Hope in Him.

05/06/2026

The Greatest [Love] Story Ever Told
By Colin Smith

The whole Bible is a love story. It begins with God, and God is love. Before anything else existed, love flowed between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus says to the Father, “You loved me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).

I still remember when I first heard this truth and the impact it made on me. I was a teenager, 16 years old, and I was in church on an ordinary Sunday morning. Our pastor in the little Baptist church where I grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland pointed to John 17:24. He said, “Before anything else existed, there was love.”

My pastor spoke of one God who exists in three persons: Love flows between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit – it always has and always will. The life of God is filled with perpetual joy because of the constant self-giving and therefore receiving that takes place within His own nature

I remember thinking as a teenager, “That is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard.” I remember thinking, “This is why love is so great!” The truth that love existed before anything else is why the longing to love and to be loved runs so deeply in all our hearts. We are made in the image of God. We are made to give and to receive love just as God does Himself.

This truth is made clear in Mark 12:28-31:

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Commanded to Love
Scripture gives us many more than ten commandments. Is one more essential than the others? Jesus answered this question for a scribe – a scholar of Old Testament law. The man had asked Jesus which of God’s commandments is most important. Which commandment is central to everything else? Jesus says that the greatest commandment is to “love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” This is of fundamental importance. This is what we were made for. This is your highest calling! And the second is like it: “love your neighbor as yourself.”

But we have not given this commandment the importance that Jesus tells us it deserves. It has been that way since the beginning, when God created the first lovers and placed them in the Garden of Eden, to walk with Him. So what went wrong?

Listen to this answer from Michael Reeves:

It was not that Adam and Eve stopped loving. They were created as lovers in the image of God, and they could not undo that. Instead, their love turned. When the apostle Paul writes of sinners, he describes them as “lovers of themselves, lovers of money… lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:2-4). Lovers we remain, but twisted, our love misdirected and perverted. Created to love God, we turn to love ourselves and anything but God.[1

Hiding from Love
The heart of what the Bible calls “sin” is a misdirected love, a disorder in the affections—loving the wrong things. That’s the fundamental human problem. That’s why our first instincts are not to seek God but to hide from Him. When Adam loved God, he walked with Him in the garden. But when Adam’s love turned, he hid from God. When Jesus came into the world and called the first disciples, He unveiled His glory by giving them a miraculous catch of fish. When Simon Peter saw this, he perceived something of the glory of God. He fell down at Jesus’ knees and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.” Peter was saying, “I don’t belong here with you! You had better find someone else who is more holy than I am. I’m not the kind of person you are looking for” (Luke 5:8).

Here was Peter, like Adam, hiding from God. Isn’t that the saddest and most tragic waste of all, for a human being to be running away from love? To be hiding from the God who loves?

Found by Love
Though Peter was hiding, Christ did not let Peter go. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. Peter brought the boat to land, and then he left everything and followed Jesus.

Years later this same man, Peter, described why Jesus Christ came into the world: “Christ… suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus came so that He might bring us out of hiding and back into relationship with Him. Peter was saying, “He went to that cross so that people like us who love the wrong things and feel that we don’t belong anywhere near God should be brought back to him.”

This kind of love was what Jesus had in mind when He went to the cross. On the night he was betrayed, he prayed to the Father “that the love with which you have loved me may be in them” (John 17:26). This is an amazing prayer! That the love with which the Father has loved the Son – the love that has always flowed in the heart of God – should be in us!

The great purpose for which Jesus suffered was to bring us into His own enjoyment of the Father’s love. His purpose was that we should enter into the shared delight of the Father and the Son, and be caught up in the circle of their love. That is surely why, at the end of the Bible, we find the marriage supper of the Lamb—the shared joy of the Father, and of his Son, and of His bride. The great storyline of the greatest story ever told is the story of love

