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.”
“These are the people of the province who came back from the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city.” Nehemiah 7:6 NKJV
“Altogether the whole assembly was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty, 67 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven; and they had two hundred and forty-five men and women singers. 68 Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules two hundred and forty-five, 69 their camels four hundred and thirty-five, and donkeys six thousand seven hundred and twenty.” Nehemiah 7:66-69 NKJV
“And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.” Nehemiah 8:9 NKJV
God of our Fathers,
Strange that I have read these passages countless times and never really noticed the numbers of people who returned with Nehemiah. 42, 360! Not counting 7,337 servants and 245 singers. That’s 49,942 people and enough to make two large choirs for singing the Psalms. And they all had to find accomodation, or build it, and find food and the essentials of life. Gathering them together so they could all hear the Law being read – must have been a challenge.
Here we witness again and again Your mercy. Bringing Your rebellious people back to the promised land again and again and forgiving them. And allowing them, more importantly, to come back to You God and find You had never left them. Nehemiah and Ezra have been catalysts. Bringing order and worship. But it took all of them together, listening to Your Law and confessing their sin, to receive Your blessing and a future.
There is a time to weep and a time to mourn but also a time to rejoice. And for us, a challenge. To keep listening to Your Word and allowing Your Holy Spirit it to challenge, change and cheer us up on our way.
In Jesus name we pray.
Worship Monday 21st September 2026
As Lynn Deshazo states in her book, “The longer I walk with the Lord, the more love and appreciation I have for the Bible and for those whom God has used throughout the ages to make it available to me. I suppose that was the true impetus for my writing “Ancient Words.” She concluded: “It’s probably the best ‘bridge builder’ I’ve ever written. People from all types of churches love that song because they love the Scriptures so much.”
Holy words long preserved for our walk in this world, They resound with God’s own heart Oh, let the Ancient words impart.
Words of Life, words of Hope Give us strength, help us cope In this world, where e’er we roam Ancient words will guide us Home.
Ancient words ever true Changing me, and changing you. We have come with open hearts Oh let the ancient words impart.
Holy words of our Faith Handed down to this age. Came to us through sacrifice Oh heed the faithful words of Christ.
Holy words long preserved For our walk in this world. They resound with God’s own heart Oh let the ancient words impart.
“Moreover Jehoiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate; they laid its beams and hung its doors, with its bolts and bars. 7 And next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite, Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and Mizpah, repaired the residence of the governor of the region beyond the River. 8 Next to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs. Also next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs; and they fortified Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 And next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, leader of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs.” Nehemiah 3:6-9 NKJV
“But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day?”” Nehemiah 4:1-2
“There were also those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our lands and vineyards. 5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and indeed we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been brought into slavery. It is not in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards.” Nehemiah 5:4-5
God who made man,
Here Lord God we see the best of man and the worst. The best – team work. They set about rebuilding the walls united in determination. It had to be team work to match up the wall and build the joining bits together. They realised they had a common enemy who now resorted to mocking. Mocking hurts and there was threat of attack! Fear and anxiety are strong weapons. But together they encouraged each other to be strong. As we read later, they took turns at guard duty (Nehemiah 4:16-17).
But there was a hidden dark side to this team. They were extorting each other as there was a famine and some had no recourse to food while building the city wall. So Nehemiah had to remind them they were all on the same side and should not be taking advantage of each other. And they listen and responded, and put it right. Teamwork is not always easy.
You say the same to us today: “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:1-4). Help us and our church practice this . . .
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Sunday 20th September 2026 I was tempted to have ‘For I’m building a people of power’ here. But the worship below reminds me who I want to be like and please. Jesus my Lord. And who forgives us when we don’t always get it right. And who it is humbles us when we don’t naturally agree or get on with everyone . . .
All the room was hushed and still And when the bowl was filled He stooped to wash their feet And when it was complete, he said
This is what I’m asking you to do This is why I’m kneeling here beside you This is what I want my church to be This is what I want the world to see Who it is you follow
Love each other, One another Love each other In the way that I have loved you Walk together, And whatever comes Love each other In the way that I have loved you
Let the room be hushed and still Let us go to where he kneels And join him as he serves And learn his ways of love
“And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the others who did the work. 17 Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?” 20 So I answered them, and said to them, “The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.”” Nehemiah 2:16-20 NKJV
God of heaven and earth,
Nehemiah checked out the situation for himself. He did not want to misunderstand the situation trying to see it through others eyes. He just needed to know what had happened and where things were at present. How wise because we al see things slightly differently. Then we see how he deals with the same opposition that has stopped them in the past. He speaks with clarity, authority and not threateningly. He has placed his trust in Your call to rebuild. This was not the idea of man.
How good it is when we hear Your call to pray, to stand up for our faith or to rebuild or build something new. The difference between a good idea and a God idea. It gives Nehemiah all the confidence to encourage every one else. And they hear it in him and respond. Chapter 3 begins immediately with the sheep gate being built and the doors hung.
Help us to pray and hear as Nehemiah did so we can learn where to go, what to do, who to involve and how to do it. We are building the Kingdom, Your Kingdom together.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Worship Saturday 19th September 2026 I had this at the end of August but I kept just remembering the first line of the chorus and no more. So here it is again reminding me to stop and listen in those precious moments I need clarity.
I’m finding myself at a loss for words And the funny thing is it’s okay The last thing I need is to be heard But to hear what You would say
Word of God speak Would you pour down like rain Washing my eyes to see, Your majesty To be still and know, that you’re in this place Please let me stay and rest in your holiness Word of God speak
I’m finding myself in the midst of You Beyond the music, beyond the noise All that I need is to be with You And in the quiet hear Your voice
Chorus
Would you pour down like rain Washing my eyes to see, Your majesty To be still and know, that you’re in this place Please let me stay and rest in your holiness
I’m finding myself at a loss for words And the funny thing is it’s okay
Lyrics: Bart Millard, Pete Kipley, Peter C. Kipley (Mercy Me)
