“My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer” Psalm 45 v 1
Mercy
POETRY
- Mercy
Introducing our book: Listen Carefully to Me
A Listen Carefully to Me book extract: 27th May
Mercy is My middle Name: “Jesus (Son of God) Mercy (My attribute named) Christ (My anointed kingship over you)”. Usually in worldly ways it would be the servants, when able, offering gold to the king. But in My kingdom, worldly ways and attitudes are turned upside down on their head, to shake them out of complacency and dull composure.
MERCY - A SELECTON OF POEMS
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12 v 14) Lord, frequently we conflict with the world, Its ways, its demands, its philosophy, Even indeed with some of its psychology. Life was not meant to be like this. Father, forgive us the sinfulness of stupidity, Of erring, of straying, of disobeying. We look to You for mercy and renewal. “You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people, You have covered all their sin.” (Psalm 85 v 2) You accomplished all of this through the Lord Jesus, Yet so many today fail to pray, And equally disastrously take the famous name in vain. Jesus as Saviour, took our blame to the † , Enabling us to be free of sin’s adversity. He lived and died to restore us to favour. We in our pride, or arrogance or ignorance have forsaken this. “You have taken away all Your wrath; You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger.” (Psalm 85 v 3) Why, oh why do we turn our back on this mercy? Why do we pretend all is well and rosy in the garden? We harden our hearts and turn from You. We ignore Your commandments and live wilfully. We carelessly forfeit Your graced goodness. We do not ask the Lord Jesus to help us, Nor do many call on the Spirit of purity. “Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your anger towards us to cease.” (Psalm 85 v 4) We do not deserve Your mercy, we never did. But we who believe in Jesus as Saviour, Ask You, Father God, to rid us of satan, his attacks, deceits and trickery contributing to our downfall. Call out to us through Your Spirit of love. Let us feel once more the love from above. We have no help but to look to You as a Trinity. “Will You be angry with us forever? Will you prolong Your anger to all generations? Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” (Psalm 85 v 5, 6) I imagine Your response to be somewhat surprised, By our thinking You have done nothing, Nothing that is to rescue us, when in fact, You allowed Your Son to live and die for us. Lord God of mercy, show us this mercy once more. I implore a fresh outpouring of Your Holy Spirit, The Faith Giver, the Enabler, making us wise as to this. “Show us Your mercy, LORD, and grant us Your salvation.” (Psalm 85 v 7) Those blessed to have knowledge and understanding of the Lord Jesus, Who have yearned for Him, turned to Him, Trusted in Him and depended upon Him as Saviour, Already know the power of holy love as redemption. Through mercy, Jesus became our salvation. I ask for the world at large to seek to find this. The answer to all of our sinfulness lies in Jesus. “I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly.” (Psalm 85 v 8) Let us acknowledge our Saviour, the Lord of life. Let us turn to Him, risen and real. Let us hear the appeal of mercy to believe, Believe in the Lord Jesus and be freed from sinfulness. Believe in the salvation won for us at the † . Accept this as the starting point of our holiness, Requiring us to call on the Spirit to work now with us through Jesus. “Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land.” (Psalm 85 v 9) “Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yes, the LORD will give what is good; and our land will yield its increase.” (Psalm 85 v 10, 11, 12) All thanks for salvation’s free gift, we are a people of promise. Let us then pray in response to, through and with the Lord Jesus, that “Righteousness will go before Him and shall make His footsteps our pathway,” (Psalm 85 v 13) for all our future wellbeing and national prosperity depends upon this. Lord God, we have sunk to a new low in our country’s proposal to ignore and defy an international agreement written in law, so breaking our promise, a failure in Your eyes and the eyes of the world. There is no glory here. Forgive us, Lord God, forgive us and call us back to the way the Lord Jesus has taught us to live. Yes, let us pray about this. Amen 23.09.20 Sue O’Donnell
