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 opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. 32 And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me. 33 The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.” 34 And Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, or I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back.” 35 Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 36 Now when Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the border at the Arnon, the boundary of the territory. 37 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not earnestly send to you, calling for you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?” 38 And Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I have come to you! Now, have I any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak.” Numbers 22:31-38 NKJV
God who speaks,
God really did keep on speaking to Balaam in the most amazing ways, to stop him going where he should not and to get him to stay where he was. You even went on speaking till the very last minute and by every means possible.
You do still speak today and I believe there have been times when I have known I should stop or go back and have just ploughed on. It gets Baalam into sticky water because he cannot change what the Lord has told him and he knows he cannot do what is asked. I like Ballam because even though he is strong minded he still does not defy God. He still says Your Words God, though he knows it will give him trouble maybe cost his life?
We need to hear Your Word telling us not to go there as much as we need Your Word to say go. You gave Balaam the opportunity to stay out of it but he could not. A man of action and pride in his ability to hear You and prophesy. But You still protect him.
We learn a great deal about Your mercy here, Lord God, Your adherence to delivering the truth and Your determination to bless you people and not curse them And I would want no other God but You.
In Jesus name we pry, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 17th February 2026
I lift my hands to the coming King To the Great I Am to You I sing For You’re the One Who reigns within my heart
Chorus And I will serve no foreign god Or any other treasure You are my heart’s desire Spirit without measure Unto Your Name I will bring my sacrifice
“Then the children of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there and was buried there. 2 Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. 3 And the people contended with Moses and spoke, saying: “If only we had died when our brethren died before the Lord! 4 Why have you brought up the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? 5 And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink.” 6 So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them.7 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” 9 So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him.” Numbers 20:2-9 NKJV
Father and Lord,
Last year we touched on this passage where Moses lost his patience and his right to pass into the promised land. But actually we need to see it from Gods perspective. We wonder at all Moses doing and going through to get so near and then one mistake and he dies before stepping into the land of milk and honey. But perhaps it needed a new leadership for the next phase.
And the problem with Moses? Moses brings the peoples moaning of no water to You. You tell him to take his staff and speak to the rock. So he takes his staff. Does he not listen or simply reverts to what he did last time? Sometimes Father You are in the detail and we need to listen closely not presume. And I am learning that You, creative Father and God do not do things the same way all the time! Even if like Moses sometimes I can make things happen.
And we need to remember that You did not kill off Moses but took Him to Yourself. You allowed Him to encourage and stand with Jesus on the Mount of transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9) in the promised land. Moses saw Your passover lamb, Your Son and the fulfilment of Your Law. What a gracious, merciful, kind God You are.
We cannot always understand Your ways or see the outcomes but we can trust You. We can listen and learn and when we get it wrong, Jesus corrects us and leads us on and loves us still.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Monday 16th February 2026
Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine He’s been my fourth man in the fire, time after time Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood And what He did for me on Calvary is more than enough
I trust in God, my Savior The one who will never fail He will never fail I trust in God, my Savior The one who will never fail He will never fail
Perfect submission, all is at rest I know the author of tomorrow has ordered my steps So this is my story and this is my song I’m praising my risen King and Savior all the day long
Chorus
He didn’t fail you then He won’t fail you now
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered That’s why I trust Him, that’s why I trust Him
Repeat
Chorus
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered I sought the Lord (and He delivered me from all my fears) I sought the Lord (from everything) And He heard and He answered, oh That’s why I trust Him, that’s why I trust Him I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered That’s why I trust Him, that’s why I trust in God
Chorus
Songwriters: Brandon Lake, Christopher Joel Brown, Mitch Wong ,Steven Furtick
“Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men; 2 and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. 3 They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” 4 So when Moses heard it, he fell on his face; 5 and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who is His and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to Him. That one whom He chooses He will cause to come near to Him. 6 Do this: Take censers, Korah and all your company; 7 put fire in them and put incense in them before the Lord tomorrow, and it shall be that the man whom the Lord chooses is the holy one. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi!” Numbers 16:1-7 NKJV
God Almighty,
I wonder what pushed Korah into resenting Moses so much? There was an order to the community and everyone knew their place and the rotas for service. Moses didn’t seem to Lord it over them he just passed on Your words. It is interesting though how some people think that some roles are more important than others. Moses has a responsibility given Him by You God, he didn’t want it back in Egypt! He has to live in a tent the same as everyone, collect daily manna and walk the same as they do.
Paul reminds us that we all have a place in serving Jesus. Many of us also have rotas for service. I know many prefer Bible reading in services to making the coffee and washing up. In small fellowships almost everyone does something. We all serve our local communities – our neighbours. And moaners have no danger of being burnt up!
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them (1 Corinthians 12:4). Whether it be chatting at the school gates, as a Christian in the workplace or among friends of no faith. I pray we can appreciate each other and we don’t always see all that’s said and done. Korah did not want to please You God, but I do. Help me find my place and not push shoulders with those around me. Who can I encourage today?
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Worship Sunday 15th February 2026
Will you let me be your servant, Let me be as Christ to you; Pray that I may have the grace to Let you be my servant, too.
We are pilgrims on a journey, We are trav’lers on the road; We are here to help each other Walk the mile and bear the load
I will hold the Christ-light for you In the night-time of your fear; I will hold my hand out to you, Speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping; When you laugh I’ll laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow ‘Til we’ve seen this journey through.
When we sing to God in heaven We shall find such harmony, Born of all we’ve known together Of Christ’s love and agony.
