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.”
“But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. 16 And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city! 17 Now the city shall be doomed by the Lord to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.”” Joshua 6:15-19 NKJV
“But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel. 2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and spy out the country.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.” 4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai.” Joshua 7:1-4 NKJV
Lord God,
Why is it that men think they can fool You? Achan thought he needed to hide his sin from Joshua but he didn’t seem to worry about You? Perhaps he thought You would not notice him or he justified why he should have those beautiful things? I don’t want to dwell on afterwards but how everyone was needed to win Jericho. Every single person was involved. It doesn’t say anyone stayed in the tent as they didn’t want to do all those steps. They all went together in faith. And stayed silent for 6 days. I count that a miracle in itself! What a relief when they got to shout and the battle was won.
How we see churches that prosper when those committed to You Lord are in unity with each other and You come first. And they are a safe place for those searching or looking to come and taste and see how good You are (Psalm 34:8).And how wonderful after a quiet prayer meeting or a time of waiting on You Lord when a song of praise releases us to loudly praise.
But one person,Achen, let the side down after. And the battle with Ai was lost. Another person sinned later, just 2,000 years ago and it looked like the battle was lost. Judas. But that battle could not be lost because Jesus could not be defeated. He defeated death despite Judas. Keep us from covetousness and committed to being united with You and our church family. And give us times to shout the victory!
In Jesus name we pray, Amen,
Worship Saturday 7th March 2026
My Jesus, my Saviour Lord there is none like You All of my days I want to praise The wonders of Your mighty love
My comfort, my shelter Tower of refuge and strength Let every breath, all that I am Never cease to worship You
Shout to the Lord all the Earth, let us sing Power and majesty, praise to the King Mountains bow down and the seas will roar At the sound of Your name
I sing for joy at the work of Your hands Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand Nothing compares to the promise I have In You
“Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho. 11 And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day. 12 Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.3 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” 14 So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” 15 Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.” Joshua 5:10-15 NKJV
Lord God,
They celebrate passover which brings the community together. The manna came to an end before they prepared to move forward into the promised land. Joshua is out taking a look at what was to come, is confronted by an imposing figure with sword drawn! Joshua does not seem to be overly threatened, and asks if the man is foe or friend. Joshua’s nature is not to kill first and ask later! Strangely the man says no. He is neither? But he is commander of the Lord’s army. Joshua fell down and worshiped – what an immediate response and he does not ask about the battle to come, or about the future or for help.
He asks the Lord what He would have his servant Joshua do. Joshua is a leader, he is a warrior and he is confident. But in the presence of God he immediately becomes an obedient servant. You God do not have to tell him to humble himself, but just to take of his shoes as he is on holy ground, Just as You asked Moses to remove his at the burning bush (Exodus 3:5). Stepping away from the dust of his life to Your holy ground God.
Lord, I know You loathe death and murder and killing. And yet You know that this world is fallen and evil men and women do evil things. No one can make You take sides. You see above and over what we understand. But we do look to You to help us fight the evil that drives men and women to do their worst. Paul says we also fight against principalities and powers,rulers of the darkness of this age, the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). I don’t fully understand but am comforted by an image, a theophany (a visible manifestation) of You God with sword drawn who is not against us but because of Jesus is for us.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Worship Friday 6th March 2026 Sometimes like Joshua we sense His presence and feel we are on Holy ground.
We are standing on holy ground And I know there are angels all around Let us praise Jesus now We are standing in His presence on holy ground
“4 Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” 8 And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the Lord had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. 9 Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day.” Joshua 4:1-9 NKJV
God who remeembers,
You know how fickle we are and how quickly we forget the many things You have done for us or we do not even notices. In rereading this passage I noticed something I had read many before and not really thought about. The 12 stone collectors, representing their 12 tribes, were told to walk before the ark of the covenant to find the stones. They really had to trust! They may have prevented the ark carriers from tripping too! So the stones were ready for when every one had passed over. They did not have to wait but saw the pile of stones winessing safe arrival. A memorial.
Sometimes I wish I had kept a diary – not one that listed the necessary actions for the day – one which noted what You were doing Lord, and the wonderful events I witnessed and the blessings I received. Interestingly I do have pebbles from prayer trips. Memorials of a kind.
Those 12 original stones have long gone but the truth they were there remains. The greatest memorials I have Lord are an empty cross and an empty grave. The cross is long gone and the stone that was rolled away who knows where.. But the truth still stands that they were there.. Joshua has long gone – but Jesus? You are with us always.
In Jesus name we give praise, Amen.
Worship Thursday 5th March 2026 Another rousing hymn to lift our souls to praise as we approach the Easter memorial time.
Crown Him with many crowns the Lamb upon the throne. Hark How the heav’nly anthems drowns all music but its own! Awake, my soul And sing of Him Who died for thee and hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity
Crown him the Lord of love; behold his hands and side, those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified; no angel in the sky can fully bear that sight, but downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright.
Crown Him the Lord of peace, Whose power a sceptre sways from pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise. His reign shall know no end, and round His pierced feet fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.
Crown him the Lord of years, the potentate of time, creator of the rolling spheres in majesty sublime: all hail, Redeemer, hail, for Thou hast died for me; Thy praise shall never, never fail through out eternity!