https://youtu.be/VxCPXTCpfGI?si=3r1p_mJSWKrjSHzD

Prayer Bulletin
The growing conflict involving Iran and the wider Middle East continues to cause deep concern. While a temporary ceasefire has been announced in recent days, bringing a brief pause in fighting, tensions remain high and the situation is fragile. We ask you to pray that this ceasefire would hold and lead to lasting peace. Pray for those living in the midst of this conflict, for safety for innocent civilians, and for God to move in power to bring peace, reconciliation, and hope.
We also ask that you continue to pray for the ongoing situation in Gaza and Israel. Pray for protection for civilians, wisdom for leaders, and for God’s mercy and peace to prevail in this troubled region.
The war in Ukraine sadly continues, and many lives have been affected on both sides. We ask you to keep praying for this nation, remembering especially the families who have lost loved ones. Pray that God’s peace, comfort, and healing would reach those who are suffering, and that there would be a mighty move of God throughout the country.
Above all, let us pray that God’s kingdom would come and His peace would be known in every nation affected by war and conflict.

Recorded in Dallas, Texas.From "Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, Vol. 1"https://fanlink.to/PHS-LyricsFully god and fully manNo human mind could comprehend...

04/06/2026

🙏 Prayer Requests 🙏

Thank you for your continued prayer for all those on our prayer list. Please continue to
pray that needs will be met and thank God for answered prayers.

Cheryl
Lena, and the family.
Val.
Kingsley
Karen
Peter
Billy
Andrew
Peter J
Paul
Cameron
Kyle
Nikki
Dave

Credit goes to the owner.To God be the glory!Follow me on: ➡️I...

04/06/2026

Approach the Father
Jesus referenced God with complete familiarity. He called Him "Abba;" Daddy.

Michael Kelley

Yahweh.

We say it now with some casualness. It's another name for God, albeit in another language. It's become a helpful tool for sounding smart or spiritual; more of an official title for deity.

Not so to the Hebrews.

This was a holy name. The holy name. The name that was so holy, so separate that it was never uttered. Never completely written. In fact, we might even be pronouncing it incorrectly because it was never said out loud in ancient times.

Then you can imagine the outright scandal that occurred when some upstart Rabbi showed up on the scene in first century not using this name. Instead he referenced the God of this name with utter and complete familiarity. Jesus called Him "Abba." Daddy. A term of affection.

No wonder they called Him a blasphemer.

The gospels record again and again Jesus calling God His Father, all the while the onlookers marveled: Where is the fear? Where is the respect? Where is the reverence?

Oh, they were all there, but something else was there too. There was love. Both given and received. But there is one instance when Jesus didn't use this name for God. There was one moment when "Abba" became "My God."

As Jesus was suspended in the air, nailed to two cross beams, He felt the broken relationship with His Father as sin was thrust upon Him. The unthinkable happened, and Jesus responded by quoting Psalm 22:1: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

"Abba" became "My God" at the cross. But gloriously, "My God" also became "Abba" at the cross.

The unthinkable happened.

Those held at a distance from God because of their sin suddenly had access into the unseen realms of glory. The far were brought near. The alienated were brought inside the house. The enemies became children.

And we now cry, "Abba, Father," precisely because He cried "My God."

Reading: John 19

Prayer: As we near Easter, worship the Lord today in intimacy. Gratefully approach Him in the way Jesus did — as children do to their loving Father.

03/06/2026

Prayer bulletin.

Please keep praying for the assisted su***de bill.
As you most probably know the bill did not get through the House of Lords. However the pro assisted su***de groups say they will put it forward again and if necessary invoke the Parliamentary Act which means it can become law but bypass the House of Lords.
There is a lot of political and social unrest in our country at this time , please cover our country and our government in prayer. Pray for wisdom for our politicians and give them insight into the decisions that they make which will inevitably affect our country.
Please pray into the unrest among so many communities at the moment regarding faith , race and political beliefs.
Pray that our churches will rise up and lead the way in showing Jesus
and his love.

NO ONE HIGHER - SETH CONDREYVERSE 1OUR FATHER, CREATORYOU HOLD ...

