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.”
“So I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs. One went to the right hand on the wall toward the Refuse Gate. 32 After them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah . . . and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them.” Nehemiah 12:31-36
“I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” 2 Our feet have been standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem! 3 Jerusalem is built As a city that is compact together, 4 where the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to the Testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. 5 For thrones are set there for judgment, the thrones of the house of David. 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: may they prosper who love you. 7 Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces.” 8 For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” 9 Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.” Psalm 122 NKJV
Father God,
Creation has never been silent. From the first sounds of water and oceans, the patter of raindrops and the whistling of the wind. The myriad of bird songs and calls of the wild. I wonder when singing began. It is an emotional response, music touches us and moves us.
So naturally it became a part of worship. Psalms were written to enable what was being felt to be said and sung. Psalm 122 was a song of ascents – for when going up to the Temple mound to give You thanks God or make atonement for sin. I wonder if it was sung by the choir who went to the right around the completed walls of Jerusalem and the up to the Temple? Meeting up with those who had gone to the left. It would be fitting, to pray for peace while dedicating the newly completed city walls.
Are we always glad when we go to the House of the Lord? For Sunday worship, midweek meetings or evening groups? It is helpful to have worship that reminds us what a privilege it is to gather together with like minded believers and You our Lord and Saviour. Sometimes God we do not emotionally feel glad. But help us know thanksgiving in our hearts and not take worship or our brothers and sisters in Christ for granted.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Wednesday 23rd September 2026
Leona Pearl was born in Stinking Creek (I wonder if it did?), Tennessee in 1923. After living in Detroit briefly during World War II, she moved to Long Beach, California. She met and married Robert Von Brethorst. She was an active member of Bethany Chapel, wrote songs, organized an outreach that fed the homeless, and made quilts for anyone in need. She died in 2010.
I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart; I will enter His courts with praise. I will say this is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad, He has made me glad, I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad, He has made me glad, I will rejoice for He has made me glad.
Repeat above . . .
Hallelujah, He has made me glad Hallelujah, He has made me glad Hallelujah, He has made me glad Hallelujah, he has made me . . .
He has made me glad, He has made me glad, I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad, He has made me glad, I will rejoice for He has made me glad.
I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart; I will enter His courts with praise. I will say this is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad, He has made me glad, I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad, He has made me glad, I will rejoice for He has made me glad.
Repeat above . . .
Hallelujah, He has made me glad Hallelujah, He has made me glad Hallelujah, He has made me glad Hallelujah, he has made me . . .
He has made me glad, He has made me glad, I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad, He has made me glad, I will rejoice for He has made me glad.
He has made me glad, He has made me glad, I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad, He has made me glad, I will rejoice for He has made me glad. I will rejoice for He has made me glad.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.” 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. 8 Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, 10 no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 11 for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. 13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample under foot.
14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. 16 with long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”” Psalm 91 NKJV
Father God,
Here we indulge in Words the singers returning to Jerusalem in Nehemiah and Ezra’s time may have learned as new Psalms. Those returning singers, one of them may have written it and another developed a tune! It is one of the few Psalms believed to have written later perhaps at that time.
Many of the terrible things that could befall like warfare, sickness, robbery or death could be thought of as gods by the pagan nations around them. Things they would fear and had no control over. This Psalm meditates on the power, ability and willingness of You, the Lord and only God to keep them safe.
It also reassures them that as they trust and give their love to You – because You give so much more in return. It is the same today. We give Your Son Jesus Christ our sin and receive life in return. Deliverance from sin, Your presence night and day, and salvation which includes a very long life that never ends. So we sing the Psalms of our day the worship we want to give You.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Worship Tuesday 22nd September 2026
A true favourite. I only have to hear the opening chords and my heart is warmed and stirred to worship.
Wonderful grace that gives what I don’t deserve Pays me what Christ has earned then lets me go free Wonderful grace that gives me the time to change Washes away the stains that once covered me
And all that I have I lay at the feet Of the wonderful Saviour Who loves me
Wonderful love that held in the face of death Breathed in its final breath forgiveness for me Wonderful love whose power can break every chain Giving us life again setting us free
And all that I have I lay at the feet Of the wonderful Saviour Who loves me
“These are the people of the province who came back from the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city.” Nehemiah 7:6 NKJV
“Altogether the whole assembly was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty, 67 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven; and they had two hundred and forty-five men and women singers. 68 Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules two hundred and forty-five, 69 their camels four hundred and thirty-five, and donkeys six thousand seven hundred and twenty.” Nehemiah 7:66-69 NKJV
“And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.” Nehemiah 8:9 NKJV
God of our Fathers,
Strange that I have read these passages countless times and never really noticed the numbers of people who returned with Nehemiah. 42, 360! Not counting 7,337 servants and 245 singers. That’s 49,942 people and enough to make two large choirs for singing the Psalms. And they all had to find accomodation, or build it, and find food and the essentials of life. Gathering them together so they could all hear the Law being read – must have been a challenge.
Here we witness again and again Your mercy. Bringing Your rebellious people back to the promised land again and again and forgiving them. And allowing them, more importantly, to come back to You God and find You had never left them. Nehemiah and Ezra have been catalysts. Bringing order and worship. But it took all of them together, listening to Your Law and confessing their sin, to receive Your blessing and a future.
There is a time to weep and a time to mourn but also a time to rejoice. And for us, a challenge. To keep listening to Your Word and allowing Your Holy Spirit it to challenge, change and cheer us up on our way.
In Jesus name we pray.
Worship Monday 21st September 2026
As Lynn Deshazo states in her book, “The longer I walk with the Lord, the more love and appreciation I have for the Bible and for those whom God has used throughout the ages to make it available to me. I suppose that was the true impetus for my writing “Ancient Words.” She concluded: “It’s probably the best ‘bridge builder’ I’ve ever written. People from all types of churches love that song because they love the Scriptures so much.”
Holy words long preserved for our walk in this world, They resound with God’s own heart Oh, let the Ancient words impart.
Words of Life, words of Hope Give us strength, help us cope In this world, where e’er we roam Ancient words will guide us Home.
Ancient words ever true Changing me, and changing you. We have come with open hearts Oh let the ancient words impart.
Holy words of our Faith Handed down to this age. Came to us through sacrifice Oh heed the faithful words of Christ.
Holy words long preserved For our walk in this world. They resound with God’s own heart Oh let the ancient words impart.
