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 it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: 2 “Take a scroll of a book and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah even to this day. 3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the adversities which I purpose to bring upon them, that everyone may turn from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.” 4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote on a scroll of a book, at the instruction of Jeremiah, all the words of the Lord which He had spoken to him. 5 And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, “I am confined, I cannot go into the house of the Lord. 6 You go, therefore, and read from the scroll which you have written at my instruction, the words of the Lord, in the hearing of the people in the Lord’s house on the day of fasting. And you shall also read them in the hearing of all Judah who come from their cities. ” Jeremiah 36:1-8 NKJV
Father God,
Here we are introduced to Baruch, the son of Neriah a man with a good writing hand and a good memory for taking dictation! He was a faithful secretary to Jeremiah who trusted Him with the deeds to a field he bought (Jeremiah 32:16). The deeds were put in a jar so they could be preserved for many years. This was to witness that Judah would be taken into exile but at some time in the future God would bring them back, because God was hopeful they would again turn to Him..
Here we see Baruch delivering Jeremiah’s words, written down, so he could deliver them exactly. They had tried to silence Jeremiah by refusing him access to the Temple. So Baruch bravely and faithfully delivers them. He does not add or take away any. But faithfully serves. It reminds me that Jesus came as a servant and He said He only did what he saw his You His Father doing (John 5:19).
The kingdom of God is at its greatest when the lowliest Baruch’s are fulfilling their calling. He did what he was bid to do, willingly. He did not lose heart when later the writing was all torn up and then burned. He had then to re write it all over again. He just got on with it. What a witness.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Monday 13th July 2026 This starts very quiet, and is very intimate worship.
You came to the world You created Trading Your crown for a cross You willingly died Your innocent life paid the cost
Counting Your status as nothing The King of all kings came to serve Washing my feet Covering me with Your love
If more of You means less of me Take ev’rything Yes, all of You is all I need Take ev’rything
You are my life and my treasure The One that I can’t live without So here at Your feet My desires and dreams I lay down Here at Your feet My desires and dreams I lay down
If more of You means less of me Take ev’rything Yes, all of You is all I need Take ev’rything
Oh Lord, change me like only You can Here with my heart in Your hands Father I pray make me more like Jesus This world is dying to know who You are You’ve shown us the way to Your heart So Father I pray make me more like Jesus
Oh Lord, change me like only You can Here with my heart in Your hands Father I pray make me more like Jesus This world is dying to know who You are You’ve shown us the way to Your heart So Father I pray make me more like Jesus
More like Jesus I pray More like Jesus
If more of You means less of me Take ev’rything Yes, all of You is all I need Take ev’rything If more of You means less of me Take ev’rything Yes, all of You is all I need Take ev’rything
Lyrics: Brooke Ligertwood, Scott Ligertwood, Kristian Stanfill, Brett Younker
“Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! 7 The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, 8 if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. 9 And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, 10 if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it. 11 “Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now everyone from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.” ’ ” 12 And they said, “That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will everyone obey the dictates of his evil heart.”” Jeremiah 18:5-12 NKJV
Father God,
The potter is the one with all the power to create, to shape or to destroy. The clay can be rejected or be remade. You in Your mercy called them to put an end to their evil ways and return to You so You could refashion them with a good future instead of a disaster. But they had selective hearing and just sulked like a people with no options! Hopeless, we may as well just go on with our own way even if we are useless and destined for disaster. What’s their problem?
I have a great respect for Jeremiah, his longsuffering, his dedication to saying the same thing in so many different ways. Trying to get their attention back on Your ways God. Your everlasting love for Your nation and people is clear. I wonder if I pray for my nation with as much fervour and determination as Jeremiah did. Or do I think it is hopeless? Not that my Nation is any more important than another – but it is where You have placed me Lord God. Mould and shape me into what I should be, accepting that things can change if we seek You.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Worship Sunday 12th July 2026 It had to be this. Our holy calling . . .
Beautiful Lord, wonderful saviour I know for sure, all of my days are held in Your hands Crafted into Your perfect plan
You gently call me, into Your presence Guiding me by, Your Holy Spirit Teach me dear Lord To live all of my life through Your eyes
I’m captured by, Your Holy calling Set me apart I know You’re drawing me to Yourself Lead me Lord I pray
Take me and Mold me, Use me, Fill me I give my life to the Potter’s hands Hold me, Guide me, Lead me, Walk beside me I give my life to the Potter’s hand
You gently call me, into Your presence Guiding me by, Your Holy Spirit Teach me dear Lord To live all of my life through Your eyes
I’m captured by, Your Holy calling Set me apart I know You’re drawing me to Yourself Lead me Lord I pray
Take me and Mold me, Use me, Fill me I give my life to the Potter’s hands Call me, Guide me, Lead me, Walk beside me I give my life to the Potter’s hand
Call me, Guide me, Lead me, Walk beside me I give my life to the Potter’s hand
“Now it came to pass after many days that the Lord said to me, “Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take from there the sash which I commanded you to hide there.” 7 Then I went to the Euphrates and dug, and I took the sash from the place where I had hidden it; and there was the sash, ruined. It was profitable for nothing. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “Thus says the Lord: ‘In this manner I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 This evil people, who refuse to hear My words, who follow the dictates of their hearts, and walk after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be just like this sash which is profitable for nothing. 11 For as the sash clings to the waist of a man, so I have caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me,’ says the Lord, ‘that they may become My people, for renown, for praise, and for glory; but they would not hear.’” Jeremiah 13:6-13 NKJV
Our God and Lord,
We all learn in different ways and You, God always ensure Your message is clear and understood by all. So You often use both visual illustrations along with words spoken and written.
A linen sash not actually a necessary piece of clothing, but it illustrated that You God chose Your people, not for what they could do for You, not because You needed them, but because You loved them and wanted them close to You. I know You did not open my eyes to see Jesus because of my abilities or anything I can for You. You did it because You love me.
So the sash symbolised the relationship that You wanted God, the close intimacy. Juday had ruined it because they did not value being close to You as much as their own way. And perhaps pride prevented them from admitting it and returning.
Then Jeremiah mentions bottles of wine in verses 12 and 13. They thought, blow the sash, You God have blessed us with wine. No problem. Yes, says Jeremiah but too much of a good thing . . . will bring You down . . . they were happy with blessings, forgetting You, the One who blessed them.
We need the belt of truth (Ephesians 6:14). Not just to have knowledge but to put it into practice (James 1:22). Blessings are precious, we are grateful for all Your provision but it is You who we worship and want to be with.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 11th July 2026 (Psalm 84:10)
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty. For my soul longs and even faints for you. For here my heart is satisfied, within your presence. I sing beneath the shadow of your wings.
Better is one day in your courts, better is one day in your house, better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere. Better is one day in your courts, better is one day in your house, better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere, than thousands elsewhere.
One thing I ask and I would seek: to see your beauty, to find you in the place your glory dwells. One thing I ask and I would seek: to see your beauty, To find you in the place your glory dwells.
Choros
Bridge: My heart and flesh cry out for you, the living god; your Spirit’s water to my soul. I’ve tasted and I’ve seen, come once again to me; I will draw near to you, I will draw near to you.
