Father God, everything in the world has a name so that we can put it in a box, label it and keep it till we need it. But Your name is above everything. You are the great I AM, the everlasting God. If I truly look I can see You everywhere.  Give me the desire to take time to see You around me; reflected in the world and dwelling in other people, so that I may spend my life in Your service and know You better every day until that wonderful day when I will see You face to face. Amen.

From the very first chapter of the Bible it is clear that

God created us for Himself, and the reason is simple:

love. Love cannot exist alone. Love needs to love and

loves to be loved. God is love. But to be truly loved

God needed, not a robot that had no choice, but a

creature that was free to choose. Then, if this creature

recognized that it was truly loved it might just love in

return. And so the Garden of Eden.But freedom to

choose brings freedom to disobey. And so, in

disobedience, we lost the plot. But God’s love was too great to leave it there and so, over the years, He reveals Himself, through His care for His people. Slowly, as much as we can take at a time, He let’s us see how much He cares. And as we begin to understand His nature, so we see Him in many different ways. A mighty, powerful God; a caring, feeding God; a gentle and supporting God; a leading God; a God with a great plan to rescue us from the ultimate disaster - death - the penalty for disobedience.

But how will this plan come about? Slowly God reveals more and more of His incredible nature until, at last, we can actually see Him - in the flesh - as one of us! But the question has always been - ‘Can we really see Him?’ No longer are we speaking of the physical sensation of optical recognition but the true, inner realisation that in Jesus Christ we are looking at God Himself - the Creator of the Universe - the All in all - the Lord of Everything - the Greatest lover - the Source of life - the .............

Messiah

Lord God, You made it clear right from the beginning that Your love was greater than our sin and that You would one day draw us to Yourself.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for that promise come true in The Promised One, the Messiah, The Christ - Jesus, our Lord.

Father, as I read the scriptures I see that every one of Your promises to me is fulfilled in Jesus.

Father, increase my faith and trust His word.

Emmanuel

Emmanuel - God with us. Father God, that You, the mighty creator of the universe should come amongst us as one of us, is more than my mind can cope with. As I look at the immensity of space and the way that You have created such beauty from the minutest particles, I am amazed. But that You should come to us - and even to me, a creature unworthy of Your love, is truly wonderful. Thank you, most loving Father.

Lord of lords

In times gone by, the lord of the manor had absolute right over the lives of his serfs and made them serve him - for good or ill - whether they liked it or not - on pain of death.

But you, Lord Jesus, although You are Lord of all lords, came to serve us - and even give Your life to pay the penalty for our sin and bring life out of certain death. Lord, how can I thank You enough. Help me to serve You every day I live.

Light of the world

Father God, how could we know You unless You revealed Yourself to us. In our blindness we see only ourselves, but Jesus brings a new vision of Your glory. As I look at Him I begin to see. I see Your love - even for sinners. I see Your compassion for the hungry, the lost and the dying. I see the intensity of Your love for me, there on the cross. Lord Jesus, shine Your light through me so that others may see You too.

Alpha and Omega

Jesus, Word of God, Alpha and Omega, beginning and end, You are from before time and beyond time. Your creation echoes Your beauty, from the delicate flower to the mighty galaxies in space. Everything has a purpose, and You have made it clear that Your purpose for me is to receive the fullness of Your love and follow You wherever You lead me in Your mighty power. Lord, may I truly walk in Your footsteps today.

Lamb of God

Father God, as I read the scriptures I see how costly sin is. The thousands of lambs that were sacrificed in the Temple could never touch the depth of sin that lies within us. But there, on the cross, You made the one sacrifice that could forever touch the deepest sin with us. You gave Yourself for me. The Lamb, without spot or blemish, pure and holy, died at my hand in order that I might live. I stand in awesome wonder.

Give thanks for the many ways God is at work, through:

 

- Aid agencies

- Missionaries

- Healing gifts

- Generosity

- Compassion

Remember today, those who carry around in life:

- hurts

- wrongdoing

- confusion

- wrong ideas

- pain

- apathy

and who do not  

 know God’s love.