02/06/2026

Crowned with Love and Mercy

Psalm 103:4, “…who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy…”

The Crown of the Christian
Often times in scripture a crown is synonymous with a person’s honor and functions as an outward expression of a particular glory that they bear (whether it be as king or queen or ruler or judge etc. Job 19:9,Prov.12:4,14:24,17:6). It is a token of greatness. So, what is the crown of God’s people? What is the Christian’s glory? What is our sign of honor? What is the display of our greatness? Psalm 103:4 tells us that it is the steadfast love and mercy of YHWH.

That is truly awesome to consider. Our splendor, our honor, our greatness is not anything we have done or achieved or secured by our own strength–rather, the crown of our glory is that we have been steadfastly loved by YHWH and have received His abundant mercy. The majesty of the Christian is that we were dead in sin, crippled with disease, and damned to the pit and yet–owing to nothing in ourselves–we have been redeemed, loved, given mercy, and satisfied with God Himself. The crown of our glory is that–despite our sinful state–we have been loved by YHWH God.

Disciples Loved by Christ
We hear a similar refrain on the lips of the Apostle John in his gospel. Throughout that book, John refers to himself only as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (or versions of this phrase). Why would he do that? I think the reason is that John (the only gospel writer actually present for the crucifixion of Christ, which was the zenith of God’s love on earth) was so indelibly marked by the weight and wonder of God’s love for Him in Christ that He was joyfully content to be known only as someone loved by Jesus. It is as if John shouts down the halls of history,

“If there’s anything you need to know about me, if there’s anything that matters concerning who I am, it is only this: Jesus loves me.”

In other words, the “crown” of John’s life–his glory, his identity–was the steadfast love of YHWH.

Crowned at the Cross
But, of course, in John’s writings–and throughout the New Testament–we come to realize that the steadfast love of YHWH is deeper and higher and wider than King David could have ever known as he penned Psalm 103; it is nothing less that the full self-giving of God Himself in His Son. What does it ultimately mean to be a sinner crowned with the steadfast love and mercy of God? It means that YHWH God has given us everything that can be given. It means that the Creator of the universe has held nothing back and has poured out His entire self in love and mercy over our heads. It means that infinite wrath is swallowed by infinite love, and we have been washed pure to the marrow of our soul by the blood of our Lord and our God. There is no crown so rich as this……..no crown worn by a human king–in his transient pomp and papier-mâché glory–can even begin to compare with the majesty and splendor of that crimson diadem worn by the children of God; the crown of steadfast love and mercy, the crown drawn from Immanuel’s own veins.

And mark this also, we wear the crown of steadfast love and mercy only because He wore the crown of our curse and our shame, the crown of our thorns. Oh, what wonders the Bible teaches us to say! That my God wore the crown of my thorns so that I might wear the crown of His love…which is, indeed, the crown of His glory. Thorns sank into the brow of my Lord and God so that love might be poured over my own……mercy was withheld from the flawless Son so that He might pour it out on His enemies and make them His friends…..what wonders He has shown us in Christ.

And we wear it not because we have earned it! Not because anything in us merits it! If that were the case then it would not be a crown of mercy. No, this crown, this glory, this splendor, placed on our heads at Calvary–we wear it because of HIS mercy, because of His grace alone. Which makes it all the more glorious.

Bless the Lord, Oh My Soul
Christian, our crown is the steadfast love and mercy of YHWH shown to us supremely in the crucified and risen Jesus Christ. The world wants to load our heads with rotten and rusted crowns. Culture holds up to us the crown of success, the crown of fame, the crown of influence, the crown of achievement…but all of these are diadems of dust and cannot survive the coming Day of the Lord. Our crown is different, our crown reveals our soul-poverty and points to the beauty and glory and supremacy of another, and only by showing His beauty does it therefore make us beautiful.

Our identity, Christian, is that we are loved by God in Christ for no other reason than that He is love. I think this is at least part of what we are to take away from Psalm 103:4. May we rest in it…when the temptation to sn**ch up another crown for our own glory comes, may we be given the grace to be satisfied in the infinitely valuable crown we already wear, the crown of steadfast love and mercy. Let all that is in us bless the Lord, we are disciples loved by Christ, and that is enough–more than enough.

https://youtu.be/vSCSzJK-2PA?si=LEn9BRRhQnXGest3

Prayer requests

Brynley
Samson
Eddie.
Charlie
Alana
Mia.
Betsan
Harry
Emily
Bale
Maddie

Ladies, we have a list above of 11 little ones who are all going through something that children should not. Please pray for these children and their families.