“He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors...”(Isaiah 53 v 12) Love rules, love will reign. Life will never be the same again. A wonderful grace is gifted us. We are the recipients of mercy Poured out upon us due to Jesus. This perfect Man accepted a † In order to save us from sin’s punishment. “...and He bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53 v12) We should suffer due to sinfulness. Jesus took our suffering upon Himself however, That we are freely forgiven. We begin to live anew through holy mercy. God’s wonderful love for us, Is the fullness of love Gifted us in Christ Jesus. “Where sin abounded, grace abounds much more...” (Romans 5 v 20) “...so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5 v 21) We owe our Saviour Brother everything. Please pray. 15.11.20 Sue O’Donnell
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” (Ephesians 5 v 8) Get things right Live in the light, Within God’s sight. Call on the Spirit’s might. Gift of the Lord Jesus, no plight. Our Father’s effective insight, To make the world connect. As Jesus’ kingdom put life aright, Without sins’ dark blight. To His way hold tight. Fight the good fight! Reach for the height. “Walk as children of light,” (Ephesians 5 v 8) To avoid sins’ plight. Lord, we are asked “What is the evidence of such a walk?” (Ephesians 5 v 9 The Truth) Mercifully the question is answered: “That you express God’s goodness, righteousness and truth, that you know what to do to please Him.” (v 11) Thank You that the Lord Jesus, having cleared the debt of our sin at the †, we can with a clean slate to start again, attempting to expose sin, but having no truck with it. “It is time to wake up if you are asleep spiritually, rise up from a life of dead works, and Christ will shine on you with His Light.” (Ephesians 5 v 14 The Truth) May the love of the Lord Jesus, His friendship and the impact of the enlightening Spirit, help us to be children of light, living to Your praise and glory by making use of every opportunity to do so. May we be filled with the Spirit. Thank You that this is the Spirit of love who enables us to be truly grateful that we live in the light of the Lord Jesus, that we rejoice and desire to give thanks. Truly we are blessed to know the One who is the Light of the world and to adhere to His way of life, helped by the Holy Spirit’s guidance and safeguarding. “In the light of the wonderful mercy You have shown us, Lord God, may we live in a way that is holy and pleasing to You. For this is the kind of worship You seek. It is the networking of the Spirit who lives within us,” (based on Romans 12 v 1) instructing us through the Lord Jesus. The Lord of life, the Light of the world, shows us how to live in His Kingdom here upon earth, a place of love and mercy given in regular support of each other. Having moved away from the realm of satan’s darkness, may we maintain a place in the Kingdom of Light here on earth, preparatory to our hoped for, prayed for, entry to heaven. For it is by this we know, dearest Father, that “ ‘Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen’.” (Matthew 6 v 13) 14.11.20 Sue O’Donnell
“Let Your face shine on us, Lord.” (Psalm 4 v 6 NLT) Compassionate and close; Merciful and meaningful; Kindly and caring; Wise and wonderful; Pleasing and patient; Just and gentle; Uncompromising and understanding; Marvellous and momentous; Truthful and trustworthy. Where do you find these characteristics? Only in the friendship of Jesus, For He is God’s Son, the holy One. Much loved by the Father, Jesus as Lord and Word, knows how to love us. Ever He approaches us, helps us, Holds us steady lest we fall, Securely maintaining the highest friendship, By means of the Spirit of love. It is a Trinity of love who cares for us. God’s Word made flesh in Christ Jesus. Ever brought to us by the Spirit of holiness. “Blessed be God... Blessed be Jesus Christ, the God and the Man...Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.” (The Divine Phrases) “You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.” (Psalm 3 v 3) “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him. For the LORD is the great God, and the great King above all gods...Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker, for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture...”(Psalm 95 v 1, 2, 3, 6, 7) Please pray to the Almighty Trinity. 23.08.20 Sue O’Donnell
