For God loved the world so much that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.
John 3:16 GNT
Gracious God, the cross in the photo was left at the door of church and is now displayed in one of the windows.
As we look more closely, we see the cross is formed of many pieces of paper, carefully and beautifully folded, wrapped around each other, each one unique, but contained and held within the arms of the cross, forming part of the whole, each piece has its place in the picture.
We reflect on God’s love …..
The picture reminds us that Jesus knows all of us completely, all our ins and outs, our twists and turns. He loves us and accepts us just as we are.
It reminds us that, on the cross Jesus gave his life for each and every person. He paid the price for all the wrongs, hurts, suffering and pain of this world, past present and future.
It reminds us that through the Resurrection we have new life. When we turn to Jesus our Saviour we are promised forgiveness, eternal life and a new beginning. We can find healing, purpose, joy, peace and hope in his everlasting love and presence with us.
It shows us that we are all united in Jesus, we all matter, we are all part of his body, his family of believers, continuing his work of sharing his love, serving and telling others about him.
Gracious God, thank you for the gift of the cross left at the door of church. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the wonderful gift of Jesus our Saviour.
Gracious God, may your Holy Spirit draw us closer to you and help us to appreciate more fully the wonderful and free gift of life and love in Jesus. We pray that all who are searching or questioning will find the assurance of your love in Jesus and their place in your family of believers. Amen
Ruth Rushworth
Previous Reflections
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..Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Cor 3:17 NIV Holy Spirit, A dwelling place Freedom to come, Freedom to comfort, Gracious God, we thank You for the love of Jesus that welcomes and receives everyone. Thank You that You made us in your image for a relationship with You and with each other. Thank You for friendship, fellowship and community. Gracious God, we ask You to bless our relationships. May the light of your love shine on us. May our branches reach out to offer welcome, light, shade, and peace. May we offer a place of safety and acceptance, where all can grow and spread their wings. And may “…the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, … guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:7 ESV) Ruth Rushworth |
Be still and know that I am God
Ps 46:10 NIV
Father, I praise,
Father, I adore,
Bless my soul,
My life, my all.
Jesus, I praise,
Jesus, I adore,
Come into my heart,
Stay with me evermore.
Holy Spirit, I praise,
Holy Spirit, I adore,
Lead me in the ways
Of Jesus, my Lord.
Father, Son and Spirit, we worship You. In the stillness of this moment, we breathe in your breath of life, your breath of love and peace. We open our lives to your transforming love. Place your name on our lips, in our minds and in our hearts.
Breath of life and love, breathe your goodness and peace on us today, that we might reflect You in our thoughts, our words and actions. May we breathe the breath of the love of Jesus into the lives of others. Amen
Ruth Rushworth
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Phil 4:13 NKJV
Life on the edge
Living by faith
Relying fully
On saving grace.
Raised to the sun
In glory and praise
Responding to the light
In colour ablaze.
Thanks be to God
For Jesus his Son
For his life and love
And the victory He has won.
Gracious God, at times, circumstances, or challenges we wish to undertake, leave us feeling that we are living life on the edge. We thank you for the strengthening love and grace of Jesus, available to us in every situation, through the power of your Holy Spirit.
Gracious God, help us to keep our gaze firmly fixed on Jesus. May we know his presence and enabling in our lives, as we seek to follow your will and direction in all things.
As we reflect, we pray for those you have placed on our hearts …… may they know the strength and support of the love of Jesus. Amen.
Ruth Rushworth
…anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.
2 Cor 5:17 NLT
Transforming God, we praise You for the new life and fresh start we have when we turn to Jesus and choose to follow him.
We praise You that You know us as we truly are, you know our every thought and feeling, our every word and action. You know our hopes and dreams, our joys and our pains, our strengths our weaknesses, you know our full potential and all that is possible in our lives through the love Jesus has for us.
Gracious God, as we spend time with You, may You draw us close. May we submit our will to yours, as we choose every day to follow Jesus, that your transforming love may be evident in our lives. Amen.
Ruth Rushworth
Show me your ways Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth … For you are God my Saviour and my hope is in You all day long.
Ps 25: 4-5 NIV
The day stretches out before us,
We know not what it holds,
Fill it with your love Lord,
With blessings manifold.
May it flow with kindness,
Wisdom, calm and peace,
Walking along the path laid out,
In the shade of leafy trees.
Loving God, we lay before you,
At the start of this new day,
The places we will travel to,
And people we meet along the way.
May our lives
Reflect your beauty,
Your calm your truth and peace,
Trusting in the grace of Jesus,
In love and thankfulness.
Gracious God we praise you and thank you for this new day. As we pray and consider the day ahead, we ask you to bless it and those we meet along the way. May we walk on the path You have prepared for us, and may we stay close to Jesus, our loving and faithful companion and guide. Amen.
Ruth Rushworth
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.”
Jer 1:5 NIV
Be still,
Come into my care.
I know your joys,
Your sorrows, your despair.
Trust me,
in times of your greatest need,
When you know not where to turn,
Or who to believe.
Follow me,
With all your heart.
I will lead you safely,
When the days are dark.
