2026 will again be through the Bible chronologically selecting verses which attract my attention or questions or encourage me on the day. I pray it blesses whoever reads . . . My theological background is Salvation Army College and now Church of England. I love all Christian denominations.
Lord Jesus, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Forgive me and help me turn from everything I know is wrong. Thank you for dying on the cross to pay the price and set me free from my sin. Please come into my life, fill me with your Holy Spirit and be with me forever. Thank you Lord Jesus. Amen.”
“Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him. 17 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. 18 According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, fury to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; the coastlands He will fully repay. 19 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. 20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” says the Lord.”Isaiah 59:15-20 NKJV
Father God,
Justice, (truth?) had disappeared from society, and no-one was willing to step up. You, God see and know that no human is capable of fixing man’s mess. Or of standing in the gap between You and sin as an intercessor. Isaiah glimpses the future, a future where You would step down into our world. He may not have seen that Yu would be born and grow as a servant and teacher. And it was not till the resurrection that we saw Jesus, in a new light, as a warrior defeating His enemies and death itself.
Perhaps Isaiah used his picture language because in their history there were many occasions when Israel saw You God enable them to defeat their enemies. Sometimes without lifting a finger (2 Chronicles 20:22–23:). Jesus too showed His dominion over all that is evil (Matthew 11:2-6). The promise was given that a Redeemer would come to those who choose to turn from transgression to Him. And we have experienced it. And yet, there is still a future battle to be won. We see pictorial language in Revelation 19:11-21. We may not understand it fully but we know this. Nothing can defeat You God.
Its a choice to believe in You, God, Your goodness even amongst a fallen world. To go on believing even when bad things happen. To go on praying, interceding with the one who is able. To go on turning from transgression to Your arms of love. It’s not all won yet and no one said it would be easy? But we have Your gift of faith and hope and love and one day a glorious future . . .
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 2nd October 2026
When I cannot understand it all, when God’s ways are bigger than my mind – I choose to keep worship now and simple.
I sing a simple song of love To my Savior to my Jesus I’m grateful for the things You’ve done My loving Saviour oh precious Jesus
My heart is glad that You’ve called me Your own There’s no place I’d rather be
Than in Your arms of love In Your arms of love Holding me still, holding me near In Your arms of love
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”Isaiah 56:6-11 NKJV
Lord of all,
You are indeed our guide, strength and provision. Isaiah brings the positive with the correction. How like You Father God. You lay out choices before us and it is up to us to choose. If this part of Isaiah was written later, Isaiah reminds them that token thanksgiving and worship is seen for what it is. Their fasting was up front while feasting behind closed doors? But nothing is hidden from You Lord God.
And when I read this list of challenges I can only be overwhelmed. But You did not expect them to solve all of life’s problems. Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you.” (Matthew 26:11). He too like His Father in Heaven was speaking about doing what is good and right when You see it. What is in front of us and we can do something about. It is not always about avoiding doing the wrong thing. I think the church of England call it the sin of omission? Things we didn’t do but could have done for good. But in this passage we gather they are doing the wrong and not doing the right either.
I am glad that Jesus says just worry about getting it right today (Matthew 6:34). I like keeping ‘to do’ lists.But things get carried over and moved around and for the future. I hope I allow You Lord God to set my daily priorities, direct me where you want me and be able to change my plans if it is Your Will. And to be the same indoors as I am in public. Or is it the same in public as I am in private . . .
In Jesus name I pray, Amen
Worship Wednesday 30th September 2026
I could have chosen ‘One day at a time sweet Jesus’ or many other beautiful applicable hymns. But I found this. I often feel overwhelmed by all there is to do and all there is I cannot do. So to just sit in His presence, and then be encouraged just to do what I can in His strength.
I could not find the words for this but they are on the video.
“Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants—everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant—7 even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” 8 The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, “Yet I will gather to him others besides those who are gathered to him.”” Isaiah 56:6-8 NKJV
Lord God and Saviour,
In reading through the NKJV chronological Bible we are only a couple of weeks away from the silence at the end of the Old Testament and Your spoken Word bursting into our Word as a baby! I cannot wait but before then there are parts of Isaiah and Daniel and Zechariah to complete.
All three speak of the future that they will not know in their lifetime but which will or have come to pass. Even we have only seen in part (1 corinthians 13:12). After all the hullabaloo of foreign wives and keeping their distinct national way of life, and not allowing foreigners into the Temple, Isaiah talks about a house of prayer for all nations. A house.
Perhaps we need to see beyond a Temple. Beyond a physical building? Paul talks about us, our bodies, being a Temple for the indwelling of the Lord ( 1 Corinthians 6:19). And further explains in his letters that with Christ as our cornerstone we believers are being built up as if a Holy Temple where God dwells. (Ephesians 2:19-22. In those days the believers met wherever convenient.
A house of prayer. Not a house of study and theology – although that is beneficial. A place where You are approached for the first and the last Word. Where we can bring our failures our faults and our praise and worship. Where we can bring others literally or in prayer to Your presence. And You can always be found (Matthew 18:20).
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Wednesday 30th September 2026 Wherever we are as long as we bow the knee to You Lord, You are with us. But it is good to meet together as a church. We need each other.
Over all the earth You reign on high Every mountain stream, every sunset sky But my one request, Lord my only aim Is that You’d reign in me again
Lord reign in me, reign in Your power Over all my dreams, in my darkest hour You are the Lord of all I am So won’t You reign in me again
Over every thought, over every word May my life reflect the beauty of my Lord ‘Cause You mean more to me than any earthly thing So won’t You reign in me again
Lord, reign in me, reign in Your power Over all my dreams, in my darkest hour ‘Cause You are the Lord of all I am So won’t You reign in me again.
Over all the earth You reign on high Every mountain stream, every sunset sky But my one request, Lord my only aim Is that You’d reign in me again
Lord reign in me, reign in Your power Over all my dreams, in my darkest hour ‘Cause You are the Lord of all I am So won’t You reign in me again In me again
