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 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, 12 “Take him and look after him, and do him no harm; but do to him just as he says to you.” 13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent Nebushasban, Rabsaris, Nergal-Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon’s chief officers; 14 then they sent someone to take Jeremiah from the court of the prison, and committed him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he dwelt among the people.” Jeremiah 39:11-14 NKJV
“And it happened after ten days that the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. 8 Then he called Johanan the son of Kareah, all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, 9 and said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition before Him: 10 ‘If you will still remain in this land, then I will build you and not pull you down, and I will plant you and not pluck you up. For I relent concerning the disaster that I have brought upon you. 11 Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid; do not be afraid of him,’ says the Lord, ‘for I am with you, to save you and deliver you from his hand.” Jeremiah 42:7-11 NKJV
Father and Guide,
Jeremiah has consistently given them Your best way forward in very complicated circumstances, Enemies on every side coming and going. Then Israel being taken off into exile by Assyria and Judah by Babylon. Jeremiah told his people whether in Babylon or Judah to settle and get on with life. But do they? No of course not. Ishmael of the royal family and ten of his officers murder Gedaliah, who had been made governor of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 41:2). Then they are in fear of reprisal.
Jeremiah we see gains his freedom. Nebuchadnezzar perhaps saw him as someone speaking peace and against any rebellion so not only frees him but gives him provisions and a gift (Jeremiah 40:5-6). You did not overlook your servant. So he continues to speak out and warn against going to Egypt. So what do they do? They go to Egypt and take Jeremiah with them! But Jeremiah is not threatened by imprisonment, exile or by being a refugee . . . he continues to speak. And we moan at a little discomfort? I am sure he was not a perfect man – no one is. You gave him what he needed, not what he wanted and he was faithful. He was free to do Your will whether in prison or not. We are not all called to be a Jeremiah but keep us faithful.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Worship Tuesday 11th August 2026 A free heart to follow and a fabulous worship hymn to rejoice.
And can it be that I should gain An int’rest in the Saviour’s blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
He left His Father’s throne above So free, so infinite His grace Emptied Himself of all but love, And bled for Adam’s helpless race: ’Tis mercy all, immense and free, For, O my God, it found out me!
Long my imprisoned spirit lay, Fast bound in sin and nature’s night; Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him, is mine; Alive in Him, my living Head, And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach the eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
“You, O Lord, remain forever; Your throne from generation to generation. 20 Why do You forget us forever, And forsake us for so long a time? 21 Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored; Renew our days as of old, 22 Unless You have utterly rejected us, And are very angry with us!” Lamentations 5:19-22 NKJV
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” Psalm 51:10-12
O God,
The writer to Lamentations though not responsible for all the sin in Judah – knows the only way to approach You, God to ask for help is admitting he needs to turn back to You and be restored first. just as David prayed through His Psalm 51.
There is nothing we can do to change anything. We cannot persuade you, cajolle you, do good deeds for You, donate time and money to You. We need a repentant heart. You to humble us and bring us to where we can be restored. Nothing is too difficult for You, as Jeremiah reminded us in 32:17. Then following restoration will come renewed days and joy. The writer to Lamentations however is in deep distress and recognises that God may still be angry because they deserve it.
None of us deserve the full love, forgiveness and blessing of God. But we receive them because of Jesus who died and rose again (John 1:29). He is no longer angry with us. He is not the judge sitting on a cloud waiting for us to do wrong. He is the loving Father with us, helping us, guiding us, encouraging us, chastising us, forgiving us all the way home. Our hearts and minds always with Him.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Monday 10th August 2026 Yes another I try and sneak in regularly because for me it is one of those profound, private and honest worship songs.
There comes a time in each believer’s life When problems crowd around And in the darkness, hands outstretched We reach to touch You once again And oh, the joy that’s found
Slip off your shoes and leave your doubts outside You won’t be using the walk of the world in His presence You’ll only need your repentant heart
Now it may seem funny But if you use the word too much The meaning flies away Sorry doesn’t mean a lot Unless you understand the cost And how the price was paid
Chorus
So come and sit by your Father’s side Tell Him what’s on your heart Give your worries to Him Every problem, every sin And make a brand new, come on Make a brand new start
“How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow is she, Who was great among the nations! The princess among the provinces Has become a slave! 2 She weeps bitterly in the night, Her tears are on her cheeks; Among all her lovers She has none to comfort her. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; They have become her enemies.” Lamentations:1-2 NKJV
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”” Lamentations 3:22-24 NKJV
God of Comfort,
Leviticus was written by someone left in Judah after Jerusalem fell. It is a heartfelt lamentation (a passionate expression of deep grief, sorrow, or regret). Possibly by Jeremiah. And if we could read it in the Hebrew of the Bible we would see the added beauty of its poetry. Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4 use an acrostic structure each verses begins with sequential letter of the 22-letter Hebrew alphabet. I am told!
There is everything to mourn for and complain about. Much weeping. A hard read. A man under God’s judgement with no way out (Lamentations 3:1-18). Even the essential of life, their water and wood, they had to pay for (Lamentations 5:4).
Then in the middle is a little beam of light. Like a lighthouse shining in a black storm bringing a glimmer of hope. Not everything is lost. I chose to pause from reading there for today. Sometimes we need to pour out our human feelings to You. Empty ourselves and then look and wait as the writer does (Lamentations 3:25-30). And there is a glimmer of light. And all the time history was working towards Your Son coming as their Light of the world, and ours. We join with the writer of Lamentations by declaring that Your mercy and compassion fails not and are new every morning – every hour – every minute – every millisecond. We are rescued.
In Jesus name we pray,Amen.
Worship Sunday 9th August 2026 Choice of thoughtful or cheerful?
In my wrestling and in my doubts In my failures You won’t walk out Your great love will lead me through You are the peace in my troubled sea, woah You are the peace in my troubled sea, yeah
In the silence, You won’t let go In the questions, Your truth will hold Your great love will lead me through You are the peace in my troubled sea, woah You are the peace in my troubled sea, yeah
My lighthousе, my lighthouse Shining in the darkness, I will follow You My lighthousе, my lighthouse I will trust the promise You will carry me safe to shore Safe to shore – Safe to shore – Safe to shore
I won’t fear what tomorrow brings With each morning I’ll rise and sing My God’s love will lead me through You are the peace in my troubled sea, woah You are the peace in my troubled sea, yeah
Chorus
Fire before us, You’re the brightest You will lead us through the storms x 3
Chorus
Lyrics: Gareth Gilkeson and Chris Llewellyn of Rend Collective