Lean on me,
With all your strength,
My precious child,
I am your defence.
Look to me,
Whatever you face.
I am your strength,
Your peace, your inner grace.
Loving God, may we be still, quieten our minds and open our hearts before You. You, loving God, formed our very being, know our every move and long for us to come to your open arms and loving embrace. We come to You now in prayer…..
Loving God, may we be still, trust, follow, lean on and look to your love through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
Look to the Lord and his strength. Seek his face always. Ps 105:4 NIV
Amen
Ruth Rushworth
And God said “let there be light, and there was light”
The earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep and the spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said “let there be light, and there was light”.
Genesis 1 2-3 NIV
God of creation
God of light
God of power
God of might
God of love
God of peace
God in whom we find our niche.
A place where stress and strivings cease,
A place where we find perfect peace,
A place where life in fullness resides,
A place of strength under cloudy skies,
A place of calm in stormy seas,
A place of trust that meets our needs.
We praise You, Creator God, for your goodness and love. As we reflect, may we know the light of your presence with us……
May the light of your love shine in dark places and overcome the darkness. May the fullness of your love fill the emptiness with the grace, purpose, life, and peace of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. We pray for your creation, our world and all you have placed on our hearts this day. Amen
Ruth Rushworth
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The eternal God is your refuge and his everlasting arms are underneath you. Loving, eternal God, as Jesus asks us to open our arms to others, may we love our neighbours as ourselves and be channels of the healing love, compassion and justice of Jesus…… Loving, eternal God, we praise You for your unfailing love. May we open our arms more widely to receive the love and blessings that are ours in Jesus…. Amen. |
Gracious God, we come to You this day. We take a moment to relax our bodies and quieten our minds, to be still before You, to breath in your peace, to praise You. Loving God, we come to You……
To the throne of love and mercy,
To the seat of grace and peace,
To the arms of Jesus our Saviour,
To the heart of forgiveness.
To the love long awaiting,
That beckons, calls and draws us close,
To the source, the centre, the very being,
The breath, the life and Spirit of God.
To the heart of God, forever beating,
To the grace of Jesus, always redeeming,
To the breath of the Spirit, endlessly leading,
To the peace that knows no ending.
Gracious God, You are our God and we praise You…… We thank You and reflect on your presence, love and blessings throughout our lives……. May we take the grace and peace of Jesus to others today. Amen.
Ruth Rushworth
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust.
Ps 18:2 NKJV
I turn to my God
Who loves me,
Who saves me,
Who lifts my head
In times of trouble,
Who blesses me
And strengthens me.
His love and
Sweet songs of joy
Strengthen my inner being,
Give me hope and confidence
In the future.
I am not alone,
My God is with me.
My God surrounds me
with songs of deliverance,
My God saves.
While storms blast around me
I am secure.
My dwelling place is my God
And he will deliver me.
God of mercy and compassion, You are our strength and refuge. You meet us in Jesus in the depth of our need. Help us to trust and not be afraid. May the healing love of the risen Christ bring your strength, hope, peace and rest. We lift before you in prayer anyone you have placed on our hearts today, in Jesus’ powerful and precious name. Amen.
Ruth Rushworth
Jesus said …” I am the true vine and my Father is the Gardener… Remain in me, as I also remain in you”
John 15:1, 15:4 NIV
A garden of beauty
Created with love
Crafted by the hand
Of the Father above.
Every detail is planned
By a heavenly design
Nothing overlooked
Out of place, out of line.
Plants are fed
Drooping flowers watered
Trees are pruned
And shrubs supported.
Every flower, tree and shrub
Has its own place
Yet grow together
In a riot of colour and grace.
A garden of beauty
Fragrant with love
Tended with care
By the Father above.
Loving God, we praise You and thank You for the beauty of gardens; places where we can walk, talk and relax with each other and with You.
We praise You for your amazing love; the love that created our wonderful world and each one of us; the love that looks on us through Jesus with joy and delight.* We reflect on and thank you for the many ways in which You nurture us in the garden of our lives……..
Gracious God, we cannot do your work on this earth apart from You. Help us to stay connected to Jesus, the source of life, love and nourishment. May we open ourselves to the light of the fullness of his love, that we may spread the fragrance of Jesus in our world and grow together in grace, peace and love.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Amen
Ruth Rushworth
*Zephaniah 3:17
‘Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord’.
Romans 8:39 NIV
Gracious God, you are with us,
By night and by day,
Through sunshine and rain,
In all our highs and lows,
At every twist and turn.
You’ve walked the way before us,
You know the road ahead,
Each stone, hill and valley,
The smooth or rocky river bed.
We lace up our boots,
And step out with you,
Knowing we will not fall,
You love is kind,
Your mercy great,
We praise you Lord of all!
Loving God, we thank you that nothing can separate us from your love in Jesus. In times of difficulty, trial or sadness, help us to hold on to this truth. You are our rock and our strength.*
As we step out and journey through this day, may we keep our gaze fixed on Jesus. Help us to see situations through his eyes and may we show your loving-kindness to our companions and all whose paths we cross along the way. Amen.
Ruth Rushworth