Luke 11 v 4) for we now have a Saviour and can claim the power of His name. “ ‘But deliver us from the evil one’,” (Cont) from satan, for unless You do, nothing here on earth will change and our Brother will have died in vain the agonising, shameful death of the †. How futile life would then be. We pray for the Lord Jesus’ earthborn kingdom of love and mercy to expand and flourish. Dearest Father, please let Your kingdom on earth happen here and now! Revive us in the love You offer us through Jesus. Cleanse and forgive all our stupefying faults and failings. “Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy” (A traditional prayer) It is vital that we pray, calling upon the Spirit to help us serve in the kingdom belonging to the Lord Jesus. Without prayer, the consequences for our world are serious indeed, for no blessings can flow. Our daily lives must heed Your will, Your wisdom, Your way, so as to claim the Lord Jesus as Saviour and allow the Spirit to move us forwards in faith. Let not our weaknesses rule over us, nor the viciousness of evil, the work of the devil, be successful. For holy love in all its godly power can change anything, bringing about heavenly rule to bless us instead. All glory, all honour, all praise, all thanksgiving becoming ours to joyously offer You, dearest Father, beloved Son and most precious Holy Spirit, let our kingdom building and extension of ministry be the triumph of our life given to Jesus. May the results be as formerly. “He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the rich.” (Luke 9 v 1, 2) It could be the same for us. I ask that according to the power of holy love and mercy evident to us, at work in and through us, the world will see, praying in grateful rejoicing, saying in all truth “ ‘...surely the kingdom of God has come upon us’.” (based on Luke 11 v 20) All thanks, all praise, all glory ever be for this kingdom of love and mercy. Amen. 04.10.20 Sue O’Donnell

“I Myself have anointed My King on Zion My holy mountain.” (Psalm 2 v 6 TNJB) Christ the King, come to earth To bring glory to God amongst us. His humanity is combined with His divinity, The foundation of His Kingship and our worship. “ ‘...What have You done?’ Jesus replied ‘Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if My kingdom were of this world, My men would have fought to prevent My being surrendered to the Jews. As it is My kingdom does not belong here.’ Pilate said ‘So, then you are a King?’ Jesus answered ‘It is you who say that I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this, to bear witness to the truth’.” (John 28 v 36, 37 TNJB) Jesus, the Christ, the Risen Saviour, Through Him we will enter the Kingdom of heaven. But currently our task is to offer glory of God, By a life well lived sharing in Jesus’ holiness. “ ‘I am the Way; I am Truth and Life. No one can come to the Father except through Me. If you know Me, you will know My Father too. From this moment you know Him and have seen Him’.” (John 14 v 6, 7 TNJB) As well as being Creator Jesus is the King of creation, The Firstborn who had led an exemplary life, To combat the strife of all our sinfulness, Jesus won the victory over this at the †, gleaning forgiveness for us. “...carrying His own cross He went out to the Palace of Skull or, as it is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him...Pilate wrote out a notice and had it fixed to the cross; it ran: ‘Jesus, the Nazarene, King of the Jews...’ Jesus knew everything had now been completed ...After Jesus had taken the wine He said, ‘It is fulfilled, and bowing His head gave up His Spirit.” (John 19 v 17, 18, 19, 28, 30) Jesus sacrifice is the pearl of the greatest price, Obtaining the way home to heaven for us, through forgiveness. Whilst His body, the Church maintains His earthly works? To teach, to take over and administer to our souls and spirits. “ ‘...you must name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called ‘Son of the Most High.’ The Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David, He will rule over the House of Jacob forever and His reign will have no end’.” (Luke 1 v 32, 33 TNJB) Jesus our Brother, is our Saviour Redeemer, Christ the King, All praise, all thanks, all glory ever be to our Father of mercy. Having saved us from sin’s separation, Jesus then sanctifies us. The risen, ascended Saviour sends His Spirit, belonging to our Father, to us. “ ‘When the Paraclete comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, He will be My witness...’ And when He comes He will show the world how wrong it was about sin and about who was in the right, and about judgment’.” (John 15 v 26, 16 v 8 TNJB) The Holy Spirit guides and guards Jesus worth amongst us, In this spiritual, supernatural kingdom on earth. The Spirit narrates the truth of Jesus, convicting us of sinfulness. And the need to repent remorsefully, praying for mercy. “ ‘Alleluia! The reign of the Lord our God Almighty has begun; let us be glad and joyful and give glory of God, because this is the time of the marriage of the Lamb...On His cloak and on His thigh a name was written: ‘King of kings and Lord of lords’.” (Revelation 19 v 7, 16 TNJB) Thus the mercy of forgiveness, that which Christ the King Came to make known to us under the rule of God’s love. We owe a debt of loyal love and reverent obedience to our King. Truly grateful that the Holy Spirit steeps us in sacred duties. “...those who live in the Spirit have their minds on spiritual things. And human nature has nothing to look forward to but death, while the Spirit looking forwards to life and peace...the Spirit of God has made a home in You...” (Romans 8 v 5, 6, 9 TNJB) We submit to Christ Jesus’ Kingly authority, Asking Him to reign supremely in heavenly peace, By His law of love which offers us hope, such hope, Of a better, brighter, holier future for mankind. “ ‘Our Father in heaven, may Your name be held holy, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’.” (Matthew 6 v 9, 10 TNJB) We work and pray for the love of Jesus, To enter every human heart Jesus is life to adore the Trinity Of Father, Son and Spirit, most holy One in Three. Jesus is life to us for this very purpose of holy admiration and adoration. “He said to them, ‘Go out in the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved’.” (Mark 16 v 15, 16 TNJB) The Lord Jesus is King over all creation, Atoning for our sinfulness He presents to our Father, A universal, eternal Kingdom built on the truth of His love. A graced place of love and forgiveness, justice and peace, Jesus alive in us. “ ‘Nobody can lay down any other foundation than the one which is there already, namely Jesus Christ...Do you not realise that you are a temple of God with the Spirit of God living in you? ...God’s temple is holy and you are that temple’.” (1 Corinthians 3 v 11, 16, 17 TNJB) As Priest anointed with the oil of gladness, Overcoming sins’ sadness, Jesus offers His life for us on the †, And in each and every Sacramental Mystery of the Holy Eucharist. The one perfect sacrifice is our redemption through salvation. “He...has offered one single sacrifice for sins, and then taken His seat forever, at the right hand of God, where He is now waiting until His enemies are made His footstool. By virtue of that one single offering He has achieved the eternal perfection of all who are sanctified. The Holy Spirit attests to this for us...” (Hebrews 10 v 11, 12, 13, 14 TNJB) Joyously we celebrate the holy sacrifice of the Mass, partaking of Jesus in Holy Communion, Proclaiming together as the universal church in heaven and on earth, A hymn of unending praise and thanksgiving For being enabled to live a holy life, fully blessed by the real presence of Christ Jesus. “How blessed are those You instruct, Yahweh, whom You teach by means of Your law, to give them respite in evil times, till a pit is dug for the wicked.” (Psalm 94 v 12, 13 TNJB) “Yahweh will not abandon His people, He will not desert His heritage; for judgment will again become saving justice, and in its wake all upright hearts will follow.” (Psalm 94 v 14, 15 TNJB) Dearest Father, truly we joyously praise and thank You for sending Your Son, the Lord Jesus, Christ the King, to be our Saviour, redeeming us from sinfulness. As a Servant King He teaches us how to live according to the law of love and this blesses us profoundly. Your kingdom upon earth is being upbuilt. Your love and mercy are in the heritage the Lord Jesus leaves us, both by the example of His exemplary life and His sacrificial death winning forgiveness for us. We rejoice to be a new creation, under Jesus’ Kingly rule, benefitting from the purifying, sanctifying Holy Spirit. Thank You for making this possible. We venerate the Lord Jesus at the †, King of the Jews and King of the entire world. Ever may we bow in reverence before Him, exalting His Kingly position and status. “Your instructions are upright for ever, give me understanding and I shall live... I put my hope in Your word,” (Psalm 119 v 144, 147 TNJB) in the wise teaching of sacred Scripture, all that the living Word of the Lord Jesus teaches us and the counsel of the Holy Spirit, all a profound blessing, thank You. Christ the King, Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Life, Jesus is Love. Jesus is our hope, our peace and our joy. How richly You have blessed us, Father of mercy. We come to You through Your Son, by Your Spirit and we are tasting of heaven. “Light dawns for the upright, and joy