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Paul concludes our series on Psalm 18.
Joy reads from Romans chapter 8 this morning and asks us to receive all the encouragement that can be found there. We're reminded that we have hope in God, that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God and in all that happens, God is working for good.
Paul shares some thoughts on the humble nature of the first Christmas and the humility found throughout the Bible. As we find ourselves looking forward to a more humble Christmas this year, Paul encourages us to reflect on what it might mean to live a simple life serving God to our full capacity.
Andy shares some thoughts on submission. Submitting to God's plans for us is far more efficient than trying to do things through our own strength.
In case you didn't get a chance to join us on Sunday evening, here is Joy's talk on 'The Presence of God'. Video available on YouTube
Dan continues our theme of Presence, with an encouragement to reflect on the God-hungry heroes in scripture and a prayer that our hunger for God's presence would increase at this time of advent as we look to celebrate the birth of Jesus, Emmanuel - God with us.
Nicky continues this month's focus on rest with a look at Psalm 91 and how it can help us enter rest when we've lost our peace.
Rach talks about sharing the Christmas story outside the church and the street advent/nativity trails on their way! The Swaythling trail is attached if you'd like to print your own...
Jonny shares some fresh perspectives on the Creation story and what the Sabbath means.
Rossie shares this morning about finding rest through remembering. Let's remember God's goodness frequently, intentionally, repeatedly. Let's turn back to receive His original best, let's turn away from regrets, let's receive His fresh grace every day and may we all find rest.
'The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry’, a book by John Mark Comer describes a disease of our time, one even greater than Covid 19 – the disease of ‘hurry-sickness!’ Hurry-sickness is characterised by continual rushing and anxiety. Those with the disease always feel short of time, and therefore try to perform every task faster and they become flustered every time there is any kind of interruption or delay: Life becomes a continuous struggle to accomplish more and more tasks, or participate in more and more events, in less and less time. Whether we realise it or not, the pace most of us live at is unsustainable and damaging in the long-term - and for that reason, it’s ungodly! And we know that when we begin to disconnect with God, everything else goes belly up!
Joy explores Biblical meditation as a way of slowing down our bodies and our minds as we 'moan and mutter' in God's presence. Our culture isn't very good at waiting but meditation is a transformative process that takes time. 'Taste and see that the Lord is good'...take time to savour what God is speaking to you about, allowing the Holy Spirit to enlarge and personalise God's truth for you.
Paul has looked at a couple of proverbs and reminds us how important it is to laugh and express the joy of being a Christian. Proverbs 17:22 - 'Laughter is the best medicine' - and it has no side effects! Paul encourages us to be joyful, enjoy life and find some ways to laugh this week! Proverbs 31 talks about how the wife of noble character 'laughs at the days to come' she has a peace about her when it comes to thinking about what tomorrow will bring. Let's make an effort not to worry about the days to come but know that we can have peace - God has given us so much and has our best interests at heart.
Megs comes this morning with a new song and an invitation to corporately spend some time with God. The song is 'I Just Love You' by Upper Room from their album Land of the Living. As you listen, find an intimate connection with God and experience His love and Grace.
Dan shares some thoughts on God's sovereignty this morning. Is everything that happens part of God's will and what He desires? Many troubling things in the world don't stand with what we know of God's heart. His plan is to align earth with heaven - as His followers, we are involved in outworking His sovereign will; to see what the reality of heaven looks like and bring it to bear on earth. Part of our worship is to live according to this - let's align ourselves to God's sovereign will as part of our praise and worship today.
Jim shares that God has recently been calling the Southampton House of Prayer to think small; and that in the smallness, the presence of God will increase around the city. Take a look at John 1:14 God has been calling us out of our meetings and into the world for a long time. He doesn't want to dwell in a temple, He desires to live among scattered servants, bringing life everywhere. So, let's embrace what He's doing in this time and recognise that we carry God's presence to all the places we go!
Rach has a message for the kids and young people among us today: You've dealt with a lot of change recently and you are amazing! God thinks you're amazing! 1 Timothy 4:12 says, 'Don’t let anyone put you down because you’re young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity.' You are all making a massive difference, taking Jesus wherever you go - you are world changers!
God is with you in your work. He sees it and He values it. Serve wholeheartedly and with love; your work is sacred. As we are scattered at this time we are called to bring life to our families and workplaces. God sends the Church out into the world, not lost people into the Church. This is an opportunity to bring God's healing, hope, love and honour wherever we are and whatever work we do.
This Saturday is the 10th of October (10/10). Inspired by John 10:10, many people across the country are organising a 'Walk of Life' in their local areas this Saturday. John 10:10 'The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.' Paul encourages us to organise our own Walk of Life. You could walk up and down your street or around your local GP, declaring the word of life. Jesus came to bring life and we are salt and light in our communities. With the fear of the virus abounding, it's a good time for us to declare this abundant life over our communities. Join in 10:10 for 10/10!
Exploring the command to be still and know God, Joy focuses on finding God in the quietness; inviting us to pause in His presence and encounter the sense of awe and wonder that causes us to worship
You're resigning yourself to this but it's not my best for you. Resign: - to submit oneself passively, without resistance and accept as inevitable - to give up a position, for example, especially by formal notification - to relinquish a privilege, right or claim Are there situations we have resigned ourselves to? Is this God's best for us? Bev shares some words and scripture which will challenge us to declare and believe what God tells us is His best for us.
Vix shares from the book Cultivate by The Cageless Birds Community. It's a book full of reflections and prompts for cultivating a more intimate relationship with Jesus. What does it look like to give God all the glory in our lives? It looks like love. We are being pulled forwards into a relationship that's created in love, built on love and abides in love. We're created to give God glory, to worship, to act first in love.
