Herorine ( Hebrews 11 v 35 ff )

'Heroine Mao couldn't crush, wrote letters in her blood', so read the book review on the life  of  Lin Zhao. This Chinese lady spoke out against Chairman Mao and the terrible things that were happening under his rule,.As the reviewer comments, ''it was so much easier to keep quite and go along with it  all- an so much safer for the rest of the family''.Lin contributed to an underground magazine, calling Mao's regime, 'the fascist state of a centralised state' , and ridiculing  his Great leap , as a great leap backward''She was finally arrested,imprisoned  there she would experience,torture  and finally death, The writer in a short paragraph states,''That her Christian faith kept her going to the end, ''Let me turn over all my pains , hopes and dreams to my Lord. ''.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Hebrews 11 v  38.                                                                                                                               Of whom the world was not                                                                                                                                    worthy.

Rubbish. ( 1 John 1 v 8 - 10)

I was doing a bit of gardening, racking the areas of my lawn that needed the rubbish removed,so the green grass would have a better chance of growing.This reminded me of the rubbish we accumulate in our lives that needs racked over and removed,in order that Christ may be seen more clearly in our lives. This means a daily repentance, this is not as John Colloquium writes a passing act, but an abiding principle,a lasting disposition of soul,  a gracious principle lying deep in the heart, disposing a man at all times to mourn for and turn from sin  ''.Yes we have been totally forgiven,our sins are gone,but we can become affected with wrong things,people or whatever,    ( C P John 13 v 10 )   Sin must  always be taken serious,because it can affect our relationship with our holy God. The word sin is a biblical term  that should not be consigned to the waste paper basket, nor should ministers neglect to  bring the word sin into their sermons ,because  they think it no longer applies. The cross is an act of love by God, but it is also a sacrifice for sin.( Colossians 1 v 20/ 2 Corinthians  5 v 21 When we forget this or reject it,we are going down a slippery path. Now as a Christian I am changed, I see sin for the evil that it is, and the importance of walking in holiness,  when we do sin we need to confess it  to God and seek forgiveness,this is vital,and healthy.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               A  prayer.                                                                                                                              Search me, O God and know my heart                                                                                                      test me and know my anxious thoughts.                                                                                                    See if there is any offensive way in me,                                                                                                    and lead me in the way everlasting.                                                                                                                                Amen.                                                                                                                                                 (Psalm 139 v 23 - 24 )                                                                                                                   

Prayer and Power. ( James 5 v 17- 18 )

In Revelation 8 v 3 - 5,we have incense and prayers of Gods children ascending  to God,assisted by an angel,Leon Morris writing on this has a few helpful comments.Angels are not mediators they are our fellow servants.When we pray we are not praying in isolation ,the Holy Spirit is there to assist us (Romans 8 v 26 - 2 7) ,In these verses there is mentioned an altar ,it signifies that there is something sacrificial in true prayer.The result being , fire from the altar is hurled down upon the earth.L Morris again comments on this, This surely means that the prayers of God's people play a necessary part in ushering in the judgements of God..That means that more potent, more powerful  than all the  dark and mighty powers let loose in the world,more powerful than anything else, is the power of prayer  set ablaze by the the fire of God and cast upon the earth''.   ( Torrance )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Never underestimate the power of prayer

The right kind of clothing. ( Colossians 3 v 12 )

In Romans 8 v 29 , we read how God predestined every  Christian to be conformed to the likeness of His Son.Now of course it does not mean that we will look like Jesus in our looks,but rather we should reflect Jesus in our lives.   Writing to the church at Colosse ,the apostle Paul,exhorts the Christians, to clothe themselves with, 'compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  ( 3 v 12 ).If we are going to be like Jesus , these are the qualities we must manifest,as He did.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Jesus was compassionate.  (  Matthew 15 v 32 )                                                                                       Jesus was kind                    ( Acts 10 v 38 )                                                                                               Jesus was humble                (  Philippians 2 v 5- 11)                                                                                 Jesus was gentle                   ( 2 Corinthians 10 v 1 )                                                                                 Jesus was patient                   (Matthew  23 v 37 )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 A  prayer                                                                                                                               Be like Jesus this my song  in the home                                                                                                     and in the throng, be like Jesus all day                                                                                                       long, I would be like Jesus                                                                                                                                             Amen.                                                                                                           