for honest hearts. Rejoice in Yahweh, you who are upright, praise His unforgettable holiness,” (Psalm 97 v 11, 12 TNJB) as made evident to us in the family likeness of the Lord Jesus. We too, are invited to be a part of this venerable family of the Trinity. What an honour, what a privilege, but what a responsibility too! May the Holy Spirit ever be at work with us to inspire us to work and pray to become more like Jesus, the Servant King. What love is this that the Lord Jesus should willingly, freely give up His perfectly holy life for us, at the †. This is love without measure, a pure love we must treasure. “Yahweh has made known His saving power, revealed His saving justice for the nations to see, mindful of His faithful love and His constancy to the House of Israel” (Psalm 98 v 2, 3 TNJB) and to us. We have been set free from satan’s clutches although he holds the keys to the kingdom of this world. Our homage is paid to Christ the King, King over all. Jesus is the highest name we honour, we delight to proclaim Jesus, Prophet, Priest and King, His Kingly rule is a foretaste of heaven. All of the world has now seen Your saving power of love and mercy, Father God. You gift us Yourself in Your Son, by Your Spirit. You have taken away all our guilt and blotted out our sin, all thanks to our Saviour Brother. Your saving help remains firm to this day, steadfast is Your faithfulness towards us. May we, by being devoted to Christ the King, honouring the kingdom building Holy Spirit, live to give glory to the Trinity. “Faithful Love and Loyalty join together, Saving Justice and Peace embrace. Loyalty will spring up from the earth and Justice will lean down from heaven,” (Psalm 85 v 10, 11 TNJB) was the prophecy. This has happened, all praise, all thanks, all glory ever be to Christ the King, our Saviour Redeemer, “Yahweh is King...He is supreme over all nations,” (Psalm 99 v 1, 2 TNJB) as an almighty Trinity. “Let them praise Your name, great and awesome; holy is He and mighty. You are a King who loves justice, You established honesty, justice and uprightness...Exalt our God...You were a God of forgiveness.” (Psalm 99 v 3, 5 TNJB) Jesus as Lord is our forgiveness Jesus as Redeemer is our hope of a holier future. Jesus as Your Word, Father God, is a living hope offering all joy and peace, Your peace to us. Jesus as King, we must bow before and worship You through Him. How richly blessed is humanity! Amen. 22.11.20 Sue O’Donnell

“By Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.” St Francis of Assissi “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds In a believer’s ear! It soothes his sorrows; heals his wounds, And drives away his fear.” Remoulded Redeemed Re-birthed RIGHTEOUSNESS Restored Replenished Re-established Revitalised Renewed Revived Realised “It makes the wounded spirit whole, And calms the troubled breast; ‘Tis manna to the hungry soul, And to the weary rest.” John Newton 1725-1807 “My hope from beginning to end, My portion, my Lord and my all.” John Newton “Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Jesus! Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Hear us, O Jesus! Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us, O Jesus.” Eastern Orthodox Church Lord, Be our peace, the hope of our new life, that we may come fully alive in You to the complete glory of God. Amen. Sue O’Donnell

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4 v 6 Lord God, Lamb of God, Who takes away all sin, The sin of my every wrong Thinking, doing and being, Be to me the Father’s fullness. The fullness of perfect holiness. “That I may gain Christ and be found in Him ... having ... through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection.” Philippians 3 v 8-10 Lord, help me with Your healing. Lord, hold me in Your love. Lord, fill me with Yourself. Lord, guide me by Your Spirit. Lord, come to me with Your compassion. Lord, protect me with Your provision. Lord, grant me the grace Of Your every blessing addressing me. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139 v 23, 24 Set me free from all my wrongdoing, The wilful, conscious error of my ways. Be to me God’s gracious goodness, Your beauty of holiness, The Spirit’s power of righteousness. Lord, live within me in Your fullness, The holy anointing of my Father’s love. “The peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4 v 7 “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19 v 14 Lord of my life, Lord of all love, You remind me that “The tongue has the power of life and death.” ( Proverbs 18 v 2 ) Grant that I may always speak out my faith by witnessing to the power of Your love, established by Your † and always granted as an answer to prayer. Be with me always, dear Lord, that