“So intent is he on seeing His plans fulfilled, He did not protect His Son from the necessary cost of giving His life for us all, because through His grace He wanted to give us everything that belongs to Christ. Yes, what He has, we are to have.” (Romans 8 v 32, 33 The Truth) Cleansed, Healed, Redeemed, By forgiveness Gifted in Jesus, We must, must Absolutely must, Maintain this friendship, Ever living closer to Jesus, Guided, guarded, cherished, By the Holy Spirit, God’s power, our Protector. The Spirit enables us, An Easter people Devoted to Jesus, A family being made holy, To maintain our faith’s conviction. We walk in one direction, Homewards, heavenwards in Jesus. We trust that Christ Jesus, Has conquered sin’s darkness Once and for all. We rejoice in His friendship, Making this our worship. “The Lord is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, their fore-fathers, and when Jesus came as a Man, He came as a Jew. All this was the purpose of God, who is to be praised for ever. Amen! This shall be so! (Romans 9 v 5 The Truth) Worship through the fulfilment Of our salvation. Yes, undoubtedly, Praise ever, ever be, We God’s family Sanctified in Jesus, By the Holy Spirit, We are, heaven now near, No longer afar, Cleansed, Healed, Redeemed, By Jesus. So, as we Celebrate the holy, Jesus come to us In the heavenly banquet, We recall the Pascal Mystery, Whereby the merit Is found in Jesus, Enabling us, At His † To receive mercy, The pardon of forgiveness. “This is why having called you, He (God) made you totally acceptable to Him.” (Romans 8 v 30 The Truth) “This is why you are destined for the glory that is already yours in Christ.” (Romans 8 v 30 The Truth) Therefore let us pray. 16.08.20 Sue O’Donnell
“Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory.” (1 Chronicles 4 v 10) I ask for this blessing Out of Your extraordinary mercy, Which knows no bounds, nor limits. I realise this because of Christ Jesus, And the anointing, sanctifying blessing of the Spirit. The territory I prayerfully ask to be Enlarged, emboldened, equipped by. Is a high level of faith in the Lord Jesus, Whereby I learn to trust fully in Your mercy, That endless, enormous love, dearest Father. This makes sense to me. “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27 v 13) When I think of blighted humanity, Our waywardness, such dire and disastrous sinfulness. In our fallen, God forsaken, abject state We need a high degree of mercy, Or else we are lost completely to the heavenly blessing, Addressing us continuously through the Son and Spirit. Any merit, all merit in life is God given, Driven by living prayerfully, expectantly, Fully, but fully dependent upon love and mercy. Oh how enriched we are to approach the Trinity of mercy. “Preserve me, O God, for I put my trust in You.” (Psalm 16 v 1) “O my soul, You have said to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You’.” (Psalm 16 v 2) In realising this, please pray. 12.07.20 Sue O’Donnell
“Come into His presence with songs of joy.” (Psalm 100 v 2) Come, in your brokenness. Come, in your sickness. Come, in your sinfulness. Come, with Jesus, meet. Come, greet Him. Come, this time is sweet. “He is good. His love is everlasting. His faithfulness endures from age to age.” (Psalm 100 v 5) Come, in need of generosity. Come, in need of mercy. Come, burdened by iniquity. Come, with adoration. Come, in veneration. Come, with dedication. “May I receive the Lord’s body and blood, and its reality and power.” (From a prayer of St Thomas Aquinas) Come, seeking enlightenment. Come, it is your entitlement. Come, Jesus is heaven sent. Come, with determined purpose. Come, expressing real remorse. Come, with contrition, of course. “King God, may I receive the body of Your only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ ...and so be received into His mystical body.” (Prayer continued) Come, receive the Lord Jesus. Come, share in His holiness. Come, how He does bless us! Come, to the Holy Eucharist. Come, a feast not to be missed. Come, Jesus offers us wholeness. “Loving Father, as on my earthly pilgrimage, I now receive Your beloved Son under the veil of a sacrament, may I one day see Him face to face in glory, who lives and reigns with You forever. Amen.” (Prayer concluded) “Let me have for all eternity peace upon peace, that through You I may reach that peace which passes all understanding, where I may see You in the joy of eternity.” (St Gertrude the Great 1256 -1302) Oh the immeasurable gain through receiving the cleansing, healing, nourishing Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus, it is actually inestimable. Truly I thank You, dearest Father. You gift us life through Jesus and His † of forgiveness recalled at the Eucharist, life in all fullness now just as our Saviour promised us, and an eternity in the blessings of Your company. “For me to live in Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1 v 21) It saddens me that so many people do not enjoy this privilege simply because they did not seek to find the meaning and purpose of life, making their discovery through Jesus. Lord, through the life and death of our Saviour Brother, in