True love. ( John 21 v 19 )

Tom Gledhill writes the Following,  ''True love is adventurous,and every adventure involves risk-taking'',it reminds me of a popular song,you took a chance on me.There are different types of love,Christianity is a love story, it involves God and man,and man and God.Our Lord asked Peter, did he love Him?. Of course he did, though his love was a a flawed love, but a love for all that,only God loves perfectly. Consider the disciples ,they loved the Lord,and life did become an adventure, that involved great risk. One never knows where this love will take us,Jesus mentioned to the ends of the earth ( Acts 1 v 8 )This love demands forsaking all others,it is like the wedding vow,there is no divorce in it.If you follow Jesus it may bring you into danger,difficulties,hurdles to overcome,chances to take,that you would not ordinary take or even desire. Yet with every step we follow the one we love, more than any other,Jesus, yes He will be with us,as He has promised. It is written of Jesus ,that for the joy set before Him,he endured the cross,scorning its shame''.( Hebrews 12 v 2 ) Let all of us have eternal vision,of the glory that lies in front of us,here the cross there the glory,a glory that shall never fail or fade. True love always comes at a price, let us be willing to pay that price and follow the one we love.

Prayer. ( James 5 v 13 - 18 )

Someone I know personally ,was visiting an Islamic country,as he approached the customs he saw that they were searching the luggage of all the passengers.This was a problem,for in his luggage he had Christian literature ,but just before he got to the customs,a friend phoned him, from England,he shared the problem and the brother said he would pray.So  what do you think happened?,when he came to the custom official,he was waved through,without searching his luggage.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Proverbs 15 v 29.                                                                                                                       He hears the prayer of the righteous.

Nothing to fear ( Romans 8 v 34 - 39)

There are ladies causing a bit of a stir in Iran,they have decided that they do not want to wear a veil,even though it is compulsory ,with a possible ten year sentence in prison, if found guilty. One lady who broke the law was assaulted by a morality police woman. Is it a sign that things are going to change in Iran?,I hope so, oppressive politics and oppressive religion are hard task masters,who show little mercy to those who do not conform.If they feel in any way threatened a person may end up on a cross.or maybe stoned to death,or imprisoned and tortured.. These oppressive systems do not compromise,any who do,will suffer the consequences.Now of course those who appear to represent Christ,have not always acted right ,and burned to death those who challenged those in charge . These political , and religious states,rule by fear, fear of man, not true fear of God.The fear of God is about holding God in deep reference,and seeking not to act in any way that would offend Him,to do otherwise is to court serious trouble.  God is not to be trifled with,if we do ,then God will deal with us ,to live under Gods rule is the most glorious experience.We are not to live in dread of God,he has not brought us into His family through Jesus,in order that we live oppressed by dread and fear ,he opens the door for us so that we may know joy and peace. God is not an oppressive God,but one who loves and loves.no Christian has anything to fear from God. Christians are not in the business of stoning anyone to death,or torturing anyone,as a Christian we warn people of the consequences of sin eternally,Out responsibility is to tell all  that is there forgiveness that can be experienced by trusting Jesus.

Almost ( Isaiah 1 v 18 )

The big event is over,Prince Harry and Meghan have got married,the minister who spoke at the wedding was Bishop Michael Curry from Chicago,he spoke on the power of love.One well known person tweeted the following,  ''The Rev M Curry could almost make me a Believer''. Well there are two things we could say about this,( 1 ), no one can make you a Christian, not even the Pope,not even Michael Curry,it is and must always be seen as a work of God ,John 1 v 12 - 13, ''To all who received Him (Jesus ) to those who believed in His name,he gave the right to become children of God.Children born not of human decision or a husband's will,but  born of God''.Islam take note.  ( 2 ) The word almost, struck a cord with me as I recollect the words spoken by King Agrippa,to Paul challenging testimony, ''Almost thou persuadest me  to be a Christian''(Acts 26 v 28 ) the words of an old hymn come to mind ,'almost but lost', we cannot stress enough ,of the importance, of the now in the gospel message.If God is speaking to you about   accepting Christ as your Saviour ?, then do it now,don't hesitate ,or it may be said of you,almost persuadest but lost.

