God Cares

1 Peter 5 New International Version

To the Elders and the Flock

5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: ²Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; ³not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. ⁴And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

⁵In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
but shows favour to the humble.”^[a]

⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

⁸Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

¹⁰And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

I know he cares for me, for me,
I know he cares for me, for me;
I’ll trust my Father in Heaven
For I know that he cares for me.

There are verses to the chorus above with the 1st verse starting with Have you heard the glad news of the Gospel but unfortunately I couldn’t find it.

However I think the words sung by Boscombe Singing Company (junior choir) of The Salvation Army are quite clear.

Don’t Despair

Psalm 91 New International Version

Psalm 91

¹Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.^[a]
²I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

³Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
⁸You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
¹²they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴“Because he^[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honour him.
¹⁶With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

When all you see is here and now
When everything is crumbling, falling to the ground
This is just a moment, this is not forever
I know it seems impossible when all your hope is gone

But God is, God is,
Greater than the fear your facing
Greater than the storm that’s raging
God is, God is,
With you when you cry, so cry out His name
‘Cause God is greater than the pain

He knows the trials His children face
He knows the tears that fall that we all have to taste
But don’t you dare let go now, don’t let the candle blow out
His love is strong, so just hold on
‘Cause He is with you through it all

He is mighty, more than able
To rescue and restore the ones He loves
He’s a Refuge and a Savior, a Savior

Temptation

“Yield Not to Temptation” is a hymn composed by Horatio R. Palmer in 1868. The inspiration for this hymn came to Palmer unexpectedly while he was working on a music theory exercise. He quickly jotted down the lyrics and found that they needed very few edits ¹ ².

The hymn emphasizes the importance of resisting temptation and seeking strength from Jesus to overcome challenges. It has been a source of comfort and encouragement for many people over the years ¹ ².

There’s also an interesting story about the hymn being sung by women prisoners at Sing Sing Prison in New York during a riot. The singing of the hymn helped to calm the prisoners and restore order ¹.

A Beautiful Name

A Beautiful Name

New life

See the source image

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The birth of every child into your family is a joyous occasion but for those of you who are Parent’s or grandparent’s for the first time it’s an extra special moment especially that first little hold of him or her.

When we went to see her with baby and partner on Thursday night they looked understandably shattered. Never the less mother and baby are doing ok, and the father’s just about getting there as well.

Going in Strength

“I’ll Go in the Strength of the Lord” is a hymn written by Edward Turney, an American Baptist pastor and professor who lived from 1816 to 1872 ¹ ². The hymn emphasizes relying on God’s strength and guidance through life’s challenges and tasks.

Turney’s life was dedicated to ministry and education. He served as a pastor in various locations and later became a professor of Biblical criticism and literature ¹. His hymn reflects his deep faith and commitment to following God’s path, no matter the difficulties encountered.

The lyrics of the hymn convey a message of unwavering faith and trust in God’s omnipotence and love. It encourages believers to follow the light of God’s word and to rely on His presence and strength in all endeavors ¹ ².

This hymn has been a source of inspiration and encouragement for many, especially during times of transition or challenge, reminding them that God’s strength will carry them through ¹.

The true Vine

John 15 New International Version

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ²He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

⁹“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹²My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷This is my command: Love each other.

In it

In it

Christ Humbles himself

Philippians 2 New International Version

Imitating Christ’s Humility

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

⁵In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶Who, being in very nature^[a] God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

⁹Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

On every hill our Saviour dies, And not on Calvary’s height alone, His sorrow darkens all our skies, His griefs for all our wrongs atone.

Present he is in all our woes, Upon a worldwide cross is hung, And with exceeding bitter throes, His world embracing heart is wrung.

In us invested is,
God cannot pass a suppliant by;
For heard of God's eternities
Our prayers repeat the Saviour's cry.

And for the sake of that dear name
With which all hope of good is given,
Our heavenly load of sin and shame
The Father clears and cries: Forgiven!

Goldcrest

The march “Goldcrest” is a well-known piece in the Salvation Army music repertoire, composed by James Anderson. It was first published in 1992 and has since become a popular march within the Salvation Army bands ¹ ². The piece is celebrated for its lively and uplifting melody, which captures the spirit and energy of the Salvation Army’s mission.

The title “Goldcrest” likely refers to the small bird known for its distinctive golden crown, symbolizing something precious and valuable. This aligns with the Salvation Army’s values of bringing hope and joy to communities.