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 after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, “Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?” 2 And the Lord said, “Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hand.” 3 So Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me to my allotted territory, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I will likewise go with you to your allotted territory.” And Simeon went with him. 4 Then Judah went up, and the Lord delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand; and they killed ten thousand men at Bezek. 5 And they found Adoni-Bezek in Bezek, and fought against him; and they defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites.” Judges 1:1-5 NKJV
God of Unity,
I wonder if this book would have been called 12 tribes to one nation under God if the tribes had not sinned? They start well and good and seek You first. They also seek to work to help each other. But it is called judges. Because they constantly got into hot water and needed someone to get them out. Judges is a terrible saga of trouble, oppression, defeat and survival. It is not a book I like to read for encouragement. The Judges leave me wondering. Samson is not exactly a figure to be held up as a model for small children is he Lord? Interestingly Lord God there were twelve! Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, Samson. Some we know almost nothing about.
But it is a book which shows Your patience, promise keeping and provision. The strength of You purposes and that You are the one who truly holds the future. Or Jesus would never have been born as You promised. Help us to see what we need to see as we wade through Judges and know You as the solid Rock on which we can stand amidst any situation (Matthew 7:24-27).
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Wednesday 11th March 2026
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace; in every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand: all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.
His oath, his covenant, his blood, support me in the whelming flood; when all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand: all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.
When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found: dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.
Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land.v7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” Genesis 12:6-7 NKJV
“Then all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. 34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them.” Joshua 8:33-35 NKJV
“Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.” Joshua 24:1 NKJV
Eternal Father,
You see history from beginning to end and at times we glimpse Your hand in the circles of life. Seshem. When I first read of it I remembered the promise you gave to Abram about the promised land. Interestingly I remembered about the Terebinth tree and I wondered if it was the only tree of shade in the area.
Sechem where Joshua brought them to renew the covenant as Moses told them to as they began to take the promised land. Shechem where he brought them again to remind them of the covenant and its blessings and curses. Joshua knowing his time was nearly over. Shechem, situated between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. But I don’t think they had to climb them this time.
Mount Gerizim was for blessings and was a terraced more fertile area and Mount Ebal was for curses and was a barren looking area. And Shechem was situated in the middle. They provided visual aids for Your people. They could never say they did not understand. You often give us visual aids for the journey. We see Your blessings and experience ignoring You at our peril. But You no longer curse us Your children. You enlighten us, You direct us if we are willing. You show us the error of our ways if we would heed Your voice. When we come to a Shechem place of decision, help us to clearly see the good choices even when it is not so obvious.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 10th March 2026
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet And a light unto my path Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet And a light unto my path
When I feel afraid, think I’ve lost my way still you’re there right beside me. Nothing will I fear, as long as you are near please be near me to the end.
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet And a light unto my path Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet And a light unto my path
I will not forget, Your love for me and yet my heart forever is wandering. Jesus, be my guide, and hold me to your side And I will love you to the end.
Musical Interlude . . .
Nothing will I fear, as long as you are near please be near me to the end.
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet And a light unto my path Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet And a light unto my path
And a light unto my path You’re the light unto my path
But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, 5 old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. 6 And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.”7 Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?”8 But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?” 9 So they said to him: “From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt . . .” Joshua 9:3-9 NKJV
God of Wisdom,
It says later in Joshua 9:14 that they did not inquire of You. Not only Joshua but none of the other men of Israel thought to prompt Joshua to inquire of You God. No one would have argued with them and Joshua would probably have been the first to say yes lets ask first. It is good not to think evil of people and to look for the good – but not everyone is trustworthy! They saw, they believed and they acted on that. They thought they saw.
You have warned us that the same is true today. Paul knew that the church needed to be wise, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-14). Help us not to think the worse first but to check in with You and listen for Your small still voice. Whether telling us to wait (Psalm 37:7) or another way to way to go (Psalm 143:8) or to give us wisdom (James 1:5).
Help us to listen so we do not judge or jump to conclusions good or bad. But ask You and then act rather than have to react. Who knows but that our kindness may speak to them even if they meant harm and we can be saved much trouble. Keep us wise and seeking Your wisdom and kind but able to uncover deceit or lies.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Worship Saturday 29th March 2025 New to me and written in 2024 I believe. I like it because it is an honest dialog with the Lord and a singable tune.
Christ our wisdom, we are humbled When You hide Your ways from us You have purposes unnumbered Each one good and glorious Help us trust when we grow weary Free us from our anxious thoughts Give us grace to see more clearly You are God and we are not
Christ our wisdom, be our gladness When we fail to understand You ordain all joy and sadness To fulfill Your perfect plan Help us know You rule with power Over every raging flood In our most uncertain hour You are God and we are loved
Christ our wisdom, we will follow Though the way ahead is veiled As we journey through the shadows Grant us faith where sight has failed Help us cling to Your commandments Strengthened by Your faithful word We will never be abandoned You are God and we are Yours
Christ our wisdom, we adore You For the beauty of the cross Once in foolishness we scorned You But Your blood has ransomed us Help us sing the endless mercies Of Your humble heart to save Christ our wisdom, Christ our glory You are God forever praised
Help us sing the endless mercies Of Your humble heart to save Christ our wisdom, Christ our glory You are God forever praised
Songwriters: Bob Kaufflin, Jon Althoff, Nathan Stiff.