The book of Revelation. ( Philippians 2 v 5- 11 )

A group of students where discussing the book of Revelation, and where finding it hard going, struggling to understand the symbols, and numbers,when they noticed the caretaker/ janitor,reading his Bible. One of the students asked what he was reading ,he replied the book of Revelation,they asked him, did he understand it? to their surprise he replied, yes,they where surprised at his answer,he again  replied ,its simple, Jesus wins.                                                                                                                                                                                Philippians 2 v  10 - 11                                                                                             That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,  in heaven and                                                            on earth, and under the earth,and every tongue confess that Jesus                                                            Christ is Lord,to the Glory of God the Father.

Burdened ( Matthew 11 v 28 - 30)

I stood and watched a heavy steel girder being lifted by crane ,it made me ask the question ,how did they lift heavy weights,years ago?, how did they manage to build the Pyramids?.Of course there are things that many of us carry everyday,that weigh us down, guilt is a heavy burden for anyone to carry. In the story of Pilgrims progress,the main character is called Christian, initially he has to                       carry a large burden on his back,this burden is his sin, it bowed him down,and we read he wanted to be rid of that burden, It was only when He came upon a cross,that he lost that terrible burden. Then he is told ,these wonderful words,''Thy sins be forgiven thee''.  his sins were gone ,God showed Him mercy,and to all who come to him ,with their load of sin, could that be you? and then like Christian ,you can say,that your sin's have been forgiven.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    John Bunyan                                                                                                                         Blest cross, blest sepulchre, blest rather be ,                                                                                             The man that there was put to shame for me.                                                                                               

Change. ( Job 2 v 9 - 10 )

We live in a world that is changing,and like every one else the Christian church has had to adopt to change,many churches are adopting in the area of technology. How people  dress has changed,becoming more informal, girls do wear what was considered men's clothes, which they are not.There was a time when it was thought that women using make up was wrong, considered worldly, in the Song of Solomon,we read of  the use of perfume,and even in the New Testament, Most of these changes in my opinion are       unimportant, many churches do not sing the old hymns,I suppose because they are old,I have no objection to the new music, although  it is hard on some old people , and just maybe we need to bear that in mind,be a bit more tolerant and less intolerant in this area. In a changing world the question is this,what we can change and what we can't change.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            God grant me the grace to accept with serenity,                                                                                        The things that cannot be change                                                                                                               Courage to change the things ,which should be changed,                                                                        And the wisdom to distinguish, the one from the other.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Living one day at a time,enjoying one moment at a time,                                                                        Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,                                                                                                Taking as Jesus did ,this sinful world as it is,                                                                                            Not as I would have it,trusting that you will make all things right,                                                          If I surrender to your will,so that I may be reasonably happy in this life,                                                And supremely happy with you,  forever in the next.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

One day ( 1 John 3 v 3 - 2 )

The Christian life is very challenging,because we continually have to cope with the world ,the flesh, and the devil.Sometimes one feels one is making headway.Of course we cope ,because the dear Holy Spirit helps,and by Gods grace I can say , I am not what I once was,but I am not what I want to be,I wish I could love God as much as I should,I wish I. could love others as much as I should,but I don't I opened up dear old C.H.Spurgeon, ' Morning and Evening', and was encouraged  by what I read,''At present, corruption yet remains even in the breasts of the regenerate- experience soon teaches us this. Within us are still lust and evil imaginations.'' we all can identify  with those words,written by a man of God. ''But I rejoice to know that the day is coming when God shall finish the work He has begun.Yes one day no more wrestling no more striving, one day,yes one day,when we will be removed out of the place of striving against all sorts of evil,yes one day.

Driverless Cars ( Hebrews 13 v 8 )

''Who will win the race for a driverless car?'',so read the words in a national news paper, the question on my mind is this,if one has an accident ,who pays out on the insurance. You can imagine someone saying it was not me it was the cars fault.Also will it do away with driving and drinking.?will it do away with breaking speed limit?. Would you drive one?,will tell us off, for being a backseat driver? when you are selling it,you can say it only had one driver,well enough of my frivolity. Lets face it we live in a very serious world, and I know there is an awful lot of suffering,pain and hardship for many people. As a minister and a Christian I deal with very serious issues,yet the scripture tells us, that 'there is a time weep, and time to laugh', ( Ecclesiastes 3 v 4 ) Derek Kidner writing on Ecc 3 v 1 -8 about all the different  contrasts in life says, ' Whatever may be our skill and initiative, our  real masters seem to be these these inexorable seasons:not only those of the calendar, but that tide of events which moves us to one kind of action which seems fitting,now to another which puts it all in reverse'. I wonder what season are you in now?In such changeable situations it is great to in a wonderful relationship  with a wonderful Saviour who .never changes..