This song is inspired by Psalm 103:4:“He redeems your life from th...

01/06/2026

Prayer bulletin.

Pray for those suffering with mental health issues. Pray that they would be able to access the necessary help that they need. Also pray for the families of those who are caring for or living with someone with mental health issues. Pray that they too will be able to have the help and support that they need.

“You Are My Steadfast Home” is a worship song about finding true re...

01/06/2026

Good morning ladies !
Thank you again for asking me to give a short devotional. It really is a privilege.

I have been pondering on this verse this week “From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety,”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭61‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This Psalm is such a wonderful reminder that God welcomes us when we come to Him in our weakness. David writes from a place of deep need, saying those words 'When my heart is overwhelmed ...''
He doesn’t pretend to be strong, and he doesn't try to hide his struggles. Instead, he brings them honestly before the Lord. And what an encouragement that is for us because God never asks us to come to Him with everything figured out. He simply asks us to come. I find that so comforting.

And you know the phrase in this Psalm 'from the ends of the earth ' paints a picture of someone who feels far away, weary, and isolated. There are seasons in life when we can feel so distant from peace, distant from answers, and yes even distant from God. Yet here David shows us that no matter where we are emotionally, spiritually, or physically, we can still cry out to the Lord. Distance does not hinder God’s ability to hear us. His ear is always towards us, and he loves to hear the prayers of His children.

David’s prayer is not merely for his circumstances to change. Instead, he asks, ''Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.'' David recognises that what he needs most is not greater personal strength but the strength that can only come from God .
The rock represents God’s unchanging character : His faithfulness, protection, wisdom, and power (to name just a few). While emotions can be so fickle , and circumstances can become unstable, God remains steadfast and trustworthy.

David also shows humility in his request . He admits that the place of safety and victory is “higher than I.” In other words, he cannot reach it by his own efforts. How often do we try to carry burdens alone, relying on our own understanding ? David reminds us that true peace is found in surrender . God is able to lift us above the confusion and fear that threaten to overwhelm us.

Whatever may be weighing on your heart today, this verse invites you to look beyond your situation and towards God. He is the Rock that stands above every storm, every uncertainty, and every challenge. When your strength is almost gone , His strength remains. When your perspective is limited, His wisdom is perfect. When your heart feels overwhelmed, He is able to provide refuge, stability, and a peace that passes all understanding.

Today ladies take comfort in knowing that you do not have to climb to the Rock by yourself. David’s prayer was, 'Lead me.'
The same God who is your refuge is also your guide. He faithfully leads us step by step, drawing us closer to Himself and reminding us that we are never alone. What a faithful God we serve !
Have a blessed week and when you feel overwhelmed remember David , and come to God just as you are.

Julie McKibben

31/05/2026

Prayer Bulletin
The growing conflict involving Iran and the wider Middle East continues to cause deep concern. While a temporary ceasefire has been announced in recent days, bringing a brief pause in fighting, tensions remain high and the situation is fragile. We ask you to pray that this ceasefire would hold and lead to lasting peace. Pray for those living in the midst of this conflict, for safety for innocent civilians, and for God to move in power to bring peace, reconciliation, and hope.
We also ask that you continue to pray for the ongoing situation in Gaza and Israel. Pray for protection for civilians, wisdom for leaders, and for God’s mercy and peace to prevail in this troubled region.
The war in Ukraine sadly continues, and many lives have been affected on both sides. We ask you to keep praying for this nation, remembering especially the families who have lost loved ones. Pray that God’s peace, comfort, and healing would reach those who are suffering, and that there would be a mighty move of God throughout the country.
Above all, let us pray that God’s kingdom would come and His peace would be known in every nation affected by war and conflict.

Official Audio for “Coming Soon ” by Chris TomlinStream & Download Here: https://ChrisTomlin.lnk.to/StillTheKingID Subscribe to Chris Tomlin’s Channel: https...