union with His Most Sacred Heart and divine Blood and the holy sacrifice of the Eucharist, I offer myself to You. Thank You that forgiveness allows this. We are loved and forgiven, cherished as family, the adopted brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus. “The LORD reigns: Let the earth rejoice...at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.” (Psalm 97 v 1, 5) The righteousness of the Lord Jesus we claim as ours Lord God, so gaining right standing in Your sight, we experience “Light sown for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart.” (v 11) “Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness,” (Psalm 100 v 1, 2) realising what an honour of the highest order it is to be enabled to do this. Thank You for the amazing grace of righteousness. May we put this to best use by becoming willing, hard working, reverent workers, the Lord Jesus’ co-workers striving to extend His kingdom of love and mercy, of justice and peace for everyone. Although a servant, You are so concerned for our wellbeing Father. May we come to understand that we must seek to live honourably, correct at all times, then You can bless us with all that is necessary to prosper in life. May we take no grace, no privilege, no favour for granted, realising all benefits and blessings were won for us by the Lord Jesus at the †, then risen, ascended and glorified, He sends us His Spirit. May we be open and receptive to the Spirit of life, who shares with us each and every aspect of the all loving life of our Brother, so as to impact upon us and influence us for good, always. “Come into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise, be thankful to Him, and bless His name,” (Psalm 100 v 4) Your name, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one Lord of love in a Trinity. We exalt and esteem You Father God, each time we partake of holy communion, the Holy Spirit miraculously changing the works of our hands, the bread and wine, into the Body and Blood of Jesus. In the Eucharist the Lord Jesus’ real presence is with us hidden under the form of bread and wine. How astonishing! “The LORD is good, His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.” (Psalm 100 v 5) “Honour and majesty” are set before us. “Strength and gladness,” (1 Chronicles 16 v 27) belonging to the Trinity. This is our claim. “Give to the LORD, O families of the people” (v 28) one family when adopted by Jesus. He is the Lord of Glory and we become the subjects of a King, the Lord of lords and King of kings, the highest One of renown in all heaven and earth. “Give to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!” (v 29) for not only is it right to do so, herein is our deepest peace and highest joy, a profound contentment heaven sent. “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; and let them say among the nations” – for it is true for all believers in Christ Jesus, our anointed King – “ ‘The LORD reigns’.” (v 31) No longer are we in bondage to satan, praise be. “ ‘Who do you say that I am’?” (Luke 9 v 20) is the most significant question we will ever be asked. May the Spirit of faith enable us to reply without hesitation, claiming with praise and thanksgiving “The Christ of God.” (v 26) Thank You for our gain by the sacrifice made at the †of forgiveness. Thank You for all the blessings of grace and mercy which gift us unity, peace and safety now into eternity. The Lord Jesus assures us that as He is the sacrificial Lamb, “ ‘Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood’,” making Him actually able to live within us, oh what a miracle! Then the recipient “ ‘Has eternal life, and I will raise him (her) up at the last day’.” (John 6 v 54) We partake in the covenant blood of Christ Jesus, to be joined to You, dearest Father, blessed by the work of the Spirit, and we receive the benefits of a lifetime and beyond. How marvellously we are provided for, thank You. It is such an honour to become partakers of the divine nature “...having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1 v 4) We have become a new creation entirely, all thanks to the holy life and death of Jesus and the holiness of the anointing Spirit. “It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life’,” (John 6 v 63) the promised life in all fullness. This is our faith. This is our Eucharist, our reception of the Word of life who is the King of Glory. This is our hope which is decided. This then is our peace and our joy. How truly wonderful are the works of Your hands Lord God. “’No one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him (her) by My Father’.” (v 65) Thank You for the mercies of Your love, our healing by