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.”
“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.”Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” 29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” 30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die. 34 The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.” John 12:27-36 NKJV
Glorious Father,
To put this passage in context it comes after certain Greeks, who had come up to worship at the Jewish Feast, asked Philip if they could meet Jesus. I love the way John says it happened. ‘Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus..’ (John 12:22). John’s gospel changes focus because Jesus audience has widened from just Jews to the gentile world. And then John says Jesus foretells his death. The death that would open the way to all nations. And me.
It is reassuring to see that Jesus had a troubled soul at this time. Knowing his hour was coming. In his humanity he was troubled, so he can understand how we feel in trauma and stress. And he totally depended on You. The voice from heaven must have encouraged him and yet he says it was not for him? Many heard it as thunder or an angel. Those who did hear, they could never deny what they heard. And then Jesus departed unseen.
Sometimes it feels like You have departed but You have not, it is just my human doubts and feelings. You are still with me, and in me, but helping me to grow and walk and trust. And I cannot deny what I have heard. What You have spoken to me through Your Word and those awesome moments when You seem to speak right into my life. Help us in times of doubt, if our minds are troubled and help us to hear You.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 14th November 2026
This song held great meaning for Matt, but he was astonished when the verses he sung grew even more poignant the day he had his son. Suddenly, Matt held an infant in his hands who was helpless, and needy. He recalls the verse “every hour, I need you” as he fed his child, changed his diapers, and cared for him constantly. He pondered what needing God really means. What would it be like to put into perspective, the desperate neediness we have for our Creator, as if it’s just like how a newborn needs their parent?
Lord I come, I confess Bowing here, I find my rest Without You, I fall apart You’re the one that guides my heart
Lord, I need You, oh, I need You Every hour, I need You My one defense, my righteousness Oh God, how I need You
Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more Where grace is found is where You are And where You are, Lord, I am free Holiness is Christ in me
Chorus
So teach my song to rise to You When temptation comes my way And when I cannot stand, I’ll fall on You Jesus, You’re my hope and stay
Chorus
Lyrics: Matt Maher / Daniel Carson / Jesse Reeves / Kristian Paul Stanfill / Christy L. Nockels
“Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:1-14 NKJV
God of eternity,
The disciples were seeking answers. Jesus answered some but did not get distracted from what he was about to do. Rather than getting tied up in preparing for the end, he wanted them to hold it in their hearts while living in the present. No need to worry about all that now. They needed to hang on to His Way, His Truth, and soon – His resurrection (John 14:6). One day at a time (Matthew 6:34).
This estachalogocal passage speaks of things to come and at various times in history believers have felt they were living in that time. Almost every generation has known wars, rumours of wars and natural disasters. There has been persecution of believers since Jesus day. We can look at it today and think here we go . . .
But like the wise virgins we need to keep it in context and use it to keep us on our toes and ready. Even if it does not happen in our lifetime (Matthew 25:3). I do question why there has to be endless wars, terrible natural disasters and such persecution? And You remind me to the beginning, our sin, the and the consequences (Genesis 3). Paul talks about even the earth groaning for deliverance as it waits (Romans 8:18-25).
Remind us Lord that in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52). Jesus promised the penitent thief on the cross that he would be with Jesus in paradise that very day (Luke 23:43). Thank you that we know the worst and the best and the best is forever and no one can take it away from those in Christ Jesus.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 13th November 2026
I stepped away to the kettle and found myself singing this hymn. This is such a fresh version and it says it all.
I could not do without thee, O Saviour of the lost, whose precious blood redeemed me at such tremendous cost; thy righteousness, thy pardon, thy precious blood, must be my only hope and comfort, my glory and my plea.
I could not do without thee, I cannot stand alone, I have no strength or goodness, no wisdom of my own; but thou, belovèd Saviour, art all in all to me, and weakness will be power if leaning hard on thee.
I could not do without thee, O Jesus, Saviour dear; e’en when my eyes are holden, I know that thou art near; how dreary and how lonely this changeful life would be without the sweet communion, the secret rest with thee.
Verse not used (I could not do without thee; no other friend can read the spirit’s strange deep longings, interpreting its need; no human heart could enter each dim recess of mine, and soothe, and hush, and calm it, O Blessèd Lord, but thine.)
6 I could not do without thee, for years are fleeting fast, and soon in solemn loneness the river must be passed; but thou wilt never leave me, and though the waves roll high, I know thou wilt be near me, and whisper, ‘It is I.’
“Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.” Matthew 22:29-33 NKJV
“But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “TheSon of David.” 43 He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying: 44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’? 45 If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” 46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.”” Matthew 22:34-46 NKJV
Father God and Lord,
The Sadducees and the Pharisees were both well versed in the scriptures and the Law of Moses. But they had settled into two camps and neither wanted to see Jesus as the promised Messiah. That was one thig they could agree on. He was a risk to the stability of Jerusalem under the rule of Rome. Plus their comfortable lives running the Temple and religious practice. It was their living.
Here we see Jesus cutting through their dependence on their own knowledge. Taking them back to their own particular beliefs and undoing their misunderstandings. Not by lecture or judgement but by directing them to answers from the only place they would accept was authority. The same law they were using to back their own arguments.
Jesus takes the law and instead of it being a set of rules with tick boxes, he makes them reconsider what they are reading, believing and seeing. They were astonished at him but that did not change their minds. It seemed to unnerve them. They failed to see who they were speaking to. Help us not to make our faith a series of rules and tick boxes to reassure us we are OK. Help us learn where we have misunderstood, no-one knows it all! Even if we like to think we do . . . .
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Thursday 12th November 2026
An old hymn and with a familiar tune to many. And so profound in its request. I am almost afraid to pray it!
Live out Thy life within me, O Jesus, King of kings! Be Thou Thyself the answer to all my questionings; Live out Thy life within me, in all things have Thy way! I, the transparent medium, Thy glory to display.
The temple has been yielded, and purified of sin, Let Thy Shekinah glory now shine forth from within, And all the earth keep silence, the body henceforth be Thy silent, gentle servant, moved only as by Thee.
Its members every moment held subject to Thy call, Ready to have Thee use them, or not be used at all, Held without restless longing, or strain, or stress, or fret, Or chafings at Thy dealings, or thoughts of vain regret.
But restful, calm and pliant, from bend and bias free, Awaiting Thy decision, when Thou hast need of me; Live out Thy life within me, O Jesus, King of kings! Be Thou the glorious answer to all my questionings.