my entire life may be led purposely in You and all You do in me, with me and through me. Help me to think, speak and live amidst all of Your thoughts which are always admirable and lovely. By Your grace Lord, I will “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”( Philippians 4 v 8 ) I will avoid giving substance to anything of ill omen by voicing it. Instead I will concentrate on the gift and grace of the beauty of Your holiness, all the wonderful things You teach me and tell me, desiring that I may share these with others. Thank You Lord that Your love is shaped to be heard in Your words of grace which define how we are to live. “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.” ( Proverbs 16 v 24 ) Lord, continue always to grant me the grace of Your love powerfully at work in my life, to Your glory and the benefit of many. Amen. Sue O’Donnell

“ ‘The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” John 4 v 23 Is this not mercy, The Lord God Almighty plainly revealing to us Through His Son who is the truth, What He actually seeks from us. Two points of significance matter : That is our relationship with the Son, Jesus, And equally with the Spirit of holiness, That we can truly access our Father. Seek the Spirit of Jesus. Speak with Him and ask of Him. Listen to Him guiding, warning, helping, Ever there to be supporting us By drawing us closer to the Lord Jesus, More fully forming our deepening friendship. This is our true worship And as such delights our heavenly Father. Mercy shapes in so many a way, But in this way day by day As we learn to pray and adore through the Son and the Spirit. “ ‘God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth’.” John 4 v 24 “My soul wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defence.” Psalm 62 v 5, 6 Yes, calm resolve develops through Your mercies, Father. Thank You for gifting us Your Son and Your Spirit so we can worship You. “In You is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in You, Lord God.” ( based on Psalm 62 v 7 ) In the love and friendship of Your Son and the wisdom and guidance of Your Spirit, I learn to trust in Your mercies. I am grateful. May the Spirit remind me to pour out my heart before You so as to touch the truth of my feelings however they are shaped. “Power belongs to You, Lord God. Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy,” ( based on v 11 ) countless times. In addition the Lord Jesus teaches on Your kingdom and Your glory. It is to be a part of this kingdom, we pray for. May the Spirit shape and lead our prayer, keeping us in touch with Jesus. I ask that the Spirit appoint and anoint our prayer as we strive to reject independence from You to an ever increasing extent as we learn to rely on Jesus. Let us ever enlist the Spirit’s help, that we spend some time in silence, in prayer, listening out for the movement of mind, heart, will, or conscience. May this movement of the Spirit result in our being brought into harmony with Your will, wishes, plans and purposes, dearest Father, that which Jesus makes plain to us. Let our heart and mind, emotions and thoughts be transparent before You, sincere in our worship. For Lord God, Father of every mercy, You desire nothing less than this. Amen. Sue O’Donnell 29.11.17

“Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” John 3 v 21, 22 God’s kingdom As a real possibility. A blessed reality The Spirit shares, spreads The giftings Jesus wishes for us, That fullness is ours. The Spirit making us Strong in Jesus, And the power of His might. For the goodness of God, The Spirit shows us, in all kindness, Always reflecting the godly personality of Jesus, To help us know this. Reverence develops as we listen To the Word of God Heard as a blessed reality, Under the guidance of the Spirit of development. For thankfully this is worthy of all praise for love’s guidance Enlightenment Enablement Empowerment Enrichment, This the Spirit Will accomplish For us, in Jesus. No more darkness, Love’s witness Is Jesus, the Lord, God’s Word. Jesus is God’s wisdom Amongst us, By the Holy Spirit, Who calls us to faith Through Jesus, Reverencing God’s kingdom. “And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more.” 2 Corinthians 3 v 18 NLT “Now (s)he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He is in him (her). And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” 1 John 3 v 24 1 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible ...for you who are kept by the power of God...” 1 Peter 1 v 3, 4, 5 Father, I thank and praise You for all the difference the indwelling Spirit makes to us as He introduces us to the Lord Jesus. May the inward presence of the Spirit be manifest outwardly in our conduct, that all can