Encounter: Each Tide Marks A New Beginning

Ruach Breath of Life

Music: One thing I ask; Huw Humphries and Wellspring, ‘Echoes of Hildegarde’ (Improvisation by Linda Entwistle Jesus det eneste (Jesus, the only One, Norwegian hymn); Andreas Henkel, Wie lieblich sind Deine Wohnungen (Ps. 84) Musicians: Wellspring; Linda Entwistle; Mike Halliday (clarinet), Peter Richards (French horn), Teresa Brasier, Hilary Trotter, Helen Rees, Jo Garcia and Anna Frazer (strings), Nicola Gerard and Elizabeth Long (flutes), Justin Coldstream (keyboard), David Booth (guitar), Beth Davies (bassoon), As the waters flow each day into the harbour, so each tide marks a new beginning. We trust You Lord to make this new beginning in our hearts and to lead us on to glory. Let nothing and no one thwart Your purposes, but may You receive the joy and the praise as we become the people You long for us to be. In the name of the One who was, and is, and is to come. Amen. Jesus, lover of My soul, hold me in Your arms. Develop goodness in my heart through the fire of Your Holy Spirit. Keep me alert and watchful in my spirit. Let no fear hold me back from serving You, No harsh or unclean thought lodge within my heart. Lord, grant blessing to my feet to take me where they should go, To my heart to respond to You from one moment to the next, To my mind to think Your thoughts, To my spirit to know when someone is in need. Thank You that You wish to bless each day that lies ahead, And make it special in Your sight; I live it, Lord, for You. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Thank You that You do not close the gate of repentance in our faces. Therefore, I can bring You all the wrongs that I have done today: the thoughts that have wandered and strayed, the pains that I have caused myself, the mischief I have done to others, and all the subtle ways by which I betray You. Look not on my sins but on Your mercy. May many today experience afresh the joy of repentance and discover that there is nothing You love more than giving people a fresh start. Thank You for Your constant love which welcomes us back and celebrates when we turn from that which is wrong. How can we love God if we hate our brother? Whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. (1 John 2:9) We never touch Your heart so much as when we love our enemies. Lord, I set my will to bless those who have hurt me, and to love those who hate me, for I am, perhaps, no closer to You, than I am to the person I like least in the world. When people are determined to make life hard for us, may Your Spirit help us to find ways to turn even this hassle and aggression around for good. Forgive us for condemning in others the very things which we excuse in ourselves, or which we are most ashamed of in ourselves. Keep us open to the possibility that there may be other perspectives which are at least as true as our own. May there be no bitterness in my heart; no refusal to forgive or, where appropriate, to attempt reconciliation. Grant me grace to forgive myself, too, Lord Jesus, for all the foolish things I’ve said and done. Set Your people free from the tormenting shafts of condemnation and bring them into the full liberty of the sons of God. We forgive and pray Your special blessing on those denominations, groups and individuals which we have been hurt by, or which we find it hard to relate to. Make them fruitful and full of joy in serving You. The Lord your God will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Lord, I love You. As I wait on Your now, show me anything You would have me see. Is my desire for You still strong? Are my attitudes honouring? Are there things that You have shown me and that I have yet to respond to? Bring to mind the nudges that You have sent my way and such memories as You want me to ponder or enjoy.