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.”
“Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. 5 You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you.” Deuteronomy:8:1-4 NKJV
God Omniscient (all knowing),
You knew what You had taken on creating man and woman. Adam and Eve’s behaviour did not take You by surprise. You did not create automatons or drones. Though we are sometimes under the circumstances, hindered by circumstances and sometimes confused. You are not. You are God You do not change (Malachi 3:6) and are still working Your purposes out. You used circumstances to lead and teach Your people about You. They did not notice unworn shoes or clothes but complained grumbled even blamed You for other things. All You ever wanted them to do was ask You for help.
Today You are still working Your purposes out. We too are sometimes under the circumstances and confused But one day You will fill the earth with Your Glory, Lord as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). Meanwhile, help us to simply ask for our needs (Matthew 7:7).
We have not because we have not asked according to Your will (James 4:2). You are not santa claus! We are humbled at Your unconditionally love, forgiving us absolutely and providing for us daily. Keep us like children who can always ask You, Father God for help or provision or comfort. Help us just to ask.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Thursday 26th February 2026
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer! Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer!
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge– take it to the Lord in prayer! Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In his arms he’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
O Jesus what a friend we have in Jesus O Jesus what a friend we have in Jesus
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NKJV
“18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:18 NKJV
“34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”” Matthew 22:34-40 NKJV
Our Lord God,
You do not change. You have not changed as long as man has known You. You spoke to those You first called through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses. You did not have to adapt to suit the age. You called them to adapt to Your ways. And when Jesus Your Son came, He was the visible image of You Lord God (Colossians 1:15). He walked the earth, He spoke Your Words. He lived Your words He was Your Word (John 1:14).
So here, in the beginning of Deuteronomy, we see You were revealing Yourself, giving the Law and rules for a Godly community. Clear, precise and achievable? If they all agreed and did as asked? They struggled with being godly and being good alas.
But we have more than the written Law. When Jesus came, He was the fulfilment of the Law, He was the living Law and called us into His community, family, belonging to You (John 1:12-13, Ephesians 1:5).
We still struggle with being godly and keeping those two simple laws. We need Your Holy Spirit to be our rock and fortress and deliverer (Psalm 18:2) We need our Christian family to learn to love each other. Sometimes it is the ones who annoy us who teach us the most about Your grace . . .
Jesus knew two things are easier to remember than a whole book. And many of us learn by seeing an example not just reading. We have no excuse. Love God and love each other. Easy, hard? Some days easier than others . . . Lord help us remain constant.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Wednesday 25th February 2026 For showing us the Father. The Lawgiver and judge but who pardons absolutely.
My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine; for thee all the follies of sin I resign; my gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou; if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
I love thee because thou hast first loved me and purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree; I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow; if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
I’ll love thee in life, I will love thee in death, and praise thee as long as thou lendest me breath, and say when the death dew lies cold on my brow: If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
In mansions of glory and endless delight, I’ll ever adore thee in heaven so bright; I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow: If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
What can wash away my sin nothing but the blood of Jesus
I surrender all, I surrender all . . .
Lyrics: William Ralph Featherston
It was not until recent years that the identity of the teenage songwriter, William Ralph Featherstone (1846-1873), became known. It is reported he grew up in Canada. In Toronto in 1862, he became a Christian. His conversion experience was a life-changing event. The 16-year-old wrote a poem, My Jesus I love thee .
Some historians say it went via a relative in Los Angeles to England and appeared in The London Hymnal, published in 1864. Years later, in Boston, Massachusetts, Pastor A. J. Gordon was compiling a hymnal for Baptists and came across “My Jesus I Love Thee.” He was not impressed with the music and wrote a new tune, that carried the lyrics to every corner of our world.
3 The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. 4 He said: 6 ‘I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 7 ‘You shall have no other gods before Me . . . 9 you shall not bowdown to them nor serve them. . . 11 ‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. 12 ‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. . . 16 ‘Honor your father and your mother . . . 17 ‘You shall not murder. 18 ‘You shall not commit adultery. 19 ‘You shall not steal. 20 ‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. 21 ‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’ Deuteronomy 5:3-7 and selected NKJV
God the Law Giver,
Deuteronomy begins with the foundational laws. The ten commandments. They cover all of life and community living for good. There had to be many more laws written in Deuteronomy for the way that the priests would deal with those who broke these laws whether by intent or accident. God knew there would be endless sin because it is the nature of man. To be self reliant, desire, suffer jealousy, be unable to control behaviour in some circumstances – be subject to life’s accidents.
But they give a straight line to measure wrong against and that was needed. To show we need God’s forgiveness. And many, many animals were slaughtered with much blood shed.
So God could show us the ultimate offering of His only Son. Like a passover Lamb. The atonement offering that cancelled all. So we could meet and live with the one who teaches us to live Your Law God. Your laws still stand. They are as relevant today and still cover all aspects of life and community.
But now we have the living law. Beautiful, personal, coming with much love to lead us through life. Leading us forward in forgiveness not beating us up for our past. If we would choose His way and not our own. And You stick with us through all of life, keeping us whole and Yours.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 24th February 2026 As we have passed the first Sunday in Lent a reminder to give thanks and worship . Good days, great days and other days . . .
For the joys and for the sorrows The best and worst of times For this moment, for tomorrow For all that lies behind Fears that crowd around me For the failure of my plans For the dreams of all I hope to be The truth of what I am
For this I have Jesus For this I have Jesus For this I have Jesus, I have Jesus
For the tears that flow in secret In the broken times For the moments of elation Or the troubled mind For all the disappointments Or the sting of old regrets All my prayers and longings That seem unanswered yet
Chorus
For the weakness of my body The burdens of each day For the nights of doubt and worry When sleep has fled away Needing reassurance And the will to start again A steely-eyed endurance The strength to fight and win
