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.”
“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!
“Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. 2 So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; 3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.” Joshua 3:1-4 NKJV
Father of new mornings,
Thank you that every morning is new with fresh hope and love and Your mercy. Even though here we are again with the children of Israel paused at a river wondering how they would get across. Perhaps they remembered the story their parents told them about crossing another different river when they left Egypt? Only two people would actually remember that – Caleb and Joshua.
But You do not need to do things the same way Lord. You are creative and show Your power though another water parting miracle! With Moses the staff represented Your command through Moses for the water to part. Here the ark of the covenant – the symbol of Your presence with them went first And the water itself drew back before You God.. They were to follow a little behind. How symbolic. Following You carefully not trying to rush ahead or assume the way. They had to wait, look and follow. Then they had their own testimony of Your miraculous power and provision of a dry crossing..
I can think of no better lesson Lord. Whatever life throws at us, whatever deep water is to be passed through, or mountain climbed,. We should look for You, wait upon You and follow where You lead. We too will see and have our own miracles to attest to Your provision and way forward. Thank You that You are with us always as we too have not passed this way before.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Wednesday 4th March 2026 I limit this hymn to about once a year – but sometimes a rousing familiar hymn is needed to lift us to praise.
Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer, pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but you are mighty; hold me with Thy powerful hand. Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more, feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain, whence the healing waters flow. Let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through. Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer, be Thou still my strength and shield, be thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan, bid my anxious fears subside. Death of death, and hell’s Destruction, land me safe on Canaan’s side. Songs of praises, songs of praises I will ever give to Thee, I will ever give to Thee.
Lyrics: William Williams translated by Peter Williams
“Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. 3 You turn man to destruction, And say, “Return, O children of men.” 4 For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night. 5 You carry them away like a flood; They are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up: 6 In the morning it flourishes and grows up; In the evening it is cut down and withers.
7 For we have been consumed by Your anger, and by Your wrath we are terrified. 8 You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your countenance. 9 For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; we finish our years like a sigh. 10 The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. 12 So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord! How long? And have compassion on Your servants. 14 Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days! 15 Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, the years in which we have seen evil. 16 Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their children. 17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90 NKJV
Father and Our God and Lord,
This Psalm is attributed to Moses though I am not sure how they can date these Psalms for sure. But it certainly seems to fit with Moses. It acknowledges You as God and Your unchangeable judgement balanced with mercy. It sounds like it was written on a tough day when he was carrying the weight of all the problems the children of Israel were moaning about.
But like Moses, the writer remembers that You have compassion and mercy and calls upon You to change the day and ley Your beauty be upon them.
What a wonderful way to change the day from under the circumstances to working away at the day, by asking for Your beauty to be upon us and the day’s work being established as valuable. That Moses could still see the Your beauty God after 40 years of moaning multitudes in the dessert is a miracle. Help us to not just see Your Beauty but have it rest upon us and in us and with us as the Psalmist prays.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 3rd March 2026 An old chorus with new verses and new tune. And I could grow to like this for those quieter moments.
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me All His wondrous compassion and purity; O Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine ‘Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.