Where do you find God and connect with Him most? For many people it's in the sense of awe that comes as we walk through nature. Megs ecourages us to remember that people are part of God's creation and that it's God's heart to see His creations loving one another. We can show God respect and love by showing respect and love to others. Let's make an effort to put away our phones or other distractions and pray with people, love people!
Dan reflects this morning that our worship needs to be a lifestyle and include the actions of submission and surrender as we make ourselves vulnerable to the will of God. Rather than struggling with the issues we face and battling God's will for us, by surrendering we will discover that what God desires for us is a deep seated security and peace which will allow us to operate in an empowered way, with grace and purpose.
This morning Jim encourages us to take environmental justice seriously as an act of worship to God. We are in the midst of an environmental crisis and as God's church, His people need to take responsibility. Can we get creative together and start by taking some small steps as our corporate worship to God? It is the destiny of all creation to be redeemed and God chooses to do this through us. As we take steps to care for and steward what God has made and declared good, caring for, respecting and nurturing creation, it shows reverence to God and we are restored to our vocation.
Rach shares an encouragement to live intentionally today - to make a conscious choice in every moment to act in a way which points us towards Jesus. "Great accomplishments start with actions done intentionally. For example, being successful in any profession involves adhering to the requirements of dedicated labour. Experiencing a loving, fulfilled, and God-glorifying relationship requires each person to do his or her part in being attentive, loyal, and dedicated. This same mentality applies to us as Kingdom citizens in the family of God. We must live intentionally-submitted lives." - Dr. Tonya Lewis, West Angeles Church
Nicky takes us to the ornamental lake to 'reflect on reverence', with an invition to look at the wonders of God's creation and see what He wants us to know.
Bev shares a poem, 'The World Will Weep No More', with us this morning as we are called back to the heart of worship.
Rossie shares on the importance of God's presence being in our every present moment.
As we continue to look at the theme of worship, Richard asks us to read Isaiah:1 with him and consider whether true worship at this time is embarking on a journey to hear what God says about justice and injustice - and what action He is showing us personally to take.
Jonny reminds us that worship is more than just singing and includes service, reverence and submission. What does it look like to be a worshipper day to day, impacting every area of our lives? True worship involves offering our whole selves to God - this will look different for each of us. What does it look like for you?
Paul reminds us of our true identity in Christ and encourages us to actively remember this each time we put on a face mask in this season.
We are a worshipping people and we are always in the presence of God. There is a freedom that comes when as a worshipping people we worship all the time. City Life have prepared some materials focused on taking moments with God around the themes of reverence, submission and serving. Take a look individually or in Connect Groups: http://www.citylife.org.uk/worship-reverence-submission-service/
Sometimes you have to get through your fear to see the beauty on the other side. Megs shares today how her family has also seen something of God through Disney! Similarly to the father in The Good Dinosaur, God wants to encourage, develop and have quality time with us. Throughout your day ask yourself 'What am I doing right now?' Ask God what He wants you to know about that moment; how you can be encouraged and encourage those around you.
Worship aligns us to a true reality. Whether things are good in life or you find yourself in a difficult place, as we worship God we remind ourselves of who He is and see ourselves in the light of who He is.
We all have times of strength and times of weakness; God works in both. He has designed us to live in community - to be interdependent not independent.
Rossie explores the importance of rest and sleep throughout scripture and into today. What are the barriers to rest in our lives? What if rest is one of our offerings of worship to God?
Deb shares some thoughts on how God has spoken to her through Disney's Moana. God wants to take us on a journey as a people to restore the heart of church. It may be uncomfortable and we may not know what it will look like when we arrive but we'll be together and God will be with us.
This morning Rach shares some thoughts on Jesus' parables. What makes these stories Jesus told so accessible? Jesus had an ability to communicate with any age and any backgrpound. Why do we often find ourselves over-complicating the message He brought? How can we draw people together in the same, simple way Jesus did?
Psalms 120-134 are known as the Psalms of ascent. These Psalms are said to have been read as pilgrims climbed up the temple steps. Paul encourages us to position our hearts in a way which looks up to Heaven rather than looking down at our struggles and anxieties. Why not read through these Psalms and highlight any verses which encourage you about God coming alongside you?
Is anyone thirsty? We need to come to our senses and recognise when we are thirsty and that we don't need to work harder, think or worry more. Jesus calmly invites us to come and drink - even if we feel we don't have what is needed to receive.
In this time when much is 'stripped away' is God, in His kindness, nudging us back to the 'heart of worship'?
Sam shares thoughts on forgiveness this morning. Why is it sometimes hard to forgive? How can you forgive someone if they're not sorry? What gets in the way of our forgiveness? If you'd like to find out more, Sam recommends the book 'Unpunishable' by Danny Silk
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life." Matthew 11:28 Jesus invites us to step aside from day-to-day struggles and rediscover life in Him.
This morning, Jim shares thoughts from three Bible passages. When situations don't work out how we expect, we can choose to lay down our own desires in order that others may have their desires met.
Rach shares her thoughts on Sabbath, taking time to rest and finding a sustainable rhythm for life. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest… (Hebrews 4:9-11)
Nicky reflects on the prophetic word from the start of the year from Isaiah 54 - enlarge the place pf your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back, lengthen you cords, strengthen your stakes! This is a time of preparation - God is promising growth, blessing, fruitfulness - inviting people to join the family. Who is God placing on our hearts today to pray for, bless, include, invite?
Ruth shares her thoughts from the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17. In the midst of his own hunger and thirst he has compassion on a widow and through his own intimate walk with God brings her an encounter that meets her needs, bringing justice, hope, peace and a future. The result ends up leading to his own needs being met and a release of blessing all round. In the midst of our own needs, let's press further into God and not miss the opportunities to move with compassion and meet the needs of others around us releasing the blessing and transformation of God.
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