see we have been touched by Your loving mercy. May the Spirit make us kindly, considerate, helpful, supportive, thoughtful, respectful, compassionate in all we think plan, say and do. For Father, there must be plain evidence as to how Your love touches us by means of our friendship with Jesus, the perfect Son. It is through the Spirit of praise we will bless, adore and honour You, so abundant in mercy, full of love for us. We are privileged to be under the influence and guidance of the Spirit of power, a blessed reality of every prophecy and holy promise. Thank You for our new birth in the Lord Jesus, our righteousness, for His reaching, His example, His witness to the truth the Spirit impacts upon us. May the blessed work the Spirit has begun reach completion in time for our eternal destiny of heaven. Christlike character is our aim as the Spirit transforms us. Let us be moulded into Jesus’ image and likeness a holy, blessed, beneficial accomplishment. May this desire motivate us. Thank You for the Spirit’s protection. Amen. Sue O’Donnell 23.11.17

“With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful...” (2 Samuel 22 v 26) For it is out of holiness Father, You call us into all holiness. Your kindness gifted to us, Is to be shared out, put about. Hence You send us Jesus. “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!” (Psalm 146 v 1) Jesus the perfect example of how to achieve this holiness. This beloved Son from heaven Come amongst us as the perfect Man, A new era of life was began. But we have to respond to His finest example. “And Jesus went about Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sicknesses and all kinds of diseases among the peoples.” (Matthew 4 v 23) We work with the willingness of an alert mind, An attentive heart, a fine tuned conscience, I f our holiness is to be accomplished. And this needs to happen, For holiness is Your kingdom upon earth. “While I live, I will praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.” (Psalm 146 v 2) A kingdom made real to appeal to all, And the passport to final happiness, As we come to heaven to live alongside You, In Jesus, through Jesus our atonement, His humanity perfectly shaped by the holy. “With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; with the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.” (2 Samuel 22 v 26, 27) “You will save the humble people; but Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down.” We must partake in the Lord Jesus’ battle against sin. Let us extol and practise this culture of merciful love, of forgiveness, of attempting to live in peace and harmony with everybody. May the love Jesus has for us so imprint us by the Spirit, we all strive to rid the world of any form of hatred. Lord, forgive us our tyranny, oppression, slavery, ransom, persecution, all such a grave injustice. May Jesus show us the better way. As we attempt to forego our self-centredness, working, praying in earnest to accomplish this, please bless us by a reverence for, an obedience to the ways and wishes of Jesus. “ ‘Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (S)he who has ears to hear, let him (her) hear’.” (Matthew 13 v 43) Jesus speaks forthrightly to us. Let the Spirit ever show us how to shine, where to shine and why this is so necessary. May He be behind our decisions and actions shaping us to be more and more like Jesus. “ ‘For You are my lamp, O LORD. You will enlighten my darkness’,” (based on 2 Samuel 22 v 9) as I learn from Your Son’s holy example and heed the Spirit’s teaching. Thank You for this help. “ ‘Your way is perfect’,” (based on v 31) I have no doubt as to this. Your word is proven. You are a shield to all who trust in You. “ ‘You are my strength and my power’” (based on v 33) and I am so very, very grateful for this. “ ‘You enlarged my path under me so my feet did not slip’.” (v 37) Eternally I would praise You dearest Father, for what happiness You design for us, thank You. Amen. 30.11.17 Sue O’Donnell

“Lord, I am Yours and must belong to no-one else.” St Francis de Sales Pray : Abide Wait Remain Believe Receive Trust. “O LORD my God, in You I have put my trust.” Psalm 7 v 1 Listen Attend Learn Respond Then go forwards In faith With confidence. “My soul is Yours and must live only through You. My will is Yours and must live only for You.” St Francis de Sales “I must love You as my goal and my rest since I am for You.” St Francis de Sales Holy Father, thank You for the rest from fear, worry and all types of anxiety, the release which the peace of Jesus offers. For it is in Jesus we learn how to pray. “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand,” ( Psalm 84 v 10 ) anywhere else at all. We become Your works in progress in Jesus