30/05/2026

🙏 Prayer Requests 🙏

Thank you for your continued prayer for all those on our prayer list. Please continue to
pray that needs will be met and thank God for answered prayers.

Cheryl
Lena, and the family.
Val.
Kingsley
Karen
Peter
Billy
Andrew
Peter J
Paul
Cameron
Kyle
Nikki
Dave

There have been seasons in my life when everything looked strong on the outside — but inside, I was tired.Not tired from working hard.I’ve never been afraid ...

29/05/2026

God’s Masterpiece
by Greg Laurie

I was getting a haircut the other day when the guy cutting my hair suddenly stopped and said, “Look at that!”

I looked over my shoulder, and there was one of the most stunning sunsets I had ever seen. Several people got up out of their chairs and walked outside to take a look. It was such an incredible sunset that people stood there in awe.

Of course, it is a reminder that “the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1 NKJV). God is a great artist; there is no question about it.

But God’s greatest masterpiece isn’t some of the sunsets you may have had the privilege of seeing, or the Alps (as spectacular as they are), or the islands of Hawaii and Tahiti (as gorgeous and beautiful as they can be).

God’s greatest masterpiece of creation that He has ever made is you. And it is me. We are God’s greatest masterpieces.

In fact, we read in Ephesians 2:10 that “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (NKJV).

That word “workmanship” could be translated, “we are His work of art.” We are His poem. Or as another translation puts it, we are God’s masterpiece.

Without question, man is God’s greatest creation. Man is His crowning achievement.

The psalmist wrote of this when he said, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it” (Psalm 139:13–14 NLT).

If we look at Scripture, it would appear that God has a plan for us, even before we are conceived. In Jeremiah we read, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (1:5 NKJV).

God has His plan for a child, even before he or she is conceived, not to mention afterward.

And according to Scripture, there is a unique and custom-designed plan that God has in store just for those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ. God selected you and chose you so “that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7 NKJV).

That is what God wants to do for you.

If God were to reveal to you today how much He loves you, it would overwhelm you. It would devastate you to think of the love that He has for you in light of the way we all behave sometimes.

All He can give us at this point is the down payment of the Holy Spirit, and that alone overwhelms us at times. But in the ages to come, He is going to reveal His kindness and goodness toward us.

As I pointed out earlier, Ephesians says that “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (2:10 NKJV). In addition to “workmanship” speaking of a poem or a work of art, it is a word that speaks of something that is perfect. It carries the idea of rhythm, orderliness, and beauty.

When I look at my life, I don’t necessarily see rhythm, orderliness, or beauty. And I can guarantee that I don’t see perfection. When we see ourselves, we tend to see our flaws. We see so many things that need to change.

But God says, “You are my work of art. You are my poem. You are my masterwork.”

God is not like a doting father who’s oblivious to his child’s faults. Rather, He is your all-knowing, yet all-powerful Father in Heaven who can envision what you will be when it is all said and done.

God can look at you and can see what you will become before you have actually become it.

We look at ourselves and say, “I don’t get it. This doesn’t look like a perfect person. This doesn’t look like a work of beauty.”

But you are a work in progress. It is a process that doesn’t happen overnight. It is going to take all of your life on Earth. It won’t be completely finished until you get to Heaven.

Then you will see that you indeed are a perfect work of art—God’s masterpiece.

https://youtu.be/CWRLUdTcOrI?si=LtdvwihQCMhdKLM2

Prayer bulletin.

Please keep praying for the assisted su***de bill.
As you most probably know the bill did not get through the House of Lords. However the pro assisted su***de groups say they will put it forward again and if necessary invoke the Parliamentary Act which means it can become law but bypass the House of Lords.
There is a lot of political and social unrest in our country at this time , please cover our country and our government in prayer. Pray for wisdom for our politicians and give them insight into the decisions that they make which will inevitably affect our country.
Please pray into the unrest among so many communities at the moment regarding faith , race and political beliefs.
Pray that our churches will rise up and lead the way in showing Jesus
and his love.

Music by: Gaither Vocal BandEdited by: AluminumIndium