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.”
“Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. 12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. 15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’ But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”Mark 11:11-17 NKJV
“Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”” Mark 11:20-21 NKJV
Father God,
Sometimes I do not find the headings added by translators helpful. Though at other times they help me find passages. Here I find that to understand why You punished the fig tree I need to read as if the heading were not there. To see what You saw in the Temple and the fig tree..
You were not short tempered, having a bad day or just needing to vent! I used to wonder why that green healthy looking fig tree had to die? For You it symbolised the Temple You had just visited. The Temple looked good and busy like the fig tree looked promising with all its greenery. But both had no fruit. So he made an example of the fig tree. And the following day he spoke to those misusing the Temple. The fig tree is sandwiched between seeing the Temple and your judgement of its state. A sobering thought.
But then You speak to us in John 15. Promising grace and mercy. You are the vine and we the branches and we bear fruit only through You Lord. (John 15:5). You remind us that if we are joined to You, pruning is to help us grow healthy and strong (John 15:20). And we can abide in Your love if we choose to stay (John 15:9).
Choice it always comes back to choice. To go it alone or go with You Father. Allow You to help us grow or go rogue. To bear fruit or be obstinately self reliant . To live or to die. I can be stubborn, obstinate, careless and forgetful. Really? Yes, but I often hide it and only You know my heart Father. So as I am eternally grateful to be grafted into You Father by the blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ. I open myself to Your Holy Spirit to be purified, pruned and helped to produce fruit for Your glory. I pray You will persevere in love with me, with those who struggle to let You in or those who want to be good but don’t know how.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 10th November 2026
Not well known. But give it a try.
For my waking breath, For my daily bread I depend on You, I depend on You For the sun to rise, For my sleep at night Lord, I depend on You, yes, I do, I depend on You
You’re the Way, the Truth, and the Life You’re the well that never runs dry I’m the branch and You are the vine Draw me close and teach me to abide
Where the Spirit leads, As I’m following Oh, I depend on You (I depend on You), Yes, I depend on You For the victories,Still in front of me, oh Oh, I depend on You, Yes, I depend on You
Chorus
Be my strength, my song in the night Be my all, my treasure, my prize I am Yours, forever You’re mine Draw me close and teach me to abide
When I pass through death, As I enter rest I depend on You, Jesus, I depend on You, For eternal life, To be raised with Christ Oh, I depend on You, Yes, I depend on You
Chorus
Be my strength, my song in the night Be my all, my treasure, my prize I am Yours, forever You’re mine Draw me close and teach me to abide
Based in Little Rock, Dwell Songs is a community of worship leaders and musicians who are passionate about seeing spiritual renewal and awakening in this generation. Led by Aaron Williams, Dwell Songs is part of the Dwell movement, a broader discipleship and worship movement that equips and empowers young leaders through events, resources, and community
The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” 14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. 17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!” John 12:12-19
Almighty God and King,
It was very difficult for those who saw the coming King of the Jews, the promised Messiah to be like historic Kings, warriors and victors over their enemies. As King David was.
Here was a man riding on a donkey, a symbol of a person of no threat of peace. Who touched lepers, allowed women to kiss his feet with tears and who had but a small group of 12 disciples. The trouble was he was popular with the crowds many of who had been fed by him, or knew someone who had been healed by him. Some we read had heard about Lazarus being raised from the dead. So he was competition, a threat to the religious.
Some times you need to shake us up lest we get into routine religion. We need to see You are still amongst us, the Prince of Peace, King of glory. Still encouraging people to meet you where they are. Still challenging the religious to what they hold on to and trust in You. Still declaring You are King whether they are praising or still plotting to discredit you. Help us raise a hallelujah in all circumstances.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Monday 9th November 2026
I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me
I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar Up from the ashes, hope will arise Death is defeated, the king is alive!
I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!
I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar Up from the ashes, hope will arise Death is defeated, the king is alive!
Sing a little louder (in the presence of my enemies) Sing a little louder (louder than the unbelief) Sing a little louder (my weapon is a melody) Sing a little louder (heaven comes to fight for me) Sing a little louder (in the presence of my enemies) Sing a little louder (louder than the unbelief) Sing a little louder (my weapon is a melody) Sing a little louder (heaven comes to fight for me) Sing a little louder!
I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar Up from the ashes, hope will arise Death is defeated, the king is alive!
Lyrics: Jake Stevens, Jonathan David Helser, Melissa Helser, Molly Skaggs.
“Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” 37 And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” 38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”” John 11:32-44 NKJV
Father God,
Many scholars list seven signs in John’s gospel: 1. Turning water to wine, John 2:1-11 2. Cleansing the Temple John 2:12-17 3. Healing the Nobleman’s son John 4:46-54 4. Healing the Lame man John 5:1-15 5. Feeding the multitude John 6:1-15 6. Healing a blind man John 9 7. Raising Lazarus from the dead John 11 Here as we speed through the gospels it is good to see them as if we were reading through the whole of John at one time. We see how John reveals more and more about Jesus and who who He really is. To both those who knew God and those who did not. And the last showing that He was God as He could give life even after 4 days when the body had started to decay (John 11:39). All His statements about being the resurrection and the life were not just words he proved they were actions waiting to happen.
He was and is as good as His Word. Jesus proved His divinity. Only God can give life and Jesus was God with us. Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 7:14). Why did John go to such lengths to add this to his gospel? Because if Jesus was just a good man He could not do anything more than us. Good men do leave a legacy ,many leave good works behind, but Jesus was truly man and truly God. That takes some grasping. He really lived as a man and knows all we go through. Even grief. And yet He conquered death, to give us resurrection life with Hm beyond death. As the hymn said yesterday O come to the Father through Jesus the Son and give Him the glory great things He hath done.
In Jesus name we pray Amen.
Worship Sunday 8th November 2026 Love this upbeat version. I did not know there ae 12 verses written by two men. This version has selected verses from both!
Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne. Hark! how the heavenly anthem 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.
2 Crown Him the Son of God, Before the worlds began, And ye who tread where He hath trod, Crown Him the Son of Man; Who every grief hath known That wrings the human breast, And takes and bears them for His own, That all in Him may rest.
3. Crown him the Lord of life, who triumphed o’er the grave, and rose victorious in the strife for those he came to save; his glories now we sing who died and rose on high, who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.
3 Crown Him the Lord of Heaven, Enthroned in worlds above, Crown Him the king to whom is giv’n The wondrous name of Love. Crown Him with many crowns, As thrones before Him fall; Crown Him, ye kings, with many crowns, For He is king of all.
