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 gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops; He has laid siege against us; they will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” 3 Therefore He shall give them up, until the time that she who is in labor has given birth; then the remnant of His brethren shall return to the children of Israel. 4 And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; and they shall abide, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth; 5 and this One shall be peace.” Micah 5:1-5 NKJV
Majesty, Lord,
You warn Israel to prepare as they are about to be attacked. He has told them they are under God’s judgement. He does not tell them to be brave or to hope for victory. But then amidst the judgement and expected attack he gives this beautiful promise to one small city. A promise they will not see in their lifetime but their descendants will.
One who will come forth from You, God, to be the Ruler, and who will be great to the ends of the earth! Not just a king of Judah or Israel or both but who will will be the peace for the whole earth. And not a single earthly king could achieve greatness to the ends of the earth by human effort though many want to or may try! One who will feed his flock in the strength of the Lord. Echoing what Isaiah was saying and promising, that the Lord would come and feed his sheep like a Shepherd (Isaiah 40:11).
So we not only read about but experience You God. Your unchanging judgement but endless mercy. Who promised and then provided Your people with a Messiah born in a humble shelter in little Bethlehem. Whose love now reaches and changes us.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Sunday 14th June 2026 Someone gave me a CD of the Young Messiah many years ago and I was a little snobbish about loving the original. However I soon grew to love it.
He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; and He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:11)
Come unto Him, all ye that labour, come unto Him that are heavy laden, and He will give you rest. Take His yoke upon you, and learn of Him, for He Is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls (Matthew 11:28-29)
“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
