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.”
“And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. 33 But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. 35 When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. 36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.” 37 But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?” 38 But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. 41 And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. 42 So they all ate and were filled. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. 44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.” Mark 6:31-44 NKJV
See also: Luke9:10-17 and Matthew 14:13-21 and John 6:1-14
Jehovah Jireh, “The LORD who will provide” (Genesis 22:14),
Jesus, and the disciples, needed to go aside to a quiet place for a while to rest and eat as they had been so busy. But we all know that things crop up at the most inconvenient time! Well 5,000 men, many with their families cropped up! And they were hungry too. The disciples suggest the best thing was to disperse the crowd and send them home. But Jesus challenges the disciples to meet their need, to feed them.
It is good to admit our weaknesses and inability – before others discover it. But Jesus didn’t ask to make them feel small and useless but to help them ‘see’. He shows the possible and does not lecture them about their inabilities or lack of faith. I like Marks version because he adds the detail that Jesus says the people are like sheep without a shepherd. Then later tells the disciples to split them into groups (little flocks?) of 50 and sit them on the green grass. (A reminder of Psalm 23:2?).
Jesus provides the miracle from the little they have to give. The disciples are not forgotten after serving up to 5000 families – they receive too. Again You remind us that even the little we give You Lord can be multiplied and used to Your glory. Many of us feel we are doing little but if that little is given to You miracles can happen. Show us where to go, what to do and when. We do not always see the outcomes, lest we become too big for our boots. Thank You God that You do the multiplying. And there are times when we too simply need to sit, rest and be fed.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Wednesday 28th October 2026
Only in John’s gospel are we told it is a young boy surrenders his own lunch. Best not to hold anything too tight -so the Lord can use it.
All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.
I surrender all, I surrender all; All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.
All to Jesus, I surrender Lord, I give myself to Thee Fill me with Your love and power Let Your blessing fall on me
All to Jesus, I surrender Now I feel the sacred flame O the joy of full salvation Glory, glory, to Your Name
“And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. 8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— 9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. 10 Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. 11 And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them.Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” 12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.” Mark 6:7-13 NKJV
Lord and Master,
You sent them out two by two and You gave them authority where they had none. What a relief they must have felt. And You Jesus told them that where there those they met would not listen, or want to know their message, they should just dust themselves off and move on. Permission to leave what they cannot change.
It is so much easier speaking about You and praying with unbelievers when we are two. And to know the outcome is not our responsibility. We can do our best but You do the rest. You are the one who changes hearts and lives and whose authority removes sickness. And we do not have to get upset when things do not go as we hoped because You are still working when we leave. We must not let any disappointment or frustration with others stick to us. I do not want to become dusty! We have to let our light shine whatever the circumstances (Matthew 5:16).
Help us, Holy Spirit, to work together, stay shining bright and always expectant not negative.
Worship Tuesday 27th October 2026
A traditional hymn above but another option below!
Jesus calls us o’er the tumult Of our life’s wild, restless sea; Day by day his sweet voice sounding, Saying, “Christian, follow me.”
2. Brothers Simon, Andrew heard it By the Galilean lake, Turned from home, and toil, and kindred, Leaving all for His dear sake.
3. Jesus calls us from the worship Of the vain world’s golden store, From each idol that would keep us, Saying, “Christian, love me more.”
4. In our joys and in our sorrows, Days of toil and hours of ease, Still he calls, in cares and pleasures, “Christian, love me more than these.”
5. Jesus calls us—By your mercies, Savior, may we hear your call, Give our hearts to your obedience, Serve and love you best of all.
“Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” 8 For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” 9 Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.” Mark 5:1-10 NKJV
Most High God,
Right there in the midst of the country of Gadarenes Jesus did not avoid what the crowds must have been wondering about. Jesus meeting with a man they knew was not to be reasoned with. Shackles and chains could not hold him. But this tormented man immediately worshiped Jesus and called Him the Son of the most High God! Nobody could have expected that.
The unclean spirits begged not to be sent out of the country. In Luke 8:31 they begged not to be sent to the abyss. They needed something living to dwell in, so they thought they could prolong their lives by asking to go into the pigs. But they still had to go to the Abyss because the pigs drowned in the lake! (Luke 8:33). Jesus had the last word.
We wonder why there is still so much evil in this world. Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons and could control creation. He truly was Your Son, the Son of the Most High God. And we wait eagerly for the day when You will create a new heaven and earth and there will be no more sin and evil. Yet we love all that’s good about creation and mankind. Is that why You delay? Giving opportunities for many more to know You and Your life and hope? We may not know all the times and dates but we know evil. But even if we die before that day – we will see life from the resurrection side!
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Monday 26th October 2026
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more, and the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair; When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
When the roll is called up yonder, When the roll is called up yonder, When the roll is called up yonder, When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise, and the glory of His resurrection share; When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Chorus
Let us labour for the Master from the dawn till setting sun; let us talk of all His wondrous love and care. Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done, and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