My Father watches over me ( Matthew 6 v 25 - 34 )

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    I trust in God, wherever I may be,                                                                                                            Upon the land,or on the rolling sea,                                                                                                          For come what may from day to day,                                                                                                        My heav'nly Father watches over me.                                                                                                                         Refrain                                                                                                                                      I trust in God, I know He cares for me,                                                                                                      On mountain bleak ,  or on the stormy sea,                                                                                                Though billows roll,He keeps my soul,                                                                                                    My heav'nly   Father watches over me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          He makes the rose an object of His care,                                                                                                  He guides the eagle through the pathless air,                                                                                            And surely He remembers me,                                                                                                                  My heav'nly Father watches over me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            I trust in God, for, in the lions den,                                                                                                            On battlefield,or in the prison pen,                                                                                                            Through praise or blame,through flood or flame,                                                                                      My heav'nly Father watches over me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The valley may be dark, the shadows deep,                                                                                              But, oh, the shepherd guards His lonely sheep,                                                                                        And through the gloom, He'll lead me home,                                                                                            My heav'nly Father watches over me.                                                                                                               (Words .....William C Martin  )                                                                                                                                                     

How to escape ( 1 John 4 v 10 )

We looked yesterday at love,loving totally and loving others unreservedly,in other to love as God perfectly,it is no good saying well no ones perfect,true,but unless we love perfectly we sin. And as we said sin is repugnant to God, will judge all mankind.John Piper writes,''Sin is not small ........since God is just He does not sweep  these crimes under the universe.He feels a holy wrath against them''.We must be judged if we die in our sin,yet God loves us sinners,hell awaits all of us,the gates of  heaven , are firmly closed against us.We are talking about Gods justice ,but God is also a God of love,the best verse in the Bible tell us simple Gods solution John 3 v 16 ,''For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son ,that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life''.On the cross Christ was a sacrifice for sin ,as John Piper writes,'' He absorbed the wrath of God'' ,that we should not bear it,He became out substitute.'Of course this only comes into effect when we trust Jesus as our own and personal saviour, then and only then will we escape God wrath.

But God is love. ( Romans 1 v 18 )

I am reminded often, that this generation has not a clue as regards Christianity, this is true, I have a window cleaner ,a nice young lad,but he knows nothing about Christianity. So what is one to do? I suppose we have to take into consideration how we communicate the gospel.When we speak about sin, how should we make the meaning known I want to quote from John Piper's little book', ''Fifty reasons why Jesus came to die''. Hear is  what he has to say about sin,''God's law demanded ,  /You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might, Deuteronomy 6 v 5./But we have all loved other things more.This is what sin is- dishonouring God by preferring other things over Him, and acting on these preferences''. Jesus followed this by also saying, '' The second is this; Love your neighbour as yourself '', neighbour just means anybody and everybody.Now lets be honest with ourselves,let us all be honest, none of us have ever,or will ever love, to the extent that these two commandments demand..In that case we are all sinners,sin must be judged,must be, for God can,nor will he ever look kindly on sin,he cannot ignore   sin,He must ,again I stress, God must judge sin.People cannot bear to think that God, the God of love would judge people. Yes He is a God of love, but He is also called a judge, who will meet out justice to the guilty, The question is how can He save people from judgement ,next time we will consider how He did this.