forgiveness. “Bless the LORD, O my soul and all that is within me bless His holy name!...And forget not all His benefits,” (Psalm 103 v 1, 2) Your ever present kindness through Jesus and the Spirit, so beneficial for us. Forgiving us, it is Your merciful love which redeems us from the hell of final, total separation, that same love which “Crowns with loving kindness and tender mercies,” (v 4) who more than satisfies us by the new life gifted in Jesus. All thanks, all praise, all glory ever be now and eternally. May we ever “Let the kingdom of heaven and living in a right relationship with You, Lord God, be our priorities, then everything else we need will be given us as well.” (based on Matthew 6 v 33 The Truth) Thank You so much for each and every grace, blessing and favour as gifted us in the Lord Jesus, by the Spirit, notably at the Eucharist. Amen. 24.08.20 Sue O’Donnell
“I will praise You forever, for what You have done, and shall trust in Your name, so full of goodness, in the presence of Your faithful.” (Psalm 52 v 9 TNJB) O Lord, so much have You done for us, In, through and by the Lord Jesus, Fully alive to us by the Holy Spirit. Firstly You create us and provide well for us, In this most beautiful of planets, the earth. You made us to be Your own family, But catastrophically we ruined this by our sinfulness. “ ‘But My people would not hear My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels’.” (Psalm 81 v 11, 12) Not defeated by satan and his minions, You devised the plan of salvation, Your invaluable gift of freedom for every nation, As given through our Saviour Redeemer, the Lord Jesus. Our Brother is called to be our Redeemer At the †of justice, winning forgiveness for us. “To the end that our glory may sing praises to You, and not be silent. O LORD, my God, we will give thanks to You forever.” (Psalm 30 v 12 the singular subject changed to plural) How great is Your love for us, That mercy poured out over us, By such grace and goodness ever at work in our Saviour, As brought and taught by the Holy Spirit. Never, ever are we neglected, ignored nor forgotten. Oh the magnitude, might and marvel of Your love for us, A love verified by the Lord Jesus and glorified by the Spirit of holiness. “Look to us and be merciful to us, as Your custom is toward those who love Your name.” (Psalm 119 v 132 the singular invocation changed to plural) You guide us and safeguard us as we pray. You gift us the sacraments of Your grace. All as we turn to Jesus, trusting in You, Opening to the Holy Spirit, relying upon Him, As most gloriously He enlightens us regarding the Lord Jesus, Making us diligent prayerfully and attentive spiritually. “The Lord is good to all and His tender mercies are over all His works.” (Psalm 145 v 9) “My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love Thee. I ask forgiveness for those who do not believe in Thee, do not adore Thee, do not hope in Thee, do not love Thee.” (The Fatima Centre U.S.A.) Lord, “Direct our steps by Your word,” the living Word of the Lord Jesus, and the written word of sacred Scripture. “And let no iniquity have dominion over us,” (Psalm 119 v 133 the singular subject changed to plural) for we plead mercy at the †of Jesus our Saviour. Forgiveness is at the heart of our faith, that gracious, loving kindness You freely offer us through the love of Jesus and the working of the Holy Spirit calling us to purity. You have raised up for us a mighty Saviour as You promised us of old, that we can serve You honourably by means of the Lord Jesus’ holiness shared with us, and the justice won for us by Him, at the †. How strong Your love for us is, how profound Your mercy. May the Holy Spirit enable all peoples to understand this and not block their understanding by wilful sinning, by being apathetic, nor careless, nor content to remain in ignorance. You offer us the true fullness of a life lived in hope of heaven, in joy in the here and now, our best Friend being Jesus accompanied by the Holy Spirit, our peace re-established at the † of forgiveness, so we dare to look to Your mercy. Ever let us praise You as a Trinity of love and mercy, leading us out of the darkness of sin, into the wonderful light of love the Lord Jesus shines upon us, that all the world may come to faith in Him. Without the knowledge, understanding and the fullness the friendship of the Lord Jesus offers us in the Spirit, our life is pointless, meaningless, futile, unfruitful and unsatisfactory, a nothingness experienced. But in Your love, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, everything changes for the better more and more, until finally we reach the best in Your company in heaven, where