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.”
“In the twenty-fifth year of our captivity, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was captured, on the very same day the hand of the Lord was upon me; and He took me there. 2 In the visions of God He took me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain; on it toward the south was something like the structure of a city. 3 He took me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze. He had a line of flax and a measuring rod in his hand, and he stood in the gateway.” Ezekiel 40:1-3 NKJV
“Afterward he brought me to the gate, the gate that faces toward the east. 2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory. 3 It was like the appearance of the vision which I saw—like the vision which I saw when I came to destroy the city. The visions were like the vision which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face. 4 And the glory of the Lord came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east. 5 The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” Ezekiel 43:1-5
Glorious Lord God of Israel,
There is so much in the book of Ezekiel but we need to move on in our quest to cover the Bible’s history in a year. Ezekiel ends his book with an amazingly detailed vision of a land, a city (40:2) and a Temple within the city (43:5). Is this literally the Temple to be rebuilt or a vision of the Temple in Your new earth? (Revelation 21:1).
This year it was verse 43:4 that caused me to stop and wonder. Ezekiel has talked about the glory leaving the Temple earlier (10:18). An overwhelming life stopping vision showing You God removing Your presence from them. It took the depths of their depravity to cause this. It was no small disagreement. Here the glory, Your Shekinah glory Lord once again filled the Temple. Ezekiel saw the visible, physical manifestation of Your presence and divine radiance God among humanity. And he fell on his face.
It is all about You God, history showing the constant calling out to Your people and always providing a way back to You and a new start. Even our betrayal and killing of Your Son did not stop You pouring out Your Spirit to find us, heal our sin and bring us back to You. It is all about You and this passage for me reassures me that heaven and earth are not airy fairy places but as certain and measured as this vision. You are a God who creates order and yet such beauty. Yes there is a city and an amazing Temple but for Ezekiel and the most awesome moment is Your glory returning to fill it. Do we treasure You, Your glory within us?
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Monday 17th August 2026 We have had both of these recently, within the last three weeks, but I couldn’t get them out of my mind so here they both are.
I caught a glimpse of Your splendour In the corner of my eye The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen And it was like a flash of lightning Reflected off the sky And I know I’ll never be the same
[Chorus] Show me Your glory, Send down Your presence I want to see Your face Show me Your glory, Majesty shines about You I can’t go on without You, Lord
When I climb down the mountain And get back to my life I won’t settle for ordinary things I’m gonna follow You forever And for all of my days I won’t rest ’til I see You again
“Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’ ”” Ezekiel 37:11-14 NKJV
God of Life,
The picture of the valley of bones is probably one of the better known passages of Ezekiel, Lord. How You showed Him You truly are the creator of life of man. Bone connects with bone then tendons, or sinews, then flesh appears upon the skeletons, then life is breathed into them. Then comes another explanation of how You, God long to revive Your people to the life they have in You. This follows from Your question, “Why should You die?” (Ezekiel 33:11) For many of the exiles, they believe there is no hope. They have lost the promised land, their freedom, their Temple. All Your provision and protection.
Ezekiel discovers for himself and then shows Your people, in exile, that Your desire, God, is always to give the choice of life. Opportunity to renew, to resurrect and live again. You, God, challenged them to believe, receive Your breath, Your Spirit, and watch what You will do to restore them. If they want it.
Today as we worship, You call us to believe, to receive Your life and trust in You for our future. This same Spirit, Your Spirit, gave life to Ezekiel’s army, raised Christ from the dead and, dwells in us (Romans 8:11). No matter how hard it gets, or challenging, or overwhelming, or confusing, Your breath is in us. Help me understand all that means.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Worship Sunday 16th August 2026
This is the air I breathe This is the air I breathe Your holy presence living in me
This is my daily bread This is my daily bread Your very word spoken to me
And I I’m desperate for you And I I’m I’m lost without you
“So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you havedelivered your soul. 10 “Therefore you, O son of man, say to the house of Israel: ‘Thus you say, “If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?” ’ 11 Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’ Ezekiel 33:7-11 NKJV
“‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day.'” Ezekiel 34:11-12 NKJV
Lord God and Father,
Here we find You, God giving Ezekiel a different role to Prophet. That is one who speaks judgement for sin. Role of a watchman. Not to warn of the enemies approach – too late for that. But because You never give up and show that they still have an opportunity to see You as redeemer if they repent and change.
And You gracefully assure Ezekiel (who failed to get through to them previously) that their response is not his responsibility. He is just is the messenger. Though that is sometimes a dangerous occupation. As Paul reminded us in his first letter to the Corinthians, “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:7). Ezekiel is simply to watch and call out Your good news
This is a deeply moving passage. Previously they have been told of their sin and the judgement. And judgement has happened. Now Ezekiel is telling them there is still forgiveness – but not at any price. You God even ask them why do they want to die? There is an alternative. As Peter reminds us in His second letter, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). Life is a choice – to bow to the world and die or bow in worship, wonder and obedience to You and live.
In Jesus name we give thanks, Amen.
Worship Saturday 15th August 2026 This song was written in 2013 but I believe was released in 2025. I have put up two versions both th same music. The first one just with lyrics. The second showing the author performing it but has no lyrics.
I will choose you lord, over and over again I will choose your way, over and over again There is no going back to the place that I used to be Help me to know you more, more, more I will choose you lord, over and over again I will choose your way, over and over again There is no going back to the place that I used to be Help me to know you more, more, more Help me to seek you more, more, more
Lord you got my heart (oh, yeah, yeah, ye-eah) Lord you got my heart
I will choose you lord, over and over again I will choose your ways, over and over again There is no going back to the place that I used to be I am not going back to the path where I used to be lord Lord, I give you all my life, Father, I give you all my life (Yeah) I give you all my life (yea, yeah, yeah)
I will choose you lord, over and over again I will choose your way, over and over again There is no going back to the place that I used to be No-no, no-no, no (No-no, no, no, no) No-no, no-no, no (No)
I’m not going back (I’m not going back) I’m not going back (I will stay here with you) I’m not going back (hmm) oh I’m not going back (Not going back) Father, I’m not going back (I’m not going back) I’m not going back (Not going back) Father, I’m not going back I’m sticking to your promises I’m not going back (No, no) Father, I’m not going back (I’m not going back) I’m not going back (I’m not going back) oh I’m not going back
