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.”
“Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, 2 “Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one reign over you?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and bone.”” Judges 9:1,2 NKJV
“After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in the mountains of Ephraim. 2 He judged Israel twenty-three years; and he died and was buried in Shamir.3 After him arose Jair, a Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty-two years. 4 Now he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys; they also had thirty towns, which are called “Havoth Jair” to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. 5 And Jair died and was buried in Camon.” Judges 10:1-5 NKJV
Faithful God,
This chapter in Judges shows what happens when a man puts himself forward for his own gain rather than being called by God. In the midst of men raise up by God is a man who is a self appointed king. Abimelech. He murders so no one can oppose him from his family and comes to a terrible end. Those who aided and abetted him from Sechem also paid the price. It is a stark warning that true disciples follow.
But then we have Tola from the tribe of Issachar for twenty three years who must have been successful because there is no mention of trouble. Then another called Jair who was from the tribe of Manasseh and was a big family man. He had 30 sons who all rode donkeys the symbols of coming in peace.
Perhaps we do not arrive by donkey these days as a visible sign of our coming to make peace, be at peace keep the peace . . . but our body language sometimes gives us away! Perhaps we need to slow down at times. Dismount from our charger and find our own peace first. Not jump to conclusions, allow others to wind us up or just get on our high horse so to speak. Help me take a deep breath and remember what the proverb writer says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”(15:1)
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 17th March 2026 There is an introduction to the hymn and the singing starts about half way through. I would that my tongue always has a heavenly theme . . .
Begin, my tongue, some heav’nly theme And speak some boundless thing The mighty works, or mightier name Of our eternal King
Tell of His wondrous faithfulness And sound His pow’r abroad Sing the sweet promise of His grace And our redeeming God
His very word of grace is strong As that which built the skies The voice that rolls the stars along Speaks all the promises
O might I hear Thy heav’nly tongue But whisper, “Thou art Mine” Those gentle words should raise my song To notes almost divine
“Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years,” Judges 6:1 NKJV
“Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” 13 Gideon said to Him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.” 14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?”” Judges 6:1,11-14 NKJV
Father God,
Usually the sight of an angel would cause a falling down or bring silence. But Gideon must have been brave because he discusses and challenges Your Angel with questions about You! This young man, son of Joash of the tribe of Abiezrites, a tiny clan within Manassah.
Gideon is afraid he has seen You Lord face to face and will die – but You assure him absolutely not. You do not bring fear – but shalom, peace. And Gideon calls You YHWH Shalom the Lord is peace. Your presence always brings peace to chaos, stillness to confusion and faith to fear. The story of Gideon is amazing. The transformation of confused young man hiding from his enemies, to the Israelites judge and saviour. Perhaps many linger on his putting a fleece out twice or reducing the army from 22,000 to just 300 men. Or get side tracked y his over hearing his enemies dreams and arming his men with pitchers, torchers ready to shout!
But then it was Your Word made flesh (John 1:14) that won the victory, He was the light of the world (John 8:12) and He broke open the door to heaven. What an amazing God You are. Raise up the Gideons (male and female) that we need today to bring and share peace. Help us come out of hiding and speak for You our awesome Saviour.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Monday 16th March 2026 They sing it with such power and purpose. A wonderful blending of scriptures. I will not apologise for repeating this worship.
You are my hiding place You always fill my heart With songs of deliverance Whenever I am afraid I will trust in You
I will trust in You Let the weak say I am strong In the strength of the Lord
“When Ehud was dead, the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. 2 So the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth Hagoyim. 3 And the children of Israel cried out to the Lord; for Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and for twenty years he had harshly oppressed the children of Israel.4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5 And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6 Then she sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun; 7 and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand’?” 8 And Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!” Judges 4:1-8 NKJV
Father God,
Judge number 4 is Deborah, who delivered the message as a prophet, and then had to deliver the deed herself. Otherwise Barak would be the main name here. But I cannot condemn him because he is honest and he is obedient even if he needed the support of a woman of God. I can never feel condemnation for someone who asks for support in doing Your will.
When a gripping narration Judges 4 and 5 are. So Barak did indeed defeat Sisera’s men in battle Even though he asked for the moral support of Deborah. Then totally unrelated, a woman called Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite killed Sisera with a tent peg! Kenites were nomadic neighbours, possibly descended from Jethro, Moses father-in-law. A trinity brough the victory.
Your Word Lord God, the Bible, tells us we should listen to prophecy but test everything (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21). And it helps when the Holy Spirit confirms to us what we are hearing. We need trustworthy Deborah’s in our life when we need a prompt to hear or prayer. Let us be careful in speaking into someone else’s life though. And may we not be afraid to ask for help and share the glory.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Sunday 15th March 2026 The tune is a bit dour. Is that the expression? But the hymn is heartfelt.
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
Before our Father’s throne we pour our ardent prayers; our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.
We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear, and often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.
When we are sunder part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
