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.”
“Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.” Isaiah 60:1-3 NKJV
Father God,
We linger a few days in the closing chapters of Isaiah because You were saying something they would find it very hard to believe maybe. That gentiles and their kings were part of Your long term inclusive plan God. They had only known the Law of Moses, to keep to Gods ways together and separate from other nations. Lest they took up the practices and pagan gods of the other nations who were no gods at all.
Now the message is clear and well lit! The glory of the Lord for all. It takes me to an evening in the fields, long ago but many years after Isaiah, where shepherds trying to keep watch of their flocks through the darkness (Luke 2:9). An angel appeared and the glory of the Lord, Your glory Father, shone all around them. Bringing good news of the birth of one we would also know as the Light of the world (John 8:12).
Your glory, Your light amidst the deep darkness. And no-one will ever put it out (John 1:5). Isaiah may not have been understood in his day but his words have stood the test of time. Jesus did bring Your light back to Jerusalem even if they sought to put it out. Nothing could, not even death itself. You alone are God. You alone are Good. You alone can lighten our darkness and bring us into Your light.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 3rd October 2026
We had this recently but it is in my ear and my head and my heart.
For no one else in history is like You And history itself belongs to You Alpha and Omega, You have loved me And I will share eternity with You
It’s all about You, Jesus And all this is for You For Your glory and Your fame It’s not about me As if You should do things my way You alone are God, and I surrender To Your ways
Jesus, lover of my soul All consuming fire is in Your gaze Jesus, I want You to know I will follow You all my days For no one else in history is like You And history itself belongs to You Alpha and Omega, You have loved me And I will share eternity with You
It’s all about You, Jesus And all this is for You For Your glory and Your fame It’s not about me As if You should do things my way You alone are God, and I surrender To Your ways
“Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him. 17 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. 18 According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, fury to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; the coastlands He will fully repay. 19 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. 20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” says the Lord.”Isaiah 59:15-20 NKJV
Father God,
Justice, (truth?) had disappeared from society, and no-one was willing to step up. You, God see and know that no human is capable of fixing man’s mess. Or of standing in the gap between You and sin as an intercessor. Isaiah glimpses the future, a future where You would step down into our world. He may not have seen that Yu would be born and grow as a servant and teacher. And it was not till the resurrection that we saw Jesus, in a new light, as a warrior defeating His enemies and death itself.
Perhaps Isaiah used his picture language because in their history there were many occasions when Israel saw You God enable them to defeat their enemies. Sometimes without lifting a finger (2 Chronicles 20:22–23:). Jesus too showed His dominion over all that is evil (Matthew 11:2-6). The promise was given that a Redeemer would come to those who choose to turn from transgression to Him. And we have experienced it. And yet, there is still a future battle to be won. We see pictorial language in Revelation 19:11-21. We may not understand it fully but we know this. Nothing can defeat You God.
Its a choice to believe in You, God, Your goodness even amongst a fallen world. To go on believing even when bad things happen. To go on praying, interceding with the one who is able. To go on turning from transgression to Your arms of love. It’s not all won yet and no one said it would be easy? But we have Your gift of faith and hope and love and one day a glorious future . . .
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 2nd October 2026
When I cannot understand it all, when God’s ways are bigger than my mind – I choose to keep worship now and simple.
I sing a simple song of love To my Savior to my Jesus I’m grateful for the things You’ve done My loving Saviour oh precious Jesus
My heart is glad that You’ve called me Your own There’s no place I’d rather be
Than in Your arms of love In Your arms of love Holding me still, holding me near In Your arms of love
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”Isaiah 56:6-11 NKJV
Lord of all,
You are indeed our guide, strength and provision. Isaiah brings the positive with the correction. How like You Father God. You lay out choices before us and it is up to us to choose. If this part of Isaiah was written later, Isaiah reminds them that token thanksgiving and worship is seen for what it is. Their fasting was up front while feasting behind closed doors? But nothing is hidden from You Lord God.
And when I read this list of challenges I can only be overwhelmed. But You did not expect them to solve all of life’s problems. Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you.” (Matthew 26:11). He too like His Father in Heaven was speaking about doing what is good and right when You see it. What is in front of us and we can do something about. It is not always about avoiding doing the wrong thing. I think the church of England call it the sin of omission? Things we didn’t do but could have done for good. But in this passage we gather they are doing the wrong and not doing the right either.
I am glad that Jesus says just worry about getting it right today (Matthew 6:34). I like keeping ‘to do’ lists.But things get carried over and moved around and for the future. I hope I allow You Lord God to set my daily priorities, direct me where you want me and be able to change my plans if it is Your Will. And to be the same indoors as I am in public. Or is it the same in public as I am in private . . .
In Jesus name I pray, Amen
Worship Wednesday 30th September 2026
I could have chosen ‘One day at a time sweet Jesus’ or many other beautiful applicable hymns. But I found this. I often feel overwhelmed by all there is to do and all there is I cannot do. So to just sit in His presence, and then be encouraged just to do what I can in His strength.
I could not find the words for this but they are on the video.
