Heavenly Father, Thank you for this beautiful Thursday morning, a day to be grateful and give thanks to you. Your Word reminds us to always give thanks to you, for you are good, and your faithful love endures forever.

We are thankful for the blessings of each day, the breath in our lungs, and the beating of our hearts. Thank you for your provision, protection, and guidance in our lives. You are a faithful and loving Father, and we are grateful for your never-ending love and grace.

We ask for your forgiveness for the times we have taken your blessings for granted and failed to thank you. Help us to have grateful hearts and minds, always mindful of your goodness in our lives.

We pray for those who may be struggling on this day, may they find comfort and peace in you. May we be a source of light and hope for those in need, reflecting your love and kindness.

As we go about our day, may we continue to give thanks to you in all circumstances. Thank you for your unwavering love and faithfulness.

We pray all this in the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

13Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:13-15

Thought Of The Day...
Let us not become weary in doing good ... Galatians 6:9
Nothing breeds despair like discouraging results. Let's say that you finally summon up enough courage to talk with someone about your faith, but the person responds with a shrug of indifference. A lack of enthusiasm like that can be deeply discouraging. And before long you might feel like giving up on witnessing altogether.
It's easy to let negative responses put a halt to our inviting, bringing, and sharing with lost people. We tend to say, "It's too risky to do this. I can't take the rejection. I'll let some braver soul do it next time."
But Galatians 6:9 says, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
The hard truth is that not everyone is equally receptive to the gospel message. Jesus' parable of the seeds makes this point. The gospel seed falls on different types of soil: hard soil, rocky soil, thorny soil, and fertile soil. Some seed produces no fruit; other seed produces an abundance of fruit. Yet the farmer is responsible to keep sowing the seed.
Farmers know that it takes time for seeds to grow into healthy plants that will bear an abundant crop. So if we don't see immediate results, that doesn't mean our efforts have been futile. Most people need repeated exposure before they come to faith.

Prayer...
Father God,
We come before you in the humblest way we know how longing to understand and follow your will. Your word in Luke 8:4-15 and Galatians 6:9 teaches us about the importance of patience in our faith journey.

Lord, we ask for your help to be patient in sowing the seeds of your love and truth into the lives of others. Help us to remember that your timing is perfect and to trust in your plan for each individual.

Give us the strength and perseverance to keep planting and watering, even when we may not see immediate results. May we never grow weary or lose heart, but instead continue to do good and sow seeds of love and hope.

Help us to be diligent in nurturing these seeds, with prayer, encouragement, and acts of kindness. May we never give up or lose hope, for we know that in due time, you will produce a harvest and bring forth new life in those we have been sowing into.

Lord, may we always remember that it is your grace and power that transforms hearts and brings about growth. May we trust in your faithfulness and be steadfast in our endeavors.

Thank you for the reminder in your word to be patient and persistent. Help us to keep planting and watering even when we do not see immediate results. Help us to have faith that your Word will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.
In Jesus Name, we pray, Amen and Amen.

A huge thank you to everyone who has shown friendship and kindness here on this new Christian platform. I really appreciate it. I have been away for a month travelling the world, seeing some amazing sights and meeting some wonderful new friends. I love this community here and hope and pray that it grows from strength to strength on a daily basis. We all need each other, we all need encouragement, support and kindness in this world. One thing that I have learnt is that we cannot thrive on our own. Collaboration , teamwork, community, building each other up, encouragement, and a listening ear are vital components in a healthy lifestyle. We have to choose our friends wisely, look after ourselves both physically and mentally. As a mere human I am growing in my spirituality and learning new things every day! Life is sometimes very tough and a daily challenge to survive. The world is changing and over the last few years there has been a definite shift, the world has become a much darker place, with daily news reports of wars, rumours of wars, disasters, murders, acts of violence, deceit, unrest, lawlessness and disorder. More than ever we all need to focus on Jesus, our Saviour, the King of King's and the Lord of Lord's. Jesus is all that matters! I pray that we can all be His hands and feet in this world. We need to be a shining light, a beacon of hope and a lighthouse to others who are heading for the rocks and ultimate disaster. Help us God, to use the gifts and talents that you have given us to bring about your Kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven. Bless us all as we bless others along our journey of life. Let us be an inspiration to others today, be the the encouragement that someone needs, reach out the hand of friendship to those who are lost and trying to find their way home. Lord help us to fulfil our destiny and be true to our DNA that you planted in us at the dawn of time itself! You know us better than we know ourselves, yet you still chose us to do your work on earth. Guide us and lead us Lord to new and greater things so that we can complete our mission here on earth and be then people you want us to be. Best wishes from composer and creative Robert Steven Hunt in Reading, England (UK).

The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
—  1 Samuel 16:7

Thought Of The Day...
God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king. The current king, Saul, had failed to obey and honor God, so God decided to announce his choice of the next king.
Jesse’s sons became the focus of Samuel’s attention: a line of seven young men—starting with the oldest and tallest. Samuel made his way down the line, and as he stopped to look at each one, God told him that was not the one. Saul had been chosen king partly because he was tall and handsome, but this time God made a point of saying that height and appearance don’t matter. God looks at what is inside—in the heart.
After Samuel reached the end of the line of Jesse’s sons, Jesse informed him that his youngest son, David, was out in the fields tending sheep. David was chosen to be the next king because, as Samuel put it, God “sought out a man after his own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). God saw in David a heart that would commit to him without reservation.
God finds possibilities for grace in the most unlikely of people. To choose the youngest son to be a king seems strange. To say that a baby born in a stable, who dies on a cross under a false sentence of treason, is the Savior of the world and God in the flesh is incredible. But the mystery of Advent is that this is how God works—with the least, the weak, and the foolish. God likes to surprise us.

Prayer...
Gracious and loving Father, We come before you today with humble hearts, recognizing our weaknesses and foolishness. Yet, we take comfort in knowing that you can use us, just as you used David in 1 Samuel 16:7, to spread your grace and shine your light in this world.

Help us to see ourselves and others through your eyes, not focusing on outward appearances or worldly standards, but looking at the heart. For it is the heart that truly matters and holds the potential for great things in your hands.

Guide us in our thoughts, words, and actions, that we may reflect your love and grace to those around us. Give us the courage to step out in faith, even when we feel inadequate or unworthy, knowing that you are with us and will equip us for the task ahead.

May your presence be with us always, molding us into vessels of your grace and love. And may we follow in the footsteps of David, using our strengths and weaknesses for your glory and the betterment of your kingdom.

We ask these things in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

Enjoy your Sunday Church Services and God Bless!