The man I could be. (v 1 Timothy 1 v 12 - 17 )

The poet  Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote,                                                                                                                                                            ''Could'st thou in vision see                                                                                                                          Thyself the man God meant,                                                                                                                       Thou never more could be                                                                                                                         The man thou art- content.''                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  One of my sons when he left college, threw of all restraint,and got  into all sorts of trouble,ending up on remand in prison. While in prison ,in desperation he cried unto God,and God heard,and He told him the following ,''Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem?, or have I no power to deliver'', ( Isaiah 50 v 2 ). God worked in a marvellous manner, and he did not go to prison, he was once again on the right road,eventually he became a youth leader in his church, and then he became the full time minister.He moved from that to serving God in 24/7,which  emphasises prayer,now he is ministering all over world as the international director of  24/ 7. From the man  he was to the man God has made him,all who encounter the risen Christ in their lives, can be transformed by Gods grace to the person he desires them to be.                                                                                                                                                                      Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he                                                                                                            is a new creation  ,the old has gone                                                                                                            the new has come.                                                                                                                                           ( 2 Corinthians 5 v 17 )                                                                                                               

Be in time ( 2 Peter 3 v 9 - 12 )

Recently I heard the following,and it made me  smile,' A young man was speaking to the Lord ,and he asked Him,what is a million years like to you? the Lord replied like a second. Then he asked him whats a million pound like to you,the Lord replied, a penny. Lord said the young man would you give me one of your pennies,yes replied the Lord, wait a second.'  It is Peter who writes as regards those who where doubting the coming of the Lord, they failed to appreciate,that God is outside of time, and where judging events from a purely human point of view. No says Peter ,the Lord Jesus will come according to heavens eternal time table,the time of waiting is an opportunity for people to be saved.His coming again will bring an end to any chance of experiencing salvation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ''Behold now is accepted time;                                                                                                                    behold , now is the day of                                                                                                                          salvation.                                                                                                                                                      ( 2 Corinthians 6 v 2 )

The roses. ( John 11 25 - 26 )

The roses in my living room are dead, they look a sorry sight,now they are only fit to be thrown out, everything is growing older. Age  takes its told on roses and humans.  so that's it,like the roses ,are we to be just thrown away?, is that all we can look forward to?.The people in Corinth were confused about death,and so in chapter 15 of 1st Corinthians Paul writes to them explaining the resurrection. He starts of by reminding them of Christs resurrection, he reminds them that hundreds of people witnessed the resurrected Lord.Paul himself had an encounter with the risen Lord Acts 9. our faith is based on historical facts.Without the resurrection our faith is absolutely pointless,we might as well ,just live for  today,for tomorrow we die.Then from v 35 ff Paul writes of the glory of our resurrected body,it will a spiritual body,bearing the likeness of Jesus. The body we have now is not permeate ,that is obvious, but our new bodies will be imperishable ,and immortal,it will not be subject to death.for death will cease.                                                                                                                                                                                               But thanks be to God, who gives us                                                                                                           the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.                                                                                                              ( 1 Corinthians 15 v 57 )

I am afraid ( Mark 4 v 35 - 41 )

One day a little boy was out with his dad,and as they where walking they came to dark foreboding ,something like you read about in the Wind and the Willows, it was called the Wild Wood.Well the nearer they got to the wood the more fearful the little boy became.Suddenly he stopped and would not go any further,his father looked down at his little son and he asked him what was wrong,the lad began crying and through his tears, the father could just about make out what he was saying,which was ,''I am afraid and do not want to go into that awful wood''. So his father bent down, looked him straight in the face, and said, ''I understand ,you know that I love you ,so here is what I want you to do,trust me,next put your hand in mine,and let us both walk through this wood.The little boy said he would, and then put his hand in his fathers hand,and together they walked through the wood till the other side. There are times like that little lad,we are afraid, afraid of so many things, of the challenges of life, whatever,  are fears are real to us.So it is our loving father says to us ,trust Me  and put  your hand in mine, and let me lead you through your difficulties ,the choice is ours,remember if we do then every thing will be alright.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Even though I walk through the                                                                                                                valley of the shadow of  death,                                                                                                                  I will fear no evil, for you are                                                                                                                    with me.                                                                                                                                                                  Psalm 23 v 4.                                                                                                                                                                                                    .                                                                                                                           

Hold my hand precious Lord.. ( Isaiah 41 v 10 )

Again turning to what Elihu has to say,and its in Job  36 v 7, we read ,'''He ( God ) does not take his eyes of the righteous''. What comforting words these are ,in other words God is always watching over all of His children.There is never a moment when He is not watching over us, He is not just watching as an idle bystander oh no, what comfort would that be,David Atkinson writing on the suffering Job,and let us not forget the extent of this sufferer,writes the following.''There are times when we come into touch with those who are going through it.May God give us grace to hold out these two positive strands; hope in place of despair,based on communion in the place of alienation. For though Job  does not yet know this,God himself is present with Job in his despair, and in his alienation, God has never  let go of his hand'.                                                                                                                                                                                Hold Thou my hand,the way is                                                                                                                  dark before me.                                                                                                                                           Without the sunlight of Thy face                                                                                                                divine;                                                                                                                                                        But when by faith I catch its                                                                                                                      radiant glory,                                                                                                                                              What heights of joy,what rapturous                                                                                                           songs are mine.                                                                                                                                               ( Words , Grace. J. Frances )