as Saviour, the Light of the world, the reflection of Your love, Your invitation to go forwards in faith with confidence. Thank You for Jesus, our call “To liberty”, ( Galatians 5 v 13 ) a new way of thinking and acting that in partnership with the Lord of life, we “Through love serve one another”. ( Cont. ) May we stop and pray that we are better equipped by the Spirit of Jesus. Please show us what we are to do and what we are not to do. Make us wise through prayer, willing to be in continuous pursuit of all that is holy. All that is holy is perfectly revealed in the all loving life of Jesus. He has to be our role model, but to understand this we have to pray so our heart and mind is made ready to receive the holy One. What an honour and privilege it is to build a life of faith and friendship with Jesus, Your Son, Lord God, Your living Word, Your example to us of perfect holiness. “Whatever things are true...noble...just...pure...holy...of good report...of any virtue, praiseworthy,” ( Philippians 4 v 8 ) we find these in Jesus. May we pray and give praise for His perfectly holy life, such an inspiration. “Now to You Lord God and Father be glory forever and ever,” ( based on Philippians 4 v 20 ) as we pray and seek to share in the very life of the risen Lord, making His attitudes and actions, His direction and decisions our own. May holiness be built up in us as the family of God continually seeking to do better as we pray and persevere through the Spirit of Jesus active with us by invitation. Let us call upon the victory of the † to remind ourselves of the unrivalled power of holy love, that which ultimately will defeat satan completely. “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good.” ( Psalm 107 v 1 ) Why else would Jesus be sacrificed for us, if it were not for Your love, Your mercy, Your forgiveness, such steadfast, beneficial kindnesses, dearest Father. The † makes sense only when looked at through the lens of love. We must honour You and give thanks for our redemption realising we have been made a new creation in Jesus. Father of love, we praise You “For Your mercy endures forever.” ( based on v 1 ) Had we no Saviour we would not, could not know this, but we do! “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy.” ( v 2 )Let us venerate the † of Jesus. “You brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in based on pieces. Oh, that (wo)man could give thanks to You LORD for Your goodness and for Your wonderful works to the children of men.” ( Psalm 107 v 14, 15 ) In Jesus You adopt us into Your family and make us co-workers in the building and extension of heaven upon earth. “Let us sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,” ( based on v 22 ) knowing we have become a new creation in Jesus. May we continue to pray to evolve the blessings emanating from the †of forgiveness. “Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the company of the elders.” ( Psalm 107 v 32 ) May that happen each Sunday as the church, the Lord Jesus’ body on earth, meet to worship. May we then go out strengthened, committed to another week in His service. “He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, and makes their families like a flock.” ( v 41 ) May Jesus shepherd us through all the trials and temptations ahead. “The righteous see it and rejoice, and all iniquity stops its mouth.”( v 42 ) May we turn to Jesus and pray each day that evil is finally conquered. We must work within the parameters of His example. Lord, make us wise in Your service, devoted to listening to, learning from Your Spirit who speaks love into every situation. “Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the loving kindness of the LORD,” ( Psalm 107 v 43 ) and how effective our faith can be whenever we turn to Jesus. “O GOD, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory,” ( Psalm 108 v 1 ) for so many benefits and blessings accrue through our devotion to Jesus, seeking to share in the power of His holy love. Let us ever work together for You, dearest Father, “That Your beloved may be delivered,” ( v 6 ) from all that is evil, the conquest made in Jesus. There is no other way. It is good to pray and call upon the power of the Trinity. “It is good to give thanks to the LORD and to sing praises to Your name.” ( Psalm 92 v 1 NASB ) May this happen whenever and wherever Your church meet. Thank You for the blessings of Sunday worship, a special time carved out, set apart from the busyness of the week. A time to offer You our undivided attention. “Let me go and go again, into the house of the Lord, and be glad, and give thanks and adore my King and my GOD.” ( Eric Milner White ) And even beyond Sunday may we pray with rejoicing “To declare Your loving