the greatness of Your love will be completely apparent to us. Until then we are on a journey of faith. Please accompany us onwards and homewards, for You, Lord God, holy Trinity, One God in Three Persons, all equal, are the deity who cares for everything and everybody, sovereignly. The gifts of Your grace make us fervent in our belief that the power of holy love conquers all that is evil as long as we are watchful in keeping Your commands. When we fail, please grant us the gift of repentance. Lord God, holy Father, “Save me by Your name,” which I know stands for all loving mercy. “In Your power vindicate me,” or else the Lord Jesus has suffered the †in vain. Lord God, “Hear my prayer, listen to the words I speak.”(Psalm 54 v 1, 2 TNJB) May these arise out of my love and respect for the holy Trinity. I pray, You act in mercy! “Now God is coming to my help, the Lord, among those who sustain me,” (v 4) my other brothers and sisters as we are made one family in the Lord Jesus. “How gladly I will offer You sacrifice and praise Your name for it is good.” (v 6) What is this sacrifice to be? A gift of my time, my energy, my resources certainly. Anything else, dearest Father? The words ‘Listening ear’ come to my mind. Please help me to re-develop this as I pray, listening not only to learn, but to share Your wisdom and truth as made plain by Jesus, in the Holy Spirit, a rich, rich, invaluably rich bounty. Please help me learn this then share this. Lord Jesus, I ask You to be my constant Friend and daily companion. Please gift me Your Spirit at all times, so I know how to live to give of my best to a life of faith, of Christian service in response to Your love for us in all its glorious, majestic power, a most holy power, all thanks to the Spirit. I ask that in my talk of You, my witness, my life enlarged through prayer, You come to dwell within me by Your Spirit, the result being a blessed power of holy love I can share widely amongst many. As I try to plumb the depths of Your love for us Father God, as glorified by the Lord Jesus, as verified by the Holy Spirit, I ask to broadcast that holy love “...in which all the jewels of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.” (Colossians 2 v 3) You are the way to unlock this richness as the Spirit works with us to oil faith’s response to You, enabling the virtuous to shine like the sun in Your kingdom on earth. We need ears that hear, eyes that see and hearts that respond to the call of the Trinity of love. It is the Spirit who issues this Your call Lord Jesus, according to the will of our Father. “Now the Spirit is the Spirit of the Lord God and where His Spirit is present, people have been set free,”( 2 Corinthians 3 v 17 The Truth) truly free in You, Lord and Saviour, Brother and Redeemer. “We are able to reflect the Lord’s glory”, or should be, will be, hopefully “The more that glory is revealed in us, the more like You we become!” (based on v 18) So, - the result is truly, wonderfully, marvellously glorious! – “This glory that comes from the Lord is continually increasing in our lives because the Spirit of glory lives in us.” (Cont.) How utterly amazing is this, truly life changing as we move from Your glory into an even greater, more accurate reflection, bathed in the power of holy love. The power of holy love, the power of the Trinity is incredible! This love is powerful to the working of miracles, a higher force at work than humanity alone could ever hope or even strive to accomplish. Lord, You are the God of wonders, thank You for Your divine nature transforming us by holiness. May we ever fully trust in You as a Trinity, all You are, stand for, accomplish and promise. All You did achieve at the † of our forgiveness, such an act of marvellous loving kindness, full mercy. Let us all pray; listen, look and learn more from You, about You, as You come to us to set us free from satan and sin’s eternal separation inflicting hell upon us. All this is changed by You as Saviour, as Redeemer, as Restorer. All achieved by the power of holy love which like the Lord Jesus residing closest to Your heart of love holy Father, according to the working of the Spirit, will accomplish the same for us. We are made to be family by You, in You, through You, a Trinity of love. Please ever come to us, rest upon us, save, purify and sanctify us all, as we learn to pray, trust and depend entirely upon You, believing we can receive because we do! Then all glory, all praise, all admiration, all adoration ever, ever be to the Almighty Trinity, acting as One in love and mercy. This is why and how we rejoice. Thank You so very, very much, for being forever our Saviour, calling us to respond to Your power of holy love. May we do so unhesitatingly. Amen. 22.07.20 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
