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.”
“The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. Hear, all you peoples! Listen, O earth, and all that is in it! Let the Lord God be a witness against you, the Lord from His holy temple. 3 For behold, the Lord is coming out of His place; He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth. 4 The mountains will melt under Him, and the valleys will split like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place. 5 All this is for the transgression of Jacob and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what are the high places of Judah? Are they not Jerusalem? And for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what are the high places of Judah? Are they not Jerusalem? ” Micah 1:2-5 NKJV
“Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked; I will make a wailing like the jackals and a mourning like the ostriches, 9 for her wounds are incurable. For it has come to Judah; it has come to the gate of My people— To Jerusalem.” Micah 1:8-9 NKJV
Lord God of all the earth,
Micah was speaking out at the same time as Isaiah and against both Judah and Israel. And as we read his book, well I get the impression he was animated, emotional and passionate and fully convinced of Your judgement. Prepared to go naked, wailing and making terrible noises like deeply grieving women at a funeral. F0r he said Judah and Israel’s wounds were incurable. Yet Micah is desperate for them to experience God’s mercy.
The trouble is, Micah says, is that everyone in the nation is offensive to God. The general public are evildoers (Micah 2:1-5). The prophets lie (Micah 2:6-11). The rulers are wicked (Micah 3:1-3). And the punishment will be unbearable (Micah 6:9-16). They will be sick, desolate, hungry, unproductive, and everything they do will come to nothing.
But he cannot neglect Your mercy. Micah also paints a beautiful picture of how it can be turned around if they confess to You their sin (Micah 7:8-15). They will again be a witness to other nations (Micah 7:16-20). God their judge could be God their Saviour.
You God, do not retain Your anger forever, You delight in mercy. You had compassion on us too and subdued our iniquities. You cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. (From Micah 7:18b-19). There are not words enough . . . to thank You for Jesus.
Worship Saturday 13th June 2026
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy that is wider than the greatest sea; and so I know-it covers even me. There’s a depth to his compassion that is deeper than I’ll understand; and so my life is safe within his hands.
His love is deep enough for me, to cause these blinded eyes to see, to set this lowly captive free from sin. His grace is flowing from above, reflected in the Saviour’s love- O precious Father, help me take it in.
“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins . . . 31But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:1,2 and 31 NKJV
“19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19 NKJV
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 NKJV
“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.” Isaiah 65:17-19 NKJV
Wonderful, Counsellor, mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,
For all the judgemental warnings, Isaiah is also rich in hope, promise and with Your faithfulness. Amidst all the doom and gloom, You keep Your promises to Abraham’s offspring and to all nations (Genesis 18:18). Waiting is not a negative, it is a time of building hope and strength. You, God are always offering and providing new opportunities, new hope, new ways ahead. Your plan cannot be diverted or finally hindered.
You sent Jesus at the right time, in the right place and salvation was purchased at great expense. He was truly You, God with us, the Son but the exact representation of You Father (Hebrews 1:3). And now the whole future of hope for mankind is unlocked. There may be a mess but this world will see another day dawn when a new earth and a new heaven will be created for those who choose repentance and life. Did Isaiah understand it all? Do we really fully understand it all? It is almost too marvellous for words. We will not be carried off because of our sin, not given what we deserve, but have been given a living hope (1 Peter 1:3) now and for what is to come.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 12th June 2026
When He rolls up His sleeves He ain’t just putting on the ritz (Our God is an awesome God) There’s thunder in His footsteps and lightning in His fists (Our God is an awesome God) And the Lord wasn’t joking when He kicked ’em out of Eden It wasn’t for no reason that He shed His blood His return is very close and so you better be believing That our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God He reigns from heaven above With wisdom, power and love Our God is an awesome God Our God is an awesome God He reigns from heaven above With wisdom, power and love Our God is an awesome God
And when the sky was starless in the void of the night (Our God is an awesome God) He spoke into the darkness and created the light (Our God is an awesome God) Judgement and wrath He poured out on Sodom Mercy and grace He gave us at the cross I hope that we have not too quickly forgotten That our God is an awesome God
“Moreover the Lord said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man’s pen concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz.2 And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah. 3 And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the Lord to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz. 4 For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.” Isaiah 8:1-4 NKJV ” Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. 7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. 8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.” Isaiah 39:6-8 NKJV
God who keeps his word,
Isaiah was quite correct in his prophecy in that if the people did not change and return to the Lord the consequences would be the worst possible. They would be removed from their promised land and taken captive again. And so it comes true in Your time God. Judah are taken away some 125 years later.
You cannot lie Lord God. You are truth. Jesus said He was the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). He personified Your character. You never try to trick anyone into obedience. Never give false promises. You never say it will be easy or plain sailing. Sometimes You are misunderstood. Hezekiah thought Isaiah’s message was a good one because he would have peace. He completely missed that the judgement would still come eter on his family. They would suffer terribly along with the whole nation!
We think about the nations of our world and their behaviour and Your judgement. The church worldwide needs to be heard in our day. But it is tough as sin is popular, even acceptable and evil abounds. But then we hear about it more now. Help us remember all the good that is being done every day. All the lives dedicated to You, serving their community and worshiping You. And You Lord amidst it all, will have the final word and victory.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Thursday 11th June 2026 New to me but it caught me as soon as it started.
Let me fail a thousand times if that is what I need Let me lose these dreams of mine if I need to taste defeat You walk me through the fire until I see the heart of your desire You came to me
And through these dark and raging seas Your grace has not abandoned me And for these storms I thank my God For they drove me to the solid rock
From the shipwreck of my life, you build a truer heart In my brokenness you shine, my loss is where you start To form in me your will until my love is a reflection of Your love for me
And through these dark and raging seas Your grace has not abandoned me And for these storms I thank my God For they drove me to the solid rock
You pursue those you love And so we have no need to fear For these storms will draw us near To you
Chorus repeat . . . For they drove me to the solid rock Yes You drove me to the solid rock
Lyrics: Michael Gomez, Jon Lowry, Chad Mattson and Doug McKelvey (2015)