kindness in the morning and Your faithfulness every night.” ( Psalm 92 v 2 NASB ) It is in the love and holy life of Jesus we recognise Your goodness towards us, Lord God. Make us holy by Your Spirit as the Lord Jesus is holy. Let us transform lives as we work together for Your kingdom of equality, of justice, of peace between all peoples. Anoint us with the power of holy love as we pray to and through Jesus as Saviour, the Prince of Peace, the King of Glory, the truth we must honour and display. Lord, teach us to pray. Grant us eyes to see, ears to hear, minds to receive of the love of Jesus. Make us completely His, nothing held back as we pray, The love of Jesus, working for, with, through His love, this is the most powerful force on earth, the power to make a very real difference. May lives be transformed by the presence of Jesus. Father, we have to understand Jesus as Your living Word, here now, the fulfilment of Your promise to us to help us, to heal us, to deliver us from all that is evil. Our conquest is in Jesus alone. May we daily pray to seek His help, to be His witness, to be active and highly effective in His service. As time rolls forwards, so must our faith and our prayer in seeking to be active in the extension of Your kingdom on earth. May the Holy Spirit teach us that the only way forwards is to extension of Your kingdom on earth. May the Holy Spirit teach us that the only way forwards is to be found in committing to Jesus as Lord. He is the way. Jesus teaches us to trust in Your faithfulness because Jesus comes to us as Your truth, Your wisdom, Your guidance, Your will, all graced and granted through the blessings of the Spirit. May we commit to prayer seriously, daily, setting aside sufficient quality time. As Jesus gave His life for us may we give our life to You in His service, dearest Father of love, as He brings us Your word of truth, Your teaching, Your desires for us, Your call for our holiness. May our communion through prayer and the sacraments make a real difference. Let us hear the Lord Jesus call to each of us and may we make a personal response. We need the Lord Jesus to support us. His is the life of love we must adhere to. Thank You that the anticipation, confidence, joy and meaning of faith we all discovered in Jesus as Lord, Your living Word here, active amongst us by Your co-equal Spirit of wisdom and enlightenment. May we never block the work of the Spirit. You bless those things which are right, so let us see this happen as we devote our time, attention, efforts towards Jesus as Saviour, the Redeemer Restorer. He must be our life of love offered in service. Do not let us be distracted nor directed from Jesus, but daily pray to seek His friendship, His wonderful closeness. May we follow in His footsteps. We praise and thank You for every life touched by the Spirit of Jesus, drawn into Your service. “Thy Kingdom come – more and more in the hearts of those who work in Your name; of those who know You least and of those who have no hope.” ( The Global Our Father ) Dearest Father, we need the continuous input of Your Son and Your Spirit to help us to pray that we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, working together towards this vision of the Kingdom as You make us instruments of Your divine grace. May our life of faith, of witness, of worship, of service be shaped by the Spirit of Jesus. “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness.” ( Psalm 37 v 3 ) I ask for this to happen, that we go forwards in the Lord Jesus. I praise and give thanks for the fact that in Jesus is our righteousness, our holiness, our uprightness. All goodness emanates from the love we receive in Jesus, Your greatest gift to us, holy Father, that we are encouraged “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him (or her) who prospers in his (or her) way, because of the (wo)man who brings wicked schemes to pass.” ( Psalm 37 v 7 ) Grant us the confident expectation which develops through prayer as we call upon the gospel promise of Jesus to be with us. May we be zealous in Your service, Lord God, whatever it is You ask us to do for You. Please increase our desire for worship and service, living out, broadcasting, sharing the gospel message of hope. Hope is the presence of Jesus, our inspiration and dedication to work of service. May this always be shaped by prayer where we seek and find Your will and align our efforts to this. “ ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness...’” ( Matthew 6 v 33 ) You have never failed us, please may we remain steadfast in faith, committed to prayer, that we go forwards in all the blessed works of holiness. I ask this in the name of Jesus for there is no other way. Amen. 27.10.14 Sue O’Donnell