“We praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for He is the Father of compassion and is full of mercy. He is the God of all comfort who daily gives us strength. Yes, He sees us through all our difficulties, so that we are able to strengthen others in their troubles with the same strength we have received from Him ourselves.” (2 Corinthians 1 v 3, 4 The Truth) What is done, is done Even if we got it wrong. Fortunately, however badly, However far off track we went, Advent tells us of a Saviour. We await One to change us. Until then, what is done, Life undone if we get it wrong, Can be disastrous, can be chaos. But do not lose heart. “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.” (Psalm 126 v 3) Look for a fresh start In the One to come, Where, what is done Can, will, marvellously, lovingly, And certainly mercifully, Be undone by forgiveness. That is why the Messiah, The Son we name ‘Christ Jesus’ Comes directly to us. Our part is to pray sincerely. “The essential indispensable element in prayer is attention. Without attention there is no prayer. The attention given by grace comes when we make our heart dead to the world.” (St Ignatius of Antioch) Pray with remorse, of course, Determined to get back on track. Therefore we say ‘Sorry’, As long as we mean this. Sorry for the hurt, The harm, the ensuing disaster. Sorry for pride, an arrogance. Sorry for being wilful, Our carelessness or compliance with evil. Pretend not that things are not serious. “O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure. Have mercy on me O LORD, for I am weak. O LORD, heal me for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled. But You, O LORD – how long? Return, O LORD, deliver me. O save me for Your mercies’ sake.” (Psalm 6 v 1-4) Off track we lack goodness. Without goodness there is no holiness. But prayerfully, the Holy Spirit comes To call us back now, Immediately before the festivity. Look to Christmas. Christmas is Jesus’ arrival, In this is our survival. Look to Jesus, All the ends of the earth. “...to You the Gentiles shall make supplication; come to deliver us and delay not.” (based on a Traditional O’Antiphon) Look to Jesus’ promised birth. Jesus is the subject of prophecy, Resulting in God’s mercy. Look to Jesus And find loving forgiveness. What is done Will be undone miraculously. Look to God for mercy, His compassion. Look to form a new identity. Look to the Holy Spirit. “Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of Your faithful, kindle in us the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit and we shall be created and You will renew the face of the earth.” (Traditional Prayer) He who is always holy, Look for His influence and guidance. Look to see this. We need this. Not long now. How we can prepare. Prepare to share life In each and every aspect, With God’s Son, the Lord Jesus, Born to us for this purpose. “The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him. The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might. The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of the LORD...” (Isaiah 11 v 2, 3) Ask for a spirit True to conviction and conversion, To reconciliation with friends Or family we have lost, At a cost. Forgo pride and prejudice, Repent of injustice, disrespect, All hostility, especially enmity. Angels will speak of goodwill, Seek this wholeheartedly. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2 v 14) Make Advent count, Preparation resulting in reparation. Marvel at God’s power of compassion, Our hope of justice To undo what is done All that is faultless, Unworthy and worthless. He who is to come, Will come without delay. Pray, pray, pray! “For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary. From heaven the LORD viewed the earth, to hear the groaning of the prisoner, to release those appointed to death, to declare the name of the LORD in Zion and His praises in Jerusalem.” (Psalm 102 v 19, 20) Pray to become more aware Of the radiance of holy love, God’s glory, power and might, Awaiting the night before Christmas. The Child of Mary Longs for our integrity. In the mystery of Jesus, So wondrous an incarnation, Nation and nation Are called to celebrate. “When the peoples are gathered together and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.” (Psalm 102 v 22) The love born at Christmas, A love which works with forgiveness. All that is done Which should not be, Will then be undone Through the Holy Son. Holy wisdom works To undo our irreverence, To make us virtuous. God’s decision