We can sing in the dark. ( Job 35 v10 )

The book of Job is about a man who suffered greatly,during his time of suffering ,four people spoke to him ,the last one was a young man who like many young people thinks he knows more than others, his name was Elihu,like the other three characters ,his assessment as to why Job suffered  is somewhat lacking,David Atkinson speaks of his cold rationalism, when one is suffering we do not need cold rationalism,yet he does say something,that goes further than cold rationalism, and it is found in Chapter 35 v 10,speaking of God,'who gives songs in the night'.consider how true those words are,for many hymns  and Christians songs, have been written by people who were suffering. Joseph Scriven who wrote ,'What a friend we have in Jesus',suffered two severe blows in his life. he was engaged to two ladies,( not at the same time )and just before he was about to marry them they both died. . John Bunyan who penned the words,'He who would valiant be' suffered the loss of his first wife, he also had a little blind daughter,he was imprisoned for many years, for preaching the gospel A study of many hymns would show that those who wrote them received from God , songs in the night.                                                                                                                                                                                                                     A prayer.                                                                                                                           Dear Lord grant us a song in the night ,in                                                                                                 our dark night experiences  , in your name                                                                                                  we ask this ,                                                                                                                                                                        Amen.                                                                                                                             

I know. ( 1 Corinthians 15 v 50 - 58 )

'I know where I'm going, and I know who's going with me',these are the words from an old Scottish or Irish folk song. A thought came to me recently, it was I don't know how I will leave this existence   but I do know where I am going,and I know who will be with me.Now, as to how I will leave this existence ,it may be through a violent death,a terminal illness,or I may just die in my sleep,it is in Gods hands,how I die and indeed when I die.But irrespective of these things I do know where I am going,what I mean is this, God  has given me eternal,the moment I trusted Jesus as my Saviour,I am not going to Hell, oh yes there is a place called  hell,we believe it is clearly taught in scripture,in Matthew 25 v 46, Jesus said,''These will go away into eternal punishment,but the righteous into eternal life.''I know who's going with me,what do I mean by that?,I mean Christ will be with me, no Christian goes into eternity alone Christ is with them, Psalm  23 v 4 ,reads ,''Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me'' It is all because of Him that we can have this wonderful assurance ,in relation to death, and eternity, do you have that assurance?, you can when you accept Jesus as your Saviour.

Praise ( 150 )

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Bless the Lord O my soul                                                                                                                          Worship His holy name,                                                                                                                            Sing like never before ,O my soul,                                                                                                             I'll worship your holy name.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         The sun comes up,                                                                                                                                     It's a new day dawning.                                                                                                                             It's time to sing , your song again,                                                                                                             Whatever may pass,and whatever                                                                                                              lies before me,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Let me be singing, when the evening comes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Bless the Lord O my soul                                                                                                                          Worship His holy name                                                                                                                              Sing like never before, O my soul   ,                                                                                                          I'll worship your holy name.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Your rich in love,                                                                                                                                         And you're slow to anger,                                                                                                                           Your name is Great,                                                                                                                                   And your heart is kind                                                                                                                               For all your goodness                                                                                                                                 I will keep on singing                                                                                                                                 For ten thousand reasons                                                                                                                           For my heart to find.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Bless the Lord O my soul                                                                                                                           Worship His   holy name                                                                                                                           Sing like never before,O my souls,                                                                                                           I'll worship your holy name.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         And on that day,                                                                                                                                         When my strength is failing,                                                                                                                     The end draws near,                                                                                                                                   And my time has come.                                                                                                                             Still my soul will sing,                                                                                                                               Your praise  unending,                                                                                                                               Ten thousand  years                                                                                                                                   And then for ever more.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 I'll worship your holy name,                                                                                                                     I'll worship your holy name.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         (Words by Matt Redman  )