to forgive us Is birthed in Christ Jesus. “Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’ The LORD has done great things for us and we are glad.” (Psalm 126 v 2, 3) Despite our weakness, We can gain strength. Blessed by the Spirit, Who labours to develop Our righteousness and holiness, Both gifted in Christ Jesus, This is our Christmas. The gifts bestowed Will grow as long as Prayer is continuous. “ ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’.” (2 Corinthians 12 v 9) “Nobody can come to the Father in heaven except through faith in Me’.” (John 14 v 6 The Truth) Lord, we pray for faith in Your goodness towards us, granting us forgiveness through our Saviour Brother, about to be born to us as our personal Saviour. Lord, we believe. Please by Your Spirit, help those who as yet have not benefitted from the amazing meeting of encountering Jesus as our Lord, a Saviour Brother. Please send Your Spirit of revelation to non-believers to help them gain a wisdom which is holy, an assurance of the forgiveness the Lord Jesus wins for us. We all need the Spirit of grace so as to participate in the divine life the Lord Jesus wins for us. Jesus as Light of the world, gifts us a better understanding and conviction of all the Spirit reveals to us. Christmas is no time for doubt, discouragement, depression, sadness, uncertainty, anxiety. Christmas is the season of joyous happiness, our Redeemer Saviour born amongst us. May the Holy Spirit, ever industrious, increase the virtues of faith, hope, trust and dependency, all of which must centre on the Lord Jesus as our forever Saviour redeeming us, that we can be sanctified. This is for You to be glorified by our life being made holy, Father God. Thank You that the Holy Spirit always assists with this, because He is the Spirit of prayer. The Spirit convinces us that prayer is as vital to our well being as fresh air is. Cries for help are prayers. Seeking forgiveness by expressed, contrite remorse, this is prayer. Reconciliation is a gift of Your love and mercy thank You. We are re-built, uplifted, encouraged, better able to prepare properly, spiritually for Christmas. It is nearly time for Christmas, the season of faith, hope and love, a time for peace, goodwill and joy to enthral us through a newborn Baby. Who does not amaze at the miracle of life seeing a new born? Thank You that prayer is always answered for the Lord Jesus, being born for us, ministering to all believers, dying for us on a †, then rising to be with us as our forever Saviour, He is life to us. Please release those imprisoned by fear, doubt, disbelief or shame for their mistakes. Thank You for making this a season of hope, peace and goodwill. Lord, how glorious it is on Christmas Day when believers join together to worship in joy, to acclaim the arrival of our Saviour, joy to the world. This year it is not so straight forward because of the Corona Pandemic. I am wondering why this has happened. I hear You say “Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you and you shall glorify Me.” (Psalm 50 v 15) May this be so “O my God, I ask You for myself and those dear to me the grace to fulfil perfectly Your holy will, to accept for love of You the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one day be united together in Heaven for all eternity.” (Source not known) The Lord Jesus will teach us something of paramount importance: “ ‘Abide in Me, and I in you’.” (John 15 v 4) He says to us. Thank You. I praise You for the hope, peace and joy of receiving the actual presence of the Lord Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. This is of vital importance we realise because “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me’.” (Cont) Before our Saviour lived amongst us, we could not understand Your merciful loving kindness, Your compassion, dearest Father. But now “What had not been told them they shall see, and what they had not heard they shall consider.” (Isaiah 52 v 15) “Now to Him who is able to keep us from stumbling, and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory, with exceeding joy, to God our Saviour who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and forever.” (based on Jude 24. 25) As grace, mercy, compassion, peace and love are multiplied to us many, many times over and not just at Christmas, “To You be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” (based on Ephesians 3 v 21) 20.12.20 Sue O’Donnell
''O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wonderful works. Now also when I am old and grey headed, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.” Psalm 71 v 17,18l'
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